Weng!
Yao Guang Yi’s face darkened. The two of them glared at one another. The atmosphere in this small room instantaneously tensed due to the words of the two generals of Great Tang.
With the two generals of the royal court enraged, everyone else in the room cowered backward, not daring to move in the least.
All of the guards of the Yao Residence revealed fearful expressions.
Upon seeing this sight, Wang Chong felt consoled. His father was still sided toward him! However, Wang Chong didn’t want a conflict to break out between his father and Yao Guang Yi yet.
“Yao Guang Yi! I’ll return your son to you since you want him so much!”
It wasn’t time for the two to fall out yet. Wang Chong was well aware of the events that would happen in the future. Even though Yao Guang Yi was not anything good, the two families had not fallen out at this moment yet.
Peng! Wang Chong pushed Yao Feng, and at the same moment, he used a special technique to knock on an acupoint at his back, knocking him unconscious before he could do anything.
As the saying goes ‘biting the hand that feeds’, Wang Chong would not do such a thing. Yao Feng was obviously much stronger than him and if he were to release him just like that, many things might happen later on.
Yao Guang Yi hurried forward to catch his son.
“Wang Yan, look at how you brought up your own son!”
Seeing the disfigured face of Yao Feng after he was pummeled by the Wang siblings, Yao Guang Yi’s heart bled. He had went through a lot of trouble to prepare today’s plan. He even invited a lot of King Qi’s aides and subordinates so as to make the scenario even more credible. He didn’t expect just that two brats of the Wang Family would foil all of his planning.
Yao Guang Yi could not confirm whether the father and son pair were doing this intentionally to play out a show before him, but no matter what, his plan had been foiled.
Back then, he had guaranteed King Qi time and time again that this plan would work. When King Qi hears of this, not only will he be disappointed in him, he might even doubt his ability to get things done!
At this point, Yao Guang Yi felt the ache in his heart worsen.
“Wang Yan, I will not let this matter slip like that. I will report this matter to His Majesty to have the Wang Clan held accountable for this incident!”
Yao Guang Yi stared at Wang Yan hatefully. Since his plans had failed, there was no longer any need for him to put on his hypocritical front any longer. Carrying his son, he led the group of experts of the Yao Residence away without even turning back.
The moment Yao Guang Yi left, Wang Yan’s face darkened.
“You unfilial son! Why are you still standing here! Do you think that you haven’t embarrassed me enough yet?”
Wang Yan glared at Wang Chong and spoke coldly. After which, his gaze landed on Wang Xiao Yao:
“Yao-er, you have truly disappointed me. Next time, stay away from your Third Brother, Otherwise, it is just a matter of time before you are led astray. ——You will be grounded in your room for three days after returning back, you are not to step out out of it!”
“Daddy!”
Wang Xiao Yao exclaimed anxiously. She was alright with being grounded in the residence, but being locked in her small room would suffocate her to death.
“This matter isn’t up for negotiation!”
Wang Yan said coldly.
Wang Chong felt disheartened. It takes more than a day of frost for the river to freeze three feet deep. Furthermore, the scandal of him and Ma Zhou raping a female villager had just gotten out, and right after that, he came to blows with Yao Feng in the Vast Crane Pavilion. It would probably be even more difficult for him to change his father’s impression at this point.
However, regardless of whether his father believed him or not, there was a matter that Wang Chong needed to say:
“Father, I know that you wouldn’t believe anything that I say now, but there is something that you must remember! When father returns back to the military camp by the border, when you notice the Huren crossing the border, please remember to retreat fifty li first! You must remember this!”
Fifty li -> 25 kilometers
“What do you mean?”
These words came from nowhere, such that even though Wang Yan was on the height of his anger, he couldn’t help but be stunned by his words. As such, he subconsciously asked about it.
*Technically, the word referred to people who were unscrupulous but did great things. It could be considered as a negative phrase, but not necessarily so.
