Chapter 9

The aide walked over, bent down to look at the thief, and seeing him staring wide-eyed at his back, turned to smile at Yang Xuan and said, "How did you know he would land here?"

Yang Xuan replied, "I took a look, and saw that he was descending while flying, indicating that he was injured by the Second Young Master's palm."

The aide asked gently, "Yes, everyone knows that, but how could you calculate where he would land?"

"By looking!" Yang Xuan said simply.

"By looking?" the aide asked.

Yang Xuan nodded.

It was just by looking, nothing profound. He said sincerely, "I took a glance and knew he would land there."

The aide was taken aback and laughed, "Young man, are you interested in the Wang family?"

Jin Qiyin glanced at Yang Xuan, thinking this was a great opportunity.

Yesterday, it was he and Huang Laoer who invited him, but today it was the aide. This aide worked for Wang Douxiang and was deeply trusted by him. His invitation was a formal one from the Wang family.

If Yang Xuan agreed, he wouldn't start as a guard in the Wang family; he might even go to a better place.

Huang Laoer was envious but also happy for Yang Xuan. He glared at Yang Xuan, signaling him not to be coy.

Wang Xian'er sighed from behind, "Now I can't have him feed my horses."

Wang Douxiang smiled slightly, seeing Yang Xuan look up. The young man's eyes were bright, a spirit he had once possessed, which made him frown.

Since Yang Xuan had decided to be a tiger, he couldn't hesitate: "I am not ungrateful, but... thank you anyway."

The aide's smile froze, then he covered his embarrassment with laughter and asked, "Living in Chang'an is not easy, young man. Do you know what you are refusing?"

A bright future, wealth, and honor!

Yang Xuan saw Jin Qiyin sigh and shake his head, and Huang Laoer, furious, made a gesture at his neck. He nodded and said, "I know."

But you still refused.

The aide returned and saw a hint of disappointment on Wang Xian'er's face, which then turned to pride.

"Second Young Master, the young man still refused. I don't know why."

Wang Douxiang was also surprised, but he had seen too many big scenes to be moved by this small one, "The spirit of youth... but Chang'an is not a place for the faint-hearted. Many spirited young men have had their ambitions ground down in Chang'an. I hope he can remain as stubborn, but I've seen too many spirited young men become jaded."

The aide glanced at Wang Xian'er, "No amount of spirit can overcome poverty and setbacks. What can a hunter do in Chang'an? He can't hunt the nobles like animals. Oh, he also said he wanted to study, but studying in Chang'an is very difficult."

Wang Douxiang, with his hands behind his back, watched Yang Xuan being 'chased' by Huang Laoer and sighed, "I remember when my elder brother and I secretly left home and played freely in Chang'an. Now, with so many responsibilities, I can no longer have that innocence."

The aide sensed something and knew that this Second Young Master was concerned about Chang'an, worried that someone might act against the Wang family there.

Wang Douxiang, no longer sleepy, suddenly called Yang Xuan over.

Wang Xian'er, in a bad mood, was escorted back by the maids, and before leaving, she asked, "Why don't you join the Wang family?"

Yang Xuan didn't expect her to speak to him and was taken aback for a moment before saying, "I'm used to living in the mountains."

After Wang Xian'er left, Wang Douxiang looked at Yang Xuan carefully and asked, "I saw you move swiftly like the wind earlier. What kind of technique have you practiced?"

If someone else asked this, it might seem too intimate, but given Wang Douxiang's status, he wouldn't covet a technique from a country boy. This question was more a sign of kindness.

Yang Xuan didn't know the name of the technique, but he knew he had to be careful. How could a country boy obtain such a technique? His mind raced, his expression calm, his back slightly warm, feeling a bit nervous, "I learned it from an old hunter. I once saved him in the mountains."

Examples of gratitude are as numerous as the stars, of course, but so are examples of ingratitude.

Wang Douxiang nodded slightly, "It seems you have good potential. Do you want to study?"

This sudden change of topic left Yang Xuan, who felt guilty for lying, a bit confused, "Yes."

Wang Douxiang smiled and asked, "Why?"

The aide smiled, thinking Wang Douxiang's question was a trap. Ask a hundred people, and you'll get a hundred different answers, but they all have the same thought: study to become an official, to rise above others.

But he saw Yang Xuan actually thinking, and wondered if this question really needed thought.

Yang Xuan thought seriously. He thought about his experiences over the past fifteen years and the narrow-mindedness of the Yang family. He was different. He had been scolded by the Wang family, saying he didn't resemble the other three brothers. This resemblance wasn't just about appearance but more about demeanor and behavior.

He thought for a long time without an answer, and later realized that the voice of the girl in the scroll had taught him much.

He said sincerely, "Not studying is like being blind."

Wang Douxiang and the aide were taken aback.

With their experience, they could see that Yang Xuan was sincere. But this answer was different from what most people would say. It was like everyone in the world thinking about how to make money, and a young man suddenly saying he doesn't like money, which was extremely surprising.

The aide suddenly laughed, feeling quite moved, "When I studied, I thought about rising to prominence, becoming an official, making money, and marrying... all my classmates were the same. You, however, think about not being a fool. Interesting, interesting. I hope that when I see you again in the future, you still have this thought."

...

