Chapter 1056: Source of Trouble

"Brother-in-law! Eldest Sister! Cousin!"

At the Bianjing wharf, Sheng Changbai waved his hand happily.

Supporting Hualan and Shulan, who were both pregnant with large bellies, they stepped off the boat steadily. Wang Yan and his family of three stood there, watching Changbai, who was grinning foolishly.

Hualan patted her own younger brother on the shoulder: "You've grown taller, and thinner too."

Shulan laughed: "I saw Changbai when he was little, I even held you. Who would have thought that when we met again, you'd be this big."

"I'm sixteen this year, Cousin. I'm no longer the young child I was back then."

The current Changbai looked very steady, but not rigid. However, come to think of it, his former "little adult" persona was more fun.

Wang Yan reached out to pinch Changbai's biceps and hammered his chest, nodding with a smile: "Not bad, you haven't slacked off."

"I wouldn't dare waste time on physical training; it keeps my mind sharp for reading."

Wang Yan asked with a smile: "Why didn't you go to Hangzhou for your studies? That Hangzhou Academy is excellent, with a thriving academic atmosphere. It's a pity you didn't go."

Changbai returned a polite smile but did not answer.

Hualan chided: "Husband, stop teasing Changbai. It's all because of the big trouble you caused in Hangzhou. What if something had gone wrong? Didn't Afa not go either? Thank heavens for the blessing; otherwise, who knows what would have happened."

Wang Yan smiled without a word. He caused trouble outside and added psychological burdens to his family; he had to let them vent their complaints. After all, they could never believe that Wang Yan had the ability to fight an army alone and that killing was simpler for him than killing an old hen.

Changbai was still perceptive. Seeing Wang Yan remain silent, he greeted: "Rooms have been prepared at home, and meals were arranged early this morning. Both sisters are pregnant and have endured the fatigue of the journey; they must be exhausted. Let's hurry back to eat and have a good rest."

"Let's go." Wang Yan waved his hand, and the group boarded the carriage, swaying as they headed into the city...

Because it was already afternoon, Wang Yan didn't make any other moves. After sending Hualan and Shulan to the Sheng residence, he went to the Ministry of Personnel to report his arrival. He let people know he had entered the capital and was waiting for a summons from the Emperor or the Secretariat to answer questions and report, before starting his new job.

Normally, officials of his rank wouldn't have this step. It was as if after Sheng Hong entered the capital, he only needed to register at the Ministry of Personnel, and then he had to go around visiting others, though no one wanted to see him.

But Wang Yan was different. After all, he was a top scholar (Xingpu Zhuangyuan), and this time entering the capital, he had added a position in the Pavilion, belonging to the stage of waiting in line for promotion. Furthermore, the big trouble he caused in Hangzhou resulted in outstanding political achievements, surpassing all other officials; he was absolutely exceptional.

Regardless, Zhao Zhen and the ministers all wanted to see him, so before that, he had to wait honestly for the summons. Only after meeting them could he visit some people in the capital.

"Hurry, hurry, we've been waiting for you." Sheng Hong pulled Wang Yan, looking satisfied, and sighed, "Oh my, who would have thought that Ziyan would actually accomplish such a big thing in Hangzhou. In the capital, I was watching with boiling blood."

"Is Father-in-law's health well?"

"Does Ziyan think I look unwell?" Sheng Hong waved his hand and pulled Wang Yan to sit down, "Was the journey back to the capital smooth?"

"Smooth all the way."

"Indeed. You scared those people out of their wits. A few couldn't hold you, and many couldn't hide their tracks. If you had obtained their confessions, I fear it would have been another bloodbath."

Sheng Hong couldn't help but sigh as he spoke. He said his blood was boiling, but in the capital, he was asked every day if Wang Yan was his son-in-law, which scared him to death. What he wouldn't tell others was that for a time, he had considered whether to cut ties with this precious son-in-law, to avoid the blood splashing onto his Sheng family when the son-in-law got into trouble...

