Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 318 Restraint
Wang Yan made it very clear, so Wang Bingchen didn't need to ask any more questions. Looking at the son he had raised step by step, he felt a mix of emotions.

When Yan Ge'er was a child, he carefully taught him all sorts of principles. If Yan Ge'er made a mistake, he would patiently guide him until Yan Ge'er returned to the right path.

But now, Wang Yan understands everything perfectly well, yet he still insists on doing it, as if he has lost all interest in the path he chose before.

"Have you thought this through?" Wang Bingchen said. "Don't be fooled by the Emperor's trust in you now. If the political situation becomes chaotic because of this, the Emperor will only blame you for being too hasty and not thorough enough. At that time, no one will be there to speak up for you."

Now is not the time to implement new policies. Wang Yan's rash actions will only cause trouble for the new policies and provoke resentment from officials who support them. They know that only when the situation in the Great Liang Dynasty becomes urgent and the emperor is forced into a corner will he be determined to reform.

Wang Yan said, "Your son understands."

Even though you understand, you still have to do it.

Wang Bingchen was eager to know why his son had suddenly changed his mind.

After so many years of strict self-discipline, now I have to give it up.

It was as if they knew their actions would be criticized.

Wang Bingchen had a bad feeling. He was about to speak when suddenly his throat itched and he started coughing violently.

“Father.” Wang Yan immediately stepped forward and patted Wang Bingchen’s back, only then realizing that his father had lost a lot of weight under his large robes.

Before he left Bianjing, he could still help his father with government affairs. These days, his father has to do everything himself, and unfortunately, apart from him, there are no other brothers in the family. Even Wang Zheng... is too young.

It took Wang Bingchen a long time to steady his breathing. He looked at Wang Yan and said, "I never thought about two prime ministers from one family, but you should also know that the Wang family cares a lot about its reputation. When your grandfather was demoted, no one in the family helped him."

The larger the clan, the more children of them enter officialdom, the more they care about these things. If their reputation is ruined, the future of all the clan's children will be ruined. Therefore, if a member of the clan makes a mistake, the rest of the clan members will be even more fair and selfless.

Wang Yan nodded, his expression remaining firm and unwavering.

Wang Bingchen suddenly lost the will to continue speaking, and waved his hand, saying, "Go and rest!"

Wang Yan said, "Father's cough is so bad, we should call a doctor to come."

Wang Bingchen waved his hand: "The doctor left a prescription, and your mother will come to deliver the medicine in a little while."

Wang Yan poured hot tea for his father, then bowed to him and slowly withdrew from the study.

Wang Bingchen, who was looking down at the note, waited until the footsteps faded into the distance before looking in the direction his son had left, and suddenly sighed deeply.

There was a knock on the door, and after a moment Madam Lin came in. She looked at Wang Bingchen with concern: "What's wrong? Yan'er just got home, why did you call him to the study?"

Madam Lin was unwell, and Wang Bingchen did not want to talk to her much, so he casually replied, "Just ask about the case."

Madam Lin refused to believe it: "Could it be that Yan-ge'er mentioned anything about Taoist scriptures or cultivation methods to you?"

Wang Bingchen glanced helplessly at Madam Lin: "Where did you get these words from? Don't you know your own family's affairs? Are you going to believe those rumors from outside?"

In the past, Yan Ge'er was not interested in many things, but this time when he came home, it was the opposite. He felt that there was a fire hidden in Yan Ge'er's heart, which could burn him up at any time.

This time, he did manage to get some information out of everyone.

When the coal kiln was mentioned, Yan Ge'er clearly showed a protective attitude, and then there was the merchant who had followed him all the way to the capital but suddenly disappeared.

Wang Bingchen didn't believe his son would collude with merchants for personal gain, but could there be other things going on?
He looked at his wife, Madam Lin: "Have you heard of Madam Xie from Daming Prefecture?"

Madam Lin nodded: "The imperial court selected porcelain for the border markets, and I heard that there was new porcelain made by the Xie family of Daming Prefecture. I heard people mention it at the banquet."

“Keep an eye on her news,” Wang Bingchen said. “Let me know if you hear anything.”

Women's affairs are often heard more from the inner quarters.

Madam Lin was somewhat puzzled. Why did her husband look so serious when they were just merchants from Daming Prefecture?
...Wang Yan walked out of the study and bumped into He Tan, who was waiting in the corridor.

"How did it go?" He Tan asked. "Did your uncle give you any trouble?"

Wang Yan shook his head.

He Tan knew this would happen; He Chun had been stubborn since childhood and was usually impossible to make bow his head to. It wouldn't be right for him to be beaten and scolded right after returning to the capital with merit.

"Do you want to go out?" He Tan looked outside. "I can help." Even though Madam Xie suddenly disappeared right under everyone's noses, Wang Yan must know where she is.

Wang Yan shook his head. He also wanted to see Xie Yuyan, but there were countless spies waiting outside the Wang family's residence, just waiting for him to go looking for her. If he didn't go, she would be safer and more at ease.

He Tan was immediately disappointed: "I thought you would take your men and tour all over Bianjing."

Wang Yan walked forward, and after a long while, said lightly, "She doesn't need me."

Xie Yuyan should be very familiar with Bianjing City, but this place is probably somewhat different from the Bianjing she remembers.

Wang Yan suddenly felt a strong urge to change his clothes, slip out the back door, and see if he could find her in Bianjing City. He also longed for her to tell him about their past.

But he managed to restrain himself.

Wang Yan stopped and waited for He Tan to come over, then said, "Let's go inside and play chess."

He Tan's face immediately turned ugly. He had always found it strange that He Chun always targeted him when his chess skills were clearly not good.

He has now figured it out, because Hechun really needs to pass the time.

……

Even after dark, Bianjing City remained bustling with activity.

Various lanterns were still hanging in the streets. Yang Qin kept looking up at them, and his neck ached as he walked.

This is a famous entertainment venue in the southern part of Bianjing (Kaifeng).

The entertainment districts in the south were mostly inhabited by skilled people, known as "Luqi people," while the entertainment districts in the north were mostly brothels.

To enter the entertainment venue and watch the Luqi people's performance, each person needs 150 coins.

Upon hearing that it was 150 coins, Zhang shook her head repeatedly. In Daming Prefecture, a hired laborer could only earn 100 coins a day, and here, just to go in and take a look, it would cost 150 coins.

When they came out tonight, Tang Xing and two others were there to protect them. The six of them would cost one string of cash.

Yang Qin also thought it was too expensive, but he was still a child and couldn't help but want to see for himself.

“Let’s go,” Xie Yuyan said. “We’ve come all this way, it would be a waste of our time if we don’t go in.”

Since Ayan said so, Zhang could not refuse.

Before Xie Yuyan could speak, Tang Xing stepped forward and said, "The young master left some money for me to give to my wife, and some is also in the bank, which my wife can access at any time."

Xie Yuyan had already sent Yang Xiaoshan to the capital with silver and money. At that time, the money shops in Daliang could generally only exchange copper coins, iron coins, and silver, and very few could help people store silver and money.

Did Wang Yan deposit a sum of money with her so that he could give it to her for her use?

Xie Yuyan couldn't help but smile. If he had such thoughts, why did he have to leave it to Tang Xing to handle? He could have just given it to her in person; how could she not accept it?

Xie Yuyan instructed Tang Xing to hand over the silver, and then she looked at Zhang Shi: "Go in early, you might be able to make some money."