Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 36: Being Deceived
If the situation were different, or if someone else said those words, Wang Hechun wouldn't care, because it was just a joke.

The woman from the Xie family standing before him did not inspire him in the slightest contempt.

This woman, who looked only sixteen or seventeen years old, whose origins were unknown and who had no one to rely on, turned the entire Yang clan upside down in just a few days.

Wang Hechun scrutinized Xie Yuyan again.

When she spoke just now, her voice was clear and melodious, and even because of her age, there was still a hint of softness in her tone, but her tone was decisive and firm. Her eyes were exceptionally clear, like lake water shimmering in the sunlight, but the calmer and clearer her gaze, the less you could see any emotion hidden beneath.

Xie was extraordinary. Just as he had told He Tan, her every move exuded the demeanor of a noblewoman, unlike those noblewomen who always obeyed the arrangements of their elders and clans.

A woman is taught from childhood to be respectful, obedient, and humble, to serve her husband with virtue, and to be filial and submissive, to serve her parents and parents-in-law with virtue. Her husband, elders, clan head, and the laws of the court—there is always one that would make them fear or be bound by, but she seems to have none of these.

She could plead her case in the patrol office, and she could also imprison a group of married women and write their confessions according to her wishes.

She never intended to investigate the case thoroughly; she just wanted to find an excuse to invite officials from the yamen to her door.

Those family rules and laws were not shackles for her, but tools that she could use.

What wouldn't someone like that dare to do?
"You want to control the commerce of Yong'an Ward and Daming Prefecture?" Wang Hechun asked. "The Yang family are just small merchants. How can you be sure that you can achieve this with their help?"

Xie Yuyan said, "The cases you two have investigated are big enough and involve enough people. When the time comes, Daming Prefecture will inevitably be purged. When the old people leave, new people will naturally come. As long as you seize this opportunity, you can establish yourself in Daming Prefecture."

Wang Hechun's gaze sharpened slightly: "How do you know that the case we're investigating is big enough?"

"Even after the imperial court suspended trade and set up more checkpoints, they were still able to transport things like salt out of the country," Xie Yuyan said. "It certainly wasn't because of merchants and caravans."

"Just like the Yang family sending goods out of Daming Prefecture, without the intervention of the guards, even if they grew wings, they still couldn't fly out."

"That's why the imperial court set up a patrol office in Daming Prefecture to inspect not only ordinary people, but also... court officials and merchants who profit from it."

She spoke of these things without any concealment, as if she were completely unaware that she had already discussed matters of state.

Wang Hechun said, "Then why should it be you?"

Xie Yuyan's smile deepened. Wang Hechun understood this perfectly well; he simply wanted to probe her background.

“Because I happen to be the opposite of them,” Xie Yuyan said. “Those merchants who collude with officials and buy and sell smuggled goods must have already profited, either becoming extremely wealthy or having already curried favor with the powerful.”

"My near-death experience at the hands of the kidnappers has already given the patrol office an excuse to investigate the local market. Now, they've provided Inspector He with evidence of smuggled goods. Don't underestimate the Yang family just because they're insignificant shrimp; if we follow the trail, we'll surely catch the big fish hiding below."

"I've caused them so much trouble, will they hate me?"

Wang Hechun asked, "Aren't you afraid?"

Xie Yuyan shook his head, and their eyes met again. Each time they looked at each other, neither of them looked away, but rather made their thoughts clear to each other. Of course, this only applied to their thoughts at this moment.

This action wasn't out of honesty, but rather because they didn't want to waste time guessing.

Xie Yuyan said, "The two lords will help me. Besides, it's better to be watched, otherwise how can I fish? Now, I am the banner that the two lords have raised."

“Those merchants, relying on their connections, acted with impunity in Daming Prefecture, harming countless people. The patrol office has been established for so long, yet how many people have gone there to seek redress?”

"There probably won't be many. If the yamen were so busy, why would the two gentlemen arrive at the Yang family so quickly?"

If Wang Hechun hadn't been so good at maintaining his composure, he would have been amused and annoyed by her at this moment. Thinking about it more deeply, isn't this also a form of being criticized for his incompetence?

