Chapter 211

Wang Yang hesitated: "Is it really necessary..."

"It is, it is, Young Master, come quickly!"

"I don't even believe in these things..."

"Oh, everything is already prepared!"

"It's like this in the capital too!"

"Everyone does this, there must be a reason!"

"Just consider it as seeking a good omen!"

In the inner courtyard of the Wang residence, Little A-Wu was squatting and setting up a fire basin and a peach wood figure; Chen Qingshan held a peach wood branch in one hand and a jujube wood branch in the other; Xie Xinghan and Xiao Ning were tying reed ropes on the door, persuading him repeatedly.

Wang Yang smiled helplessly and opened his arms, watching Chen Qingshan sweep his whole body carefully with the two branches, like an airport security check, and couldn't help but recite: "Peach wood bow and thorn wood arrows, what is shot has no target. Flying gravel rains and scatters, the strong and evil must perish."

Chen Qingshan, Little A-Wu, and Xiao Ning were full of question marks.

Xie Xinghan said: "The brilliant fire gallops and the stars flow, chasing away the red plague to the four corners. This is a line from Zhang Heng's 'Tokyo Fu' describing the Great Nuo ritual. The Great Nuo was an ancient ritual to expel plague ghosts, and it still exists today. 'Peach wood bow' is a bow made of peach wood, and 'thorn wood arrows' are arrows made of jujube wood. Because peach and jujube wood can ward off evil, after coming out of prison, one must also use peach and jujube branches to remove filth. Things like lighting a fire or setting up a peach wood figure can also find their shadows in the Great Nuo ritual."

Little A-Wu was dizzy from listening, both surprised and impressed: "So that's how it is! Then what is the significance of the reed rope?"

Xiao Ning brought over a green-glazed water basin soaked with calamus leaves. Xie Xinghan rolled up her sleeves, dipped her fingertips in the water, and while flicking it lightly toward the hem of Wang Yang's clothes, she answered:

Western Jin green-glazed water basin, currently housed in the Nanjing Museum.

"'Classic of Mountains and Seas' says that there is a Mount Dushu with a large peach tree on it. Between the branches in the northeast is where the 'Ghost Gate' is located. It is the place where ten thousand ghosts enter and exit. There are two divine beings on the tree, one named Shentu and one named Yulei, who are in charge of inspecting and leading the ten thousand ghosts. If there are evil and harmful ghosts, they use 'reed ropes' to bind them and feed them to tigers. The so-called 'reed rope' is the reed rope."

"Xie Xie Niangzi is so amazing! You know everything!" Little A-Wu's eyes were starry.

Xie Xinghan smiled: "Your Young Master is the truly amazing one; I am just showing off my meager skills."

Wang Yang's mind turned, and he said: "Xie Xie Niangzi is too modest! You are erudite and knowledgeable, worthy of being a leader among women! Wang Yang feels inferior!"

The corners of Xie Xinghan's mouth rose uncontrollably, unable to be suppressed. She tapped Wang Yang lightly with her right hand and hummed coquettishly: "Stop it!"

Wang Yang's expression was sincere: "Really, really, among the women I have seen, the Fourth Young Xie Xie Niangzi is the most learned! I think in the whole world, there is no one smarter or more knowledgeable than the Fourth Young Xie Xie Niangzi!"

Xie Xinghan's cheeks flushed slightly from Wang Yang's praise. She turned around under the guise of wiping her hands and whispered: "If you talk nonsense again, I won't talk to you."

Wang Yang didn't get the opening he expected and was slightly disappointed, but fortunately, he had a backup plan. He gave Chen Qingshan a wink. Chen Qingshan was a bit nervous, secretly cheering herself on, and then tried to steady her tone and said:

"I have also heard of Xie Xie Niangzi's talent in the capital, and there seem to be several other famous talented women, but I can't quite remember their names..."

Chen Qingshan's face turned red after she finished speaking.

Xie Xinghan asked curiously: "Have you lived in the capital?"

"I lived there for a while. I heard of several learned noblewomen at that time."

Not just lived there, she practically grew up in the capital!

Actually, her father's case had already been closed, and it wouldn't have mattered if she had explicitly stated she was Chen Tianfu's daughter. But Wang Yang had designed several types of answers for her based on Xie Xinghan's possible questions. First, to prevent Xie Xinghan from going off-topic about the capital, and second, Wang Yang didn't want to bring up the Chen Tianfu case, so he let Chen Qingshan vaguely answer "lived there for a while." Wang Yang judged that with Xie Xinghan's cultivation, there was a high probability she wouldn't continue to ask about this topic.

Sure enough, Xie Xinghan didn't press Chen Qingshan, but said: "There are many talented women in the capital, and there are quite a few young ladies in noble families who are known for their learning. Some are true to their reputation, but others are 'famous in name but lacking in reality.' However, most are just families falsely inflating their reputations to raise their status."

Wang Yang gave A-Wu a wink, and Little A-Wu blinked her "innocent" big eyes: "Master Liu Qiu of West Sandbar said that his niece is proficient in barbarian studies and can recite the 'Book of the Later Han: Southern Barbarian Biography,' which is incredibly amazing!"

Wang Yang said curiously: "Is that so? Among women, there are those who can recite the 'Classic of Poetry' and those who can recite the 'Songs of Chu.' Even those who can recite the entire 'Spring and Autumn Annals: Zuo Zhuan' are not lacking. But there are probably not many who can recite the 'Southern Barbarian Biography.' Plus being proficient in barbarian studies, that young lady is truly extraordinary!"

