Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 509 Meeting
Wang Yan and Xu Huaiyi entered the Kaifeng government office together.

Zhang Maozhi, the prefect of Kaifeng, was discussing matters with his subordinates in the second hall.

From Wang Yan's mission to Zhuxian Town to arrest Xu Wei, to the fierce battle on the Bian River, Kaifeng Prefecture has encountered an unprecedented major case.

Zhang Maozhi had stayed in the government office since yesterday, not sleeping a wink all night. He had originally planned to sort out Liu Huizeng's matter and write a detailed memorial before going to court the next day to report to the Secretariat and the Emperor. Who knew that he would hear news in the middle of the night that someone had broken through the checkpoint on the Bian River and a fight had broken out.

If things aren't handled well and internal strife breaks out, he'll carry the blame for dereliction of duty for the rest of his life.

When he arrived at the dock with his men, he encountered Xu En's generals and learned that the situation was under the control of the government troops, which relieved him.

However, there is still much to be done, and he dares not slack off for a moment. Even so, there are still many things he has not figured out.

Upon hearing the clerk's report that Wang Yan and Xu Huaiyi had arrived, Zhang Maozhi was overjoyed and got up to greet them, knowing that Wang Yan must know more than he did.

Zhang Maozhi kept the Junior Magistrate and the Judge behind, dismissed the rest of the people, and then sat down to talk with Wang Yan.

"I heard something happened at the Imperial Guard camp outside the city?" Zhang Mao asked directly. "What's the situation? How did it escalate to this point?"

After this incident, in Zhang Maozhi's eyes, Wang Yan was no longer the son of a prime minister, but an official who needed to be dealt with carefully. After all, such a big commotion had occurred without even being informed by Prime Minister Wang beforehand, which showed that Wang Yan had completely broken away from the Wang family's support to reach this point.

A scion of a prominent family, the eldest son of a prime minister, yet he abandoned all the support and connections that could have helped him, and forged his own path entirely on his own. Without decisiveness and unwavering perseverance, it would have been absolutely impossible for him to do so.

However, if this path is followed well, it could be a good thing for Wang Yan and the Wang clan; if it is not followed well... then neither the Wang family nor Wang Xianggong will be able to protect him.

Stopping his thoughts, Zhang Mao looked directly at Wang Yan, his eyes full of earnestness, wanting only for Wang Yan to clear his mind.

Now that things have come to this, there's nothing left to hide. Wang Yan said, "The Emperor ordered the Imperial Secretary to write an edict granting me the right to submit a secret report. After leaving the palace, Secretary Zhao revealed this matter to Xu Wei of the Secretariat. Xu Wei and Xia Mengxian had been colluding in private for some time. When they received the news, they believed that Xu Huaiyi and I were secretly collecting evidence against Xia Mengxian. So they took action against me in advance, trying to frame us for using a tabloid to transmit military intelligence to the vassal states."

Zhang Maozhi said, "You want the power of secret memorials, not to impeach Xia Mengxian in front of the Emperor?"

Wang Yan remained calm: "How can we convict Xia Mengxian based on just a few words? There wasn't a single word on the memorial I submitted to the Emperor."

"I am here to tell Your Majesty that Xia Mengxian and the Bureau of Military Affairs have been deceiving Your Majesty by collecting evidence of officials' crimes and coercing and bribing them to do things for them."

Zhang Maozhi understood upon hearing this: "That's why Liu Huizeng was prevented from submitting the lawsuit at the Dengwen Prosecutor's Office. Xia Mengxian didn't want the lawsuit to reach the Emperor, but it was precisely because of this that the Emperor realized the seriousness of the matter."

Wang Yan nodded: "Xia Mengxian led us to Zhuxian Town to eliminate us there. Only after we leave can they deal with Liu Huizeng without restraint."

Zhang Maozhi understood then.

"Then... what happened on the Bian River? How did you know those people were going to leave via the Bian River?"

