"What? Say that again?" Liu Tan's eyes widened. He wondered if something had gone wrong with his ears.
Liu Cheng said eagerly, "Brother, he's right outside. He even drew several genealogical charts. Let him in, and you'll understand once he explains!"
Liu Tan looked at his younger brother with suspicion in his eyes. "How do you know his registered ancestral home is Yixing? Have you been investigating him?"
"I never expected it either! I only wanted to sound out his family background, but who knew he was a fraud! Brother, falsely claiming gentry status is a serious crime!" Liu Cheng's eyes shone, and he could not suppress the upward curl of his lips. "And how did he get registered? Zong Ce kept praising how brilliant Wang Yang's metaphysical discourse was. Zong Ce is also Liu Zhao's friend, and his son Zong Rui is the Southern Commandery Assistant. They must have tampered with the records!"
Liu Cheng paced back and forth in excitement. "Yes, Liu Zhao made the introduction, Zong Ce acted as the intermediary, and Wang Yang sought Zong Rui's help! That must be it! Once we expose this major case, none of them will get away! Once Liu Zhao falls, we can abolish the Commandery Academy too! Brother, wouldn't the Wang Academy then-"
Liu Tan's expression changed. "Enough! Our Liu family is a great house with generations of virtue. How could we stoop to such sinister schemes to harm others?"
Liu Cheng froze, never having expected this response from his elder brother:
"Brother, what's gotten into you? Who are we talking about? Wang Yang! Liu Zhao!"
"Have you forgotten how he humiliated you in front of so many people?!"
"Have you forgotten that the Wang Academy lost its official status, and you lost your position as Libationer of an