Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 729 Clarity
Wang Zheng ate more than half of the food on the table before putting down his chopsticks sheepishly. He patted his round belly, as if he was filled with joy and all his fatigue had vanished.

Xie Yuyan smiled and said, "We'll have the sweet soup later."

Wang Zheng nodded and said, "Sister-in-law, you are so kind." He finally understood why his brother wasn't in a hurry to return to the capital. He stayed here with his sister-in-law every day, so how could he miss home?
If he doesn't want to go back, he'll just stay here.

Yes, he won't go back. He'll wait until his elder brother and sister-in-law return to Bianjing before he goes with them.

After everyone had finished eating, Wang Zheng stood up and said, "Auntie asked me to bring a lot of things." He was so happy to see her that he had forgotten about them.

A box was carried into the house. Wang Zheng stepped forward and opened the box himself. Inside was a small trunk containing several sets of finished dresses. Next to the trunk were several small jars containing candied fruit, dried fruit, and scented flower tea.

Wang Zheng picked out a porcelain bottle from among them: "This is a stomach-soothing powder that my aunt bought from Zhao Taicheng's house. My aunt said that Quanzhou is very humid, so if you feel unwell, you can take it."

Xie Yuyan nodded: "Thank you for your concern, Madam."

“Sister-in-law, please don’t be so polite,” Wang Zheng said. “Auntie likes you very much. Whenever I visit your home, she listens very carefully whenever I mention you, and she even asks with a smile about your preferences. Unfortunately, I don’t know much about you…”

His aunt was very nice, but his uncle... always had a stern face whenever he came to the house, as if he was about to hit him at any moment. However, he wasn't worried at all, because his uncle never hesitated to do anything his aunt agreed to.

Wang Yan watched Xie Yuyan and Wang Zheng talking, his heart melting completely. Ayan was like a ray of sunlight shining through the window, landing on his shoulder, making him realize that there was a bright world outside the door.

For him, the difference between having such a person and not having one is like heaven and earth.

Since Ah Yan came into his life, he has been enveloped in a joyful and jubilant mood, and he feels happy no matter what he does.

"Brother."

When Wang Zheng's voice came, it took Wang Yan a while to come back to his senses.

“Brother,” Wang Zheng said, “I will stay in Quanzhou and wait for you and sister-in-law to return to the capital before I go with you, is that alright?” If his brother did not agree, he would ask his sister-in-law. He was familiar with this method; the Wang family always did it this way.

"it is good."

Unexpectedly, he soon heard his elder brother's agreement.

Wang Zheng almost jumped up. In Bianjing, he had to study every day and could not slack off in the slightest. His uncle and father would also take him away to test him at any time, and he would be punished severely every time. Sometimes he would think that if his elder brother had not been delayed in getting married and the Wang family needed him to carry on the family line, he might have been abandoned long ago.

Wang Zheng received a response and felt completely at ease. He then asked Xie Yuyan about his experiences along the way. Listening to her stories made him realize how amazing his sister-in-law was.

"That boat is huge? Bigger than the ones on the river?"

"You're going to the sea. What's it like at sea? Can you see what's on the other side?"

What exactly does Srivijaya look like?

Wang Zheng suddenly had a strong urge to go to sea.

“If only I had arrived a few days earlier,” Wang Zheng said, “I might have been able to go out to sea with my sister-in-law on her big ship.”

Xie Yuyan said, "There will be plenty of opportunities in the future. Just don't regret it then."

With the rough seas, Wang Zheng's mood quickly turned from elation to anguish.

Wang Zheng was unaware of all this; he was only focused on his joy and ran out to talk to Sang Dian and the others.

Xie Yuyan looked at Wang Yan: "Aren't you going to tell him when we're leaving Fujian?"

Wang Yan smiled and said, "Let him be happy for a few days first."

Xie Yuyan nodded.

Madam Lin probably guessed that they would be setting off soon, and the things Wang Zheng brought were almost all for the journey, but Wang Zheng just didn't realize it.

Only Wang Zheng was foolish enough to think he would be playing outside for a long time.

Wang Yan asked, "Is everything arranged in Srivijaya?" "Just as we guessed, Puhara won't waste this opportunity," Xie Yuyan said. "Everything is going smoothly, but I hope he can be of greater use."

