Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 573 Embrace

A fast horse galloped into the South City Wharf.

Wang Yan dismounted in front of the residence, then waited at the back gate for a moment before it opened.

Su Man bowed to Wang Yan.

Wang Yan asked, "Has Madam rested yet?"

Su Man shook her head: "I'm waiting for my husband."

Wang Yan strode into the courtyard and was about to disappear into the darkness when he heard Su Man continue, "Madam Zhang and Ninth Master are staying in a mansion in the city tonight."

In other words, we don't need to hide tonight.

Just as Wang Yan was about to ask Su Man where Xie Yuyan was, he saw a lamp light up in the distance, slowly approaching. Wang Yan immediately abandoned Su Man and went to meet it.

If it weren't for Xie Yuyan, Su Man would naturally have stepped forward to stop him, but Su Man didn't move, so Wang Yan quickened his pace.

The familiar figure gradually became clearer.

Amidst the dust and wind from outside the city, Wang Yan pulled Xie Yuyan into his arms before she could even react.

Immediately afterwards, Xie Yuyan smelled a fragrance of flowers. The scent was originally very faint, but it became so clear because she was so close.

Xie Yuyan looked down to find the source and soon discovered that Wang Yan's clothes were bulging at the chest, obviously containing something. She reached out to touch it and found a few flower petals. She wanted to take them out, but Wang Yan stopped her.

"On my way back, I smelled a fragrance. When I got closer, I saw that it was hydrangea. The flowers were too delicate to carry, so I could only put them in my pocket."

"The flowers are no longer beautiful, but consider this as... I brought back their fragrance."

Xie Yuyan didn't know what to say: "It would be better to take me to see it after dawn."

“It’s too bad to look at,” Wang Yan said. “It’s already starting to wither, but I remember that estate. I’ll definitely take you there next year.”

So... Wang Yan went to someone else's estate to pick flowers?
If discovered, he would be arrested as a thief. So, the first case the county government would receive after dawn would be the case of the top scholar stealing flowers.

Fortunately, Wang Yan's reputation was not ruined, but this matter can be revealed to Tong Zixu in the future.

Xie Yuyan took a closer sniff; ordinary hydrangeas have no scent, so this one that Wang Yan encountered was indeed special.

After a long while, Xie Yuyan finally came to her senses. They had been standing there for quite some time. Just as she was about to break free, Wang Yan held her even tighter.

Wang Yan's voice came from above: "Flowers bloom for a season, leaving behind a last trace of fragrance; they should be cherished."

“It’s alright,” Xie Yuyan said. “I’ll have Aunt Yu help me make a purse in a bit.”

Wang Yan wouldn't listen. Anyway, he was thick-skinned enough that as long as Xie Yuyan didn't get angry, he could keep holding her like that.

While he was talking to Prince Huai outside the city, he was only thinking about returning to the South City Wharf. He had finally returned to her side, and his heart hadn't even warmed up yet. How could he let go?

After a while, Xie Yuyan said, "Alright, the food is all prepared in the kitchen. If we don't eat it soon, it will get cold."

Following Xie Yuyan's instructions, Wang Yan handed the flowers in his arms to Mama Yu.

Holding the evidence of Wang Langjun's crimes, Madam Yu couldn't help but sigh inwardly, hoping that the owner of the embroidered ball wouldn't be too heartbroken tomorrow.

On the octagonal table were several small dishes, a plate of honey cakes, and a fish and chestnut soup. Wang Yan first served himself a bowl of chestnut soup. In his opinion, this was the only dish that Xie Yuyan had taught the cook to make. This chestnut soup was not easy to make, especially to make it look so good.

Xie Yuyan had already eaten, so he sat to the side, eating cherry preserves while keeping Wang Yan company.

The cherries were slightly sour, and her eyes crinkled as she tasted them.

Wang Yan suddenly felt even more resistant to the Prince of Huai, especially after he discovered that the Prince of Huai was not entirely useless.

