Chapter 188: Long Rain at the Window (Part II)

Xie Xinghan widened her eyes, looking at a passage on the paper:

"... A great wind swept away the clouds, and snow filled the majestic pass. A circle of incomparably powerful Qi ripples emanated from Zhuang Zhou's body, actually sending the Great Priest of the Shu Kingdom flying backward. His arm snapped into several pieces, his heart and lungs were severely damaged, and he spat out fresh blood! The crowd was shocked; the peerless 'Silkworm Cluster' technique was actually broken by this person in one move! Before they could react, Zhuang Zhou's figure was already like a blinding white rainbow, crossing through layers of sword formations, charging straight to the front of the Shu King's throne!"

"'Protect the King!' A shrill voice pierced the clouds. The eight great sect leaders and twelve elders attacked together, their true Qi rushing to the sky like a storm. Zhuang Zhou swung his sword horizontally, his sleeves fluttering, and the wind and snow changed color! With the power of just one sword, he actually plowed a long, deep trench in the snowfield, shaking these top-tier experts of the Shu Kingdom back more than ten steps, their weapons all broken! The Great Priest, lying weakly on the ground, roared in terror: 'Who on earth are you!!!'"

He had already vaguely guessed the identity of this young man! Because apart from this person, who else could force the heroes of the world to bow their heads with one person and one sword! But he didn't want to believe it! He dared not believe it! Zhuang Zhou did not answer, just threw his long sword away casually, half-buried in the snow, and turned to walk toward the terrified Shu King, saying: 'Those who cross this sword shall die'..."

Xie Xinghan watched, dumbfounded. She raised her head, her lips half-parted. Chen Qingshan faced Xie Xinghan and nodded excitedly: "It's good!!!"

"This... this... what is this?!!!"

Xie Xinghan only felt her worldview had received a strong impact, but she couldn't help but continue reading. Her gaze, as if pulled by magic, fell back onto the paper.

"I'm just writing it for fun."

"Sword Qi like waves! This is a god! And what is this 'subtlety of sword technique, Autumn Water Sword Art'??? What is this and what is that! You even know swords???"

Wang Yang laughed: "Maybe I was a swordsman in my past life!"

Before Wang Yang traveled through time, he would play around with his pen in his spare time, writing a martial arts novel with Zhuangzi as the protagonist. It was the first long novel he had ever written in his life. He had originally planned to write a spin-off, but then the time travel happened, and the spin-off was shelved.

Later, when he started practicing calligraphy, he would occasionally write a short spin-off when he wasn't copying copybooks. While improving his brush feel, he also found a bit of joy in playing with words.

Chen Qingshan had seen it by chance and became obsessed, unable to stop. But she was too embarrassed to say it directly, fearing it would delay Wang Yang's affairs, so she never dared to urge him for more. She would just "biu" and stand beside him when Wang Yang was practicing calligraphy, grinding ink and adding fragrance, holding fruit and serving tea, her pair of phoenix eyes blinking brightly, full of expectation.

Wang Yang understood the unspoken meaning and often wrote a few passages for Xiao Shan. As time went on, it became a habit.

Little Xiao Wu ran over, stood on tiptoe, and wanted to see what the Young Master had written that made both fairies so fascinated. As a result, she was glared at by all three at the same time and immediately ran back to the small desk, obediently practicing calligraphy.

Xiao Ning returned to report that the chilled melon was ready, and then she saw her own Xie Xie Niangzi and Miss Chen standing on the left and right of Wang Yang, heads lowered, staring intently at the paper on the desk.

Wang Yang recalled the past, listened to the sound of rain outside the window, and looked at the beautiful women on his left and right. Suddenly, he had the urge to fill in a lyric, so he pulled out this piece of paper and moved it to the other side of the desk.

Xie Xinghan and Chen Qingshan were like little cats attracted by dried fish, their bodies following the paper, moving in small steps, following Wang Yang's movement of pushing the paper all the way to the other end of the desk.

Wang Yang smiled, replaced it with a new sheet of paper, picked up his brush, wrote the three characters "He He Xinlang," and then started a new line, writing:

"Long rain at the window.

Vague cool sounds, old dreams in a daze, clouds cover the heavy willows.

In a past life, I wielded a sword to roam, traveling thousands of miles to slay bandits.

Walking away from the dust, hands folded after success—"

Just after writing the character "Shou" 【Hand】, he heard a hurried voice call out: "Young Master!"

It was actually the Black Man rushing into the courtyard!

The Black Man didn't enter the courtyard lightly. Even if he had to, he would report first and only enter after receiving permission. This was the first time he had rushed in so directly.

The Black Man spoke very fast: "Young Master, a group of yamen runners has surrounded the house. There are many of them, fifty—"

Before he could finish speaking, a commotion was heard in the front courtyard, mixed with the warning shouts of several servants, and a large group of black-clothed, soap-robed runners with swords at their waists surged in!

The official in the lead was tall and thin, with a sparse beard on his chin and small, focused eyes, looking shrewd and capable. As he rushed into the courtyard, he said loudly: "Which one is Young Master Wang Yang? Please come out and speak!"

