[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-assuming-the-langya-surname":3,"chapter-assuming-the-langya-surname-assuming-the-langya-surname-chapter-8":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The False Clan of Langya",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2273804,4442,"Chapter 8: Exposure","assuming-the-langya-surname-chapter-8",8,"\u003Cp>“Young Master Wang? Young Master Wang?” The black-haired man’s voice pulled Wang Yang back to reality.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“May I ask, Young Master, what is the true meaning of the Yongming era name?” the black-haired man asked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Jiu yawned, thinking: You’ve been a soldier’s family for eight generations—now you’re studying scholarship?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What does the era name mean to you? What the hell are you asking? Besides, Yongming is just two characters—what flowers could he possibly explain?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang, in low spirits, replied offhandedly: “Everlasting brightness.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-haired man: “So that’s it.” His tone carried a hint of disappointment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Ding Jiu snorted inwardly: As expected—he didn’t come up with anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The surroundings fell silent; Wang Yang immediately realized he was still pretending to be a member of the Langya Wang clan—details determine success or failure, and he must not be careless. He cleared his throat and said:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The ‘Great Ode’ in the Book of Songs says: ‘Bright and vast, noble and enduring.’ It also says: ‘The noble man, ten thousand years, forever granted lineage.’ The ‘Summoning the Soul’ from the Chuci states: ‘Orchid-scented candles glow brightly, elegant forms arranged in order.’ Thus, the ancients held torches to wander, seeking to prolong the night.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The black-haired man and Ding Jiu froze in astonishment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“All joy desires longevity; all light seeks enduring distance. Hence, feasts under endless night never cease, and wishes for ten thousand years fill the air. The term ‘Yongming’ is, in truth, the noble man’s aspiration and blessing—hoping that our Southern... cough... our Great Qi shall shine with illustrious virtue, and endure forever!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang, carried away by quoting classics, nearly referred to the current dynasty as “Southern Qi.” But “Southern Qi” was a later term; the southern dynasties then, claiming orthodoxy, would never add “Southern” before their state name.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Fortunately, Wang Yang caught himself in time—otherwise, even if he hadn’t been exposed, he’d have committed an act of disrespect.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang’s display of classical learning left the black-haired man wide-eyed with awe; he bowed his head deeply: “Young Master, your erudition is profound—you’ve truly opened my eyes!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Ding Jiu still resented Wang Yang’s earlier exposure, he seized this chance to flatter, kneeling and clasping his fists: “Young Master, you’re incredible! Full of learning—every word you speak is a masterpiece!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, hurried footsteps approached; over twenty men arrived swiftly, torches flickering in the night.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang’s heart leapt: Here they come!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The leader was a bearded giant who, unlike the armor-clad figures in historical dramas, wore wide-sleeved robes reaching his knees, the hem like a skirt, and a small cap atop his head.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To modern eyes, this attire seemed absurd—hardly fitting for a soldier. But in the Northern and Southern Dynasties, soldiers commonly wore robes; the small cap, known as “pingjinze,” was indeed common in TV dramas set in the pre-Qin era.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As he approached Wang Yang, he sized him up; Wang Yang noticed the man’s eyes held no trace of reverence.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Before the man could speak, Wang Yang snatched up his water flask and hurled it straight at his face!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The suddenness caught them off guard!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, unprepared, jerked back—his flask hit the ground and burst open!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>All the soldiers stared in shock. Wang Yang rose and roared:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“How do you command your troops? The Emperor has clearly decreed: ‘Border defenses must be prioritized; sentries must be vigilant!’ A northern spy has been living in your jurisdiction for two days—and you found nothing! Do you treat the Emperor’s orders as wind in your ears?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The man, drenched, flew into a rage—then froze as Wang Yang mentioned the Emperor’s edict.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A low-ranking officer like him had never heard an imperial decree; hearing the final question, panic seized him!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>To treat the Emperor’s words as wind in his ears? He could never bear that charge! He immediately dropped to one knee: “I dare not! I didn’t know!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The “Emperor’s edict” was, of course, fabricated by Wang Yang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing the man’s aggressive approach, he feared he couldn’t handle him—so he invoked the Emperor, slapped on an accusation, and took the initiative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang snorted: “You’re lucky. Had your men not killed the spy and saved me, you’d have ten lives and still not be enough. But since the northern spy is dead, I’ll let this go.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Thank you, Young Master, for your mercy!” the man hurriedly replied—then suddenly felt something was wrong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang gave him no time to think. He stepped forward and continued rebuking:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I ask you again: You knew I was here—why did you arrive so late? And you didn’t even bring a horse! Are you asking me to walk? Do you hold the Langya Wang clan in contempt?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A “duizhu” was a basic military officer, commanding anywhere from dozens to hundreds of men. Typically, an infantry unit had fifty men; a cavalry unit, thirty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Strictly speaking, a duizhu was not an official—he held no rank, barely qualifying as the lowest military post.