Chapter 270

Wang Xiubai had always considered his household stable, his wife virtuous. Reflecting on her circumstances over the years, he set aside the letter in his hand, choosing not to confront her in anger about what she might have done. Instead, he ordered an investigation, demanding every matter in the inner chambers of the past few years be thoroughly examined. He wanted to see for himself why his young son had been raised so spoiled—was it ignorance in child-rearing, excessive indulgence, or perhaps someone had said something to her?

Wang Xiubai’s years in Feng’an had not been easy. Despite his formidable background, taming a cohort of seasoned officials could not be achieved by sheer force of pedigree. It was only because he trusted his wife to manage the household that he could devote himself to external affairs without worry. Now, that trust seemed laughable. He pressed the letter to his desk, refusing to entertain his parents’ exaggerations. Regardless of his affection for his wife, his concern for his family far surpassed the moments shared with her over the years. Call him cold or unfeeling, but if his wife truly harbored any improper intentions, he would not hesitate to send her away.

In the capital, Wang Xiujin had no idea his father had written to chastise his elder brother. When escorting his son morning and night, he would urge him to stay away from Wang Zhize. Yachang always nodded obediently, and Wang Xiujin felt assured about his son. Wang Xiujin returned to his busy ways; Li Linshan was accompanying the Fourth Prince as he left the capital, destination and duration unknown. Wang Xiujin hoped to settle the matter of the illustrated gazette before the prince’s departure. His idea was to publish a monthly gazette, with an expanded issue every three months, adjusting its length based on the events of the month.

Matters such as the emperor punishing corrupt officials could be included, so that all the common people might see—so they would know the court would strike down unfit officials, no matter their rank or power, leaving none who committed evil unpunished. Likewise, imperial edicts could bypass the bureaucracy and be made clear directly to the people, preventing the phenomenon of policies above and countermeasures below. The gazette could also list submission addresses, soliciting stories from all under heaven, in any form; those selected would receive a payment.

Beyond this, the two discussed whether lower-level officials might intercept the gazette. The Fourth Prince, not one to be cloistered in the palace, knew well what some people would do for their own interests. Upon Wang Xiujin raising the possibility, the prince immediately agreed that such interference was inevitable, and solving it became a weighty concern.

“If no solution comes to mind, why not place them in general stores for public borrowing? At first, the gazette can be free. After the new year, we could offer two modes: one remains borrowing, the other for sale to the public at a modest price, with subscriptions available for two years, one year, or half a year. The longer the subscription, the greater the discount, and perhaps include some small gifts.” Wang Xiujin suggested. Although the general stores were not openly imperial property, those with keen eyes could guess. Still, placing them there was safer than elsewhere.

The prince nodded in agreement. “We must also consider whether, in the early stages, people might borrow and not return them.”

This was indeed likely. “Before lending, information must be carefully recorded—address, name, and so forth. If someone fails to return it, besides a hefty fine, harsher penalties can be imposed: officials lose promotion opportunities, scholars are barred from exams for years,” Wang Xiujin said, resting his chin in his hand. The prince, hearing this, found Wang Xiujin’s method quite severe.

After returning to the palace, the prince told his father about the plan. The emperor responded calmly, but was pleased with the content of the gazette; as for the rest, he let his son proceed. This endeavor would win hearts and minds, benefiting his son's future ascent. The emperor set down his brush. He had hesitated before, fearing his fourth son’s purity would make him easy prey for the officials' machinations. Now, it seemed that as long as his son remained allied with Wang Xiujin, he would never be at their mercy; indeed, he might turn the tables on them.

Once the gazette was settled, the Fourth Prince left the capital with the first batch of gazette guards and a squad of specially dressed soldiers. Wang Xiujin did not see them off at the city gate, nor did he even rise from bed. After Li Linshan departed, he rolled over and continued to sleep. Yachang, lying in his small bed, gnawed his fingers and stared at the beam above—he seemed to have wet himself. He was sleepy and wanted to rest, but the mattress was wet and uncomfortable.

“Papa!” Yachang, unwilling to lie in a wet bed, called out loudly.

Wang Xiujin was truly exhausted. Li Linshan had kept him up much of the night; his throat was hoarse, his waist nearly broken, and their son had been moved to the other side of the bed. When Yachang first called, Wang Xiujin did not hear him at all.

