How could Master Wang possibly remember such an insignificant person? He had hundreds of servants in his mansion, how could he possibly care about a mere wet nurse, let alone the husband of a wet nurse?
Master Wang turned to look at the steward who was walking beside the horse carriage.
The steward quickly spoke, "More than a decade ago, before our family moved to the capital, we did hire a wet nurse for the third young master. The fact that this man recognizes you, master, means he’s likely the one."
As these words came out, the crowd erupted into excited chatter.
"The family that moved to the capital? Isn’t this the royal merchant Wang family we heard about a few days ago? Have they really returned to Lian’an Town?"
"Wow, this is incredible, I never thought in my lifetime that I would see such a distinguished person, let alone someone connected to the royal family. This is truly worthwhile!"
Hearing these words, Master Wang stroked his beard, seemingly unsurprised. In this small town of Lian’an, the identity of a royal merchant was indeed enough to stir up fervent discussion among the townspeople.
"So why are you kneeling here? Where’s your wife?" Master Wang asked Ji Dashan.
Ji Dashan quickly wept and bowed to Master Wang, "Master, my wife passed away years ago, leaving me with several children. My foolish son was deceived by a crook and pledged all our family property for fifty taels of silver. I was hoping to repay the debt for peace’s sake, but the scoundrel claimed the loan accrues an interest of ten taels of silver a day. As of today, our debt has ballooned to one hundred and thirty taels!"
Master Wang frowned, "Usury?"
Ji Dashan wiping his tears sobbed, "Our entire family property was mortgaged. Today is the final deadline, if we can’t pay, we have no other option but to beg on the streets! So, I was pleading with him to show some mercy, but he’s turned a deaf ear. Master Wang, Master Wang, I beg of you, help us!"
Master Wang took a deep breath, glanced at the crowd squeezing around them, then turned to the steward, "Since his wife was once a servant in our house, there is a bond between us. Let us help him today."
The steward quickly responded, "Yes."
He then stepped forward, took out a purse, and handed it to Ji Dashan, "Is one hundred and thirty taels of silver enough?"
Ji Dashan, overcome with emotion, stuttered as he accepted the money and quickly bowed, "It’s enough, it’s enough! Thank you, Master Wang, thank you, Master Wang!"
The surrounding commoners also started shouting in admiration, "Master Wang is truly a benevolent man!"
Master Wang nodded at Ji Dashan and signaled his entourage to continue the journey.
The crowd automatically parted, creating a wide path for the Wang family’s caravan to pass slowly.
Overwhelmed by emotion, Ji Dashan quickly went to repay the debt with the silver.
The surrounding commoners burst into excited chatter once again.
"Master Wang is truly a kind-hearted man! He even showed compassion to a former servant of more than ten years ago, no wonder he was chosen to be a royal merchant!"
"Exactly, not just anyone can become a royal merchant. Master Wang’s charitable disposition clearly sets him apart from ordinary families. He’s much more approachable compared to those high and mighty grand elders!"
"That’s why everything happens for a reason. It must be due to Master Wang’s kindness that he lands such a prestigious position, bringing honor and glory to his family!"
The chatter of the crowd could still be heard as the Wang family’s horse carriage slowly departed, passing through three more streets and leaving the bustling market behind. Finally, they reached the Wang family’s old mansion.
The Wang family had left Lian’an Town more than ten years ago, but they never sold their ancestral home.
The servants had already tidied up the mansion and were respectfully waiting at the entrance.
The horse carriage slowly came to a halt, and the servants quickly came up to offer stools and assist their masters out of the carriage.
The Wang family had many servants and Master Wang had many children and grandchildren. Besides his oldest and second oldest sons who held official positions in the capital and their families, all the rest had come back this time. At first glance, there were certainly many people.
"Master, you’re finally back. We’ve been waiting for a long time!" A young lad came forward to help Master Wang out of the carriage with a flattering smile.
Master Wang alighted with a solemn face, his mood appeared to be less than delighted at returning home: "Mmm."
The young lad gave an awkward chuckle, touched his nose and hurried to assist Lady Wang, "Madam, please mind your step."
However, Lady Wang, looking even more impatient, shook off his hand and quickly followed Master Wang into the mansion.
As she walked, she frowned, "This mansion hasn’t been lived in for over a decade, how can we stay in such a place? I’ve been saying we should have simply gotten a new house upon our return!"
"It’s already been renovated and while it might not compare to our mansion in the capital, it’s not too far off. At this point in time, we should stay low-key, what’s the point of getting a new house? We’ll just live here." Master Wang replied, his tone tinged with helplessness.
Lady Wang frowned in distaste. The mansion, sat vacant for over a decade, hardly compared to their luxurious home in the capital, let alone even the residences of minor officials in the capital.
To blame it was all the Second Prince’s incompetence. If only we had chosen the right side, we wouldn’t be in such a perilous situation today. With the Sixth Prince now on the throne purging the surviving supporters of the imperial princes, even our family, nothing more than merchants, was nearly implicated and forced to return to the countryside to lay low. If only the Second Prince was on the throne today, who knows how glorious our family would be!" Lady Wang complained as she looked around the old mansion.
"Enough!" Master Wang sternly cut her off, "No use lamenting over spilled milk. We should focus on navigating our journey ahead. Our return to our hometown should put the Emperor at ease regarding our family. However, as Song Song and Ahzhao are still holding office in the Imperial Court, the Emperor would not dare to mistreat them. As long as they remain, our family still has hope. The matter of the Second Prince shall not be mentioned again, not even half a word!"
Wasn’t Master Wang regretful? If he hadn’t chosen the wrong side and bet on the wrong horse, today would have been a different situation altogether. The Second Prince was such a disappointment. He had been the Crown Prince and had the support of the Empress as well as the Third Prince, yet he still lost to the Sixth Prince!
After that brutal succession battle, the fate of many had been altered.
Regrettably, the Wang family was among those affected.
A decade of prosperity had unexpectedly ended up back where they started. 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖
Lady Wang gritted her teeth and said resentfully, "No matter how down and out our family is now, we remain an eminent family even in Lian’an town. How could you, Master, meddle in the matters of a former servant on the street today? If this gets out, won’t it harm the reputation of our family?"
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