Chapter 255

He wore a silver belt around his waist, his hair bound but not crowned; his robes flowed like drifting snow, his sleeves fluttered like clouds in motion.

His brows outshone distant mountains, yet held a trace of sword qi; his eyes cut like autumn water, yet carried an air of charm.

His crimson lips, tinged with vermilion, seemed those of a youth fond of wine; his pale hands, slender as jade, appeared those of a nobleman plucking a zither.

At first glance, one might mistake him for the spirit of Song Yu; upon closer look, he was none other than Xi Shi made flesh.

His bearing could humble Wei Du Shubao; his elegance could mock Pan An.

She was, in truth, a woman.

Wang Yi laughed: "Xiao niece, once you don men's attire, you outshine every young man in the Wang household."

Xiao Baoyue fanned herself with a leisurely gesture, adopting the demeanor of a noble young lord.

"Uncle Wang, you jest. The elegance of Jiangzuo begins with Wang and Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie. Your Wang clan brims with orchids and jade trees—so much so that even the imperial family falls short."

Wang Yi feigned exaggerated alarm, waving his hands frantically.

"Oh dear, how dare you say such a thing! How dare you!"

Xiao Baoyue matched his theatrics, her eyes twinkling with mischief as she tapped her folding fan against her palm with a crisp snap.

"Why not? Your distant nephew, still under age, has in mere months become famed throughout Jing and Chu, crowned the foremost talent of the entire province. Such a family's prestige—my Xiao clan cannot match it, nor even the Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Lady Xie clan."

Wang Yi pointed at her, sighing heavily.

"You little devil, you've landed me in deep trouble this time!"

Xiao Baoyue smiled faintly.

"Uncle Wang, how so? I merely asked you to cover for me when others asked—never did I ask you to stage such a touching scene of uncle-nephew affection."

Wang Yi's expression turned absurd.

"I staged it? Everyone in the capital now knows that the Wang lad accused of falsifying the ancient Minister and thrown into prison by Liu Yin is my distant nephew—do you think I can hide that with a few evasions?"

Xiao Baoyue's expression changed instantly.

"How could this happen?"

Wang Yi slammed his fist on the stone table.

"It's worse than that! Before I left, the Son of Heaven summoned me. After giving me a few instructions, he suddenly asked: 'I hear the young scholar from the prefectural academy, accused alongside Liu Yin's second son, is your distant nephew?'"

Xiao Baoyue gasped: "Even the Emperor has taken notice?" Then, urgently: "What did you say?"

Wang Yi smiled bitterly.

"What could I say? I mumbled something vague—that the Wang clan has many branches, yet all share the same ancestral rites; though distant in genealogy, we remain bound by clan ties. No sooner had I spoken than the Emperor cut me off, telling me not to avoid favoritism—he'd already heard from Qiu Xiong. Since he's your kin, he's been wronged; I must treat him well. He added that the Wang clan is full of refined talents, all worthy of the state. Liu Yin, though Deputy Governor, dares to twist the law and slander noble blood—how could I tolerate it?"

Xiao Baoyue's expression shifted as she pondered a moment, then asked: "Who is Qiu Xiong?"

"Of the Qiu clan of Wu Xing. His father was Qiu Qiu Guanxian—the one who died on mission in Henan. Now he serves as a Givenshizhong."

Xiao Baoyue nodded.

"I recall. Why would he tell the Emperor this? And how did he even know?"

"Who knows? He came to ask me about Wang Yang. I followed your instructions—I didn't deny it. But I didn't confirm it either! How did he tell the Emperor? I tried to clarify then, but feared the Emperor would probe deeper. And since he spoke so warmly, it was clearly imperial favor—how could I refuse to thank him? After the audience, I sought out Qiu Xiong to ask what he'd said. He replied that a few days ago, during the imperial sacrifice at the National Academy, the Emperor personally attended. When Du Ganguang lectured on the 'Yao Dian' chapter of the Minister, he repeatedly cited Wang Yang's interpretations. Qiu Xiong was standing beside the Emperor, who then asked him who Wang Yang was. He told the Emperor I was a distant cousin, and then asked me—"

Wang Yi pressed his palm to his forehead, looking utterly exasperated.

