Chapter 10: Guarantor

“Brother Yang Liu died for his country. If this doesn’t count as loyalty and righteousness, then what does?”

The first to speak was a man with a limp. He had once been a soldier who suffered severe injuries on the battlefield, but fortunately, he survived and was able to return home.

Many others were not as lucky as him.

Some even had their heads severed to build a *jingguan* (a monument of skulls). The sheer brutality of it was something those who hadn’t seen it with their own eyes could never imagine.

They fought bloody battles and died in the field, not for the sake of fame, but they would not tolerate others questioning their sacrifice.

Once someone started, other voices immediately followed.

“Mother Yang raised her son well and sacrificed herself to save others; that is naturally a great righteousness.”

“My nephew is in the Jingwei Army. I heard that the soldiers at Jinming Fortress held the city for several days. It wasn’t until almost everyone was dead that the city gates were breached. When the imperial reinforcements retook the fortress and collected the bodies, they pulled over a catty of arrowheads from each man’s remains.”

“No wonder most of them had no bones left, and their bodies were so mangled that it was impossible to tell who was who.”

“Yongan Ward has produced such loyal and righteous men; we all share in the honor.”

“That’s right.”

“When Brother Liu was at home, he was just as obedient. He even helped me patch my roof. Back then… sigh… it’s a pity he was so young.”

Chen Ju listened to the rising chorus of voices around him and felt relieved. He had originally wanted to step out and speak first, but Master Wang had signaled him to hold back.

Now that he thought about it, wouldn’t him speaking have put the cart before the horse? What this young lady needed was the recognition of the Yang mother and son by their neighbors in the ward.

Madam Zhang looked around at the neighbors who were vindicating Brother Liu and hurriedly bowed in gratitude. Amidst the voices of the crowd, her eyes couldn't help but moisten. When the news of Brother Liu’s death first arrived, the Old Master of the second branch had only cared about using the event to bring glory to the family name; where was there any trace of sadness?

But now, she saw sympathy and regret on the faces of everyone around her.

Old Madam Yang the Second watched this scene with an ugly expression, yet she dared not show the slightest bit of displeasure. With things stirred up like this, no one in the clan would be able to easily make things difficult for Madam Zhang and her son in the future. Otherwise, if Madam Zhang went out and poured out her grievances, these people would likely stand on her side.

Had she known it would end like this, she should have found a way to stop it from the start.

Now, it was all too late.

As Old Madam Yang was contemplating how to end the situation, the crowd parted to both sides, and a man over fifty years old walked over.

“Reporting to Inspector He, your subordinate Fang Shi is the Ward Head of Yongan Ward.”

Fang Shi bowed, sweat dripping from his forehead.

It was such a cold day, yet he was drenched in sweat, which showed how urgently he had traveled. He couldn't really be blamed; with the fire at the Yang house today, he, as the ward head, was bound to be questioned. He had just run to the county office, only to be asked about the Yang Mingshan case, and then he rushed non-stop to the Inspector’s office, where he learned the Inspector was not in.

He had read the official documents from the clerks and was just about to invite them for a drink to get to the bottom of the matter when he heard the Inspector had arrived at Yongan Ward.

By the time he rushed to the Yang house, he saw this massive scene.

Fang Shi felt like going to a temple to get a talisman. Had he accidentally offended some deity? Why did everything that happened today add up to more than the entire past year?

The important thing was that Yongan Ward had alarmed the newly arrived Inspector He.

A new official brings three fires; the hardest to provoke were those who had just taken office, not to mention the He family was a family of military generals and had in-laws like the Wang family.

Four words were practically written on Inspector He’s forehead: *Cannot afford to offend.*

Fortunately, Fang Shi had just heard what everyone was discussing, so he immediately picked up on it: “I heard everything just now. Madam Yang’s righteous act of saving others is truly a beautiful story. In the future, if anyone in Yongan Ward spreads rumors or false words, I will certainly arrest them and send them to the office.”

Yang Mingjing, following behind Ward Head Fang, felt his heart skip a beat upon hearing this, feeling that the Ward Head’s words were intentionally aimed at the Yang family.

The matter of failing to report what they knew hadn't been resolved, and now another issue had been added.

And… Yang Mingjing’s eyelid twitched; he felt this wasn't over yet.

