At the same time, in the Wang Clan ancestral home …
"… As this matter concerns the survival of the Wang Clan, this princess hopes that all of you will think carefully about where Second Elder and the others might have gone after fleeing the Wang Clan. If Second Elder cannot be found in time, the Wang Clan will be destroyed, and your good days will come to an end! "
In a side hall, Princess Tong 'an sternly reprimanded a group of beautiful women dressed in gaudy silk dresses.
Behind her sat an old woman with a head full of silver hair. Her clothes were rather simple, but her expression was rather dignified. This old woman was Wang Bing's wife, Madam Yang. She had been born a noble in the previous dynasty and had followed Wang Bing through the vicissitudes of dynasties and the ups and downs of troubled times. She was the supreme Matriarch of the Wang Clan!
Ever since her son Wang Yu took over the Wang Clan, the Matriarch Yang and Wang Bing had retired from the clan. She no longer interfered in the affairs of the Wang Clan, but Wang Kui had colluded with Turkic spies and fled in fear of punishment. There was a high chance that the entire Wang Clan would be dragged into the abyss, and the interrogation of Wang Hong's concubines required a woman of virtue and prestige. As Princess Tong 'an was born in the imperial household of the Tang Dynasty, her status in the Wang Clan was rather high, but her seniority was still lacking. Thus, the astute Wang Bing had invited his wife to' hold the fort '!
"What Xiurong said just now was this old woman's intention. When the nest is overturned, no egg can remain intact. If all of you still want to have a good life in the future, think carefully. If you can help the clan find Second Elder as quickly as possible, you will naturally be rewarded!"
After Princess Tong 'an finished speaking, Matriarch Yang, who was sitting behind her, spoke.
(Xiurong was Princess Tong 'an's nickname. In the entire Wang family, probably only Old Madam Yang dared to call her that.)
When the matrons standing in the side hall learned from Princess Tong 'an that Wang Kui had colluded with Turkic spies and fled with Wang Hong and Wang Xinyuan in fear of punishment, they were at a loss for what to do. Back then, they had married Wang Hong, this' softie ', only because of Wang Hong's family background. Now that Wang Kui had fled in fear of punishment, the second branch of the Wang family was most likely finished, and it might even affect the entire Wang family. As the saying goes, husband and wife are birds in the same forest, but when disaster strikes, they fly away separately. At this moment, most of the matrons were thinking of packing up their valuables and running away after returning to avoid being implicated when the Emperor punished the Wang family in the future. However, there was still a portion of them who, after hearing Old Matriarch Yang's words, still had a glimmer of hope for the Wang family.
"Old Madam, the clan has records of the businesses and private residences my father and husband have set up in Taiyuan City. As for the rest, how would we know? Husband and the others usually don't tell us! "
"That's right! Husband rarely tells us these things. As for the Old Master, ever since this concubine married into the family, I have only seen him a few times! "
"Husband has only favored Ping 'er these past two years. Princess and Old Madam should ask her about this matter, right?"
"Right, right, right! You should ask Ping 'er! "
Three women were a show, and there were now six or seven women standing in this room. The chattering was so lively that it was like they were singing a show. Princess Tong 'an frowned. However, from what she heard, Wang Hong seemed to have only favored one concubine these past few years. Thus, she followed the matrons' gazes and saw a petite, beautiful woman around eighteen or nineteen years old wearing a white silk dress.
(It has to be said that Wang Hong, this old fellow, is truly shameless. He's clearly in his thirties or forties, but he still married an eighteen or nineteen year old concubine. This is truly an old cow eating young grass, a fresh flower stuck in cow dung.)
Princess Tong 'an had been living with Wang Yu in Suizhou these past few years. She had only heard a little about the second branch, but she had never seen this woman called Ping' er before.
"You are Ping 'er?"
Seeing Wang Hong's concubines looking at one of the young women, Princess Tong 'an walked over and asked the beautiful and petite woman.
"Greetings, Princess. This concubine … is called Gao Ping. Husband has always called this concubine Ping 'er!"
The young woman appeared rather nervous, but when she saw Princess Tong 'an come over and ask her a question, she hastily bowed and respectfully answered.
Princess Tong 'an nodded and then asked, "Ping' er, Second Elder colluded with Turkic spies and fled in fear of punishment. From what Master has learned, Wang Hong did not participate too much in this matter. If you can help the clan find Second Elder as soon as possible, Wang Hong might be able to escape punishment. Think carefully. Did Wang Hong and Second Elder do anything out of the ordinary in the past few days? Or did Wang Hong and Second Elder secretly set up other businesses in the city that the clan is unaware of? "
Hearing Princess Tong 'an say that Wang Hong might be able to escape punishment, Gao Ping's eyes brightened. Although she and Wang Hong were an old married couple, just as those concubines had said, ever since she married into the Wang Clan, Wang Hong had always doted on her. This made her feel love and warmth. There was still true love between them. If Wang Hong was innocent, the Wang Clan's second branch would not have collapsed, and she and Wang Hong could return to their previous lives!
With this thought, Gao Ping frowned and began to seriously recall. After a while, her eyebrows trembled, and she suddenly said, "I … this concubine remembers. Husband's behavior these past few days was normal, but yesterday, when my second brother came to the residence to visit me, he was dragged away by Xin Yuan. The two of them chatted for a while before my second brother left the Wang Clan!"
"Your second brother? Who's your second brother? "
Princess Tong 'an frowned and asked subconsciously.