For example, it was often used to describe the person who unified China, Qin Shi Huang (Ying Zheng). [If you don’t know him, that’s the king of the Qin Country in the Kingdom manga, Sei] He did many bad things, he ordered for people to be buried alive, he invaded many different countries and such. In the manga, his goal was to create a unified world without wars. He did do great things, but he couldn’t be considered a hero because of his means. Thus, we have another word for it, called .
Well, it could also be used to describe people who didn’t accomplish their ambitions, but are ambitious and unscrupulous anyway.
I used the word feet but the accurate one would be chi.
Chi = 33.3cm
Feet = 30.48cm
Note that the length of chi has changed throughout different dynasties.
On the other hand, li = 0.5 kilometer.
Chapter 11: Wang Chong Persuades His Father
Even so, Wang Chong didn’t explain the situation properly.
“I know that regardless of what I say, father wouldn’t believe me. However, there are a few things that father must know. Firstly, as soon as father walks out of Vast Crane Pavilion, King Song will definitely summon father in and the envoy he sent is likely to arrive soon. Secondly, after father meets with King Song, the redeployment order from the Bureau of Military Personnel should be announced soon and father would have to rush to the campground by the borders!”
“By then, father should be able to discern whether what I said was false or not, whether it is the gibberish of a child or a fact.”
Wang Chong said with a grim voice.
In his previous life, after father and Yao Guang Yi met with one another, King Song’s summon came almost immediately after his legs stepped out of the Vast Crane Pavilion. After all, Yao Guang Yi had intentionally informed King Song of the incident.
Yao Guang Yi had everything planned everything perfectly such that each event was linked closely to the next, allowing little time for father to think or react.
After which, Yao Guang Yi and King Qi used their influence in the Bureau of Military Personnel to have father redeployed to the borders, thus causing father to lose his opportunity to explain himself before King Song.
Then, the Hu’s incident happened.
Initially, that matter wasn’t anything much. The Hu’s invasion did not pose too much of a threat and given father’s abilities, it was a simple task for him to defeat them.
But at the crucial period, Yao Guang Yi’s troops suddenly appeared to aid him. As such, the Hu was crushed easily. However, at the same time, it gave others the impression that the two of them, or perhaps even the entire Yao Clan and Wang Clan, were allianced with one another.
Due to this incident, King Song thought that the Wang Clan had betrayed him entirely and decided to stand alongside King Qi. As such, he flew into a rage.
Wang Chong remembered all of these clearly, but he didn’t explain them clearly to his father.
At such a moment, regardless of what he said, his father wouldn’t believe him. Instead, saying too much might cause an opposite effect, making him think that Wang Chong was trying to deceive to him. However, when Yao Guang Yi leaves his barrack and leads his army to appear on father’s land of jurisdiction, his father will instantly comprehend the situation without him saying too much about it.
It takes more than one cold day for a river to freeze three feet deep, trust ha
d to be accumulated slowly as well!
As long as the words he said proved to be true again and again, his father would slowly understand that he wasn’t just spouting nonsense.
As long as he did as he said and retreated 50 li back upon detecting the invasion of the Hu, then the Wang Clan would have avoided a calamity.
25 kilometer
His hard work wouldn’t have been in vain then.
However, at this moment, Wang Chong will not point it out no matter what happens!
After hearing Wang Chong’s words, Wang Yan was stunned. The Wang Family’s little sister was also flabbergasted. She could discern every single word of what her brother was saying, but when put together, she couldn’t comprehend the meaning of it.
What Wang Chong said was simply too mystical, it was nearly impossible!
“What kind of nonsense are you talking about!”
Wang Yan finally recovered and just as he was about to criticize his son, he saw Wang Chong’s grim expression and hesitated. It didn’t seem as though Wang Chong was spouting nonsense.
