Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 176 Innocence
Xie Yuyan looked at Zhang Shi.

"How much medicine did Registrar Wang send?"

Zhang smiled without saying a word, while Yang Qin, standing next to her, gestured with his hand in front of him, indicating that there was at least enough space for a table.

Xie Yuyan didn't know what to say.

Zhang urged Xie Yuyan to drink the soup before saying, "The imperial physician said that your illness is a lingering ailment from before, probably from taking a lot of cold medicine in the past."

"A cold medicine?" Xie Yuyan asked.

Zhang nodded: "I don't know if it was because of the excessive dosage during treatment or because I encountered a quack doctor, but in any case, coldness accumulated. That's why I caught a cold and fell ill this time."

"Fortunately, the old doctor diagnosed it. With proper care, it should get better in two or three years."

The original owner of her body was not old. The midwife had examined her before and found her to be innocent. Therefore, the reason for the long-term use of cold medicine could only be that the person around her did it on purpose.

Xie Yuyan suddenly became interested in the original owner's identity. Why was she brought here by the kidnappers? Just as she had told Yang Mingjing, her hands were as white as jade, and there were calluses on her fingers from holding a pen, so she was obviously from a noble family.

She knew quite a bit about the treacherous affairs within the inner quarters; seemingly harmonious on the surface, but in reality, undercurrents were surging. Could someone really take their life so quietly? Was the original owner of her body like that?

Her business will eventually expand beyond Daming Prefecture, and her porcelain will circulate throughout Daliang. As her reputation grows, she will inevitably be seen by more and more people.

She had imagined that one day she would encounter someone from the original owner's family.

Perhaps even sooner than she thought.

Once the fired porcelain is delivered to the market, there will be more opportunities for her to appear in public. At that time, she will have to be careful to avoid any unexpected incidents that might catch her off guard.

Furthermore, she should try to investigate the original owner's identity if she has the chance.

After changing his clothes, Xie Yuyan went to the study, where the accountants who had been waiting there all stood up.

Everyone breathed a sigh of relief upon finally seeing the eldest daughter-in-law.

After handing over their accounts, an old accountant spoke first: "These days, business at the water shop has been a bit slow, but everything else is fine."

Xie Yuyan looked at Madam Yang.

Madam Yang said, "It's those rumors outside..."

Yang didn't need to explain it too clearly; Xie Yuyan already knew.

The old accountant said, "The tabloids... are selling even more." Selling more isn't a good thing, because it means losing more money.

Xie Yuyan looked at the old accountant, whose face was a little tense: "The tabloids will sell less next time. This time they sold a lot because of the rumors. Everyone wanted to see what was written in the newspaper, but... this is not a good thing after all. After the curiosity is over, people will inevitably be influenced by the rumors and become resistant. In addition, after the New Year, there will be no one in the inn, so it is normal for them to sell less."

Ms. Yang said worriedly, "I'm afraid these rumors will never end. If this goes on for a long time, even more people will stop believing the tabloids."

“The court has already held a hearing, and Xie’s hired workers testified for us. The magistrate also said that there are still many suspicious points in this case, so he fined each of them thirty strings of cash and sent them home.”

The coroner examined the injuries, and the Xie family's hired workers also helped testify. If it weren't for the Liu family's interference, the thirty strings of cash wouldn't have been imposed.

Shi Yong and the others were very dissatisfied with the verdict. They refused to pay the money and had no intention of leaving the prison until their innocence was proven.

Xie Yuyan had anticipated this. All she wanted was to cause trouble and get Shi Yong and the others home as soon as possible. Thirty strings of cash per person was nothing to her.

"What about Shi Yong and the others? Are they still struggling to get through this?"

She happened to fall ill, so many things had to be left to Mama Yu and Madam Yang to handle.

Madam Yang said, "I've already persuaded him to trust Madam, and he seems to be in a much better mood than before." Actually, she didn't understand that even if the case wasn't closed while he was in jail, the truth could still come out in the future. By paying the money and leaving the yamen now, wasn't that the same as admitting that her family was at fault?
The Xie family used this as an opportunity to spread rumors, even claiming that they were bullying the weak, and that the Xie family was the weak one.
"I don't know what people who believe those things are thinking."

"How can you believe something so obviously impossible?" "It's one thing to spread rumors that we bribed the local officials, but to say that you, my lady..."

After saying this much, Yang realized she had talked too much and stopped talking.

"What did you say about me?"

Yang then said in a low voice, "In short, it's all nonsense, you don't need to listen."

"You say I'm not a virtuous woman?" Xie Yuyan said calmly.

When Xie Yuyan's words came true, Yang thought of those vile words, and the anger in her eyes burned even brighter.

Xie Yuyan said, "To deal with a woman, you should start with this. Everyone likes to hear this kind of thing."

Once a woman is branded with these accusations, everything she does is wrong. She stood against the Xie family, defended the village, and sold Buddhist charcoal and clay stoves at low prices—she had done quite a lot, yet all of that was overturned in the eyes of some people because of a single idle rumor that came from nowhere.

Yang took a deep breath; in short, this was more disgusting than they had imagined.

Xie Yuyan nodded: "No need to explain, let them say what they want."

But... Madam Yang couldn't have imagined how the eldest daughter-in-law planned to deal with the Xie family. Could their reputation ever be restored?
Yang said, "Should we make some preparations in advance?"

Xie Yuyan's throat itched and she couldn't help but cough a few times.

"No need to think about these things," Xie Yuyan said. "We'll talk about it after New Year's Day."

Even though Yang and the others were anxious, they all agreed after hearing what the eldest daughter-in-law said, and said nothing more.

"How are the preparations at home going?" Xie Yuyan asked.

Mother Yu said, "Everything is ready, we're just waiting for the New Year's Day banquet to begin."

Fang Fangzheng has come twice recently. Yang Mingjing got into trouble and there is no one he can rely on to help him right now. After thinking it over, he decided to recommend Yang Mingde.

Yang Mingde was unwilling to do these things, nor did he know how to handle affairs within the ward, but Fang Fangzheng valued Xie Yuyan's prestige in Yong'an Ward.

As long as Xie Yuyan is watching over him, Yang Mingde is just a figurehead.

Fang Fangzheng's thinking was correct. After Yang Mingde "took office", everything in Yong'an Ward was arranged very smoothly. Although Xie Yuyan was ill, the ward residents did things on their own initiative and did not need him to urge them.

Xie Yuyan wanted to ask something else, but Zhang entered the room.

"Have you finished discussing the important matters? It's time to go back and rest."

Yang and the others were also worried about Xie Yuyan's health, and upon hearing this, they all took their leave.

Zhang kept nagging, "You're good at everything, except you don't know how to take care of yourself."

Xie Yuyan had no choice but to lie back down on the bed.

Fortunately, New Year's Day arrived, and she had closed all her shops, so she could temporarily put everything aside.

Xie Yuyan lay on the bed, half asleep. He didn't know how much time had passed when he felt a warmth in his arms and something slipped inside.

She slowly opened her eyes and saw the cat.

The cat had a small pouch tied to its back; it looked just like this when Wang Yan sent her a message a few days ago.

Xie Yuyan reached into the small pocket and found a folded piece of paper.