Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 30 Curiosity
He Tan could tell that Xie was very smart, but he really couldn't understand how Wang Hechun could determine her identity.

Moreover, this was the first time Wang Hechun had mentioned his marriage.

He Tan's mind was entirely focused on the war, and he was always thinking about ways to get the court to send troops to the border. He was away from home for many years and didn't care much about his marriage.

Since he couldn't be by his mother's side, he followed her wishes and let her make the decisions. After getting married, he would try his best to be a good husband, so when his mother planned to find him a woman from a prestigious family, he obediently agreed. Even though he felt that his mother's plan was unlikely to come true, he never questioned it in front of her.

Wang Hechun was different from him. The Wang family also wanted to form a marriage alliance with a prominent family, but Wang Hechun firmly refused.

Last year, the Empress Dowager wanted to bestow a marriage upon Wang Hechun, but he still refused.

That is why it is said that Wang Hechun encountered a fairy when he was young, and he only wanted to cultivate Taoism and did not want to get married.

His mother was very worried and repeatedly urged him to try to find out what Hechun was thinking.

Isn't this a perfect opportunity?

He Tan urged his horse forward and caught up with Wang Hechun: "I didn't expect you to praise a noblewoman so much, just like my mother."

Wang Hechun said calmly, "A woman from a prominent family knows how to assess situations and will help you manage the inner quarters. That's why my aunt said that if my brother marries a woman from a prominent family, his future will be smooth."

He Tan laughed and said, "What about those noble ladies the Wang family found for you? Why won't you choose one of them to marry? Are they not good enough? How does Xie Shi compare to them?"

Wang Hechun said, "No, that's better."

He Tan raised his eyebrows: "I knew it. The Wang family always has good judgment. If you're saying the Xie family is all like my mother described, then those people are..."

Wang Hechun interrupted He Tan: "I said, they are not as good as the Xie family."

He Tan was taken aback. Was this the second time Wang Hechun had praised Xie Shi? Could it be that he had taken a fancy to that young lady? He was just about to try to probe again when he heard Wang Hechun's voice ring out once more.

"A woman from a prominent family can manage your household affairs, help you in your career, be filial to your elders, and raise children..." Wang Hechun's gaze deepened as he said this, "yet she could be someone you knew and cherished just yesterday, and today she comes to take your life."

"Would you want a partner like this?"

Wang Hechun couldn't help but think of his grandmother, who came from a famous family in Daliang.

She always spoke to him gently, her eyes were full of smiles when she looked at him, she often affectionately patted his head, and told him interesting stories.

But when her grandfather angered the emperor and was banished from the court, accused of various crimes, she easily abandoned him, her father, and them all without the slightest regret.

This is the nature of women from aristocratic families; in their hearts, there is no sincerity, only the pursuit of gain and loss.

He Tan finally figured it out. No wonder Wang Hechun refused those marriage proposals. Back then, when his aunt brought Wang Hechun to the He family, it was a time when the Wang family was in dire straits.

Wang Hechun's grandmother, Cui, also divorced his grandfather and returned to the Cui family. Wang Hechun was close to his grandmother since childhood, and even his early education was taught by his grandmother. This incident was a huge blow to Wang Hechun.

Wang Hechun hadn't shown such emotions in a long time, and He Tan couldn't help but be even more curious about that Miss Xie. Who was she from?

“I need to keep an eye on that young lady from the Xie family,” He Tan said. “If she is as you say, when I go back this time, I will also refuse my mother and ask her to choose a woman from an ordinary family for me.”

Wang Hechun didn't respond. When he saw Chen Ju coming to greet him, he immediately ordered, "Have people set up checkpoints at the city gates and in various places to prevent anyone from escaping."

……

Xie Yuyan picked up his teacup, took a sip, and remained calm, as if he hadn't heard the men and women around him talking.

Mother Yu glanced at Xie Yuyan cautiously, dipped her brush in ink, and continued writing diligently, not daring to be negligent in the slightest. She was even certain that if she had any other thoughts and "mistakenly" wrote a single line, the eldest daughter-in-law would immediately find out.

