Chapter 156 – Pride

Xie Yi tossed the merit report aside, his expression somewhat grim. “Have we received any news from Dingshai?”

Fang Zixing replied, “It was still the same letter that came with Xu Chun’s. Judging from the situation, they should still be at sea. Winter has arrived, and it’s also rather inconvenient to send pigeons for messages.”

Su Huan comforted him, “This wasn’t avoiding storms and coincidentally encountering pirates, then winning a battle. It shows that our crown prince has some good fortune on his side.”

Xie Yi said, “What good fortune? He has Sheng Changtian leading the Sheng family’s elite navy. Can’t he tell when there’s a storm? How could he let Young Master go out to sea and take risks? They must have predicted the storm ahead of time and estimated that the pirate fleet would head there to avoid the storm. They then ambushed them there.”

“It’s clear from this report that Fang Zijing covered for him.”

“Fighting a naval battle during a snowstorm, how dangerous! This is taking a risk. He didn’t dare to tell me, so he could only lie about accidentally running into each other while avoiding the storm.”

Fang Zixing said, “Good tactics! I would take this risk too. What a rare opportunity! Even if the ambush failed, we’d just hide on the island.”

Xie Yi glanced at him without saying anything.

Su Huan said, “Sounds safe enough. Besides, those two ships are ironclads, very sturdy! Since they managed to seize so many heads, surely there were even more captives who jumped overboard. I’m sure they also salvaged a lot of loot.”

Fang Zixing added, “Right, Xu Chun never does anything without profit. It must’ve been very profitable, worth taking the risk.”

Su Huan rolled her eyes at Fang Zixing when Xie Yi couldn’t see, then continued to defend him, “This isn’t taking a risk, this is waiting patiently for an advantage, very stable. When the crown prince left, he promised His Majesty again and again that he wouldn’t rush into danger lightly.”

Fang Zixing finally understood Su Huan’s meaning, but what war doesn’t involve risks? But he finally shut his mouth.

Su Huan smiled, “His Majesty should reward him now, right?”

Xie Yi said indifferently, “The Ministry of War has already discussed the rewards based on their merits.”

Su Huan smiled, “Minister Lei Ming is fair. It seems the crown prince will get another promotion.”

Xie Yi simply set the report aside and unfolded the letter on his desk to read. It was full of trivial matters about raising funds, escorting goods, the condition of the ships, the cannons, and how many sailors had been recruited. Then it expressed gratitude; the two new vice-inspectors were very capable, and a date had been chosen to sail with the food supplies. It ended with great enthusiasm, “On the eve of battle, all hesitations and worries have vanished, leaving only a burning passion. Remembering Eldest Brother’s teachings, I only wish to eliminate the barbarians who disturb China. Indeed, this is a joy in life.”

Only at the end did he reassure Xie Yi with sweet nothings, “Though I am at the edge of the sea and the end of the sky, I never forget Eldest Brother’s teachings, and I do not dare to take risks lightly. The winter is harsh and cold, please take care of yourself, Eldest Brother.”

Xie Yi put the letter back in the box on his desk, thinking: If he didn’t remember my teachings, he would know to spin a lie to placate me. If he does remember, why is he so careless with his body? There are generals in the army who strive fearlessly for glory, but he didn’t need to do this.

Others serve their sovereign, but he serves Eldest Brother.

He picked up the report to write something when he saw Fang Zixing hurry out. After a moment, he returned to report, “Your Majesty, Helan Jingjiang is kneeling at the palace gates asking for punishment.”

Xie Yi looked up, “For what crime?”

Fang Zixing said, “He beat up Fan Tanhua.”

Xie Yi asked, “…Why?”

Fang Zixing explained, “Apparently, Fan Tanhua sent a matchmaker with heavy gifts to propose marriage to Miss Helan.”

Xie Yi stared blankly.

Fang Zixing continued, “Helan Jingjiang led a squad of soldiers to dump all the gifts at the Fan residence’s door. Fan Tanhua came out to apologize, but Helan Jingjiang beat him up right away, then went straight to the palace gates to kneel and ask for punishment.”

