Chapter 58

The gatekeeper panicked: “Hey! Young Master, how could you—”

The county school servants surged forward, shoving the gatekeeper aside; he cried out: “Help! Someone’s forcing entry!”

Wang Yang strode forward, shouting:

“Jiao Zheng! You bastard, come out! The Wang clan of Langya has thrived for a hundred generations—how dare you, a lowly slave, meddle in our affairs?”

Several armed guards rushed out from the garden toward Wang Yang, but froze at the words “Langya Wang Clan.”

Jiao Zheng arrived with a few men, and upon hearing Wang Yang’s words, he froze in surprise.

“You’re Jiao Zheng?” Wang Yang swept his gaze over the short, stocky man dressed like a wealthy landowner, his eyes brimming with utter contempt.

Jiao Zheng sized up Wang Yang, his gaze hostile: “Who are you—”

“Young Master! Young Master!” He Guanji ran to Wang Yang’s side, bowing deeply: “The magistrate is hosting a banquet at the county school, with many Liu clan youths waiting to pay their respects—”

“No time. Tell Liu Zhao I’m busy.”

He Guanji bowed and withdrew meekly.

County school, Liu Zhao, Liu clan youths... these were the Niyang Liu!

Could this boy truly be from the Langya Wang Clan?

Jiao Zheng’s eye twitched; he signaled the guards, who hurried off to investigate.

Though Jiao Zheng was lowly, he had once served in the capital’s imperial guard and had met many great figures. Seeing Wang Yang’s brazen arrogance, he dared not retaliate, instead bowed and said: “I am Jiao Zheng. May I ask, Young Master—”

Wang Yang cut him off, lashing out: “How dare you! You dared to secretly report to the Prince of Jingling, falsely accusing my uncle of seizing land in Jingzhou! How many people are in your family? Can they survive your recklessness?”

Several of Jiao Zheng’s strong servants, enraged by their master’s humiliation, rolled up their sleeves, ready to strike Wang Yang the moment he gave the order.

Wang Yang sneered: “Tired of living? Can’t wait to drag your master down with you?”

The guard who had gone to investigate returned and whispered to Jiao Zheng: the ox cart outside bore the crest of the Niyang Liu clan.

Jiao Zheng immediately ordered his servants to stand down and clarified: “I know nothing of what the Young Master says! Besides, how could I possibly report to the Prince of Jingling?”

He paused, then cautiously asked: “Might I ask, who is your uncle—”

Wang Yang snapped: “Stop pretending ignorance! Is there another Langya Wang Clan in Jingzhou?”

Earlier, when Wang Yang mentioned the Langya Wang Clan, Jiao Zheng had thought of the mysterious great clan member Wang Tai, who lived in seclusion in Shoukang Alley’s Ding family mansion—though he’d heard Wang Tai was nearly forty, far older than this boy. He’d been puzzled: could another Langya Wang have come to Jingzhou?

Now, hearing Wang Yang’s words, he assumed the “uncle” referred to Wang Tai.

He quickly bowed: “So your uncle—”

Wang Yang cut him off impatiently: “You serve well, don’t you? Eating Jingzhou’s rice, yet thinking only of the Prince of Jingling—stirring up a prince, slandering a court official. I’ll report you straight to the Prince of Badong—see if he’ll tolerate you!”

Jiao Zheng’s blood ran cold at Wang Yang’s words.

Prince of Jingling? Prince of Badong? Stirring up a prince? Slandering a court official?

Though brief, the accusation struck Jiao Zheng with chilling clarity.

This boy had somehow heard rumors that Jiao Zheng had secretly reported Wang Tai’s land seizures in Jingzhou to the Prince of Jingling—and now accused him of being a loyalist of the Prince of Jingling, despite holding office under the Prince of Badong!

The Prince of Jingling now served as Minister of State, one of the Three Excellencies, wielding immense power! If Jiao Zheng were truly his private agent, why would he be stuck in this backwater, holding such a trivial post?!

