Chapter 16: The map of the Northern Lands
The Wang Royal Manor
W� Gng Hu the First Lady of Wang Royal Manor, Wang D� Zh� The Grand Prince and Lord of the Manor, and Wang F鑞 Y襫g the Heir of the Wang Royal Manor all stood stone still as statues in complete utter shock in the study of the Wang Royal Manor.
They spent the past hour looking over the map of the continent of the Northern Lands that Li Chkn Y� created. The desk had been pushed from the center of the room, giving them space to unfold the enormous map. They had completely forgotten their dignity. They crawled all over the floor trying to take in every detail of the map.
It was the minute detail of the map that had them looking again and again in total disbelief. There were tons of maps of The Northern Lands drawn over the centuries. But never have there been a complete map that showed all six countries in full absolute detail.
They would often stop and look at each other in disbelief as if to confirm with each other that they were all seeing the same thing.
Now they stood around the map lost deep in thought. They thought heavily about the ramifications of the existence of this map of the continent of the Northern Lands.
"He is not simple at all" Wang F鑞 Y襫g cold voice sounded in the library.
"Who?" Wang D� Zh� asked.
"Liu Ti醤 Q�" Wang F鑞 Y襫g responded. "He is the one who immediately paid 300 Gold for this map without haggling over the price and told Younger Brother to gift it to you. When he realized we were the young masters of the Wang Royal Manor."
"What?" Wang D� Zh� and W� Gng Hu both said at the same time.
"You mean neither you or J衝g Ji� purchased the map?" W� Gng Hu asked.
"No, we thought it was a scam."
"Explain! Report everything in detail so I can understand." W� Gng Hu commanded with a hint of consternation in her voice.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Wang F鑞 Y襫g gave a concise report starting from the time Liu Ti醤 Q� bought a hungry, dirty, raggedy Wang J衝g Ji� food. The argument that they had in front of the noodle shop. How Liu Ti醤 Q� convinced Wang J衝g Ji�, he must go home.
His parents sucked in the breath in shock when Wang F鑞 Y襫g told his parents of how Liu Ti醤 Q� grabbed him and how he instinctively responded and almost killed him. He told his parents the words that Liu Ti醤 Q� said that instantly calmed him down and changed the whole situation around. He saw his parents deep appreciation towards Liu Ti醤 Q� when he told his parents the explanation Liu Ti醤 Q� gave for why he grabbed him. He also saw the questioning amazement in his parents eyes that Wang F鑞 Y襫g actually gave Liu Ti醤 Q� the chance to explain. He ignored their questioning looks.
He spoke of how they allowed J衝g Ji� to clean up in an inn and dress in clean clothes to return home. Wang F鑞 Y襫g told them of how he misunderstood Liu Ti醤 Q� and thought Liu Ti醤 Q� was trying to teach J衝g Ji� bad habits. When he then told his parents of the explanation that Liu Ti醤 Q� gave of why J衝g Ji� couldn`t go home empty-handed, he saw his mother eyes get a little wet.
Finally, Wang F鑞 Y襫g explained about Li Chkn Y� and how he was thrown out of the book store. He explained that because of the words of the shopkeeper everyone thought Li Chkn Y� was going around trying to swindle people, but Liu Ti醤 Q� thought differently and went up to Li Chkn Y� to see if he was injured or hurt from being thrown from the store.
Wang F鑞 Y襫g explained that as soon as he heard Li Chkn Y�`s name, he became adamant that they buy the map. He explained that J衝g Ji� didn`t have enough money to buy the map. Wang F鑞 Y襫g told his parents that when he heard the price go from the 200 gold that Li Chkn Y� was asking of the bookseller. To 300 gold he was asking from Liu Ti醤 Q� he thought all the more that Li Chkn Y� was a swindler.
Wang F鑞 Y襫g also explained to his parents that he realized that maybe he was wrong when Liu Ti醤 Qu mentioned Li Chkn Y� father`s name to Li Chkn Y� and explained to Li Chkn Y� that his master and his father once traveled together during the travels of his father.
Wang F鑞 Y襫g told his parents of how Liu Ti醤 Q� had recognized that they where the young masters of the Wang Royal Manor and became insistent that J衝g Ji� buy the map and gift it to his father. He told them how Liu Ti醤 Q� said that the map is not a map that should fall into the hands of just anyone, and since they didn`t want to buy it. He Lu Ti醤 Q� would buy it and J衝g Ji� must gift the map to his father.
Looking at his father, he said. "Royal father he also told me to pass a message to you."
There was a flicker in Wang D� Zh�`s eyes as he said, "Tell me."
"Liu Ti醤 Q� requested for me to tell you that this map must stay in the imperial family" There was a deep flicker of surprise in the grand prince`s eyes. "He said that this map is an invaluable treasure for the military and will help to save hundreds of thousands if not millions of lives if there is an outbreak of war. There is only one like it in the world. The most regrettable part is the mapmaker is already gone."
"He he I understand. I think I like your new friend." The Grand Prince laughed in amusement, "What a cunning tongue he has. Come, let`s do what he said. We must go to see His Majesty."
Seeing that Wang F鑞 Y襫g didn`t understand he asked. "You don`t understand? I`m surprised you`re normally very fast on the uptake of double-talking."
W� Gng Hu grinned at Wang F鑞 Y襫g and said, "Your cheeky little friend is telling the Grand Prince that although this map of the Northern Lands was gifted to him, it is not to stay in his possession. He must give it into the care of the emperor. However, he is also telling the Grand prince not to worry. He will have unlimited access to it since he is a General and the Grand Prince of a military Royal Manor. He is also requesting that we reward the family of the mapmaker."
"I see now," Wang F鑞 Y襫g softly said with a thoughtful expression on his face as he refolded the map and repacked it into the packaging it came in.
W� Gng Hu laughed "What a sly little tongue he has. I want to meet him."