Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 696 Double
The carriage stopped, and Mama Yu lifted the curtain to look out. Wang Yan was already standing outside waiting for Madam.

A smile unconsciously appeared on Yu's mother's face, and then she turned around to pack her things.

Xie Yuyan bent down and walked out of the carriage. She saw Wang Yan extend his arm to her. Without hesitation, she reached out and took his arm. However, just as she jumped down, her body suddenly lifted slightly into the air and was slowly put down again. Obviously, Wang Yan took the opportunity to hug her.

The two were acting very intimately, causing Sang Zhi, Sang Dian, Sang Mo, and Su Man, who were standing nearby, to turn their faces away, afraid of being caught peeking.

When Wang Yan and Xie Yuyan entered the house, Sang Zhi and Sang Mo looked at each other and saw surprise in each other's eyes. So this was the kind of person their husbands were.

On the surface, he appears to be a virtuous gentleman, but in reality, he uses his official robes as a cover to commit indecent acts.

The lady used to worry that her husband would never marry, but now it seems... there was no need for that.

……

The food was laid out in the room, and a pot of soup was being kept warm on the fire.

Since leaving Beijing, Xie Yuyan hadn't had a proper meal like this.

Moreover, the meal was clearly ordered by Wang Yan in advance, and it included nourishing Solomon's Seal Stewed Chicken and Walnut Porridge.

Wang Yanjing took over and began serving Xie Yuyan soup, eventually placing a large, full bowl in front of her.

Looking at the size of the bowl, Xie Yuyan felt that she couldn't possibly eat it.

“It’s a long way back,” Wang Yan said. “Once you get to Bianjing, you’ll have to go back to the Xie clan to take charge of things. You might even be summoned to the palace. There’s a lot of business piling up in Bianjing’s porcelain industry, as well as the South City Wharf and the porcelain kilns. I’m not saying you’ll have to make decisions on every single thing, but it won’t be much less.”

The implication is that with her body in such condition, could she really withstand such strenuous work?
Unable to argue with him, Xie Yuyan had no choice but to pick up his chopsticks.

In fact, she has always been very casual about eating. Sometimes when she doesn't have a good appetite, she will eat a few bites and then put down her chopsticks. Her mother and Zhang will always try to persuade her to stop... Now there is another Wang Yan.

During the meal, Wang Yan didn't say anything, but just served her food. After she finished eating, he picked up his bowl and ate the rest.

The two spent time together in the room, and Madam Yu was able to relax. After having her meal in the side room, she didn't hear the eldest mistress summon her over. Instead, Sang Dian came over and said, "Young master will sit in the room for a while longer. Madam can rest in the room for a bit. I'll come and call you if there's any noise over there."

Madam Yu was not young, and walking such a long distance was indeed exhausting. Now that she had the chance, she naturally took the opportunity to rest, so that she wouldn't be useless when the eldest mistress really needed her. So she looked towards the main house and then nodded: "If the eldest mistress has any instructions, come and inform me immediately."

Sang Dian replied, "Don't worry, Mom."

Mother Yu looked at Sang Dian. When she returned to Bianjing, she planned to send some things to her children and grandchildren, and she would also buy some for Sang Dian.

The courtyard was quiet, and the people inside the house began to talk in hushed tones.

Xie Yuyan recounted his experiences in Longde to Wang Yan. With the confessions of the members of the Demonic Cult, the general outline of what had happened that year became clear. Xie Yisong, having learned of the Demonic Cult through the Xu family, realized that the coastal patrols were short-handed, and the imperial army lacked skilled naval warriors. The Demonic Cult had made a living at sea in recent years and had many people proficient in water transport. If they could be recruited and persuaded to do good, not only would they find a way to survive, but the imperial court could also recruit a squad of soldiers skilled in naval warfare to combat maritime smuggling.

Unfortunately, Xie Yizhi and Yang Jun colluded with merchants to smuggle goods at sea. If the surrender was successful, they would no longer be able to hide what they had done. Not only would they lose their source of income, but they would also be brought to justice by the court.

After discussing it, the two decided to target Xie Yisong and make the surrender attempt fall through.

Therefore, later on, troops surrounded the demon cult, and Xie Yizhi used Xu Shu to spread false information, saying that Xie Yisong's offer of amnesty was fake, and the real purpose was to suppress the cult.

After Xie Yisong and his wife were murdered, the demonic sect cut off their path to amnesty and became completely opposed to the Liang Dynasty. In order to survive, they had no choice but to hide at sea.

On the surface, Xie Yizhi resolved the rebellion of the demon cult, but in reality, he secretly protected them as they escaped. As a result, he was rewarded by the imperial court and appointed to a post in Fujian. He then relied on the demon cult to smuggle goods for him, earning money and paving the way for his career. He accumulated a large fortune and many merits.

It was because of these qualities that he was promoted to the Privy Council, became the Privy Councilor, and the chief minister of the Great Liang Dynasty.

Wang Yan reached out and poured Xie Yuyan a cup of tea. He guessed Xie Yuyan's background and naturally knew that Xie Yisong was not her father, but she was related to the Xie family. What Xie Yizhi had done would definitely affect her.

Even with Xie Yisong's identity as his daughter as a cover, she did not show any affection for the Xie family, which suggests the nature of her relationship with the Xie clan.

Furthermore, the fact that someone like Xie Shumi could turn against his own brother shows that he has no real feelings for his family, and the Xie family that passed down from him is probably the same.

Wang Yan recalled meeting her in the forest when he was a child. She was dressed very richly, and from her calculating and constantly probing manner, he could glean insights into how she lived her daily life.

Without scheming and testing, one cannot gain a foothold; such a Xie family truly has nothing to cherish.

Xie Yuyan thought of Old Madam Xie, and his expression unconsciously turned cold: "Old Madam Xie's death may also be related to Xie Yizhi."

"The people around Xie Yisong escorted..." Xie Yuyan paused here, still not using "I" to refer to Xie Wenjing, "When Xie Yisong's daughter returned to the capital, she told Old Madam Xie about what happened that day, which aroused Old Madam Xie's suspicions, so she secretly investigated the matter."

"It can be confirmed that Madam Xie has found some evidence."

"At that time, the Xie family must have been in complete chaos. As the head of the family, Old Master Xie obviously did not stand on Old Madam Xie's side. Of his three sons, two had died, leaving only Xie Yizhi. Whether out of consideration for bringing honor to the family or for kinship, he kept the matter a secret. Old Madam Xie may have made up her mind because of this and moved to the village with her granddaughter."

Wang Yan nodded, feeling that Xie Yuyan's speculation was very likely the truth.

Xie Yuyan continued, "Old Madam Xie went to the countryside and outwardly compromised, but secretly she found the Demon Sect and finally persuaded Lü Shi to investigate the matter with her. Judging from the timing, the truth was just discovered when Old Madam Xie passed away. If Old Madam Xie and Lü Shi hadn't died, they would definitely have taken action."

Wang Yan said, "The passing of Old Madam Xie was too sudden and too coincidental. After Old Madam Xie passed away, Xie Yizhi did not immediately take action against Xie Wenjing because she thought of taking her place. When everything was ready, the Demon Sect came to the capital and kidnapped Xie Wenjing. Xu Shu's daughter then took Xie Wenjing's place."

Xie Yuyan looked at Wang Yan, a strange feeling flashing through her mind. Why did Wang Yan speak of Xie Wenjing so naturally... as if he had completely separated her from Xie Wenjing?

Why did she sometimes feel that Wang Yan knew far more about her than she thought?
(End of this chapter)