Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 309 On the Road
Several horse-drawn carriages slowly moved along the official road. The weather was getting warmer, and there were more people coming and going on the road.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Yang Qin kept looking out. Ever since leaving Daming Prefecture, he had been looking around with great interest, as if he had inexhaustible energy.

This was his first time traveling far from home, and despite the hardships of the journey, his curiosity was undiminished.

Zhang shook her head helplessly: "What can you see? They're all official careers, aren't they all the same?"

"Different."

Yang Qin pointed outwards and said, "There are many people carrying firewood on the road. This place is farther from our Daming Prefecture, and very few people use coal here."

If Yang Qin hadn't mentioned it, Zhang really wouldn't have noticed.

Zhang said, "It seems the charcoal hasn't arrived yet?"

Yang Qin was also unaware of the situation, and instead looked at Xie Yuyan.

Xie Yuyan said, "The message has been sent, but there are no suitable coal mines here."

“The cold weather is not suitable for large-scale mining, unless it is a mineral deposit that has been explored for a long time. Most of those who have joined the village association now already have coal mines. After spring plowing, it will be easier to explore for minerals, and naturally more people will come to do the business of trading Buddhist coal.”

Yang Qin's eyes lit up as he listened; he naturally hoped that his sister-in-law's business would grow bigger and bigger.

As the group was talking, the carriage came to a stop.

Yang Qin immediately said, "I'll go out and take a look."

He knew without even going out that it must be Lord Wang who had ordered someone to bring water or food.

I accompanied Lord Wang to the capital and received assistance along the way.

Wang Yan's men traveled quickly on horseback and always arrived ahead of time to arrange everything.

They couldn't stay at the post station, but the inn next door reserved rooms for them in advance. When it rained on the road, Lord Wang even found them shelter from the rain at a farmhouse, making their journey much easier.

For example, now...

As soon as Yang Qin got out of the car, Sang Dian rushed over and took him away: "There's hot water boiled over there, come with me to get it."

Yang Qin nodded and happily went over.

Xie Yuyan and Zhang Shi also got out of the carriage. Seeing Yang Qin running so fast, Zhang Shi didn't have time to say anything. Although they had met Lord Wang a few times in Daming Prefecture, they weren't very familiar with each other. Unexpectedly, their relationship had improved on the way out.

Qin Ge'er once rode a horse with Sang Dian for a whole day.

If his legs hadn't been chafed raw later, Qin Ge'er wouldn't have wanted to get back into the carriage.

Now, with just a wave of Sang Dian's hand, Qin Ge'er runs off to follow.

Mother Yu shook her head inwardly. From now on... Qin Ge'er can't be relied on anymore. If they find out in the future... that his sister-in-law has been taken away... they will probably regret it.

As Zhang was looking for Yang Qin, she saw a man and a horse coming towards them.

Wang Yan reined in his horse and looked at Zhang Shi, saying, "There's an inn ten miles ahead. We'll rest there tonight."

Zhang didn't know how to express her gratitude. Compared to the first time Wang Yan informed her in this way, she had become more accustomed to it and at least wouldn't be at a loss for words when bowing.

Wang Yan's gaze fell on Xie Yuyan, who was standing next to Zhang Shi. She wore a veil to conceal her face, but at this moment she lifted it slightly, revealing her delicate features.

His complexion was good, his eyes were clear, and he didn't seem too tired.

"There's still a little more to go, we'll be there soon."

Zhang breathed a sigh of relief and thanked Wang Yan. Just then, Yang Qin ran over from a distance, and Zhang looked up at him. Wang Yan also spurred his horse a few steps, took out the paper package from his arms and handed it to Mama Yu, before turning back to the group.

Madam Yu breathed a sigh of relief. In a crowd of people, Lord Wang was quite considerate and knew how to keep his wife's reputation in mind.

The paper package was warm in my hand.

Mother Yu hurriedly handed it to Xie Yuyan.

Xie Yuyan was very familiar with these paper packages; they usually contained freshly made noodles or pastries. There was still some distance to go from here to the city, and Wang Yan, worried she might go hungry, specially delivered this to her.

Of course, he couldn't openly offer it, because in the eyes of Zhang and the others, such favoritism would be against the rules. So Wang Yan would make some on the surface, and the rest... he would give to her privately.

She can eat some when she is riding alone in a carriage.

Wang Yan would instruct someone to prepare a medicinal meal for her every day.

There were so many such things that Xie Yuyan felt a warm glow in her heart. She didn't need to worry about the journey; she could simply entrust everything to Wang Yan and feel at ease being cared for and looked after by him.

She had never had this habit before. During this period, she tried to place her trust in others, and with her heart at ease and her mind at ease, she actually didn't feel too tired. She even had the energy to read books and do accounts in the carriage every day.

Seeing Zhang weaving nets in the carriage, she recalled her past life. The Xie family had hired someone to teach her these skills, and she was quite good at them, but to her, these were nothing more than methods.

She would display these things in public and private to show off her good upbringing. In reality, there were people in her family who did these things; she never even considered doing her own clothes.

Perhaps it was because she had been taken care of so much, or perhaps the journey was just too long and boring, but she actually started to think about making a knot by herself. It was originally just a whim, and she thought that if she couldn't finish it, so be it, but once she held the thread in her hand, her fingers started moving unconsciously.

Although she rarely does it, she has studied it seriously and it's not difficult for her to remember. She wove it very neatly, and even her mother, who was standing next to her, praised it highly.

Who would have thought that things I was too lazy to do before would now seem so interesting?

This tassel is also finely and intricately made, with a halberd knot at the top, a bat woven at the bottom, connected by a Hetian jade buckle, and two tassels at the bottom.

When they arrived in Bianjing, she gave him the brocade.

The carriage stopped at the inn.

The innkeeper and his staff came to greet us, and as before, they had already prepared food and boiled plenty of hot water.

After washing up and having a meal, everyone went to rest.

Xie Yuyan entered the room, but before he could pick up a book, there was a knock on the door.

Madam Yu, who was standing next to her, was also taken aback. She thought that Lord Wang would have to wait a while before arriving, but she didn't expect him to be in such a hurry today. Could it be that something had happened?

Upon opening the door, Wang Yan was indeed standing outside.

Wang Yan stepped inside. Yu's mother looked around and, finding no one paying attention, slowly closed the door again. Then she moved a stool and sat down at the doorway.

As they spent more time together, she figured out some of Lord Wang's temperament. He didn't like her fawning over him. He did everything himself, from boiling water to making tea, leaving her no room to maneuver. Perhaps in Lord Wang's mind, the further away she went, the better.

Wang Yan skillfully trimmed the lamp wick for her, making the surroundings brighter. Then, before she could speak, he suddenly reached out and smoothed her slightly disheveled hair, then stared intently at her.

It seems that only in this way can we make up for the regret of not seeing each other much during the day.

“There are more and more spies coming from Bianjing,” Wang Yan said. “I will send more people around the inn.”

Xie Yuyan nodded.

Many people want to find out about her background, but now is not the time. She needs to choose a good day to remove the veil from her head and stand in front of people.

The IV drip has helped a lot. I'll rest for another night and resume normal updates tomorrow.