Seeking Truth with a Sword

Chapter 436 - 387

"Young man." Xi Yangyu narrowed his eyes, the mud and dust beneath his feet slowly beginning to float. "Is that how you speak to your mentor?"

"Respecting teachers and valuing the Way is a traditional virtue of Yu Country and also a rule of the Academic Palace," Li Ang replied calmly. "Precisely because of this, I must protect my own students, right?"

The two stared at each other coldly. The attendants nearby hurriedly lowered their heads and quietly retreated. They had heard the terms "Master" and "Academic Palace." If they still hadn’t guessed the identities of these individuals after that, they truly didn’t belong in a tavern where keen observation was essential.

"This matter doesn’t concern you." Xi Yangyu’s expression was as cold as ice. If glares could injure, Li Ang figured he would be riddled with holes already.

"The matter concerning my student naturally becomes my matter." Li Ang stood his ground. Despite Xi Yangyu always presenting himself as a transcendent hermit above worldly affairs, among the four Masters at the Academic Palace, he was the most worldly. He frequented the mansions of the powerful, serving as a Guest and accepting wealth. He attended all sorts of feasts, reveled in fine wine and cuisine, and kept a household full of wives and concubines. With Xi Yangyu’s personality, even if he detests me, he wouldn’t risk losing everything by actually making a move.

"You and your master are both equally detestable. Don’t think just because you’ve gained some fame, I have no way to deal with you..." Before Xi Yangyu could finish his sentence, the Communication Copper Plate at his waist started to tremble, emitting a clear RING RING RING.

Someone was looking for him.

Xi Yangyu glanced at the copper plate, snorted coldly, dropped a "this isn’t over," then marched out of the backyard, climbed into his carriage, and left the tavern.

"Ah, oh," Qiu Feng said softly. "Will there be trouble?"

"There won’t be." Li Ang spoke with certainty. His teacher, Pu Liuxuan, had returned to the Academic Palace to teach and take office openly and honorably, leaving Xi Yangyu with few options.

CREAK—

The door opened, and a girl with blue eyes peeked out, surprised. "Dr. Li, Dr. Qiu? What brings you here?"

"We came to see you," Qiu Feng waved his hand. "Shall we go in and talk?"

"Oh, please, come in." Ouyang Shi hurriedly pushed open the door. "The house hasn’t been cleaned recently, so it might be a bit messy. Would you two esteemed teachers like to drink something?"

"Some warm water will do," Li Ang said offhandedly, following Ouyang Shi into the house.

The room’s furnishings were simple and sparse. A few books rested on the shelves. Some were medical teaching aids compiled by Li Ang, while others bore the borrowing label from Chang’an’s Book Collection Pavilion. Books in Yu Country were not particularly cheap. Even well-off families could not afford to buy books freely and relied more on borrowing or renting.

Apart from Ouyang Shi, her mother was also in the room—judging from her facial structure, she must have been a beauty in her youth. Ouyang Shi’s mother was gentle and soft-spoken, not much for words, whereas Ouyang Shi herself was decisive. She quickly tidied up the table and laid out a fruit plate, pastries, and tea.

"So," Li Ang took a sip of tea and asked, "what did Xi Yangyu want with you?"

Ouyang Shi exchanged a glance with her mother, hesitated, and said, "He is... my father."

"What?!" Qiu Feng almost spat out his tea, his eyes bulging wide.

Ouyang Shi saw this and could only offer a wry smile as she recounted the events.

Her mother was originally a Maid in Xi Yangyu’s Xi Mansion. Fifteen years ago, after Xi Yangyu had been drinking, they ended up in bed together.

That, in itself, was not particularly remarkable. However, as it happened, family members of Xi Yangyu’s wife came to visit that very day.

The mistress of the Xi Family felt she had lost face and threw the Maid out.

With nowhere to turn in Chang’an, Ouyang Shi’s mother had no choice but to work as a wine-serving Concubine Hu in a tavern. After some time, she discovered she was pregnant and went to the Xi Mansion to explain.

The mistress of the Xi Family cursed vilely, questioning who the father of a child conceived by a wine-serving Concubine Hu could be. According to the rules of Chang’an’s Nobles, she gave some monetary compensation. Then, she had the steward chase Ouyang Shi’s mother out, forbidding her to ever again pester the Xi Mansion.

If the child were born, it was not permitted to bear the Xi surname.

It wasn’t until recently that Xi Yangyu, in a moment of boredom, perused his household ledger and noticed the payment. He vigorously questioned and reprimanded the staff until he realized he might have another child lost to the world.

Although Xi Yangyu had many wives and concubines, he had only two sons and ardently wished for a daughter.

He went to great lengths to find this tavern, stated his intentions, and sought to bring Ouyang Shi and her mother back to the Xi Mansion.

Ouyang Shi’s mother was indecisive. However, Ouyang Shi, who had been admitted to the Imperial Medical Bureau and whose life was improving, had no wish to return to a home where she felt no sense of belonging.

This was precisely why she had asked for leave from the Imperial Medical Bureau a few days ago.

Bizarre... Li Ang smacked his lips, visibly restraining himself from saying the word aloud.

Qiu Feng pondered for a moment before asking Ouyang Shi, "Uh... No offense intended, but how did Xi Yangyu come to know that you’re his daughter?"

"Life Chart," Ouyang Shi replied. "He claims he’s good at reading trigrams and can discern one’s Life Chart, so he’s certain I’m his biological daughter. He also said I inherited his Spiritual Vein Talent and suggested I try for the Exam Palace next year."

"That’s probably true," Li Ang said. "Xi Yangyu often helps the children of high officials and Nobles read their Spirit Veins and cast trigrams, using this to amass wealth."

Xi Yangyu had wives and concubines of many origins, and his household staff included Maids descended from Kunlun Slaves. If he didn’t possess this ability, he would have been cuckolded many times over and certainly wouldn’t have only two heirs after all these years.

"What do you think about all this?" Qiu Feng asked. "Xi Yangyu is, after all, the Academic Palace Director, a man of high position and considerable influence. If he’s not averse to airing his dirty laundry, he can speak to the Capital Governor and send constables to force you and your mother home. It seems there’d be very little you could do."

"I... don’t want to go back." Ouyang Shi’s mouth twitched. "Half a year ago, when my mother was gravely ill, I went to the Xi Mansion to ask for medicine. The Xi Family’s mistress had the servants beat me out the door with a broom. If I hadn’t been admitted to the Imperial Medical Bureau and received aid from classmates, my mother would probably have died long ago. What purpose would there be in returning to such a home?"

Ouyang Shi spoke with deep resentment, her fists clenched so tightly they creaked.

Li Ang suddenly asked, "Are you and your mother still considered slaves?"

"No." Ouyang Shi hesitated before answering. "When the mistress of the Xi Family cast my mother out years ago, she unilaterally tore up the slave documents."

"That makes things easier." Li Ang set down his teacup and snapped his fingers. "In the county government, merely claiming to read a Life Chart isn’t enough to prove parentage. If paternity can’t be established, you’re strangers to him. He has no right to make you and your mother return."

Qiu Feng hesitated. "But Xi Yangyu is the Academic Palace Director. He knows countless officials..."

"Then just get into the Academic Palace," Li Ang smiled at Ouyang Shi. "Since he says you’ve inherited his Spiritual Vein Talent, it seems you shouldn’t have any problem with the Exam Palace. Once you’re admitted to the Academic Palace and protected by student status, even if he complains to the Mountain Master, he won’t be able to touch you."