Four Harmonies and Good Fortune

Chapter 811 Reluctance
As Wang Yan stepped into the house, the steward who came out to greet him immediately bowed and said hello. These days, the young master would always leave the office early and go home to have dinner with his wife every day, and the atmosphere at home was much better than before.

Although there are still many upsetting things...

"Does Mother know about the He family's affairs?"

The steward immediately replied, "The message was sent over early this morning."

Wang Yan nodded and stopped talking, walking straight into the inner courtyard, where he happened to meet Li Mama in the long corridor.

Wang Yan asked, "Is Mother inside?"

Madam Li replied, "Madam is a little tired and is taking a nap. I will go and wake her up right away."

“No need, let Mother rest first,” Wang Yan said. “I will go to pay my respects later.”

Madam Li watched as her young master headed straight for the East Garden. Actually, the lady was doing needlework in the room, wanting her son to talk more with Lady Xie, which was why she sent her to stop him. The lady still felt sorry for the two children, always feeling that they spent too little time together.

Snow began to fall from the sky. Wang Yan walked quickly, but by the time he reached the East Garden, his shoulders were still covered in snowflakes.

"What is Ayan doing?" Wang Yan asked his mother.

Madam Yu said, "Madam is reading letters in the study."

Wang Yan glanced at the neatly packed boxes in the room, stood by the warm brazier for a while to ward off the chill, and then went to the study.

"Have you eaten the medicinal food?" Wang Yan asked his mother.

"Not yet," said Madam Yu. "Madam was busy just now and put the bowl aside."

Wang Yan instructed, "Heat it up and bring it over."

During the two days Xie Yuyan was ill, Wang Langjun stayed by her side, feeding her medicine and taking care of her. Madam Yu had assumed that once her daughter-in-law recovered, things would return to normal, but…

Wang Langjun seemed to have gotten used to this all of a sudden. Not only did he inquire about the eldest daughter-in-law's condition every day, but he also had to do some things himself.

Logically speaking, shouldn't it take a long time for a person to form a habit? Isn't Wang Langjun doing it a bit too quickly?
……

Xie Yuyan leaned against the soft couch in the study, flipping through the letters in her hand. Among them were not only messages from Yang Xiaoshan, but also information from Wang Yan's spies who had gathered information on various movements. Since Wang Yan was not at home, Sang Zhi simply handed them all to her.

Xie Yuyan was lost in thought as she looked at the messages, so much so that she didn't notice Wang Yan walking in until he reached out to cover her with a blanket.

Xie Yuyan was slightly surprised: "You're leaving the office so early?"

Wang Yan said, "The matter in the Northwest is currently being discussed and decided by the Secretariat and the Privy Council. On the surface, we are not needed yet." However, some people have already begun to weigh the pros and cons and make a decision in secret.

As he spoke, Wang Yan picked up the hand warmer next to him and placed it in Xie Yuyan's arms: "It's snowing outside, hold this hand warmer so you don't catch a cold."

Xie Yuyan handed the secret letter to Wang Yan: "Do you want to see it?"

Wang Yan put it aside, and Xie Yuyan saw that he wasn't looking at it, so she stared at it again and reached out to take it. She was used to finishing everything at once.

"No rush," Wang Yan said. "Drink the soup the kitchen is making first, rest a bit, and then we'll see." He was thinking to himself, once this matter was over, should he find more help for A-Yan?

When Mama Yu brought the soup over, Wang Yan reached out to take it, but Xie Yuyan said, "I can do it myself."

After watching Xie Yuyan finish the bowl of soup, Wang Yan opened the secret letter to read it.

Now, it's not just the garrison in the Northwest that's showing unusual activity; the residences of several founding nobles have also been frequently visited recently.

Wang Yan said, "The Duke of Wei is not at his residence either. He must have left quietly before his daughter-in-law came to the capital."

It is clear that the Chiang family had made preparations long ago.

