Chapter 58: Xie Zhangyu's Compromise

Within the Zhang family estate.

Yang Jing, Yang Yuanbo, Yang Le, as well as Xie Zhangyu, Xie Zhangyuan, and Xie Shuyuan were all racking their brains for ways to muster some troops to rescue Qinghe County.

In the main hall, several members of the Zhang family, officials from Ji Commandery, and numerous gentlemen from distinguished families were engaged in conversation.

Suddenly, Xie Shudu hurriedly strode in and went straight to Xie Zhangyuan and Xie Zhangyu.

"Father, Uncle! Just now, from Zhao Han's lips, Shudu learned that Fu Zihou claims to have come from Qinghe County, and the rebels outside Qinghe have already scattered and fled!"

Xie Shudu announced.

His words stunned everyone in the Xie family and the Yangs alike. They exchanged incredulous glances.

"What, fled?"

"How could the rebels possibly flee?"

Yang Jing, Yang Yuanbo, Yang Le and the others looked at Xie Shudu with suspicion.

Even Xie Zhangyu, Xie Zhangyuan, and Xie Shuyuan were taken aback. They had never expected, while they were busy planning to rescue Qinghe, that news would come saying the rebel army outside its gates had already dispersed.

How could this be?

"The siege of Qinghe is lifted? The rebels have scattered?"

"Impossible! Aside from Ji Commandery, what other troops nearby could rush to Qinghe's aid?"

The men behind every wooden table in the hall, whether old or robust, began to murmur their doubts. Few believed the report.

Yang Jing was about to question Xie Shudu when a thought struck him. He quickly looked to Xie Zhangyu and Xie Zhangyuan.

"Fu Zihou? Wasn't he the one who, in Wanqu, deduced that Lu Mingyue would seize the banquet as an opportunity to attack?"

Though two months had passed, Yang Jing still remembered the name.

After all, the bride at that Xie family wedding was from the Yangs, and Lu Mingyue's actions were an affront to their honor. News of what happened at Wanqu had spread through the Yangs, and Fu Zihou's name lingered in their minds.

"It was indeed him," Xie Zhangyu confirmed to Yang Jing.

"Such a person would not lie, would he?"

"Could the siege truly be broken?"

"I wonder what happened…"

Hearing Xie Zhangyu's reply, Yang Jing, Yang Yuanbo, and Yang Le felt torn between skepticism and excitement, their hearts racing, yet uneasy lest the news prove false.

"Shudu, hurry, invite him in!"

Yang Jing finally decided to bring Fu Zihou to the main hall for direct questioning.

Xie Shudu hesitated, looking to his father and uncle for approval.

"Uncle, let Zhangyu and our cousin go to inquire. Please wait a moment!"

Xie Zhangyu stood and addressed Yang Jing.

Beside him, Xie Zhangyuan understood that Fu Zihou's visit was surely about the Li family. He rose with his cousin, saluted, and the two, with Xie Shudu, left the hall.

Inside, everyone grew increasingly curious, unsure what was happening, but they waited patiently.

Beneath the pavilion.

Fu Zihou watched as Xie Zhangyu, Xie Zhangyuan, and the others approached, raising his hand in greeting.

"Zihou greets his two uncles!"

Fu Zihou saluted.

"No need for such formality, nephew. Had you not warned us that day, who knows what might have befallen the Xie family!"

"Please, sit!"

Xie Zhangyu and Xie Zhangyuan were gracious and courteous.

The difference between noble families and ordinary gentry often revealed itself in such interactions.

Looking at Fu Zihou, neither rushed to ask about Qinghe County; after all, a moment's delay mattered little. To know if his words were true, they first needed to understand his purpose.

"Thank you," Fu Zihou replied, but instead of sitting, he glanced at Zhao Han.

"Brother Han, I must intrude—may I ask you to step aside?"

Fu Zihou apologized, not because he regarded Zhao Han as an outsider, but precisely because he wished to spare him from involvement.

"Very well," Zhao Han, initially perplexed, recognized the look in Fu Zihou's eyes—just as it was in Wancheng—and realized something. He nodded, saluted the Xie elders, and left.

Under the pavilion, only Fu Zihou, Xie Zhangyu, Xie Zhangyuan, and Xie Shudu remained.

"Uncles, I will not conceal my purpose: I have come today for the Li family's matter. Years ago, Xie Yan killed Li Shuyun, the Li family's third son. You are surely aware of this."

