Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 561 Affectionate Gift
Xie Yuyan's long, black hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her mother carefully gathered it up.

"What time is it? Have you told Mother that I don't need breakfast?"

This is the third time that Madam Yu has come to wake him up, and... today is different from usual, Lord Wang is also resting in his room.

“We still have to get up,” Madam Yu said with a smile. “It’s already late morning, and the porcelain shop will be sending people over soon.”

Upon hearing this, Wang Yan looked out the window in surprise, not expecting that he had slept for so long.

Perhaps because Ayan was by my side, I could put everything else aside for the time being, and I was able to completely relax.

Looking at Ayan's slender waist, Wang Yan suddenly felt a pang of guilt for spying and immediately looked away, but he couldn't help but look again soon after.

Her turquoise dress added to her gentle beauty, and she felt especially at home, exuding a warmth that was hard to find outside.

As Wang Yan watched, his heart was gently rippling as if touched by a spring breeze.

At some point, Xie Yuyan turned his face to the side.

"woke up?"

Wang Yan immediately sat up instinctively, then pretended to be nonchalant and responded. After a moment, he remembered something and asked, "Is Qin Ge'er still at home?"

Xie Yuyan said, "I went to the academy."

Since Yang Qin wasn't home, there was no one blocking the door, and he had no excuse to stay there any longer.

Xie Yuyan couldn't help but smile: "I also have to go to the porcelain shop. You can't just hide in my room forever. The Ministry of Justice will also be looking for you."

Wang Yan put on his shoes and socks, straightened his robes, and then went out.

Without the screen, I could see Xie Yuyan more clearly. First, I met her bright eyes, and then my gaze fell on the glass hairpin in her hair.

Wang Yan's heart was like a snowflake in the sunlight, melting away before it even fell from the sky.

The room was filled with a faint fragrance of incense, and every piece of furniture was obviously arranged by her own hand. It looked exceptionally pleasing to him, making him reluctant to leave.

"Does Young Master Wang like this little pot?" Xie Yuyan watched him examine the porcelain pot and said, "It was newly fired at the Luzhou Kiln. If you like it, take it back with you."

It wasn't just the small teapot; he wanted to take everything from her room, but what he wanted most was her as a person.

“It is quite good,” Wang Yan said. “I will come for tea more often when I have time.”

Xie Yuyan knew Wang Yan's thoughts, but... in the past he would have expressed them subtly, but now, after so little time, he was revealing his intentions so openly?
However… thinking of the hairpin in her hair, and considering how thoughtful he was, she poured him a cup of tea as a way of repaying him.

Before Xie Yuyan's hand could even touch the teapot, Wang Yan spoke first: "When I'm here, I don't need you." He still remembered that when they were in Daming Prefecture, he could never get a cup of water from her until she had servants to serve her.

He knew nothing about her past, and perhaps he would never have the chance to see the whole picture, but he could still figure out what she liked.

The two sat facing each other and drank a cup of tea. Wang Yan felt he had received enough. According to etiquette and rules, what he was doing was simply improper.

However, Ayan was different from ordinary women, and it was not easy to get close to her. The marriage arranged by her parents and matchmakers had no effect on her. The only way to get closer to her was to find ways to accompany her and get to know her.

Of course, acting out of emotion but stopping at the proper etiquette is also a test for him.

Before that, he wouldn't overstep the bounds.

Thinking of this, Wang Yan's gaze couldn't help but fall on Xie Yuyan's rosy lips. There had been a time before when their foreheads touched... but such intimate gestures couldn't happen often.

lest……

Wang Yan cleared his throat, looked away, and stood up: "I'm going to the yamen. This case will soon be handed over to Xu Huaiyi."

Xie Yuyan asked, "Are we going to the Imperial Secretariat?"

Wang Yan nodded: "We need to get to work on organizing the Imperial Academy as soon as possible." As the two were talking, they heard Madam Yu cough: "Madam, the newly appointed third-ranked scholar has arrived."

Zuo Shangying passed the imperial examination with the rank of Tan Hua (third-place scholar), and these days he has been busy attending banquets hosted by the court and officials. Today, he finally put aside his affairs and came to see Xie Yuyan.

Wang Yan said, "I'll go through the back door."

Xie Yuyan escorted the person to the door and watched Su Man leave with Wang Yan. A thought struck her. At that time, Wang Yan asked Su Man to stay by her side, and all the guards in the courtyard were arranged by Su Man. Although she protected her well, she also allowed Wang Yan to come and go freely.

I wonder if this counts as embezzlement?
……

Zuo Shangying was led into the main room, where Xie Yuyan was already seated in the main seat.

"Madam." Zuo Shangying bowed respectfully.

Xie Yuyan smiled and said, "How could I possibly accept such courtesy from a third-ranked scholar?"

Although Madam Xie said this, her expression remained calm and composed, which at least made Zuo Shangying feel that it was only right to pay his respects to Madam Xie.

If he didn't have this courtesy, he would feel uneasy.

Zuo Shangying said, "Without Madam Xie, I wouldn't be where I am today."

"What does this have to do with me?" Xie Yuyan said with a smile. "It's all thanks to the third-ranked scholar's own abilities."

Zuo Shangying shook his head: "It was thanks to Madam's guidance when I was in Daming Prefecture that I was able to make such progress."

Compared to his previous life, Zuo Shangying had indeed made progress in the imperial examinations, but Xie Yuyan did not attribute this achievement to himself.

Her return changed the situation, but it was they themselves who truly seized the opportunity.

Zuo Shangying said, "I heard from Liu Erlang that he is going to the Northwest."

Xie Yuyan responded, "Perhaps having seen the situation on the frontier, I will have a better understanding of the situation in Daliang."

Zuo Shangying pondered and said, "After Erlang went through the Bianjing tabloids, he is very different from before. Perhaps when he returns in a few years, he will be completely transformed." Hearing Liu Erlang mention the militia with great enthusiasm, Zuo Shangying was happy for Liu Erlang, because Erlang finally had something he really wanted to do.

Besides that, I felt mostly envy.

If you can do what you truly want to do, what's wrong with not being an official?

Having passed the imperial examination and seemingly entered officialdom smoothly, Zuo Shangying was already feeling the effects of this.

Xie Yuyan looked at Zuo Shangying: "Zuo Tanhua, there's no need to rush. You will definitely have a chance to show your skills."

Zuo Shangying knew that Madam Xie wouldn't give a perfunctory answer, so she sincerely asked for guidance: "I hope Madam Xie can give me some pointers."

Xie Yuyan said, "I was just mentioning it casually. I suppose the Emperor appreciated the essay written by the Left Third Scholar in the Imperial Examination. What did the Third Scholar write? The Emperor may take note of it when he appoints him to his post."

Zuo Shangying naturally wanted to be transferred to a post outside the capital; if that were to happen, he would be overjoyed.

The old lady reminded him that he should move around more; it might be helpful.

"Thank you, Madam." Zuo Shangying bowed again.

Xie Yuyan said, "If Zuo Tanhua needs any money, please just ask."

Zuo Shangying blushed: "I have already been taken care of by Madam before... how can I cause Madam trouble again and again?"

Xie Yuyan smiled and said, "I don't intend to bribe Zuo Tanhua with money so that I can demand a reward when he comes to power. I simply know that there are many difficulties at the beginning of one's official career..."

"You can treat Zuo Tanhua's case as a business deal, a mutually beneficial arrangement. I have a design drawn by Zuo Tanhua himself, which has already been fired into a clay stove... Does Zuo Tanhua remember it? I can put it to good use right now."

"Since the reputation of the third-ranked scholar has been used, some money should be given in return."