"What could I say? I just muttered, 'Oh, just asking casually...'"

Xiao Baoyue frowned.

"Qiu Xiong is merely a Givenshizhong—even if he accompanied the Emperor, how could he be near the throne?"

"Normally, he couldn't. But the day before, the Secretariat completed the three scrolls of the Yongming Edict. The Emperor reviewed the draft and, upon reading the 'Edict on Dispatching Envoys to Henan,' recalled Qiu Qiu Guanxian. He specially ordered Qiu Xiong to accompany him, bestowed him with robes, and treated him with unusual warmth."

Xiao Baoyue traced a go stone with her fingers, eyes lowered in silence.

Wang Yi glanced at her, feigning a sigh.

"I've been thoroughly outmaneuvered this time."

Xiao Baoyue's gaze held deep meaning.

"Uncle Wang, you're always so skilled. This little matter shouldn't trouble you. Besides, the first Wang from Langya to reach Jingzhou wasn't you..."

"You mean Zhongtong? He's my own nephew!" Wang Yi's face turned stern.

Xiao Baoyue spoke as if stating the obvious.

"Precisely because he's your nephew, he should uphold filial piety and fraternal duty—help his uncle shoulder burdens!"

Wang Yi's stern expression slowly softened into a smile as he pointed at her.

"How could Lord Hou, so solemn and resolute, sire such a cunning little trickster?" Then he sighed again: "But now that the Emperor has noticed, it won't be easy..."

Xiao Baoyue understood at once. "What compensation do you want?"

Wang Yi waved his hand. "Helping the Crown Prince is no favor to repay. But the next Governor of Kuaiji..."

Xiao Baoyue replied solemnly: "Naturally, it will be you, Uncle Wang."

Wang Yi smiled in satisfaction: "Thank you!"

"Securing Kuaiji isn't hard—but whether you'll oversee five commanderies' troops..." Xiao Baoyue paused, as if hesitant, then shifted tone: "But if you have a deeper wish, then the Crown Prince—"

Wang Yi cut in with a smile: "I only want Kuaiji. Whether I oversee five commanderies or not doesn't matter."

Xiao Baoyue picked up a white go stone and spoke slowly.

"Have you ever seen a go stone that can forever remain outside the board? No matter your choice, you must place the stone."

With that, her fingertip dropped the white stone onto the board with a soft tap.

"You're mistaken, niece."

Wang Yi reached into the go box and seized a handful of black stones. He lifted them slightly, then opened his palm.

The stones tumbled back into the box.

Wang Yi spoke calmly: "Aren't they all outside the board?"

Xiao Baoyue's lips curled slightly, her smile edged with sharpness: "Even outside the board, there's still black and white."

Wang Yi put on an injured look.

"I've risked myself helping the Crown Prince—surely you don't mean to call me black?"

Seeing Wang Yi still refused to commit, Xiao Baoyue teased, her tone laced with irony:

"Uncle Wang, I must say—you and your nephew are quite alike."

Wang Yi frowned: "Zhongtong?"

"The other one." Xiao Baoyue's eyes grew cold.

"Ah, if you put it that way, I'd say it's you—"

Wang Yi fell silent.

Xiao Baoyue raised an eyebrow: "What about me?"

"Your attire reminds me of—"

Xiao Baoyue snapped her fan shut, her face hardening.

"I'm not imitating him!"

Wang Yi smiled: "Then perhaps he's imitating you."

Xiao Baoyue froze, then snapped coldly:

"Teasing a junior like this—is that the conduct of an elder?"

"Not teasing. Your attire truly does—"

Xiao Baoyue rose to leave, furious.

Wang Yi hurried to stop her: "Fine, fine! Uncle's wrong—I apologize! But seriously, girl, tell me the truth: what's this boy's real background?"

