Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 670 Fight
Wang Bingchen strode towards the main gate, but stopped just as he was about to order someone to open it.

If one were to meet the common people in this way and say a few words, it would cause quite a stir in Bianjing.

When the time comes, his people can easily stir up trouble by spreading rumors. Once the new policies gain popular support, any attempts to suppress them will fall apart.

but……

Then someone will say that he also arranged for the people to be treated, which is exactly what Xie Yizhi wanted.

This is a situation that the government does not want to see.

If it weren't for personal motives, there would be no need for him to step in to resolve this matter today.

Wang Bingchen looked at the steward and said, "Go out and take the people to the Market and Commerce Bureau. Tell them to investigate the price increase of rice and grain. As long as the new law has not been abolished, the Market and Commerce Bureau must do these things well."

He suspected that someone was secretly stirring things up, pushing the people to his doorstep.

There might be officials from the municipal affairs department among them.

Wang Bingchen said calmly, "If you can't even do this small thing right, it's negligence on the part of an official, and it's a crime of dereliction of duty." He said this to deter the officials in charge of market transactions from causing any trouble.

It took the steward a moment to realize what was happening, and he hurriedly replied, "This old servant will do it right away."

Wang Bingchen stepped into the inner courtyard and heard the steward's voice as soon as he entered the corridor. He was clearly trying to persuade the people.

The two brothers returned to the study and sat down. Wang Bingcheng looked at his elder brother and said, "Brother... you're different than before."

"Having navigated the officialdom for so many years," Wang Bingchen said, "I've eaten more salt than they've eaten rice. I can't let a few juniors laugh at me."

Wang Bingcheng smiled and reached out to pour wine for his brother: "Who knows, this commotion might actually get you out of this predicament."

"What do you want to say?" Wang Bingchen raised his eyes.

Wang Bingcheng smiled without saying a word. His elder brother should understand what he meant: the smooth operation of the market exchange was partly due to the efforts of the Xie family's wife.

“That’s about enough,” Wang Bingcheng said. “It’s time to add a member to the Wang family.”

Wang Bingchen glanced at his younger brother, deliberately putting on a stern face, and said, "What? Is there some good news on your end?"

Wang Bingcheng didn't blush and said with a smile, "I'd like to too, but all my efforts over the years have amounted to nothing. Aren't you the same, brother? We're getting old, so we might as well relax and rely on the younger generation."

“Zheng’er is not old enough yet. Even if he were, his cousin would have to get married first, right? Our family hasn’t had a happy occasion in a long time.”

Wang Bingchen frowned slightly, feeling something indescribable. That Lady Xie... gave him a strange feeling.

Think about what she did, and how Yan Ge'er changed after meeting her...

Wang Bingchen felt that it was even more difficult than dealing with the New Party in the imperial court.

How could someone who dared to use someone the Empress Dowager had used be someone easy to deal with?
……

in the palace.

The Emperor heard the secret report from the Imperial City Guard, nodded, and his slightly furrowed brows relaxed a little.

He was right about Prime Minister Wang.

What Prime Minister Wang was always thinking about was the new policies, not using the opportunity to engage in factional struggles.

Otherwise, why would we let such a good opportunity slip by?

"Send some medicine to Prime Minister Wang," the Emperor said. "Tell him that we will discuss matters when he returns after he recovers, and that the affairs of the Secretariat cannot be separated from him."

The eunuch Huang responded.

The emperor glanced around; Wang Yan often stood there before…

"I don't know if he's in a hurry to serve me or to rescue his sweetheart," the Emperor joked. "In any case, I hope he returns to court safely."

……

As darkness fell, Xie Yuyan and his entourage continued their journey along the official road. Su Man approached Xie Yuyan and said, "I'm afraid we won't reach the inn before nightfall."

"Then let's find an open space and rest for the night."

Su Man agreed and sent someone ahead to find a place to set up camp.

Just like the day before, they discovered they were being watched while traveling. When they arrived at the inn and were about to rest, Su Man noticed concealed hoofprints all around them.

If they stayed at the post station like this, they might be surrounded by people at night, so Xie Yuyan decisively ordered them to continue on their way.

Reaching the city would have been ideal, but unfortunately the journey was exceptionally long, and it started raining, so the group had to take shelter first. They could only continue their journey once the rain subsided, which resulted in... missing their trip.

"We need to send more people on night patrols," Xie Yuyan instructed. "After all, we're out in the open, so we need to be extra careful."

Su Man responded.

While Tang Xing and the others were unable to conduct patrols, they could help keep an eye on the demon cultists.

After setting up camp, Tang Xing and Chen Rong led their men to feed the members of the demonic sect.

Soak the flatbread in water until it softens, then roughly stuff it into the hands of those cultists. Don't feed them too much, just enough to keep them from starving to death halfway through.

Tang Xing removed the cloth from Xia Dalang's mouth. Xia Dalang's lips moved as if he wanted to speak, but Tang Xing poured a mouthful of paste into his mouth.

Xia Dalang's stomach was already empty. Even though he wanted to resist, he couldn't control himself. After tasting the food, he began to swallow unconsciously.

However, before he was even full, Tang Xing had already stuffed the rag back into his pocket.

Humiliation and pain mingled together, and Xia Dalang's eyes seemed to be spitting fire, wishing he could burn all the people in front of him to ashes. However, as if he had thought of something, his gaze towards Tang Xing became more sarcastic.

"What are you thinking about?" Tang Xing suddenly moved closer to Xia Dalang. "Let me guess..."

Xia Dalang's gaze turned icy, his hatred growing even stronger.

"Are you thinking that the events of last night were somewhat similar to the night our caravan rested in the forest?"

Xia Dalang's gaze settled.

Tang Xing said contemptuously, "No matter what, you still ended up in Madam's hands, right? So even if someone comes tonight, they will end up like Xia Dalang."

No longer speaking to Xia Dalang, Tang Xing and Chen Rong took ropes and tied the prisoners several more times to ensure that they could not escape without help, before leaving them aside.

With everything prepared, Tang Xing instructed, "Everyone, rest now."

There are patrols outside. It's not too late to get up when you hear the warning; you need to conserve your energy at this time.

Under Xia Dalang's gaze, the caravan members lay down on the prepared haystacks.

Before long, Xia Dalang heard snoring.

Xia Dalang felt pain all over his body. The ropes binding him made it almost impossible for him to breathe. He tried to move his body, but he couldn't. After struggling for a long time, until he had no strength left, he had to give up.

Now, Xia Dalang only hopes that someone will come to ambush Xie Yuyan. Even if he knows that those people are there to silence him, he will still die, but it is better than being humiliated by going to the capital for trial.

Whether it was heaven hearing his heart's desire or not, just as he was drifting off to sleep, he actually heard the sounds of fighting.

The sound grew louder and louder, even alarming Tang Xing and his men.

Immediately afterwards, someone shouted, "Someone is attacking! Someone is attacking!"

However, the chaotic scene that Xia Dalang wanted to see did not happen. Tang Xing grabbed him by the rope, lifted him up, walked a short distance, and then threw him into a ditch.

The next moment, Tang Xing and the others also jumped down.

Xia Dalang looked over and saw that Tang Xing and his men were all holding long spears, the tips of which gleamed with a chilling light under the moonlight.

Xia Dalang suddenly realized that Xie's family had not been ambushed, but rather that a trap had been set for those people to come.

(End of this chapter)