Chapter 1922: A Rescue Attempt

On a spring evening, the light was just as radiant, the scenery beautiful, and Luoyang bathed in soft glow seemed like a celestial palace. Wang Yansheng had never possessed the temperament or refinement to appreciate such sights, but today he lingered in the corner pavilion of his estate's rear garden, leaning against the railing and gazing upward with unusual focus and patience, until the last trace of light faded from the sky and night descended upon the world.

"Father, someone has come from the palace!" A middle-aged man with a rough countenance bearing some resemblance to Wang Yansheng walked quietly to the pavilion and reported in a low voice. It was his eldest son, Wang Yinghao.

"Oh? That's a strange matter. What day is today, that a palace attendant should come?" Wang Yansheng said in surprise upon hearing this.

Among the meritorious nobles, Wang Yansheng's seniority and achievements stood for themselves, and the treatment he could enjoy was naturally quite high. Beyond what the title system prescribed, there were also unspoken privileges—such as gifts from the Emperor. On every important festival or major occasion in a meritorious official's household, Emperor Liu would more or less draw from the privy purse to purchase gifts and bestow them, or at the very least send a representative to pay a visit. Wang Yansheng was clearly qualified for such treatment.

"To answer Father, today is the twelfth day of the third month—not any special occasion!" Wang Yinghao replied.

"Who has come? What rank of eunuch? Did they bring an imperial edict?"

"Commissioner of the Palace City, Wang Ji'en. He did not say what the matter was."

Wang Yansheng fell silent at once, and his withered eyelids even twitched involuntarily a few times. Had this been the tenth year of Qianyou, Wang Ji'en's arrival could have been taken as a sign of the Emperor's concern. But this was the twenty-sixth year of Kaibao, and even with nerves as thick as Wang Yansheng's, he dared not be too optimistic.

For the nobles and officials of the Great Han, Wang Ji'en's reputation was hardly favorable. He was a starving wolf, an old dog who, upon catching a whiff of filth, would bring his pups and grandpups to swarm around it. Though there were no grudges or even conflicts of interest between them, influenced by the general climate, Wang Yansheng privately still called Wang Ji'en the "gelded dog."

"Lead him to the main hall and have him wait. I will go shortly!" Wang Yansheng ordered in a displeased tone.

"This..." Upon hearing this, Wang Yinghao showed hesitation on his face. He glanced at his old father but could not help reminding him: "Wang Ji'en is, after all, Commissioner of the Palace City—low in rank but heavy in power, with direct access to the throne and enjoying His Majesty's full trust. If we slight him..."

"Then what do you suggest I do? Should I throw open the gates and grovel like a sycophant to welcome a eunuch? He's nothing but a dog by His Majesty's side—does he deserve that?" Wang Yansheng cut Wang Yinghao off with a furious rebuke, startling him into an involuntary shudder.

Seeing this cowardly, pathetic display, Wang Yansheng's blood pressure shot up and his anger surged uncontrollably. Other people's sons could join the army in their teens, win merit on the battlefield in their twenties, become generals in their thirties, and some even earned noble titles. But his own eldest son, past forty, could only stay at home in the ducal manor living off his father, handling trivial matters sluggishly and speaking in a wishy-washy manner.

"Get out!"

"Father, please calm down and take care of your health. I'll go at once!" Seeing that he had angered Wang Yansheng again, Wang Yinghao dared not prattle on any longer. He hurriedly acknowledged and turned to leave in haste.

After he left, Wang Yansheng could not help but sigh. He had three sons in total, and none of them amounted to anything. Even his eldest, the only one who could barely pass muster, was this cowardly. How could his heart find peace? That he wasn't angered to death was a testament to Wang Yansheng's mental fortitude.

Lifting his eyes to the sky, he realized that it had already turned pitch black, with a few bright stars scattered across different points of the night canopy. He couldn't decipher the mysteries and intricacies of astrology, but the unease that had plagued him all day made him connect it to the gelded dog Wang Ji'en's visit.

