Chapter 4: The Servant Cheats the Master

  "There are national laws and family rules. Our Great Qi Dynasty is a country of etiquette, and the Ning Wang Fu is a noble house in the dynasty, with many prominent families passing down their traditions through generations, upholding propriety and integrity. Since such an incident has occurred within our household, we must handle it according to our family rules. Now, you, eleventh brother, say that my maid stole your belongings, but my maid claims she did not steal anything. Naturally, we need to follow the proper procedures and investigate thoroughly!"

  "Are you going to investigate clearly according to the rules?!" Wang Guanchao was stunned, although he didn't understand what kind of medicine Wang Guanlan was selling in his gourd, but instinctively felt a thread of unease, and immediately shouted, "What else do you want to investigate? Green Lotus has been caught red-handed, what's left to investigate?"

  Wang Guanlan raised an eyebrow and suddenly laughed, "You've been caught red-handed, this is just one side of the story!"

  "What a ridiculous thing to say!" Wang Guantao's face sank, "So you're trying to get your maid off the hook!"

  Wang Guanlan shook his head repeatedly, "I've said it before, a country has its laws and a family has its rules. What's right or wrong is not for you to say, nor is it for me to say!"

  "Who exactly is going to say it?!" He was somewhat confused by Wang Guanlan's words, and his eyes unconsciously swept a glance at Wang Guantao. Now in this White Birch Garden, it seemed that Wang Guantao had the highest status. Was Wang Guanlan thinking of asking Wang Guantao for help?

  This is also wrong, Wang Guantao's intention was that he still knew, and he had something to ask for his own help, it was impossible to help Wang Guanlan.

  Wang Guantao, who had been watching the commotion from the side, also changed his expression. He took a deep look at Wang Guanlan, as if he had just recognized him. Wang Guanchao, this fool, didn't understand the meaning behind Wang Guanlan's words. Wang Guanlan didn't say much, but the information in his words was incredibly rich.

  A country has its laws, a family has its rules. Wang Guanlan wants to handle this matter according to the family rules, not by what Wang Guanlan says, nor by what Wang Guantao says, nor by what Lü He says, of course, nor by what he Wang Guantao says, but should be said by the executor of the family rules. Wang Guanlan wants to make a big deal out of this, and even wants to make a big fuss!

  However, making such a big deal out of this matter, even if it ultimately proves Luhe's innocence, he himself will not leave a good impression on people. In a place like the Ning Wang Fu, a good impression is often more important than anything else. If the upper echelons of the fu do not take you seriously, then even if Wang Guanlan enters the imperial academy in the future, his position may not be elevated much.

  All of this flashed through Wang Guantao's mind, and his expression only slightly changed. The development of things had already exceeded Wang Guantao's expectations. He didn't want to get involved in the war between the two illegitimate sons of the Ning King's Mansion. As soon as he thought of this, he was about to stand up and leave, but he hadn't expected that his butt had just moved a little when it stopped again, because four or five figures had appeared at the gate of Baihua Garden.

  "Fourth Master, Seventh Master, Ninth Master!!" Seeing the three figures walking in front of him, Wang Guantai's expression changed. He couldn't have imagined that Wang Guanlan would dare to invite these people over. Following behind the three figures was none other than Wang Guanlan's mother's personal maid, Yan Cui, who also looked terrified and didn't understand what her young master was trying to do.

  "I've met three grandfathers!" Wang Guanlan's face still didn't show any expression, and he bowed to the three old men. "It was presumptuous of me to invite the three grandfathers here, it's really a bit rude!"

  "Are you Wang Guanlan?!" The eldest of the three old men, a robust and majestic figure, furrowed his brow slightly, looking at Wang Guanlan with some dissatisfaction, his facial features exuding an aura that made people feel stifled.

  Wang Xiantang, the younger brother of the previous Ning Wang, is currently the fourth uncle of the current Ning Wang, Wang Bicheng. In the Ning Wang Fu, his position is equivalent to that of a Zongling in the imperial family, and he is known as the Fourth Master because he is in charge of the ancestral temple and the clan rules. As a result, his authority within the mansion is second only to that of the master of the mansion, Ning Wang Wang Bicheng, and in some respects, he is even more feared than Wang Bicheng. The other two individuals, Wang Guanlan's seventh grandfather and ninth grandfather, are his brothers, Wang Xianming and Wang Xianqing. Although their positions within the mansion are far inferior to that of Wang Xiantang, they are not comparable to those of Wang Guanlan and the other illegitimate children. Today, however, is an opportunity for them to meet on equal terms with Wang Guantao.

  The old man was bored all day long, heard that there's a lively show, of course wouldn't miss it, so followed along.

  Although Wang Xiantang is the head of the family, there are just too many people in the Wang family. He probably only knows that Ning Wang Wang Bicheng has several sons, but as for which one is which, except for those outstanding ones among the legitimate and illegitimate children, he doesn't care at all. Among Ning Wang's many sons, Wang Guanlan's birth is considered the lowest. How could he possibly enter the eyes of this Fourth Master? If today Huicui went to ask Wang Xiantang and made things clear, even if they met face-to-face in the mansion, Wang Xiantang probably wouldn't give Wang Guanlan a second glance.

  But today, he had no choice but to come.