Yachang was undeterred. He climbed out of his bed, pushed the blanket aside, squeezed through the wooden bars, then tossed his pillow out after him. He peered over the edge, pondering the height, hesitated to remove his wet pants just yet—if he did so before climbing down, the bars would scrape him and it would hurt.

Half-awake, Wang Xiujin heard a loud thud, quickly opened his eyes, pushed himself upright, and looked toward the sound, seeing his son sprawled on the floor. “Yachang?” Glancing at the height of the bed, Wang Xiujin felt a sharp pain in his head—Yachang was at it again, climbing out of bed. Before Wang Xiujin could say anything more, Yachang got up, pulled down his pants and underwear, rubbed himself on the blanket, then wobbled over.

What was happening? Wang Xiujin’s mind was slow to process, but he still scooped his son onto the bed, though it made his back ache even more. “How did you climb down? And why did you take off your pants?”

“They’re wet.” Yachang quickly snuggled under the covers, cuddled the blanket, yawned, and promptly closed his eyes to sleep.

Wang Xiujin paused, then smiled, collapsing beside his son and gently wrapping him in his arms. Except for the early days after the boy arrived at the Li household, Wang Xiujin had not shared a bed with him. Since his arrival, the child had grown plump under their care, soft as a doll, and irresistibly adorable. Just thinking of his son’s smiling face, Wang Xiujin felt his heart melt. Rarely did he get to sleep with his son; today he would indulge and sleep in.

They slept until nearly noon. Yawning, Wang Xiujin opened his eyes. His son was still sound asleep, but on touching him, Wang Xiujin couldn’t help but laugh and cry—he’d wet the bed again. Moving quietly, Wang Xiujin summoned servants for water to wash up, had them prepare bath water for his son, and ordered all his son’s bedding changed, as well as his own. After being doused in boy’s urine, he felt a bit squeamish.

After washing up and dressing, Wang Xiujin woke his son, gave him a warm bath, and let the servants style his hair into a bun, making him even cuter. He carried him to the table, fed him some porridge and side dishes, then sent him out to play.

With one person missing from the courtyard, Wang Xiujin felt an emptiness. Usually, when Li Linshan was busy—up early, back late, sometimes absent—he didn’t mind. Why did it feel so empty now? He forced a bitter smile, left the house, and instructed the servants to give the rooms a thorough cleaning.

He decided to visit the Wang household.

Upon entering, Wang Xiujin saw Wang Zhize standing in the sun in the front yard. Wang Zhize’s eyes flashed with malice—he remembered clearly why he’d been locked in the woodshed, and how his grandparents had sold all the servants he’d brought with him, while both elder brothers refused to help, and none of the household staff sided with him. They all bullied him. They were all villains.

Wang Xiujin was utterly unmoved by Wang Zhize’s hostility. He was just a spoiled brat; to stoop to a child’s level… Though truth be told, his hands itched to give him a good thrashing.

Entering the main hall, he saw his mother seated at the head, sipping tea and nibbling pastries. Wang Xiujin approached, greeted her, and casually grabbed a pastry to eat. “What’s going on?”

“He tore up Zhizhuo’s homework book,” Lady Wang replied, her anger rising at the mention of her little grandson. “I don’t know what’s wrong with Chunshi’s child-rearing. After all this time, he hasn’t learned a shred of remorse.”

Wang Xiujin could not bear to see his mother worry about the younger generation. “How about I take him for a while? Li household has plenty of boys, and even the girls are tough; let him train with them daily, practice boxing, undergo some discipline. When he’s older, send him to the military camp—there are no young masters there, and even the most pampered will have their rough edges smoothed out.”

“What would it mean for you to take him?” Lady Wang glared at her son. “Your father said to send him off to the academy and let them deal with him. He’s done with teaching Zhize himself. His future is up to fate.” Lady Wang recalled her husband writing to the eldest son and mentioned it to her younger son. “Don’t overthink it; your brother must be made aware. If he harbors any ill intentions, neither your father nor I will forgive him lightly. If he remains ignorant, it’s a sign of poor household management—if he can’t handle his own family, he has no business overseeing the larger one. He should resign and stay home before any great disaster occurs, lest others suffer for his mistakes.”

“Zhize’s just been spoiled—is it really so serious?” Wang Xiujin clicked his tongue in disbelief, though on reflection he understood his parents’ concern was not unfounded. In ancient times, one person’s crime could implicate entire clans. The Wang family, counting in-laws and those in the family register, had many members; if trouble arose, it would mean many lives. “Has big brother replied?”