A sense of inexplicable guilt arose. He stole a glance at Wang Yan, who remained as usual, and then greeted, "Changfeng, why are you standing there stunned? Why aren't you pouring the wine?"

"Ah? Oh." Sheng Changfeng, standing on the side, was dazed and hurriedly got up to pour wine for everyone one by one.

"No progress at all." Sheng Hong hummed with dissatisfaction.

"Is Changfeng holding a grudge against me?" Wang Yan asked with a chuckle.

"I wouldn't dare, I wouldn't dare. Brother-in-law is teaching me how to conduct myself, so how could I resent you? Brother-in-law, please, have a drink." Changfeng was extremely cautious, not even daring to breathe too loudly.

"Look at you, still saying you don't hold a grudge. But since you mentioned me teaching you how to conduct yourself, let me say this to you first. You are a bit slippery, and you must have some unsavory friends outside. I am about to take office as the Left Military Patrol Commissioner of Kaifeng Prefecture; you had better behave yourself and not cause me any trouble.

I am clear about Changbai; there is no need to worry about him. As for your friends, be careful with your words and actions, and keep your mouth shut. I can tell you with certainty that after I take office, someone will surely try to drag you into doing something illegal or undisciplined, including the Wang family from your mother-in-law's side, and that Kang family—none of them are any good. They will try to seize a handle on you to attack me.

When that time comes, not only will I be finished, but the Sheng family will also be implicated. I do not wish to be controlled by others; I will only choose to uphold justice over family ties. Those who deserve to be killed will be killed, and those who deserve to be exiled will be exiled. I am telling you this in advance so that if you cause trouble, you won't blame me for punishing you without prior warning or for being heartless."

Changfeng nodded repeatedly in agreement, but Sheng Hong, who was on the side, raised an eyebrow. This wasn't aimed at Changfeng; it was aimed at him.

He frowned and asked, "Ziyan, is the situation really that serious?"

"Father-in-law, why are you confused at a time like this? I have slaughtered the powerful and wealthy families of Hangzhou. At the time of the arrests, nearly a thousand people were killed on the spot, and over ten thousand were exiled. Hundreds of men from various families escaped. Hundreds of officials at all levels were implicated, and it even dragged out the matter of reselling military equipment, leading to the punishment of no fewer than a hundred people. There are countless people who hate me and wish I were dead. In such a situation, Father-in-law, do you think it is serious?"

Wang Yan naturally understood what Sheng Hong meant; he wasn't asking if it was truly that serious, but rather if he really needed the Sheng family to be so obedient. Of course, Sheng Hong was already cautious and prudent by nature; his asking this was still a way of expressing his displeasure.

So, seeing Sheng Hong nod, Wang Yan poured him a cup of wine and turned to ask, "Father-in-law has been in the capital for over two years; it is time for a transfer out. I wonder how your arrangements are going?"

"What arrangements could I possibly make?" Sheng Hong shook his head with a bitter smile.

He had a wide circle of acquaintances, but his connections in the upper echelons were insufficient. He was single-mindedly aiming for higher positions; if he had a way, he would have been transferred to a local post long ago. According to the normal trajectory of promotion, he should have been a Prefect by now.

After a pause, he added, "Furthermore, I am your father-in-law, Wang Ziyan. With your current influence, I fear it would be difficult for me to do my job even if I were sent to a local post."

"It's not that serious." Wang Yan shook his head with a smile. "However, I am afraid I cannot help you with your affairs, Father-in-law. Fan Gong is out of office, Ouyang Gong is in mourning, Bao Gong has also left for Hebei as the Transport Commissioner, and Minister Wen, whom I had met a few times, has also left the capital. Now, Chancellor Pang and Chancellor Liang are not people I know, so I cannot put in a word for you."

Chancellor Pang was Pang Ji, who had previously worked with Fan Zhongyan against Western Xia and was also a famous minister. Chancellor Liang was Liang Shi, from a great clan in Shandong with many family members in official positions; the play "The Tablet of the Whole Hall" is about the old Liang family.

