The Four Quarters Embassy was quiet, but Wang Chong knew that it was one of the most heavily guarded places in the Central Plains.
Countless Imperial Army experts were stationed here. Looking from afar, even the air above the Four Quarters Embassy seemed slightly distorted, and even the sun, moon, and stars seemed a little bizarre.
The Four Quarters Embassy looked simple, and one could easily climb over the walls. However, one would realize that this place was definitely a tiger's den.
One might be able to enter easily, but there was no guarantee that one would be able to come out alive!
Every time Wang Chong entered this place, he would feel as though he had stepped into an impenetrable fortress.
"To think that I would finally be back here."
Looking at the Four Quarters Embassy, Wang Chong was in a daze. A complicated expression flashed across his eyes. Wang Chong had always disliked the Four Quarters Embassy.
The reason was simple. The atmosphere here was too solemn. Every time he entered this place, it didn't feel like a family gathering. Instead, it felt more like a 'court assembly'.
Furthermore, grandfather, or perhaps the old master (this was how Wang Chong addressed him in his heart), was too upright and incorruptible.
Wang Chong's rebelliousness, ignorance, and troublemaking didn't appeal to the old master. As a result, Wang Chong felt as though he was invisible every time he came here.
No one paid attention to him, and no one cared about him.
Due to this reason, Wang Chong disliked coming here even more.
There were many things that one would only realize their importance after losing them.
It was only after the old master passed away that Wang Chong truly felt the weight of the old master. The entire Wang Clan lost its pillar of support, and in an instant, the world collapsed.
Only then did Wang Chong realize what the old master meant to the clan.
Humans had to learn from their mistakes in order to grow.
Many years later, when Wang Chong was no longer young, Wang Chong finally understood his grandfather's intentions:
He had lived an upright and incorruptible life. Wealth, status, and authority held no attraction to him at all. No one disliked having a house full of grandchildren, and no one disliked enjoying a blissful old age.
The reason why he persisted for so long in the Four Quarters Embassy despite his old age was for this family, for the descendants of the Wang Clan!
Thus, in his previous life, when he 'revisited' the Four Quarters Embassy many years later, the Four Quarters Embassy was no longer guarded by the Imperial Army, and it was overgrown with weeds, turning it into an ordinary courtyard, big uncle and little uncle kneeled on the ground and burst into tears!
That scene was something that Wang Chong would never forget for the rest of his life.
In the past, Wang Chong was filled with awe and respect for this place, but as someone who had reincarnated, Wang Chong's feelings toward this place were completely different.
It wasn't just the intimacy that flowed through his bloodline. To Wang Chong, this place also contained a sliver of hope for the empire.
If Wang Chong wanted to change the fate of the empire, change the fate of the Central Plains, he needed the approval and help of that elder in the Four Quarters Courtyard!
This was Wang Chong's only chance.
"Jya!"
A shout sounded from outside the carriage. Wang Chong's eyes widened for a moment, but he soon recovered. Retracting his head, he sat on the carriage with his mother and slowly headed toward the Four Quarters Embassy.
This wasn't the first time the Wang Clan's carriage had entered the Four Quarters Embassy. Even in the Tang dynasty, there were few who didn't recognize the emblem on the carriage. However, they still had to go through strict procedures to verify it before allowing it in.
"Let's alight here! If Duke Jiu summons you, he'll inform you. "
Not too far after entering the Four Quarters Embassy, several Imperial Army soldiers stood guard. Several black-armored Imperial Army soldiers had grim and expressionless faces, blocking the way.
This was the periphery of the Four Quarters Embassy. Even though they were from the Wang Clan, they could only walk this far. They had to wait for the summons from inside.
Even though Wang Chong wasn't used to this, he knew that this was a rule set by the Holy Emperor. But Wang Chong knew that this was a rule set down by the Sage Emperor to prevent people from trying to take advantage of the chaos and sneak in.
The Holy Emperor viewed the Four Quarters Embassy with great importance.
"All of you wait here. Big aunt and the others will be here soon, and we'll all enter together. Remember not to run around. "
Madam Wang instructed from the carriage. She was already used to all of this, so she wasn't surprised by it.
Wang Chong and his little sister nodded their heads before opening the carriage door and alighting.
The Four Quarters Embassy was heavily guarded. With a single glance, one could see a sentry every five steps and a sentry every ten. There were Imperial Army guards everywhere, both in the open and in the shadows.
These gazes scanned the area silently from all directions, and it felt as though one was being watched at all times.
In his previous life, Wang Chong had always felt uncomfortable being watched. However, having lived two lives, Wang Chong had weathered many storms, so he didn't mind such surveillance.
"Mother, let me help you down."
Wang Chong stood by the side of the carriage and helped his mother down. Madam Wang nodded her head in gratification.
This child had truly grown up. If it was in the past, he wouldn't have been so sensible.
Disregarding the Imperial Army guards, the interior of the Four Quarters Embassy was actually quite beautiful. The interior of the Four Quarters Embassy was filled with lush greenery, and between the trees, neatly paved bluestone paths could be seen.
