Chapter 2: Aunt

Chapter 2 – Aunt

You want me to be honest and kind? Then what if I’m neither?

Even my own father dared not chastise me at will, and now you, you little whelp, dare to rebel?

His fury surged, boundless and wild. Since assisting Zhu Di in seizing the throne, Zhu Gaoxu had grown arrogant, convinced he could control everything with ease—yet here, with Xu Jingchang, he was met with steel.

Grinding his teeth, blazing with anger, he spat, “Xu Jingchang, let me tell you, boy, when I say something, it must be done. I’m not here to negotiate. Whether you agree or not, it changes nothing! Xu Huizu is doomed!”

This was tearing all pretense aside—no more courtesy.

Any more words would be wasted breath.

“Men!” Xu Jingchang shouted, his voice ringing loud and harsh.

At his call, four household guards poured in from outside.

These veterans, men who had clawed their way from battlefields soaked in blood, showed not a trace of fear before the fierce and formidable Zhu Gaoxu.

“A house in mourning admits no outsiders!” Xu Jingchang declared, issuing a direct order of expulsion.

At once, Xu Yi, the leader, extended his arm, caring nothing for Zhu Gaoxu’s status, and growled, “Please leave!”

Zhu Gaoxu sneered coldly in his rage. “Very well, Xu Jingchang, you’ve got some nerve. Just wait—I always keep my word!”

With that, Zhu Gaoxu stamped his foot in vexation, his face thunderous as he strode away.

Wang Ning lingered a moment, casting Xu Jingchang a long, meaningful look, as if to say, “How can you be so reckless?” He heaved a heavy sigh. The Xu family was finished—who would dare offend the King of Han? This was courting death. He shook his head and followed Zhu Gaoxu out.

When the two of them were gone, Xu Jingchang let out a long breath. As much as he disliked making an enemy of Zhu Gaoxu—who was, after all, the emperor’s favored son and a powerful force in the military—if forced to choose, there was no question: he would stand with Zhu Dapang.

But truly, it was Zhu Gaoxu’s own arrogance, his insistence on forcing the impossible.

Yet Xu Jingchang had not foreseen that, shortly after Zhu Gaoxu’s departure, word would arrive—a squad of Embroidered Uniform Guards had burst into the main hall of the Xu estate, arrested several of Xu Huizu’s sons, and hauled them off to prison.

Though Xu Jingchang also lived in the Xu estate, his own courtyard was actually an extension built on land purchased to the east after Xu Zengshou came of age.

This time, the Embroidered Uniform Guards ignored Xu Jingchang entirely, heading straight for the main family. No need to ask—it was clearly Zhu Gaoxu’s doing. Xu Jingchang’s advice had fallen on deaf ears.

Xu Yi, grief-stricken, said, “Young master, these Embroidered Uniform hounds have become far too bold, daring to storm our home at will. The Xu family’s honor is in shambles. I hear the Lord Marquis, originally commanding troops in Jiangbei, has been escorted back to the capital and thrown into a death cell. When has the Xu family ever suffered such disgrace? Young master, say something!”

Xu Jingchang’s face was grim. Zhu Gaoxu had made his intentions clear—this was no simple threat or bribe, but a calculated plan. Otherwise, who would dare trespass into the Xu estate, given its status?

This was no mere quarrel between cousins—it required careful handling.

Xu Jingchang pondered silently. Xu Yi grew more baffled; after having witnessed Xu Jingchang rebuke Zhu Gaoxu earlier, he’d expected him to step forward now, speak out, and rescue his kin. Instead, he remained silent, even though those imprisoned were his own flesh and blood.

After a long moment, the old retainer lifted his head, glancing at the bow hanging on the wall, and muttered, “In the past, the Lord Marquis taught you to read, to ride, and to shoot, treating you as his own…”

Xu Jingchang spoke softly, “You mean to say my uncle was good to me, and I shouldn’t stand by and do nothing?”

Xu Yi’s face twisted in pain. “This old servant dares not say so.”

Xu Jingchang sighed. “Even if I wished to save him, I must first understand what the true game is. Xu Yi, sit down, let’s talk.”

Xu Yi did not move.

Xu Jingchang rose, pressing him down into the seat opposite, and spoke with earnest gravity, “You’ve served the Xu family for decades, seen much and endured more. Right now, I have no one else to consult. Only you.”

Xu Jingchang sighed. “Tell me, why does Zhu Gaoxu want to kill my uncle?”

Xu Yi, still shrouded in grief, replied in a low voice, “This old servant does not know.”

Xu Jingchang, calm and cool, said, “I’ve thought it over. He has at least three reasons. First, during the recent campaign, my uncle led armies that opposed the emperor’s forces and left the northern army shamed. Zhu Gaoxu is deeply supported by the new military elite—if he eliminates my uncle’s family, he’ll win the loyalty of those who back his bid for crown prince. A perfect return for their support.

Second, though the founding emperor all but wiped out the Huai-Xi marquises, two dukedoms survived—our Xu family’s Marquis of Wei and the Marquis of Cao. Li Jinglong, that useless wretch, has proven for four years that he is nothing but a lump of mud—no one expects him to protect anyone. If my uncle falls, the old Huai-Xi officers and the veteran generals in the army will naturally fall under the sway of the King of Han. At that point, even His Majesty will have to regard him with caution.

Third, there is the act itself—killing the Marquis of Wei, who was granted a perpetual, hereditary title by the founding emperor and is the head of the nobility, renowned and respected. Killing my uncle would cement the King of Han’s supreme authority—his elder brother would be no match for him.”

Just as many powerful ministers, when they reach the height of their power, depose and enthrone emperors at will.

Who is enthroned or deposed is less important than the act itself.

If one can depose an emperor, what power is beyond reach?

