Chapter 6: Tactic of Delay

Chapter 6: Delaying Tactics

"Seize this person!"

At Xie Daozhi's command, eight or nine bodyguards rushed in, their shining blades pointed at Yan Sanhe.

Yan Sanhe sneered. "Trying to silence me?"

For Xie Daozhi to have risen to such a high position in the government, it was impossible that he hadn't had blood on his hands.

"So what if I kill you?"

"Xie Daozhi, do you really think I'd enter the Xie family's gates without any precautions?"

Yan Sanhe's dark, piercing gaze was icy cold, and for some reason, Xie Daozhi's heart skipped a beat.

But with so many eyes upon him, he couldn't possibly be intimidated by a young, inexperienced woman.

"What are you all standing there for?"

"Father!"

Xie Erli suddenly exclaimed, his brows knitted as he said, "It's getting late. It's time for the imperial audience."

The emphasis on 'imperial audience' did not escape Xie Daozhi, who froze upon hearing the underlying meaning.

"Lady!"

Xie Erli turned to Yan Sanhe and suggested, "The morning audience cannot be delayed. Let Father attend first. We can discuss anything else after he returns from court. What do you think?"

The situation took an unexpected turn, but instead of feeling relieved, Yan Sanhe's face turned deathly pale.

What was this young master of the Xie family up to?

Was it a delaying tactic?

"Steward Xie!"

Xie Erli spoke gently, "Please accompany this lady downstairs to rest. See to her needs and make sure she is well attended to."

Supervisor Xie held a palm full of cold sweat and replied, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

As an AI, I'm capable of translating between Chinese and English. However, you haven't provided any text for me to translate. If you could provide a passage from the ancient Chinese palace intrigue romance novel, I would be more than happy to translate it elegantly and accurately into English.

In the courtyard, only the two of them stood face to face, in an unwavering and somber silence.

For a long while, Xie Erli was unable to digest the news he had just heard.

The matriarch was once married? How utterly unforeseen!

How could this be?

He had lived to the age of twenty-five without ever catching wind of such a thing.

Yet, the young lady spoke with such conviction, and she even had a marriage contract to back it up. It didn't seem like a fabrication!

"Father, is what she said true?"

Xie Daozhi looked at his eldest son, his face turning from pale to ashen. "We'll discuss the truthfulness of her words later. Right now, we have a more pressing matter at hand."

Xie Erli was well aware of the gravity of the matter at hand.

His sudden intervention just now was also a strategic move to buy time, considering this very concern.

After Father passed the imperial examination, the Emperor, moved by the old lady's dedication as a widow in nurturing an educated scholar for the state, bestowed upon her a Chastity Arch as an example for women across the land.

If news of her remarriage were to spread, it would undoubtedly be a crime of deceiving the monarch. The consequences could range from losing one's official position to having the family's assets seized and being exiled.

Xie Erli's voice turned deep and icy, a stark contrast to its usual warmth. "Father, the old lady is frail and cannot endure such turmoil. We must take precautions."

Xie Daozhi felt a sense of relief.

Though his eldest son appeared mild-mannered on the surface, he possessed a decisive and resolute character beneath.

Most importantly, he knew when to advance and when to retreat with precision.

"You wouldn't have harmed her even if I hadn't stopped you just now, right?"

"I understand. Father only wanted to intimidate her, correct?"

Xie Daozhi nodded.

With his years of service in the cabinet, he had seen it all – storms and tempests alike. He didn't consider a mere woman to be a threat.

If Yan Sanhe had come for money, he would simply give her enough to keep her quiet. If she sought reconciliation, he could easily confine her within his estate, eventually providing a dowry if necessary.

Last night, he hadn't allowed her to finish speaking before offering a thousand taels, hoping to gauge her intentions. His intuition proved correct, as she possessed a marriage certificate – an item that couldn't be dismissed with mere cash or a dowry.

This was a matter of life and death!

Digging deeper, how did a young maiden gather the audacity to threaten a prominent cabinet minister? Was there someone backing her?

And if so, who could that person be?

"In all of Beijing, there are few who dare to address me by my name, Xie Daozhi. And among the women in the capital, there are even fewer who could knock down Manager Xie with a single kick."

Xie Daozhi stroked his beard. "This young woman seems peculiar, doesn't she? What do you think, eldest son?"

"Father!"

"Send someone to inform the matriarch to stay at the temple for a few more days and not rush back."

"Yes, sir!"

"Order all the guards in the mansion to be on duty, especially in her courtyard. Station more people there and make sure she doesn't step out of it."

"Rest assured, Father. I'll have Chief Steward Xie personally supervise. She won't go missing."

"Also, put your current affairs on hold and visit Third Brother's office. Ask his people to help investigate: when did this person arrive in the capital, where have they been, and were they accompanied by anyone?"

Xie Daozhi gritted his teeth. "I want every detail uncovered!"

"Yes, sir!"