The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 77 Achieving Another Goal

"I'm anxious." Shang Zishu is an impatient person. If she could know it one day earlier, she would have to endure it for ten more days or half a month. She would always be worried about it and couldn't sleep at night.

They set out from She County, sailed down the Xin'an River, passed through Tunxi, Chun'an and other places, and finally reached Hangzhou, which would take six to ten days if all went well.

The letter could not be sent to the ship, and she would only know the news when she arrived in Hangzhou.

"You need to change your impatient temper." Shang Jinliang scolded Shang Zishu.

Shang Zishu pouted, looking dissatisfied.

Shang Mingshu put down her bowl and chopsticks and wiped the corner of her lips with the handkerchief He Sui handed her. "Maybe there will be a verdict tomorrow morning."

Since Shi Houqiong has no intention of saving Shi Bing, she will not drag it out. Shi Bing cannot save himself if he refuses to plead guilty.

"Really?" Shang Zishu then smiled.

"I guessed." Shang Mingshu really couldn't guarantee it.

Shang Zishu was dispirited again.

Shang Wenshu: "I will definitely find someone to send you to Hangzhou as quickly as possible, and I guarantee you'll know as soon as you get off the boat."

"Thank you, elder sister." Shang Zishu said sullenly.

Shang Mingshu and Shang Wenshu looked at each other helplessly.

Shang Zishu couldn't sleep, so she squeezed in next to Shang Mingshu with the quilt in her arms.

Shang Mingshu couldn't drive Shang Zishu away, so she had to let her stay in her bed.

Early in the morning, everyone was counting the things they were going to take with them, only Shang Zishu was waiting at the door, leaving the task of counting the luggage to Jin Ya.

Fortunately, hard work pays off. When they were about to set off, the news came.

Shi Bing confessed that he was angry that his master was bullied by the Shang sisters, so he acted on his own and emptied his savings to avenge his master.

County Magistrate Gao didn't believe it. He was so loyal that he emptied his savings. Shi Bing had his own excuse, saying that if the matter had not been exposed, he would naturally be able to ask for a reward.

Finally, County Magistrate Gao had no choice but to sentence Shi Bingxian to 50 strokes of the cane and then exile, and Shi Erchuan to 20 strokes of the cane. He also fined the rest of the hired villagers and let the village headman go and scold them.

He also asked the Shi family to come and apologize for their poor management of their servants.

Shang Jinliang naturally didn't wait for Shi Houqiong to come and apologize. He had chosen a time, and no one could delay. Shang Zishu also set off happily.

After boarding the boat, Shang Mingshu was waiting for her people. He Mu came quickly and met Shang Mingshu secretly: "Madam San, Shi Bing's wife and children are unwilling to abandon the dark and join the light."

Shang Mingshu has been sending people to secretly contact Shi Bing's wife and children in the past two days. As one of Shi Houqiong's chief stewards, Shi Bing must have something on Shi Houqiong. Unexpectedly, even if Shi Houqiong gave up Shi Bing, she could not shake the loyalty of Shi Bing's wife and children. Or perhaps they did not dare.

"You stay at home and protect your elder sister." Shang Mingshu was not disappointed. This time she just wanted to protect the new tea trees in an open and aboveboard manner, so as to create a rift between Shi Houqiong and County Magistrate Gao.

If they had achieved both goals, perhaps they could also achieve the next one. "Don't worry, Third Lady, I will definitely protect the First Lady." He Mu responded solemnly.

"Go ahead. If you have any urgent matters and can't make up your mind, go find Mr. Cheng San." Shang Mingshu thought for a moment and added another instruction.

"Madam San, I saw Master Cheng coming." The person could not be mentioned. As soon as Cheng Mian was mentioned, He Sui's report came from outside the door.

Shang Mingshu sent He Mu away, left the boathouse, walked to the side of the boat, and saw Cheng Mian as expected.