Even without Puhara, Srivijaya would eventually have to bow down to Daliang, it would just take more time. The reason for winning over Puhara was not only to take over Srivijaya's shipping routes as soon as possible, but also to have Puhara help them when they took action against their master, even if it was just by passing on some messages to her.

Srivijaya is located at the gateway to Southeast Asia, and maritime trade is its lifeblood. They have far more manpower at sea than other countries. They are unaware of news at sea, so Srivijaya merchants must be able to find some clues.

The information they couldn't get from Libote might be obtained from Puhara.

“The Market Affairs Committee will meet with the envoys from Jianyili and Champa tomorrow,” Wang Yan said. “Puheluo will make a decision soon.”

Xie Yuyan's lips curled up slightly: "Wang Shitian rushed to Quanzhou, could it be for this matter?"

Her eyes held a smile, a hint of teasing and a touch of mockery, making her face exceptionally lively, as if one could glimpse her inner thoughts through her eyes and brows.

This reminded Wang Yan of the first time he met her.

That was the real her.

But unlike the first time, there was no suspicion or estrangement between them, only trust and closeness.

Wang Yan subconsciously reached out and touched her fingertips, gently cupping his palm around hers.

“That’s only one reason,” Wang Yan said. “I also rushed to Quanzhou to deliver a message to my wife.”

Xie Yuyan smiled as she looked at Wang Yan's feigned dignified expression. As she smiled, his solemnity suddenly melted away, transforming into a warmth that was almost tangible. A subtle glint flashed in his eyes, clear and bright, reflecting her image within them.

Xie Yuyan was momentarily stunned, and it took him a while to remember to ask, "What news is it?"

Wang Yan said: "Sun Yuan, the supervisor of the Zhangzhou Maritime Trade Office, has made meritorious contributions by impeaching officials in Quanzhou. Moreover, his performance in the examination is the best, ranking in the top class. Therefore, he is specially promoted to the position of supervisor of the Fujian Circuit Maritime Trade Office."

The position of Director of the Imperial Maritime Affairs Office, responsible for overseeing maritime transport and overseas trade, investigating local officials' favoritism in maritime affairs, and checking and balancing the officials of Fujian Circuit, was clearly very suitable for the upright and honest Sun Yuan.

Xie Yuyan asked, "Who recommended Sun Yuan?"

"The Ministry of Personnel, however, the Secretariat also recommended someone else. His Majesty summoned the ministers to discuss it several times, but a decision has been delayed..." Wang Yan paused here, "Guess who ultimately spoke up for Sun Yuan out of public interest?"

Xie Yuyan guessed, "Which Hanlin scholar?"

Wang Yan often sighed that there was probably no one in the world more intelligent than A Yan.

Xie Yuyan said, "The ministers are so divided that even if someone wants to push things along, they don't dare to go and persuade the Emperor. Only those who see the Emperor often can 'unintentionally' bring up this matter with him."

“It was Hanlin Wang,” Wang Yan said. “This old Hanlin scholar is no ordinary man. It was he who persuaded the Emperor to recall the Prince of Qin to serve again.”

Wang Hanlin was a man of the King of Qin.

Xie Yuyan said, "It seems some people are getting impatient. We should hurry back so as not to keep them waiting too long."

The two had barely finished speaking when Wang Zheng shouted, "Brother, brother, shouldn't we be leaving?"

Wang Yan regretted it somewhat; he shouldn't have agreed to let Wang Zheng stay.

However, it was indeed time to leave. Wang Yan reached out and gently stroked Xie Yuyan's thin cheek: "Get some rest. Leave the rest to me. I'll have someone send you any news."

Xie Yuyan watched the two brothers leave side by side. Looking at their figures, she suddenly felt a little empty in her heart and was extremely reluctant to part. Perhaps sensing something, or perhaps sharing the same thoughts as her, Wang Yan stopped and turned around. The two looked at each other and smiled almost at the same time.

……

Three days later, the two envoys from Srivijaya knocked on the door of the government office at dawn. They handed over an account book accusing Li Bodi and Xin Jia of colluding with Fujian officials to smuggle goods and even involving three murder cases, resulting in the deaths of dozens of people at sea.

If the evidence is true, Li Bodi and his companion will never be able to return to Srivijaya for the rest of their lives.

(End of this chapter)