Chapter 123

Xie Xinghan instructed Wang Yang this way also because she thought of her close friend, Xiao Baoyue.

Actually, Xie Xinghan didn't know how deeply Xiao Baoyue was involved in the Crown Prince's affairs, but she had always known Xiao Baoyue's ability; she had the strange strategies of a strategist and the wonderful plans of a statesman in her chest. If she weren't a woman, she might have long since become the Crown Prince's number one strategist.

Everyone says Wang Rong is the number one talented scholar of the Great Qi. If it comes to poetry and odes, Xiao Baoyue might not be as good as Wang Rong, but when it comes to the learning of the hundred schools and strategic planning, the outcome is really hard to say!

Xiao Baoyue only met her once after arriving in Jingzhou. She didn't know the purpose of Xiao Baoyue's trip, and she didn't even know if Xiao Baoyue had already left, but she remembered the advice Xiao Baoyue gave her before leaving: "Do not get mixed up with the Prince of Badong."

If Sister Xiao said so, it probably wasn't without reason.

Wang Yang was very grateful to Xie Xinghan for telling him these things and said solemnly: "I have remembered it. What is the second thing you want to remind me of, Xie Xie Niangzi?"

"The second thing is that I suggest you return Liu Cheng's carriage to him. The gentry communicate with each other, and harmony is the most precious; there is no irreconcilable contradiction between you, so why create a grudge?"

"Alright." Wang Yang answered directly.

Xie Xinghan said happily: "You agreed?"

"Yes."

"Young Master Wang is open-minded; Xinghan admires you!"

"I'm not open-minded; you helped me, so I can return the carriage for your sake."

Xie Xinghan's expression changed: "You think I want you to return the carriage for his sake?"

Wang Yang had indeed thought so at first. From his limited perspective, Xie Xinghan knew Liu Cheng first and him later. Coming out to help Liu Cheng as a lobbyist, or saying there was no question of helping whom, just wanting to reconcile the conflict between two friends, was also very normal.

However, seeing Xie Xinghan's expression, he immediately realized he had thought wrong and hurriedly remedied: "No, no, I know you are doing it for my own good."

The phrase "doing it for my own good," even in conversations in the 21st century, would appear ambiguous in some situations, let alone in this era!

Xie Xinghan's small face turned red all of a sudden, and she stammered: "You... what are you talking about?!!... Who is doing it for your own good?... This girl... This girl just saw that you don't know the court situation and just gave you a few pointers!!!!"

Wang Yang also realized his words were inappropriate, but seeing Xie Xinghan's bluffing appearance, he felt it was a bit funny. But Xie Xinghan's skin was so thin that laughing at her again would be a bit unkind.

He pretended to know nothing about what just happened and bowed: "Xie Xie Niangzi is right, please continue to guide me, Xie Xie Niangzi."

Phew!

Fortunately, he was fooled!

Xie Xinghan quietly breathed a sigh of relief and pretended to be very serious:

"You don't understand court affairs, so listen to me carefully! Actually, if I didn't happen to have time today, I wouldn't have the energy to say these things. Anyway, I'm just saying a few words, just chatting idly!!"

Wang Yang muttered: "Chatting idly and still so serious..."

Xie Xinghan was annoyed: "If you don't want to listen, get out of the carriage! I'm leaving!"

Wang Yang sat up straight instantly, also with a serious face: "I'm listening! Please speak, Xie Xie Niangzi!"

Xie Xinghan glared at Wang Yang angrily before saying:

"Liu Cheng's father, Duke Liu, is talented in both civil and military affairs, with great military achievements; he is a rare figure in our dynasty who has served as both a general and a prime minister. Although he stepped down as Secretariat Supervisor last year, he is still the Left Guanglu Grand Master, with the title of Attendant, and his glory has not diminished. Coupled with his prestige in the military, his students and former subordinates are all over the Jiangzuo region. Didn't you see that even a fool like the Prince of Badong treats the Liu brothers lightly?"

"Furthermore, Liu Cheng's pointing out your identity, although it is inevitable that he is a bit narrow-minded, it is a fact that your identity is unclear, so it is reasonable to raise doubts. Actually, this matter is not big, and it's nothing once it's explained. You shouldn't become enemies with Liu Cheng because of this. Between us gentry, unless we encounter some irreconcilable contradiction, otherwise..."

Xie Xinghan persuaded him for a while.

Wang Yang thought: I live my small life, he is his n-th generation ancestor; who has time to be his enemy?

"I know, this matter has already passed, and I won't take it to heart. But returning the carriage is out of the question; if I really send the ox-cart back, it might have the opposite effect."

