Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 765 Waiting

Upon hearing Wang Bingchen's words, Yang Jiang immediately bowed and apologized, then led the guests to the flower hall for a banquet.

Watching the guests leave the main hall one after another, Yang Jiang wiped the sweat from his forehead. Although Prime Minister Wang was stern and his brows exuded an air of authority, Yang Jiang could sense that the Prime Minister had spoken very kindly and amiably just now, showing that he truly did not take the unexpected situation outside to heart.

Yang Jiang breathed a sigh of relief.

The main problem was that the Xie family was making too much noise. The side room and the main room were not far apart... The eldest daughter-in-law did not give the Xie family any face. He was sweating bullets, afraid that the wedding ceremony would be disrupted. How could he explain this to the eldest daughter-in-law and the court official?

Fortunately, no matter what happened outside, the people inside acted as if nothing had happened.

Wang Bingchen looked at Councilor Shen, who had a smile on his face from beginning to end. Especially when the Xie clan members were making a fuss, the old man even wrote a piece of calligraphy on the spot to celebrate the marriage between the two families.

Wang Bingchen naturally understood the reason.

Xie Yisong and his wife were murdered far from home. If it weren't for Xie Yuyan's injustice, their case would probably never have seen the light of day.

Before this, the imperial court had mentioned the offer of amnesty many times, saying that Xie Yisong was wasting the court's resources and that the appeasement policy had ultimately failed and damaged the national image. Whenever Shen, the councilor, heard this, he would argue with those people for his disciple.

Although Shen, the councilor, was unaware that Xie Yisong had been wronged, he was still indignant and agitated in his rebuke. If such a loyal minister were to suffer ridicule even after his death, who would be willing to risk their lives for the Great Liang in the future?

Now that the truth has come to light, how can those who trampled on his disciple still have the face to stand in the court? How could one not be overjoyed at this thought?
Shen Canzheng slowed his pace and looked at Wang Bingchen: "Someone asked me to send a gift to the Xie family's daughter."

Wang Bingchen nodded, roughly guessing who it was: "Are you talking about Shen Zhongzhen?"

Shen Chongzhen was the father of Consort De and Shen Si Niangzi. The reliquary made by Xie Yuyan led to a case from years ago, allowing the Shen family to find out the whereabouts of Shen Si Niangzi, re-collect her remains, and bring the culprits to justice. The Shen family naturally remembered this kindness.

"He wanted to come too, but there were too many guests, so he had to wait until the wedding to visit the Xie family."

Shen Chongzhen and Shen Canzheng were from the same branch of the clan, so they could naturally talk to each other.

Wang Bingchen nodded: "Indeed, if it weren't for Madam Xie, this would probably always be a thorn in the side of the Shen family."

Shen, the councilor, was in a good mood today and wanted to tease the prime minister: "Why don't you ask what gift Shen Chongzhen asked me to send?"

Wang Bingchen was about to say that the Shen family's dowry was a gift to Xie Yuyan and had nothing to do with the Wang family, but surely the Wang family couldn't be eyeing someone else's dowry? That would mean losing it all…

"A manuscript of the 'Thatched Cottage Collection' by the poet Li Bai of the previous dynasty."

Wang Bingchen nearly bit his tongue. Shen Canzheng turned around and saw the shocked expression on the face of the current prime minister, with a hint of longing in his eyes.

"The Thatched Cottage Collection? A handwritten copy? Is it an original?"

Shen, the councilor, shook his head: "How would I know? That thing was wrapped up and placed in a sandalwood box; I couldn't even open it."

Wang Bingchen almost rolled his eyes on the spot. Could anyone believe that? Even if it were hidden in a crack in a rock, let alone in a sandalwood box, Shen Canzheng would still pry it out.

"Participating in politics, you..."

Shen Canzheng looked relaxed and said with a hint of envy, "What are you afraid of? Anyway, this is going to be given to your daughter-in-law. If you want to see it, just go and borrow it."

