Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 456 Interesting

Xie family.

Xie Yizhi handed the official document to Xie Chengrang: "First, go to serve as the Assistant Director of the Directorate of Works and then be appointed as a judge of the Court of Judicial Review. You can be transferred to another post after three years."

Xie Chengrang accepted the official document, which stated that he was appointed as the Assistant Director of the Imperial Workshops, a rank of eighth grade, but in reality, he was to serve in the Court of Judicial Review. This was an excellent path to official appointment through hereditary privilege.

but……

Xie Chengrang asked, "Is going to the Dali Temple the Xia family's idea?"

Xia Mengxian had served in the Ministry of Justice for many years, so he naturally had such connections. Placing him in the Court of Judicial Review was also intended to better facilitate the transmission of information for the Xia family in the future.
“Yes,” Xie Yizhi said, “I was originally against it, but Xia Mengxian insisted on doing it this way. His idea was that it would be difficult for him to be reinstated in the future, so he might as well use the connections he had built up over the years on you.”

At this point, Xie Yizhi snorted coldly: "I also know that his purpose is not pure. He just wants you to do more work for the Xia family."

Hearing this, Xie Chengrang's eyes remained calm, as if he did not feel resentment because of Xie Yizhi's agreement with the Xia family. He said, "It is already rare for the Xia family to help at this time. Father cannot argue with them anymore, otherwise it would be bad to cause a rift."

Xie Yizhi nodded in satisfaction: "After all, Xia will be marrying into our family and will be in charge of the inner quarters for you in the future. Some things can only be said without going into detail. Anyway, the official position of Dali Ping Shi is not high, and you can't do anything. If the Xia family asks you to deliver a message, just pretend you don't know."

It sounds like they're looking out for him, but it's all useless. If he claims ignorance, will the Xia family just let it go? His career will be controlled by the Xia family; how can he openly oppose them then?
He will spend three years at Dali Temple, and he and Xia Erniang will get married within those three years. If he has any other thoughts, the Xia family can control him at any time.

Therefore, this official position was not given lightly. The Xia family had to expect something in return for helping him.

"You received your official appointment even earlier than your brother," Xie Yizhi said. "Once you take office, you must do your job well and not tarnish my family's reputation."

Xie Chengrang bowed and said, "Your son understands."

Xie Yizhi waved for him to leave.

After Xie Chengrang left, Xie Yizhi's brows furrowed again. Ever since seeing Xie at Baode Temple, he had been restless, but unfortunately, time was passing too slowly, and all his arrangements would only take effect after the results were announced.

Xie Yizhi suddenly thought of her mother, and a hint of disgust appeared in her eyes.

If it weren't for my mother, none of this would have happened today.

He also wanted to ask his mother what she was thinking, how could she not love her eldest son? But what could he do now? The Xie family still needed him to bring glory to their name.

Xie Yizhi clapped her hands, and immediately guards came in.

"How's the situation at the South City Wharf?"

The guard whispered, "Madam Xie didn't go anywhere today; she just stayed in the courtyard. However, a dozen or so people came from Daming Prefecture; it seems they've come to Bianjing to help Madam Xie."

Xie Yizhi couldn't understand how Xie Shi, who had only been in Daming Prefecture for a few months, could have so many people willingly working for her. Upon closer reflection, where did this person, who had been confined to the countryside for so long, get her abilities?

Did her mother tell her everything about the family? She had been scheming all these years, and perhaps leaving Bianjing was part of that plan. Now she was back to take revenge on him. Did she know about what her second brother's family did in Qujiang?
Thinking about this, Xie Yizhi felt increasingly anxious. She should have spoken more with Xie Shi at Baode Temple to test whether she had truly forgotten or was just pretending.

Xie Chengrang returned to his room, where Xie Chengxin was already waiting.

"Second brother, has the official appointment been issued yet?" Xie Chengxin pointed to the food box. "I brought some wine and dishes to celebrate for you."

Xie Chengrang smiled and quickly handed the official document in his hand to Xie Chengxin to read.

Xie Chengxin nodded: "After you go to the Ministry of Personnel tomorrow, my second brother will be an eighth-rank official. He will definitely be promoted in less than three years."

While Xie Chengxin was speaking, Xie Chengrang took out all the wine and dishes.

The two brothers began to toast each other.

Xie Chengrang seemed to be in an exceptionally good mood today, and he drank heartily, finishing the wine Xie Chengxin had brought in no time. He immediately ordered a servant to fetch more wine. Soon, Xie Chengxin's face turned red, his eyes became unfocused, and he began to pour himself wine without Xie Chengrang's help.

“I went to see her again yesterday, but she wasn’t in the courtyard of Guangde Lane. All the clothes and belongings in the house were gone. She only left me a letter telling me to listen to my family and that my future career would be smooth.”

Xie Chengxin kept repeating, "If Father agrees, she won't leave."

As he said this, Xie Chengxin slid off the chair.

Xie Chengrang quickly helped the man up and made him lean on the table. Then he whispered, "Big brother, big brother... can you hear me?"

Xie Chengxin gave a vague reply.

Xie Chengrang asked, "Why were you so alarmed when you saw the Xie family at Baode Temple?"

Xie Chengxin did not respond.

Xie Chengrang frowned and looked at the wine pot. Xie Chengxin had probably drunk too much and was now completely drunk and passed out.

After a long while, just as Xie Chengrang was about to call a servant to help Xie Chengxin up, he suddenly heard Xie Chengxin say, "Second sister."

Xie Chengrang paused slightly and immediately looked towards the door, but did not see Xie Wenjing.

……

Ciyun Nunnery.

After the nuns finished their daily prayers, Abbess Jingyuan led them to the meditation room to wait for Xie Yuyan to arrive.

Jingheng looked at her with some surprise: "The abbess seems particularly interested in Madam Xie?"

After entering Ciyun Nunnery, Abbess Jingyuan rarely paid attention to outside affairs. The Empress Dowager once summoned her to the palace to ask her to help with some things, but she declined all the offers after meeting those people.

For some reason, I paid extra attention this time.

Master Jingyuan looked at Jingheng and said, “I am different from you. You came to Ciyun Nunnery to find a way back for yourselves, but I came here because there is really no point in being outside.”

Before the Empress Dowager closed the Cining Palace, they all worked for her. Later, when the Empress Dowager stopped attending to state affairs, they naturally stopped interfering.

The term "Jingyuan" is meaningless; this is what it refers to.

Jingheng said, "That Benefactor Xie is very clever, but she is only in business. Do you really want to work with her to make the dyeing workshop successful?"

After a long silence, Jingyuan finally spoke, "What Madam Xie does is never business."

Now it was Jingheng's turn to be surprised: "Then she..."

Jingyuan said, "I guessed it when I heard that the Buddha had manifested in the relic box. After seeing Madam Xie, I became even more certain that it was Madam Xie who had arranged it intentionally..."

She only finds it interesting to watch people like that stir up trouble.

Just like when she followed the Empress Dowager back then.

Jingheng didn't quite understand. Jingyuan had always kept things to herself all these years, and no one could fully understand what she was thinking.

Even the Empress Dowager said so. Later, when they came to Ciyun Nunnery, Jingyuan seemed to be a different person, more like a devout Buddhist nun than any of them.

But now that Jingyuan has suddenly returned to her former appearance, I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing.
Just as the two were talking, the nun came in and said, "Thank you for coming, benefactor."