The big boss truly had evidence of Yan Ting's dealings, but Yan Ting wasn't aware of it.
It wasn't much, just a token.
Yan Ting was naturally not dumb enough to reveal something to a merchant. All the dealings with the "Broad Justice Band" were done by his trusted aide. This included the discussions with the northern barbarians. However, a minor character could naturally not be the representative for such a major matter. No matter how dumb they were, the barbarians wouldn't just randomly listen to a Chinese person. Yan Ting had given his token to his subordinate as proof of his identity.
The barbarians were very cunning and requested for the token to be left behind until Yan Ting sent their goods over before they would return it.
Yan Ting undoubtedly knew this was not beneficial to him, but he was also extremely confident. He didn't think anything would go wrong.
The goods were delivered by the "Broad Justice Band" as agreed upon and they brought Yan Ting's token back. However, in a clever twist the big boss had made an almost identical copy and had given it to the person who came for the token. Yan Ting naturally wouldn't let someone who knew his secrets live. After receiving the token, he had killed off that "big boss". He naturally didn't realize the "big boss" was not the real one. After his plans fell through due to being forced back to the capital, Yan Ting assumed he had cleaned up after himself. In reality, that wasn't the case.
The big boss wouldn't have revealed he had such a thing if it weren't for him being afraid Shen Dong wouldn't believe his words.
This was truly causing his own downfall. The saying that excessive scheming ended up causing harm instead referred to this.
The big boss naturally wouldn't be allowed to live and he also knew this in his heart. However, he also knew there was no use in struggling. He might as well give up his own life to protect the rest of his family.
Luo Huai Yuan also managed to get his marriage money back.
Apart from that, he also managed to get the blood money earned by the big boss over the many years. They left the big boss's clueless family the amount befitting "Philanthropist Hao" and everything else was swept clean.
Apart from giving the troops that came along some of the money, everything else was handed over to Shen Dong. The big boss's ill-gotten wealth had come from smuggling, and should naturally be used for the Pingsha Pass. This was a sort of compensation for the troops that protected the country there year round.
The entire matter seemed to have been perfectly wrapped up. Although the means weren't too honorable, at least no innocents were harmed.
Due to various reasons, the cause of this calamity hadn't been punished. However, he had also aroused the hatred of two households. One was the Shen household and the other was Luo Huai Yuan who was almost screwed over by his cheap father-in-law.
Being targeted by both of them, Yan Ting would clearly not have a good ending. However, that was something for the future.
The news was sent from the Pingsha Pass back to the capital, and allowed the Zhenguo Duke Estate as well as Shen Yi Yao to relax. At the same time, Luo Huai Yuan, Yan Yan and Shen Qi also set off for the capital after a final round of investigation.
On the way back, Shen Qi split off and departed for the Fu Province.
He had decided to follow Luo Huai Yuan's advice and planned to make a trip there. Apart from giving Luo Huai Yuan and Yan Yan some pretext, the reason he came this time was also to give himself an excuse.
This won't be mentioned for now. Luo Huai Yuan and Yan Yan took around two months before they finally returned to the capital.
Yan Yan naturally snuck back to the Weiyuan Marquis Estate. Shen Yi Yao held her and cried for a long while. Yan Mo was also teary-eyed as he stood on the side.
His mom and sister always treated him as a child, and there were many things they didn't tell him. The day his mom tried to hang herself and his sister left the capital, Yan Mo only found out everything after the fact. He was naturally dejected and discouraged, but Yan Mo also knew he could only do his best to grow stronger. He had to grow strong enough to be able to block the wind and rain before he could escape the situation he was in.
Nothing seemed to have happened during the time Yan Yan was gone.
The old madam was still her old self, lying in the Rongan Hall muddling around waiting to die. The eldest branch's Xue-shi was secretly preparing all sorts of things for Yan Ru's marriage and was extremely busy. The third branch's Chen-shi had been very quiet recently. She had finally finished copying down the scriptures and was no longer confined. The first thing she did when going out was to admit her mistakes to the old madam.
