Untouchable Lovers-Chapter 126 - 116: Returning with You

Chapter 126 -116: Returning with You

The address on the invitation was entirely unfamiliar, and Wang Xuanmo, that was the name of the person who extended the invitation.

Chu Yu had heard this name mentioned by someone before, apparently a high-ranking official in the court, but she did not have a deep impression of what exactly he did.

However, this person… his surname was Wang.

The invitation was received by someone Huan Yuan had arranged in Chu Garden and was passed on to her. Of course, the invited party was the fictitious identity “Yu Zichu” she had created.

If it were hundreds of years later, seeing two people with the surname Wang would not have concerned Chu Yu much, nor would she have connected them together. But at that time, when people mentioned the surname “Wang,” the first thing that came to mind was that glorious family in Wuyi Lane by the Qinhuai River. After thinking it over for a moment, Chu Yu changed into men’s clothing and drove to the Wang family—Wang Yizhi’s house.

The appointed time for the meeting was in the afternoon, likely giving her some time to think it over. Since she still had time to spare, Chu Yu didn’t mind seeking someone else’s opinion. If she wanted to know about the Wang family, going straight to someone from the Wang family seemed most direct.

...

However, the person Chu Yu was currently acquainted with was only Wang Yizhi.

After announcing her visit, Chu Yu was led by a page to the bedroom, where she saw Wang Yizhi, who had just woken up. He was dressed in a white inner robe with a cyan outer robe loosely draped over his body. He appeared extremely languid, half-lying on the bed. Seeing Chu Yu, he squinted and grinned slightly, saying, “Brother Zichu, good day. In the summer lethargy, the hours slip by unnoted, and my attire is all amiss; I am quite unkempt.” Although he said this, there was no hint of embarrassment or apology on his face.

Chu Yu couldn’t help but smile and said, “It is truly rude of me to disturb you so early.”

Both referring to themselves as lesser parties, their self-deprecations fondly reflected each other, and upon hearing each other, they shared a knowing smile.

After taking a cold wet towel offered by an attendant to wipe his face, Wang Yizhi seemed a bit more awake, his eyes not so weary, “Brother Zichu, what brings you so early? Is there some urgent matter?”

Chu Yu was straightforward, pulling the invitation from her bosom and handing it over, “This morning, I received this.” The invitation was made of hard cardstock painted with gold, covered with a layer of snow-white fine mesh, looking very delicate.

After examining the calligraphy on the invitation closely, Wang Yizhi’s expression slightly changed. He pondered for a moment, then said, “I will accompany you. On the way, I will tell you what you want to know.”

It was not until Wang Yizhi came to sit face-to-face with her in her carriage that Chu Yu regained her senses and said anxiously, “Brother Yizhi, this is too much trouble for you.” Naturally, having Wang Yizhi’s company made her feel significantly more confident.

Wang Yizhi leaned against the carriage wall, lazily smiled, and his long, narrow eyes shone with water-like peculiar light, “Actually, it’s just on the way. Yesterday, this uncle of mine already sent someone to find me, asking me to meet him today. I was originally too lazy to move, but since he has also approached you, we might as well go together.”

Through Wang Yizhi’s words, Chu Yu learned that the elderly Mr. Wang Xuanmo was Wang Yizhi’s great-uncle, not a direct relative, but a distant one separated by five or six generations, an old man who had struggled in officialdom his whole life and was currently the head of the Wang family.

Wang Yizhi said indifferently, “What I am about to discuss concerns our Wang family’s internal affairs, which should not be disclosed to an outsider. But since you are going to face the old man today, to prevent any mishap, I had better explain things to you beforehand.”

Chu Yu looked at him incredulously, “Why do you trust me so much?”

Wang Yizhi simply smiled, not putting on any affectation. However, the confidence in his eyes immediately overflowed, shining in the somewhat dark carriage, “Though naturally indolent and inept, I am somewhat confident in my judgment of character. I tell you because I trust you.”

Before Chu Yu could respond, he waved his hand and continued, “Among others, some call him a blockhead and others an upright official. They call him a blockhead because he once advocated sending troops on a Northern expedition yet stubbornly besieged a city without success, ignoring his subordinates’ advice, missing the opportunity for victory, and instead levying heavy taxes during this period, nearly facing execution. At the time, it was only because Shen Qingzhi pleaded on his behalf that he escaped death.”

Chu Yu gaped at Wang Yizhi as he vehemently criticized a senior member: This is their family head? This… is too incompetent, isn’t it? Could such a person really lead a family? Now she couldn’t help but doubt the so-called noble families.

As for Wang Yizhi’s disrespect towards an elder, she didn’t take it to heart—after all, a mistake was a mistake, regardless of one’s age.

Wang Yizhi continued, “Yet he is naturally stern and upright, at odds with some court officials, several times framed by others, his life hanging by a thread, his career full of ups and downs.”

