Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 669 Thanks
Beijing.

Several officials have gathered outside the Wang family mansion today. They have been waiting here for two hours, but have not been able to see Prime Minister Wang.

"My lord, you can't back down any further."

One official couldn't help but say.

"It's clear that Xie Shumi's people were prepared in advance; otherwise, why would they impeach you at this time?"

Another official looked indignant.

After Xie Yizhi "recuperated" at home, the atmosphere in the court became tense. Officials were secretly trying to find out what mistakes Xie Yizhi had made. At this time, Liu, the Minister of Works, and the officials of the Censorate impeached Wang Xianggong during court, saying that Wang Xianggong had ordered his subordinates to extort money everywhere under the pretext of the new policies, so that people in many places had to sell their wives and children, and some prefectures were even full of starving corpses.

They even claimed that this year's drought was due to Prime Minister Wang's perverse policies, which had angered Heaven. They demanded that the Emperor dismiss Prime Minister Wang and abolish the new policies.

"There are droughts and floods every year, so how are they related to the new policies?"

"When Prime Minister Wang was not yet in the Secretariat, whose fault was it when the plague broke out in Daliang?"

The official became increasingly indignant as he spoke.

"Furthermore, the corruption and embezzlement of those lower-level officials have been going on for quite some time. Their salaries are meager, so they collude with local gentry for personal gain. This was something that Your Excellency mentioned in court. That's why Your Excellency implemented the 'Granary System' to increase the salaries of these officials. If they continue to embezzle, they will be severely punished."

"How come now you're saying that it was the magistrate who ordered those clerks to extort money?"

Another official shook his head upon hearing this: "Isn't it obvious? It's obvious that the clerks are also dissatisfied with you, sir, and are colluding with the old faction to try to bring you down... It's just a false accusation."

"The emperor will definitely not believe it."

The officials nodded in agreement, but soon fell silent again. If the emperor did not believe them, he would not allow Prime Minister Wang to return home to recuperate from his "old illness."

Now that both prime ministers have returned home, the officials don't know whose entertainment to watch.

As the group was reflecting on their situation, one of the officials suddenly felt a chill on his forehead. He instinctively looked up and saw large raindrops pelting down.

The others also sensed it and reached out their hands.

The raindrops fell faster and faster, and in the blink of an eye, they turned into dense rain streaks.

The servants following behind busily held umbrellas for their master.

Suddenly, a heavy rain began to fall. People on the street rushed to take shelter, while children ran around in the rain, shouting happily.

It's been a while since Bianjing has seen rain, and this rain is just the right thing to alleviate the drought and high temperatures. How could everyone not be happy?
However… the officials waiting outside the Prince’s mansion frowned. They looked at each other, seemingly wanting to say something, but ultimately remained silent. They were reminded of the words used to impeach the Prince, which had now come true.

This rain isn't exactly a good rain either.

Just then, the gates of the Wang family mansion opened, and the Wang family steward came out and said, "Master said that he will not receive guests while recuperating at home. Gentlemen, you should all go back!"

Before anyone could speak, the gate closed again. Seeing this, the officials outside knew that Prime Minister Wang had made up his mind and that there was no point in them lingering any longer, so they had no choice but to leave one after another.

……

In the Wang family study.

Wang Bingchen and his younger brother Wang Bingcheng sat facing each other, with several small dishes and a pot of warm wine on the table.

Looking at the dishes on the table, Wang Bingcheng immediately smiled: "It's been a long time since I've seen my sister-in-law cook herself."

Wang Bingchen sighed inwardly. If it weren't for her precious eldest son, would he have such a good meal? The bedding that had been moved out for a long time was also returned to the main house, and his wife would serve him a bath. Yesterday, she even made him new clothes.

It seems like everything she does is for him, but actually... he should just accept it. There's a saying that goes, "It's good to be confused sometimes." Anyway, he's the one who eats the food and wears the clothes.

Even if someone scolds you in court, it's still worth it.

Wang Bingchen could only console himself with this thought.

As the two brothers were talking, the sound of rain came from outside, and Wang Bingcheng immediately got up and opened the window.

The smell of dampness immediately reached my nose.

Wang Bingchen said, "Finally, it's raining."

Wang Bingcheng nodded: "I wonder if it has rained on Jingdong Road and Hebei Road."

He immediately shut his mouth after saying that.

Wang Bingchen knew what his younger brother was thinking: "President Liu asked the Emperor to dismiss me, so that Heaven would forgive me and send down rain."

"It rained right after I resigned, doesn't that just prove what he said?"

Wang Bingcheng said, "He probably consulted the Imperial Observatory before finding an opportunity to tell the emperor these things."

Wang Bingchen waved his hand: "Rain is a good thing, why should we worry about it?"

That's what they say, but how many officials who support the new policy will look at the heavy rain and sigh, lamenting that the rain came at the worst possible time?

Thinking of this, Wang Bingchen suddenly said, "Perhaps Heaven is really reminding me that I can't continue like this." The new policies need to be implemented, but we can't be too hasty. He has too many things he wants to do, and he always feels that everything is too slow, too slow, and the results won't be immediate.

Just think about how much trouble such drastic measures have brought about.

Because of factional strife, even this rare and timely rain will be rejected. His new policies will not benefit everyone, so it's easy to imagine how much opposition there will be.

If these people are forcibly suppressed, and he leaves the Central Secretariat and a member of the old party becomes prime minister, wouldn't all the officials who support the new policies feel insecure?
"You have to eat one bite at a time," Wang Bingcheng said, putting food on his brother's plate. "Isn't there still Yan-ge'er here?"

When Wang Bingchen thought of the words the censor had used to impeach him, he felt a burning pain in his chest, as if he were watching helplessly as his life's work was thrown into the mud.

“They can’t deny the benefits of the new law,” Wang Bingcheng said. “It’s because of the Market Regulation Law that grain prices have been kept under control this year…”

Wang Bingcheng had just finished speaking when the steward hurriedly entered the room.

"Master, there are...a lot of people outside!" the steward said urgently, not even bothering to wipe the rain off his face.

Wang Bingchen's expression changed, but he still expected this to happen. Changes in the court would inevitably become rumors and spread to the common people. Under instigation and encouragement, the people might take some action.

"Give the order that no one in the mansion is allowed to leave," Wang Bingchen said. "And do not drive away the people. Whatever is said outside, you shall pretend you did not hear it."

Wang Bingcheng had not expected things to turn out this way. He was about to comfort his elder brother when he saw the steward shaking his head repeatedly.

“No…no…Master,” the steward shook his head, “they…they didn’t come…they came to thank you, Master.”

Wang Bingchen was taken aback.

The steward said, “This year, rice prices in Bianjing are low, and the same is true in the surrounding counties, which has benefited many people. However, you just returned to your residence to recuperate, and the Market Administration couldn’t control those merchants… Rice prices suddenly rose a lot. The people have come to thank you, and also to ask you to step in… and punish those unscrupulous merchants.”

People care most about grain prices when it comes to their daily food needs. Seeing grain prices soaring like this, they are naturally extremely anxious. After someone explained the cause and effect, they all gathered here.

Hearing the commotion outside, Wang Bingchen felt a mix of emotions. The flame that had almost died out in his heart was now burning brightly again.

(End of this chapter)