"Even if you could put in a word, I couldn't make this request." Sheng Hong sighed. "I was just speaking casually. Although it might be difficult for me to work in a local post, no one would dare to cause trouble for me, and I will simply do my duty. This is all thanks to the influence of my worthy son-in-law. As long as you are safe, I have nothing to worry about."

Being Wang Yan's father-in-law was a trouble, but it also had its benefits. After all, Wang Yan was now a famous ruthless man in the Great Song. Even if they knew that if Wang Yan came to power, they would certainly have a hard time, they absolutely did not want to offend him early on. Just as Sheng Hong said, as long as he didn't carry out Wang Yan's old methods in his local post, he would be a good leader, and the people below would be good citizens.

As long as he didn't stir up trouble, he could still get by relying on the prestige of his good son-in-law.

After all, Wang Yan was excessively formidable, and his status was truly special; no one would really treat Wang Yan as a minor official.

Sheng Hong smiled and said, "It's good to stay in the capital for a few more years. We haven't seen each other in three years, and now Hualan and Shulan are both pregnant. As a grandfather, I can see the children more often, and we can all be closer. Speaking of which, Ziyan, why not just stay at home? The Sheng mansion has many courtyards; it is more than enough for your whole family to live in."

"Thank you for your kindness, Father-in-law, but there is no need. I bought a house earlier; although it is not as grand as the Sheng mansion, it counts as a place to stay in the capital. Since we are both in the capital, it is very convenient to visit."

Although Wang Yan's residence in Hangzhou was beautiful and grand, houses in Bianjing were expensive, and he didn't qualify for official welfare housing, so he had to find a place himself. Wang Yan was still very wealthy, and furthermore, his wife and concubine were each wealthier than the last, so buying a house in the capital was not a problem.

After chatting, eating, and drinking like this, and having a good wash, he went to bed and whispered sweet nothings with Hualan...

Wang Yan massaged Hualan and asked with a smile, "How does it feel to be back at your maiden home?"

"Not seeing them for three years, I am naturally overjoyed..."

Without Wang Yan needing to ask more, Hualan started chattering away herself, mostly about the messy affairs of the inner chambers, mostly the back-and-forth fighting between the Wang family and the Lin family. Then there were some interesting anecdotes about the children in the family, jokes from when they were in class—nothing too fresh.

However, there was one thing that was different: Sheng Hong's concubine, the biological mother of the drama's female lead, Lady Wei, had survived and had not been killed by the Lin family. This was precisely because Wang Yan had previously given her a handbook on precautions for pregnant women, and it was the midwife trained at his medical clinic who helped with the delivery. She safely gave birth to a son, whom Sheng Hong named Changyu.

Having successfully given birth to the child, Lady Wei was cautious and quiet, not involving herself in anything. Although she didn't live in wealth and had to suffer the aftermath of the wars between the Wang and Lin families from time to time, there were never any major incidents, and she was never truly starved.

If nothing unexpected happened, Lady Wei could live for several more decades. It counted as a small act of merit Wang Yan had performed in passing. As for anything more, Wang Yan couldn't be bothered to care.

Still the same saying: it was all Sheng Hong's family business, and it wasn't his place as a son-in-law to worry about it...

The next morning, Wang Yan had just finished exercising with Changbai and hadn't eaten yet when a minor official from the Secretariat came to inform him to attend an audience at the hour of Si, which was nine in the morning.

This time was very early, belonging to the first people summoned after the morning meeting had just concluded and some necessary urgent matters had been handled. After all, there was no telling how many people were waiting in line every day. Naturally, the earlier the time, the more importance was attached.

Wang Yan naturally couldn't arrive right at the last minute. After breakfast, he changed into his green official uniform, put on his official hat, and took a carriage to the Jingcheng. After being led into the inner palace by someone, he walked to a side hall next to the Great Qing Hall to sit down. Someone served him tea, and he began to drink it quietly.

Perhaps Wang Yan's reputation was too great; as he sat there, officials would occasionally walk back and forth as if they were very busy, all treating him like a monkey to be gawked at.