Wang Yang put down his brush, walked to the door, stood with his hands behind his back, swept a glance at the runners, and said indifferently: "Stop."

Wang Yang had poetry and books in his belly and brilliance in his chest; he could calm small matters and stay quiet in big ones. His usual aura was different from ordinary people. Since traveling through time, in order to survive, he had long ago deeply ingrained the identity of the "Langya Noble Young Master" into his marrow; his every gesture had long since become natural.

Coupled with his frequent entry and exit among noble families during this period, socializing with the gentry, and being able to chat and laugh freely in front of the Prince of Badong—whose status was noble and whose temper was violent—let alone ordinary gentry, he was even more at ease. His vision, knowledge, appearance, and demeanor were all a cut above when he first traveled through time.

Standing here now, he didn't need to deliberately pose, let alone bluff. Just by sweeping a glance and saying two words, an aura of a superior spread out.

The runners saw a young master in white like snow, with a handsome and elegant appearance, and a cold-eyed beauty standing beside him, serving with a sword. Just by saying two words, an aura of nobility emerged spontaneously. Plus, they already knew this was the residence of the Langya Wang family. Although they had all followed the Long-term Official Liu to handle major cases and discipline powerful families, they had never encountered a top-tier noble family like the Langya Wang family.

Let alone encountered, they hadn't even thought about it!

If it weren't for the strong orders from their superiors, they wouldn't have wanted to barge in and make an arrest so openly.

Now that they saw the main person, his aura was so strong that it made people feel they dared not look directly at him, and even feel ashamed of themselves! They couldn't help but immediately stop their steps, fearing they would take another step forward.

The leading official was still relatively calm and didn't show the fear that some of his subordinates did. He bowed to Wang Yang and said:

"I am Fan Jian, the Legal Aide 【Prosecutor-General】 of Nanjun, acting under the orders of the Jingzhou Chief Clerk and Nanjun Governor, to summon Young Master Wang to the hall for questioning!"

Wang Yang smiled softly: "Liu Yin, huh."

The runners heard Wang Yang openly call the Chief Clerk by his name (the second-in-command of the Jingzhou military system, and because his actual power was stronger than the provincial official, he could basically be considered the second-in-command of the entire Jingzhou, not just Jingzhou City), and his tone was devoid of respect, so their expressions all changed.

Wang Yang patted little Xiao Wu, who was hiding behind the door, and said: "Go back and write."

Although Xiao Wu was extremely worried, she didn't dare to disobey the Young Master's words, so she ran back behind the small desk, feeling uneasy.

Fan Jian said expressionlessly: "Young Master Wang, please come with us."

A young girl's voice came: "According to the laws of our dynasty, to summon a noble family, a public letter from the commandery government is required. Where is the public letter? Let me see."

Xie Xinghan walked to the door.

Fan Jian originally intended not to comply, but seeing Xie Xinghan's luxurious clothing, stunning appearance, extraordinary speech, and calm aura, he knew she was definitely not an ordinary person, so he had to take out the public letter. Xiao Ning stepped forward to receive it and presented it to Xie Xinghan with both hands.

Xie Xinghan examined it carefully. Fan Jian had received strict orders from his superior and could not delay, so he said coldly: "We are here under orders, and the public letter is here. This Xie Xie Niangzi, please do not delay time!"

Xiao Ning scolded: "Presumptuous! This is the daughter of the Secretariat Director! How dare you be rude?"

Fan Jian was startled. Although the Secretariat Director was a nominal position, he was, after all, a Prime Minister, and his status was noble. Although he was anxious in his heart, he could only bow and respond respectfully.

Xie Xinghan said: "Legal Aide Fan, why does this public letter not have the seal of the Nanjun Assistant? For a commandery government summons, the Assistant should sign alongside the Governor. This is the rule. Since you are a Legal Aide, how can you not know this?"

"The subordinate knows. The Chief Clerk was worried about leaking the news, so he asked me to first summon... first invite Young Master Wang to the hall, and Assistant Zong is already waiting at the government office, where it will be stamped on the spot."

Xie Xinghan said categorically: "No. If you want to summon, wait until the public letter is completed before coming back."

Fan Jian frowned, his attitude turning tough: "We are acting under the Chief Clerk's orders, handling special matters specially! Although this Xie Xie Niangzi is the daughter of the Secretariat Director, she has no right to interfere with the commandery government's handling of cases!"

Xie Xinghan was about to say more, but Wang Yang waved his hand to stop her, looked at Fan Jian, and said: "I will go with you."

Xie Xinghan said anxiously: "You cannot!"

Wang Yang looked at Xie Xinghan, blinked, and smiled slightly. Xie Xinghan's star-like eyes flashed with a moment of trance, and her heart inexplicably calmed down.

Fan Jian turned sideways and bowed: "Young Master, please!"

Wang Yang smiled: "I still have half a piece of writing to finish. I'll go after I finish it."

"The Chief Clerk's order must not be delayed! Young Master, please don't make things difficult for us."

"What if I insist on making things difficult for you?"

Fan Jian's eyes sharpened: "Then please forgive us for being rude, Young Master."