In the main hall of the ducal manor, Wang Yinghao sat in attendance with his head bowed low, while Wang Yansheng stood there stunned, his expression extremely grave. Wang Ji'en, naturally, was the most relaxed of the three. Looking at the dumbstruck Wang Yansheng, he chuckled lightly: "Commandery Duke Wang, I have delivered His Majesty's words to you verbatim. Please consider how you wish to proceed. I shall now return to report. Is there anything you would like me to convey on your behalf?"

Upon the question, Wang Yansheng snapped back to his senses and gazed deeply at Wang Ji'en. Though he was an old man of seventy, his eyes clearly carried killing intent, radiating immense pressure. Even Wang Ji'en felt somewhat uncomfortable and instinctively averted his gaze.

The corners of his eyes twitched a few times as Wang Yansheng struggled to compose himself, then said flatly: "Trouble yourself to report back to His Majesty that I have nothing to say. No need to see you out!"

Seeing that Wang Yansheng remained this arrogant even at such a juncture, Wang Ji'en felt a surge of anger, a flash of fury passing through his eyes. But he quickly suppressed it, sneering inwardly—does he still think he's that great general treated with leniency by His Majesty? His Majesty's tolerance has its limits!

With a light snort, Wang Ji'en flicked his sleeves and departed. Wang Yansheng stared after him with indifferent eyes, slowly stepped back two paces, and sank into a chair. He picked up his cup, his hands already trembling involuntarily.

Beside him, Wang Yinghao was even more flustered, asking with a face full of worry: "Father, His Majesty sent the Commissioner of the Palace City to question us—what does this mean? Could it be... could it be..."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yansheng looked up to meet his eldest son's anxious gaze. This time he did not rebuke him. After pondering for a moment, a slight smile appeared on his aged face as he chuckled: "Nothing major! His Majesty knows my temperament well. It's just a reprimand, nothing more!"

Though Wang Yinghao was slow-witted, he was not stupid. He had at least some basic ability to read people, and having attended to his old father for decades, Wang Yansheng's forced composure did not escape his notice.

Just as he was worrying, he suddenly heard Wang Yansheng ask: "How is the preparation for the South Seas expedition coming along?"

Caught off guard by the abrupt change of subject, Wang Yinghao was momentarily stunned. But at the mention of this matter, his face twisted into a bitter expression: "The manpower is mostly organized. We're still short on some travel preparations!"

"How many people, and who are they?"

Wang Yinghao: "Thirty-two men, all sturdy fellows selected from the clan relatives, household retainers, old connections, and tenant farmers of the village!"

"Too few! At least three hundred!" Upon hearing this, Wang Yansheng immediately furrowed his aged brows and ordered, then fixed his gaze on Wang Yinghao: "You will go along as well. You'll lead the group!"

Hearing this order, Wang Yinghao was utterly stunned, staring blankly at his old father. Seeing that he was not joking, his heart turned cold as ice, and he choked up: "What crime have I committed that you would send me overseas? If all your sons leave, who will take care of you? How can I fulfill my filial duties!"

Clearly, Wang Yinghao was unwilling to go struggle in the South Seas. Besides fearing hardship and coveting the capital's splendor, he also worried about Wang Yansheng. It wasn't just about filial piety—Wang Yansheng was already past seventy, and his health was visibly declining. Something could happen at any moment. If he wasn't there at that time, what if complications arose with the succession of the title? Moreover, overseas lands were hardly good places—full of risks. How could that compare to staying in the country and waiting to inherit the title and estate in safety?

Though Wang Yansheng was old, he could still see certain things clearly. He naturally sensed his son's intentions. This was the eldest son he could barely stomach looking at. Watching his evasive gaze, Wang Yansheng suddenly felt a chill in his heart—this was the descendant he had sheltered all these years...

A tiger father siring a dog son—that was probably the greatest regret of Wang Yansheng's life.

"Cry! Cry!" That explosive temper could never be changed. Wang Yansheng finally erupted: "If you want to wail and mourn, wait until I'm dead!

You think I don't know your little schemes? Now that you've angered His Majesty, if you don't work hard to prove yourself now, how will you ever get back into favor in the future? Even I, an uneducated man, understand this simple reasoning—how can you, who has studied the sage's books, not understand?"

Clearly, Wang Yansheng had also realized the gravity of the situation and wanted to make amends through some displays of effort. It was just that the descendants he could rely on didn't seem to be rising to the occasion...