Chapter 257: Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Ke

The warm sun shone brightly, the clear clouds faintly drifting.

Outside the Wang residence on Haojing Alley, carriages and horses never ceased; the two gatekeepers were utterly exhausted.

Wang Yang was well-known, with an extensive social circle—he was learned yet commercially savvy, humble in manner, never looked down on the poor or lowborn, and thus had no shortage of visitors. But Wang Yang had raised the banner of serious scholarship and diligent writing, often "shutting his door to study," making him hard to meet; those with shallow ties dared not disturb him often. Usually, visitors left their name slips and letters; if an opportunity arose, they met, if not, at least left an impression.

But since the news of Wang Yang's impending mission spread, visitors came in an unbroken stream, their name slips falling like clouds. Some came to offer gifts, some to bid farewell, some to debate scholarship, some to forge connections—these past few days, the two gatekeepers nearly ran their legs off just relaying messages. Today was better, for the Young Master had specifically ordered: no visitors today, no disturbances allowed. So they no longer needed to announce arrivals—only to collect the visitors' name slips.

Even so, the task was not easy; every visitor was of high status, and Black Manager had repeatedly warned them. How could they afford to be rude? They treated each one with utmost care, carefully responding; by noon they had collected fifteen name slips, three invitations, and two manuscript volumes presented for Wang Yang's scholarly correction. Though busy, they had received generous tips—listening to the coins jingle in their sleeves, their moods were quite good.

As they were organizing the name slips, they suddenly saw the Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi family's vermilion-trimmed black lacquered carriage approaching. They dared not delay, leapt to their feet, and hurried forward: "Servants greet Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi! May Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi be well!"

The carriage halted; Xiao Ning stepped down to place the footstool. Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing lifted the curtain and asked: "Is your Young Master inside?"

The gatekeeper apologized: "Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi, the Young Master is inside, but he has ordered today's visitors turned away and forbade us from disturbing him. If Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi has any message that a servant may deliver, I shall record it at once and pass it on the moment he is free."

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing's brows lightly furrowed: "Even me?"

"Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi, your wisdom knows best—the Young Master likely didn't consider your case when giving orders. But we servants dare not defy him. Perhaps... perhaps you would kindly leave a name slip? I shall present it to him first!"

Xiao Ning sneered: "Zhang Gatekeeper, how mighty you are—making our Xie Xie Niangzi leave a name slip."

Zhang the gatekeeper realized his mistake and slapped his own mouth immediately:

"Forgive me, Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi! I'm a clumsy fool with words! You don't need to leave a name slip at all! But—the Young Master specifically ordered no one admitted, no announcements made. I dare not act on my own initiative..."

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing spoke calmly: "Send Black Manager out."

As long as it wasn't the Young Master, anyone would do! Zhang the gatekeeper immediately sent someone to summon Black Manager.

Soon, the black-haired man appeared in a black-blue cross-collared robe, striding swiftly with wind in his steps.

Seeing Black Manager, Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing stepped out of the carriage, descended onto the footstool. Zhang the gatekeeper, puzzled, wondered: Was she going to speak to Black Manager outside? Before he could fathom it, Black Manager bowed deeply and gestured inward: "Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi, please."

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing said nothing, merely murmured, "Thank you," and walked inside, adding as she went: "I've brought some things—arrange to move them in."

Black Manager bowed in solemn assent.

Zhang the gatekeeper whispered to Black Manager: "Did you ask the Young Master?"

Black Manager shook his head.

Zhang the gatekeeper was stunned: "How can this be allowed!"

But Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing had already entered the courtyard—there was no time to stop her. He grew frantic: "This—this—this! The Young Master specifically forbade it!"

Black Manager said: "In cases like this, Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi is not to be turned away. Unless the Young Master explicitly ordered her barred, or insisted no one be admitted without exception."

Zhang the gatekeeper frowned: "Is that the Young Master's intent? Does 'no visitors' exclude Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi? Does that mean..."

He stopped abruptly as he noticed Black Manager's cold gaze fixed on him. He quickly withdrew a wrapped cash gift from his sleeve and offered it: "Please, Manager, guide me."

"I have no guidance to give. Just remember one thing: don't discuss what you shouldn't. Watch more, listen more, think more, speak less."

"Yes, yes, yes—I've remembered. Thank you, Manager!"

Black Manager did not take the money, turning instead to coordinate with the Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi household attendants.

Zhang the gatekeeper watched Black Manager's back, filled with envy: "That robe of his looks so fine—when will I ever wear something so good..."

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing and Xiao Ning passed through the first courtyard and saw the central gate tightly shut. Chen Chen Chen Qingshan and Xiao Little Little Awu, one tall, one small, were peering through the crack. Hearing footsteps behind them, Chen Chen Chen Qingshan instantly sprang away, cheeks flushed. Then she remembered something and nudged Little Little Awu. Little Little Awu, oblivious, kept pressing her face against the crack, muttering: "Got it! Got it!"

