Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 29 Paving the Way
Looking at the threatening look in Yang Mingjing's eyes, He felt a sense of fear, but more than that, she felt a sense of unfamiliarity, as if the person in front of her was not the husband she had spent so many years with.

She looked to Yang Shen for help, but Yang Shen was clearly still confused about what had happened and didn't know how to start the conversation.

He's tense nerves seemed to collapse all at once, and she slumped to the ground. In her mind, she suddenly saw the smiles on the faces of the second and old masters when they learned of the passing of the third master.

What were she thinking at that time?
I'm about to take control of the family business.

But she never imagined that one day their hands would reach out to her.

No, she had thought of that, otherwise she wouldn't have hidden the prescription, intending to use it to save her life in a critical moment. But the prescription was snatched away by Yang Mingjing as soon as she took it out.

Mr. He's teeth chattered, as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

Seeing He Shi's state, Yang Mingjing felt a little gloomy. He knew that his act of taking away the prescription had already caused He Shi to resent him, but he could no longer give the prescription to He Shi.

Yang Mingjing reached out to pull He Shi and said softly, "It's not time for a fight to the death yet."

Tears welled up in Ms. He's eyes.

Yang Mingjing continued, "I will send someone to the ancestral hall to investigate everything. If my fourth brother and his group have done something wrong, I will definitely not help them cover it up."

After a long pause, Madam He said quietly, "What if the old master wants to suppress the matter?"

Yang Mingjing hesitated slightly.

Madam He's face turned cold: "You're going to quietly cover this up and never mention it again? After all, that's your fourth brother, and they're still in the government office."

Madam He was suddenly relieved that she had listened to Madam Xie and temporarily handed over the reins of the household to Madam Xie; otherwise, she would not have known about the ancestral hall beforehand.

He said, "If Yang Mingshan and Zou hadn't been imprisoned, the ancestral hall would probably have been destroyed long ago."

"It's fine if the master doesn't want me to make a fuss about the prescription."

Yang Mingjing and Yang Shen were both waiting for He's next words.

Madam He's face showed determination: "Let the third branch continue the investigation. At least let the whole clan know that Madam Zou was hiding things when she was in charge of the household. I will make sure that Madam Zou can never touch the waist token of the central government again."

He lay back down on the bed. Before, she was just recuperating from her injuries, but now she felt physically and mentally exhausted, as if she were truly suffering from a serious illness.

After calming He Shi down, Yang Ming led Yang Shen out of the house. As soon as he stepped outside, he realized that the situation outside had changed again.

"The patrolmen have entered the gate."

"The second old lady wants you to come over."

"The third branch of the family beat up the steward in the old lady's courtyard."

Yang Mingjing couldn't help but turn his head to look at the main house again. Given He's current state, it was impossible for her to take back the power of managing the household affairs from Xie. If he used his authority as the clan leader to intimidate her, He would probably cause other trouble.

Yang Mingjing felt as if the prescription on his chest was a branding iron, burning him painfully. He wished he could take it out and burn it clean immediately, but because of what happened today, he was wary of his parents and his fourth brother's family.

However, this prescription can only be used on the second wife.

Because of her anger, Mrs. He lost her mind and wanted to take it away...

It's safer if it's in his hands; he would never let outsiders know, much less show it to the third branch of the family, especially that Xie woman.

In short, even if it comes in handy in the future, it won't be worse than bringing it out now.

Thinking of all this, Yang Mingjing breathed a sigh of relief; at least he had prevented something even bigger from happening. But what lay before him now also made him frown deeply.

……

The patrol and inspection office.

After reading the letter that Yang Qin had sent, He Tan handed it to Wang Hechun, who was standing next to him.

This letter appears to be just an ordinary family letter, but there is something strange about it.

He Tan asked, "Your eldest brother has no dealings with Yang Ji from the second branch of the family?"

Yang Qin shook his head firmly: "The second branch of the family treats us harshly on a regular basis. I'm afraid that if the third branch of the family were to rise again in the clan, my eldest brother and I would know about it. That's why my eldest brother secretly asked Fang Fangzheng for help and found an opportunity to join the army. He plans to earn military merit and then take my mother and me to establish our own household."

