"Hmph, so what if you're a newly promoted marquis? My Xu Clan's confinement of my own niece has nothing to do with anyone else. I'd like to see just what sort of tricks you can come up with. "
Xu Henian's heart burned with fury.
"Someone, prepare the incense burner table and go out to welcome me!"
Xu Henian led a large group of maids, servants, and guards toward the main gate in a grandiose and aggressive manner.
"Boom!"
With a boom, the Xu Clan's tightly-shut gate flew open. Xu Henian, his face gloomy, stepped out with a group of Xu Clan guards.
A carriage was parked outside the gate, and next to it, Xu Henian could see a youth dressed in a red robe. His back was to the gate, and he was quietly standing there, motionless.
The youth's robes flapped in the breeze, exuding an uninhibited elegance and elegance.
"Lord Xu, this is the first time we've met. It's an honor to meet you!"
Hearing the noise behind him, Wang Chong smiled, shook his sleeves, and turned around. The age of seventeen was the prime of one's youth. Born into a clan of ministers and generals, Wang Chong possessed a lofty temperament that ordinary scions of noble clans did not possess. This was coupled with the fair skin and handsome face he had inherited from his parents and clan, as well as the steady and steady temperament he had gained from experiencing the cruel and fierce battlefield …
The current Wang Chong exuded a tranquil and distant aura that would leave others in awe, yet it did not lose its elegance and elegance.
A dragon among men!
Anyone who saw Wang Chong couldn't help but think this.
After the baptism of the war of the southwest, Wang Chong's every move exuded an awe-inspiring temperament. He was completely different from the wastrel hedonist he had been at the start!
Even Xu Yi-qin's big uncle, Xu Henian, couldn't help but be taken aback.
Wang Chong was far more handsome and elegant than he had imagined.
"Hmph, Young Master Wang, what brings you here today?"
Xu Henian quickly came back to his senses. With a cold snort, he glared at Wang Chong, his expression hostile. He had no intention of letting him in.
Wang Chong just smiled calmly, not in a hurry.
"So this is Xu Yi-qin's big uncle, Xu Henian."
Wang Chong looked the middle-aged man up and down. Although he had interacted with Xu Yi-qin many times and knew who the Xu family members were, Wang Chong had never seen a single one of the Xu family members.
"His character is resolute, but he lacks decisiveness and boldness. The Prince of Qi must have used him to change the attitude of the Xu clan, at the same time trapping Xu Yi-qin in the residence."
While Wang Chong's face remained impassive, many thoughts were running through his mind.
He had just returned to the capital when he received the news that Xu Yi-qin had been trapped in the residence by her big uncle and father, cut off from all contact with the outside world. She wasn't even allowed to step out of her own room.
Although Wang Chong wanted to help Xu Yi-qin and help her break free from the shackles of the clan, he did not act rashly. Only after the reward ceremony was over did Wang Chong rush to the Xu Clan.
"Lord Xu speaks too seriously. The Xu Clan is a prestigious clan of the Tang Dynasty, and it is particularly skilled in the art of logistics. Wang Chong has wanted to pay a visit for a long time, but I only had the time today."
Wang Chong clasped his hands and gave a deep bow.
"In addition, this one had an appointment with Young Lady Xu, but for some reason, Young Lady Xu never showed up, nor did she reply. This one is concerned and has come to pay a visit."
"Ha, there's such a thing? How did I not know? "
Xu Henian sneered, a harsh light flashing through his eyes. How could he not know what Wang Chong was up to? The appointment was just an excuse.
Xu Yi-qin had been imprisoned in the residence for more than a month, and not even a fly had been able to get out, much less get news.
"… Moreover, Qiqin is currently ill and has closed her doors, refusing to see visitors and recuperating. If Young Master Wang wishes to see her, I advise Young Master to return home. Once Qiqin's body is better, Young Master can come visit. "
After saying this, Xu Henian immediately put on an attitude of declining visitors. The door was already open, and he had seen the person in question. Even an observant person wouldn't be able to find any fault with him.
For Wang Chong, at such a young age, to dare to imitate others and come to his residence to denounce him was truly showing off before an expert. He was looking down on the Xu Clan far too much.
"Lord Xu, my nephew has personally come to pay a visit. Does Lord Xu intend to turn him away at the door, not even giving him a cup of tea?"
A dignified voice rang out in his ears. Behind Wang Chong, the door of the carriage that had been parked on the side of the street opened, and a steady and dignified figure walked out. His every movement exuded the aura of an important minister of the court.
"Lord Wang!"
Xu Henian grimaced at the sight of this figure. He had only seen Wang Chong outside the door, never having expected Wang Chong to bring his big uncle with him. Moreover, Wang Gen had been sitting in the carriage this entire time.
Wang Gen had clearly heard the entire conversation between him and Wang Chong.
"Lord Xu, since my nephew has an appointment with your niece, let them resolve it themselves. Lord Xu won't interfere and refuse on your niece's behalf, right? "
Wang Gen stared at Xu Henian with an unfriendly expression. If one looked carefully, one would even notice that a ball of rage was burning on his brow.
