With the departure of The King of Song, the officials, and the old subordinates of the old master, the Four Quarters Embassy finally quietened down. But by this time, the sky had already darkened.
In previous birthdays, the family would have already started eating before anyone arrived. But this time, because there were too many people, it only ended at five.
"Brat, I'll forget about it this time. It's already too late. Remember to hurry over when Second Sister calls for you! "
Before leaving, Second Sister entered the carriage and raised her fist threateningly.
"I understand. Do you think that I would dare to disobey Second Sister's orders? "
Wang Chong smiled.
Only then did Wang Zhu Yan drop the matter.
Just like how they came, the family boarded their own carriages and left in the direction they came from. Parting the curtains, Wang Chong took a final glance at the Four Quarters Embassy behind him.
Under the night sky, the Four Quarters Embassy was shrouded in darkness, and only a few flickering lights could be seen.
Wang Chong was well aware that a storm would soon sweep through the entire Imperial Court. Regardless of whether it was the regional commanders system or the Consort Taizhen incident, the storm they stirred was sufficient to destabilize the royal court of the Tang dynasty for a very long period of time.
However, to Wang Chong, all of this had nothing to do with him.
He had already done all he could. What happened next wasn't something a child like him could resolve.
"It's about time for me to return and settle my matters …"
Wang Chong thought. Looking at the Four Quarters Embassy in the darkness behind him, he felt a tinge of regret.
The Holy Emperor would definitely appear for grandfather's birthday. However, it was a pity that Wang Chong never had the chance to meet him. Even though the current Sage Emperor usually appeared in the day, he would only appear in the Four Quarters Embassy on the day of his grandfather's birthday. Only at night would the Sage Emperor appear in the Four Quarters Embassy after the officials had left.
Thus, after so many years, Wang Chong had never met the Holy Emperor. This was one of his regrets.
"Let's go, child!"
His mother's voice sounded by his side. Wang Chong was dazed for a moment before he recovered.
"Go!"
A whip cracked outside the carriage, and it slowly headed towards the Wang Family.
The east side of the Four Quarters Embassy was separated by a tall wall. While the Erudite Pavilion was bustling with activity, the west side of the courtyard wall was deathly silent. There wasn't even a bit of light.
"The people of the Wang Clan … have all left!"
In the darkness, an old voice suddenly came, as if he had been listening to something.
"Yes, Father, it's all gone."
A middle-aged man's voice came from the darkness. It sounded very respectful.
"Chi!"
The sound of flint came from the darkness. Then, a faint flame lit up, and an ordinary oil lamp lit up in the room.
The grease gradually outlined the face of a middle-aged man. This was a dignified face. With a single glance, one could tell that he held a high position and possessed extraordinary status.
However, his eyes were filled with deep doubt, as if he was deeply troubled by something.
If Wang Chong was here, he would definitely be shocked.
Because this person was none other than the nemesis of the Wang Clan, the one who schemed against Wang Chong's father, Yao Guang Yi!
In the battle by the borders, Yao Guang Yi's cleverness had backfired, and he became the laughingstock of the entire capital. From then on, Yao Guang Yi lived in seclusion, reflecting on his mistakes.
However, on Duke Jiu's birthday, Yao Guang Yi didn't stay in the Yao Residence. Instead, he stayed in the room beside the Wang Clan Old Master's Erudite Pavilion.
For such a person to appear in the Four Quarters Embassy without the Wang Clan knowing about it, this was a huge mistake. If the Wang Clan knew that Yao Guang Yi had been listening to them for an entire day, they would probably be shocked.
"Father, if I were to listen here for an entire day, I would know who in the Wang Clan schemed against me. Forgive me for my foolishness, but I beseech Lord Father to enlighten me. "
Yao Guang Yi lowered his head respectfully, as though he was seeking guidance from his father.
The battle by the borders had always been a huge knot in his heart. To think that he had always prided himself on his intelligence, yet he had lost to the Wang Clan in his forte. Without a doubt, this was a huge blow to him.
It would have been fine if that was all.
However, Yao Guang Yi didn't even know how he lost or who he lost to. This was something that the prideful Yao Guang Yi couldn't accept.
If he didn't resolve this problem, Yao Guang Yi would never be able to pull himself together.
"Pu!"
There was no response from the room. The light from the oil lamp vaguely reflected the image of a white-skinned elder. This elder's hair and beard were all white, and his face was covered in wrinkles. Upon hearing Yao Guang Yi's words, he only smiled faintly. Holding a thin stick, he lightly fiddled with the wick of the oil lamp.
If one didn't know better, it would be hard to believe that this ordinary-looking elder fiddling with the wick of the oil lamp was another influential figure in the Tang dynasty, Yao Chong, Yao Yuanzhi, the Yao Clan's Old Master Yao!
Unlike the Wang Clan's Old Master Wang Jiuling, Yao Chong had never led an army beyond the Great Wall and participated in any earth-shattering battles. Similarly, he had never been embroiled in any turmoil in the royal court, nor had he performed any heroic feats. Naturally, he didn't have any contributions to the throne.
However, it was precisely this Yao Chong, Yao Yuanzhi, who had become an influential figure in the Tang dynasty, standing on equal footing with the Wang Clan's Old Master Wang. In the royal court, his standing was extraordinary, and he was favored by the Holy Emperor. On top of that, he occupied a seat in the most illustrious and unique Four Quarters Embassy of the Tang dynasty.
The Yao Clan's Old Master Yao didn't rely on martial prowess to reach his current position!
"Did you hear the birthday greetings in the morning?"