Xie Yi stared blankly. Why couldn’t anyone let him have peace? Rubbing his temples, he said, “Send a doctor to treat Fan Muchun first. Have Helan Jingjiang return home to be confined and await punishment.”

He stood up and sneered, “I’ll leave the palace to visit the Fan residence.”

Fan Muchun was lying in bed when he heard the emperor was coming, so he got up to kneel in greeting.

Xie Yi saw that he was agile, but his face was bruised and swollen, as if he had opened a sauce shop. He laughed coldly, “I see General Helan held back. Otherwise, with his skills and the grudge between the two families, he could’ve dealt a fatal blow. You can still kneel?”

Fan Muchun’s eyes were red as he knelt down and bowed, “I know I’ve disgraced Your Majesty and made another mistake.”

Xie Yi said, “You disgrace your own Fan family, what has that got to do with me? Tell me, what mistakes did you make?”

Fan Muchun whispered, “I just wanted to make amends, so I sent a matchmaker privately… Also, I wanted to resolve the enmity between the Helan and Fan families.”

Xie Yi chuckled, “A deep-seated feud, how can you resolve it? Just do your job well, why provoke them? You’ve been manipulated by your sister again, haven’t you? Otherwise, why would you think of proposing marriage?”

Fan Muchun hurriedly said, “It has nothing to do with my sister. It was indeed my idea to make amends. There was indeed a misunderstanding at first… My sister only mentioned that Miss Helan’s situation was pitiful, and now it’s hard for her to find a husband. I just thought that since I’m not married yet, and my family is like this now…”

Xie Yi said, “Fool, the Helan family’s daughter, the regent once wanted to make her my empress. Did your good aunt and good sister tell you this history? Helan’s siblings were unjustly demoted to the pleasure quarters and deliberately humiliated. Do you think the Fan family was innocent? Do you really think it was a misunderstanding?”

Fan Muchun was struck by lightning as he looked at Xie Yi.

Xie Yi said, “Do you understand now? Your sister fears that I might still have such thoughts, making her empress, and then she would definitely retaliate against the Fan family. So she pushed you to propose marriage. She probably told you to settle your marriage early and start a family for the Fan family soon, right? They are now criminals, all their honors and titles revoked. They must’ve told you how pitiful they are, and that the Fan family’s only hope is you. Then she urged you to reconcile with Helan Jingjiang. Anyone could guess what you would do.”

Fan Muchun closed his eyes, tears streaming down his face. Today, Fan Auruo’s words were vivid in his mind, exactly as the emperor said. He saw his aunt and sister were indeed haggard and old, and his sister had instructed him to find ways to reconcile with the Helan family and dispel the misunderstanding to avoid becoming lifelong enemies, which would harm the Fan family.

Xie Yi said, “You’re like this, after serving outside for a year, and you haven’t improved at all. Poor Uncle was full of strategies, and even on his deathbed, he could still play chess with me. Yet you only learned to be stubborn. It’s fine if you lack common sense, but why do you lack ambition as well?”

Suddenly thinking of Xu Chun, he couldn’t help comparing them in his heart, and became even more disgusted. “In times of external threats and internal strife, others, as ministers, think of establishing achievements and galloping across the battlefield, killing bandits and rebels to achieve a lifetime of satisfaction.”

“What about you? Living in the past, entangled endlessly, and foolishly thinking of reconciling with the Helan family. There are so many ways to socialize, but you only think of marriage. You’ve studied all the classics, but your head is full of thoughts of rotting with those corrupt people?”

“The Fan family is the Fan family, and you are you! Why do you take on sins that you didn’t commit?”

“At the En Rong banquet, you boasted that you were Liu Lang, eager for reform. What are you doing now?”

Fan Muchun suddenly burst into loud sobs.

Xie Yi watched him coldly, thinking: If I scold him once more and he doesn’t come to his senses, I can’t teach him anymore. I’ll just let him go back to his hometown to study.

Suddenly, he felt proud again, the child he had taught himself was much more advanced.