Talented poets and scholars are naturally recognized as gentlemen of refined grace.
Indeed, how could such a handsome and charming young lord be unable to see?
When William Wang Jinling appeared in the Capital's noble circles, more than one person sighed like this—and more than one wept red-eyed for him...
But blind is blind. The world’s best doctors, palace physicians, rare herbs...
For a time, the finest doctors and rarest medicines from across the realm flocked to the Capital, all volunteering to seek a cure for William Wang Jinling. Yet...
Time and again, disappointment followed—no one could heal William Wang Jinling’s eyes!
William never held much hope for his own eyes, but he wasn’t despairing either. If he could see, he was William Wang Jinling; if not, he was still William Wang Jinling.
It would be best to see, but if not... he could still live serenely all his life. There was regret, but no resentment. He cherished all that heaven had given him—what he had, and what he had never had...
William was someone who truly understood how to live. Even blind, he arranged his days with color and variety; social obligations never took over his free time.
After half a year at the Wang estate, aside from court duties, William did not return to Jixia Academy—instead, he went to live at his teacher’s home.
It was said that his teacher’s house had a vast collection of books!
Of course, that wasn’t the main reason. What mattered most was that he wanted to ‘see’ the world.
Born to the Wang Clan, barring any accidents, he would be its future patriarch. In the Southern Lyn Kingdom, he received the grandest honors—the emperor treated him as a distinguished guest, the princess declared she would marry no one but him, and Southern Lyn nobles were proud to host him. Yet all this...
...had nothing to do with William Wang Jinling.
He came to Southern Lyn to witness another kingdom’s customs, and to listen to his teacher’s library—ideally, to ‘hear’ it all...
A mind that forgets nothing—a talent bestowed by heaven!
With such a gift, no amount of books could overwhelm him. In three years, William finished listening to everything in his teacher’s library. By eighteen, it was time to return for his coming-of-age ceremony, and then...
...become the Wang Clan’s young patriarch.
Only, just before he returned, something major happened.
Northlyn, facing a severe shortage of grain, sent troops to seize supplies from the border people of Lyndaria, Eastlyn, and Northlyn itself—even small towns along the borders of various cities were not spared.
After this happened, all the kingdoms were furious. The Southlyn emperor took the lead, planning to rally armies to attack Northlyn, but before the troops could even move, Northlyn got wind of it and hid away...
Invading deep into Northlyn was a risky business, and none of the kingdoms or cities were willing to take such a gamble over a matter like this.
If a real war broke out, their losses would far exceed whatever Northlyn had stolen.
Northlyn knew exactly where the line was. Though they raided, they kept it measured—always pushing the other realms to the edge of war, but never quite enough to make them commit.
After months of siege, there was no progress. None of the kingdoms or cities could keep their armies stationed at the border forever, so they had to pull back—yet...
As soon as the armies withdrew, Northlyn came raiding again.
Over and over, the kingdoms and cities were driven to utter misery.
Fighting was simply not worth it, but letting Northlyn keep raiding was unacceptable.
Envoys!
The kingdoms and cities decided to send envoys to negotiate with Northlyn, hoping they would relent. But envoy after envoy failed—Northlyn was blunt: “We’re starving! We’re on the brink of death!”
The border people suffered terribly. Anyone with the means moved away to escape Northlyn’s raids; only those with no choice stayed and endured, making life even harder for those left behind.
"Let me try."
When William Wang Jinling heard of this, he put down his book, stepped out of his house, and set off for Northlyn...
In just three days, William persuaded the Northlyn Emperor to make concessions. Then he visited Lyndaria, Southlyn, Eastlyn, and even the Nine Cities...
Though William Wang Jinling could not see, his footsteps reached the capitals of the Four Kingdoms and Nine Cities.
William convinced the Three Kingdoms and Nine Cities to provide Northlyn with annual aid, and Northlyn, in turn, agreed to pay a price for the grain...
Northlyn now had food and stopped raiding—they were happy.
The border people no longer lived in constant fear—they were happy too.
The Three Kingdoms and Nine Cities resolved a crisis without bloodshed—happiest of all.
One William Wang Jinling, one journey across the Four Kingdoms and Nine Cities—his persuasion let the emperors and city lords see the grace and bearing of the Wang Clan’s eldest son, and forged goodwill between them and House Wang.