Chapter 63 Fearing He Might Ruin Him

Chapter 63: Afraid of Ruining Him

Days later, Yan Weichu’s masterpiece arrived in Xie Xiao’s hands.

As the scroll unfurled, the artistic conception was quite striking—it depicted the very scene Yan Weichu had witnessed that day: Xie Xiao leading a charge. It would have been even better, however, if his face on the warhorse hadn't been drawn as a pig's head.

Xie Xiao stared at it for a moment, then let out a frustrated laugh.

He picked up a brush and, with a few swift strokes, added to the painting: a dragon flag fluttering in the wind on a distant high slope, and a solitary figure standing beneath it.

Once finished, his fingers brushed over the painting, lingering beside that figure for a long time. He sighed softly before putting the scroll away.

The messenger who had delivered the painting witnessed this scene and reported it upon his return.

Upon hearing the report, Yan Weichu was displeased. What was this? His words were all about missing his wife, yet his brush had depicted the emperor himself. Such hypocrisy! So dishonest!

He picked up his brush and wrote a letter, actually scolding Xie Xiao.

He berated him for being an unromantic, tight-lipped husband. It had been nearly ten months since they last met, yet Xie Xiao didn’t seem to miss him and hadn’t even bothered to write a family letter.

Xie Xiao did reply, still advising him on daily routines and diet as before, but he made no mention of going to Fenliang to see the emperor.

After that, Yan Weichu stopped issuing imperial edicts and instead sent daily messages via pigeon post.

"My head hurts, and my chest feels tight too." *I need you to come see me quickly to feel better.*

Xie Xiao replied, "You are with His Majesty. Ask him to summon the military doctor to examine you."

"Lately, I have no appetite when eating. Nothing tastes good." *I have no desire for tea or food, but I miss you.*

Xie Xiao: "The plain food here doesn’t suit your taste. Remind His Majesty to return to the capital soon."

"I don’t have a sword for self-defense. The weapons issued by the Qilin Guard feel uncomfortable in my hands." *How about returning your sword to me?*

Xie Xiao: "His Majesty’s Imperial Sword is quite good. Ask him to give it to you."

"Yesterday, someone made me angry. I wanted to chop them up. Don’t you make me angry." *If you make me angry, I’ll only feel heartbroken.*

Xie Xiao: "Don’t be so hot-headed while serving His Majesty. Getting angry often is bad for your health."

Yan Weichu: "..."

It was like talking to a brick wall—completely missing the deeper meaning behind his words.

Was his cousin doing this on purpose?

Telling him not to get angry, yet constantly provoking him, throwing "His Majesty" around sarcastically at every turn. For a general to be so petty—it made him furious.

Meanwhile, in Wulong, Xie Xiao was meeting his subordinates to discuss matters but seemed preoccupied throughout. Everyone noticed and exchanged looks.

The leading Deputy General, his uncle, cautiously asked, "Nephew, you’ve been back for so long. Why haven’t we seen your wife come yet?"

Xie Xiao’s brows furrowed slightly. "Before I returned, none of you had seen her?"

"No," his uncle said. "When His Majesty first arrived here, I asked about her. He said she had caught a chill on the journey and was resting at a post station, and would come later. But even after the imperial procession left Wulong, we never saw her. It was said she went to Fenliang with His Majesty."

They had thought that after Xie Xiao rushed to protect the emperor, he would bring his wife back, but they still hadn’t seen her.

Xie Xiao was at a loss for words. They say an emperor’s word is unshakable, but Yan Weichu spouted lies effortlessly, no matter who he was talking to.

"So, will your wife come later?" The generals were dying to know—they really wanted to meet her!

Xie Xiao said flatly, "He is in the emperor’s service and has no time to come."

*Then what is your relationship with His Majesty?*—

The question was on everyone’s lips, but no one dared to voice it.