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If serving under powerful nobles, his status would differ. But Xue Duizhu, with no connections, guarding remote wilderness, was as common as shrimp across the land. Not even the Langya Wang clan dared offend him—any scholar clan’s stray hair was thicker than his waist.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Ling stammered in fear: “Dare not! How could I ever neglect Young Master? But the camp has no horses—I truly have no power!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In a gate-valley society, status was determined by surname. Even if the Langya Wang clan held no office, Xue Ling, a commoner, must call himself “this humble servant” upon seeing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the south, horses were scarce; warfare relied on infantry. Cavalry was extremely rare—sometimes only a few hundred horses served an army of tens of thousands. Wang Yang had already guessed why Xue Duizhu arrived on foot. He merely invented a pretext to scold him—to frighten him. Had Xue Duizhu truly brought a horse, Wang Yang would’ve had to invent another excuse—he couldn’t ride.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang said coldly: “What is your surname? Your name? When did you become duizhu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“This humble officer’s surname is Xue, name Ling. I was promoted to duizhu in the fourth month of Yongming Sixth Year.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you know how many years you’ve served as duizhu?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I know, I know. In just a few days, it will be exactly two years.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Yang finally confirmed the current date: Yongming Eighth Year, fourth month!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said coldly: “You know you’ve served two years as duizhu? That’s only because it’s me. Had it been my elder cousin, he’d have found some charge and had you executed—you wouldn’t even know how you died.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Yes, yes, yes.” Xue Ling’s back turned icy—he could only nod obediently. He’d never met nobles of the Wang, Xie, Yuan, or Xiao clans; just imagining them made him believe Wang Yang’s threat was entirely plausible. To these nobles, his life was surely as worthless as grass.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“But since your men saved me, I’m not ungrateful. Enough. Rise. I’m tired—find me a place to rest.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Ling felt as if released from death. He hurriedly led Wang Yang back to camp. Along the way, he grew more and more uneasy—he’d come to investigate details and verify truth, yet he’d asked nothing, and been interrogated himself?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This man’s speech and bearing seemed genuine. Not to mention that line about the Emperor’s edict—he couldn’t even recite it properly if he tried word-for-word, yet this young master spoke it effortlessly—he must have some background.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Besides, if he were an impostor, he’d try to escape or concoct a story to separate himself from the soldiers. Yet he walked calmly back to camp with them—hardly the behavior of someone guilty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Better wait for Wang Wenshu to return. That old fellow has read books—perhaps he can spot something.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In truth, Wang Yang longed to leave too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He’d even considered ordering Xue Ling away, telling them not to follow. But that would’ve raised suspicion. To keep him calm, he had no choice but to return with them—for now—and think of a way out later.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The night was cool as water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Inside the tent, Wang Wenshu and Xue Duizhu sat behind a worn desk; the shizhang stood before them, bowing as he spoke.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Wait—repeat it. What office did he say his second uncle held?” Wang Wenshu leaned forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shizhang strained to recall: “It was... Sanqi... something shi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Sanqi Changshi?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh yes—that’s it!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“‘Something like it’?” Wang Wenshu frowned.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“It... it was definitely that.” The shizhang’s gaze grew firmer.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Are you certain?” Wang Wenshu fixed him with a stare.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shizhang nodded: “Pretty sure.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What’s wrong? Did you find something?” Xue Duizhu asked anxiously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Wenshu remained silent, then said to the shizhang: “You may leave.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The shizhang bowed and exited the tent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Duizhu pressed: “Speak! What did you find? Are you trying to kill me with suspense?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Wenshu’s gaze hardened: “This man is an impostor!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“What?!” Xue Duizhu leapt to his feet, eyes wide: “You’re serious?!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Do you think I’d joke about this? I just returned from the provincial office—the current Sanqi Changshi is Prince of Nanyang, concurrently Commander of the Gallant Cavalry, Xiao Rui. He’s not from the Langya Wang clan!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>CRASH!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xue Duizhu kicked over the desk.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Note: By the Northern and Southern Dynasties, “Huangshang” (Emperor) was widely used. For example, Yan Yanian’s “Elegy for Yang Geshi”: “The Huangshang mourned and honored him.” Sima Jiong’s “Reply to the Nobles”: “I humbly read the Huangshang’s decree—its logic profound, its language exquisite.” The Northern Dynasties likewise used it: “The Huangshang, with sagely clarity, governs, his virtue spreading far...” (Book of Wei, Biography of Yuan Fan). Du Bi’s “Proclamation to Liang”: “The Huangshang received the Mandate, ruling as heaven’s mirror...” The Han dynasty often used “Shang” to refer to the Son of Heaven; ancient texts also spoke of the Three Sovereigns, and “Huang” frequently paired with “Tian” and “Di.” Thus, “Huangshang” emerged.\u003C\u002Fp>",1647,"2026-06-19T23:36:03.373Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","5beebc69adc6b1704f07a6a1ef86e3c488d7d8df8ff64ed49dbeba2d9f069313","assuming-the-langya-surname-chapter-9","assuming-the-langya-surname-chapter-7",62,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-false-clan-of-langya-cover.jpg"]