The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 127 The Capital is Too Cold
"My lord, my younger sister has been tragically murdered. I have nowhere to turn for help. I beg you to uphold justice for me." Tan Si knelt down in front of the sedan chair with a thud and kowtowed deeply.

Inside the sedan chair, no one could see the face of the Grand Secretary. He gently turned the black thumb ring on his thumb, and after a long silence, he asked, "Do you know who the murderer is? And why is there no one to turn to for help?"

Tan Si knelt before the sedan chair, his five fingers slowly clenching into a fist. The veins on his forehead throbbed as he touched the ground, his shoulders tense. He struggled to restrain himself from uttering the words "criminal," his eyes reddening, his voice filled with sorrow: "This student...this student did not know..."

His mind was filled with the conversation between Shang Mingshu and him that day. At that time, Shang Mingshu asked He Sui to prepare the writing materials, and there were only the two of them in the room.

She said, "Censor Yan is highly trusted by the Grand Secretary, while you are just an unknown nobody. To the Grand Secretary, you and Censor Yan are like pebbles and unpolished jade. This method may give you an opportunity, but if you don't know how to handle it, the opportunity will turn into a deadly trap."

She said, "A gentleman takes revenge even after ten years. Seize this opportunity, and you will have a future where you can kill with your own hands."

He couldn't say it was Lady Yan, because that would force Chief Minister Yan to choose between him and Lady Yan. He absolutely couldn't be compared to Lady Yan. He wouldn't say anything, and once the murderer was found, it would be up to Chief Minister Yan to decide. This was his pragmatism.

For over a decade, Chief Minister Yan had wielded immense power; what kind of people hadn't he seen? Tan Si didn't need to say a word; he could guess that the matter involved someone close to him. However, Tan Si was somewhat lucky; today, someone in the court impeached him for decades of service without any achievements, for abusing his power, and for causing widespread suffering among the people…

He took the thumb ring off his thumb and handed it to the guard with a knife beside the sedan chair. Without needing to explain, the guard handed the ring to Tan Si.

With tears in his eyes, Tan Si wiped his hands clean on his clothes before taking the board with trembling hands. Even as the sedan chair passed by him, he continued to kowtow deeply, devout and humble.

"My lady, it's done!" He Sui hurriedly ran back to the inn to inform Shang Mingshu.

Shang Mingshu didn't know where Tan Si would stop the sedan chair, so she simply decided not to join the fun to avoid revealing her whereabouts.

"Wait a little longer, it's not done yet." Shang Mingshu said calmly, her brows relaxed, but there was little joy of victory on her face.

She had never clashed with someone at the pinnacle of power before. She was not as calm and collected as she appeared. Most people with immense power were capricious and unpredictable.

She secretly spent a lot of money to get someone to impeach Chief Minister Yan at the morning court session, paving the way for Tan Si. It's possible that she left traces behind.

If things hadn't turned out this badly with Cheng Mian, Shang Mingshu would have been willing to use Cheng She to handle things flawlessly. The fact that things have come to this point with Cheng Mian means she doesn't want to implicate the Cheng family or Cheng She, stemming from a businesswoman's instinct for profit. However, she can no longer rely on Cheng She's connections.

"My lady, do you think that even with the token, Scholar Tan won't get justice?" He Sui stepped forward and added charcoal to Shang Mingshu's hand warmer.

Shang Mingshu took the hand warmer with both hands and gently stroked it. The warmth transmitted to her fingertips through the fine cotton cloth. She glanced at He Sui and said, "He can."

Even though Imperial Censor Yan was reluctant to part with his daughter, he dared not deceive or disobey Chief Minister Yan, who was his backer. What was his daughter more important than his career?
However, given Censor Yan's outburst, it's unlikely that Chief Minister Yan would suspect the impeachment he received at the morning court session. He himself is frequently impeached, but the Emperor doesn't seem to care, and even at Chief Minister Yan's position, he remains unconcerned. Censor Yan, however, might harbor suspicions and conduct a thorough investigation.

Let's see if he can trace it back to her.

Shang Mingshu closed her eyes, reviewing each move she made, making sure she had done everything she could, but still couldn't be sure it was foolproof, so she could only wait.

"I'll go check out the tea market tomorrow."

Even after the dust settles, she will not be as frightened as a startled bird.

Today's events could not be kept from Cheng She. He was curious as to why Shang Mingshu had suddenly delayed her return home. He heard that Tan Si had met with Shang Mingshu on the same day as him, and that it was Shang Mingshu's people who personally invited Tan Si. Tan Si's home had also been improved. He knew that Shang Mingshu wanted to use Tan Si to make her move. He never expected that Shang Mingshu would take such an unconventional approach, using this method to help Tan Si and easily eliminate the Yan family from behind the scenes.

“Third brother…you missed out on a good match.” Cheng She told Cheng Mian what he had found out and what he had guessed.

If Cheng Mian could marry a wife like Shang Mingshu, how could his career not soar?

She is not afraid of power, dares to leverage it, and is courageous in breaking through barriers. Even when facing powerful enemies, she can achieve great results with minimal effort.

Cheng Mian was lost in thought and remained silent.

Cheng She sighed, got up, and left.

Tan Si carried the tablet of Chief Minister Yan to the yamen. This time, he was not driven away. His sister's case was overturned. Looking at the two faces of these people, Tan Si's eyes hid a mockery that he did not show to others. After this incident, he was no longer the impetuous young man with only a heart full of blood and passion.

When the official in charge gave him the result and earnestly advised him to stop while he was ahead, he showed no dissatisfaction whatsoever. He even put on a fake smile and sincerely thanked people, as if he had not seen the result they had given him. The mastermind did not even have the name of Lady Yan, and he gladly accepted it.

At least the person who actually bullied his sister was brought forward to confess.

When Tan Si returned home, his mother handed him a letter. When he saw his own handwriting on the envelope, his expression tightened.

The letter contained only eight words: "We met by chance, there's no need for further contact."

"My lady, why did you send the envelope back?" He Sui didn't understand. Tan Juren had won the favor of Chief Minister Yan. She had observed him closely these past few days and found him to be a steady and reliable person who would surely achieve great things in the future.

Shang Mingshu smiled slightly: "The capable can gain help even without tokens; the incapable cannot win true friendship even with precious treasures."

She didn't doubt Tan Si's gratitude towards her today, but Tan Si's rapid growth in such a short time showed he was no ordinary person. Where would he go in the future? What kind of person would he become after tasting power?

No one can say for sure whether keeping this thing will do more harm than good.

It would be better to return it, and let Tan Si know that she doesn't want the other party to come looking for her again.

The Tan family's case is closed, and Yan Shi hasn't come knocking on their door. It seems her plan was as expected, so why create any more complications?
"My lady, the Imperial Censor Yan's residence has hung up white silk, saying that the Fifth Young Lady of the Yan family died suddenly from a cold last night." He Mu ran back and told Shang Mingshu the latest news.

Not identifying the woman surnamed Yan as the mastermind was to save face for Censor Yan and Chief Minister Yan, but with Chief Minister Yan's backing, Censor Yan had no choice but to express his opinion, and the woman surnamed Yan could only die a dignified death.

"Pack your bags, we'll set off tomorrow." Shang Mingshu looked at the fine snowflakes outside the window and pulled her fox fur closer.

The capital was too cold and unpleasant for her.

This time, they didn't delay, but they ran into the Cheng brothers as soon as they left the city gate.

It had only been seven or eight days since the last time I saw him, and Cheng Mian seemed even thinner.