Steward Hao told Wang Dingshun that they valued Wang Dingshun’s filial piety. As the saying goes, there are no filial sons beside the bed of the chronically ill, yet Wang Dingshun had always cared for his elderly paralyzed grandfather without complaint, being both patient and attentive. When his grandfather was still alive, he had given up the imperial examinations to serve his grandfather, only deciding to study seriously after his grandfather passed away. This showed he was a person with filial piety. They said that having such a person to care for Old Lady Wang would put the Bai family’s Fourth Madam at ease.

This enormous windfall falling on Wang Dingshun’s head left him somewhat unable to react. It was only after the clan elders and clan leader came to discuss this matter with Wang Dingshun that he believed it was real.

Later, Wang Dingshun was properly prepared by the clan leader and elders to meet Old Lady Wang and Fourth Madam Wang of the Bai family once. Both were very satisfied and decided on this Wang Dingkun.

Fourth Madam Wang was extremely grateful to Bai Qingyan for this matter. Since Madam Wang didn’t know how else she could help Bai Qingyan, she could only kneel before Buddha daily to pray for Bai Qingyan’s blessings. Every time Nanny Guan came to the front hall to discuss the Wang family matters with Nanny Tong, she would say that now Old Lady Wang had gained an adult son without official rank under her knees, she had indeed perked up and was putting all her energy into teaching her son.

Wang Dingkun’s literary studies could be taught by hiring famous scholars, and he could quickly catch up. However, the etiquette of noble family sons that he had lacked since childhood needed to be corrected bit by bit from the smallest details, which would take some effort. Besides having teachers to teach Wang Dingshun etiquette daily, Old Lady Wang would also guide Wang Dingshun.

This Wang Dingshun had an excellent temperament, never showing any impatience, and was very grateful to Old Lady Wang, knowing that everything he had gained today was thanks to Old Lady Wang’s blessing.

“Nanny Guan said that Old Lady Wang plans to arrange a marriage for Fourth Madam’s younger brother after teaching him proper etiquette in a few days,” Nanny Tong said with a smile while massaging Bai Qingyan’s shoulders.

“If Old Lady is in good spirits, Fourth Aunt will have less to worry about,” Bai Qingyan smiled and said to Nanny Tong. “Alright, Nanny, you’ve been massaging for so long and must be tired. I need to review memorials now.”

“Your Majesty…” Wei Zhong walked in with small steps, suppressing a smile as he said to Bai Qingyan, “Your Majesty, Honglu Si sent word that Lord Fan Yugan got into a fight with Yan’s Minister of Revenue.”

Bai Qingyan wasn’t surprised that Fan Yugan got into a fight, but she couldn’t help worrying about Grand Marshal Lu and her uncle. Her brow furrowed tightly: “What about Grand Marshal Lu and Minister Dong? Were they injured?”

“They weren’t. The two got into a fight when leaving Honglu Si. I heard that Lord Fan Yugan was carried back to his mansion, crying ‘ouch, ouch’ all the way… saying he was beaten by Yan’s Minister of Revenue and wanted to enter the palace to ask Your Majesty for justice! He kept shouting about being bullied too much, parading through the streets like that on his way back.” Wei Zhong lowered his head, restraining himself from laughing out loud. “They say half the capital knows about Lord Fan being beaten, and some emotionally agitated people want to block the embassy gates to seek justice from Yan.”

Wei Zhong had also heard that Fan Yugan nearly had his household servants beat gongs and shout through the streets, and he specifically passed by the embassy gates.

Bai Qingyan could imagine Fan Yugan’s scoundrel-like behavior just by thinking about it.

Wang Hanbing had remained silent among the embassy delegation, and Bai Qingyan feared Wang Hanbing was observing Great Zhou’s negotiating envoys, secretly hiding some ulterior motive. So she had Fan Yugan think of a way to prevent Yan’s Minister of Revenue from participating in the negotiations. Fan Yugan had done well!

As long as this Yan Minister of Revenue couldn’t participate in the peace talks, then… Fan Yugan could entangle with Wang Hanbing.

Let Fan Yugan test this Wang Hanbing’s depth. If it didn’t work in the end, she would have Liu Rushi personally meet this top scholar… Wang Hanbing.

She pressed her lips together and smiled: “Go summon Yan’s Ninth Prince into the palace. Tell him… Yan first assassinated our Great Zhou court officials, then beat our Great Zhou courtiers. Does he plan to give us an explanation, or does he plan to go to war? Also, send people to ostentatiously deliver rewards to Fan Yugan. Tell him… he suffered grievances for Great Zhou, and we remember it all!”

“Yes!” Wei Zhong received the order and withdrew.

Inside the embassy.

The usually composed Yan Minister of Revenue was so angry he picked up a vase to smash, then thought better of it and put it down. He searched around the room for a while, finally smashing the teacup on the table: “This is too much! When did I ever touch him? What kind of person is this? Coming out of Honglu Si, he charged straight at me. I hadn’t said anything yet, but he threw himself to the ground. I kindly went to help him up, but he grabbed my sleeve and shouted that I had hit him! He broke his face from falling – what does that have to do with me? This is simply outrageous! Outrageous!”

The Minister of Revenue was shaking with anger. He had lived half a lifetime and had never encountered such a scoundrel.

“Minister, the Regent Prince requests your presence…”

Xiao Rongyan’s guard came to summon the Minister of Revenue.

The Minister of Revenue’s face was iron-blue as he straightened his sleeves and ordered servants to clean up the ceramic shards on the floor before going to see Xiao Rongyan.

Upon seeing Xiao Rongyan, the Minister of Revenue poured out all his grievances, then couldn’t help saying: “How does Great Zhou appoint officials? How can they let such a person of poor character serve as an official! Aren’t they afraid of harming the people?”

Xiao Rongyan put down Murong Li’s reply letter in his hands and spoke: “This Fan Yugan was once a famous dandy in the capital. Do you think the Great Zhou Emperor let this person negotiate our Yan’s national gambling affairs? This person’s methods are scoundrel-like, and he doesn’t care much about face. He can stir up trouble even from nothing!”

Xiao Rongyan’s gaze fell on Wang Hanbing: “In this king’s opinion… it doesn’t seem like he’s specifically targeting you, but rather coming for Wang Hanbing.”

Wang Hanbing also felt it, and he nodded.

Previously, Wang Hanbing had remained silent not only to understand the abilities and skills of these Great Zhou courtiers and strike later, but also because of Xiao Rongyan’s instructions before the embassy began negotiating the national gambling matter…

Xiao Rongyan had told him to wait a few days, and after Great Zhou had played all their cards, Wang Hanbing should make his move. He suspected there was something fishy about Liu Rushi’s assassination. Once Wang Hanbing exerted pressure, it would force Liu Rushi to appear.

If Liu Rushi was safe and sound, then Zhong Xingxiao could also be released. After Zhong Xingxiao was released… Xiao Rongyan told Wang Hanbing he could negotiate with Great Zhou, offering to hold Zhong Xingxiao hostage in Great Zhou, then present land as tribute, showing full sincerity so that Great Zhou wouldn’t insist on him, the Regent Prince, as hostage. The Great Zhou would then have a way to step down gracefully.

Therefore, Wang Hanbing had kept his mouth tightly shut.

But this Fan Yugan repeatedly directed conversation toward him, especially these past few days when verbal insults kept popping out, all of which were blocked by the Minister of Revenue. This allowed Wang Hanbing to restrain himself from speaking.

This time, Fan Yugan had simply staged this drama of being beaten by their Minister of Revenue.