The Deputy General who had accompanied Xie Xiao to Pingchuan Valley had told them everything: their daring nephew had rushed forward in front of everyone and hugged the emperor tightly. Not only had His Majesty not punished him for privately mobilizing troops, but he had also helped cover it up. It was all very suspicious.

That Deputy General also said he hadn’t seen the wife, who was supposed to be the Qilin Guard Commander, at the emperor’s side. When he privately asked Assistant Commissioner Prince Shun, the other man just smiled and told him not to inquire about things he shouldn’t. All this secrecy was undoubtedly strange.

Moreover, during this time, royal guards had been delivering imperial edicts every few days. Though no one knew what was said, it was certainly odd.

After the meeting concluded, the uncle stayed behind and couldn’t resist asking Xie Xiao, "Nephew, has there been some misunderstanding between you and your wife because of His Majesty?"

Xie Xiao knew he had the wrong idea and said helplessly, "It’s not what you think."

"Then what is it?" his uncle pressed, deciding to be blunt. "Or is your wife actually His Majesty?"

Xie Xiao’s gaze flickered slightly. He remained silent, which was as good as confirmation.

His uncle drew a sharp breath. The speculation was bold, and even voicing it felt absurd—yet it was actually true?!

After a moment of silence, Xie Xiao finally said, "I only found out recently."

His uncle was momentarily speechless. Ah? So what was His Majesty after?

But he quickly caught on. "After you married, His Majesty gave you the position of Capital Garrison Commander. Was he using this method to win you over?"

Though Xie Xiao didn’t say it outright, the expression on his face confirmed it.

Even though this Uncle Xu was well-traveled and knowledgeable, he was baffled. Using beauty as a strategy was nothing new, but for the emperor himself to personally take part in it—this was the first time he had seen such a thing. Was it really necessary?

He tentatively asked, "So, Nephew, what are your plans now?"

Xie Xiao smiled bitterly. "He is the emperor. I’m not sure how to interact with him in the future…"

In a fit of anger, he had led his troops back to Wulong and repeatedly defied imperial orders, refusing to see the emperor. The truth was, he didn’t know how to face Yan Weichu anymore.

Should he adhere strictly to the norms between ruler and subject? After experiencing an intimate marital relationship, how could he possibly go back to that?

But treating Yan Weichu as casually as before was also difficult.

His little husband was the Son of Heaven, the master of the realm, whose words carried immense weight and who held the power of life and death.

Examples of suspicion between imperial fathers and sons, and brothers turning on one another, were never rare—let alone between so-called husband and wife.

Perhaps the emperor trusted him now, but as time passed, influenced by various internal and external factors, people’s hearts were prone to change. He didn’t want to end up at odds with Yan Weichu.

Moreover, the emperor would eventually need to have an heir to secure the nation’s foundation; otherwise, the state would be unstable, and he himself would be seen as a treacherous official. He wasn’t afraid of being condemned by everyone, but he didn’t want Yan Weichu to be recorded in history as an unprincipled, foolish ruler, leaving behind an indelible legacy of infamy.

Xie Xiao’s distress was clear to those around him, and his uncle wasn’t sure how to counsel him.

"Is His Majesty sending people daily because he wants to summon you to see him?"

Xie Xiao nodded.

His uncle asked again, "So you plan to keep your distance from the emperor and step back to maintain proper boundaries between ruler and subject?"

Xie Xiao frowned slightly.

His uncle reminded him, "Keeping up this stalemate with the emperor isn’t a long-term solution."

Xie Xiao naturally knew this, but he was stuck between a rock and a hard place, as if no choice felt right.

His uncle secretly thought it was a shame.

If only the heir were a daughter—wouldn’t that solve everything?

He had previously thought the emperor didn’t want to marry into the Xie family again, but it turned out he was interested in the heir. This was truly…

*

Yan Weichu didn't stay long in Fenliang and later set out for Qingwei.

After Bing Yuanzheng led troops to smoothly take over the military forces in Suzhou, the northwestern garrisons all settled down, not daring to cause any more trouble.