Xie Xinghan said disapprovingly:

"The word 'proficient' is now used too excessively. True proficiency is not just proficiency in words, but knowing the 'what' and also the 'why.' The way of learning is vast and subtle; one word involves a hundred, one book involves ten. To know the 'why' of one thing, one must trace back several things before one can speak of the word 'proficient.' In the past, Zhou Boren had such talent, yet he still said he 'could not master one classic.' If one has read a few books and memorized tens of thousands of words and then claims to be proficient, that is a bit arrogant."

Seeing that the mood was set, Wang Yang struck while the iron was hot:

"Although that is said, barbarian studies is a subject that few know. Even noblewomen rarely pay attention to it. Being able to recite the 'Southern Barbarian Biography' and being proficient in barbarian studies, among women, is probably unique."

Xie Xinghan chuckled: "That's not necessarily true. I know someone whose barbarian studies are many times better than hers!"

Wang Yang asked in surprise: "Really?"

"Of course! Not only barbarian studies, but also astronomy, calendar calculation, military strategy, geography, the hundred schools of thought, historical records, and governance—she is proficient in everything and understands everything! That is what you call true proficiency!"

Wang Yang's tone was slightly skeptical: "Is there really such an extraordinary woman? What is her name?"

"Of course there is, she is my friend! Her name is Xiao—"

Wang Yang listened intently!

As a result, Xie Xinghan suddenly stopped and looked at Wang Yang.

Wang Yang's expression was natural.

Xie Xinghan looked at Wang Yang and revealed an impeccable smile: "Does Young Master Wang want to meet my friend very much?"

It's over, it's over.

The signature fake smile is here!

Wang Yang's internal alarm bells rang loudly!

This question is not easy to answer.

Saying no would seem guilty, and saying yes would inevitably be thought of as having some ulterior motives. So neither answer is correct; this is a trap!

The most important thing now is to stay steady!

What kind of big waves hasn't this brother experienced?

Is this kind of small scene still a problem?

Wang Yang spoke very slowly, his tone polite and courteous:

"I do indeed want to meet your friend very much. Although my learning is not as high as hers, however..."

Wang Yang paused, looked at Xie Xinghan, smiled slightly, his eyes bright as snow:

"However, I also happen to know a little bit about astronomy, calendar calculation, military strategy, geography, the hundred schools of thought, historical records, and governance. So, I would very much like to see what exactly is called 'proficient in everything and understanding everything?'"

Xie Xinghan was shocked.

She had truly experienced what Wang Yang meant by "knowing a little bit."

So although his voice was light and his words were humble, the arrogance was overflowing, very much like standing on a high peak and looking down at the world.

The feeling it gave was not arrogance or conceit, but a confidence derived from deep foundations, like the clear light of the bright moon in the sky, not scorching, but illuminating the world and overlooking the mortal dust in a calm and composed manner.

Although Xie Xinghan highly praised Xiao Baoyue's abilities, she really didn't dare to say that Xiao Baoyue could surpass Wang Yang!

Because she felt she had never seen through Wang Yang.

Before, she thought Wang Yang should be proficient in classics, then she discovered his profound knowledge of geography, then she admired his marvelous metaphysics, then she was surprised by his strategic insights, and then she admired his unique poetic talent! What else does he have that she hasn't thought of?

If an ordinary person said they were proficient in everything regarding astronomy, calendar calculation, military strategy, geography, the hundred schools of thought, historical records, and governance, she really wouldn't believe it. But when Wang Yang says it, she believes it! Because Wang Yang is someone who only says two points when he has ten. He is like a thousand-acre deep pool, unfathomable, unable to see—

There's a problem!

Thinking of this, Xie Xinghan suddenly realized something was wrong!

With Wang Yang's learning and temperament, how could he possibly go to compete for superiority just because he heard someone was learned? Since he only says two points when he has ten, he naturally wouldn't take the initiative to say anything about astronomy, calendar calculation, military strategy, or geography; since he is a thousand-acre deep pool, he is naturally clear when still and not muddy when stirred, and hearing her praise Xiao Baoyue, he would only smile and let it pass! Why would he suddenly have a desire to compete? Even if he had a desire to compete, he would probably hide it in his heart and not openly compete like this.

Actually, Wang Yang's trick of "grafting flowers onto another tree" is normally fine. He was already showing off in Jingzhou, so it would be normal for a young man with hot blood to compete for spirit. It's just that he didn't expect Xie Xinghan to understand him so deeply, seeing through the layers of appearance to the transcendence and plainness at the base of his life.

Transcendence is the transcendence of not competing for a moment or a place but having a long-term vision; plainness is the plainness of returning to restraint after being extremely brilliant.

But Xie Xinghan's ability to see through the subtle is not because her insight into people is old-fashioned—of course, this is inseparable from her intelligence and clarity—but there is another important reason that cannot be ignored: she cares.

And once a woman cares about you, her scrutiny of your subtle points may very well exceed that of your enemies.

Therefore, try not to be enemies with a woman who cares about you; first, it is unkind, and second, it is dangerous.

Wang Yang was not enemies with Xie Xinghan, but in the matter of probing the bottom, he started playing tricks, and it already had the momentum of a confrontation.

Confronting a woman who cares about you is inherently dangerous. And Wang Yang's heart was not ruthless enough toward Xie Xinghan, and his precautions were not enough. Although he is a traveler, his heart has an extra layer of disguise, but Xie Xinghan has the blessing of a filter, and by mistake, she cleared the clouds and saw the sun, seeing through Wang Yang's performance directly.

Therefore, although he acted realistically, reasonably, and in accordance with his age and the persona of a noble young master, Xie Xinghan didn't believe it.