Zhao Hanzhang brought Wang Xuan straight to the Regional Governor’s Mansion. Before they had even dismounted, they saw two guards dragging out a young man wearing a light blue robe. The robe had wide sleeves and a large collar. As the guards pulled at it, it slipped down considerably, revealing a large expanse of white shoulders. Inside he wore only a halter top. The outer robe hung loosely—one tug and he was nearly half-naked.
The guards were about to throw him out when they saw Zhao Hanzhang sitting on her horse. They immediately made the man kneel properly and stand at attention. Before they could offer greetings, the man in their grasp struggled violently, his back to Zhao Hanzhang and Wang Xuan as he shouted toward the mansion gates: “I am Wang Mozi! I am Wang Mozi! Let me in! This name was given to me by my father—how can I not be the person the governor is looking for? You all won’t let me see the governor—you petty officials deceiving your superior! When I see the governor, I will definitely report you to death!”
Wang Xuan’s face turned completely black. Although with his whole person being so dirty it could not be seen, this did not prevent him from radiating an aura of cold air. “You’re called Wang Mozi? Then what is your given name?”
Zhao Hanzhang closed her gaping mouth and silently watched Wang Xuan confront the man.
The man turned around and, seeing Zhao Hanzhang sitting on the horse, his eyes immediately lit up. Ignoring Wang Xuan who had questioned him, he rushed straight at Zhao Hanzhang. However, after just one step he was pressed down by the guards.
He struggled indignantly. “Let me go! Let me go! In front of the governor, how dare you act so brazenly!”
Zhao Hanzhang silently waved her hand, and only then did the guards release him.
He triumphantly shook his arm and snorted coldly before looking up eagerly at Zhao Hanzhang and bowing in a semblance of propriety. “Wang Mozi pays respects to the governor. Governor, these petty officials are deceiving their superiors and refusing to let me meet you.”
Zhao Hanzhang looked at Wang Xuan.
Wang Xuan took a deep breath and rode half-sideways in front of Zhao Hanzhang, forcing the youth to face him directly. “You’re called Wang Mozi, so what is your given name?”
The man frowned slightly. Seeing his tattered clothes and beggar-like appearance, he was quite displeased. But because the man was on horseback, and neither Zhao Hanzhang blocked behind him nor the surrounding bodyguards objected, he reluctantly answered: “Don’t you have ears? I’m called Wang Mozi—my given name is naturally Mozi.”
Wang Xuan turned back to look at Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang instructed Zhao Yunxin: “Go to the announcement wall and bring the notice over.”
Zhao Yunxin acknowledged, kicked her horse, and left.
The announcement wall was not far—right on the plaza beside the Regional Governor’s Mansion. Zhao Yunxin tore it down and wheeled her horse around to return. Just as she was about to present it to Zhao Hanzhang, Zhao Hanzhang raised her chin to indicate: “Give it to him.”
Zhao Yunxin glanced at the youth, dismounted, and held the notice open before his eyes.
The youth accepted it dumbly, looking at Zhao Hanzhang in confusion. “Governor, this is…”
Zhao Hanzhang said: “Read it aloud.”
The youth held the notice and read with a puzzled expression: “Missing person notice. Currently seeking a young man, six chi eight cun tall, face like a silver moon, sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, suspended nose, from Linyi in Langya Commandery, son of Wang Yan, Wang Mozi. Those with information, if confirmed accurate, will receive a reward of ten thousand coins. If able to escort the person safely to the Regional Governor’s Mansion, reward of one million coins…”
After reading, the youth looked up with an innocent expression at Zhao Hanzhang.
Zhao Hanzhang paused, then asked in shock: “Do you understand?”
The youth shook his head blankly and said: “Governor, this humble one is Wang Mozi, from Langya Commandery.”
Zhao Hanzhang said: “…Your father is Wang Yan?”
The youth paused, then under Zhao Hanzhang’s gaze shook his head very slightly—so subtly that if Zhao Hanzhang had not been staring at him, she probably would not have noticed.
Zhao Hanzhang snorted and pointed at the distant announcement wall. “Take this notice and go read it one hundred times there.”
