Ten Years a Dragon Trapped in a Well; One Day Ascendant, Soaring into the Azure Clouds!

Wei Nisheng's words rang out: "I would rather stand tall and bear a wretched name as I take my complaint to the Prefectural Office than kneel clutching a 'filial reputation' while others devour me, flesh and bone."

The hall fell deathly silent. A falling pin could have been heard.

Clan Patriarch Wei He's face was livid, and the hand gripping his cane trembled slightly.

Several Clan Elders exchanged glances, fear and anger flashing in their eyes.

In all their long years, when had a ten-year-old child ever challenged them like this?

Yet this child cited the classics, every word grounded in reason, leaving them without a single opening for a rebuttal.

Wei Mingde was even worse off. His face was deathly pale, his lips quivering, yet no words came out. Bracing himself against the table, he trembled in both hands and legs.

Cui Shi held Wei Shoucheng and hid behind Wei Mingde, her eyes shifting uncertainly.

As she watched Wei Nisheng, she found this child frightening for the first time.

Not because he could kill, but because merely standing there, he sent a chill through her heart.

At that very moment, Wei Nisheng stood in the doorway, holding his grandfather's and eldest uncle's memorial tablets, his back straight and his gaze icy.

In that moment, he was no longer the abandoned child of the Side Courtyard, no longer the ill-born son despised by the entire family!!

He was the Eldest Branch's heir, Wei Zheng's The Art of War, Wei Mingyuan's son.

Behind him stood the memorial tablets of the Wei Family's ancestors.

Before him stood a pack of jackals eager to devour him.

Meanwhile, Wei Shouzheng stood in a corner, having said nothing from beginning to end.

It was not that he did not want to speak. He could not get a word in.

Wei Nisheng's arguments, each supported by the classics, and his questions, each ringing with force, left him utterly at a loss for what to say.

He could only watch as the younger brother he had scorned since childhood struck the patriarch, his father, and the Clan Elders speechless, one after another.

"He... when did he read so many books?"

Wei Shouzheng remembered when they had begun their schooling together as children.

Back then, he had learned quickly, and their teacher had praised his intelligence.

Wei Nisheng, however, had barely learned a few characters before being thrown back into the Side Courtyard.

Over the next seven years, Wei Shouzheng had studied under renowned teachers, read in the study, and entered the Imperial College.

Meanwhile, Wei Nisheng had remained in the Side Courtyard, with no one to teach him and no books to read.

Yet today, this Wei Nisheng, whom he had considered worthless apart from his looks...

Had quoted the Book of Rites, the Classic of Filial Piety, and the Book of Etiquette and Ceremonial without a single error.

Had cited the Zhou Criminal Statutes and the Household and Marriage Statutes, every provision clear and precise.

He even knew Tang Dynasty Case Precedents, Zheng Xuan's commentaries, and Jia Gongyan's annotations!

Had Wei Shouzheng read those books himself?

He had. But quoting them on the spot and using them to refute an argument was beyond him!

"Impossible... absolutely impossible!" Wei Shouzheng muttered, shaking his head frantically. "How could this fellow have had the chance to read so many books...

"If he had any chance at all, it was only in the month or two since Wang Rong died!

"But in a month or two, without a renowned teacher's guidance or annotated books, how could he possibly have mastered and integrated so many texts?!"

Wei Shouzheng stared fixedly at Wei Nisheng, fear entering his eyes for the first time.

It was not fear of the name "Fiery Child," but of something deeper...

A talent that could not be strangled, no matter how it was suppressed or constrained.

"Ten years... he was shut away in the Side Courtyard for ten years.

"No books, no teacher, no one to look after him.

"And yet..."

Suddenly, Wei Shouzheng remembered something Wei Nisheng had written when they were learning their characters together as children.

He had been young then and had not understood what it meant.

He remembered only tearing up that sheet of paper, then taking it to show his father, saying his younger brother had written something strange.

Now, looking at the boy before him holding those memorial tablets, he believed those words for the first time.

[Ten years a dragon trapped in a well; one day ascendant, soaring into the azure clouds.]

Meanwhile, Wei Nisheng swept his gaze over everyone present, gave a cold laugh, and spoke.

"Clan Elders, I have said all that needed saying. I have argued all that needed arguing."

"If you have even a shred of conscience left, if you still remember the care my grandfather once showed this clan..."

"Then prepare the deeds to the Eldest Branch Estate now and deliver them to me."

He paused, then enunciated every word. "If I have not received the deeds by noon tomorrow..."

"The morning after, you are welcome to come watch the spectacle at the Petition Drum outside the Capital Prefectural Office."

With that, he turned to leave.

Wei Mingde finally came to his senses and roared, "Stop!"