A long, seemingly endless city wall appeared before them, so tall that one had to look up to see the top. The soldiers on the wall held weapons, looking formidable. Even the faces of the passersby were filled with a sense of pride...

When Yang Xuan saw Chang'an, his mouth was agape, unable to close.

The magnificent Chang'an left this country boy speechless, and the proud and confident passersby made him feel like a bumpkin.

More than a hundred riders rushed out of Chang'an, and the soldiers did not question or stop them. They bowed, "Greetings, Second Young Master."

These were people from the Wang family.

Wang Douxiang nodded, "How is everything at home?"

The leader of the group said, "All is well!"

Wang Douxiang felt relieved and turned to Yang Xuan, "Find a place to stay, and I will arrange for you to enter the National Academy."

This was the Wang family's gift, and Yang Xuan accepted it with a clear conscience.

The curtain of the carriage was lifted, and a maid poked her head out, saying fiercely, "The young lady said that Chang'an is full of cunning people. You are so naive, be careful not to be deceived. If someone deceives you, just mention the young lady's name, and she will take revenge for you."

Revenge... what was this about!

Wang Douxiang's face twitched, and the aide praised the sturdiness of the city wall...

The city gate was also sturdy. A man in his twenties squatted by the gate, his face showing surprise, and he whispered to someone beside him, "Wang Douxiang returned from inspecting the mines, why did he bring a young man?"

The person beside him whispered, "I don't know. It's said that the Wang family's convoy was attacked, and then there were more scouts around the convoy, preventing our people from getting close."

The man yawned and rubbed his hungry stomach, "Wang Douxiang spoke kindly to him, and even the pampered Wang Xian'er had a maid pass a message. This young man must be significant. I'll report back."

He wandered around and eventually reached the imperial city.

After verifying his identity, he entered the imperial city and walked to the right, deeper into a more secluded area, until he reached a small, seemingly dilapidated building complex that gleamed in the late spring sunlight.

Two large men guarded the entrance, and when they saw him, they smiled, "Why are you back, Zhao Sanfu? Is the stakeout job not good? Want to switch with us?"

Zhao Sanfu raised an eyebrow and beckoned, "Want to try?"

The two guards smiled but didn't dare to respond.

Entering the gate, a large bronze mirror hung in front, with a plaque above it reading "High Hanging Mirror."

This was the Mirror Platform, the most mysterious institution of the Tang Dynasty.

Zhao Sanfu stood in front of the bronze mirror, straightened his clothes, and looked at himself in the mirror, saying narcissistically, "Such a handsome and promising young man, I wonder which family's daughter will be lucky enough to have me."

He continued inside, stopping outside the main hall and bowing, "Zhao Sanfu requests to see the Chief of the Mirror Platform."

Two rows of men in black stood outside the hall, all wearing black clothes and exuding a solemn aura.

Black clothes came in several types, worn by emperors and nobles, but all represented the nobility of black. These men wore modified black clothes, indicating their high status.

After a while, someone came out.

"Come in."

Zhao Sanfu bowed slightly and followed the person inside.

The main hall was not small, and upon entering, he saw two rows of people standing below.

At the top, a man with a pale, beardless face knelt, a patch covering his left eye. His right eye looked at Zhao Sanfu with a deep, penetrating gaze.

This was the leader of the Mirror Platform, the Left Chief of the Guard, Wang Shou, also known as the one-eyed dragon feared and cursed by the Chang'an nobility.

"Greetings, Chief of the Mirror Platform." Zhao Sanfu knew the ruthlessness of this leader and didn't dawdle, bowing and saying, "I was ordered to monitor the Wang family. Today, Wang Douxiang returned to Chang'an, and I learned that he was attacked on his journey..."

Wang Shou lightly tapped the table in front of him, his back straight, but his voice was unusually sharp, "Wang Douxiang's journey was to inspect the Wang family's mines. According to our calculations, he should have returned in ten days. He brought many guards, so an assassination attempt wouldn't have stopped him. His early return... the only possibility is that the Wang family in Chang'an sent him a message."

Zhao Sanfu bowed his head, thinking of a recent topic of discussion in Chang'an.

"Reducing the hereditary privileges by thirty percent is like cutting the flesh of the nobles and high officials." Wang Shou's right eye showed a mocking look as he gently touched the patch covering his left eye, "These people are so wealthy, yet they can't resist grabbing every last coin. Their greed is insatiable, and it's contemptible."

Zhao Sanfu agreed with these words but knew they could only be said within the Mirror Platform. If said outside, the supreme ruler in the palace could make life difficult for the Chief of the Mirror Platform.

Wang Shou waved his hand, and the man preparing to bring tea bowed and left.

Wang Shou looked at Zhao Sanfu, "The Wang family knows the situation, and Wang Douxiang's early return is a preparation for action. Was there anything else on the way?"

Zhao Sanfu had prepared his words on the way and now said calmly, "Wang Douxiang brought back a young man."

Wang Shou said coldly, "The Mirror Platform pays you to gather such trivial information?"

This was a sign of an impending outburst. Zhao Sanfu's forehead was sweating, "Chief, Wang Douxiang was very kind to the young man, and even Wang Xian'er showed concern. I found it suspicious..."

Wang Shou stood up, flicked his sleeve, and everyone hurriedly bowed to see him off.

He turned and left from the back, his sharp voice echoing.

"Then you should keep an eye on him."

...

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