Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 715 Clear Road
Everyone in the Xie Clan Ancestral Hall had a furrowed brow.

After a long pause, the fourth patriarch, who was sitting at the head of the table, sighed: "She is forcing us to make a decision sooner rather than later."

Everyone looked at each other.

Xie Yi, the eldest son of the second patriarch, said, "She hasn't even arrived yet, so what makes you say that, Fourth Uncle?"

The fourth patriarch said, "Since she already knows about her background, why not send someone to the Xie clan?"

Upon hearing this, everyone fell into deep thought.

Xie Wenjing, if you were to write a letter to the clan to inquire, wouldn't that be seeking help from the clan members? But now you've had the lawyer write a lawsuit directly. What does that mean?
She was confident that she could get justice for Old Master Xie and Xie Yisong on her own.

If this matter is ultimately accomplished, she will not need to feel any gratitude towards the Xie clan, and she will not need to pay any attention to clansmen who come to her for help in the future.

Normally, a married woman wouldn't need to be concerned by the clan, but Xie Wenjing is different. She got involved in Xie Yizhi's case and made great contributions, so to some extent, she can speak up for the Xie family.

Xie Yi asked, "Fourth Uncle, do you think... she really has something to do with the Wang family?"

The fourth patriarch remained silent, while Xie Yiwang, the second son of the third patriarch, coldly said, "A widow living at home and yet she has an ambiguous relationship with Wang Yan is simply disgracing the family. If it is confirmed that she is Xie Wenjing, the clan must teach her a lesson in manners."

The third patriarch raised his eyes and glanced at Xie Yiwang with disdain. Sure enough, the fourth patriarch said indifferently, "You still have a daughter who is not yet married. Why don't you go to the Wang family and discuss with Master Wang the possibility of marrying the Xie family's innocent and unmarried daughter to Wang Yan?"

"The daughter you raise will surely be well-mannered, have a good name, and will not disgrace your family or the Wang family's reputation..."

At first, the praise didn't seem like much, but as the Fourth Master's voice softened, Xie Yiwang felt extremely uneasy. He already knew what the Fourth Master was going to say, and he wanted to stop him but couldn't bring himself to speak.

The fourth old master paused slightly, then continued, "Let's see if Prime Minister Wang is willing to agree, and whether Wang Yan is willing."

Xie Yiwang lowered his head.

Wang Yan was unaware that Xie Wenjing, now known as Xie Yuyan, had been married. He knew better than anyone that they had met in Daming Prefecture, but Wang Yan made no attempt to conceal this fact.

If Wang Yan were the kind of playboy who spent his days indulging in frivolous affairs, that would be one thing. But before this, there were no similar rumors about Wang Yan, and he had not even accepted the arranged marriage. Before Xie Yuyan, there was only one idle book that said Wang Yan encountered a fairy and had a son with Qiong Ji. Wang Yan devoted himself to cultivating Taoism so that his family could be reunited in time.

Such things are just something to look at and talk about; no one will really believe them. So, no one in the Wang family paid any attention to those idle books. Xie Yuyan, however, was different. She was a very real person, not only widowed but also a merchant. Being associated with her would be detrimental to Wang Yan's career, yet the Wang family did not intervene to suppress those rumors...

In a sense, this already explains the problem.

Xie Yiwang said, "Fourth Uncle, I didn't mean that, and naturally I wouldn't dare to presume to associate with the Wang family."

“Then don’t talk about others,” the fourth master said. “She can do it because she has the ability. If you really go to her door to teach her a lesson, you will only humiliate yourself and become a laughing stock.”

Xie Yiwang stiffened his neck and reluctantly agreed.

The fourth old man coughed twice: "These days, things have happened in the family, and you have all worked very hard. It's not easy to get together like this, so let's talk about something useful."

"What are your thoughts on Xie Yuyan's lawsuit against Xie Yizhi?"

Xie Yiwang whispered, "Do you think we can be controlled by her?"

The fourth patriarch ignored Xie Yiwang and looked at the others: "What about you? Do you think so too?"

Unlike Xie Yiwang, Xie Yizhe and the others were not reckless and did not dare to speak.

Xie Yi then looked at the Fourth Master: "Fourth Uncle, can you give everyone an idea?"

