Wang Xizhi had once served as General of the Right Army, which was why he was also known as Wang Youjun.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, the great aristocratic clans placed considerable importance on family name taboos-the personal names of one's father and grandfather. Not only was it improper to address one's own father or grandfather by name, but mentioning someone else's father or grandfather by name in their presence could also be taken as an offense.
Originally, these taboos had a narrow scope, limited to the names of one's father and grandfather. Out of respect, however, they were sometimes extended to earlier ancestors.
That was why Yan Youcheng had used an official title instead. When Wang Yang had previously written to Xie Xinghan on Le Xiaopang's behalf, he had called Xie An "Grand Tutor Xie" rather than using his name. The principle was the same.
Wang Yang said, "I'm ashamed to say that, although my ancestor's name was known throughout the realm, my branch of the family fell on hard times long ago. Speaking of it only makes me feel that I've let my ancestors down. Better to leave it unsaid."
Now that I've touched on a painful subject, surely you can't keep asking.
Xie Xinghan's cherry-red lips stirred, as though she wanted to say something, but she held back.
Yan Youcheng had already had a fair idea that Wang Yang's family fortunes had declined.
Most of the wealthy, powerful branches of the Langya Wang were concentrated in Jiankang, the Capital. Even if their sons chose to pursue classical studies, they would not attend a local commandery academy; they would enter the Academy of State Sons directly. Since Wang Yang studied at the Jingzhou Commandery Academy, he clearly came from a provincial collateral branch. What Yan Youcheng had