“Wait a minute.” Chu Yu hurriedly raised her hand, asking Wang Yizhi to pause. Although Wang Yizhi hadn’t said much, she had already sensed something amiss. Originally, she thought Wang Xuanmo was a corrupt and incompetent blockhead, but how could such a blockhead be stern and upright?

How were the contradictions between the two reconciled?

Wang Yizhi smiled at Chu Yu, noticing her furrowed brows and puzzled expression, then added, “Although his life has been full of ups and downs, he has lived up to now, over seventy years old, and is still alive.”

Those words seemed like a spark of enlightenment, dispersing the fog that lay before the truth. Chu Yu abruptly raised her eyes and stared directly at Wang Yizhi, “Are you saying, could it be deliberate?” Whether a fool or an upright official, was it all just a facade he put on?

Wang Yizhi nodded approvingly, “You have discerned this well, which is commendable. Before he went to war, he wasn’t in charge of the Wang family, but his reputation and authority were already threatening the incumbent leader, almost endangering his life. He deliberately lost the battle and tainted his own reputation to avoid disaster and for long-term considerations. Although he nearly lost his life after the defeat, he had prepared beforehand and deliberately befriended Shen Qingzhi to save himself at the crucial moment.”

Moreover, the subsequent changes in government and fluctuations in official positions were also for the need of politics and the situation, all under his control. The persona of an upright official was merely a cover; if he were truly an upright official, how could he have survived until now?

Upon understanding the whole story, Chu Yu was profoundly alarmed and quietly felt fortunate about her decision to seek out Wang Yizhi. Lest she had procured information on Wang Xuanmo from someone else, she might have underestimated the old man. Now, however, she was completely prepared, on full alert internally.

At the same time, she grew even more puzzled. What purpose did such a person have in seeking her?

Although her reputation as Yu Zichu was fairly prominent among the elite of Jiankang City, she was still far from the heights of power. How had Wang Xuanmo suddenly thought to seek her out?

With such questions in mind, Chu Yu turned to Wang Yizhi, who shook his head and said, “Don’t look at me; I haven’t dealt with family affairs in a long time. I have no idea what the old man is thinking.” He paused, then smiled slightly, “You can be at ease. Since I am going with you, I will return with you.”

As the two conversed quietly, the carriage entered a deserted alley and stopped in front of a neatly kept small courtyard house.

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After alighting from the carriage, Wang Yizhi pushed open the gate while explaining to Chu Yu, “This is not the old man’s residence, but a courtyard house owned by him, rarely visited by anyone.”

Ordinarily, Yue Jiefei would follow wherever Chu Yu went, especially after she left the Imperial Palace, always accompanying her. But just as he thought to follow Chu Yu into the small courtyard, he was stopped by two blue-clad servants at the door.

“Apart from this gentleman and Mr. Wang, no one else is allowed inside,” the servants relayed the order faithfully.

Yue Jiefei frowned, about to protest, but Chu Yu waved her hand to him, saying, “You just wait here for me.”

Yue Jiefei responded anxiously, “My lord, this place is not like…” Unlike the Imperial Palace where everyone belongs to the Emperor, no one dares to harm her, but this is the Wang family, a clan of the gentry; who knows what they are up to?

Chu Yu glanced at Wang Yizhi, then leisurely smiled and said, “I trust Brother Yizhi.”

Hearing this, Wang Yizhi looked slightly surprised. As they entered the courtyard, he eventually could not hold back and asked, “Aren’t you afraid?” After listening to what he had said about his granduncle, she should have been more cautious. Why was she so laissez-faire about her own safety?

Chu Yu stopped, smiled, and said, “Since Brother Yizhi has chosen to trust me and spoken frankly to me, why shouldn’t I trust Brother Yizhi?”

She was not overly moved by Wang Yizhi’s trust and candid disclosure, as she had already decided to reciprocate with the same trust. It was expected and natural, requiring no explanations or gratitude.

Walking over the courtyard’s white pebble path, they reached a yard where Wang Xuanmo was sitting. Chu Yu carefully observed the old man. Apart from looking slightly emaciated and more aloof, this old man wasn’t much different from an ordinary elderly man, nor did he have the robust physique of Shen Qingzhi.

At that moment, Wang Xuanmo was reclining on a lounge chair, eyes half-closed as if dozing. Beside him were placed a table and some exquisitely prepared dishes.

Wang Yizhi walked forward with a faint smile and said, “Elder, our guest has arrived; are you still pretending to sleep?”

The old man slowly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance sweeping across, so startlingly bright it hardly seemed appropriate for a man of over seventy, causing Chu Yu’s heart to skip a beat. But the words Wang Xuanmo then spoke truly made her jump, “Princess, please take your seat.”