Sure enough, a voice sounded once more.

Xie Yuyan said, “Since I have been carried into the Yang house and performed the rites with Brother Yang Liu, we are husband and wife. In the future, I will certainly serve my mother-in-law well and help her raise Brother Jiu to adulthood, fulfilling this bond of affection.”

Once these words were spoken, there was inevitably another round of discussion.

He Tan asked, “Have you thought this through?”

Xie Yuyan replied, “I was abducted and sold to Daming Prefecture with no elders by my side. I ask Inspector He and everyone here to be my witnesses.”

He Tan nodded and looked at Madam Zhang: “Is there a marriage certificate?”

“There is,” Madam Zhang said, “it is in the house.”

“I’ll go get it,” Yang Qin said, running into the courtyard. In a short while, he brought the marriage certificate to He Tan and even handed over a brush and ink.

He Tan filled in his own name at the end of the marriage certificate as a guarantor.

The marriage was now settled. No one dared to say again that this “Xie Shiniang” was not a daughter-in-law of the Yang family.

The people around them offered their congratulations to Madam Zhang one after another.

Yang Mingjing, however, felt as if a thunderbolt had just exploded over his head.

Old Madam Yang the Second took a long time to react. What had just happened? That “Xie Shiniang” was staying in the Yang house?

And she had asked He Tan to be the guarantor, and it was just settled like that? What was even more frightening was that the military officer Chen had been staring at her since just now, as if he would swallow her whole if she dared to step forward and stop it.

Chen Ju was delighted in his heart. He had said all along that this would work out. He could consider this the first marriage he had successfully facilitated, and he would surely bring it up often in the future.

Thinking of this, Chen Ju’s eyelid suddenly twitched, and his heart tightened. He subconsciously straightened his back. Why did he have a bad premonition?

…

Xie Yuyan stepped forward a few paces to bow and thank He Tan. She did not forget Wang Heshun, who had been standing to the side the whole time.

Even though Wang Heshun hadn't spoken, she knew that every move she made was under his watchful eye.

Wasn't her being so high-profile today just for him to see?

He Tan said, “If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to the prefectural office to find me.”

Xie Yuyan nodded.

Just then, Wang Heshun handed a few books to Yang Qin: “Come to the office tomorrow. I will take you to see a teacher in the city who can teach you to read.”

Xie Yuyan was somewhat surprised. She had thought He Tan would call Yang Qin over to question him before giving these out.

She hadn't expected that there would be no need for such trouble at all; “he” had already guessed it.

But thinking about it carefully… in the Great Liang, who could compare to him when it came to scholarship?

So clever, and so good at solving problems for others.

Xie Yuyan subconsciously wanted to look at him with admiration.

Thinking this in her heart, she had already curtsied to Wang Heshun: “Thank you, Master.”

“I am merely a scholar,” Wang Heshun said, “I am still far from being a ‘Master’.”

*Far from the old master in your family, you mean?*

Xie Yuyan naturally wouldn't argue with him about this. The Wang Heshun before her looked gentle, but who knew how many turbulent currents were hidden in those eyes.

However, with such a person delivered to her doorstep, there were countless benefits to be gained by following his lead; she had to accept them all.

Wang Heshun watched “Xie Shiniang’s” perfectly natural gaze, speech, and actions; he could not see any sign of calculation.

But the slightly startled Yang Qin, who had accepted his books, wore a smile that clearly carried a hint of admiration—and this admiration was clearly not for him.

With everything settled, Xie Yuyan watched He Tan and the others leave, then turned to enter the house with Madam Zhang.

Old Madam of the second branch looked gloomy and ordered Madam Zhang: “You, come over here and speak with me.”

Madam Zhang naturally complied, but after only a few steps, the Old Madam of the second branch noticed that the Xie woman was actually following behind them as well.

“You…” The Second Old Madam frowned at Xie Yuyan.

“I also have something to report to the Old Madam.”

The Second Old Madam frowned and was about to dismiss Xie Yuyan, but she heard Xie Yuyan say: “Just now, the Old Madam said that the Xie family marriage was negotiated with the Old Master. I would like to see the wedding invitation sent by the Xie family. How much farmland was listed as a dowry, and what was the value of the trousseau?”