Shi Chang'an was stunned by Xiao Yan's bold words, looking at the sharp determination on his face, resolute and piercing, an ambitious drive he had never seen on the faces of emperors from other dynasties.
Suddenly, Shi Chang'an burst into laughter. Instead of mocking Xiao Yan for being overly arrogant, he said in a clear, resonant voice:
"Good, good! A world where there is no distinction between Wei and Qi, no difference between the Lord of Qi and the Lord of Wei."
This man surnamed Cao had not misjudged him.
Such a person was worthy of his allegiance.
Shi Chang'an propped himself up with one hand on a nearby table, stood up, adjusted his robes, and solemnly bowed to Xiao Yan.
"Shi Yulin pays respects to my lord. I am willing to serve my lord's ambitions and assist with all my strength."
Xiao Yan calmly accepted his bow before reaching out to help Shi Chang'an rise.
"Is your courtesy name Yulin? Those two characters?"
"Jade waters and mountain hues, the name of the qilin."
Cao Dejiang snorted from the side, "He chose that name himself. Shameless."
The solemn expression on Shi Chang'an's face faltered, and he turned to glare at Cao Dejiang. "If you don’t speak, no one will think you’re mute. And you have the nerve to call *me* shameless? As if your courtesy name is any better!"
"'Upholding integrity, tranquil and composed'—those weren’t the characters your master gave you. It was clearly Boru."
*Boru*, meaning clever wisdom, a name implying humility, inclusiveness, and both talent and grace. But Cao Dejiang, after being expelled from his sect, had changed his courtesy name himself.
Shi Chang'an didn’t hold back, sneering, "You’re just banking on the fact that no one knows so you can fool others. 'Tranquil and composed, clear in ambition, serene and desireless'—which part of you fits that description?"
"Deceitful, scheming, venomous tongue, and greedy—how does *any* of that match 'Boru'?"
Cao Dejiang: "...Nonsense. That’s been my courtesy name since I came of age."
"Liar!"
Shi Chang'an rolled his eyes. "I still have the letter you wrote when you provoked my sect back then. Want to see it?"
"Ahem!"
Cao Dejiang coughed heavily, noticing Tang Ning and Xiao Yan standing nearby, their faces full of amused interest. His expression stiffened as he muttered, "What are you looking at? Who hasn’t done a few foolish things in their youth?" Then he glared at Shi Chang'an. "Shi Yulin, digging up old grudges in front of the youngsters—have you no shame?"
Shi Chang'an replied expressionlessly, "It’s not *my* shame!"
Cao Dejiang: "..."
Tang Ning, seeing the usually composed old man’s face turn pale, shook with suppressed laughter.
Xiao Yan’s lips twitched as well.
No wonder these two got along so well—they were both eccentric oddballs in their youth.
Yulin... Boru...
Pfft.
Cao Dejiang and Shi Chang'an turned to look at them in unison. Xiao Yan coughed lightly, pressing his fist to his lips. "The moon is quite round tonight."
Outside, dark clouds covered the bright moon, and the sky was pitch black.
Cao Dejiang/Shi Chang'an: *Do you even hear the nonsense you’re spouting?*
...
Xiao Yan and Tang Ning were practically chased out by Cao Dejiang. When they reached the outside of Yanling Residence, Xiao Yan’s face still carried a lingering smile.
If he had come with a complicated mood, tinged with three parts apprehension and probing, after talking with Cao Dejiang and Shi Chang'an, he was now completely at ease.
Not only Tang Ning, who was by Xiao Yan’s side, but even Canglang and Attendant Xu standing outside could sense that their master was in high spirits.
Xiao Yan turned to Xu Yu and said, "There will be some changes in the palace in the coming days, and I’ll have more eyes on me. The spies in Jiyun Lane will likely be relentless as well. Your identity can’t be exposed yet, so stay at the Cao residence for now. I’ll bring you back after some time."
Xu Yu respectfully replied, "This old servant will follow Your Highness’s arrangements."
"No need to call me Your Highness. Just address me as Supervisor, like others do, to avoid causing trouble for Lord Cao."
"Yes, this old servant understands."
"How’s your health?" Xiao Yan asked with concern.
Xu Yu’s eyes warmed. "This old servant’s tough bones are easy to maintain. Lord Cao has also arranged for physicians to tend to me. There’s no serious issue."
Xiao Yan said gently, "That’s good. Stay with Lord Cao for now. If you need to reach me, go with Mr. Shi to Rongsheng Academy."
"Once I’ve settled matters in the court, I’ll find a way to let you appear openly and clear up the events of the past."
Xu Yu nodded. "Very well."
...
By the time they left the Cao residence, it was already late at night. The entire capital was under curfew, eerily quiet.
Xiao Yan and Tang Ning sat in the carriage, faint moonlight filtering through the gap in the curtains lifted by the night breeze, falling on Xiao Yan’s half-shadowed face. It softened his usually stern features, making even his typically aloof eyes appear gentle.
"Brother, when will we go see Father and the others?"
Tang Ning’s mention of "Father" brought a slight smile to Xiao Yan’s lips.
He pulled her close, holding her slender hand. "No rush. We’ll go after things in the capital are settled."
Seeing Tang Ning look up at him, Xiao Yan explained, "Before we left, Lord Cao mentioned Grand Tutor Liang. Yesterday, Feng Qiuli also sent word that Liang Guangyi is secretly investigating the Xiao family’s past. He must have noticed something."
Among the noble families, Lu Chongyuan was the most ambitious and ruthless, but Grand Tutor Liang Guangyi was even more cunning and calculating. If the Liang family had anyone capable of inheriting the leading position among the noble families, and if there weren’t the complications between the Lu family and Emperor An, with Lu Chongyuan’s overly sharp demeanor, Liang Guangyi would never have chosen to support Lu Chongyuan to succeed him.
Cui Lin had ambition but lacked intelligence, being conceited and easily provoked, which is why Feng Qiuli could repeatedly outmaneuver him. Liang Guangyi, however, was different.
Cao Dejiang had merely used him to block the Lu family once, facilitating Lu Chongyuan’s death, and Liang Guangyi had already sensed something amiss.
Following the matter of Empress Lu, he learned that Cui Lin had been manipulated, that the second and fourth princes had been ruined by his hand, and that his relentless scheming against the Lu family had raised Liang Guangyi’s suspicions. Liang Guangyi had bypassed "Xiao Yan" entirely to investigate the Xiao family’s past, clearly doubting his identity, just as Liu Tong’en had.
Xiao Yan’s gaze grew colder. "With the palace banquet approaching, we can’t afford any mistakes. Leaving the capital now would draw too much attention."
"And Liang Guangyi is trickier than Liu Tong’en. If he’s determined to investigate, the Xiao family’s secrets won’t stay hidden from him. We need to ‘expose’ the He family’s matter before he uncovers the Xiao family’s past, push Duke Zeng up, and force Emperor An to clear the He family’s name."
Only then could those from the Xiao family who had faked their deaths step into the open.
Xiao Yan gently stroked Tang Ning’s cheek. "We also need to clear Mother’s name and let the world know what the Song family did."
Tang Ning’s lashes lowered as she nuzzled his palm. "Then, after everything is settled, we’ll go together to pay respects to Father, Mother, and our parents."
"Alright."
The night breeze was gentle, and in the carriage, the two leaned against each other. Xiao Yan held the girl in his arms, gazing through the curtain at the night sky outside.
Father and Mother would surely love, love this daughter-in-law.
Just as much as he did...=======================
You can read ahead to chapterr 470 (100+ extra chapters) here
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