Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 461 Counterattack
Wang Yan was able to mobilize manpower and secretly gather evidence. Xu Huaiyi had so many case files, but what he lacked was precisely this kind of clear evidence.

It's easy to imagine what would happen if the two joined forces.

Moreover, Wang Yan now holds a secret decree, allowing him to report the case to the emperor at any time.

Those cases were probably going to get out of control, but luckily we found out about it in time.

Xu Wei was about to leave when Zhao Sheren called him back: "Where's the evidence?"

Xu Wei paused, then patted his head, saying, "I almost forgot." As he spoke, he respectfully took a sealed bamboo tube from his robes and handed it to Zhao Sheren.

"The two witnesses are also under our guard. As soon as the steward gives the order, I will have their heads cut off immediately."

Zhao Sheren stared at Xu Wei, even though he had just been worried that Xu Wei wouldn't return the evidence to him.

“If you kill someone, you’ll have new leverage against them,” Zhao Sheren said. “You’re quite shrewd.”

“We can also release them,” Xu Wei said. “If you’re not worried, our people will leave immediately and stop watching them.”

"Let's keep an eye on things," Zhao Sheren said, no longer panicking. "If something really goes wrong, all the things I did tonight will be for nothing."

Xu Wei smiled.

The hardest part is taking the first step; after that, it gets much easier.

Xu Wei strode out of Zhao Sheren's house and headed straight for Xia's house.

Xia Mengxian had been waiting for news in his study. When he heard that Xu Wei had arrived, he immediately invited him to the inner room to talk.

Xu Wei repeated what Zhao Sheren had said: "It seems that His Majesty is dissatisfied with the handling of the Central Secretariat, which is why he instructed Wang Yan and Xu Huaiyi."

"With a secret order, two people can forcibly go to find evidence."

Which official would dare disobey the Emperor's will? Those who couldn't withstand the pressure would hand over the case files. Wasn't it Wang Yan who investigated Prefect Liu in Daming Prefecture by virtue of his status as an imperial envoy?

Xia Mengxian frowned; now it was his turn.

Xu Wei whispered, "What should we do now?"

Xia Mengxian said, "We can't let Wang Yan continue the investigation. I will send a message to those officials, telling them to hold out for at least three more days."

Xu Wei nodded.

Xia Mengxian continued, "The next step is to see if we can turn the situation around within three days."

Xu Wei said in a low voice, "Xu Huaiyi is alright, but Wang Yan..."

Xia Mengxian laughed and said, "If the Wang family father and son don't take action, it will be difficult to arrange things. What's the point of us dealing with a mere official and merchant?"

"The Wang family's attack on the Ministry of Justice is simply an attempt to plant their own people within it. Among the candidates for the Ministry of Personnel, the two most likely to take over the Ministry of Justice are both supporters of Minister Wang."

He had anticipated this, which is why he made the gesture of relinquishing his position in the Ministry of Justice to Prime Minister Wang. Now, he could use it to impeach the Wang family. The facts are there, and there's no room for argument.

Xu Wei understood: "If that's the case, then the lord might be able to be reinstated soon."

"What a pity," Xia Mengxian sighed, "I was thinking it would have been better to go to the Ministry of Revenue."

Xu Wei smiled knowingly and said, "It's because you're in the Ministry of Justice that we've been able to gather so much dirt on the officials. If you're transferred... we won't be so comfortable anymore."

“The people I left behind can hold out for a while,” Xia Mengxian said. “My son-in-law Xie Chengrang has also gone to the Dali Temple. After a few more years of recuperation, Xie Chengrang will be able to take charge on his own.”

Xu Wei praised Xia Mengxian for his thoughtful consideration.

"Then now..."

Xia Mengxian interjected, "The timing is just right. The results will be announced tomorrow, and we can begin after that. But before that, you need to go to Liu Zuolang's house."