She seemed to have changed, and had returned to the taciturn person of the past. She also started getting along with Concubine Cui, seemingly aware that it would be hard for her to get pregnant again at her age. She spent her time watching Concubine Cui's stomach, praying daily that she would give birth to a boy.
Therefore, Chen-shi got herself back into Yan Qu's good graces.
Yan Yan heard all of this from Matron Zou and the maids under her, but she felt things weren't that simple. However, since this matter didn't really have much to do with her, she didn't think too much about it.
While Yan Yan had been gone, Shen Yi Yao had covered it up by saying she had stayed at the Zhenguo Duke Estate. No one in the estate had any doubts. The second day Yan Yan returned, Yan Ru and Yan Ling came to visit.
Seeing Yan Yan, Yan Ru was shocked: "How did you get so tanned? It's not even summer yet!"
Yan Yan had truly tanned quite a bit on this trip. She was born beautiful so although she wasn't as fair as before, she couldn't be called swarthy. However, since Yan Ru had always been envious of Yan Yan's snow-white skin, the difference was naturally very apparent.
Yan Yan smiled: "It's different living at grandfather's place. No one fusses over me so I went riding every day. It's only natural I got darker."
Yan Ru regretfully stroked her wrist, "You're about to marry and it's better for a bride to be fair."
Yan Ling winked naughtily at Yan Yan, "Eldest sis was always envious of third sis's fair skin. Now that third sis got darker, she doesn't seem too bothered by it but instead it's eldest sis who feels it's a pity."
After all her efforts over this period of time, Xue-shi could be said to have forgiven Yan Ling.
That matter wasn't caused by Yan Ling after all, and after so many years the two of them knew each other well enough. They were both intelligent and naturally wouldn't self-destruct. Xue-shi had already arranged everything so there was no need to let it go to waste due to being upset. Once her anger faded, her treatment of Yan Ling returned to normal.
"Great! You're making fun of me again, you scoundrel!"
Yan Ru went to tickle Yan Ling out of embarrassment.
Yan Ling laughed and shirked away, "Hey, I'm just telling the truth. I'm also very envious of third sis's skin. It's nothing to be ashamed of, so why not say it?"
Yan Yan also laughed and scolded: "It seems the two of you came just to make fun of me!"
The three of them laughed together.
~~~~~~
Time passed by like flowing water.
After Xue-shi finished arranging Yan Ru's dowry, she put all her efforts into teaching Yan Ru the art of being a wife. She told her everything there was to know and Yan Ru's head was about to explode.
She had initially entertained some beautiful fantasies about marriage, but after being fussed at by her mom, they all vanished. All that was left was fear. Therefore, she frequently came to look for Yan Yan.
They were both about to get married, but why did third sis not seem worried at all?
Yan Ru expressed her envy.
Yan Yan said comfortingly: "It's not the same. I've known the fourth prince for a long time so my mom naturally isn't worried about me. You have to get to know each other until you can live in harmony which requires quite a lot of effort. It'll naturally be different from living in our chambers. Eldest aunt is naturally teaching you these things for your own good."
"I also understand. But it's still really irritating to listen to her telling me how to control chambermaids and concubines and what not." Speaking to this point, Yan Ru's face turned red and she lowered her voice. "Oh right, my mom said she'll pick a few maids as part of my dowry. Has your mom chosen yours yet?"
Yan Yan froze and shook her head.
There were several maids in the room including Mei Xiang and Mei Xue. When they heard this, they didn't reveal anything on their faces but they secretly perked their ears up.
"I heard my mom say that some preparations are needed for dowry maids. Their contracts must be held in your hands so you can be at ease in using them." Yan Ru mumbled quietly.
Yan Yan hadn't thought too much about it at first, but hearing this she started thinking more.
Could it be that dowry maids weren't just dowry maids?
