Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 204 Making trouble
The eunuch Huang changed into soldiers' clothes and came out. Then he immediately saw Wang Yan and the woman beside him, who had also changed into the same clothes as him.

This woman was the one who passed notes in the house before, and she committed the murder with Wang Yan.

Huang, the eunuch, glanced at the woman again after thinking for a moment.

The torchlight was dim, and most of the woman's face was hidden in the darkness, so the eunuch Huang couldn't see her clearly, but her eyebrows and eyes...

Huang, the eunuch, wanted to examine the scene further, but his view was blocked by Wang Yan.

Wang Yan instructed, "Let's go."

Tan Xiang responded. He had already adjusted his armor and looked no different from usual.

But who knew that Wang Yan's men had already gone to the Tan family? If they couldn't leave the city smoothly, the entire Tan clan, including Tan Xiang's infant son, would be killed.

Wang Yan spared Tan Xiang's life precisely for this purpose.

The armory was guarded by the Wang family's guards, so the craftsmen here dared not make any other moves.

Once tonight is over, the craftsmen will not only dare not report it, but will try their best to cover it up for them, because they know that the evidence has been sent to the capital and the people of Daming Prefecture can no longer stop it.

The affairs of the arms workshop will inevitably be exposed, and only by cooperating with the government's arrangements may there be a way to survive.

After Tan Xiang and Eunuch Huang walked forward, Wang Yan looked at Xie Yuyan and said, "You can also go with Eunuch Huang." It would be safer than staying in Daming Prefecture.

Xie Yuyan didn't hesitate: "The stage was finally set up, and the performance hasn't even started yet. How can I leave?"

Wang Yan seemed to have anticipated this outcome long ago; in his heart, this was exactly how she should be.

If they don't leave Daming Prefecture, they'll have to work under Prefect Liu's nose. No matter how well they hide, their suspicious behavior will eventually be discovered.

Xie Yuyan, however, showed no fear whatsoever.

The two walked out the door, and Xie Yuyan was about to mount her horse, but the warhorse was too tall. Just as she was about to hold onto the saddle and find a point of leverage, she saw a hand reaching out.

Wang Yan opened his palm.

For some reason, Xie Yuyan hesitated for a moment. Although she quickly realized what was happening, she still took a long time to think. Logically, she shouldn't have hesitated.

She stepped onto the horse, and with a gentle push from him, she leaped onto its back.

Wang Yan tucked his fingers together, mounted his horse, and the group rode straight toward the city gate.

Tan Xiang was running in the lead.

As a commander, one should act accordingly; being surrounded or relegated to the back will arouse suspicion.

"Open the city gate."

Tan Xiang took out his waist token and gave instructions to the city gate guards.

The city gate guard asked with some confusion, "It's so late, why is the commander still leaving the city?"

Tan Xiang smiled and said, "I'm out of town on official business, and I'll take this opportunity to train my horse."

The city gate guard seemed to have thought of something, and immediately revealed a meaningful smile.

"Where did you come from?"

“Suzhou,” Tan Xiang said, “I’d like to invite you to my home for drinks in a few days.”

This wasn't the first time Tan Xiang had left the city; he always found the city boring and went out to find some fun. Some wealthy merchants brought women with them, intending to send them to high-ranking officials and nobles in the north. Upon hearing this, Tan Xiang and his group decided to go and have a go at it.

The city gate guards no longer suspected anything and ordered the gate to be opened. However, when their gaze swept over the people around Tan Xiang, they couldn't help but frown: "Why are they all unfamiliar faces?"

Tan Xiang remained calm and smiled meaningfully: "They are all new recruits. I'll keep them around and train them for a few days."

The city gates opened, and Tan Xiang went outside the city first.

The group traveled along the official road for a long time before stopping, and Eunuch Huang finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Wang Yan said, "Get to the capital as soon as possible, and don't go to any post stations along the way."

With tears in his eyes, Eunuch Huang bid farewell to Wang Yan, vowing that he would bring the imperial decree.