Xu Wei was somewhat worried: "That Liu Zuolang is still wavering. What if he helps Wang Yan? Wouldn't that ruin things?" Xia Mengxian shook his head: "Tell him that you know about the secret decree, and he will understand. Those people are good at assessing the situation. They can tell which side will win as soon as they calculate it."

Having learned of Wang Yan's methods in advance, they had essentially won the battle. Was Liu Zuolang really going to risk the entire Liu family?
Xia Mengxian continued, "Besides, don't you also have something on him?"

After Xia Mengxian said that, Xu Wei knew how to arrange things next.

“And that Xie family,” Xia Mengxian said, “don’t let her go to court.”

Not going to court means killing them outright.

Xie was a lowly merchant, but Xia Mengxian was inexplicably wary of her, especially since she had recently set up a dyeing workshop at Ciyun Nunnery.

He was puzzled. How come every temple and nunnery seemed to fall for her tricks? She could get close to any abbot.

How long did it take her to go from Daming Prefecture to Bianjing, open shops, establish village associations, and secure trade at the border markets? If such a capable person cannot be recruited, she should be eliminated as soon as possible.

……

South City Wharf.

The area outside the perfume shop was packed with people.

Although the shop has become more and more lively since it opened, it is obviously different recently, with many scholars coming to visit.

"Everyone says that the perfume shop is related to Baode Temple, and people come to bathe there hoping for good luck."

Zhou Da and the others looked at the crowd. It was fortunate that their family's craftsmen did not bathe here, otherwise how could they have squeezed in?

"The results will be released tomorrow. Let's take a look. I wonder how many officials will be among the crowd."

Hearing the discussions, Zhou Da laughed along with everyone else.

"That's true."

“After we finish the work at Ciyun Nunnery, we’ll go to our shop in the city. We need to get the shop repaired as soon as possible,” Zhou Da said, taking a bite of his pancake and staring at the perfume shop. “This is all business.”

How many people couldn't get in because of this? Didn't that mean less money? Zhou Da felt a pang of heartache just thinking about it. The perfume shop and dyeing workshop were both ready; within five years, their village association would be able to establish itself in Bianjing.

With a happy thought in his heart, Zhou Da bit into the pancake with even more force. He called out to everyone, "Hurry up, we need to go back to the courtyard after we finish eating. Let's discuss what we need to do next." He also needed to report to his wife when she returned.

Xie Yuyan and Duan Dalang went to Baode Temple to deliver medicinal herbs, but in just one day, Abbess Jingyuan had arranged everything Xie Yuyan needed.

After the Buddhist Registry issued the document, two retired imperial physicians, along with several apprentices, came to the west courtyard of the temple, where they would make pills from then on.

Xie Yuyan went to the west courtyard and took a closer look. Even the tools for preparing medicine were all there; the only thing missing was a few stoves. Building stoves was something they were good at, and once Zhou Da and the others arrived, they could set them up quickly.

Xie Yuyan had long guessed that Abbess Jingyuan was from Cining Palace. Since she was working for the Empress Dowager, she should be able to do these things with ease. However, the result was even better than she had expected. It seemed that she would have to ask the abbess for help more often in the future.

After looking around, Xie Yuyan was about to say a few words to Master Zhiyuan when he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"Madam."

Xie Yuyan turned around and saw Liu Siniang.

Liu Si Niang lifted the hem of her skirt and ran quickly to Xie Yu Yan, her face already full of smiles: "I only went to my maternal grandfather's house once, and when I came back, everyone recognized Madam Xie."

Liu Si Niang regretted it deeply. If she had known that Bianjing would be so lively, she would have begged her mother to go home earlier.

Xie Yuyan's gaze fell on Liu Si Niang's hands: "Did you come here to ask for a Wen Chang talisman for your brother?"

Liu Si Niang nodded: "The results will be announced tomorrow. I only hope that my brother will pass with flying colors."

Xie Yuyan didn't notice Liu Erlang in his previous life, but Liu Erlang is quite talented, and he will most likely get what he wants.

Liu Si Niang looked around, then whispered, "Madam, could we speak in private for a moment?"