Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 197 Trouble
Fang Fang was stunned when he heard Xie Yuyan's words. If he was utterly despondent just now, he felt as if the sky was about to collapse.

My heart was pounding uncontrollably, and the medicine I had just taken seemed to be completely ineffective now.

After a long pause, Fang Fangzheng finally spoke up, trembling, "Madam, what do you want to do?"

He shouldn't have called her that since she was so young, but for some reason, he didn't feel ashamed at all.

Xie Yuyan looked at Fang Fangzheng: "Just like what I did at the Yang family and Yong'anfang."

Fang Fangzheng knew all too well what Madam Xie had done in the Yang family and Yong'an Ward, and now he was going to apply it to the entire Daming Prefecture. He had never seen such a bold woman before.

Does she know who she's facing?
Fang Fang was raising his head to try to persuade Xie Yuyan, but for some reason, the person standing in front of him seemed to no longer be thin. The light coming in from the window blurred her face, and at this moment she seemed to be a different person.

Xie Yuyan said calmly, "It's not easy to survive, and it's even harder to survive with the whole clan."

"How can your mistakes be covered up without a major incident?"

"Without mobilizing the entire Daming Prefecture, how can we contend with those people?"

"You only get one chance."

Xie Yuyan lifted her foot and walked towards the door.

Fang Fang was watching Madam Xie's retreating figure.

“I dare not do it... After you go back today, you should end your own life and the lives of your family, so that you won’t suffer in prison.”

Xie Yuyan pushed open the door and went out, leaving Fang Fangzheng alone in the room.

A hush fell over the room. The sunlight was blocked by the clouds, and Fang Fang was gradually swallowed by the shadows. The Yang family seemed to have forgotten about him; no one paid him any attention.

After a long while, Fang Fangzheng finally got up and slowly walked forward.

He didn't know how he got home until he heard his grandson's laughter, which brought his attention back to the house.

He cannot die, much less take his entire clan with him; he must live. While Madam Xie and Inspector He are still on this side, he must rush over. Once he is left alone, he will be at the mercy of others.

This matter can no longer be covered up. He can't be a scapegoat. His word alone is unreliable, but what if we involve a few more people? It might be useful eventually.

……

Liu family.

After finishing writing the memorial to be sent to the capital, Prefect Liu looked at his son, Liu Shizhang.

Liu Shizhang immediately said, "Sir, this letter will be sent to the capital and the emperor will be able to see it when he holds court. Our Daming Prefecture has resettled more than 400 disaster victims this year, which can be considered a meritorious achievement."

Prefect Liu waved his hand: "It's just to please the Emperor. What the Emperor cares about is the situation on the Northwest frontier. He's afraid that our military preparedness in Daming Prefecture will be lax, so he sent someone to inquire."

“The border is naturally no problem,” Liu Shizhang said. “The Northern Qi and Western Xia are waiting to open their border markets. If business is good there, who would want to wage war all the time? The money they steal from the border is not enough to support their warhorses.”

Prefect Liu didn't raise his eyes: "We still can't be careless. Those people in the court are watching us all the time. If we suffer a loss, even if it's a small matter, they will hold a grudge against us."

“Your father was already looked down upon for not being able to take charge of the Privy Council. If I were to fall from this position, the only way out would be retirement.” Liu Shizhang frowned when he mentioned this: “It’s all because of the Wang family’s interference. Prime Minister Wang is really ruthless and targets my father at every turn.”

"However, this time the imperial family also gave him a warning. His eldest son, Wang Yan, has been 'ill' at home for so long, but the imperial family has not summoned Wang Yan back to the court."

Liu Shizhang always compared himself to Wang Yan, but Wang Yan had been famous since childhood, had been appointed as the Crown Prince's tutor, and had even lectured on the classics in front of the emperor, so he had been quite the star.

Prefect Liu seemed to know what Liu Shizhang was thinking: "It's all because of your father that I've delayed your future. If I had become prime minister earlier, you would have had a place in the court."

Liu Shizhang hurriedly bowed: "I am still young and need to learn about government affairs from Father. Besides, if both father and son are in the court, it will inevitably arouse the emperor's suspicion, which would be bad."

Prefect Liu nodded: "It's good to stabilize things. The Emperor has been bedridden since last winter. When the new emperor ascends the throne, he will definitely appoint new people. Those who receive favors will be more likely to become the new emperor's confidants."

Liu Shizhang understood this principle. What he lacked was the same merit and political achievements as Wang Yan. He knew that if the two of them were in the same court one day, they would definitely have a chance to compete. He would let Wang Yan know how capable he was.

Compared to the Wang family, which made enemies everywhere, the Liu family cultivated many good relationships. In this trade at the border market, they ensured that everyone benefited. Families like the Xie family of Kaifeng would only side with them.

“My lord,” Liu Shizhang said respectfully, “Commander Feng has arrived.”

Feng Chuan was the most trusted general under Prefect Liu. He had followed him for many years and was promoted to commander.

After He Tan arrived in Daming Prefecture, Prefect Liu instructed Feng Chuan to use the excuse of a relapse of an old injury to handle official business at home, in order to avoid He Tan.

Liu Shizhang arranged for Feng Chuan to meet them now because they had come up with a way to deal with He Tan.

"What?" Prefect Liu asked, "Do you think it's a good time?"

Liu Shizhang responded, "Let's take this opportunity to have the He family take the blame, so we won't have to live in fear of the imperial court investigating us anymore."

Prefect Liu looked at Liu Shizhang with some doubt: could his eldest son really handle He Tan?

Prefect Liu said calmly, "He Tan is not as capable as Wang Yan, but he should not be underestimated."

While the father and son were talking, Feng Chuan was led into the house by the steward.

Guessing what Prefect Liu was talking about, Feng Chuan and Liu Shizhang exchanged a glance and immediately stepped forward to persuade him: "We were the ones who introduced the He family to the merchants. That can't be faked, can it? We haven't taken action yet because we wanted the He family to expand their business. By then, He Tan won't even be able to clean up his own mess, how could he possibly..."

Feng Chuan knew he had spoken too rudely, but he had no choice but to smile apologetically at Prefect Liu and continue, "Although I haven't been able to do all of that yet, this opportunity is not bad."

"He Tan himself stepped into this mess. It's all because he got too close to the Yang family. From selling Buddhist charcoal to making clay stoves, the Yang family has always had He Tan helping them."

“If we arrest those merchants again and force them to confess, He Tan won’t be able to get away with it.”

"We also have evidence of the He family's collusion with merchants to transport goods. If we reveal it, it might arouse suspicion, but it was the Xie family that caused this, and they even lost a life because of it."

Feng Chuan felt there was no better opportunity than this.

Prefect Liu pondered for a long time: "Is He Tan not in Daming Prefecture?"

“He’s not here,” Feng Chuan said. “My men saw him leave with their own eyes.”

"Then let's do it!" Prefect Liu said. "Be ruthless and leave no room for future trouble."