Xie Xinghan was intelligent and understood Wang Yang's meaning after a little thought: "You mean Liu Cheng won't accept your kindness?"

"Bingo."

"Ice what?"

"It just means you are as clever as ice and snow! Using this trick to show kindness depends on the other person's temperament. Liu Cheng is arrogant and lacks breadth of mind. If I take the initiative to return the carriage, he will either see it as a provocation or think I am showing off as the winner. Besides, so many people saw us betting at the banquet; even if I return the carriage, he won't want it."

Wang Yang still thought that Liu Cheng targeted him mainly because of the defeat in pure conversation, the conflict in discussing military affairs, and his defeat of his brother in learning; he didn't think of Xie Xinghan at all.

Xie Xinghan was even more so. She and Liu Cheng could only be considered acquaintances; apart from the pure conversation and debate, they hadn't said many words in total. No matter what, she couldn't guess that the situation had developed to today, and she could be considered one of the fuses.

She felt Wang Yang made sense and nodded: "Then how about this, I'll find an opportunity to host a banquet another day and call you, Liu Cheng, and Director Liu Tan Tan together to resolve the grudge, how about that?"

Wang Yang was a bit resistant: "No need, I just won't meet him."

"How is that possible? Director Liu Tan Tan is the Friend of the Prince of Badong, and Liu Cheng doesn't know when he will leave Jingzhou. You are both in Jingzhou; how can you not meet? Besides, you will eventually have to be ranked and enter officialdom. If you are not on good terms with the Liu family, your official career may not go smoothly."

I, this fake Langya Wang, don't have to be ranked and enter officialdom, and the Southern Qi might perish at any time, so this officialdom is not worth entering. It's just that these two reasons are not easy to tell Xie Xinghan.

Seeing Wang Yang unwilling, Xie Xinghan thought he was self-important and couldn't let go of his face, so she changed her rhetoric to persuade: "Of course, with your family background and talent, you don't need to look at the Liu family's attitude! But isn't it better to have one more friend than one more enemy? Confucius said: 'The use of ritual is to value harmony,' the way of the former kings..."

This little beauty is really good at talking!

"Fine, fine, fine, I'll listen to you, value harmony."

Xie Xinghan actually considered more. If Wang Yang really was an illegitimate son, it would definitely involve the matter of recognizing his ancestors and returning to his lineage in the future, and it might even involve the struggle between the branches of the same clan. If he could get the help of the Hedong Liu family, his value would naturally increase. If he could get the favor of Duke Liu... then this weight would not be comparable to her father's empty title of prime minister. It would be of great benefit to Wang Yang's future! So even if he couldn't get their help, it was best not to become enemies with the Liu brothers. It's just that considering Wang Yang's "male dignity," this was not explained.

Hearing Wang Yang agree to value harmony, Xie Xinghan finally smiled.

Wang Yang's heart stirred, and he asked: "I'll ask you about someone; do you know Liu Yin, the Chief Clerk of Jingzhou?"

Xie Xinghan pondered: "Liu Yin... I'm not familiar with this person, but he must not be a Peng Cheng Liu; he might be a commoner. There are very few commoner scholars who can become a provincial Chief Clerk, so his official career is quite good. Why are you asking about him?"

"Can you help me investigate this person, such as his official career, background, interpersonal relationships, personality, and preferences? Anyway, the more detailed, the better."

"What are you investigating him for?"

Wang Yang said vaguely: "Some old matters involve him, and I want to investigate clearly."

Xie Xinghan's tone was faint: "Every time you ask for help, you don't say the reason..."

"Oh, it's not that I intentionally hide it from you, it's just that the inside story is complicated, and it's not good to involve you..."

Xie Xinghan was clever and knew how to measure things. She knew Wang Yang had secrets, so she always stopped at the right point and never delved deep, such as the matter of Jiao Zheng last time, and whether Wang Yang's household registration was really in Yixing. Because she thought clearly, so what if it was Yixing? So what if it wasn't? Wang Yang was still Wang Yang.

Seeing Wang Yang unwilling to speak, she said: "Fine, then I won't ask. But there must be a reward."

Wang Yang pretended to be surprised: "Do we need a reward for our friendship?"

"Of course there must be a reward!" Xie Xinghan blinked and suddenly recited: "The snow color is fresher than jade, the frost clothes are not stained with dust. A light taste of snow and frost, the red bean paste is as soft as spring."

Wang Yang understood the implication and said boldly: "It's just a dish of snow-clothed red bean paste, easy to say!" He paused, his eyes flashing: "How about you help me with another favor, and I'll add a dish of spun-sugar taro for you!"

Xie Xinghan: (╬▔＾▔)