Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 284 Invitation

Xie Yuyan sat in the carriage, and Mama Yu handed her a hand warmer with freshly replaced charcoal.

A commotion arose outside. Mother Yu smiled and said, "The market outside the temple usually closes long ago, but today many stalls are surrounded and can't move."

"They all went to buy our family's porcelain."

Madam Yu knew that with Madam Yu around, the newly fired porcelain would definitely sell well, but she never expected it to sell so well after the ceremony.

This led to the introduction of the so-called "Master Xing," and if all went well, the porcelain would be sent to Bianjing.

There were several merchants outside who were going back with the lady to write documents in preparation for opening a new kiln.

Yu's mother admired the eldest daughter-in-law more and more. Even those who followed the eldest daughter-in-law could not fully understand her intentions.

As a result, she also came to respect Lord Wang.

Just now, Lord Wang and Madam Xie were talking together, and those who didn't know them would think they weren't familiar with each other.

Xie Yuyan said, "I'll have Xiaoshan inform Seventh Master later that the kiln needs to be built quickly. We must fire a batch of porcelain before Elder Xing leaves and take it to Bianjing."

It will be soon, and she will have to go with her then.

"Madam."

As the carriage continued forward, shouts came from outside.

Xie Yuyan lifted the curtain and saw Liu Siniang in the carriage next to him.

Liu Si Niang said, "May I... get on Madam's carriage?" When she arrived, there were already many people outside Baode Temple. Her mother was afraid that something might go wrong, so she simply did not let her go into the temple.

Her second brother and the scholars like Zuo Shangying managed to get in, but they didn't come back to give her any news for a long time. It wasn't until later, when some believers came down the mountain, that she was able to find out the news.

The Dharma assembly went very smoothly, and Buddha's light appeared.

Later, there were rumors that the eunuchs in the imperial city were also there, and that they had stolen the largest porcelain Buddha statue and were going to donate a golden Buddha to Baode Temple. If things went smoothly, Baode Temple would have a golden Buddha to enshrine within six months.

Upon hearing this news, Liu Si Niang felt as if something was scratching at her heart, eager to know the truth. Later, she discovered that Madam Xie's carriage had left Baode Temple, so she chased after it.

The two carriages stopped, and Liu Si Niang stepped into Xie Yu Yan's carriage.

As soon as she sat down, Liu Si Niang asked anxiously, "I heard that the porcelain made by Madam was selected by the imperial court?" She had heard her brother mention that the porcelain was sent to the border market.

Xie Yuyan said, "Right now, we've only been recommended. Whether we can actually sell it at the border market will depend on when the porcelain arrives in the capital."

Liu Si Niang nodded in agreement, but if the porcelain could be brought to the capital, then that should be about it.

Liu Si Niang said, "So, Madam will also be going to Bianjing?"

Xie Yuyan nodded.

Liu Si Niang was quite excited: "We are also planning to go to the capital to find our father. It would be great if we could go with you, Madam. But... even if we can't go together, we can still meet in the capital."

"I'm quite familiar with Bianjing, so I'll take Madam around to see it all."

Xie Yuyan grew up in Bianjing and eventually died in the city. But that was Bianjing decades later; she wanted to know what was different now.

The decades-long age gap made her feel somewhat unfamiliar with the place.

But certain events and certain people also remind her of many things from the past.

Those unresolved grudges... she still has many debts to settle with people. For example, her original owner's background.

And her grandfather.

My grandfather is now twenty years old. I heard in my past life that my great-grandfather had two legitimate sons, but neither of them were of great use, so he eventually entrusted the family business to my grandfather.

To outsiders, my grandfather was born to the legal wife, but he was actually an illegitimate son who was later registered under the legal wife's name.

This time, she will be able to see with her own eyes how her grandfather managed to outdo his two legitimate brothers. If she's lucky, she might even witness her grandfather marrying a lady from a prestigious family.

If she remembered correctly, her grandmother was the marriage arranged by the Xie family for their eldest son.

Xie Yuyan said, "Then I'll have to trouble Fourth Miss at that time."

“No trouble at all,” Liu Si Niang said. “I will also bring you some women from the capital to meet. Don’t worry, they will definitely be different from Liu Er Niang.”

Xie Yuyan had almost forgotten who Liu Erniang was. Thinking about it carefully, she realized that she had never actually met this person.

"And... about the tabloids, my second brother asked me to thank you," Liu Si Niang said. "My father wrote back praising my second brother. Before, my second brother was always the one being scolded."

After Prefect Liu and others were investigated, the tabloid's reputation grew. Recently, many scholars came to see her brother, praising his actions and those of Zuo Shangying. Several scholars also wrote articles for the tabloid recently.

“My second brother also became known through the tabloids. My father said that my second brother gained a lot of benefits from this. It was a good thing to have such a reputation before the imperial examination.”

Liu Si Niang didn't fully understand why her father said that.

Xie Yuyan, however, understood very well.

Such a serious case as that in Daming Prefecture would inevitably affect the political situation, and the chief examiner would try to discern the emperor's intentions and thus set the questions accordingly.

To assert one's viewpoint in an article, one must have substance to back it up.

The involvement of Liu Erlang, Zuo Shangying, and others in this matter makes the story more plausible, especially when combined with their actions in Daming Prefecture…

An article that has a clear proposition and has been put into action is definitely not just empty talk and will surely stand out.

There are also some deeper considerations.

The chief examiner for this imperial examination is definitely not from Prefect Liu's faction. Prefect Liu and his associates have just gotten into trouble, and their faction will be very cautious in their actions these days.

Liu Erlang's opposition to Prefect Liu in Daming Prefecture naturally wins the favor of the prefect, or at least adds to his appeal.

It is conceivable that, unless they were exceptionally gifted, Liu Erlang, Zuo Shangying, and the others would have been able to pass the imperial examinations and become tribute students.

Along the way, Liu Si Niang talked to Xie Yu Yan about things in the capital.

"Several of my close female relatives in the capital sent me a letter early on, asking me to take the newspaper back with me. They must be even more eager to see Madam."

The Daming Prefecture Gazette was created by Madam Xie, and no one can talk about the gazette without mentioning Madam Xie.

Liu Si Niang held Xie Yu Yan's hand and talked until they arrived at Yong An Fang. Only then did she part ways with Xie Yu Yan. When she got off the carriage, Liu Si Niang was startled to see the merchants waiting outside. Then she felt a little envious.

Although Madam Xie is a woman, she is more capable than men in some ways. How wonderful it must feel to be able to do things on your own, instead of relying on your father, brothers, or even your husband's family after marriage?
Back in the carriage, Liu Si Niang suddenly murmured, "If I were to join Madam Xie's village association and open a porcelain kiln, wouldn't that be possible?"

These words startled the head maid standing nearby, who hurriedly said, "Fourth Miss, you can't say such things so casually. If the master hears you, he will definitely punish you."

“We are daughters of officials, unlike those from merchant families. Even if Madam Xie comes to the capital in a few days, you cannot invite her to the Liu family and have close ties with merchants. It will bring impeachment upon the master. You will then understand that Daming Prefecture is not under the emperor's nose, but once it comes to Bianjing, the real official families will not pay any attention to those merchants on the surface.”

"Besides, our Erlang is not married yet, so it's not good for him to get involved with such a person."