The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 73 Creating a Great Opportunity

Shang Mingshu was at a loss for words: "It's right under your nose. Is it a real fight or a fake fight? How can you not tell?"

Thinking of Shi Bing's pain and screams, and even the growing smell of blood, Shang Zishu was unwilling to believe it but had to: "Did you coerce Master Gao?"

"Second sister, be careful with your words." Shang Wenshu couldn't help but correct him. "Third sister, a girl from a good family, how could you threaten an official of the imperial court?"

After going through a few things, Shang Zishu has learned to restrain her subconscious arguing with Shang Wenshu, and she just curled her lips.

The eldest sister is very strict and boring.

This is home, and there are several sisters here. Can't she joke with her younger sister?

"Thank you, elder sister, for your wholehearted protection of me." Shang Mingshu began to talk nonsense again, "But what second sister said is not wrong either."

"Ah?" Shang Zishu was shocked. "You really are threatening..."

"Third sister?" Shang Wenshu also looked incredulous. She hadn't even left the house today, so when did she threaten County Magistrate Gao?
"Right now, Magistrate He is sitting in the back hall of the county government office," Shang Mingshu told her two sisters without mincing words. "After the Autumn Examination, the Magistrate wanted to better understand the lives of the people in each county and examine their achievements. He often makes incognito visits. I put in some effort and arranged for the Magistrate to pass through She County today."

"Why did you tell Magistrate Gao? Wouldn't it be better to let him favor the Shi family? Let the prefect see that he is not a good official!" Shang Zishu was very anxious. Her sister wasted such a good opportunity?

"Don't worry, second sister. Third sister has always been more thoughtful than you and me." Shang Wenshu comforted her. She thought the same as Shang Zishu, but she was also different. She knew Shang Mingshu's mind, and she and Shang Zishu combined were not as good as her.

Shang Mingshu glanced at Shang Wenshu with a smile, then tilted her head and asked Shang Zishu, "If you don't tell County Magistrate Gao, what will happen next?"

"And then?" Shang Zishu still felt regretful. "Of course, County Magistrate Gao will suffer the consequences! When County Magistrate Gao thinks he can do whatever he wants, the prefect will teach him a lesson!"

Shang Mingshu couldn't help but laugh out loud: "Second sister, do you think this is a play? He Zhifu is indeed the direct superior of Gao County Magistrate, but He Zhifu only has the power to evaluate the performance of the county magistrates. Although I don't like Gao Lord, Gao Lord does favor the Shi family.

Regarding this matter, I asked Mr. Cheng to investigate it clearly. Mr. Gao has never accepted bribes from the Shi family. It’s just that Shi Houqiong is better at pleasing Mr. Gao.

Just as the prefect admired Dad more than the Shi family's scheming, everyone has their own preferences, which are a gift from heaven. We should not deny others their own preferences just because they conflict with our own.

To be fair, besides his admiration for the Shi family and his continued support for them, Mr. Gao also truly loves the people of She County like his own children."

Shang Zishu hated evil and could not forget the time when County Magistrate Gao would point out to her every time they clashed with the Shi family: "You simply don't treat us as citizens of She County."

Shang Mingshu knew what Shang Zishu's problem was. She held Shang Zishu's hand and said, "Second sister, I had originally planned as you did, but I changed the plan temporarily and exposed the whereabouts of Magistrate He to County Magistrate Gao in advance." "Why did you change your mind?" Shang Zishu became even more anxious.

"Even if County Magistrate Gao beat you in court, even though Prefect He would think he was biased, he wouldn't be able to find any evidence against him. With so many people with you, how could he easily find any evidence?"

Shang Zishu thought about how County Magistrate Gao had been tolerant of her at the beginning, and he really didn't do anything bad to her without asking any questions.

"It's such a small matter. Prefect He is a kind-hearted person. County Magistrate Gao has done nothing wrong as an official, and the prefect won't dislike him for this." Shang Mingshu saw that Shang Zishu was finally willing to listen, and her voice was soft. "Even if the matter forced Prefect He to step in, and Lord Gao was crazy about protecting the Shi family, Lord He could at most mention it when reporting. County magistrates are appointed by the court, and the court values ​​political achievements.

We will offend County Magistrate Gao to death by doing this. Our ancestral home and the entire Shang family are in She County, and you and I don’t know how long County Magistrate Gao will stay in She County.”

"Listen to me." Seeing Shang Zishu about to retort, Shang Mingshu squeezed her hand and said slowly, "If everything is as simple as the play you saw, and the prefecture gratified the people by getting rid of County Magistrate Gao, how could you control what kind of person the new County Magistrate would be?

If he were a truly corrupt official, would he have been kind to us upon hearing that Magistrate Gao was transferred because of our Shang family? "

Shang Wenshu suddenly understood after hearing this: "Third sister, you have indeed thought it through. Lord Gao, apart from being partial to the Shi family, is actually a good official to the people of She County. After this incident, he has broken with the Shi family and will definitely not favor them again in the future. And third sister, you told him that the prefect is coming. Even if he knows that third sister may have known about it long ago and deliberately harmed him, he should still accept the favor."

At least the third sister chose to show kindness when she could have done more harm.

"I've inquired about Magistrate He's whereabouts, so he must be aware of it." Shang Mingshu said the final part of her plan. "Today, Magistrate He and County Magistrate Gao have fallen out. How can Magistrate He still be kind to us? We're using him without knowing the limits. We're actually trying to stir up discord among the officials of the imperial court."

Shang Zishu's face turned pale: "Third sister, you are right, I was just acting on impulse."

"My second sister dares to love and hate. I like her open and honest character the most." Shang Mingshu praised.

Shang Zishu knew that Shang Mingshu was trying to give her a way out and comfort her, but she felt happy in her heart: "Then the prefect won't be angry with us anymore?"

"Not now." Shang Mingshu shook her head. "He will understand that I have no intention of opposing the government. I act with discretion. Also, at the last literary gathering, Magistrate He and Lord Gao had some unpleasantness. Today I'm creating a great opportunity for them to ease the tension. Lord He will understand my good intentions."

He Zhifu, who was sitting behind the county government office, couldn't help but praise Magistrate Gao when he saw him. "I'm sorry for coming here so presumptuously. I've been to She County these past few days and it's been incredibly lively, which speaks volumes about your good governance. Many people told me about this before I came, but I'm not one to believe everything I hear. But after seeing this today, I've learned that rumors are indeed unreliable."

County Magistrate Gao was naturally delighted to receive recognition from his superiors. The slight rift between him and Prefect He instantly dissipated. "Your Excellency, your praise is unmerited. This is all within my duties and is not worthy of such praise."

"Before I came here, many people secretly said that you were stubborn. After I came here, I realized that you are wholeheartedly serving the people. Prejudice is indeed unacceptable. What do you think, Lord Gao?" How could Magistrate He not know Shang Mingshu's intentions? He was very pleased that Shang Mingshu did not use him to cause trouble for him. Instead, she gave him the opportunity to easily win over a subordinate. Of course, he also accepted the favor. "Lord Gao, the young lady of the Shang family is definitely not an ordinary person. You have the opportunity to sever ties with the Shi family today, so you must seize the opportunity!"

(End of this chapter)