Xiao Baoyue replied coolly: "Why?"

Wang Yi frowned, his eyes puzzled. He opened his mouth several times, then closed it again—as if unsure how to phrase it.

"He... he doesn't seem fake at all..."

Xiao Baoyue burst out laughing.

"Uncle Wang, of the great Langya Wang clan—can't you even tell if your own kin is real or not?"

"Real or false? Zhuangzi dreamed he was a butterfly—who can tell? Learning comes from books; vision expands through experience—but this kind of bearing—"

Wang Yi fell silent, his fingers tapping unconsciously on the go board.

Xiao Baoyue's lips curled slightly: "You didn't see how he haggles over every coin!"

"Hmm?" Wang Yi looked at her.

Xiao Baoyue waved her fan as if brushing away his probing gaze. "Anyway—he's stingy."

Wang Yi shook his head.

"I'm not talking about money. I mean his bearing, his grace. Common folk may dress finely, but true bearing hides in the spirit. Listen to his words, observe his expression, discern his tastes, note what he reveres—you'll know his depth."

"I've observed him: like a cliffside waterfall, indifferent to noise or stillness, forever hanging a white ribbon of water. Like an ancient inkstone holding ink, unconcerned with depth or shade, yet radiating elegance. A precious sword lies sheathed, yet its aura chills the soul. A bright mirror hangs unpolished, yet its light illuminates mountains and rivers."

"Such an aura cannot be shaped by ordinary families. And his learning, insight, talent, and wit—all top-tier. Not just impossible for humble families—even among the great clans, they're rare..."

Xiao Baoyue listened, entranced, murmuring: "He even understands bird-worm seal script..."

Wang Yi's eyes lit up with unexpected delight.

"Really? That's not something a commoner could know."

Xiao Baoyue recalled Wang Yang's serene demeanor and wanted to punch him twice. Hearing Wang Yi praise him so lavishly, she grew even more annoyed and struck back:

"Is there a nobleman who cheats on meal bills and haggles over every copper?"

Wang Yi was intrigued: "He cheated on meal bills?"

Xiao Baoyue slammed her palm on the table, as if finally finding an outlet, and launched into a torrent:

Xiao Baoyue slammed her hand on the table, as if finally finding an outlet, and chattered on:

"That's right! He swindles people's meal money! And he invented a new way to deliver banquets called 'payment upon delivery'—a scheme to cheat people! He doesn't just swindle meal money—he swindles ox-carts, horses, grain from the Ever-Normal Granaries, and in the Wang Fu he swindles the Prince of Badong—money, goods, favors! Even this folding fan—"

Xiao Baoyue vigorously waved the folding fan in her hand, growing more and more agitated: "Even this folding fan—he swindled people with it! At first, he sold it for ten thousand apiece! Truly shameless, despicable, and vile!"

Wang Yi burst into loud laughter, clapping his hands repeatedly, his expression utterly delighted.

Xiao Baoyue:???

Wang Yi's eyes crinkled with laughter as he exclaimed: "Brilliant! Brilliant! Brilliant!"

Xiao Baoyue glared furiously!

Wang Yi finally caught his breath and waved his hand, chuckling: "I'm not talking about you—I'm talking about him."

Xiao Baoyue's almond eyes widened, her folding fan like a sword as it slammed down with a sharp 'click' onto the stone table:

"What's brilliant about him scheming to cheat people and take advantage of them?!"

Wang Yi, as if savoring fine wine, half-closed his eyes, half-drunk, swaying his head:

"In my view, given his learning and character, his lofty aspirations, a little scheming and taking advantage isn't a flaw—it adds a touch of authentic, earthly vitality. Excellent! Excellent! He is orthodox yet contains the unorthodox, and his unorthodoxy is free and lucid; he is refined yet contains the vulgar, and his vulgarity bursts with vitality. Marvelous! Marvelous!"

Xiao Baoyue stared, dumbfounded: This must really be his own nephew...