Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 660 Conversation
Madam Lin reached for the teapot on the table, but it was empty; clearly, Master Wang had turned off the water.

Madam Lin called the steward at the door in, "Wang Li, how are you serving us?"

Wang Li had no way to express his suffering. It was clear that his wife had transferred away all the capable maids. These maids were clumsy and could barely manage on ordinary days, but when there were many guests in the mansion, they would inevitably neglect some things.

"I'll go right away." Wang Li hurriedly stepped forward, picked up the teapot, and respectfully admitted his mistake.

The door was closed again, leaving only the couple in the room. Madam Lin then continued, "I heard that Brother Yan got a job, is that true?"

Wang Bingchen nodded.

Madam Lin asked, "How is this job?"

Wang Bingchen was preoccupied with political affairs, but with Madam Lin's interference, he had to temporarily put aside the mess and focus on dealing with her: "The fact that the Emperor appointed him as the Privy Councilor for Investigation shows... that the Emperor trusts him greatly."

“No,” Madam Lin said, “there’s no such thing as trust or distrust. This case was investigated by my son. If I don’t hand it over to him, who should I hand it over to?”

These words were simple and direct, like a sharp blade cleaving through the fog in Wang Bingchen's mind.

"Am I wrong?" Madam Lin said. "Although I don't know what Privy Councilor Xie did, it certainly wasn't something that happened overnight. Since none of you care, why can't others investigate?"

"If you were all willing to rid the court of this scourge, it wouldn't be my son's turn, wouldn't you agree, Minister Wang?"

Wang Bingchen frowned even more deeply.

"The Emperor is unwilling to reprimand his ministers, firstly because you are too concerned about your reputation, and if you are refuted, you will definitely threaten to retire, and the Emperor will have to spend a lot of effort to appease you."

"Secondly, the ministers are all chosen by the Emperor himself. If you make a mistake, the Emperor will also lose face."

"But now the Emperor wants to investigate the Privy Councilor. Without summoning you or listening to your opinions, he has appointed your son. Do you think the Emperor hasn't considered that you might be dissatisfied, and that Wang Yan's identity might cause factional strife?"

"But the Emperor still wants to use Wang Yan. What does that prove?"

Wang Bingchen looked at Madam Lin. His wife came from a scholarly family and was very famous in her youth because of her intelligence and wit. That was why he came to propose to her. After they got married, she did not disappoint him. She also had some insights into politics. So he did not hide many things from her. He did not stop her from sending her messages when he knew that people in the mansion would do so. There were not many secrets between the couple.

In recent years, he has been busy with the new policies and rarely had heart-to-heart talks with his wife. It wasn't until a few days ago when they had a disagreement that he realized he had become quite estranged from her.

Sometimes, when you're too engrossed in doing one thing, you really do neglect other aspects.

What his wife is saying to him now is clearly a suggestion.

Wang Bingchen said, "Your Majesty is not trying to make things difficult for me, nor is it that you do not want to avoid factional strife, it's just that... there is no one else available, so you can only use Wang Yan."

Madam Lin nodded: "His Majesty has already given Master a great deal of face. Master has been in charge of government affairs for so many years, yet he has left His Majesty with no officials to use. Isn't that a sin? When His Majesty promoted Master, it was because he admired Master's new policies and wanted to implement them in this dynasty. But now, His Majesty is so focused on investigating Privy Councilor Xie that he can no longer care about the new policies, even if the new policies will suffer a major blow this time, and Master will lose face as a result. What does this... prove?"

Wang Bingchen's expression became even more solemn.

Madam Lin said mercilessly, "Your new policies have disappointed the Emperor, or the factional strife they have brought about has disgusted him. If you do not reflect on your actions, you will truly be betraying your original intentions, just as Yan Ge'er said."

"The new policies may not only fail to bring prosperity to the Great Liang Dynasty, but on the contrary..."

After all, he was her own husband, and no matter how much trouble she caused him, she had to leave him a breath of life. So she didn't continue.

“What I’m trying to say is,” Madam Lin said, “that the face that Master has been trying so hard to maintain has long since vanished.”

"There might be a little bit left, and it all depends on Yan Ge'er. If you interfere, you'll be destroying your own defenses. If you can support him wholeheartedly, at least you can atone for your mistakes." Madam Lin and Wang Bingchen exchanged glances: "Master, you've made a mistake; don't let Yan Ge'er bear the consequences."

Wang Bingchen's gaze was deep and unfathomable: "Is this what you wanted to say?"

Madam Lin said, "A woman like Madam Xie is rare indeed. It is a blessing for Madam Wang to be able to marry into the Wang family."

After saying this, she stood up: "I still need to pack my trunks. It's so hot leaving the capital, I need to prepare quite a few clothes."

Wang Bingchen's brows gradually relaxed: "Where are we going?"

Madam Lin said, "Who knows? It depends on where the master wants to recuperate."

If he were impeached, Wang Bingchen would naturally have to resign from his position as prime minister. If the emperor refused, he would most likely allow him to rest for a while before returning to court.

Wang Bingchen sighed. No matter what, he couldn't let others bear the blame, especially Yan Ge'er. Besides... just as his wife said, if he wanted the Emperor to regain favor with the new policies, he couldn't go any further down the wrong path.

"Don't forget to bring me the new robe."

Madam Lin smiled and said, "I understand."

The study door was closed again, and Wang Bingchen's chaotic thoughts gradually became clearer.

That unfilial son didn't reveal a single detail to him before doing all this. That's why he can't help himself now, lest he be criticized.

The evidence proving Xie Yizhi's connection with the demonic cult goes beyond just the demonic cult members captured by Prince Huai and Brother Yan. It also includes the demonic cult members Xie Yizhi encountered outside.

If those people can be successfully escorted back to Beijing, it will be even more disadvantageous for Xie Yizhi.

It's easy to imagine that someone would try to stop them.

I wonder if Lady Xie can bring him back to the capital? Wang Bingchen recalled his brother's words: "Lady Xie is so powerful, regardless of her identity, she will be of no benefit to Yan Ge'er."

He hadn't paid attention before, but now... he hoped that Lady Xie was indeed as skillful as his younger brother had praised.

……

Longde Prefecture, Shangdang.

Xie Yuyan sat in the second hall, looking at Prefect Qiu opposite him.

Prefect Qiu said, "It may take some time before we can capture these heretical cultists and send them to Bianjing." He knew he shouldn't have said that, but he really had no other choice at the moment.

Xie Yuyan's expression remained calm, revealing neither joy nor anger: "May I ask, Your Excellency, what is the reason for this?"

Prefect Qiu sighed, "We don't have enough manpower, and I'm afraid there will be some problems on the way."

"What about the surrounding garrison troops?" Xie Yuyan asked. "Although the garrison troops are subject to the control of the Privy Council, they can suppress any disturbances caused by the demonic cult. Since they can send troops to capture members of the demonic cult, why can't they send people to escort prisoners to the capital?"

Prefect Qiu choked up. He could indeed use this as an excuse to mobilize the local militia, which was permitted by the imperial court. Unfortunately, he failed to persuade the local militia in the vicinity.

He originally didn't want to talk about it, but who knew that the woman in front of him was intolerant of any wrongdoing and had an exceptional understanding of the various aspects of the Liang Dynasty court, so he couldn't fool her at all.

(End of this chapter)