Which father doesn’t wish for their son to make a name for himself? No matter how disappointed he was with Wang Chong, Wang Yan still held a sliver of expectation for Wang Chong in depths of his heart, hoping that his son had truly grown up.
However, Wang Chong’s words, no matter how he looked at it, was simply too inconceivable.
He had just met with King Song and logically speaking, the both of them shouldn’t meet within a short period of time, needless to say, summon him right after stepping out of the Vast Crane Pavilion. As for the matter regarding the Bureau of Military Personnel, given how he, the general, was unaware of the matter, how could a child like Wang Chong know of it?
Needless to say, Wang Chong even strictly ‘allocated’ the timing for the happening of the two incidents.
————This was downright ridiculous!
“Father, I know that you don’t believe me, but the reason why I brought little sister here with me wasn’t to wreck havoc. Yao Guang Yi intends to bring harm to our clan and he had laid a trap for father to step into. He had informed King Song of the matter of father meeting with him. If father does not believe me, I can guarantee you that King Song would ask you about Yao Guang Yi after summoning you over.”
“If I am wrong, then I am willing to be punished for it. However, if I turn out to be right… Father, I beseech you to say that Yao Guang Yi tried to recruit you but you have already rejected him!”
“I beg of you!”
Halfway through his words, Wang Chong knelt down to the ground and bowed deeply.
In the entire Wang Clan, only he knew what kind of hidden dangers was awaiting the clan. At this moment, he had to do everything he could to ensure that it wouldn’t go down the path it did previously.
At this moment, Wang Chong could only pray that his father would remember the words he said.
“Enough!”
After a moment of daze, Wang Yan burst into an outrage:
“At this kind of moment, you still don’t find yourself embarrassing? Scram back to the residence. If I were to find you loitering around outside and causing trouble, I will break your legs!”
“Brother, don’t speak anymore!”
Wang Xiao Yao’s body scrunched together and she shivered in fear. Father’s complexion was very awful at the moment and he looked extremely fearsome. She had never seen her father getting so angry before.
“Yes! I understand.”
Wang Chong shot a glance of consolation to his younger sister, to tell her that everything was alright, and stood up, no longer trying to provoke his father’s rage.
He had already done so much. Looking out of the windows, at the large crowd that had gathered outside, Wang Chong saw two familiar figures.
Since the two figures had arrived, it should be around time for King Song to make his move. Father should be able to understand whether his words were true or not after this.
Perhaps it was due to Wang Chong’s obedience working its wonders, Wang Yan’s complexion soothed slightly.
“Return back home! We’ll talk about it after we return!”
Wang Yan flung his sleeves and with a dark face, he walked toward the stairs and out of the pavilion.
Without saying a word, Wang Chong followed behind the back of his father. The three of them walked out of the Vast Crane Pavilion together.
…
The streets were filled with people. The Vast Crane Pavilion was one of the highly reputable and upscale restaurants of the capital and the incident had attracted the attention of countless people.
“Hm, Brother Wang! What are you doing here?”
The moment the three of them walked out, a greeting echoed from the crowd. Wang Yan looked over and saw two familiar figures staring at him.
“Lord Bao! Lord Lu!”
Wang Yan heart thumped. He immediately reacted and walked toward the two. The two of them, ‘Bao Xuan’ and ‘Lu Ting’, were advisors for the royal court.
However, the two of them had another identity. Just like Wang Yan, they were confidants of King Song.
“Why would the two of you be here today?”
Wang Yan walked over and started to chat with them.
“Hehe, today Brother Bao had made an exception and invited me over to the Vast Crane Pavilion for a gathering. How could I miss such a rare opportunity? I had to go no matter the cost!”
Saying so, Lu Ting laughed heartily.
Lu Ting and Bao Xuan were both fellow academics and King Song’s aides. However, other than on official matters, the two of them rarely came into contact with one another. It was the first time that Bao Xuan took the initiative to invite the latter to an extravagant restaurant like the Vast Crane Pavilion for a gathering.
