Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 357 Loving Mother
Tang Xing carefully listened to the voice and finally recognized it as Sang Dian's.

“Especially to Sangzhi and the others,” Sang Dian said, “not a single word is to be revealed.”

Tang Xing nodded repeatedly.

He only relaxed when the footsteps faded into the distance.

Even Sangzhi couldn't be mentioned, which meant... not many people knew about this. And he was one of them. Tang Xing immediately became excited, and somewhat understood why Sang Dian's voice carried a hint of joy.

This is ahead of everyone else!

……

Wang Yan changed his clothes before returning to the Wang family home.

He was spotted by Mrs. Lin as soon as he entered the house.

"This is..." Madam Lin looked at the long robe her son was wearing, which didn't seem to be the one he wore when he left home. She suppressed her curiosity and tried to keep her tone calm. "Did you go to the yamen again?"

Wang Yan said, "No... I just went out for a walk."

"Have you eaten yet?" Madam Lin asked. "We've left you some food at home."

Wang Yan recalled the scene in the carriage and couldn't help but smile: "I've already eaten."

Madam Lin's heart pounded even faster. She asked, "What did you eat?"

Wang Yan, who was usually not very talkative, was acting strangely today. He said, "Radish cake, rice cake, milk cake..."

Wang Yan rattled off many kinds in one breath.

Madam Lin was surprised. Yan Ge'er never cared about these things. Getting him to eat a piece of rice cake was harder than anything else.

"Is it tasty?"

Wang Yan nodded.

"Which one do you prefer? I'll tell the kitchen to make more in the future."

Wang Yan replied, "Mother, you don't need to worry. Just have someone buy it for you whenever you want."

Madam Lin wanted to ask more, but Li Mama tugged at her sleeve, and Madam Lin said, "Are you still going to the study? I'll have someone bring you a bowl of soup in a bit."

Wang Yan nodded, bowed to Madam Lin, and then walked towards the study.

Once Wang Yan had gone far away, Madam Lin immediately pulled Li Mama back into the house. The two women went into the inner room, and Li Mama dismissed the others before closing the door tightly.

Madam Lin spoke up, "Did you see that? Isn't something wrong with Yan-ge'er?"

Mother Li nodded affirmatively: "The young man is different from usual."

Madam Lin clasped her hands together and said, "Amitabha, may Buddha bless us. It seems there is hope for my son's marriage."

Madam Li nodded with a smile: "Young master changed his clothes and ate pastries, which means he has obviously met with someone. If he were a man, he wouldn't be so secretive. If it was for official business, he wouldn't remember the names of those pastries."

“This child,” Madam Lin said with a smile, “how could he be so rash in meeting people? He should have told me first, and then I could have made some arrangements for him.”

Thinking of this, Madam Lin felt uneasy. If it were true, wouldn't that be disregarding etiquette? It would be bad if the woman misunderstood that Yan Ge'er was frivolous.

Madam Li noticed something amiss and stepped forward, saying, "Madam, it's best not to tell Master about this matter yet."

Madam Lin raised her eyes: "Why?"

“With your intelligence, how could you not see that Madam has noticed something?” said Madam Li. “I think your son said it on purpose for Madam to hear.” Madam Lin was somewhat surprised, but she quickly realized that she was blinded by her own situation and had almost forgotten what her son looked like.

No wonder Yan Ge'er said so much today; he was trying to send her a message.

"Then why didn't he say so? Is it because this marriage can't happen?" Madam Lin shook her head. She trusted her son's judgment; the woman he liked must be good.

"Or is it because the girl from that family has an inappropriate background?"

Mother Li didn't know either, but it was probably something like this: "The young master couldn't say it clearly, perhaps because the woman's family was unwilling."

"Furthermore, the young master's status is different. The Wang family is a different family, and the two are not of equal social standing. I'm afraid the family would not be willing, and the Prime Minister would also..."

Madam Lin gripped her handkerchief, her face showing anger: "That's why Yan-ge'er can't say anything, it's also because of these concerns."

Madam Li said, "Young master knows that speaking out would only make things worse, so it's better to remain silent. However, he doesn't want to keep it from Madam, so... he's revealing some information to her."

All these years, my husband has been like this, shouldering the heavy responsibility of the Wang family while also thinking about his wife.

“That’s my son,” Madam Lin said. “He was bound to the Wang family from birth, and he always thought of the Wang family in everything he did. He’s so young, yet he has to bear so much. Does that mean that because he’s a member of the Wang family, he can’t marry a woman he likes?”

Madam Li pursed her lips, fearing that this matter would face considerable obstacles. Otherwise, with the young master's intelligence, why would he be so cautious? If it weren't for the young master's filial piety towards his wife, he probably wouldn't have shown the slightest sign of it in front of others.

Li's mother was fortunate that her husband cared for her; otherwise, how difficult would it have been for him to live in this family? He would have to hide his true feelings in front of others and behind their backs, never letting his guard down for a moment.

“Madam,” said Mama Li, “you must be prepared. No matter what kind of person that woman is or what her family background is, you must stand on the side of your husband.”

“Of course I do,” Madam Lin said. “I only have this one child, and I will protect him even if it costs me my life.”

Marriage between two families is important, but why should her son rely on it? Madam Lin has always been in poor health and has long seen through the meaning of wealth and glory. When a person closes their eyes, everything is gone. Even if one has devoted their whole life to the clan, they will eventually have to let go after death. If even one of their descendants is an illegitimate child, all that glory will be ruined.

The old master and old lady were once the envy of everyone. But after Wang's accident, wasn't the old lady taken away by the clan? Yan Ge'er has witnessed all of this firsthand. How could his marriage be dictated by the clan again?

Madam Lin once thought that Yan Ge'er might have to live a lonely life because of this.

Now that Yan Ge'er has found a woman he likes, it's a wonderful thing.

"No matter what the woman's background or past is, as long as she is sincere to Yan Ge'er, I will do everything I can to help Yan Ge'er get what he wants."

Madam Lin made up her mind: "But you are right, before that, we cannot let the Wang family and the master know."

Madam Lin doesn't trust her husband; who knows which side he'll take?

“We’ll keep it a secret for Yan-ge,” Madam Lin said. “Perhaps one day, Yan-ge will bring that woman back for me to see?”

Even if she only catches a glimpse of it from afar, that will be fine.

Madam Li nodded: "That day will surely come, as long as Madam makes up her mind."

Madam Lin said, "What else could I possibly be upset about? It's better than him being all alone. Now that he has someone by his side, I can close my eyes in peace."

Mrs. Lin suddenly felt that there was hope for the future again.

"What kind of person do you think that young lady is?" A thought suddenly flashed through Madam Lin's mind. "Perhaps... we met in Daming Prefecture."

When Yan Ge'er left the capital, there was nothing unusual about it.

Mother Li said, "That should be the case."

"Do you think He Tan knows?" Madam Lin thought more and more. "He must know. No wonder he didn't dare to come and talk to me. He has something to hide."