After the men and women had finished speaking.

Xie Yuyan then said, "I will not believe everything you say; I will verify it carefully."

The men and women immediately responded.

"Everyone has worked hard for a long time, let's go back and rest!"

The couple breathed a sigh of relief and bowed as they walked out, but before they even left the courtyard, they realized something was wrong.

Several menacing-looking stewards were waiting at the door; they were clearly sent by the second old lady.

The moment they stepped out of the room, they would be taken away. The men and women looked at each other and ultimately chose to return to the flower hall.

"Madam," the young woman whispered, "we may not be able to get out."

Xie Yuyan raised her eyes: "What happened?"

The man and woman said, "The two old ladies are waiting to arrest people." With the military patrolmen around, the two old ladies dared not interfere with the food and drink, but the military patrolmen couldn't very well follow them home.

Anyone who was alone would be invited to the second old lady's courtyard.

They hadn't thought of this before, and now that they do, it's too late.

Xie Yuyan seemed to have just realized something: "It seems that the task Second Madam gave me is not easy. I have punished the steward of the second branch and investigated the accounts of the second branch. How can the Second Madam let it go? After the people from the yamen leave, she will take revenge. What do you all think we should do?"

These words sounded as if he was quite worried.

However, Xie Yuyan's tone was too indifferent, making it completely unbelievable.

Since this worry is false, she must have anticipated this step long ago.

The men and women looked at each other, seemingly too lazy to hide what this woman was planning to do.

"We will all follow Madam's orders."

Someone spoke up, and the others echoed in agreement.

Xie Yuyan said, "In my opinion, if someone is constantly threatening us from the sidelines, it would be better to crush him completely and leave him with no chance to turn things around."

Everyone felt a chill in their hearts. Was this lady going to completely break ties with the two old masters and two old ladies?

Upon closer reflection, the old lady was right.

Since going out now is unlikely to yield good results, it's better to fight them and save myself. That would be a great achievement for Second Madam.

Xie Yuyan looked at Yu's mother beside her: "Yu's mother, what do you think?"

Madam Yu's face tightened. These women were unaware of the inside story, but she knew that the Second Madam had not allowed Xie to check the accounts, much less allow Xie to harm the Second Master and the Old Madam. If she were to speak up and agree, the news would get out, and the Second Madam might not be able to protect her.

Yu's mother had not yet found an excuse to evade the issue.

Xie Yuyan then asked, "What? Is Mother Yu different from us? Do you have another way to escape?"

Yu's mother's legs went weak, as if all the blood in her body had been drained.

Xie Yuyan then realized, "Everyone has shared a lot of inside information, but Mother Yu hasn't said a word. Mother Yu has been the manager of the second branch for so many years, how could she know nothing?"

Mother Yu's hands were sweating, her mind buzzing. She really didn't want to hear any more of what Madam Xie was saying, but now she seemed to have no other choice.

All eyes in the room were on her. If she dared to open her mouth and refuse, she wouldn't need to go out and be dealt with by the two old ladies. These people could devour her right now.

Mother Yu took a deep breath and turned to look at Xie Yuyan again, hoping to ask for a favor for herself. She still had two grandchildren and an old man who was seriously ill.

Xie Yuyan's gaze didn't fall on her at all. He simply said, "Aunt Yu, are you still hesitant? You've remembered everything everyone said just now. Are you planning to tell the two old ladies about it later?"

Mother Yu felt as if her heart was being gripped tightly, unable to breathe at all. Her eyes widened, unable to hide her astonishment.

How did Xie know that she had dealings with the two old ladies?

She wasn't the Second Madam's eyes and ears, but she still received a lot of benefits from the Second Madam and helped her pass on messages.

She had no intention of betraying the second wife; she simply wanted to please both sides and remain in an invincible position.

In the blink of an eye, a thousand thoughts flashed through Madam Yu's mind, but none of them could escape her. She said in a trembling voice, "I heard that... the Second Master bought an estate for the Fourth Master outside the North City... In fact, the Fourth Master often lives there, and there are quite a few people in the estate... all supported by the clan's money."

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(End of this chapter)