Unless he’d been deliberately planted here to secretly undermine the Prince of Badong.

Could the Prince of Badong and the Prince of Jingling be secretly feuding?

But such high-level struggles—how could a nobody like him possibly be involved?

And was he even fit to hear such secrets?!

Jiao Zheng cried out in protest:

“Young Master, I don’t know where you got this rumor, but I’ve never written to the Prince of Jingling! I would never denounce your uncle! Even if your uncle had seized land—I wouldn’t dare report it, not even with ten times my courage!”

Wang Yang’s gaze turned icy: “How dare you slander my uncle’s honor?”

Jiao Zheng hurried to say: “No, no! I was just speaking hypothetically—only—”

Jiao Zheng searched for words:

“But Young Master, though I am lowly, I am still an official. You burst into my grounds and berate me—but I still don’t know your identity.”

Wang Yang replied with faint mockery: “You, a petty official, dare call yourself ‘an official’? Even my household servants hold higher rank than you. Do you think your station entitles you to know my identity?”

If you don’t tell me, how am I supposed to know?

Is being from the Langya Wang Clan so damn special?

If I were from the Langya Wang Clan, I’d already be a General of the Elite Cavalry! Why would I be stuck here, enduring your idiotic sneers?

Does every fool who walks in claiming to be from the Langya Wang Clan deserve my kneel?

Jiao Zheng suppressed his fury and bowed: “Young Master, if you won’t reveal your name or status, how can I—”

“Young Master! Young Master!”

He Guanji arrived with a maid, seeking Wang Yang.

Damn it, he’s treating my house like a gathering hall! Jiao Zheng cursed inwardly.

Wang Yang frowned: “Didn’t I tell Liu Zhao to wait? Why are you back?”

He Guanji bowed low: “This is a maid from Xie Si Niangzi’s household. She’s here to invite Young Master.”

Xie... Xie Si Niangzi?!

Jiao Zheng’s eyes widened.

Wang Yang had earlier instructed He Guanji: two groups might come for him—one from the Xie family, one delivering fans.

The Xie family’s matter was urgent, so he’d told them to wait at the Xie residence gate; as soon as Xie Niangzi sent someone, they were to be brought straight to Jiao Zheng’s. The fan delivery was not urgent—if they came to the county school, redirect them to Jiao Zheng’s residence.

The maid curtseyed: “My mistress has returned home and requests the Young Master’s presence—”

“Tell her to wait,” Wang Yang said dismissively.

The maid’s eyes widened; she looked up at Wang Yang, as if unable to believe anyone would dare be so disrespectful to her mistress!

Wang Yang saw her innocent, bewildered gaze and felt a flicker of guilt—but to dispel Jiao Zheng’s suspicions, he couldn’t care less. He added casually:

“Go tell her the Young Master is busy now. I’ll visit her tomorrow when I have time.”

Jiao Zheng nearly dropped his jaw—his shock rivaled that of hearing Wang Yang mention the Prince of Jingling and the Prince of Badong.

This was Xie Si Niangzi of Chen Commandery’s Xie family!!!

Countless noble youths would kill for a single glimpse of her.

And this man says he’ll “visit her tomorrow when he has time”?

Is that even human speech?!

He Guanji thought: This must be what the Young Master meant by “showing off.” But what exactly do those two characters mean?

The maid’s face turned livid: You came to my mistress first, and only then did she send me to invite you—now you make it sound like she’s begging you to come?!

Still, she was a maid of a noble household; even in fury, she preserved propriety. She bowed and withdrew, resolved to repeat every word exactly to her mistress.

Jiao Zheng immediately signaled a servant to follow the Xie household maid.

When Wang Yang turned back, Jiao Zheng was already bowing deeply, fists clasped:

“Your servant, Jiao Zheng, External Military Advisor of Jingzhou, pays homage to the Langya Wang Young Master!”