The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 34 Interlocking
"Third sister, our father was taken away by the government office. We have to find a way to find out the news!" Shang Wenshu watched helplessly as the bailiff invited Shang Jinliang to go to the government office. The other party looked polite. Shang Wenshu sent someone to give him money, but the other party refused sternly and refused to reveal a word.

"Don't worry, elder sister, nothing will happen." Shang Mingshu sat motionless behind the long desk, reading the Tea Classic without even raising her head.

Her confident response startled Shang Wenshu: "Third sister, do you know any news?"

"I guess it has something to do with the ambush case of a wealthy family in the suburbs half a month ago." Shang Mingshu multitasked, responding to Shang Wenshu while turning pages of the book.

Half a month ago, a major case occurred in which a wealthy family was ambushed fifty miles outside Fengyang Prefecture. It was classified as a major case not only because of the countless casualties, but also because there were traces of a large number of muskets at the scene. Villagers heard sounds suspected to be muskets in the distance and reported it to the government. When the government arrived, the scene had been cleaned up, but there were still some remnants.

For example, bloodstains, corpses, muskets...

Firearms were under the control of the imperial court. The prefect and the commander-in-chief arrived at the scene together. After estimating the number of firearms, they were shocked. A notice was issued the next day, hoping that the people could provide clues.

There has been no news since then, the scene has been cleaned up, and there are no clues to further investigate. Even the deceased was covered in blood and flesh, and the household registration pass on his body was burned. The government can only trace based on the remaining items, but after ten days of investigation, there is still no clue.

Until a few days ago, someone in the capital brought a bill of exchange worth 100,000 strings of cash, the origin of which was unknown, to the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture. The prefect followed the clues provided by the person who submitted the bill and traced them all the way to a wealthy family outside Fengyang Prefecture who was hiding in a corner...

Cheng She and Shang Mingshu reviewed and planned every step over and over again, and even carefully selected every government official involved, making sure that this matter would attract the attention of the court.

Instead of suppressing it as soon as it starts to appear, it is suppressed by someone who smells something different.

The battlefield on the hill was where Cheng She led his men to risk their lives to turn back and rearrange it. When they returned, they found that it had already been dealt with once.

This was obviously done by the enemy.

Cheng She brought some more evidence and continued to manipulate the case. His goal was to let the prefect know that this matter was serious, but he couldn't find any evidence. If the prefect explored too many directions, he would be in danger, and those with ulterior motives would immediately try to stop him.

Only when the matter is exposed but there is no direction to investigate, will they keep a close eye on the progress here. When Magistrate He finds nothing to investigate and dares not delay reporting to the court, they will not intervene to avoid being exposed.

The fact that a large number of people were armed with muskets outside Fengyang Prefecture alarmed the imperial court. The imperial court did not send people to investigate the ambush of the wealthy businessman, but it could not ignore the people who privately possessed a large number of muskets.

The court immediately sent people from the Dali Temple and the Ministry of Justice to investigate as Shang Mingshu and Cheng She had expected. As soon as these people left the capital, Cheng She's people handed over the meeting tickets to Shuntian Prefecture.

When everyone in the court was closely watching the progress in Fengyang Prefecture, no one cared about this trivial matter until the prefect of Shuntian Prefecture followed the clues and linked one of the bills worth 100,000 strings of cash with the Fengyang Prefecture firearm case, and this deep-buried bomb exploded.

"How does it have to do with the ambush on a wealthy family outside the city?" Shang Wenshu frowned. This happened half a month ago. What does it have to do with their family?
"I don't know either. I'm just trying to find out some information. Dad will be fine. You don't have to worry, elder sister." Shang Mingshu was calm.

Shang Wenshu was still anxious. She moved her lips, and after a moment she suggested with a little trepidation: "Third sister, this is really related to the ambush on a wealthy family outside the city. We can't just wait there in vain. We have to send someone to negotiate so that we can feel at ease..." Shang Wenshu's words were interrupted by her sister who suddenly raised her head with calm eyes. Shang Mingshu looked at her coldly without any emotion. Shang Wenshu felt that all her thoughts were seen through by Shang Mingshu.

Putting down the book, Shang Mingshu asked, "Eldest sister, who are you going to send to negotiate?"

Shang Wenshu swallowed subconsciously, and the handkerchief pinched at her fingertips tightened involuntarily: "Third sister, Dad was taken away by the government. The government officials will not receive us ladies. Why not let Sanlang go? Sanlang has the reputation of a scholar, and everyone knows that he is indebted to our Shang family's charity school. He can go and find out the news on our behalf, which is both reasonable and appropriate."

Shang Mingshu sneered and stood up. "Eldest sister, your father was taken away by the government, and right after that, Wen Sanlang volunteered to you, offering to gather information for you. Since he's so concerned about you, just go ahead. Why bother asking me for advice?"

As you said, Wen Sanlang has received a favor from my merchant, and the whole city knows about it. He will have no shortage of names to go and find out."

Because Shang Mingshu practiced martial arts, she was the tallest among the younger sisters, followed by Shang Zishu who was busy working in the wild. Shang Wenshu was the shortest among the three sisters.

Shang Wenshu watched her well-proportioned sister approaching step by step. Although her sister's tone was neither hurried nor slow, her voice was neither loud nor low, and her face did not look fierce, she subconsciously wanted to retreat. This kind of imposing power was something that even her father had never given her.

"Sanlang said that many dignitaries from the imperial court are coming this time, and he needs money to bribe them." Shang Wenshu resisted Shang Mingshu's pressure and spoke out everything she was thinking. "He also said that the dignitaries from the imperial court are so powerful that ordinary things might be difficult to get through. I'm worried that he might end up making things worse, so I came to you for advice."

Shang Wenshu was not without money. She was in charge of the Shang family's accounts. She didn't need Shang Jinliang's seal to withdraw thousands of taels of silver. She had just seen the world with Shang Jinliang and knew that not all officials were greedy and lustful.

He Zhifu was very honest. He could accept Shang Jinliang giving him some tea during festivals, and even giving snacks to his colleagues. He was also willing to accept Shang Mingshu making them herself. However, if Shang Mingshu really gave him real gold and silver, He Zhifu would be furious.

They didn't understand the temperament of the officials from the court, so how could they rashly give them gifts?

Shang Wenshu was well versed in human nature and had always known that no one in the mansion could surpass Shang Mingshu. That was why she came to ask why her sister was secretly angry.

After hearing Shang Wenshu's words, Shang Mingshu's anger dissipated. She thought that Shang Wenshu was bewitched by Wen Sanlang and reached out to her, wanting her to pay money or find good things from her deceased mother's dowry to show her filial piety.

Fortunately, the eldest sister has not been blinded by love between men and women.

"Eldest sister's concerns are justified. We don't know the depth of the masters from the capital, so we shouldn't approach them rashly. It doesn't matter if we don't receive their favor, it's better than incurring their dislike." Shang Mingshu restrained her aura and spoke calmly, "As for Wen Sanlang...Eldest sister, thank him for caring about father. It's better to keep quiet than to act rashly on this matter."

Sensing Shang Mingshu's change in attitude, Shang Wenshu couldn't help but ask, "Why were you so angry just now, Third Sister?"

(End of this chapter)