Wang Chong stood behind his father without saying a single word.
Wang Chong wasn’t in the least surprised by the presence of Lu Ting and Bao Xuan here. Back then, in his previous life, the two also played an important role in the matter.
In his previous life, the two were the eyewitnesses to King Song on the matter of the secret meeting between his father and Yao Guang Yi. The advisors cum academics of the royal court had come to the Vast Crane Pavilion for a celebration, only to realize that the Vast Crane Pavilion was closed to all customers. Its interiors were completely filled with King Qi’s people and no other people was allowed to enter.
Yet, in such a place, Wang Yan was meeting Yao Guang Yi by himself.
The results of such words reaching King Song was extremely predictable!
Back then, this matter had caused a great uproar in the capital. However, Wang Chong knew about the other truth on the matter. This was something he had uncovered coincidentally in his previous life many years after this incident came to an end and when nothing was important anymore.
There was another ‘truth’ behind this matter that no one knew of:
Lu Ting had been made use of. The true mastermind was the one who was standing beside him, the silent Bao Xuan. He intentionally invited Lu Ting to the Vast Crane Pavilion so that he could witness father and Yao Guang Yi’s meeting behind closed doors.
No one would have guessed that he had long sided with Yao Guang Yi and King Qi before this.
Going by Yao Guang Yi’s intention, Bao Xuan revealed the existence of the secret meeting of the two to King Song before inviting Lu Ting here. Lu Ting was a righteous person and he was known for his honesty. As such, he was the ideal person for him to make use of.
It was precisely because of Lu Ting’s words that King Song cast doubts on his father despite trusting him deeply for so many years.
Wang Chong could tell that Bao Xuan’s complexion wasn’t too good. Initially, he invited Lu Ting over to serve as an eyewitness for Wang Yan’s betrayal of Yao Guang Yi. Yet, Wang Chong unintentionally turned him into an eyewitness of Wang Yan and Yao Guang Yi’s falling out instead.
“If Bao Xuan is here, then the old butler beside
King Song… should appear soon!”
Wang Chong thought.
Everything was well-planned out. If Bao Xuan had appeared here, then the old butler of King Song’s residence should be appearing soon.
“General Wang!”
As though responding to Wang Chong’s internal voice, the ground tremored and a massive and magnificent carriage approached them. On the wheels of the carriage, there were dragon inscriptions on it, a symbol of royalty.
The curtain of the carriage was pulled apart and an elderly with a stern face popped out. The elderly had both of his hands hidden in his sleeves and his face was expressionless. A powerful aura exuded from him, making one feel as though his strength was too deep to be fully grasped.
“King Song requests a presence with you, please follow me!”
After saying those words flatly, he turned around and looked forward, as though nothing had happened.
In an instant, the surroundings went silent!
“Old butler!”
Wang Yan’s heart jolted. He subconsciously turned to look at his third son, Wang Chong, and shock was clearly conveyed through his eyes.
What Wang Chong said really came to be! Right after walking out of the Vast Crane Pavilion, King Song sent someone for him! Furthermore, it was the old butler whom he was the closest with and valued the most!
In that instant, waves billowed in Wang Yan’s heart. A look of incredulity appeared on his face!
As a subordinate of King Song for more than a dozen years, Wang Yan was well aware of the old butler’s position in the King Song Residence. He had watched King Song grew up and as such, he was highly trusted by him.
If this was just an ordinary summon, there was no need for him to make this trip himself!
However, what made Wang Yan even more astonished was that Wang Chong was able to predict it at all!
This was even more astounding to him than King Song sending his trusted confidant for him!
“Is this really a coincidence?”
Wang Yan’s heart pounded. It wasn’t weird for Wang Chong to know that King Song would summon him. After all, he was sided with King Song and they would eventually meet, it was just a matter of time.
The Human Emperor c1-2382 Page 17