The emperor personally set up operations in Qingwei, sending Imperial Guards to accompany officials from the Ministry of Revenue and the Censorate to inspect grain and land in various garrisons. Within just over a month, a large number of border generals and local civil and military officials were removed from power—a swift and harsh crackdown that intimidated all sides.

Yan Weichu then quickly promoted a group of people to fill the vacancies, quelling the turmoil and stabilizing morale in the shortest time possible. With this, he fully secured control over the military power in the border garrisons.

In the Commander-in-Chief’s residence in Qingwei, Yan Weichu was leaning over his desk writing a letter.

It had been nearly half a month since he last sent a letter to Wulong. After all, he was the emperor, and Xie Xiao had been consistently cold toward him. He didn’t want to force affection where none existed. They had fallen into a subtle cold war, and after it dragged on for so long, he was the one to break the stalemate.

He had been in a bad mood these past couple of days, with no one to vent to, so he could only confide in Xie Xiao.

"Cousin, I’m really unhappy."

"Yesterday, someone pointed at my nose and called me cruel and unkind. I’m not—I’m clearly good-looking and kind-hearted. They wronged me to begin with."

"I went to the execution site today. Those beasts still dared to curse me before they died. I shouldn’t have shown any mercy. Beheading was too good for them—I should have had them drawn and quartered, cut into pieces."

"I know many people below me resent me. They shout 'long live' to my face but secretly wish for my early death. I refuse to give them what they want. I’ll outlive them all. They’re old and fading, while I’m not even twenty. I’ll definitely live longer than them."

……

……

……

"Cousin, I’ve killed too many people, and it’s making me a bit uncomfortable."

After finishing the letter, Yan Weichu set down his brush, propped his head on the desk, and zoned out for a bit.

Was writing all this too dramatic? Would Cousin laugh at him after reading it? Would he even take it seriously?

Maybe he shouldn’t send the letter after all…

Zhao Anfu, seeing him downcast, suggested, "Your Majesty, the letter is finished. Shall I seal it and have it sent out right away?"

Yan Weichu replied listlessly, "Mhm."

Since he’d already written it, he’d regret it if he didn’t send it.

As he handed over the letter, he said quietly, "If the Marquis of Dingbei receives the letter and doesn’t respond, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know."

Zhao Anfu acknowledged quietly, inwardly blaming Xie Xiao. The Marquis of Dingbei was truly being unreasonable, making the emperor so upset.

When the letter reached Xie Xiao, he had just returned from inspecting the camps.

That night, he went back to his residence, lit a lamp in his study, and carefully opened the envelope.

After reading Yan Weichu’s words, Xie Xiao gently set down the letter and stared at the words as they gradually blurred in the flickering light.

Yan Weichu had once said that the emperor was lonely and isolated, that it was cold at the top. The difficulties and hardships he had mentioned casually in front of Xie Xiao were not just empathy—they were Yan Weichu’s own lived experience as the emperor.

Xie Xiao had never pondered it deeply before, but today it truly moved him.

He imagined Yan Weichu’s hesitation and frustration as he wrote these words, especially the line, "I’ve killed too many people, and it’s making me a bit uncomfortable." It felt as though he could touch Yan Weichu’s inner conflict and soft-hearted nature through the text.

He truly believed that Yan Weichu was a kind-hearted and benevolent emperor—it was just that this kindness and benevolence were not given to those who would praise him.

The realization that Yan Weichu chose to confide in him when unhappy—perhaps could only confide in him—made Xie Xiao’s heart ache all the more.

He didn’t know if his comfort would be of any use, but he had to try.

He took out paper and brush, and for the first time in a long while, wrote a heartfelt reply to Yan Weichu.

When he received the letter from Wulong, Yan Weichu was pleasantly surprised.