By the sides of the paths, there were many craggy artificial mountains and boulders that exuded an ancient charm. Clear streams of flowing water, carefully constructed by the Bureau of Works, flowed through the surroundings.
Wang Chong glanced around, and he could even see clusters of meticulously cultivated black bamboos. They were lush and vigorous, exuding vitality.
— — The old master loved peace and quiet, and he was skilled in both literature and martial arts when he was young. These were all things that he liked.
Luolulu!
Just as he was waiting, the rumbling of a carriage sounded from behind him.
"Yo, isn't this Shu Hua? You sure came early! It's father-in-law's birthday, Shu Hua, you sure put in a lot of effort! "
Before Wang Chong could see the person, a sarcastic and eccentric voice sounded from the green carriage. Wang Chong turned his head and saw a middle-aged woman with a hairpin and an air of nobility poking her head out of the carriage window. Her eyes were staring at him with a hint of harshness in them.
"Big aunt!"
A thought flashed across Wang Chong's mind. The person who peeked her head out from the carriage was none other than Wang Chong's big aunt, Xing Yuan Chun.
If big uncle had always been fond of him in his previous life, big aunt hated him. This kind of hatred wasn't limited to just Wang Chong, but the entire Wang Clan. Big brother, second brother, father, mother, and little sister were all included.
In fact, even after the Wang Clan fell into trouble, big aunt's attitude hadn't changed at all.
When the Wang Clan was in trouble, everyone was more than willing to work together. Even though they were starving, big aunt was always nagging at them. When it was time to eat, she made sure to eat the best.
And when it was time to pick out food, she made sure to pick the largest portion.
When the Wang Clan fell into trouble, everyone was skinny, but big aunt even gained a few catties.
Due to this reason, she and Wang Chong hated one another.
"Sister-in-law must be joking. Today is father-in-law's birthday, so how could Shu Hua dare to be late?"
Hearing her brother and sister-in-law's words, Madam Wang's face darkened, but she didn't dare to refute them. Xing Yuan Chun was the daughter-in-law of the Wang Clan's first wife. In the feudal society, her status was much higher than hers.
"Mother, why are you being so courteous with her? Big aunt, today is grandfather's seventieth birthday. As an elder, you actually came so late for such an important event. Aren't you being a little too negligent? "
Wang Chong tugged at his mother and retorted rudely. His mother couldn't speak, but as a child, he didn't have much to fear.
Even if grandfather were to blame him, he would only say that he was inexperienced and that it wasn't a big deal.
"That's right, that's right! Why are you scolding my mother?"
His little sister clenched her fists and argued indignantly.
"You!"
Xing Yuan Chun didn't expect Wang Chong to interject and criticize her for being late. She angrily pointed a finger at Wang Chong and said with a frosty face:
"You two … little things, do you still have any respect for your elders? How dare you speak like that! I'm speaking with your mother, do you have the right to interrupt? — — Zhao Shu Hua, is this how you teach your children? "
"Enough!"
At this moment, a cold and authoritative voice sounded from the carriage. The quarreling trio immediately quietened down.
"Today is father's birthday, so no one is allowed to argue here. Xing Yuan Chun, shut your mouth. Wang Chong, you're not allowed to speak as well! "
It was Wang Chong's big uncle, Wang Gen. As an influential official of the royal court, his words carried an air of authority.
"Yes, big uncle!"
Wang Chong bowed and fell silent. Compared to before, big uncle's tone was much more relaxed, and he didn't seem to be blaming Wang Chong.
Clearly, Wang Chong's suggestion to help big uncle and cousin wasn't in vain. But for some reason, Wang Chong felt that there was something weighing heavily on his big uncle's mind when he spoke.
"Big brother is right. Shu Hua has been rude."
Wang Chong's mother, Zhao Shu Hua, also bowed. Even though Wang Chong's big uncle Wang Gen was strict and inflexible, and he didn't have a good relationship with the Wang Clan in the past, he wasn't as harsh and arrogant as Xing Yuan Chun.
Thus, there wasn't much conflict between him and Wang Chong's mother.
"Wang Gen! Your elbows are out. Do you even know how to talk? She's talking back to me! "
A sharp and discordant voice sounded from the carriage. Even though Big Uncle Wang Gen was speaking up, Wang Chong's big aunt, Xing Yuan Chun, didn't buy it, and her voice was filled with dissatisfaction.
"Mother, stop …"
At this moment, another voice from the carriage grumbled.
"It's cousin!"
Wang Chong could tell that it was his grandfather's seventieth birthday. It was impossible for Cousin Wang Zhu Yan to miss out on such a huge occasion.
"Fine! To think that even you would speak up for an outsider. Stinky lass, I'll teach you a lesson! "
Big aunt's face was filled with anger, and as she spoke, she stretched out her finger to pinch her cheek. Following which, a scream of shock sounded from her cousin, as though she was really pinched in pain.
Then, a series of nagging reprimands followed.
"Yo, isn't that Shu Hua? There's also Yuan Chun! "
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