  He's an old hand, having lived for many years, a lifetime in the Ning Wang Fu, still holding real power, and he's clearer than anyone about these absurd things happening in the Ning Wang Fu. Before Yan Cui had even finished speaking, he'd almost grasped the entire situation, cause and effect and all. The only thing he hadn't figured out was Wang Guan Lan's goal.

  Why did he have to bring himself over, in the Ning Wang Fu, this is a small matter, involving only a maid and two illegitimate children, generally speaking, everyone solves it privately, where would they be so eager to invite themselves over, inviting also requires being able to afford it!

  "Yes, Sun'er Wang Guanlan has seen Fourth Grandfather!"

  "I see you're also a person who knows etiquette, and your courtesy is indeed thorough. But in today's matter, how can you be so ignorant of what's important? Don't you know that there are many things to attend to in this household? You actually dragged me over here for the sake of this little servant girl of yours. Is her life really worth that much?"

  Wang Guanchao's face lit up with joy, but Wang Guantao's eyebrows furrowed.

  "If you don't like it, why come over? Just one sentence can drive that girl away!"

  This was Wang Guantao's inner monologue, but he didn't say it out loud, not even twitching the corner of his mouth. That Wang Xiandang could sit in the position of Ning Wangfu's Zongling naturally had its own merits; to say nothing of other things, his own martial arts cultivation had already reached the seventh layer of Lianqi, making him a high-level warrior.

  Refining Qi has nine layers, and every three layers form a Kan. A martial artist who refines Qi for three layers to enter the fourth layer of condensing Qi is one in a hundred, while a martial artist who refines Qi for six layers to enter the seventh layer of controlling Qi is one in ten thousand.

  In this era, martial arts are flourishing, but true top-notch warriors are not many. Ninety percent of warriors can only stop at the third layer of Qi Refining in their lifetime. The remaining one percent can enter the fourth layer of Qi Refining, and only one-tenth of them have a chance to step into the Nascent Soul stage. Among those who stepped into the Nascent Soul stage, most can only cultivate up to the ninth layer of Qi Refining. Only an extremely small number of lucky ones have a chance, and this chance is even less than one percent.

  Refining Qi Nine Layers is almost the end point of all warriors.

  The aura of a warrior is the symbol of their honor!

  Wang Xiantang, then possessed this glory, and it is very likely that he will have the opportunity to go further, stepping into the realm of Lianqi Eight Layers.

  So he stood there, and without saying a word, his presence was enough to make people suffocate.

  Wang Guanlan also felt a huge pressure, he was just a thirteen-year-old boy, and his martial arts cultivation was only at the first level of Qi refining. It could be said that Wang Xiantang could crush him to death with just one finger.

  Taking a deep breath, Wang Guanlan raised his head and said, "Fourth Master, I did indeed take the liberty of inviting you this time, but it was not wrong for me to have Yan Cui bring you!"

  "Isn't that wrong, you mean to say that one of your maids stealing things can affect the peace of my Ning Wang Fu?!" Wang Xiantang's expression turned gloomy, his aura suddenly increasing, and he fiercely pressed towards Wang Guanlan.

  This massive momentum unexpectedly affected the people not far away, Wang Guantai was just a small figure in the later stage of the Qi realm, and he was forced to retreat repeatedly by this momentum. However, his heart was filled with joy. This time, Wang Guanlan had inadvertently implicated himself. The implicit meaning behind Wang Xiandang's words directly shifted the suspicion of theft onto the four people from Green Lotus. In this case, even if Wang Guanlan had a lot to say and a lot of reasons, he would not be able to speak out.

  Wang Guanlan took a deep breath, his body slightly trembling, and surprisingly raised his head in the midst of this momentum. "Fourth Master, I invite you to come over, what I want to say is indeed a matter that affects the peace of my Ning Wang Fu!"

  "Oh?!" Seeing Wang Guanlan actually standing her ground and refusing to back down, a hint of surprise also flashed across Wang Xiandang's eyes.

  The aura is a mysterious thing to talk about, but for warriors like him, it's extremely clear. Aura is something that can be cultivated and is intangible. If one's will is strong, even a 7 or 8-year-old child can withstand the aura of a martial saint. Of course, this only exists in theory. If one's will is weak, then even someone of lower rank or just one rank below can use their aura to intimidate you into retreating.

  The momentum Wang Xiantang just revealed, although only a little, is not something that an ordinary thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy can withstand. Wang Guanlan took a step back without retreating, at least showing that his willpower was much more determined than Wang Guanchao's.

  He sensed the other's interest in himself from his tone, and Wang Guanlan's mouth corners moved slightly, floating out a faint smile. However, deep within that smile was a hint of coldness.

  "Our Great Xia Dynasty was founded on the two words 'rites' and 'laws'. Everything must be done with propriety and in accordance with rules. The Ning Wang Fu is one of the most prominent aristocratic families in the Great Xia Dynasty, with a tradition of producing both literary and martial talents. Naturally, we also have our own set of rules to follow. However, there are people within our household who do not adhere to these rules, treating their masters as slaves would, or even going so far as to kill them. If such behavior were to spread throughout the manor, how could Ning Wang Fu possibly survive?"

  "Deceiving the master with slaves, killing the master with slaves!!"

  Wang Xiandang's eyebrows suddenly rose, a cold and fierce aura flashed from his body, the time was only an instant, but it was like the most sinister and chilling aura of the nine hells, making everyone in the scene jump in their hearts, and then, there was endless chill.