Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 590 Hatred
Su Man had planted people both inside and outside the porcelain kiln. The demon cult's spies were everywhere. He couldn't let the eldest lady suffer any mishap, especially when they were dealing with Wu Qian.

Therefore, he placed extremely trusted people around Madam.

Including Yang Kuan, Wang Wu, Qi Yong and others were all sent by the young master.

Yang Xiaoshan originally had his own men, but they had only been in Bianjing for a few months. He was afraid that the Wu family would notice something amiss with his son and put him in danger, so he simply used the spies they had planted in Bianjing.

Yang Kuan and his companions, posing as idle men, roamed around Bianjing City, gathering intelligence for their young master. While the city was searching for Wu Qian, Yang Kuan secretly kept watch and actually managed to find Wu Qian's trail. Next, they deliberately approached him, hoping to use Wu Qian to find Master Wu.

So far, everything is going smoothly.

With that thought in mind, Su Man quickly walked into the courtyard.

When Su Man saw several people being captured by the merchants and their hired laborers, he breathed a sigh of relief, but it was also... somewhat unexpected.

The guard stepped forward and whispered, "We only took action after we discovered these people were suspicious... and the merchants also joined in."

"The courtyard is full of freshly fired porcelain. The people from the Demon Cult wanted to attack Madam. They first knocked down a craftsman and then approached the main hall. Before they even entered, the merchants inside rushed out."

Su Man asked, "Are there any other suspicious people in the courtyard?"

The guards shook their heads. If they didn't have so many people to keep an eye on, they wouldn't need anyone else to intervene. However... it must be said that those merchants, relying on their numbers, were quite formidable. Upon hearing the shouts of "cultists" outside, several of them didn't even try to hide, but instead swarmed forward and captured the person.

As for why this is the case...

The guards couldn't understand it, but Su Man knew very well that this was to gain favor with the mistress.

Xie Yuyan looked at the demon cultists on the ground, one of whom had already been tightly bound by Duan Shirong.

The guards stepped forward, and the Duan family father and son handed over the sorcerer. They had received a favor from Madam Xie and were thinking about how to repay her. Now that something had happened in the courtyard, they were determined to help.

The sorcerers were all taken away, and the merchants in the courtyard were talking about it.

"Is it because of the incident at Ciyun Temple that these heretical cultists came to retaliate?"

These porcelain makers had naturally heard rumors of the reliquary manifesting its power and redressing grievances. On one hand, there was the evil deeds of a demonic cult, and on the other hand, there was the descent of Buddha; it was easy for people to become entangled in the conflict.

Xie Yuyan said, "No matter what you do, you will inevitably encounter people who cause trouble in secret. As long as you take precautions on a regular basis, those people will have no chance to take advantage of you."

The merchants nodded in agreement: "Old Xing is right."

……

A moment later, patrolmen arrived. Xie Yuyan and Su Man stepped forward to explain the situation, and the patrolmen immediately rode off in pursuit.

Xie Yuyan looked at the merchant: "If you are willing to let people see the porcelain fired in the coal kiln, you can send it to the porcelain shop."

"When you want to take it, just inform the manager."

Sending porcelain to a porcelain shop is naturally a way to gain fame, which is a good opportunity for lesser-known kiln owners.

Everyone turned to look at the Duan family father and son from Yuzhou.

After the guards assured them that everything was alright, the merchants began to disperse.

The Duan family father and son intended to stay.

"Master Xing," Duan Shirong bowed to Xie Yuyan, "we are now looking to sign a contract to repair the coal kiln in Yuzhou, but we don't know... when Master Xing will send someone there."

“If you are in a hurry,” Xie Yuyan said, “within seven days, several craftsmen will go to Juntai with you.”

The Duan father and son smiled. Duan Shirong bowed again: "Then thank you very much, Elder Xing."

Xie Yuyan said, "You risked your lives to capture those demon cultists just now, so I should thank you too."

Duan Shirong said embarrassedly, "Actually... we just didn't want to lose this opportunity. We... also respect Elder Xing, but more out of selfishness, we wanted to protect the porcelain fired in the coal kiln."

"Please don't blame me, Elder Xing."

Xie Yuyan's expression remained natural: "After hearing what you said today, will you be less selfish and more sincere in the future when you encounter any problems?"

Duan Shirong was taken aback for a moment, then said happily, "Of course."

The Duan father and son are smart men. They took the opportunity to speak the truth, simply because they wanted to use honesty to bring the two sides closer, at least to become more familiar and less distant.

Xie Yuyan also responded, expressing her hope that Jun kiln would continue to improve, which would give the Duan family father and son more confidence.

Xie Yuyan instructed the steward to fetch the contract and hand it to the Duan family father and son.

Xie Yuyan said, "Go back and look at it slowly. Come to the porcelain shop tomorrow and I will sign a contract with you."

The Duan father and son bowed and thanked him again. Duan Shirong carefully put away the contract, and Duan Dalang picked up the porcelain. The two of them walked out of the courtyard.

Madam Yu smiled and said, "Does Madam really like that crabapple red?"

Xie Yuyan nodded: "The color is nice, but it's a bit stiff. I'll buy some more to put at home after they fire a few more batches. The water-washed begonia red glaze is especially beautiful."

In her past life, she had one like that, which was always placed on her desk.

Madam Yu nodded: "This servant has remembered." It seems that it won't be more than a year before she can buy such a thing for the eldest mistress.

Everyone else had left before Su Man entered the room.

Xie Yuyan asked, "How are Wang Wu and the others?"

Su Man reported: "Only Wu Qian fainted from fright. Wang Wu and the others were not injured. Yang Kuan fled into the mountains with Master Wu and his men."

"Guo Xiong and Xiao Chuan are lying in ambush in the woods. If they encounter any members of the Demon Cult, they will capture them. Yang Kuan and Master Wu should be fine."

Xie Yuyan said, "Take down as many of the men that Master Wu brought as possible. Since Master Wu has no one he can rely on, he will have to depend on Yang Kuan. Furthermore, the more men the Wu family loses, the more Master Wu will hate the evil sect."

"The Wu family has a feud with the Demonic Cult. To protect his son, they will send a message over. Keep a close eye on Wu Qian and make sure nothing happens to him. You also need to keep him alive to write letters home to Master Wu."

The members of the demonic cult used to kidnap people and demand money, but now the tables have turned.

Let her see what Master Wu has to offer to redeem his son.

……

Yang Kuan carried Master Wu through the mountains. As the sound behind him gradually faded, Yang Kuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked around. He then discovered a hiding place in a mountain hollow.

He parted the leaves and first helped Master Wu into the cave. He then hid to the side and, seeing that no one was chasing after him, went to Master Wu's side to check on the injury on his leg.

A section of arrow remained in his calf, but fortunately it wasn't embedded too deeply in the flesh.

Yang Kuan reached out to treat Master Wu's wound. Master Wu leaned there for a long time, unable to speak. It wasn't until the medicine powder Yang Kuan applied took effect and the pain seemed to subside a bit that Master Wu said, "I'm getting old after all. I almost couldn't escape."

There is one more chapter

(End of this chapter)