Xie Yuyan continued, "The master has managed things skillfully over the years, and who knows how many officials he secretly has on his side. As a founding noble family, how many can the Duke of Wei possibly win over? With such confidence, even if he kills the King of Qin now, he can still take advantage of the chaos to support another member of the royal family."

If the imperial family members in Bianjing are not suitable, then the lineage of Prince An, who lives elsewhere, can be chosen.

“The King of Qin is in the open,” Wang Yan said, “but those in the shadows are the ones who should be eliminated the most.” He had heard A Yan say that decades later, the capital of Daliang was captured, and Daliang officials surrendered to Northern Qi one after another, including some of the Wang family’s worthless descendants. When A Yan mentioned that descendant of the Wang family, her gaze changed slightly, simply because that descendant had died at her hands.

He led troops to garrison Bianjing, surrendered to the Northern Qi, and was then made a puppet king by the Northern Qi. What the Northern Qi wanted to use was the reputation of the Wang family in Daliang. Since a powerful family like the Wang family had betrayed Daliang, many people would have the idea of ​​retreating and would only want to escape, without the courage to fight.

This explains why Ayan would kill someone.

Even if he and Wang Zheng were present, they would still have to put the greater good before family ties.

However, Wang Yan could also sense that A Yan hadn't said many things, and he wouldn't intentionally ask. She would naturally tell him what she wanted to tell him about her life and past.

Wang Yan reached out and smoothed the stray hairs on Xie Yuyan's forehead: "When are you planning to leave?"

When he said "leave," he didn't mean moving back to the South City Wharf.

Ayan has lived in the Wang family for so long without ever mentioning leaving, because she wants outsiders to believe that she will stay in the inner quarters of the Wang family and be under their protection. In this way, if she leaves the city, she won't be targeted.

“Tomorrow,” Xie Yuyan said, “this time, Abbess Jingyuan will be traveling with me.”

Wang Yan lowered his hand and took her hand in his. Sometimes he really wanted to force her to stay by his side, but he... couldn't do that.

She must first be Ayan before she can be anyone else.

They must not be harmed, much less be bound.

“Let Sang Dian and Su Man accompany you,” Wang Yan said, “if…”

Xie Yuyan nodded and smiled: "This is the Liang family's empire. Even if it fails, I have done my best and will not risk my life."

"I believe you." Wang Yan pulled Xie Yuyan into his arms with a slight force.

Xie Yuyan whispered in Wang Yan's ear, "It's true."

The wind and snow outside were getting heavier, but his embrace felt exceptionally warm.

This is the last thing.

This can be considered her last effort to make up for the destruction of her country and family in her previous life.

From now on, she will truly let go and spend the rest of her life with Wang Yan.

……

Jingzhao Mansion.

Zeng family.

Marquis Changyuan, who had long since retired from officialdom, was reclining in his chair, eating dried fruit handed to him by his grandson.

After retiring, Marquis Changyuan indulged in fine wine and food every day, gradually becoming overweight. This year, he even suffered from headaches, which frightened his wife so much that she set a rule that he could only eat meat once a day, and sweet and greasy food could not be served to the Marquis.

Even though his wife was old and still held considerable power, no one dared to disobey her wishes. The dignified Marquis of Changyuan could only secretly instruct his grandson to steal a piece or two of candied fruit to sweeten his mouth.

"My lord," the steward hurried to Marquis Changyuan's side, "another invitation has arrived, what do you think..."

“I will not see them,” said Marquis Changyuan. “I am ill. Even if the Emperor or the Empress Dowager came, I still wouldn’t be able to get up.”

What kind of place is Jingzhao Prefecture? The Northwest is in chaos, and many people want to drag it into the mess.

If he agrees, that brat from the He family will surely die in the Northwest, but can he really do that?

This is not just a matter of He Tan's life; it might even implicate the imperial city of Bianjing.

(End of this chapter)