Wang Yang remained unmoved and firmly declined:
"Your Highness, Uncle, I am grateful to the depths of my heart for your kindness. But I already promised Mister Liu that I would not neglect my studies, and that I would also write an 'Annotated Study of the Tribute of Yu Chapter of the Book of Documents.' As the saying goes, 'The gentleman attends to the root; once the root is established, the Way springs forth.' It is also said, 'The gentleman's thoughts do not stray beyond his station.' As a Commandery Academy Student, my proper occupation is learning. How could I neglect scholarship in a headlong pursuit of rank and fame?"
He paused briefly and looked earnestly at Wang Yi:
"Besides, Uncle, you are undertaking this mission by Royal Order. If I accompanied you, people might suspect that I was exploiting a private connection to seek advancement. I dare not tarnish your reputation or disrupt the Imperial Court's rules."
Wang Yang turned to the Prince of Badong again:
"Besides-"
The Prince of Badong had no desire to hear Wang Yang continue. With that mouth of his, the brat could bring the dead to life and put flesh on bare bones. Who knew what he might come out with if allowed to go on? He immediately cut him off in a loud voice:
"Zhi Yan, stop declining! I will tell you the truth. When your uncle goes as envoy to the Southern Man, established practice requires the Jingzhou administration to send someone along to assist him. I have given this appointment a great deal of thought. In this recent Southern Man invasion, Liu Cheng was abducted, and I was negligent in my oversight. Whatever Wang Sanqi reports, the Imperial Court is certain to hold me accountable. So consider it helping me shoulder