Likewise, to strip a hereditary marquis of his title is the act of a crown prince.

“So, the King of Han’s move is indeed shrewd. He even tried to rope me in. Had I agreed, the Xu family would already be his lackeys,” Xu Jingchang concluded.

Xu Yi’s face shifted through shades of fear. “Young master, does he not care about the Empress? She and the Lord Marquis are deeply attached as siblings—she would never consent to this.”

Xu Jingchang shook his head. “Xu Yi, which son do you think my aunt favors more?”

Xu Yi replied, “Surely the eldest prince—he is honest, loyal, filial, and respectful. The Lord Marquis always spoke well of him.”

Xu Jingchang nodded, a wry smile on his lips. “Exactly. Since my aunt won’t support Zhu Gaoxu regardless, why try to curry favor with her? Besides, she’s his mother—she’ll never truly turn on him. You spoke of sibling affection, but after four years of war, who can say how much is left?”

Xu Yi seemed thunderstruck, silent for a long time before saying bleakly, “Young master, you are wise not to join the King of Han. But will you really just watch the Lord Marquis and his family perish, offering no help? If word gets out, your reputation will suffer.”

Xu Jingchang nodded. “Indeed, this matter has fallen on me. My uncle’s fate is beyond my control—I cannot, must not, plead for him directly. I alone cannot stand against Zhu Gaoxu and the powerful new military nobles behind him. Offending them would doom the Xu family’s future.”

These words were true, but to Xu Yi, they sounded cold as ice.

Xu Jingchang quickly continued, “Yet if I let Zhu Gaoxu have his way, he will certainly execute my uncle’s entire family before my aunt arrives in the capital. At that point, he’ll drag me down as well, accusing me of conspiring against my uncle. I won’t be able to defend myself. Even if I escape with my life, I’ll bear the stigma of cowardice and uselessness. Once people look down on you, rising again is near impossible.”

Zhu Gaoxu’s claim that Xu Jingchang’s agreement or refusal made no difference was no idle boast.

“In the end, only two people can influence my uncle’s fate now—the emperor, and my aunt,” Xu Jingchang said in a low voice. “I will write to my aunt, lay everything bare, and ask her to decide.”

Seeing that Xu Jingchang was still willing to act, Xu Yi hastily wiped his tears and fetched paper and brush.

Though Xu Jingchang had inherited his predecessor’s memories, he had no talent for elegant prose, so he wrote plainly—after all, the Xu clan were soldiers, not scholars.

With that thought, he picked up the brush and began:

“Aunt, your husband is about to kill your elder brother. One is your husband, one your brother—what should be done? You must speak! Furthermore, your second son wants to leap over your firstborn and become crown prince. He’s canvassing the court and trying to force your nephew to sign a petition. If I refuse, I offend your second son; if I comply, I offend your firstborn. Aunt, what am I to do?

Aunt, your second son is planning to kill his uncle and all his uncle’s children—to root them out entirely. I just want to ask, aunt, you bear the surname Xu; you too are from the Xu family. Can you consent to this? I cannot meddle in the affairs of your husband and my uncle, but those cousins of mine are young—they don’t deserve to die, do they? I argued with your second son, and now he insists on acting by force. My uncle’s family is already imprisoned. If your second son is set on sacrificing his uncle, who knows what he’ll do in the future? I dare not imagine it, nor dare I ask.

Aunt, your nephew is pitiful. My father has just died, my uncle is in a death cell, and of the great Xu family, only I remain. Above, there’s no one to shelter me; below, no confidant to rely on. Wolves and hounds circle—I’m surrounded by schemers. What am I to do? You are my own aunt—please, think of a way! Save your nephew—he cannot hold on much longer.”

Xu Jingchang set down his brush and inspected the letter. The emotion was genuine, the message clear.

Satisfied, he sealed it at once.

“Xu Yi, can you find someone to deliver this to my aunt as quickly as possible?”

Xu Yi nodded. “That is easily done. The Empress still has trusted Xu family retainers at her side. The Left Commander has been secretly in contact with the northern army these years—the couriers are still available.”

Though Xu Zengshou had not inherited the title of Marquis of Wei, as the son of Xu Da, he had risen to Left Commander. He and Zhu Di had been corresponding in secret; sending a letter was a simple matter.

Xu Jingchang nodded, then asked, “Can we contact anyone near the emperor? I’m still in mourning and cannot appear before him directly.”

Xu Yi hesitated, unsure of Xu Jingchang’s intentions, but replied, “In the past, there was a eunuch named Ma He who often visited our home. Now, he is in great favor with the emperor and has been granted the surname Zheng.”

Zheng He!

Xu Jingchang’s eyes lit up. “Excellent. Arrange for someone to tell Eunuch Zheng to inform His Majesty that I’ve written to my aunt.”

Xu Yi was startled, then alarmed. “Young master, if word leaks and the King of Han finds out, what of the Lord Marquis?”

Xu Jingchang considered a moment, then sighed. “As a subject, I can hide nothing from the emperor. If this letter causes a rift between His Majesty and my aunt, I will pay the price. But it cannot be helped.”

Xu Yi, long experienced, immediately understood.

Writing to the Empress was to save a life.

Alerting Zhu Di meant that if he truly intended to kill Xu Huizu, he would act before the Empress reached the capital—cutting the knot swiftly.

Either way, Xu Huizu’s fate now rested on the couple’s relationship.

By placing the matter in their hands, Xu Jingchang washed himself clean of all involvement.

No matter what happened, it would have nothing to do with him.

Xu Yi could not help but admire his young master’s cunning—truly formidable.

Yet as he left the study and stood on the steps outside, a chill crept over him… The young master had indeed grown up overnight, but the Xu family would never return to what it once was.

New book—please add to your collection and recommend…

(End of chapter)