William was a bit confused. If this girl was the Lady in Red, then where was Li Jing? How old was he this year? The Three Heroes of the Dust was originally a Tang dynasty legend—could they really have existed?

But before he could think further, an angry roar came from afar, “Where is that little rascal?”

He turned his head and saw the chubby boy leading a man of about twenty-seven or twenty-eight running over. The man was tall and fat, bearing a seventy percent resemblance to the chubby boy—most likely his father. Having hit the younger one, now the elder had come out. William sneered; he wasn’t afraid. At worst, he’d go find Thomas Harris. Bullying the weak with the strong—how could that be justified?

This man was Philip Harris’s younger brother, Patrick Harris, and the chubby boy was his youngest son, Andrew Harris. After William had broken his nose with a punch, Andrew Harris had run off crying for help, and happened to run into his father on the way. When Patrick Harris heard that it was the newly arrived illegitimate child who had hit his son, he was instantly furious and rushed over to stand up for his boy.

Ten steps from the small courtyard, he saw a little child blocking the way, staring at him coldly. That icy gaze made his heart tremble—he had never seen such a look in a child’s eyes before. He stopped in his tracks, feeling a bit suspicious, and his anger subsided somewhat.

“Father, he’s the one who hit me!”

The chubby boy, Andrew Harris, had stopped his nosebleed, but was still holding his nose and complaining in a muffled voice.

William, imitating the manner of an adult, cupped his hands and bowed. “I am William Harris. Does sir wish to blame me without asking right or wrong?”

He no longer concealed his maturity, questioning Patrick Harris in a clear, bright voice. His calm demeanor was nothing like a three-year-old child—he was more like a teenager.

Moreover, his choice of words was precise. “Sir” was a respectful term for elders, something his uncle had taught him on the road. He guessed that a young man coming from the inner quarters was most likely his uncle.

Patrick Harris was stunned. He could hardly believe his eyes—was this child really only three years old?

“Father, he hit me!” Andrew Harris shook his father’s hand desperately, hoping his father would slap William away.

Patrick Harris had also heard that his father was quite fond of this child. His anger faded a bit, and he became more cautious, unwilling to grant his son’s wish so easily.

He suppressed his anger and asked William coldly, “Fine, then why did you hit him? If you can’t give a reason, I’ll take you to see your father!”

William had already figured out why Thomas Harris had brought him to the capital. Because he was an illegitimate child, leaving him outside would disgrace the Yang family’s reputation. At this time, the customs of the Wei and Jin dynasties still lingered, and reputation was everything. He was certain Thomas Harris would never want others to know that Philip Harris had an illegitimate son.

This was his trump card for today.

He bowed again, still composed. “Sir, perhaps you should first ask your son—what did he call me?”

Patrick Harris lowered his head and asked his son, “Did you insult him first?”

Andrew Harris felt a bit afraid and replied timidly, “I didn’t insult him.”

Patrick Harris immediately snorted heavily. “My son said he didn’t insult you!”

William knew he would protect his own son. Even when ordinary children fought, parents would side with their own, let alone when the other was an illegitimate child. If it weren’t for his grandfather’s fondness for him, he’d probably have been slapped already—who would bother reasoning with him?

But William was undaunted. “The incident happened right outside my courtyard. They are all pampered young masters—would they come to befriend me? Your son led a group of children, shouting: ‘Illegitimate child!’—afraid the whole world wouldn’t know the Prime Minister Yang had an illegitimate grandson. Tell me, sir, who is right and who is wrong?”

Patrick Harris understood now. His son must have gone to insult the other as an illegitimate child, which led to the fight, but in the end, his own son suffered.

According to clan rules, the distinction between legitimate and illegitimate, elder and younger, was clear. Although he himself was also an illegitimate son, William was an illegitimate child, so his own status was still higher. He could punish William Harris, but the other had thrown out such a big accusation that he was left speechless.

Patrick Harris suddenly felt a bit annoyed. The other was just a three-year-old child, yet had left him at a loss for words. If word got out, where would he put his face?

He simply refused to admit it. “What proof do you have that my son insulted you? Clearly, you were jealous and bullied my son. I won’t hit you, lest others say I’m bullying the weak. I’ll go find your father and let him teach you the clan rules!”

He turned and pulled his son away, feeling a bit smug. Little brat, still wet behind the ears, and you want to spar with me?

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw William Harris heading toward the inner quarters from another direction. He froze for a moment, then quickly shouted, “Where do you think you’re going?”

William pulled out the jade pendant Thomas Harris had given him from around his neck and said loudly, “I’m going to find Grandfather and ask him to question your son—who really wants the whole world to know that the Yang family has an illegitimate child?”

With that, he dashed off toward a small bridge, scaring Patrick Harris into a cold sweat. His son had led a group of children, and if his father confronted them, the truth would come out. Though his father wouldn’t scold Andrew, he himself wouldn’t get off so easily.

He knew very well that his father was afraid outsiders would learn the Yang family had an illegitimate child, which was why he brought the boy back. But his sister-in-law had spread the news, and his own wife had gossiped in front of the children, causing this trouble. If it really got to Grandfather, he’d be the one in trouble.

Patrick Harris cursed William as a little fox in his heart, but had no choice but to chase after him, shouting, “Wait a moment!”