Once the eunuch Huang had ridden away, Wang Yan looked at Tan Xiang: "Now go to Wei County." Tan Xiang's expression stiffened; he could almost guess what would happen at the Wei County armory. He would be the one to open the door, and then Wang Yan would kill people inside until he got the confession he wanted.

Xie Yuyan turned his head to look at the city gate of Daming Prefecture, then spurred his horse to follow Wang Yan.

"Worried or just soft-hearted?"

Just as Xie Yuyan caught up, Wang Yan's voice came from behind.

She made a name for herself in Daming Prefecture so that one day, when she was targeted, her reputation could become her advantage.

Xie Yuyan said calmly, "Of course not."

As soon as she finished speaking, she asked Wang Yan, "If Commander Tan were to resort to underhanded tactics, would you really have his infant son killed?"

Wang Yan didn't hesitate: "Yes."

So they are the same.

Sang Dian, who overheard a few words, couldn't help but shake his head. Kill an infant? His young master? He's just being stubborn.

……

Liu Mansion.

Liu Erniang got up early, and before she even finished dressing, she called the steward over and asked, "Has my elder brother sent any news?"

The headmistress shook her head.

Liu Erniang didn't take it to heart; it must be too early, and some things hadn't yet reached the household.

Since the eldest brother has already instructed Feng Chuan to take action, Xie Yuyan should be in prison now. We'll ask the eldest brother again when she goes to pay her respects to our father and mother.

With that thought in mind, Liu Erniang finished tidying up and headed towards the main house.

As soon as the man entered the courtyard, he heard Liu Shizhang's voice: "The county magistrate and the county assistant magistrate arrived early this morning because the Yang family beat the drum to appeal for justice. That lawyer named Liu Zhi is making a fuss about demanding that the yamen hand over the people."

Prefect Liu said indifferently, "The county government of Daming County has been turned upside down by a woman? Then he should probably give up his post as county magistrate."

Liu Shizhang responded, "Yes."

Liu Erniang was overjoyed to hear this. She quickly entered the room, first bowing to her father, and then looking at her elder brother: "Brother, has that woman already been imprisoned?"

Liu Shizhang shook his head: "No."

Liu Erniang's smile froze on her face.

Liu Shizhang said, "Yang Xieshi received the news in advance and left Daming Prefecture, but the prefect has already gone to pursue and capture her."

Liu Erniang's eyes flickered: "Isn't this just fleeing to avoid punishment?"

Liu Shizhang said, "Last night, thieves broke into the armory in the city. They killed several people and set fire to the armory. You may need to look into this, sir."

As Liu Shizhang spoke, he was not in a hurry, because Tan Xiang had sent a message indicating that they were the ones who had taken care of the weapons workshop.

This was the first time Prefect Liu had taken this matter seriously.

It seemed to be different from what he had expected. He had originally sent people to arrest Yang Xieshi and use the He family's smuggling as leverage to warn He Tan, but he didn't expect it to really escalate.

"Is this an act of venting anger towards the imperial family on He Tan?" Prefect Liu put down his unfinished goat milk.

It was the imperial family that agreed to let He Tan take up a post in Daming Prefecture, which clearly shows that the imperial family does not trust them enough.

“The imperial family did something wrong,” Prefect Liu said. “If the court can’t pay the full amount of rations and salaries, we have to find our own way. We didn’t ask the court for a single penny back, so is that wrong?”

Prefect Liu wiped his mouth with a handkerchief: "Whether it's war or peace, those civil officials in the court just talk the talk, but we have to run around doing it."

“If the emperor still can’t see clearly, we have to explain it to him.”

Liu Shizhang readily agreed.

Prefect Liu said, "Go to the county office and tell them that we must use the law severely against troublemakers, lest we make a laughing stock of Daming Prefecture."

Just as Liu Shizhang was about to go out to make arrangements, the steward came in again to report: "Those scholars have also caused trouble."