He hurried over and handed Shang Mingshu a bundle: "Third Lady, these are the books I collected in the past. Most of them are local chronicles. The journey is long, so I'll pass the time. There are also two jars of osmanthus wine. Second Brother knows that Third Lady likes it..."

As he spoke, he pulled out two tokens from his bosom. They were two jade pendants. "One of these jade pendants is mine, and the other is my second brother's. If Third Lady encounters any difficulties while traveling to Hangzhou, you can contact the Cheng Family Trading Company. My second brother's token is more useful than mine. If you need help from the government, take my jade pendant to the Hangzhou prefect. I have some friendship with the prefect's son."

Shang Mingshu looked down at the things Cheng Mian handed her. Then she thought about how Shang Jinliang would only order Xiao Yu this and that when he went out, and she felt even better about Cheng Mian. She didn't refuse and accepted everything: "Thank you, Third Brother Cheng."

Shang Mingshu accepted it happily, and Cheng Mian was happy. He looked at Shang Mingshu deeply, with a look of reluctance in his eyes: "Third Lady, please come back soon."

"it is good."

The boat moved slowly, putting distance between them. Shang Mingshu stood at the bow, and Cheng Mian also stood on the dock, watching the boat getting farther and farther away until it turned a corner. Cheng Mian chased it along the shore for a while, but finally, he couldn't catch up anymore, so he lowered his head in disappointment.

Shang Mingshu returned to her room and opened the book Cheng Mian had given her. It was indeed a local gazetteer, containing all the places that Shang Mingshu had mentioned wanting to visit when they were chatting yesterday.

Southwest and outside the Great Wall.

Some places were annotated to supplement the original local customs and practices. The handwriting was Cheng Mian's, and it was a bit sloppy, showing that he was in a hurry. Thinking of the red bloodshot in his eyes just now, she guessed that he must have made annotations overnight when he returned home yesterday.

This heavy feeling made Shang Mingshu, who already liked reading this kind of book, even more fascinated.

For safety, they boarded an official ship, which was large and had spacious guest rooms. There was also a kitchen that provided food and drinks, and three meals a day were delivered to the rooms.

In addition to the wives of officials, the official ships also had some wealthy families like Shang Jinliang who were willing to spend a lot of money. The crew was relatively simple. Shang Jinliang and Xiao Yu did not restrict their two daughters. Shang Zishu ran out to find some sisters to chat with, while Shang Mingshu stayed in the house reading.

When they arrived in Tunxi, Shang Mingshu insisted on changing boats. Shang Jinliang, doting on his daughter, followed suit. This prompted the officer on the official ship to ask why. Shang Mingshu replied, "Someone secretly sent a message to my daughter saying that Japanese pirates would hijack our ship tonight."

The steward laughed heartily. "Young lady, how can you believe such nonsense? This is an official ship of the imperial court, and it is escorted by the imperial guards. If an official ship is not safe, how can you dare to board a private ship?"

"Your Excellency is right. I'm just a coward and was frightened to death," Shang Mingshu said mysteriously. "A few months ago, someone sent me a message saying someone was going to burn the tea I had stored at the dock late at night. I rushed there and, as expected, discovered the Japanese pirates..."

The official was so shocked by Shang Mingshu's words that he restrained his smile a little.

"Sir, perhaps someone is maliciously deceiving my daughter. I am timid and have no choice but to go through more trouble..." Shang Mingshu was just guessing. She had caused Shi Houqiong to suffer such a great loss, and Shi Houqiong would not let it go. She was not sure whether Shi Houqiong would take action, so naturally she could not leave any room for criticism.

She took Shang Jinliang and his party to change ships, and the steward she reminded went back to report, and the superiors inexplicably took her advice seriously, and temporarily dispatched hundreds of guards. So when the official ship was intercepted that night, what awaited them was a force more than twice their expected, and they directly killed the bandits.

Shang Mingshu and his companions changed boats and heard about this strange incident half a day later. Hearing that another thief had been captured alive, the people were very excited and hoped to follow the clues and find the lair of the Japanese pirates!

(End of this chapter)