Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 24 Escaping the Net
Yang Mingjing had no choice but to stop and turn to look at the two old ladies.

Yang Mingjing said, "Is that how I am in my mother's heart?"

The two old ladies ignored these questions and continued to press the issue: "Then tell me, why is it that one of you brothers is in prison while the other has become a deputy magistrate? What is the logic behind this?"

Yang Mingjing felt a fire suddenly rise to his head: "Because it was my fourth brother who proposed the marriage alliance with the Xie family, Mother even praised my fourth brother for his ability, and for this reason, she asked my fourth brother's wife to help manage the household affairs. Has Mother forgotten all of this?"

"The third branch noticed that 'Xie Shiniang' had injuries and found the fourth brother's wife. The fourth brother's wife tried to cover it up, but wasn't it because of this that the patrol office arrested the fourth brother and his wife?"

The two old ladies pointed at Yang Mingjing and said, "Without Inspector He's approval, would you have gotten this job? It was also your idea to hire a lawyer for the third branch of the family."

Yang Mingjing looked at the two old ladies in astonishment. He had not expected his mother to favor his fourth brother to this extent. Xie Shi wanted to sue the Xie family, and she had said it to his mother's face, but now his mother was blaming him.

Yang Mingjing's gaze grew increasingly gloomy. The two old ladies not only failed to back down, but also missed Yang Mingshan, who used to coax and joke with them, even more. A feeling of anger welled up in their chests, and they couldn't help but cough.

"Grandmother, please calm down."

A voice came from inside, and Yang Mingjing realized that his fourth brother's eldest son, Yang Ji, was also in the room. Yang Ji had hidden when he entered.

The two old ladies held Yang Ji's hand tightly, their eyes even redder than before.

“It’s a good thing that Second Uncle has been appointed as the Deputy Director of the Ward,” Yang Ji said in a low voice. “Now it will be more convenient for him to go to the government office to inquire about information.”

At this point, Yang Ji looked earnestly at Yang Mingjing: "Second Uncle, please think of a way. It's freezing outside, and my father's health is already poor. I'm afraid something might happen to him in prison."

The two old ladies clenched their hands tightly, deciding not to reason with Yang Mingjing anymore: "If this is how it is, there's no point in me living." As they spoke, they burst into tears.

Yang Mingjing frowned: "I'll go to the yamen tomorrow to ask." If he hadn't said that, he and Madam He probably wouldn't have been able to leave this room.

After a while, Madam He was also brought out.

Looking at Madam He's disheveled hair and swollen nose, Yang Mingjing felt even more resentment and anger towards the Second Madam.

After Yang Mingjing left with Madam He, Yang Ji took the medicine to the two old ladies.

“Grandmother,” Yang Ji said, “you need to take good care of yourself, otherwise my father will be heartbroken to see you like this when he comes back.”

The two old ladies felt a lump in their throats. They looked at Yang Ji and reached out to pat his head. "Poor child, it was supposed to be a good thing, but in the blink of an eye, you lost your job, and your parents are in jail..."

"Don't worry, as long as I'm here, I'll do everything I can to rescue your father."

Yang Ji nodded, tears welling in his eyes, and served the two old ladies their medicine.

After finishing the bowl of medicine, Yang Jicai suddenly remembered: "I don't know if I'm mistaken, but I feel like my second uncle... seems to be protecting that 'Xie Shiniang'."

The second old lady got angry whenever she thought of Xie Yuyan: "That vixen, she's obviously no good. She hooked up with the newly appointed Inspector He, and your second uncle was probably blinded by greed and bewitched by her. If she hadn't been clinging to the Xie family, your father might have been released long ago."

The two old ladies suddenly remembered Xie Yuyan's sharp words and were afraid that their grandson had suffered a loss: "Don't pay attention to her. We'll settle accounts with her after this matter is over."

Yang Ji replied, "I will go and bring my grandfather back."

The two old masters were playing chess and drinking at the Lu family's house when Fang Fang arrived in a hurry. So the two old masters sent Yang Shen and Yang Yu back. Now Yang Ji is going to report the situation at home to his grandfather.

As Yang Ji walked out of the Second Madam's courtyard, he deliberately glanced in the direction of the Third Branch of the family. He had just heard his grandmother mention Xie Shiniang, and his heart had been itching with longing. The first time he saw "Xie Shiniang," she was in that coffin, and he had lamented that such a wonderful person had died so young, which was truly a pity.