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing smiled and asked: "What did you get?"

Xiao Little Little Awu's hair stood on end. She turned stiffly, stammering: "F-Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi..."

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing grinned: "What are you thanking me for?"

Xiao Little Little Awu, usually bold, felt as if a mouse had met a cat—completely subdued. In desperation, she blurted: "Th-thank you, Fourth Xie Xie Niangzi, for not reporting me!"

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing smiled like a little demon, stepping slowly toward Xiao Little Little Awu.

Xiao Little Little Awu trembled, backed into the door, her small body pressed against it, like a child awaiting punishment.

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing flicked Little Little Awu's forehead, then lowered her jade face, her fragrant hair brushing sideways as she leaned close to the crack.

Her pearl hairpins tinkled softly by the ear; her silk sleeves rustled, scattering fragrance before the wind.

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan and Xiao Little Little Awu exchanged glances, then moved forward in unison, joining Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing to peek through the crack.

Xiao Ning watched the three of them peering together—she had no words left...

Through the crack, they saw Wang Yang pacing around a brazier, murmuring as if reciting something, then gesturing wildly with his arms. Huh? What was he doing? A dance? Or—boom!

Flames shot skyward!

Wang Yang washed his face, changed clothes, entered the main hall, poured himself tea, and noticed the four pairs of eyes—Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing, Chen Chen Chen Qingshan, Xiao Little Little Awu, Xiao Ning—following his every move in perfect unison, like four kittens fixated on a catnip stick. He chuckled, turned to the four:

"Before I depart, I'll treat you all to dinner—pick anything you like! Even Xiangxue Pavilion is fine! Don't miss the chance—what do you want to eat?"

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing asked first: "Aren't you going to explain what just happened?"

The other three nodded in unison.

Wang Yang said: "Oh, just a little magic trick—didn't go quite as planned..."

The four girls:???

"What's magic?" Little Little Awu asked.

"Uh... it's deception."

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan pondered: "Then that makes sense—he loves deceiving people..."

Wang Yang:...

As they spoke, Black Manager arrived to report: the crates had been moved inside, the horses led to the stables, and the men were waiting in the courtyard.

Wang Yang frowned: "What crates? What horses? What men?"

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing said: "You're leaving in three days, so I prepared some travel essentials—small items. Take what you need, leave what you don't. The horses are two Liaoxi Black Steeds—one for you, one for Chen's sister..."

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan's eyes lit up at "Liaoxi Black Steed," and brightened further upon hearing she'd get one too!

Huh? Why call me "sister"? Is she older than me?

Chen Chen Chen Qingshan paused in brief confusion, but remembering the Black Steed, she dismissed the thought.

Chen Chen Qingshan fidgeted, barely able to sit still, craning her neck toward the courtyard gate as if she could already see the stables.

Wang Yang said: "Chen Chen Qingshan, go try the horse, and ask Old Song how to care for it."

Chen Chen Qingshan beamed and hurried off to see the Black Steed.

Little Little Awu glanced at Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing: "Young Master, I'd like to see the Black Steed too."

Wang Yang smiled: "Of course."

Little Little Awu skipped happily off to see the Black Steed.

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing turned to Xiao Ning.

Xiao Ning looked puzzled, returning her gaze.

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing gave a subtle glance.

Xiao Ning understood, hesitated.

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing raised a brow, lowered her eyelids slightly—her starry eyes flashed a sharp glint.

Xiao Ning reluctantly said: "Xie Xie Niangzi, I—I'd like to see the Black Steed too..."

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing sighed: "What a silly girl—haven't you seen enough of your own family's horses? Then go!"

Xiao Ning:???????

Xiao Ning grumbled off to see the Black Steed.

Wang Yang asked Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing: "You mentioned crates and horses—what about the men?"

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing stood with hands behind her back, her lovely face tilted, her expression radiant:

"The men—I've found four skilled fighters for you. Black Manager, bring them in."

Black Manager looked at Wang Yang, who nodded.

Black Manager departed and returned moments later with four men—short tunics, long blades, sharp-eyed and efficient, standing in a line. They bowed together to Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing: "Master."

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing told Wang Yang: "These are my bodyguards—capable fighters. They'll follow you from now on, under your command."

Wang Yang hesitated: "This... how can I accept..."

Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing acted decisively, waving her hand: "What's the fuss?" Then to the four: "From today, you serve Young Master Wang. He is your new master."

The four turned to Wang Yang and knelt together: "We bow to our Master!"

Wang Yang, seeing this, no longer refused: "Rise, all of you. No need to call me Master—call me Young Master."

The four bowed again: "We bow to Young Master!"

Wang Yang exchanged a few pleasantries, then had Black Manager assign them quarters. After Black Manager led them away, Wang Yang leaned close to Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xie Xie Niangzi Xing and asked: "By the way... what's their monthly salary?"