Wang Yan felt a warmth in his heart when he thought of the person who arranged this. It was because of A Yan that he could leave the city with peace of mind.

Zhang Maozhi, who was staring at Wang Yan, wondered if he was seeing things, but he felt that Wang Yan's expression had softened a little, though only for a moment.

Wang Yan said, "Prefect Zhang needs to consult with Chief Magistrate Xu about this matter."

Sang Dian, standing beside her, raised an eyebrow slightly, then secretly glanced at her husband. Actually, her husband really wanted to commend his wife and boast to everyone about her abilities.

Unfortunately, it wasn't my husband who helped the lady deal with those people on the Bian River last night.

Thinking of the broken pottery bottle belonging to Xu Duzhi, Sang Dian sighed inwardly. This was the second time, wasn't it? Xu Duzhi always stood in front of his lord. Originally, his lord had volunteered to return to the city to apprehend the remaining rebels, but the Emperor insisted that his lord personally inspect the Imperial Guard camp. Perhaps it was because Xu Duzhi was acquainted with the Imperial Guard commanders and needed to avoid suspicion.

In short, the young master will inevitably hold Xu Duzhi in his heart once again.

Since the matter on the Bian River had been brought up, Wang Yan continued, "Where are the people Xu En arrested being held now?"

Zhang Maozhi said, "The ringleader was a man called the Third Manager, who was taken to the Ministry of Justice. The others were imprisoned in the prefectural and county jails respectively."

At this point, Zhang Maozhi paused before continuing, "The third manager was arrested by people from the porcelain business. They were after a five-year-old case."

Zhang Maozhi showed Wang Yan the lawsuit that Zhao Zhongliang had just handed over.

"This man's entire family was harmed by Xia Mengxian and others. In order to seek justice, he infiltrated the Third Manager's caravan to find evidence. If this is true, it can be said that after many twists and turns, he finally got a good result."

After carefully examining the case, Wang Yan said, "Where is this person? Since it involves a case from five years ago, the Ministry of Justice needs to investigate as well."

“In the prison,” Zhang Mao said, “you can take the person away for questioning.”

Wang Yan stood up: "I still need to go to the palace to report to the Emperor. The soldiers in Zhuxian Town who participated in the rebellion will be temporarily detained in the government jail. We will take the leading generals and leaders to the Ministry of Justice."

Zhang Maozhi instructed the clerk to issue a document to send Wang Yan and Xu Huaiyi away.

Zhao Zhongliang, who had just been imprisoned, was brought out again and went to the Ministry of Justice with Wang Yan.

Wang Yan instructed, "Give him a horse."

Zhao Zhongliang was somewhat surprised, not expecting this official to show him such kindness and care, as if... they had a personal relationship.

"Let's go." The group then headed towards the Ministry of Justice in a grand procession.

Wang Yan sat upright on horseback, his expression solemn and resolute.

Officials in Bianjing who knew the inside story all envied this young man from the Wang family, who would surely gain even more of the emperor's trust and be promoted beyond the usual ranks. But only Sang Dian knew that his young master was not eager to enter the palace to report to the emperor, but rather wanted to leave the palace as soon as possible to see his wife.

Thinking this, Sang Dian glanced over and saw a familiar figure.

That's Su Man.

"My lord," Sang Dian whispered a reminder.

Wang Yan turned his head and saw Su Man standing in the crowd of onlookers. After their eyes met, she slightly raised her head.

The next moment, the teahouse window was pushed open.

Wang Yan finally saw the radiant face he had longed for day and night.

Xie Yuyan curved the corners of his mouth into a smile. In his clear eyes, there was a sense of calm and composure that reassured him. Perhaps because he had just been resting, he still had a bit of languor left, and he even looked a little naive.

Zhao Zhongliang also noticed something was wrong and subconsciously looked up, but his view was suddenly blocked. Sang Dian coughed and said, "Don't look around."

Sang Zhi frowned. He wondered how Sang Dian had developed such a talent for flattery. They had fallen far behind.