Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 4 Asylum
Yang Qin began to learn to read at the age of three. His father left behind many books, and his mother taught him the ones she knew. When he was a little older, he would write down the characters he didn't know and ask the scholars in the neighboring neighborhood.

One of them was the Liang Dynasty law, handwritten by his father. Even though Yang Qin couldn't fully understand it now, he knew what the crime of arson was.

Even if the imperial court doesn't arrest him at his age, his clan will punish him, and his family will have to spend a lot of money.

Yang Qin was actually very scared when he admitted to doing it in front of Inspector He, especially after seeing Inspector He's expression become even more serious...

Yang Qin subconsciously straightened his back. He had said he wouldn't regret it. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Xie Yuyan, who was wearing a red wedding dress. Then he immediately became worried, wondering if Inspector He had discovered her.

As Yang Qin was pondering, he felt a warmth on the top of his head, and He Tan's hand gently touched it.

Children's secrets can't be hidden from adults. What Yang Qin thought was "exposure" was, in Inspector He's eyes, Yang Qin was just confirming the woman's safety.

What kind of situation would lead a child this age to choose to set a fire and make a commotion instead of seeking help from the adults in the family?

"Inspector He," Yang Mingjing tried to speak again, "I'll send someone to the Xie family to summon them and ask them what's going on. After all, these are women of the Xie family, and we don't know the inside story. Why don't you go to the inner courtyard and sit for a while? How about that?"

Yang Mingjing only hoped that Inspector He would agree to give him a moment to clean up the mess.

Before Inspector He could agree, another commotion broke out.

A woman was screaming shrilly.

"Don't come after me... Every wrong has its perpetrator... I didn't kill you..."

"I was just covering for the Xie family..."

"I didn't take your life, don't come after me."

Intermittent sobs could also be heard.

Yang Mingshan recognized the voice immediately; it belonged to his wife, Zou Shi.

The servants of the Yang family hurriedly carried Zou over. Zou was still struggling, especially after seeing Xie Yuyan on the side. Zou's face turned red and she almost fainted again.

The scene suddenly became even more chaotic.

Yang Mingjing fell silent, cold sweat trickling down his forehead...

Zou's words just now were crystal clear; unless the inspector intentionally showed favoritism, he would never pretend that nothing had happened.

Yang Mingshan was not so calm. He went to Zou's side and said sternly, "What nonsense are you talking about?"

When Zou saw her husband, her eyes lit up immediately, as if she had grasped a lifeline.

"My lord," Madam Zou cried, wishing she could shrink into Yang Mingshan's arms, "she's turned into a ghost and is here to harm us! You must think of a way! It was you who arranged the marriage with the Xie family. Go and ask them what's going on..."

With a loud "snap," Zou's vision went black, her cheek burned with pain, and her ears rang.

Yang Mingshan said sternly, "I think you've gone mad."

Zou was already unsteady on her feet, and after being hit, she staggered and collapsed to the ground. In her fear and confusion, she was about to speak again when Yang Mingshan rolled up his sleeves.

"Fourth brother," Yang Mingjing reminded him, and Yang Mingshan finally stopped.

Without He Tan giving any instructions, Chen Ju said coldly, "Have you had enough? We can wait a little longer."

The case was not tried, but the Yang family was confirmed to have known about it but failed to report it. No matter what Yang Mingshan did, the people present could serve as evidence, and they were the ones who personally delivered it to the inspector.

He Tan looked at Yang Mingjing: "It seems this isn't the place to talk."

A glimmer of hope ignited in Yang Mingjing's heart.

He Tan lifted his foot and walked out. Yang Mingjing immediately tried to follow, but Chen Ju blocked his way.

After Inspector He left, Chen Ju gave a low order: "Take everyone away, don't leave a single one behind. If any more murders occur, you will be held responsible."

These words were meant for the military patrolmen, but Yang Mingjing turned pale upon hearing them; it was a warning to the Yang family.

Two old women helped Xie Yuyan up. Chen Ju's gaze swept over the woman's loosely tied collar, and he quickly turned his face away to look at Yang Mingjing.

"Prepare a horse-drawn carriage."

Yang Mingjing called over a few old women to help him put the woman, Zhang Shi, and Yang Qin into the carriage. Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, he heard Chen Ju's voice from behind.

"Clan Chief Yang," Chen Ju looked down at him from his horse, "when did your nephew die in battle? What was his birthday? How old is he now?"

Yang Mingjing hadn't made a point of remembering, and after all that commotion, his mind was completely blank, and he couldn't speak.