“In his letters home, my eldest brother always reminded us to stay away from the second branch of the family as much as possible to avoid being schemed against by them. But he took the initiative to mention the fifth brother of the second branch. I also felt it was a bit strange at the time, and asked my mother to ask about it in her letter, but my eldest brother did not respond in his later letters.”

He Tan looked thoughtful, then heard Wang Hechun beside him ask, "Under what circumstances would your elder brother mention the second wife?"

Yang Qin said, "Every time... it's to make us more vigilant, so that the second wife won't do anything improper."

After speaking, Yang Qin met Wang Hechun's eyes. For a moment, he had a strange feeling that Wang Zhubu's gaze was somewhat similar to that of his sister-in-law.

Their clarity was so pure, it seemed to see right through people's hearts. A thought flashed through He Tan's mind, and the answer was right before his eyes.

This is why Xie asked Yang Qin to give them this letter.

Yang Yi likely heard some news about Yang Ji in the army, and it was definitely not good news.

The military and merchants have connections; isn't that exactly what they want?

It seems I need to investigate this Yang Ji.

As He Tan was pondering the intricacies of the matter, he heard the clerk outside say, "Inspector, the patrolmen in the left south wing have something to report."

Since Chen Yuhou was not in the quarters, the military patrolmen brought the news back to the patrol office.

"The Yang family of Yong'anfang caught a woman who stole the clan's property. She was the woman in charge of the clan's household affairs, and she sent someone to report the news to the patrol station."

Upon hearing this, Wang Hechun looked at Yang Qin, whose face was blank, clearly unaware of the matter. However, the blankness quickly turned into worry, fearing that his mother and sister-in-law would be implicated.

He Tan frowned. Could it be that the Yang family knew that the third branch of the family had sent the letter to the yamen and was secretly plotting against them?

The woman in charge of the household was from the second wife's family, and the woman who delivered the message should be Yang Mingjing's wife.

but……

They acted way too fast.

But upon closer examination, this matter seems rather strange. If the second wife wanted to harm the third wife, why would they report it to the patrol station? The patrol station is under the jurisdiction of the patrol and inspection department.

Isn't this delivered right to their doorstep?

Wang Hechun looked at the clerk and asked, "Who is the lady in charge of the household affairs, Madam Yang?"

Wang Hechun's question surprised He Tan slightly. The Yang family's case file was still there. Had Hechun forgotten about it in the blink of an eye?

Just as he was about to speak, he heard a soldier say, "Yang Liu's wife, Madam Xie."

He Tan stood there dumbfounded, Yang Qin's eyes widened, but Wang Hechun remained calm.

After the patrolling soldiers had left, He Tan asked, "Is there a mistake?"

Yang Qin said definitively, "The one in charge of household affairs... is not my sister-in-law."

Although he didn't know how she did it, Wang Hechun had no doubt whatsoever: "It was her."

After saying that, he looked at He Tan and said, "Now you can take people to the Yang family."

He Tan was still thinking about how to investigate Yang Ji openly and legitimately when someone gave them a reason. It was like someone rowing a small boat to him when he wanted to wade through the water.

Despite his many questions, He Tan still skillfully instructed the clerks, guards, and soldiers to go to the Yang family together.

The group mounted their horses and rode ahead with Wang Hechun. Only then did He Tan ask again, "How is this possible? Yang Qin has only been at the yamen for a short time, and the Yang family steward has already been replaced?"

Wang Hechun nodded.

Since Hechun is so certain, then the truth is probably just that.

He Tan still couldn't understand, but he was unfamiliar with the affairs of the inner quarters and didn't know how to ask. Just then, a voice came from beside him.

"Your aunt has always wanted to find a woman from a prominent family to marry you."

He Tan was puzzled as to why Wang Hechun had suddenly brought this up.

“That was my mother’s wild speculation,” He Tan said. “She even said that if a woman like that could marry into the He family, my future would be smooth and the He family would prosper for three generations.”

"However, she couldn't find one that really suited her taste no matter how hard she looked."

"It's not that the women are bad, but the person my mother considers perfect simply doesn't exist..."

Wang Hechun suddenly said, "Yes."

He Tan was taken aback, not knowing who Wang Hechun was referring to.

"If you want to know what a noblewoman looks like, she is it."

He Tan instinctively reined in his horse, and after a moment, he looked at Wang Hechun's tall and straight back: "You mean... the Xie family?"

(End of this chapter)