"Your Majesty, what does this mean?"
At some point, Sima Yan had squeezed out Zhang Hua, who had been sitting beside Cao Mao, and taken his place with a furtive air, watching the scene before them curiously.
Cao Mao explained in a low voice, "Lord Wang's earlier explanation and Lord Wang's... er... let me put it this way. Lord Wang's exposition of the Supreme Mystery Classic was rather similar to your maternal grandfather's."
Understanding dawned on Sima Yan. "Oh, so he borrowed it for a look. When I first began my studies and my teacher told me to write essays, I often borrowed essays by my Second Fathers to look over too..."
While the two whispered to each other, Wang Su had already walked up to Wang Xiang.
"You dared do such a thing, yet you dare not admit it?!"
"Lord Wang, do not humiliate me like this. Has everyone under Heaven who studies the Supreme Mystery stolen your scholarship?!"
"Does the Supreme Mystery belong to your school alone?!"
"May no one else study it?!"
Wang Xiang looked around at the distinguished scholars. When it came to stirring people's feelings, including putting on an act, he was better than Wang Su. Sure enough, his words prompted quite a few people to nod.
Wang Su was beside himself with fury. "What research have you done on the Supreme Mystery?"
"Fine, fine! Come, bring out your commentaries for everyone under Heaven to see!"
"I can fetch the commentaries I have written over the years from my home at any time. We can compare them and see whether you stole them!"
Not a trace of fear appeared on Wang Xiang's face. He said solemnly, "Lord Wang, my commentaries are at my residence. They can be fetched at any time."
"I have always treated