Fu Zihou sat, speaking frankly.

The Xie elders exchanged glances, unsurprised, and turned their attention to him.

"Surely, nephew, you know Xie Yan is of the Xie clan," Xie Zhangyu said, implying that regardless of ties to the Cui family, the Xies would not hand him over.

"May I ask, why must the Xie family protect Xie Yan, son of a concubine and a disgrace to the clan, who murdered Li Shuyun? It only brings shame and notoriety to the Xies. I have always believed, through centuries of renown, that your family would understand virtue and justice better than any."

Fu Zihou raised his hand, addressing Xie Zhangyu, having discerned he was the true decision-maker.

Xie Zhangyu listened, shaking his head, neither angered nor moved, his attitude clear: the Xies would not surrender Xie Yan.

The pavilion fell quiet. Fu Zihou gazed at their silence, then looked elsewhere.

"Two years ago, Yang Xuangan rebelled here at Liyang. That same year, Li Shuyun was killed by Xie Yan."

Fu Zihou continued.

His words made Xie Zhangyuan and Xie Zhangyu look at him instinctively.

Now they understood how Fu Zihou, at Wanqu, could deduce a rebel's entry and suspect Lu Mingyue.

But this was an old grievance, not an imminent event—two years had passed, and speculation remained just that.

Xie Shudu frowned at Fu Zihou, who turned to meet his gaze.

"The world knows that Su Wei and Yang Su once sought the life of Old Li; it knows that Yang Su's sons and Old Li's sons were long at odds. Yet Li Shuyun did not die at Yang Xuangan's hand, but at Xie Yan's. Uncles, I have no proof. Today, I seek only your word and invite you to share a cup of wine."

Fu Zihou picked up a bamboo flask, and amidst their curiosity, poured its contents into teacups.

"Please," he said, filling his own cup and drinking it in one gulp.

Xie Zhangyu, Xie Zhangyuan, and Xie Shudu, intrigued by the aroma, tasted the wine.

Instantly, the elders' faces changed.

Even Xie Shudu marveled at the flavor, examining his cup with wonder.

"Uncles, what do you think of this wine?" Fu Zihou asked.

"A rare treasure," Xie Zhangyuan declared. In his life, he had sampled many wines, including those of the Western Regions during the Sui dynasty's golden years. This was not the finest, but certainly unique and precious.

"Speak freely, nephew," Xie Zhangyu said, setting down his cup.

At his invitation, Fu Zihou gazed at the cup, placing his palm by its side.

"You both know His Majesty well. I wish to ask: will the Xie family offer this wine to the emperor themselves, or let the Cui family present it?"

His words made the two elders exchange a deep breath, understanding his meaning.

From invoking Yang Xuangan, to admitting he had no proof, to producing wine and speaking of the emperor's temperament, Fu Zihou was both threatening and offering terms.

Outside the pavilion, a servant hurried through the gate toward the hall.

But neither Xie Zhangyu nor Xie Zhangyuan cared for interruptions, their thoughts fixed on Fu Zihou.

"The Xie family owes nothing to Xie Sixin; it is his failure to raise his son. The Li family seeks only justice. Why persist in defending a disgrace like Xie Yan? If Old Xie were alive, he would not allow the name to be sullied by a bastard's offspring! The Xie family is more than just Old Xie; even after years apart, he longed to return. I admire such sentiment."

Fu Zihou spoke quietly, looking at the three Xies.

"The wine will be sold in future, with half the profits exclusive to the Xie family; the rest will have nothing to do with Cui or myself. As for the matter, no one but the Xie and Li families will know."

He sighed, laying out both threat and benefit—now it was up to them.

A cold wind passed, and silence reigned beneath the pavilion.

Suddenly, Xie Shuyuan rushed out of the main hall toward them.

"Father! Father!"

He hurried to his father's side.

"What is it?"

Seeing his son's anxious expression, Xie Zhangyu frowned, sensing something serious had happened.

"Father, it's news from Qinghe County!"

Xie Shuyuan glanced at the young man beside him.

"Qinghe! Speak!"

A bad premonition rose in Xie Zhangyu's heart as he looked at Fu Zihou.

Fu Zihou had said the rebels outside Qinghe had fled; surely he would not lie if he came to negotiate.

Could it be the rebels' retreat was merely Zhang Jinchen's ruse?

Within the pavilion, Xie Zhangyuan and Xie Shudu were equally worried.