After dinner, Wang Yan told Xie Yuyan what had happened that night.

Some outcomes they had already anticipated. However, Xie Yuyan hadn't expected the Prince of Huai to find Wang Yan so quickly and so openly reveal his intentions. More and more people and events changed because of her appearance.

The Prince of Huai in his previous life should not have joined forces with Wang Yan.

Xia Mengxian wasn't sent to prison, so Wang Yan naturally didn't know about the Third Manager's group and wouldn't investigate the case at all. Furthermore, Wang Yan would follow Prime Minister Wang's advice and take up a post outside the capital.

Although the Prince of Huai knew all this, he would not easily tell others unless that person was also involved. Therefore, the most suitable person to join forces with was Xie Chengrang.

Like the Prince of Huai, Xie Chengrang's biological mother was deceased, and he could become a pawn in someone else's hands at any time. Only by finding an opportunity to seize power could they control their own future.

In their past lives, they succeeded, or at least they benefited from it.

Xie Chengrang, as a son born out of wedlock, took control of the Xie clan.

After the King of Qin ascended the throne, the Prince of Huai became the crown prince and then successfully inherited the throne, becoming one of the rulers of Daliang.

Xie Yuyan didn't know much about Prince Huai. When she entered the palace in her previous life, Prince Huai had already passed away. At that time, one of Prince Huai's sons inherited the throne. More than ten years later, that emperor also passed away, and another son of Prince Huai ascended the throne. This emperor was the one who married her.

Therefore, Xie Yuyan and the Prince of Huaijun never had any interaction.

As Xie Yuyan was thinking, her hand was suddenly gripped tightly. She looked up and saw Wang Yan.

"What do you think is wrong?" Wang Yan asked her.

Xie Yuyan shook her head: "I was just wondering if the Prince of Huai is trustworthy?" She wondered if it was just her imagination, but she saw a hint of a smile spreading across Wang Yan's eyes.

What was wrong with what she said? Why did it make him want to laugh?
Wang Yan said, "You don't understand the Prince of Huai?"

“Of course,” Xie Yuyan said, “I have never met him before… Even if we had known each other before, I have forgotten about it.”

Wang Yan nodded: "I don't know much about him either."

……

In the darkness, Prince Huai, who had just returned to the capital, was preparing to spend the night in his duty room. Returning to the palace so late would surely lead to questioning, and he might even be reprimanded the next day.

However, tonight's harvest was quite substantial, so even if it was a bit tiring, it seems worthwhile.

After turning his horse around and taking only two steps, the Prince of Huai suddenly felt an itch in his nose, a chill rose from the bottom of his heart, and then he sneezed. The surge of hot blood that had just surged up disappeared completely for some reason.

……

Xie Yuyan couldn't help but smile. If the Prince of Huai had heard Wang Yan's words, he would probably have felt disheartened. He had poured his heart out all night, only to receive such a response in the end.

However, she didn't think there was anything wrong with what Wang Yan said: "Royal family members are indeed untrustworthy."

“He was right about one thing,” Xie Yuyan said. “We can start with Xie Chengxin and get him to help us uncover the Xie family’s secrets.”

"Xie Chengxin is secretly watching me, which shows that he knows some inside information. He is unwilling to say it now because this matter is related to his interests."

“We don’t need to try to persuade him. As long as he understands that he will also be in danger if we don’t investigate this matter thoroughly, he will naturally stand on our side.”

She even felt that the time was right and she didn't need to do anything more.

“We still have one piece we haven’t used,” Xie Yuyan said, looking at Wang Yan. “Does Young Master Wang remember it?”

Wang Yan knew who Xie Yuyan was referring to: Wu Qian, the escaped man who had been wandering outside.

"Yang Xiaoshan received a secret letter. Wu Qian's father has come to Bianjing. Our people have already left the city to deliver the message to him."

Soon, the father and son will meet, and then they can finally close their net.

(End of this chapter)