Chapter 39

When Wang Xiu's consciousness descended again, he found himself kneeling in a solemn and reverent spirit hall.

Before him was the spirit tablet of his father Wang Jin, the air filled with a faint scent of sandalwood and burning joss paper.

He had become Wang Hui.

This feeling was wonderful, as if it were an inheritance of the soul. He possessed all of Wang Hui's memories and emotions from over twenty years, his filial love and reverence for his father, and his sense of duty to the family, all utterly real.

Yet at the same time, he was Wang Xiu, an observer from over a thousand years later, calmly scrutinizing everything before him.

"Elder brother, mourn not." A gentle voice sounded beside him.

Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) turned his head and saw his sister Wang Zhi kneeling beside him, her eyes red and swollen from crying.

"I'm fine." Wang Hui's voice was somewhat deeper than his father Wang Jin's when young, carrying an innate steadiness.

He knew that from the moment his father closed his eyes, the entire Wang Family's burden had fallen upon his shoulders.

He could not collapse.

The funeral arrangements were not extravagant, but all due rites were observed.

Many officials in the court sent representatives to mourn, and even the current emperor Li Longji dispatched a trusted eunuch to pay respects, giving the Wang Family ample face.

This let Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) once again feel how abundant the political legacy left by his father was.

After handling the funeral, Wang Hui formally took over the Wang Family.

His first act was to summon all the Wang Family's core stewards and servants, inside the ancestral hall, before everyone, and personally carve with a knife the household rule his father had established on his deathbed onto the plaque at the hall's center.

"The first precept of the Wang Family teachings: Do not involve oneself in the succession, do not vie for the great throne. Violators shall be expelled from the family and, after death, not allowed to enter the ancestral hall!"

In this way he announced to all that the Wang Family's future would continue along the low-key, steady path his father had planned.

Having done all this, Wang Xiu truly began to assess his situation as a "second-generation heir."

The Kaiyuan Prosperity.

This was the Tang Dynasty's most glorious era, and also the happiest time for scholars, artists, and skilled artisans.

The Wang Family had wealth, land, and prestige, and because Wang Jin had deliberately kept his distance from court intrigues while alive, they were politically relatively safe.

This start was practically paradise.

Wang Xiu even felt that, even if he did nothing, letting Wang Hui live each day as a playboy rich second-generation, fighting cocks and walking dogs, composing poetry and matching couplets, the Wang Family could still enjoy wealth and honor undisturbed for decades.

But his goal was a millennium-old clan.

He knew that the present prosperity was merely the calm before the storm.

The An-Shi Rebellion of the Tianbao years was like a Sword of Damocles hanging high above his head.

He must, before the chaotic era arrives, find a more secure backing for the Wang Family and build stronger self-defense capabilities.

His current post is a Gentleman of the Department of State Affairs, a clean and prestigious but powerless civil official.

This fits the Wang Family's low-key style, but for achieving Wang Xiu's long-term goal it is still far from enough.

He needs power.

Not the kind of ministerial power that can sway the court, but a power that can provide shelter for the family and have a say at critical moments.

"How should I climb up?" Wang Xiu, controlling Wang Hui, sat in the study, lost in thought.

The Kaiyuan Prosperity teemed with talent. Yao Chong, Song Jing, Zhang Yue, Zhang Jiuling… these illustrious chancellors famed in history were still active on the political stage.

Trying to stand out under their noses is no easy feat.

Relying on talent alone? Wang Hui, though excellent, still falls short compared to these monsters.

Relying on his father's connections? Those of his father's generation have died or been demoted, and most of the remainder have retired; besides, Wang Jin kept a certain distance from everyone at court, lacking any especially close allies.

Time passed uneventfully for over two months, and just as Wang Xiu continued to ponder, worries themselves came knocking at his door.

That day, Wang Hui was handling the family estate's accounts in the mansion when the steward rushed in panting.

Head of Family, it's terrible! People have come from the palace… it's… it's people from the General Gao's mansion!

The steward's voice carried a hint of panic.

General Gao naturally refers to the eunuch most favored by the current emperor, the Senior General of the Cavalry, Gao Lishi, who had grown from a petty eunuch of former days to his present stature.

Although Gao Lishi is now a eunuch, his influence is so great that even the current prime minister must yield to him three parts.

Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) furrowed his brow.

Gao Lishi? Why would he send people? The Wang Family has had no dealings with him.

Please let him in.

Soon, a middle-aged man dressed in steward's attire, his face showing a touch of arrogance, swaggered in.

He merely cupped his fists toward Wang Hui, too lazy to perform any proper courtesy.

You are the Wang Family's Head of Family, Wang Hui?

Wang Hui suppressed his displeasure and calmly said, "Indeed, it is I. May I ask who you are?"

I am the steward of General Gao's mansion, surname Liu. Steward Liu got straight to the point, his tone bearing an indisputable command: "We have come today on the General's orders, with a matter we would like to ask the Head of the Wang Family to help with."

Steward Liu, please speak.

Steward Liu smiled, that smile carrying a hint of greed.

I have heard that your Wang Family's glazed ware is unrivaled under heaven. The General's mansion recently plans to build a new villa and wishes to purchase a batch of glazed tiles and glazed objects from your family. Head of the Wang Family, could you oblige?

Wang Hui (Wang Xiu) felt his heart sink.

Here it comes.

He had long known that the Wang Family's wealth, enough to rival a nation, would inevitably attract the covetousness of wolves.

But he had not expected that the first to come knocking would actually be Gao Lishi.

This is far more troublesome than an ordinary powerful noble.

Ah, so this is the matter. Wang Hui's face remained unchanged, "To serve General Gao is an honor for our Wang Family. I do not know how much the General needs, nor what style; I will immediately have the shop manager attend to it."

Seeing him so accommodating, Steward Liu's arrogance grew even greater.

No problem, no problem. The list—our side has brought it all.

He pulled out a long list from his sleeve and handed it over.

Wang Hui took it and glanced; his pupils shrank sharply.

Good grief!

The items on the list range from glazed tiles and glazed windows to glazed lamps and glazed screens—all told, there are over a hundred pieces.

And the craftsmanship required are all top-tier from the Wang family's shop.

All together, their market value is at least thirty thousand strings of cash!

This is no longer a simple 'order'—it's outright robbery!

Wang Hui forced down his anger, lifted his head: "Manager Liu, the value of this batch of goods……is not insignificant."

Manager Liu seemed not to catch the hidden meaning in his words, chuckling: "Head of the Wang family, rest assured, our General Gao will not let you suffer a loss."

He then produced another sheet of paper from his lapel and gently laid it on the table.

It was a certificate bearing an official seal.

"This is the deposit from the general—one thousand strings. Head of the Wang family, do you see, is this sincere enough?"

One thousand strings?

With one thousand strings, you want to buy goods worth thirty thousand strings?

This is no longer robbery; it's pointing at the Wang family's nose and saying, 'I just want your stuff, and you still have to be grateful and give it to me!'

Wang Hui's (Wang Xiu's) fist clenched instantly inside his sleeve.

He felt a surge of blood rush to his forehead; he knew this might not truly be Gao Lishi's idea, after all he has risen to this point, it's impossible to directly act against the estate of a deceased minister's family.

But relying on this steward of his manor, it's not something this low-ranking official can casually deal with.

Wang Jin had just passed away, and they came to the door to extort—truly bullying too much!