Wang Yan naturally possessed this bit of composure, so he smiled and nodded to everyone who made eye contact with him. Three years had passed, and the country had produced new top scholars; they had already forgotten the Wang Yan of the past and needed to get to know him again.

After sitting quietly for a long while, someone finally came to take him away from the side hall and into the side hall next to the Great Qing Hall; that was the Secretariat.

Wang Yan walked in with his head held high, took a look at the elegant environment that wasn't particularly unusual, and walked straight up to pay his respects to Zhao Zhen, who was seated in the place of honor: "Wang Yan pays his respects to Your Majesty."

This did not belong to a grand ceremonial occasion, so there was no need to perform the grand kowtow.

Not seeing him for three years, Zhao Zhen had aged a lot. He was only forty-two years old, yet he already had a lot of white hair, the skin on his face was sagging, and the signs of old age were fully apparent.

He nodded with a smile: "Minister Wang, no need for formalities. Take a seat."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Wang Yan turned his head and bowed to the two old men sitting on the left and right: "Greetings to Chancellor Pang, Chancellor Liang, and all my colleagues."

Pang Ji and Liang Shi both nodded in a friendly manner, and the others also appeared very friendly.

After paying his respects, Wang Yan walked to the seat at the very end and sat down.

Zhao Zhen said: "Three years apart, Minister Wang has truly made me look at you with new eyes; you have done great things in Hangzhou."

Wang Yan had no choice but to stand up and bow again: "The Hangzhou affair was truly not the merit of this official; it was all because the people of Hangzhou have hearts directed toward the country, hearts for the Great Song, and hearts for Your Majesty. This official governing the locality was merely acting on behalf of Heaven, borrowing the power of Heaven; this is truly the merit of Your Majesty."

Pang Ji and the others turned their heads in unison, all staring at Wang Yan's calm expression.

Don't blame them; blame Wang Yan for being too ruthless in his actions. Generally speaking, people with such a style rarely say such things. But clearly, this was a classic case of first impressions being misleading.

Wang Yan's flattery continued: "It all relies on the heavenly might and virtue of Your Majesty; this official's political orders were carried out without obstruction, and the people of Hangzhou were all compliant. Only then did Hangzhou have today's prosperity."

Seeing Wang Yan's earnest face, with sincerity revealed in his eyes, even though they knew Wang Yan was spouting nonsense, Zhao Zhen couldn't help but twitch the corners of his mouth and burst into laughter.

Flattery mainly highlights a sense of conviction; of course, before that, it is more important to have some ability, to always be able to solve problems, so that the nonsense spoken sounds truly pleasant.

"Minister Wang has been in office for three years, and you have become quite proficient in the ways of being an official." Zhao Zhen said insincerely.

"These are all the heartfelt words of this official."

Zhao Zhen shook his head: "Sit down and speak."

"Thank you, Your Majesty."

Zhao Zhen glanced at Pang Ji, who straightened his body, coughed twice, and opened his mouth with a raspy voice: "Summoning you here today is to have you provide an explanation regarding the Hangzhou affair. Although there were official documents submitted, it is not as clear as us speaking face-to-face."

"Chancellor Pang is absolutely right. Then, shall this official start from the time I took office?" Seeing Pang Ji nod, Wang Yan began his stand-up routine in the Secretariat.

"When this official first arrived in Hangzhou, the then-Signatory Official Zhang..."

Wang Yan's report mainly highlighted its entertainment value, because he was catering to Zhao Zhen.

Hangzhou's achievements were realistically laid out there; where could there be any secrets, with spies from every family, the Jingcheng Guard of the royal family, and perhaps even agents from Liao and Xia?

The actual situation, and even some secrets, might have been perfectly clear. Now, having him explain it was a gathering of various bigwigs to see what kind of person he really was. Whether he was telling the truth, whether he was playing tricks, whether he had the court at heart, and whether he could be trusted and entrusted with heavy responsibilities.

