Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 189 Provocation
Xie Chonghai was talking to Zhao Shi when the steward rushed over to report, "Seventh Master has arrived."

Zhao immediately looked at Xie Chonghai. If Xie Qi knew that Xie Chonghai was here, he would definitely become suspicious. Xie Chonghai had no choice but to get up and walk towards the suite.

Seeing that Xie Chonghai had hidden himself, Zhao asked the steward to invite Xie Qi over.

"Mother." Xie Qi rushed into the room, looking somewhat impatient.

Because Xie Chonghai was present, Zhao's expression was somewhat strange: "What's wrong?"

A flicker of excitement crossed Xie Qiye's eyes: "I have a way to save Father and my elder brother."

Zhao looked stunned, but quickly recovered: "What did you say? You...where did you get this idea?"

When Master Xie mentioned this, he slightly tightened his fingers, his eyes filled with wariness, unlike his previous intimacy, and he deliberately distanced himself from Madam Zhao.

Zhao sneered inwardly. There's always a distance between them, like a mountain between a pregnant woman and a child. After all, the child isn't her own, and there's always a distance between them, whether openly or secretly.

Xie Qi pursed his lips: "Mother, please don't be angry if you hear some of this. Father isn't biased towards me... he just thinks my elder brother has a better future... Father said that even if he has a future, he will need a lot of money to bribe officials. We are brothers after all. In the future, I can use the clan's money to help my elder brother wholeheartedly, but if the power in the clan falls into the hands of others, then that's not necessarily the case. After all... everyone has selfish motives."

Zhao's heart skipped a beat, and she subconsciously glanced towards the suite. This sounded like the master's words. The Xie family members all seemed harmonious on the surface, but privately, who didn't argue over who was the head of the household?

If the master hadn't gone to jail, how could Xie Chonghai have gotten away with it?
“Since Father and my eldest brother went to prison, Mother should have been able to sense that the clansmen’s attitude towards us is not the same as before, so…” Xie Qiye said, “Father’s arrangement is correct, Mother, please don’t blame Father.”

Xie Zishao usually had a carefree and irresponsible demeanor, so it was rare for him to speak like this, which made Zhao Shi think that what he said made a lot of sense.

Madam Zhao frowned: "If that's the case, why did you and your son keep it from me?"

Seventh Master Xie looked at Madam Zhao: "Mother, why do you think our family has been so peaceful all these years? Isn't it because I've behaved so badly that others think there's discord within our household, causing Father so much worry? If we live too smoothly, it will only attract the jealousy of others. When the time comes, one of us brothers will have achieved official rank, and the other will manage the clan's business. Who would be willing to accept that?"

Zhao's clenched hands were sweaty. Xie Chonghai had heard everything she said clearly. She immediately interrupted Xie Zishao: "Of course I won't blame your father. I just want your father and brothers to return home as soon as possible."

“I think so too,” said Master Xie. “So Mother must believe me. We are the only ones in this family who want to save Father and Brother the most.”

Before Zhao could speak again, Xie Qiye continued, "Mother should know that our family does some business with the Yang family in secret, right?"

Zhao had heard of it, but did not know the details.

Master Xie said, "Actually, I don't know the real inside story either. I asked him, and my father only said that some things... are better left unsaid to ensure safety."

"Later, Yang Mingshan was arrested. My father wanted to use Yang Mingjing to deal with the Xie family, but the Xie family seized Yang Mingjing's power, so he could only act cautiously. Now he has learned some information and sent it out."

Madam Zhao immediately pressed, "What news?"

Seventh Master Xie said, "The person behind Xie Yuyan is He Tan."

Thinking it was some kind of news, Zhao gave Xie Qiye a reproachful look: "Didn't we already hear about it?"

“It’s not what Mother thinks,” said Master Xie. “The Yang family and the He family have actually had business dealings for a long time. Originally, these transactions were handled by Yang Mingjing. Mother, guess who’s in control now?”

Zhao seemed to have grasped something: "You mean Xie Yuyan?"

Master Xie nodded: "In the next two days, Xie Yuyan will meet with several merchants at the Yang family. These merchants were all arranged by the He family."

Zhao's eyes widened: "What did you say?" "The He family," said Seventh Master Xie, "They want to control our business in the north through people like Xie Yuyan. It's no coincidence that they've set their sights on the Xie family. If we defeat the Xie family, the trade in the border markets will change."

"In short, they are abusing their power for personal gain. With this evidence in our hands, we can either ask the Liu family to arrest Xie Yuyan, or we can coerce He Tan into releasing his father and brothers."

Zhao gasped: "Where is the evidence you're talking about?"

Master Xie said, "I've put it away properly. There are witnesses, as well as a list of gifts sent from the Yang family to the He family. Moreover... those merchants are coming to Daming Prefecture to discuss business with Xie Yuyan. If the Liu family is willing to get involved, won't they investigate them thoroughly? Besides, Yang Mingjing can also testify."

Zhao's heart pounded wildly. If what Xie Zishao said was true, then these things could really save her husband and Zhang Ge'er.

Zhao stood up and paced anxiously around the room: "You're telling me all this because you want to..."

“If Second Aunt can go to the Liu family, Mother can naturally go too,” said Seventh Master Xie. “Mother will tell the Liu family what I said in person. If the Liu family can save my father and brothers, I dare to write a lawsuit against He Tan and Xie Yuyan for collusion between officials and merchants.”

Zhao stared at Xie Zishao: "Are you going to report He Tan?"

Master Xie nodded: "If the Liu family is willing to step in, I'm willing to be the knife that stabs He Tan. But if the Liu family isn't willing to openly break with He Tan..."

“I plan to go see Xie Yuyan and ask her to send a message to He Tan, asking him to secretly release my father and brothers and stop pressing us about the clay furnace. Then I will return the evidence to them.”

“Mother is always thoughtful,” said Master Xie. “Let’s discuss it together and see which method is better.”

How could Zhao make a decision now? Xie Chonghai is also in the suite...

If Xie Chonghai hadn't been there, she might have actually let Xie Qi give it a try.

After a long silence, Zhao said, "I suddenly learned about these things. Let me think about it carefully. We need to... find a foolproof plan."

Seventh Master Xie stood up and bowed to Madam Zhao: "Mother, you must hurry. If Xie Yuyan continues to cause trouble like this, not only will Father and Brother not be able to come back, but our Xie family's business will also be ruined."

Zhao nodded.

Seventh Master Xie said, "I will go out to gather information early tomorrow morning. Perhaps I can find more evidence, which will increase our chances of winning."

Zhao was already distracted and hurriedly saw Xie Zishao out.

Once the person had gone far away, she turned back into the house. When she looked up, she saw Xie Chonghai with a gloomy expression. Zhao was really startled and wanted to say something, but she only opened her mouth.

"So that's why you're so wary of us, brother," Xie Chonghai said after a long pause.

“That’s not true,” Zhao said hastily. “It’s all just Shao’er talking nonsense.”

Xie Chonghai snorted coldly: "I think my sister-in-law is serious."

"What are you saying?" Zhao retorted. "I could only go along with him and see if I could get more information out of him."

Xie Chonghai remained silent for a long time: "Father was right about some things. That Miao woman is good at bewitching people. After she entered the family, our Xie family was in turmoil. Even though she is dead, she left behind a source of trouble."

“If we don’t get rid of him, he will inevitably incite us brothers to fight each other in the future, and he will benefit from it.”