Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 681 All the Same Kind

The military officers of Longde Prefecture carefully reported all the events that had occurred in the past few days to He Tan.

He Tan then realized that several crucial people were missing from the group of prisoners being escorted: Wu Qian's father and several missionaries who had caused the internal strife within the demonic cult.

Those people were once close friends with Wu Qian's father, and were among the most capable people around the old leader before the Xu family father and daughter took control of the demon sect.

Just as He Tan was about to question the general, he saw Master Jingyuan, dressed in a monk's robe, walking over.

Master Jingyuan performed a Buddhist salute.

He Tan dared not be negligent and hurriedly returned the greeting. He had heard about the identity of this nun, but what surprised him was that after Lady Xie arrived in the capital, she had been in contact with Abbess Jingyuan.

Wasn't Master Jingyuan eccentric and extremely difficult to get along with?

Although she was at Ciyun Nunnery, it was extremely difficult for women in the capital to see her.

When the Empress Dowager Cining Palace declared she would no longer concern herself with politics, many believed she was merely appeasing court officials and secretly maintaining some control over the court. Furthermore, even if the Empress Dowager genuinely didn't want to deal with these matters anymore, her connections remained; with a mere gesture from her, someone's future would be bright.

Many people tried to follow in the footsteps of Abbess Jingyuan, openly and secretly testing and flattering her, but to no avail.

Eventually, everyone gave up.

and so……

How exactly did Lady Xie manage to persuade this nun to come?
With Abbess Jingyuan here, did Cining Palace also lend a hand?

Thinking about all this, He Tan realized he didn't understand Lady Xie at all. No wonder, if Lady Xie was so insightful, the man who kept warning him to stay away from her wouldn't be so devoted to her now.

Master Jingyuan looked at He Tan and could see his sincerity at a glance, but... he was too honest and straightforward, so she couldn't use witty remarks against him.

Since that's the case, Abbess Jingyuan said directly, "There are still a few prisoners. Benefactor Xie left them with the Prefect of Longde. The Prefect of Longde will escort them to the capital in the name of the birthday tribute."

After careful consideration, He Tan understood Xie Niangzi's intention. Escorting prisoners was extremely dangerous, and she was not sure if anything would go wrong. So she simply split the team into two groups. Whether it was the prefect of Longde or them, as long as one group could deliver the prisoner, the important matter would not be delayed.

He Tan began to envy Wang Yan again. With someone like that by his side, wouldn't he get whatever he wanted?

He Tan felt a sour taste in his mouth. The things his aunt had said to him that day were even more painful to recall.

“If I had known that Benefactor He would arrive so quickly,” said Abbess Jingyuan, “this humble nun would have been able to travel with Benefactor Xie.” Although she was a bit too conspicuous as a nun, she could always find a way to disguise herself if she wanted to stay.

He Tan asked, "Does the nun know what Lady Xie will do?"

Master Jingyuan shook her head: "Before coming here, Madam Xie probably didn't expect the Demon Sect to be like this. Since there was no prior preparation and everything was done on the spot, no one knows how far it will go."

He Tan could understand what Master Jingyuan meant, but how could he send a message to Hechun?

Master Jingyuan didn't want to say anything more. Talking to ordinary people was really pointless. After saying a few words, she couldn't help but yawn. She could only chant sutras to keep herself awake.

"If you still have any questions, you may come to this humble nun."

Upon hearing this, He Tan bowed again, but when his gaze swept over Abbess Jingyuan, he clearly saw a few words in her eyes: Do not come again.

He Tan's eyelids twitched. If someone like Abbess Jingyuan could read something from her face, it must be what she wanted him to see.

The nun was clearly telling him that unless it was something urgent, he shouldn't bother her.

……

The capital city. At the residence of Privy Councilor Xie.

Xie Yizhi sat in the study, and when she looked up, she could see the soldiers standing outside the study.

Today, more people were sent to the manor, saying that they had recently discovered members of the sorcerer sect and that this was to protect the safety of everyone in the Xie family.

They made this arrangement because they were afraid he would escape; they just put it nicely to avoid being criticized.

Xie Yizhi revealed a cold smile; this was the "benevolence" of the current officials.

“Master,” Zhou said, bringing the food into the study with her eyes full of fear, “someone has gone into the main study in the front yard. The steward just heard someone rummaging through things inside.”

"Sir, shall we go and take a look?"

No one dared to act recklessly in the Privy Councilor's residence; these soldiers would only act if ordered by someone above.

Xie Yizhi remained silent.

Madam Zhou continued, "If the master doesn't intervene, they'll come to the backyard sooner or later. What will we do then?"

What Zhou was afraid of was not that someone was rummaging through things, but that those people's attitude towards the Xie family. From being respectful to starting to lay hands on them, it could be seen that the officials' suspicion of the master had not decreased but increased.

The arrangements made by the master before had no effect whatsoever.

Seeing that Xie Yizhi remained silent, Madam Zhou continued, "These days, Han'er hasn't been sleeping well, probably because he's been frightened. He just said he wanted to come see you, sir... And Hui'er has also sent a letter back; she wants to return to the capital... I don't know how to say it."

Xie Yizhi looked at Zhou Shi: "What do you want to know?"

Zhou felt that Xie Yizhi's eyes were exceptionally deep, making her hair stand on end.

"You want to know if it's true, as Xie Chengxin said, that I had dealings with the leader of the Demon Sect, and whether Xie Wenjing, who was arrested, is actually my daughter with the leader?"

Zhou's lips trembled.

Xie Yizhi stood up: "What result do you want?"

Zhou took a step back instinctively, suddenly feeling that her husband had gone a little crazy.

Xie Yizhi stared at Zhou Shi: "Didn't you already know all along? Back then, when I went to rescue my second brother, you knelt with Mother in the nunnery. What did you wish for that day?"

Zhou's lips trembled.

The eldest branch of the Xie family was not as good as the second branch, and the old lady treated her worse than that Xu woman. Moreover, the master had a past entanglement with the Xu family's daughter, so she blamed all these grievances on the second branch.

If the second wife were too outstanding, the old master would definitely give everything of the Xie family to Xie Yisong, so of course she hoped that Xie Yisong and his wife would die in Fujian.

Upon learning of Xie Yisong and his wife's deaths, she felt an indescribable joy. From now on, the Xie family would belong only to their eldest branch.

“I…I didn’t…” At this moment, Zhou would never admit it.

Xie Yizhi didn't care: "No matter what the Xie family is like, you are not wronged. You are no different from me."

Under Xie Yizhi's watchful eye, Zhou retreated step by step, finally fleeing the study as if escaping.

Xie Yizhi revealed a strange smile. He looked down at the note in his hand, which clearly stated that something had happened in Fujian.

(End of this chapter)