Yan Yan had heard that when girls from major households married off, they would have maids in their dowry. These maids had several uses. Some were personal servants and in the future would become the managing matron. Others were used as chambermaid candidates for the husband.
Yan Ru was a young lady and was embarrassed to talk about this to begin with. Seeing Yan Yan struggling to understand the point, she was even more embarrassed to mention it. She decided to let her second aunt tell Yan Yan herself.
The two people were just chatting idly to begin with so they dropped the matter. However, this made Mei Xiang's group feel restless.
Without mentioning Yi Yun and Yi Meng, Mei Xiang and Mei Xue had served Yan Yan since they were young. Now they were no longer young. Normal convention in wealthy households was that personal maids could be released at eighteen to be married.
The two of them were already eighteen but the miss and madam didn't show any indications. Seeing that the miss was getting married within two months, they didn't know what was being arranged.
Mei Xue wasn't worried for now because her marriage was set early on. Her future husband had a similar background to her. He was born into the Zhenguo Duke Estate and his dad was a small manager there. Their families lived next to each other and could be said to be extremely familiar.
In theory, a personal senior maid of the miss wasn't allowed to set her own marriage. However, this marriage had been arranged when the two were just babies. Yan Yan was also aware of this matter.
Mei Xiang didn't have this sort of arrangement. However, Mei Xiang was also steadier than Mei Xue. She wasn't prepared for marriage anyway, and she also wanted to serve the miss for a couple more years. She didn't want the miss to have no one when she went to the prince's estate.
This sort of question wasn't something for the maids to ponder about anyway. The masters would make the arrangements. But these people also knew what being part of the dowry implied because the low-ranked maids under them were already gossiping about it.
No matter what the senior maids thought, others felt that it would be an honor to become dowry maids for the fourth prince estate. If they were really elevated to a concubine in the future, their ancestors' tombs would be giving off green smoke.
This wasn't just an ordinary household. It was the royal family!
The senior maids were all preoccupied for several days.
Yan Yan saw everything but didn't say anything about it.
Actually it wasn't just the senior maids that were flustered. The junior maids under them had their own thoughts as well.
Mei Xue's marriage was already set and Mei Xiang was too old. They were naturally not up for consideration. Yi Yun and Yi Meng were the perfect age, but normally a dowry included eight to twelve maids, each with their own purpose. For example, there would be those good at needlework, those who were good at making food and snacks, and of course some who were decent looking for other purposes. Even if Yi Yun and Yi Meng took up two spots, there were still some openings.
Therefore, the servants were secretly excited.
However, the Zhenguo Duke Estate's training was still present, so despite each having their own thoughts, they didn't reveal any signs.
Due to Xue-shi's actions, Shen Yi Yao also remembered this matter. She hurriedly started making preparations. At the same time, the list of maids for the dowry was put together.
Shen Yi Yao called Yan Yan over. It wasn't clear how the discussion went, but after returning, Yan Yan called all her senior maids over.
"I'm about to get married soon. You have all served me for many years with both merits and hard work. Mei Xue has a marriage set already, and it's due to me that you were delayed. You can find some time to hand your duties over and return home. I naturally won't mistreat you for your wedding, and will prepare a dignified dowry for you."
Mei Xue knelt and kowtowed twice to Yan Yan, "Thank you, miss."
"Mei Xiang, what are your thought? If you have someone in mind, you can tell me. I will make the arrangements for you."
Mei Xiang shook her head, "This servant doesn't have parents, and there's only my older brother in the Zhenguo Duke Estate. He's already established his own family and has a job. This servant doesn't want to marry for now, and wishes to serve the miss for a couple more years."
Yan Yan nodded and turned to Yi Yun and Yi Meng. "You both have also served me for several years. I've seen your efforts and sincerity. I treat you the same way I treat Mei Xiang. If you have someone in mind, don't be shy and tell me directly. If you wish to continue serving me, it is also fine."