Xie Xinghan was furious: "How dare you make a move in front of us!"

"The subordinate naturally wouldn't dare, but the Chief Clerk's orders are strict, and I have no choice!"

Wang Yang smiled and said:

"Legal Aide Fan, this is a matter between Liu Yin and me. You are here under orders, so I don't blame you. I will give you two choices now: one is that you wait for me to finish this piece of writing, and then I will go back with you to report. The second is that I go with you now..."

Fan Jian was about to choose the second, when he heard Wang Yang continue slowly: "But I guarantee that from today on, you won't be able to stay in Jingzhou." Wang Yang swept a glance at the runners: "The same goes for all of you, no exceptions."

The runners saw that Wang Yang spoke solemnly, with the air of someone who would definitely keep his word, and they were all terrified! They all wanted to persuade Fan Jian to back down, but they were afraid of the strict rules of the commandery government and didn't dare to speak.

Fan Jian also felt a chill. He had handled many major cases with Chief Clerk Liu, and in Hengyang, he had even tormented those powerful families until they were half-dead. He had seen many of them, who were usually arrogant, wet their pants after being thrown into prison, but this one...

Fan Jian bowed and cupped his hands, his voice earnest: "Please, Young Master, be as quick as possible."

Wang Yang returned to the desk, and little Xiao Wu said anxiously: "Young Master..."

Wang Yang smiled at Xiao Wu: "It's fine, keep writing."

Xiao Wu's wrists trembled, her heart thumped, her little face wrinkled, and her voice was anxious: "Young Master, if they..."

Wang Yang picked up his brush unhurriedly: "Xiao Wu, how did I teach you that day?"

Xiao Wu was stunned for a moment, then recited in a low voice:

"When Mount Tai collapses before one's eyes, the expression does not change; when elk rise on the left, the eyes do not blink. If there is thunder in the heart, the face should be like a calm lake. If the ambition swallows mountains and seas, the words should be like an empty valley. The calm lake has no waves, and the empty valley has no sound."

Wang Yang dipped the brush tip in ink: "Write. If you can write this piece without your hands shaking, I'll take you to the city tower for a stroll."

Xiao Wu watched Wang Yang, calm and unhurried, lifting his brush and letting it fall. Thinking of the words the Young Master had taught her, and thinking of the city tower she had always wanted to visit, a burst of energy grew in her small body! She took a deep breath, her expression firm, and began to practice calligraphy. Although her heart was still beating a little fast, her wrists no longer shook.

Wang Yang continued to write that lyric *He He Xinlang*:

"Cold moon, east wind, traveler's wine, though a thousand words, I sing alone to the blue stars.

Mocking ghost schemes, calculating in vain!

My life's greatest hope is not military armor. Five-element poetry, ordinary weather, two or three close friends.

Human affairs have always been like flying dust, a laugh at the petty and dog-like struggles.

Asking the Xie Xie Niangzi, is the chilled melon cool?

..."

Just as he wrote to this point, a burst of footsteps was heard, accompanied by the clanking of armor, and someone shouted loudly: "Order of the Prince of Badong! Appoint Wang Yang, Young Master Wang, to serve in white, participating in the planning of granary affairs! During the planning period, no orders shall be followed except the Prince's! No summons shall be heard except from the Inspector's Office!"

The runners were shocked, and Fan Jian lost his color!

Wang Yang acted as if he hadn't heard and continued writing:

"In the ancient temple, I listen carefully to the spring playing with shadows, before the good wind, behind the pine shade of the bright moon."

He raised his head, looked at the runners in the courtyard who were panicked and at a loss, and wrote the last six characters of this lyric: "Glaring at the Chief Clerk, mocking the Legal Aide!"

——————

Note: The entire lyric is as follows, following the *Imperial Collection of Lyric Scores*.

*He He Xinlang: Long Rain at the Window*

(Upper Stanza)

Long rain at the window.

Vague cool sounds, old dreams in a daze, clouds cover the heavy willows.

In a past life, I wielded a sword to roam, traveling thousands of miles to slay bandits.

Walking away from the dust, hands folded after success.

Cold moon, east wind, traveler's wine, though a thousand words, I sing alone to the blue stars.

Mocking ghost schemes, calculating in vain!

(Lower Stanza)

My life's greatest hope is not military armor.

Five-element poetry, ordinary weather, two or three close friends.

Human affairs have always been like flying dust, a laugh at the petty and dog-like struggles!

Asking the Xie Xie Niangzi, is the chilled melon cool?

In the ancient temple, I listen carefully to the spring playing with shadows, before the good wind, behind the pine shade of the bright moon.

Glaring at the Chief Clerk, mocking the Legal Aide!

————————

Note: The system doesn't allow empty lines, so I can only use the upper and lower stanza labels to replace them. For the details of this lyric, such as the ancient temple, shadow-playing, chilled melon, etc., re-reading the previous chapter will make it clear. Also, since it is a lyric, the tones and rhymes don't use the ancient sounds of the Northern and Southern Dynasties, but the *Orthodox Rhymes of the Lyric Forest*. ===== CHAPTER 189 =====