Under their gaze, Xie Shuyuan finally spoke.

"Father, four days ago at dawn, the rebel leader Zhang Jinchen led over ten thousand men to attack Qinghe County. As Qinghe fell, an allied force struck from the rear, its commander slew the rebel general Xu Jinpeng, routed the enemy, and pursued Zhang Jinchen, whose whereabouts are now unknown..."

He reported, noting the joy dawning on his father's and uncle's faces, though he himself could not smile.

"The commander of the allied force was named... Fu Zihou."

As he spoke, he saw shock replace joy on the faces of his father, uncle, and cousin, all turning to the young man beside them.

"Father, the Yang elders wish to meet Zihou," Xie Shuyuan said softly, recalling how the Yangs, upon learning of the Qinghe news and Fu Zihou's presence, all wanted to see him.

"The allied commander..."

Xie Zhangyu and Xie Zhangyuan stared at Fu Zihou in astonishment.

Before they could speak, a faint snap sounded as Xie Shudu rose.

"Zi... Zihou, who is that?" he asked, pointing to a wounded man in the courtyard supported by two others.

The elders turned, and realization struck.

"That is Zhang Jinchen," Fu Zihou replied, glancing at the courtyard, then back at the four.

"Also a gift prepared for the Xie family."

He looked at Xie Zhangyu.

Seeing his gaze, Xie Zhangyu fell silent; Xie Zhangyuan had already made up his mind.

Fu Zihou's offer was too advantageous, with benefits outweighing trouble. Anyone could see the right path.

Moreover, Fu Zihou had promised secrecy.

The Xie family now lacked resources to nurture its youth; with Xie Shuyuan marrying into the Yangs, much of their foundation was spent on him. Future connections would focus on Xie Shuyuan.

But Xie Zhangyuan too had a son, Shudu, his own flesh and blood, a member of the Xie clan.

Could he bear to see his son left out, with others gaining position and honor, while Shudu had only his name in the records?

In the quiet, a voice finally broke the silence.

"When does nephew wish to take him?"

Xie Zhangyu spoke slowly.

In the end, he chose to hand Xie Yan over to Fu Zihou.

If, moments before, he had hesitated despite Fu Zihou's promises, learning of his prowess and the events at Qinghe had settled his mind.

If their family's honor was preserved, he would not allow a disgrace to bring further trouble.

Earlier, he had considered the Xies' leverage over the Cui family, especially with their alliance to the Yangs; if the Cui-Fu relationship was shallow, strong compensation might sway the Cui family to ignore the matter.

But now, Xie Zhangyu understood that even if the Xies and Yangs joined forces with the Lus, Lis, and Zhengs, the Cui family would stand firmly with Fu Zihou.

Fu Zihou had risked his life to defeat the rebels and save Qinghe; its people, officials, and noble families would remember.

The Xies could defend their own and offend the Li family for pride, but the Cui family would likewise defend Fu Zihou for their reputation.

Since they could not act against him, and considering his talents, Xie Zhangyu would not risk enmity.

With the current emperor's temperament, his anger over Yang Xuangan, and the goodwill from both the wine and the Cui family, Xie Zhangyu saw that Fu Zihou could use Xie Yan to threaten the entire clan.

Thus, Xie Yan was now their greatest liability.

Better, then, that Fu Zihou remove this menace, ridding the Xies of a hidden danger and granting them a priceless favor.

"If possible, uncle, please arrange it soon. The year is ending, and I wish to return to You County."

Fu Zihou was relieved to hear Xie Zhangyu's agreement.

The Lady Li's grief for her slain son, Aunt Bao's for her husband, Li Le and Li Zhaotian's for their father—all would be answered.

Recalling Lady Li's kindness to the Fu family, always given without expectation, he felt he was finally repaying that debt.

"Very well."

Xie Zhangyu nodded, rising to make arrangements himself.

Xie Zhangyuan breathed easier, as did his son and Xie Shuyuan, who cast complicated glances at Fu Zihou.

Xie Zhangyuan cared little for Xie Yan, and was sure the clan would agree once they understood.

"Nephew, please come sit in the main hall," he invited, for the Yang elders wished to meet Fu Zihou.

Note: Xie Zhangyu held high status in the clan, which enabled his son Xie Shuyuan to marry into the Yangs, investing much of the family's resources in him. This marriage in turn reinforced Xie Zhangyu's standing.