Wang Bingchen felt as if he had been doused with a bucket of ice water, but the water couldn't extinguish the fire in his eyes. He could almost foresee that after a long period of hesitation, he would finally be unable to resist asking his wife and Yan Ge'er for help, and that the two of them would definitely not help him, leaving him to ask them himself.

then……

Wang Bingchen dared not think any further.

"You shouldn't have told me about participating in politics."

Hearing the resentful voice, Shen Canzheng's smile deepened. When they were almost at the flower hall, Shen Canzheng stopped and patted Wang Bingchen's shoulder. His expression became solemn: "After the two children get married, you must take good care of that child. He is the only bloodline left by my disciple."

Wang Bingchen replied, "Don't worry, Prime Minister. They are all my children. I will not forgive anyone who tries to bully them."

Shen, the councilor, laughed again: "That's good, that's good."

...Outside Xie Yuyan's residence, Wang Yan dismounted, wearing a brand-new peacock-colored robe.

Sangzhi, who was following behind, stared at her young master for a long time, and each time she thought to herself, her young master's clothes really looked like... spring had arrived.

“My lord, we cannot go in,” Sang Zhi said in a low voice. “Madam specifically said that this is the rule, especially when guests are present.”

As soon as Sang Zhi finished speaking, Sang Dian had already started climbing up the tree trunk next to him, saying as he climbed, "My lord, let me check if anyone is here first."

Sang Zhi frowned, and then realized that the young master was staring at Sang Dian, as if he hadn't heard him at all.

“My lord, we can’t climb,” Sang Zhi pointed to Wang Yan’s robe. “These clothes fit so well, it wouldn’t be good if we messed them up.”

“With your skills, you’re fine,” Sang Dian said. “Look, you’re up here in no time.”

Sang Zhi wished he could tear Sang Dian off and smash him on the ground.

"Let's see how it is inside now."

Hearing her husband's words, Sang Zhi became even more furious, wishing she could stand aside and completely sever ties with this master and servant.

Sang Dian peered inside through the wall, then turned back after a moment: "The dishes have already been served; it seems to be going smoothly."

"That's Madam Li, the maidservant..."

As he spoke, Sang Dian shrank back, calculating that once Li Mama left, he would go and check again.

"Oh, that's Xiao Jinzhu."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yan straightened his robe and said, "Throw a pebble in and let Yan Sui come out."

Sang Zhi felt he couldn't bear to look. He wondered what Su Man and the others were doing in the courtyard. They hadn't managed to catch Sang Dian red-handed after all this time.

Wang Yan wasn't in a hurry; he just wanted to hear more about what was going on inside.

When Yan Sui finally found him, he was standing neatly and cleanly at the back door.

Yan followed the proper etiquette and then recounted everything that had happened inside.

"No matter how much trouble the Xie family causes, no one pays attention to them, so they have no choice but to leave," Yan Sui said, mentioning Xie Yuyan. "I just saw Xie Shanren."

“The kind man is wearing a blue silk robe with a silver-red front opening today, which looks very nice.”

Sang Dian blinked. Hearing Yan Sui say that, the young master was even more eager to enter the house.

Yan Sui stared at Wang Yan: "Wang Shanren's robes are also quite nice today. If the two philanthropists stood together, they would definitely be eye-catching."

Upon hearing this, Wang Yan reached into his robe and handed Yan Sui a heavy purse: "This is for you, not for the temple's incense money."

Sangzhi naturally wouldn't care about these things. His young master could give money to whomever he wanted. However, his young master's appearance was unfamiliar to him, as if he had lost his mind.

Yan Sui dared not accept it and reached out to refuse, but Wang Yan instead hung the purse on his wrist.

Wang Yan said, "This is the wedding gift money for my marriage to A Yan."

Yan Sui opened his mouth, wanting to retort, "Wang Shanren, you haven't married your bride yet," but he knew that he could never say such a thing.

Feeling the heavy weight of his purse, Yan Sui thought to himself, "If you take someone's money, you should repay them... If you do someone a favor, you should do something in return."

“I will go and inform Xie Shanren that the young master is outside the door,” Yan Sui said. “The young master is waiting for my news here.”

　Let's take it easy for a couple of chapters, um, soon we'll be... well, you know.

　　(End of this chapter)