I never imagined that such a beauty could come back to life...

He really wanted to take a closer look.

Yang Ji subconsciously pursed his lips, but he had other things to do. He thought that without his intervention, the storm would pass in a few days, but he didn't expect it to escalate so much.

Once this matter is settled, he'll have to make that pretty girl find a new way to repay him for the trouble she caused him.

……

The third wife. Only now has Zhang figured it out.

"The Second Madam is so biased towards Yang Mingshan." She used to think that the Second Madam only doted on her younger son in words, and that the power was still left to the eldest son. But now, judging from this situation, she might have other plans.

Xie Yuyan looked at Yang Qin, who had a smile on his face. He felt really good about his sister-in-law's response to Yang Shen.

When he was falsely accused of theft, he hoped that someone from his clan would stand up for them, but the clan members either joined the second branch in accusing him or avoided his gaze and remained silent... Now, finally someone is protecting him.

“Qin’er, go to the yamen,” Xie Yuyan said, “and tell Inspector He or Registrar Wang everything that happened at home.”

Yang Qin couldn't help but ponder these words: "Sister-in-law, do you think what happened at home is related to our case?" Otherwise, this is just a family matter of the Yang family, why send the news to the yamen?

Xie Yuyan did not respond to this, but instead said, "If you want to take the imperial examination and enter officialdom in the future, you may have to rely on your fifth brother."

In his previous life, Yang Ji obtained an official position and even became the deputy commander of the local army. Although Yang Mingjing was still the clan head, he had to obey Yang Ji's orders in everything.

Yang Qin wanted to take the imperial examination, but without a clan member to vouch for him, this path was completely blocked. When Yang Qin told her this, he always felt that the clan head, Yang Mingjing, was behind it all.
It may not be so now.

Xie Yuyan said, "If Yang Ji hadn't returned to the Yang family at this time, this matter might have been unrelated to him. Just when the case was making a big fuss and Yang Mingjing promised to seek justice for me, Yang Ji returned."

"Only those who are afraid of the Yang family opposing the Xie family would be so anxious as to inquire about the truth."

Yang Qin's eyes widened; he seemed to have figured it out.

Xie Yuyan then asked, "Does Yang Ji often leave home?"

Yang Qin nodded: "Fifth Brother has a wide circle of friends and often travels."

Xie Yuyan pondered for a moment: "After Liu Lang entered the army camp, did he write home and mention Yang Ji?"

Zhang and her son Yang Qin looked at each other in bewilderment. Zhang said, "About a year ago, Liu Lang asked me in a letter what Wu Lang was doing now, and then he didn't say anything more."

"Especially in the last six months, Liu Lang hasn't sent a single letter home. I sent someone to deliver a letter, but there was no reply. I suppose the border war is too intense, and the army doesn't allow correspondence."

"Do you still have the letter that Liu Lang mentioned about Yang Ji?" Xie Yuyan asked.

Madam Zhang nodded. She had kept all of Liu Lang's family letters carefully. She quickly turned around and went to the inner room to get them. Soon she brought out a box containing a thick stack of family letters.

Zhang had read the letters Yang Liulang sent back countless times, and easily found the one that was in question. After opening it, she handed it to Xie Yuyan to examine.

“She didn’t say anything,” Zhang said, “only one sentence.”

Liu Lang's letters home were always very short, mostly asking about the situation at home, rarely mentioning military affairs, and when he did mention Yang Ji, it was only one sentence.

Looking at the powerful handwriting, Xie Yuyan couldn't help but feel sorry for Yang Liulang. He didn't mention his situation in the army in his letter because he was afraid that his mother and younger brother would worry.

Such a meticulous person wouldn't ask someone casually.

Xie Yuyan looked at Zhang Shi: "Could this letter be given to Inspector He?"

Although Zhang valued these letters, he also knew their importance and nodded without hesitation.

Xie Yuyan carefully placed the letter down and handed it to Yang Qin: "Make sure it reaches Inspector He and Registrar Wang."

Yang Qin said, "Then... should I say something?"

Xie Yuyan shook his head: "They'll know once they see it."

If her guess is correct, Yang Ji in her previous life was one of those who slipped through the net.

After sending Yang Qin to the yamen, Xie Yuyan stood up and looked at Zhang Shi: "We should also ask our second uncle and aunt for the benefits we deserve."

(End of this chapter)