This was a necessary verification process, which to a certain extent ensured the purity of the team, that is, the unification of the consciousness of "dying for the Zhao Song."

Wang Yan spoke eloquently in the Secretariat, recounting things one by one. Of course, he didn't mention the matter of him finding people to go up the mountain to be bandits. Although this matter seemed to be a consensus among everyone, it was absolutely impossible to bring it to the table. If you did it secretly and didn't cause trouble, then everyone would be none the wiser.

This was based on the foundation of Hangzhou having its current level. If they had known at the beginning that Wang Yan was bold enough to act as a fake bandit, he would have been finished, and Wang Yan might have become a real bandit.

After a long time, Zhao Zhen nodded and said: "Minister Wang has worked hard and achieved much."

"All for the prosperity and strength of our Great Song!" Wang Yan's sense of conviction was full; he was a loyal minister of the Great Song! No one was more loyal than him!

Zhao Zhen laughed: "Minister Wang said it well, for the prosperity and strength of our Great Song."

Zhao Zhen's words were equivalent to acknowledging Wang Yan. Immediately, the others began their commercial mutual flattery, praising Wang Yan's achievements from all angles, praising him without any blind spots; they were all wonderful people.

After such a lively time, Zhao Zhen said: "Minister Wang trained the Xiang Army in Hangzhou to suppress bandits, and even designed a trap to lure and annihilate the rebels, deeply understanding the art of war. Two months ago, Nong Zhigao rebelled and even wrote a letter to me, asking me to appoint him as the Jiedushi of Yonggui. Recently, the court has been discussing this matter. I wonder what insights Minister Wang has?"

"A tiny barbarian, uneducated and ignorant of etiquette and righteousness, how dare he talk back to our Great Song?" Wang Yan was instantly filled with righteous indignation and said loudly, "This official heard that Lord Di is currently in the capital; I suppose the border is stable recently and Lord Di has nothing to do. Lord Di has long been experienced in battle and is unparalleled in strategy. This official believes that we can send Lord Di south to take Nong Zhigao's dog head."

Hearing this, many people present, including Pang Ji and Liang Shi, nodded. Clearly, they had already reached a unified opinion.

"If Your Majesty thinks this is using a great talent for a small task, this official requests to fight; I will surely take Nong Zhigao's head and offer it at the palace gate." Wang Yan stood up directly, knelt on one knee, and bowed, neither like a scholar nor like a warrior.

"Quickly get up, quickly get up." Zhao Zhen shook his head and laughed, "I know you are loyal, brave, and martial, and have always had the ambition to recover Yanyun and break Liao and destroy Xia. However, your assignment has already been decided, and the procedures cannot be easily changed. The urgent task is to fulfill your duty as the Left Military Patrol Commissioner of Kaifeng Prefecture; I am watching you. Since you have arrived in the capital, I imagine you are not one to endure idleness; take office tomorrow."

"This official accepts the decree." Wang Yan bowed and sat back down.

At this time, Zhao Zhen turned to ask: "I heard that Minister Wang is proficient in medicine, and that Xiwen, Yongshu, Xiren, and even Xiren's son have all been treated by you with medicine? Previously, Xiren taught me that method of yours for strengthening the body; I have practiced it for over a month and it truly has some spirit. Why don't you come and take a look at me? Don't worry, taking a look won't hurt."

"This official obeys the decree." Wang Yan hesitated for just a moment before standing up and walking straight to Zhao Zhen. After apologizing, he grabbed Zhao Zhen's wrists and began to take his pulse.

Zhao Zhen didn't say what he was looking for, but clearly, this was something that didn't need to be said. Old Zhao's requirements were not high; he just wanted a son.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me; this official's words come from medical principles..."

"Just say it." Zhao Zhen shook his head indifferently.

Wang Yan bowed: "Your Majesty has a deficiency of kidney Qi..."