“Two paths,” the Fourth Master said, not wanting to beat around the bush. “The first path is for us to ignore it. No matter how the case turns out, it has nothing to do with us. However, the Xie family might hold a grudge and consider us Xie Yizhi’s accomplices.”

"The second option is for us to go to the lawyer and file a lawsuit together, asking the court to investigate the matter. If it is found that Xie Yizhi murdered his father and brother, it will at least make up for some of the clan's oversight."

"Everyone choose one, and no matter what happens in the future, don't blame or complain." The group looked at each other, knowing that the old man preferred the second option, but wouldn't that mean being coerced by a woman?
Before Xie Yizhi's accident, they would never have agreed to, and might not have even recognized, Xie Yuyan's identity. But now, in these turbulent times, the Kaifeng Xie family can no longer withstand any more blows.

Even if Xie Yizhi's conviction does not implicate the entire Xie clan, the career paths of Xie's descendants will be hindered, and perhaps no one will hold an important position for several years or even decades.

It can be said that the Xie family declined from this point on.

It would be more beneficial for the Xie clan if Xie Yuyan could change back to Xie Wenjing's identity and marry into the Wang family. This was one of the reasons why the Fourth Master preferred the second option.

Another reason is that the Fourth Master was genuinely wary of Xie Yuyan. The fact that she could cause such a big commotion while widowed in a merchant family shows how clever she was.

How could such a clever person allow the Xie family to stand by and watch?
People naturally seek advantage and avoid harm, let alone the head of a clan.

“Since you all listen to me,” said the Fourth Master, “we will send someone to find the lawyer first thing tomorrow morning, find out the situation, and it would be best to invite the lawyer to the ancestral home.”

"Since there are other suspicious circumstances surrounding the deaths of Old Madam Xie and Xie Yisong's family, our clan should do everything in its power to investigate this matter."

Everyone understood that the Fourth Master wanted to completely sever ties with Xie Yizhi.

“After this matter is over, I will resign from my position as clan elder,” the fourth patriarch said. “I have no face to continue managing the Xie clan after it has been reduced to this state.”

The third old master said, "Fourth brother, why do you do this..."

The fourth patriarch stopped the third patriarch from continuing. On the surface, he accepted the blame, but in reality, he was merely avoiding trouble. Who knew what Xie Shi would do upon returning to the clan? What was wrong with him avoiding her?
As the crowd gradually dispersed, the Fourth Master called out to Xie Yize, "Keep an eye on your Ninth Brother, and don't let him do anything wrong."

The so-called wrongdoing naturally refers to Xie Yiwang's hostility towards Xie Yuyan.

Xie Yi responded.

After everyone left, Xie Yi mounted his horse.

On the way back, Xie Yi's mind was filled with random thoughts. When he arrived at his own residence, he dismounted and was about to tell his servant to knock on the door when he saw a figure hiding in the darkness.

Xie Yi dismissed everyone and strode over. Upon seeing the person in the shadows, he whispered the clan's decision: "The clan is prepared to help Xie Yuyan."

"I'll think of another way."

It may seem that Xie Yuyan only used some tricks to win over the Xie clan, but in fact it was the general trend of the times. It will probably not be easy to reverse the situation.

Xie Yi didn't dare to look at the man's face. After a while, he heard the sound of footsteps leaving. His body went limp and he almost collapsed.

This Xie Yuyan is really amazing. At least for now, even the boss hiding in the shadows is helpless. If they want to turn the situation around, they will have to find an opportunity that is extremely advantageous to the boss.

……

In Xie Yuyan's courtyard, Zhang was instructing people to pack her trunks when she heard Yang Minghui's wife, Chen Shangjun, come in and report, "Madam Zhang, someone has arrived."

After Yu Mama left Bianjing with Xie Yuyan, Chen Shangjun took over as the head of the inner quarters.

Chen Shangjun had been working for Xie Yuyan in Daming Prefecture and was usually very composed, but today he seemed somewhat flustered.

"Who is it?" Zhang asked upon seeing this.

Chen Shangjun pursed his lips: "Yes...it is a female member of the Wang family."

Before Zhang Niangzi could figure out which family "Wang" referred to, Chen Shangjun continued, "It's the wife of Minister Wang... the mother of Lord Wang Yan."

(End of this chapter)