She instructed the guards: “Watch him. Don’t let him leave until he finishes.”
The guards responded loudly.
The youth’s lips trembled as he watched Zhao Hanzhang and Wang Xuan enter the Regional Governor’s Mansion, unable to help quietly complaining: “But I really am called Wang Mozi…”
Wang Xuan was indignant. “Do I look like that? Weasel-faced and rat-eyed, improperly dressed! Even if someone wanted to impersonate me, they should at least choose someone somewhat similar!”
Zhao Hanzhang laughed. “Elder Brother, that’s not improper dress—it’s a popular way of dressing among you aristocratic young gentlemen, isn’t it? The weather is so hot now, it’s also cool to dress like that.”
She just did not know why it looked somewhat disgusting when he wore it.
Wang Xuan’s mind instantly flashed to the image of that youth with his robe half-fallen. He could not help but shiver. “I have never dressed like that.”
Some people did like to wear only an inner garment under their outer robe, and some liked to expose their chest and belly, but he had never been among them.
At most he liked to go barefoot in wooden clogs, not wearing socks or cloth shoes. He truly could not appreciate the way his father and uncles dressed.
Zhao Hanzhang nodded with satisfaction, then said: “I hear that not only does Governor Wang of Jingzhou like to expose his chest and belly, he also likes to run naked. By the way, he sent an envoy to find you and wants to bring you to Jingzhou.”
Wang Xuan stopped abruptly and turned to look at Zhao Hanzhang. “Something happened in Jingzhou?”
Zhao Hanzhang smiled at him and pointed to Chengbo who was coming over. “Elder Brother, go wash up first. I’ll have the kitchen prepare food. In a while we can talk while eating.”
At the mention of washing, Wang Xuan felt itchy all over. During his wandering days, not bathing for a month or two had not seemed like anything.
He moved his body and hurried after Chengbo. “Then wait for me.”
Zhao Hanzhang had no intention of waiting for him. Even after being beaten by the mundane world, when aristocratic young gentlemen had the opportunity, they would naturally still fuss over themselves properly.
So Wang Xuan stayed in the bath for over half a shichen.
He washed his hair four times, changing the water three times. He bathed three times as well. If conditions had permitted, he would have wanted to take a flower petal bath or something.
Unfortunately, the servants at the Regional Governor’s Mansion seemed to have some misunderstanding about men and refused to bring him flowers for bathing.
Wang Xuan sat before the mirror and carefully examined his face, sighing: “Much rougher.”
The young servant assigned to attend him hesitated, then ran out to find familiar maidservants and obtained some cosmetics.
Wang Xuan only glanced at them once before shaking his head, not using them.
The servant breathed a sigh of relief, thinking this gentleman was like their First Young Master and Second Young Master—only to hear him say: “These are obviously inferior cosmetics at a glance.”
The servant swallowed his words, grateful he had not said he was like the First and Second Young Masters—both upstanding, masculine good men.
Wang Xuan stood up. “Let’s go. It’s not good to keep Governor Zhao waiting long.”
Zhao Hanzhang had already run off to hold a brief meeting with Zhao Ming and the others and returned. It was just time for the evening meal, and Fu Tinghan had also just gotten off work and come back to eat.
Knowing Wang Xuan had been found, Lady Wang made a special trip to see him. Knowing they had matters to discuss, after meeting him briefly she left, giving them space.
Zhao Hanzhang served Wang Xuan chopsticks. “Elder Brother has had a hard journey. It’s not good to go straight to heavy, rich foods, so tonight we’re eating more vegetables.”
On the table was only one dish of boiled eggs—not even meat. But the chef’s skills were excellent. All the dishes were delicious, especially the pan-fried tofu and boiled tofu. Wang Xuan ate very happily.
After burying his head in a bowl of rice, only then did Wang Xuan say with slightly reddened eyes: “The people’s lives are full of hardship. Before, though we of the aristocracy knew the people suffered, we did not know they suffered this much. Most of us formed our understanding from books, assuming—what difference was there from Emperor Hui’s ‘why not eat meat broth’? This time, I finally understand that their suffering means even survival itself is a luxury.”