Unruly Phoenix Xiaoyao

Chapter 90: Xie Clan's eldest young master's wife

Grand Preceptor Xie waited at his estate for two days, but received no retaliation from the imperial clansmen. Though he was still uneasy, a stone had come to settle on his heart. If the victims hadn't come to seek reparations, that only meant two things. One, the victims were too scared to take action, or two, they were still figuring out how to get their revenge. Prince Zhi was a man with guts, so the second possibility had to be the case.

Grand Preceptor Xie had a firm handle on Prince Zhi. Once he spread news that this prince was doing business with the Northern Hu, people would be drowning Prince Zhi in their spittle with him lifting a finger. But it was difficult to use this information against the man because it'd hurt him more than Prince Zhi. It was impossible for Prince Zhi to keep up the business by himself. He had to be using suppliers, transporters, and middlemen. Throughout the journey, he would've spent money to let the officials and soldiers allow them passage, etc. There was a big group of people involved in the enterprise, so stopping Prince Zhi's business would ruin their livelihoods as well. Once that was gone, he might as well be killing them and their parents. Grand Preceptor Xie had no wish to incur such resentment from them all.

"Wait," Grand Preceptor Xie told his three sons. "I'd like to see whether Prince Zhi is going to fight me with all he has."

His three sons only had the right to listen to his orders.

"Tomorrow, Qin Xuan will enter the city," Grand Preceptor Xie told Xie Anyi again. "Remember to pick him up."

The eldest son of the Xie Clan murmured an assent. The second son couldn't help curling his lip in disdain. "He's nothing but a military man."

"Without that military man, could you be enjoying a life of peace and wealth?" Grand Preceptor Xie looked coldly at his second son, who was a head at the "Scram!"

His second son withdrew from the study, too scared to say another word. Grand Preceptor Xie looked at his remaining two sons, who weren't much better than the one who left. They'd read their share of books, but they weren't talented at all! With his hands clasped behind his back, Grand Preceptor Xie paced around the study before he said, "Qin Xuan holds the reins to our Xie Clan's businesses in Jiangnan."

"How could it be him?" the third young master of the Xie Clan exclaimed.

"How are we supposed to do business without someone shipping the goods?" Grand Preceptor Xie retorted towards his unperceptive son. His third son fell silent.

"I don't care how you feel," Grand Preceptor Xie added, glancing at Xie Anyi, "But while Qin Xuan's in the capital city, you have to put on a show as an affectionate couple with your wife."

Xie Anyi hung his head and mumbled out a 'yes.'

"Father." Another voice called out from outside the study. The eldest and second young masters felt their expressions change at the voice. This was Grand Preceptor Xie's bastard son, Xie Anwu.[1. Xie Anwu (谢安武) - An means "peace, pacify," Wu means "martial, military."]

"Come in," Grand Preceptor Xie said at the same time he waved a hand towards his two remaining sons.

When Xie Anwu entered the room, he accidentally brushed shoulders with Xie Anyi and Xie Anshi.[2. Xie Anshi (谢安世) - An means "peace, pacify," Shi means "world."] Xie Anshi wanted to bow in apology, but Xie Anyi had already dragged his other brother out of the room.

"What did father find that flunkey sapling for?" Xie Anshi asked his older brother only a few steps out of the study. Xie Anwu heard every single word and curled his hands into fists. Then he entered the study.