Zhao Zhen's physical condition was okay, but he was extremely weak, and his kidneys were not good. Moreover, worry and overwork had affected his body, leading to a deficiency of both Qi and blood. His spirit was poor, his appetite was low, and his sexual performance was poor. The quality of his sperm was low, so naturally, it was difficult to have children, and the children he did have naturally had some problems.

After listening to Wang Yan's explanation, Zhao Zhen asked somewhat urgently: "Does Minister Wang have a method of treatment?"

Wang Yan didn't care about the subtle looks others were giving him; he directly had someone bring pen and ink, wrote out a prescription, and said: "Your Majesty's body is weak and cannot handle sexual activity; the first priority is to abstain from lust. Every day, you must practice the body-strengthening method I created twice... exquisite meals...

Your Majesty asked this official if I have a method of treatment; this is my method. However, this official cannot guarantee that Your Majesty will definitely be able to have a son; this is not within this official's ability. Whether to use it or not is entirely up to Your Majesty. I only hope Your Majesty will not blame this official for overstepping."

This was a death trap, involving too much. Was there poison in the prescription? If Zhao Zhen truly used the medicine later, would someone else poison it? What if he couldn't have a son after using his method? Not to mention the matter of Zhao Yunrang. If Zhao Zhen didn't have a son, or if he had one but couldn't keep him, and then Zhao Shu ascended the throne, would he have a different view of me, Wang Mou? It was all problems.

However, Wang Yan couldn't really refuse to examine Zhao Zhen now, because Zhao Zhen had already mentioned Old Bao's son, who had been diagnosed with a death sentence by famous doctors from all over the world, including the Imperial Medical Academy. Moreover, Wang Yan had also paid attention to medical care in the locality, as he himself ran a medical clinic. When he was in Hangzhou, he had also treated some difficult and miscellaneous diseases, all of which were documented.

Therefore, Zhao Zhen wasn't asking him; he was just letting him examine him, and he had no choice. This wasn't something that could be brushed off with a light "my talent is shallow" or "I can't see it"; that would instead make Zhao Zhen resent him and affect his progress.

Since he had examined him, he had to have an explanation; not having one wouldn't do, and having one was trouble. So Wang Yan could only have an explanation and could only endure the trouble.

Zhao Zhen was now also a sick person seeking medical advice everywhere, wanting a son until he was crazy. However, Old Zhao was actually quite a good person; he didn't secretly pull Wang Yan aside to examine him, but did it openly in the Secretariat, in front of the important ministers of the court.

If you think about it, doing it secretly would certainly have been better; if Zhao Zhen didn't hold a grudge, that could have saved a lot of trouble. But in reality, this was impossible. Because there were no secrets in the imperial palace; the illness examined today would spread all over the sky on the same day. The more private it was, the greater Wang Yan's trouble would be. Relatively speaking, doing it this way was actually a protection for Wang Yan...

Zhao Zhen looked at Wang Yan's elegant handwriting on the paper and sighed: "Minister Wang has a heart."

"I only hope Your Majesty will not blame me."

"If you didn't say it, I would blame you." Zhao Zhen waved his hand, "Retire."

"This official retires."

Wang Yan bowed respectfully, signaled to Pang Ji and the others, and turned to leave under the meaningful gazes of the crowd.

It was already past noon, so it was clearly not a good time to visit anyone. One always had to send a calling card first and get a reply before paying a visit. Moreover, after such a long time, and with today's events, it was questionable whether some people would even want to see him. This was the disadvantage of the capital; there was simply too much trouble. He had only been in the capital for one day, and he had already caused such a sensitive matter...

Because Wang Yan told stories well, he hadn't even managed to get lunch in the palace; he had forgotten to eat. It just so happened that Little Dongliang was still thinking about the roast chicken shop that Zhao Yunrang had frequented, so the master and servant simply wandered over to that old shop.

It was precisely during this process that the news of Wang Yan examining Zhao Zhen and prescribing medicine spread like wildfire; it was truly faster than Wang Yan's legs.

Unsurprisingly, he met Zhao Yunrang in the roast chicken shop, but it was this old fellow who had arrived first...