Chen Ju looked up at the Yang family's residence and let out a cold laugh.

……

Zhang and Yang Qin sat in the carriage, staring blankly at Xie Yuyan beside them.

This was the first time since Yang Mingsheng passed away that the mother and son had been treated with such courtesy by their clansmen.

All those years of careful planning couldn't compare to the fire set by Yang Qin.

"Are you alright?" Zhang asked with concern. "Do you feel unwell anywhere? When we get to the yamen, I'll ask General Chen to send a doctor." "They will," Xie Yuyan said, "and they'll also find a midwife."

The midwife was there to examine the women.

Hearing this, Zhang couldn't help but feel worried, as she knew nothing about Xie Yuyan.

"Where are you from? Are you having any troubles?" After much deliberation, Madam Zhang finally asked. After what had just happened, she felt a great deal of closeness to Xie Yuyan.

Xie Yuyan is the first person in recent years to stand up for them, mother and son.

It caused a huge commotion and dealt a heavy blow to Yang Mingjing and Yang Mingshan.

Xie Yuyan shook his head: "Perhaps the injury was too severe, I don't remember anything."

Upon waking up, Xie Yuyan's first action was to ascertain the identity of the original owner of this body. Later, after overhearing the conversation between Zhang and Zou, she realized that she was not Xie Shiniang.

Fortunately, she had no tattoos on her face, no signs of whipping, and no marks on her head or neck from wearing a cangue.

Xie Yuyan shared his guess, holding out his hand for Zhang to see: "There are no signs of manual labor on his fingers, or calluses from tuning the zither, indicating that he has never worked in the Jiaofangsi (a type of entertainment institution)."

These may not be comprehensive, but most of them can prove that she has a clean background.

Xie Yuyan pulled his hand back into his sleeve: "I also hope that the government can find out my background and my family."

But Xie Yuyan felt it might not be that easy.

The original owner of this body had never suffered the hardships of labor, yet her fingers had calluses from holding a pen. The Xie family was simply buying a corpse; they didn't necessarily need a woman from a wealthy family.

Her origins may require some effort to ascertain.

Xie Yuyan looked at Zhang Shi: "And you? What are your plans for the future?"

Zhang was taken aback by the question, and after a moment she said, "Of course... I'll go home."

Xie Yuyan looked at the bewildered Zhang Shi and asked in a different phrasing: "The Yang family cannot be a support for you and your son."

Zhang clearly hadn't considered these things: "It's not impossible for me to leave the Yang family with Jiulang, but the Yang family is, after all, Jiulang's clan. Whatever we do in the future, we can't avoid the clan's guarantee..."

She was afraid of putting her elders in a difficult position, which is why she endured the humiliation within the clan.

Zhang saw Xie Yuyan's lips curl into a meaningful smile: "Why leave? Aren't those houses, fields, and clansmen all yours?"

"I'm telling you to find someone else to rely on."

Yang Qinxian realized, "Where are we supposed to look?"

Xie Yuyan pointed outside and said, "Sixth Brother has already found someone for you."

Outside the carriage were General Chen and a group of veteran soldiers disguised as military patrolmen.

Xie Yuyan paused for a moment before speaking again: "However, pity is only temporary. If you want their protection, you have to be useful to them."

Yang Qin's eyes widened. He knew Xie Yuyan was teaching him to do bad things again, but he really wanted to listen.

Yang Qin rose and bowed respectfully before Xie Yuyan: "Please teach me, Madam Xie. I will never forget your great kindness."

Xie Yuyan looked down at the small figure.

He had called her "Your Majesty" and "Holy One" before, but this was the first time he had called her "Lady Xie." In her past life, she had been loyal to him, so naturally she couldn't bear to see him follow the same path now.

……

He Tan led his men back to the patrol office. As they entered the second hall, they saw a figure handling official documents.

"I encountered a case today."

The figure didn't look up when he heard this, but He Tan was already used to it and didn't care.

"A seven-year-old child burned down his own ancestral home to save people."

The figure's pen continued to move.

He Tan said, "The one we saved was a bride who was to be married in the afterlife."

"When I questioned the child, he didn't hide anything and admitted that he set the fire. What do you think?"

The figure finally raised its head: "You've been used?"

"If you are used by someone who doesn't know the purpose of your inspection in Daming Prefecture, then you will be in big trouble."

Thank you iampetty for the 10000 points reward, and thank you to readers Achu and cherry27 for their rewards and support. Thank you all for your recommendation votes.

I'm still asking for recommendations, reading, and comments.

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(End of this chapter)