Wang Chong was currently the most talented and capable person in the entire Wang Clan, and he was also the person most likely to inherit the Old Master's influence.
In his hands, the Wang Clan was likely to reach even greater heights.
And this time, the Holy Emperor had made him a marquis, a fief, and even a courtesy name … all of this was a clear demonstration of the Son of Heaven's high regard for Wang Chong. Countless nobles and clans in the capital had begun to think highly of the Wang Clan and establish ties with it.
Ever since Wang Chong had entered the city, the Wang Clan had already received countless marriage requests from other clans, some of them even more influential than the Xu Clan.
These clans all wanted to marry off their most outstanding women to Wang Chong, but Wang Chong had not agreed to any of them, and Wang Gen had not lightly nodded his head.
Given Wang Chong's current status, how could an ordinary woman be a match for him? But he had never imagined that when Wang Chong came to visit and meet with Xu Yi-qin, Xu Yi-qin's big uncle, Xu Henian, would turn him away at the door.
This made Wang Gen extremely displeased.
"This … Lord Wang has misunderstood. Henian would never dare."
Xu Henian bowed, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. The Xu Clan's influence was mainly concentrated in the Bureau of Revenue and Bureau of Personnel, and these were positions without any real authority. They were on a completely different level from Wang Gen, an important official of the court.
Xu Henian dared to turn away Wang Chong, but he did not dare to turn away Wang Gen as well.
Wang Chong was a junior, so there was nothing wrong with rejecting him at the door. However, Wang Gen was of the same seniority as him. If he were to reject him as well, he would not only be severing his ties with the Wang Clan, he would be thoroughly offending it.
This was not the wisest course of action. After all, although the Wang Clan's power could not compare to King Qi's, it was still not a clan that ordinary clans could lightly offend.
"… But this lowly niece truly is in the residence."
There was no turning back. Since Xu Henian had already said that Xu Qiqin was ill and had offended the Wang Clan, he could only grit his teeth and continue speaking.
But before Xu Henian could finish, he was interrupted by a roar of laughter.
"Hahaha, Xu Henian, you've truly hidden yourself well! In the war of the southwest, your niece made such a great contribution, but you didn't even say a word. "
"Public affairs cannot be neglected, public affairs cannot be neglected … Xu Henian, it's fine if you're modest, but don't push away your niece's contributions!"
"The war of the southwest is such a major affair. It's no wonder that the Xu Clan's little miss has been working day and night."
"Since she's ill, it's all the more reason to go and see her."
… …
The earth trembled as a simple but dignified carriage made its way over from the other end of the street. The carriage door opened, and under Xu Henian's flabbergasted gaze, one imperial censor after another walked out.
"Xu Henian, this is called not reporting what you know. Once we get back, we'll have to report you to His Majesty … Your Xu Clan has made such a great contribution. How could you conceal it?"
An imperial censor with a missing little finger on his left hand roared with laughter as he walked forward. Xu Henian immediately recognized him as the court's one-fingered Imperial Censor Zhang Xiao.
Although he was missing a finger, no one in the court had ever dared to look down on him. Back then, when the Holy Emperor had wanted to personally lead the army into battle, all the civil and military officials of the court had failed to dissuade him. In the end, Zhang Xiao had cut off his finger and was prepared to spill blood on the imperial carriage and smash himself to death in the palace. Only then did he manage to stop the Holy Emperor's plans.
Because of this matter, everyone felt deep veneration for Zhang Xiao. Speaking of the one-fingered imperial censor, all of them would raise their thumbs. They all knew that he was an upright and plainspoken individual.
"Contribution?"
Xu Henian stared at the sudden appearance of several imperial censors, his eyes bewildered and his mind blank. Contribution? What contribution did the Xu Clan have? Why didn't he know? And why had these imperial censors appeared here?
"Hahaha, still pretending? Xu Henian, you're going too far. If not for Young Master Wang Chong telling us, just how long were you going to hide your niece's great contribution?"
Another imperial censor with a red tassel of jade tied to his waist walked forward, shaking his head and laughing. In his hand, there was a golden scroll.
"But this matter is not up to you. The Imperial Court rewards merit and punishes fault. The Xu Clan's young miss has made such a great contribution that the Imperial Court cannot not reward her. Xu Henian, prepare to receive your reward. "
Xu Henian froze for a moment, then glanced at the smiling Wang Chong. He vaguely understood, and his face alternated between green and red.
He had believed that Wang Chong had come to denounce him for his crimes, but he had not expected that Wang Chong would also help the Xu Clan earn a scholarly honor. Xu Henian had been trying to distance himself from the Wang Clan and King Qi this entire time, at the same time expressing the Xu Clan's stance.
But at this moment, in front of so many imperial censors, no matter how magnanimous King Qi was, he would not trust the Xu Clan.
The younger generation will surpass the older!
Xu Henian closed his eyes and gave a long sigh. Right now, whether he was willing or not, the relationship between the Xu Clan and the Wang Clan was fated to become incomparably close in the eyes of many people. Not even Xu Henian could change this.
And it just so happened that the Xu Clan could not refuse Wang Chong's contribution.
"Milords, please come in."
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