Unruly Phoenix Xiaoyao

Chapter 89: Lady Xiang says, it's dog eat dog

After the sun set and Xie Anyi finished speaking with the imperial physician that was looking after his father, he quickly returned to Grand Preceptor Xie's bedroom and stood in front of the bed.

"Father," he called in a low voice.

"Did the person who went to scout for news return?" Grand Preceptor Xie didn't even ask for his diagnosis, only for updates from the outside.

"He's back," Xie Anyi replied. "Half of Prince Zhi's side courtyard's been burnt up. The imperial clansmen accompanied Lou Zigui to drink tea at the Tender Fragrance Teahouse.[1. Tender Fragrance Teahouse (茗香楼) - Ming means tender tea leaves.] It was impossible to find out what they were talking about, but Prince Zhi has since settled down in his side courtyard."

Grand Preceptor Xie tugged at his collar, short of breath.

Xie Anyi timidly added, "In other news, His Majesty took the Ji grandfather and granddaughter pair to the Drunken Immortal. His Majesty also captured a woman--father's mistress."

Grand Preceptor Xie's eyes flew open, and Xie Anyi hastily lowered his head. After a long time, the Grand Preceptor murmured, "Both the Black Frost Cavalry and the Ji Clan soldiers are far away from us. What are you afraid of?"

Xie Anyi quickly shook his head. "Father, your son isn't afraid."

"Qin Xuan will arrive at the city in three days' time," Grand Preceptor Xie suddenly changed the topic. "You'll pick him up personally outside the city then."

Xie Anyi immediately turned reluctant as he murmured, "Young Wang is going to the temple in three days' time to fulfill her vows. She's still pregnant right now, so son wants to accompany her."

Grand Preceptor Xie stared at Xie Anyi without saying a word. The eldest son of the Xie Clan couldn't even hold out for a second before he nodded. "Son understands. I'll pick up Qin Xuan in three days' time."

"His Majesty took away all the things in the storehouse," Grand Preceptor Xie said, "We cannot have any more problems with our businesses in Jiangnan. Don't offend Qin Xuan during this period."

Xie Anyi's voice was very small. "He's been docile and obedient all these years, he..." Xie Anyi swallowed the rest of his words when Grand Preceptor Xie kept staring at him. The Grand Preceptor waved his hand to dismiss his eldest son, then sighed as the door closed behind him. He wore an utterly exhausted expression. The current political situation was completely out of his grasp, a constant uncertainty that made him ill at ease.

About an hour later, the Grand Preceptor's own wife, Lady Wang, came personally to his rooms with medicine.

"Give some things to my eldest daughter-in-law," Grand Preceptor Xie said after drinking some medicine. "Make sure they're good things."

"Yes, this wife understands," Lady Wang agreed in a low voice. She already knew of the Grand Preceptor's mistress outside the estate, but she couldn't show her dissatisfaction in front of him. Her and her Wang Clan all depended on this man's protection, so no matter how discontent or uncomfortable she felt, she couldn't let him see.

"You may leave," Grand Preceptor Xie waved his hand as usual. Lady Wang left the bedroom and soon met with her niece from the Wang Clan. This niece was none other than Xie Anyi's equal wife[2. equal wife (平妻) - pingqi, a man's second wife with the same supposed status as his first and proper one.] younger née Wang. Her stomach was round from her pregnancy, and two servant girls supported her on both sides as she walked.

"What are you doing?" Lady Wang quickly had née Wang stop walking and approached her instead.

Young née Wang looked like a fragile, delicate type. Despite this, she glanced at Lady Wang before saying, "Just then, Eldest Young Master told me that he can't accompany me to the temple three days later. I came to tell mother[3. mother in this case refers to Lady Wang, who's her mother-in-law in the Xie Clan despite being her aunt in the Wang Clan.] that I won't be going, either."