Chapter 111: Yao Clan’s Father and Son! (1/2)
After King Song left, the military and academic officials, as well as the old master’s ex-subordinates, followed suit, and the Four Quarters Embassy finally quietened down. At this moment, the sun had already set.
In the previous years, the entire clan should have already started digging in by the wei hour, but as there were too many visitors this year, so the visiting only ended at the you hour.
(wei -> 1300-1500| you -> 1700-1900)
“You brat, it’s already late, so I’ll talk to you the next time. However, the moment I call for you, you better hurry over!”
Before leaving, Second Sister waved her fists threateningly from her carriage.
“Got it. How would I dare to disobey an order from Second Sister?”
Wang Chong smiled.
Only then did Wang Zhu Yan let the matter slip.
The various families rode onto their own carriages and returned in the direction where they came from. Parting the curtains, Wang Chong took one last look at the Four Quarters Pavilion.
Under the shade of the night sky, with the exception of various lanterns here and there, the Four Quarters Embassy was shrouded in darkness.
Wang Chong knew that a storm would soon be raised from here, and it would sweep across the entire royal court. Be it the regional commander policy or the Consort Taizhen incident, the shock waves would surely resound in the Great Tang royal court for a long time to come.
But to Wang Chong, all of these had nothing to do with him.
He had already done all that he could. What that was left wasn’t within his means as a mere child.
“I should also start dealing with the other matters…”
Wang Chong thought. Looking at the Four Quarters Embassy once more, he felt slightly regretful.
Every year, the Sage Emperor would surely appear for grandfather’s birthday banquet, but Wang Chong had never been able to meet him. The Sage Emperor always appeared publicly in the day, but on grandfather’s birthday, the Sage Emperor would only appear in the Four Quarters Embassy after all of the officials and family members have left.
Therefore, for many years, Wang Chong hadn’t been able to meet with the Sage Emperor. In a sense, this was a great regret he harbored in his heart.
“Let’s go, child!”
Mother’s voice sounded from the side, pulling Wang Chong back from his thoughts.
Jya!
The cracking of the whip sounded outside the carriage, and the carriage started moving slowly toward the Wang Family Residence.
When the Erudite Pavilion was bustling with crowds, divided by a towering wall, the west of the Four Quarters Embassy was deathly silent, and not even the slightest light was present.
“All of the Wang Clan members… have left!”
Amidst the darkness, an old voice sounded. It seemed as though he was here from the very beginning, listening to everything.
“Yes, father. They have all left.”
The voice of a middle-aged man echoed with a respectful tone.
Chi!
The sound of a flint striking resounded, and a faint light scattered throughout the room. An oil lamp was lit.
The features of the middle-aged man revealed itself under the faint illumination of the oil lamp, showing a dignified face. One could tell that the person was extraordinary with a single glance.
But those two eyes of his carried deep doubt, as though there was something clouding it.
If Wang Chong was here, he would be surprised.
The person here wasn’t anyone other than the archenemy of the Wang Clan, the one who schemed against Wang Yan, Yao Guang Yi!
At the battle by the border, Yao Guang Yi was done in by his own intelligence, making him a laughingstock in the capital. After that day, Yao Guang Yi had been cooped up in his home, reflecting his actions.
But strangely, on this day of Duke Jiu’s birthday, he didn’t remain in the Yao Residence. Instead, he came to the residence right beside the Wang Clan old master’s Erudite Pavilion.
The Wang Clan was completely oblivious to his presence in the Four Quarters Embassy, and this could be considered as a huge overlook. If the Wang Clan were to know that Yao Guang Yi had been listening here for the entire day, they would surely be shocked.
“Father, you said that as long as I listened here for the entire day, I will know who it was that did me in. Pardon my stupidity, I implore father to enlighten me.”
Lowering his head, Yao Guang Yi spoke respectfully with the attitude of a humble student.
The battle by the border remained as a knot in his heart. He always thought that he was intelligent, and he did his best to ensure that everything was impeccable, yet he still lost to the Wang Clan in his expertise. This was a huge blow to him.
If that was only the case, then so be it.
But Yao Guang Yi didn’t even know how and who he lost to. This wasn’t something the proud Yao Guang Yi could accept.
Yao Guang Yi could never get back up if he didn’t resolve this matter.
Pu!
No one answered his question. The faint radiance from the oil lamp carved out the shape of a white-skinned old man. His hair and beard were white, and creases filled his face.
The old man only chuckled upon hearing Yao Guang Yi’s words. Grabbing a thin needle, he lightly prodded the wick of the oil lamp.
If one didn’t know, it was hard to imagine that this ordinary old man prodding the wick was another top-notch figure of the Great Tang Empire, Yao Chong Yao Yuan Zhi, the old master of the Yao Clan!
Different from the Wang Clan’s old master, Wang Jiu Ling, Yao Chong never led the army, nor did he participate in any earth-shattering war. He didn’t get involved in any uprising, and he didn’t struggle valiantly to assist the current emperor to the throne either.
Even so, Yao Chong Yao Yuan Zhi still became one of the top figures in the Great Tang Empire, possessing an equal standing to Duke Jiu. In the royal court, his position was something no other officials could match up to, and he was highly favored by the Sage Emperor as well. He was even given a place in the prestigious Four Quarters Embassy.
The Yao Clan’s old master had never depended on brute force to come to this position!
“Did you hear the blessings during the day?”
Old Master Yao asked with a smile, as though he was speaking of something insignificant.
“I have.”
Yao Guang Yi was taken aback, but he replied swiftly. He knew that his father wouldn’t waste his words on something insignificant.
“What do you think of it?”
Old Master Yao smiled. He took out the needle he was prodding the wick with and blew on it. In this instant, he seemed no different from an ordinary old man.
“Bustling, prestigious, and majestic! ——However, father’s birthday won’t lose out to his in any way.”