Old Master Yao asked with a smile, bringing up an unimportant matter.
"I did."
Yao Guang Yi was taken aback, but he quickly replied. He knew that his father wouldn't speak of unimportant matters.
"How did it feel?"
Old Master Yao smiled. Retracting the needle that was fiddling with the wick of the oil lamp, he lightly blew on it, just like an ordinary old man.
"Lively, illustrious, and prosperous! — — If it's father's birthday, it won't pale in comparison. "
Yao Guang Yi added.
Old Master Yao narrowed his eyes and waved his hands with a smile. At his level of standing, he didn't need to listen to flattery anymore.
"What about now?"
Old Master Yao narrowed his eyes and asked once more. As he spoke, he placed the needle back into the box on the table and placed it neatly. Taking a closer look, one could see that there was more than one needle in the box. Every single needle had a black tip, and they were neatly stacked in the wooden box.
"Now? … Quiet, serene, and cold! "
Yao Guang Yi hesitated for a moment before replying. He still didn't understand what his father was trying to say.
"Haha, Guang Yi, you better remember this. Life is like day and night. Just a moment ago, you might be famous and honorable, but in the next moment, you might end up like you are now, declining from the peak of your power, with no one showing any interest in you!"
"This is the true portrayal of our clan of generals and ministers!"
Old Master Yao said. At the end of his words, he stared at Yao Guang Yi with an indescribable gaze.
Weng!
Yao Guang Yi was shocked. He didn't expect that the old master wanted him to listen to the Wang Clan's day and night just to tell him this. In that instant, Yao Guang Yi felt as though he had returned to his younger days, listening respectfully to the old master's teachings.
"Guang Yi, do you know why you lost to the Wang Clan by the borders? Do you still think that it was a coincidence? Heh, you are too conceited. It isn't easy for a clan to rise to its current position, and it takes several generations to achieve. But to destroy it, it only takes a day. "
"It's precisely because I understand that life is fickle and that it is easy to gain and easy to lose. Thus, I have always been cautious and cautious, not daring to be careless. Child, this is the last lesson I want to teach you. Be careful! "
Old Master Yao said faintly. His eyes stared at Yao Guang Yi, as though looking into the depths of the latter's soul.
Shua!
Yao Guang Yi was taken aback and cold sweat dripped down his back. In that instant, he suddenly felt his father's state of mind.
"Father, I have learned my lesson!"
Yao Guang Yi stood up and bowed respectfully.
It wasn't easy for a clan to rise up. Knowing this, one had to be even more cautious. After being under his father's protection for so long, Yao Guang Yi had already forgotten the feeling of being covered in thin ice.
He had also forgotten that the reason why he could make a mistake without being punished was because of the old master's existence. It was precisely because of the old master's protection that he was able to sit in his current position.
For so many years, he had always thought that he was the head of the Yao Clan. But in reality, the true head of the Yao Clan had always been his father!
Looking at Yao Guang Yi's cold sweat dripping down his back, Old Master Yao finally nodded his head. It was a true awakening for him to understand the feeling of being covered in thin ice.
There was no such thing as a perfect plan in the world. The reason why he was able to remain standing for so many years was because of the words' covered in thin ice '.
"The fact that you can understand this means that you can still be saved. As for the identity of the Wang Clan that you wish to know, you will find out soon … "
As though responding to Old Master Yao's words, a series of footsteps sounded from outside. A moment later, a fully-armored commander of the Imperial Army walked in from outside.
"Paying respects to Duke Yao!"
The Imperial Army commander was travel-worn. Upon entering the room, he immediately kneeled down without raising his head.
Upon seeing the Imperial Army commander before him, Yao Guang Yi was astonished. The Imperial Army members in the Four Quarters Embassy were handpicked by the Holy Emperor, and every single one of them was loyal and reliable.
Yet, the old master was still able to plant a spy among them!
Old Master Yao smiled but didn't reply. He only looked at the Imperial Army commander on the ground.
"Today is Duke Jiu's birthday banquet. Tell me everything you saw!"
"Yes!"
With his head lowered, the Imperial Army commander swiftly recounted what he saw in the day.
"Alright!"
Old Master Yao waved his hands, and the latter quickly rushed over. Even Yao Guang Yi wasn't able to see his face clearly. The other party seemed to be intentionally concealing his face. Other than Old Master Yao, even Yao Guang Yi wasn't willing to let him see his face.
"Did you hear anything?"
Old Master Yao turned to look at Yao Guang Yi.
"Pardon my foolishness, but I really can't hear anything.
Yao Guang Yi lifted his head with a confused expression. He listened carefully. What the Imperial Army commander said were all extremely trivial matters, such as who came to the Four Quarters Embassy, what gifts they brought, who the Wang Clan Old Master met, when did someone leave, who seemed intimate with someone …
It was all superficial information. As for the specifics, there was nothing at all.
Honestly speaking, to Yao Guang Yi, this was completely useless information!
"Do you still not understand? Heh, that's right. Even I didn't expect that the person who schemed against you would be a fifteen-year-old child! "
Yao Guang Yi shook his head. There was an indescribable emotion in his eyes.
"What? A child! "
Yao Guang Yi widened his eyes in disbelief as he stared at his father.
"Tell me, who was the last person The King of Song, Li Chengqi, met?"
"Wang Gengzhi's third son, Wang Chong!"
"That's him! This child is the one you're looking for. "
Old Master Yao said slowly. His eyes seemed to be able to see through everything.
Boom!
As though a bolt of lightning flashing across his mind, Yao Guang Yi widened his eyes in shock!
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