Wei Nisheng halted without turning around.

Wei Mingde pointed at his back, his voice trembling. "Sinful Son! Do you think you can walk out of the Wei Family's gates?! Servants! Stop him!"

Several servants immediately appeared outside the doorway. They exchanged glances, hesitating over whether to step forward.

At the sight, Wei Nisheng slowly turned around and looked at Wei Mingde.

"Do you think I have no one backing me?"

Wei Mingde froze. "You... what did you say?"

"Let me tell you all: the moment I came out carrying these memorial tablets, Wei An had already left the estate!"

Wei Mingde's expression changed.

He suddenly remembered that Wei An had indeed been absent for some time.

Yet that old servant had always stayed at Wei Nisheng's side, never leaving him for a moment.

"That old servant-where did he go?!"

Wei Nisheng did not answer. He merely looked outside the door.

Everyone followed his gaze...

And saw Wei An running toward them, waving a letter in his hand!

The sight of the letter in Wei An's hand brought Wei Nisheng a breath of relief as well. He turned on the spot and shouted.

"Lord Feng has promised me one favor and pointed out a path for me!"

"Anyone who would lay a hand on me today had best weigh the consequences!!!"

The moment the words "Lord Feng" rang out, all color drained from Wei Mingde's face. His legs buckled, and he nearly lost his footing.

Cui Shi hurriedly supported him, her own expression utterly grim.

"Lord... Lord Feng..." Wei Mingde murmured. "How could he... how could he..."

Wei Nisheng looked at him and sneered. "Did you think Lord Feng agreed to see you that day because of your own standing?"

"Sinful Son, what do you mean by that?!" Wei Mingde's pupils contracted sharply.

"Exactly what I said. Were it not for my visiting card, you, Wei Mingde, would never have been worthy of an audience!"

Those words struck Wei Mingde like a thunderbolt!

His visiting card... that Sinful Son sent Lord Feng a visiting card?

Lord Feng only saw me that day because... because that Sinful Son had sent his card ahead of time?

At those words, Wei Mingde swayed and nearly fell.

Cui Shi hastily steadied him, calling softly, "Husband! Husband!"

Wei Mingde pushed her away and stared fixedly at Wei Nisheng, unable to utter a word.

Wei He and the Clan Elders knew nothing of any "Lord Feng."

Having lived in the countryside for years, they knew little of the shifting winds of the Capital's official circles.

"Lord Feng, Lord Li, whatever! This is the Wei Family's Ancestral Hall, not a place for your Capital ways!"

"A mere ten-year-old brat dares use an outsider to press down on his clan?!"

He looked at Wei Mingde. "Mingde, what is wrong with you? How could a little whelp frighten you like this?"

Wei Mingde had no time to explain. He hurriedly caught hold of him. "Uncle! Do not act rashly!"

"The Lord Feng that Sinful Son speaks of is Feng Yan! The former chief grand secretary! His students and former subordinates fill the imperial court!"

"None of you act rashly!!!"

The Clan Elder froze.

The other Clan Elders froze as well.

The chief grand secretary?!!

For these country Clan Elders, the highest official they had ever met was a county magistrate.

The chief grand secretary? That was someone they did not even dare imagine meeting.

Yet now, this ten-year-old child was using that man's name as a protective talisman.

The way they looked at Wei Nisheng changed.

They no longer saw a small child they could manipulate at will, but someone they could not afford to provoke.

Wei He's face was livid, yet he dared not take another step forward.

He had lived more than seventy years. He knew whom he could provoke and whom he could not.

Clearly, Feng Yan was someone he could not afford to provoke.

With Feng Yan now standing behind that child, he could not touch him.

At least, not openly.

Thus, Wei He drew a deep breath and slowly settled back into his chair, saying nothing more.

Watching their reactions, Wei Nisheng felt not the slightest satisfaction.

Only exhaustion, and an even deeper calm.

He knew Lord Feng's name could protect him for a while, but not for a lifetime.

But at least, for today, it was enough.

So he turned and walked toward the doorway.

This time, no one dared stop him.

Wei An came forward and handed him the letter.

Wei Nisheng took it without opening it, merely slipping it inside his robe.

Lord Feng's own handwriting was his final trump card.

But now, he did not need to open it. He only needed people to know the letter existed.

And so, one following the other, the two walked out of the Ancestral Hall.

Wei Nisheng stood outside and raised his head to glance at the sky.

The sun had already set, leaving only a streak of lingering light on the horizon.

"Let's go," he said.

"Eldest Young Master, where are we going?" Wei An asked.

The title "Eldest Young Master" came naturally to him, spoken with solemn respect.

Wei Nisheng paused briefly, then a smile curved his lips.

"After tomorrow, we can go anywhere!"