Xie Xiao’s reply was short but sincere. He said Yan Weichu had done nothing wrong and shouldn’t care what the officials below thought or said—he should stay true to himself. He also suggested that if Yan Weichu felt unwell, he might try walking among the common people to see for himself, as it might help clear his mind.

Yan Weichu read the letter several times over and asked the messenger, "Did the Marquis of Dingbei say when he would come to see me?"

The messenger lowered his head. "...The Marquis did not say."

Yan Weichu sighed. Well, his cousin was hard on the outside but soft inside. He could understand.

Since he had nothing else to do that day, he decided to follow Xie Xiao’s advice and walk among the common people.

The emperor went out in civilian clothes, accompanied by a dozen or so Imperial Guards and Qilin Guard attendants disguised as ordinary guards. They left the city and headed for the nearby countryside.

It was harvest season, and the fields were bustling with farmers hard at work.

Yan Weichu stepped out of the carriage, paused by the paths along the fields to watch for a moment, and asked a Ministry of Revenue official who had accompanied him, "Is the harvest good here this year?"

The official replied, "This is a bumper year, and the court has just exempted two seasons of taxes. The people here can all have enough to eat."

Yan Weichu didn’t entirely trust what officials said, so he had the Imperial Guards bring over a few farmers working in the fields. Without revealing his identity, he claimed to be an imperial envoy sent by the emperor and asked about their harvest, whether they had any grievances with the court, and urged them to speak freely.

These simple, honest farmers were too timid at first, so Yan Weichu mentioned that the recently executed county magistrate had been caught because of them. Hearing this, they grew bold and began speaking out eagerly.

These people were all refugees who had migrated from Guanzhong years ago to settle new land here. They had never had it easy, but now they finally had hope.

Since Yan Weichu took power, he had repeatedly issued decrees to widely reduce taxes and, in the court’s name, distributed grain seeds and lent plow oxen to the people—all acts of benevolent governance.

He had killed many people and confiscated many families’ wealth. Those who controlled the pen criticized this emperor for being obsessed with money, no better than a bandit. But this was also what enabled him to repeatedly show kindness to the common people.

"I heard the emperor is having the lands of the landlords measured, and he’s going to distribute the land they seized to us," said one more informed farmer.

The others were both skeptical and excited. If the court could really distribute land to them, their future would look even brighter.

Yan Weichu affirmed, "It’s true."

While surveying military colonies, he also had people begin investigating hidden civilian farmland. He knew this task was extremely difficult and would strike at many people's interests, but no matter how challenging, he was determined to pursue what he wanted to accomplish.

Upon hearing this, the farmers were thrilled, their faces flushing red with excitement. They knelt down tearfully, kowtowing toward the distant capital to express their thanks for the emperor's grace, shouting "Long live the emperor!"

And their emperor was actually standing right before them. For the first time in many days, a genuine smile appeared on Yan Weichu's face, as if a great weight had been lifted off his shoulders.

After returning, he picked up his pen and wrote a letter to Xie Xiao again.

"Cousin, cousin, I went among the common people, and they all speak well of me! Their gratitude is sincere and utterly without pretense. I'm truly happy."

"You were right—I made no mistake. I don't care how those old fools curse me; they're ugly in both appearance and heart. I won't lower myself to their level."

When Xie Xiao received the letter and read these lines, he couldn't help but smile.

Yan Weichu's proud, triumphant, and radiant demeanor shone through the words, like a cat lying on its back waiting to be praised and petted. He admitted that his heart truly softened.

But the issues standing between them remained unresolved.

He was unwilling to retreat back to the position of a subject, yet he also knew that once he chose to act recklessly, he would no longer be able to tolerate the things he had been cautious about.

Whether it was the potential for future estrangement between them or Yan Weichu's duty to produce heirs for the sake of the nation's stability.

He wasn't capable of such magnanimity; he had his own selfish desires and a dark side to him. He feared that one day this darker aspect of himself might destroy Yan Weichu.

He still needed to think, to consider more...