Xie Yuyan said, "It is clear that the people do not trust the imperial court, let alone the newly established inspection office. Unless Your Excellency truly takes action to seek justice for the people and deal with those merchants."

"Aren't I right now?"

If you think shrimp isn't good enough, then don't use it as bait.

Wang Hechun could easily understand the underlying meaning: "With your ulterior motives, how are you any different from those profit-driven merchants?"

Xie Yuyan laughed and said, "Since I want to borrow strength, how could I not understand how sharp the dagger in my hand is? How could I let a sharp blade hurt me?"

"Both of you are good officials, and good officials have their own principles. As long as I do not commit any crimes or violate the laws of Daliang, I will certainly not be harmed or framed. Only incompetent people would try to take shortcuts. If you want to stand high enough, you must be able to withstand scrutiny. If you have any faults or flaws so quickly, you will not go far."

"On this point, I am on the same page as you two." Wang Hechun recalled the scene when Xie Shi, dressed in her wedding gown, was brought before him and He Tan to speak. At that time, he felt that Xie Shi had become more sharp.

In retrospect, that was probably when she was at her most submissive.

If a cluster of seven-colored flames suddenly ignited in front of him, Wang Hechun would want to see just how fiercely it could burn, rather than stomp it out before it could fully develop.

This is why the imperial court impeached him, saying he appeared docile.

That's enough for now.

Wang Hechun now needs the Xie family as a figurehead to completely establish the patrol and inspection office.

Wang Hechun asked, "What's your name?"

Xie Yuyan said, "I don't remember my background. Since I was married into the Yang family as 'Xie Shiniang' by the Xie family, I will take Xie as my surname and be named Yuyan."

She doesn't remember her own background, yet she can say those things. Even her lies are so perfunctory, but given time, if she needs them, she will surely be able to fabricate a believable experience.

Having asked all the necessary questions, Wang Hechun stood up to leave.

Xie Yuyan said, "There is one more thing I would like to trouble you with, sir."

……

He Tan waited outside for a long time, but finally couldn't stand it anymore and went back to the main hall of the Yang family. When he got to the door, he heard Xie's voice coming from inside.

"A gentleman should spend a thousand pieces of gold to buy a horse's bones."

As soon as he finished speaking, Wang Hechun pushed open the door and went out.

He Tan waited for a moment, but no one came out. However, he saw a section of a skirt in the distance, which meant that Xie was in the room.

Without saying much, the two walked straight out of the Yang family's house and mounted their horses.

"What does 'buying a horse's bones for a thousand pieces of gold' mean?" He Tan asked Wang Hechun.

Wang Hechun casually said, "Some people spend a thousand pieces of gold to find a thoroughbred horse, but cannot find one after three years..."

He Tan was furious. He Chun knew perfectly well that this wasn't what he wanted to ask. Even if he wasn't as good at studying as He Chun, he shouldn't be so ignorant as to not know this: "I mean, why did Madam Xie bring this up?"

Wang Hechun looked at He Tan: "She is Ma Gu. If you want to learn about the crimes and evidence of those people from more people's mouths, you must ensure that the Xie family is safe and sound. Only then will people dare to come to you to plead their case."

The fact that Madam Xie was the first to openly confront those people shows that she trusts the patrol office. Whether He Tan can protect Madam Xie depends on He Tan and the patrol office's abilities.

He Tan was stunned for a long time before saying, "You mean, she could think of these things?"

In the Yang family's flower hall, he was very curious about what methods Xie had used to take control of the family. Now that Wang Hechun had said this, he was even more eager to find out.

"We were outmaneuvered by the Xie family."

Whether she's dealing with the Yang family or helping them out, in essence, they're all the same—pawns in her game. And now she's already made her move.

He Tan looked at Wang Hechun: "You... Wang Hechun... can be schemed against?"

But after thinking about it for a moment, He Tan laughed. How could someone spend all day scheming against others without suffering any loss themselves? Putting everything else aside, just based on this point alone, he found Xie Shi interesting.

……

Yang family.

Xie Yuyan remained seated in the main room.

“Summon all the members of the Yang clan,” Xie Yuyan said. “Such a major event has happened to the Yang clan; they should know everything.”

(End of this chapter)