Gao Ping said somewhat embarrassedly, "My second brother's name is Gao Yong, and he's a businessman. He opened many shops in the city, and the largest inn in the city, Tongfu Inn, was also opened by him …"
Gao Ping was born into a merchant family. In terms of family status, Gao Ping and Wang Hong were indeed not compatible. However, after marrying into the Wang Clan, not only did Wang Hong not look down on her because of her background, he even tried his best to protect her. This was also one of the reasons why she wanted to help Wang Hong exonerate himself!
After introducing Gao Yong's identity, Gao Ping continued, "… Early this morning, Xin Yuan suddenly told my husband that he was going out to meet a friend at Tongfu Inn. Now that I think about it, there are too many coincidences. Yesterday, my husband introduced Xin Yuan to my second brother, and today, Xin Yuan went out to Tongfu Inn. I have a feeling that they are hiding something from me and my husband! Moreover, Xin Yuan was imprisoned in the clan for a year before. Now that he has just been released, why would his friend be waiting for him at Tongfu Inn ~? "
"Wang Xinyuan, Tongfu Inn!!"
Princess Tong 'an's expression changed slightly. She had heard from Wang Yu that Wang Chengwu had found Wang Xinyuan sneaking out of the residence this morning. Unexpectedly, he had gone to Tongfu Inn. A few days ago, the Turkic Zhu Xecheng, who had appeared in the city, had also been staying at Tongfu Inn. Now that Zhu Xecheng had been arrested, Wang Xinyuan was still secretly running to Tongfu Inn. As for meeting a friend, who was he trying to fool? Who would meet a friend at an inn? Unless your friend was from another city!
However, just as Gao Ping had analyzed, Wang Xinyuan had been imprisoned in the clan for more than a year. How could it be so coincidental that a friend from another city came to see him as soon as he was released?
Therefore, Wang Xinyuan definitely did not go to Tongfu Inn to meet a friend, but to have an ulterior motive! Then there must be something wrong with Tongfu Inn!
"Apart from this, can you think of any other clues?"
Princess Tong 'an's mind was filled with thoughts. After she came back to her senses, she looked at Gao Ping and asked again.
Gao Ping thought seriously for a moment, but finally shook her head and said, "… No, that's all I can think of! Other than that, I don't think there's anything strange these few days! "
"Good! All of you are dismissed! If you think of anything else, come and tell me immediately! "
Princess Tong 'an nodded and said to the women in the room.
"Yes!"
Wang Hong's concubines hurriedly left the side hall as if they had been granted amnesty.
Only Gao Ping was the last to leave, a trace of worry on her face.
Clearly, she was worried about Wang Hong's situation.
"Mother, what do you think?"
After the women left, Princess Tong 'an looked at the old woman sitting at the head of the table and bowed.
A wisp of wisdom flashed across the old woman's weathered eyes. She said meaningfully to Princess Tong 'an, "Xiurong, since you already have an answer in your heart, why ask me? Do as you wish! I believe that you can definitely save the Wang family! "
Princess Tong 'an was slightly shocked, and she immediately felt respect for the old woman in front of her. She bowed and said, "Then, this daughter-in-law will take her leave. I'll inform Master and Father now!"
"Mm! Go! This old woman will return on her own! "
Matriarch Yang waved a hand at Princess Tong 'an.
In the face of danger, her expression remained calm and composed. This Matriarch Yang had truly weathered all sorts of storms and experienced all sorts of ups and downs!
In the main hall of the Wang family residence …
After Princess Tong An told Wang Bing, Wang Yu, and the rest of the group about what Gao Ping had told her, Wang Yu couldn't help but exclaim, "Tongfu Tavern, it's Tongfu Tavern again! First, it was Zhu Xecheng. Who's staying there now? "
In the afternoon, Wang Chengwu had reported to Wang Yu that Wang Xinyuan had left the estate early in the morning to meet with friends in the city. He had not expected Wang Xinyuan to go to Tongfu Inn. Just like Princess Tong 'an, he also felt that there was something wrong with Tongfu Inn. To be more precise, there was something wrong with the person Wang Xinyuan had met in Tongfu Inn!
"Princess, are you saying that the matter of Second Son colluding with the Turkic spies is also related to the patriarch's son, Wang Xinyuan?"
Third Elder's eyes flashed, and he looked at Princess Tong 'an meaningfully.
Princess Tong 'an's phoenix-like eyes focused, and she said unhappily, "Third Elder, are you blaming my old master instead? Hmph! Even if this matter is related to Wang Xinyuan, he's now a member of the second branch. When he was imprisoned, everything was fine. Who forced my old master to adopt Wang Renyi to the second branch? He's causing trouble as soon as he's out. If you want to blame someone, you can only blame those people who forced my old master to adopt him to the second branch! "
"You …!"
Third Elder was furious, but due to Princess Tong 'an's status, he still restrained himself. He took two deep breaths and said, "What are you saying? This old man was just asking casually. When did I ever blame the patriarch? Besides, it was the patriarch who willingly adopted Xinyuan to the second branch. Who in the estate would dare to threaten the patriarch ~? "
"Hmph!"
Seeing that Third Elder had given in, Princess Tong 'an sneered and did not continue to harp on this matter.
Sitting at the head of the table, Wang Bing said solemnly, "Enough! Right now, it's more important to find Second Son as soon as possible! "
After he finished speaking, he said to Wang Yu, "Yu 'er, since you and the princess both feel that there's something wrong with this Tongfu Inn, and the owner of this Tongfu Inn has a certain relationship with the second branch, then immediately send someone to the Tongfu Inn and investigate the guests inside. If you can find this Gao Yong, then that's even better. Perhaps he knows the whereabouts of the second branch!"
"Yes! This son will arrange it right away! "
Wang Yu got up and cupped his hands to accept the order, then left the main hall with Princess Tong 'an.
…
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