The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 173 Killing the chicken to scare the monkey

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Incense Supervisor has absolutely no collusion with any cult. The government will make a clear statement later." Shang Mingshu turned to the crowd and raised her voice, "Today, with the assistance of the County Magistrate, the Incense Supervisor has caught the traitor who betrayed his own people. This is a great event. In a little while, we will distribute another round of celebratory money."

As she spoke, Shang Mingshu took the few red envelopes handed to her by He Sui and scattered them out, causing everyone to reach out and grab them, and the lively atmosphere returned.

When Shang Mingshu returned to the teahouse, everyone there held their breath and proceeded with extreme caution.

"My wife's move to make an example of someone is brilliant." He Sui looked around, feeling quite pleased.

When Shang Mingshu first arrived, this place was neither the well-established Huizhou Prefecture nor the Fengtian Prefecture backed by the Duke's Mansion. Many people, seeing that Shang Mingshu was young and a woman, had wicked thoughts. Even the hired waiters were somewhat lazy.

At first, He Sui wanted to put in the effort to reorganize, but Shang Mingshu stopped her, saying that there was a great opportunity to achieve multiple goals at once.

Under Shang Mingshu's repeated instructions, He Sui secretly inspected the teahouse several times, and sure enough, she discovered something amiss last night. Shang Mingshu maintained strict vigilance, forcing the Han family to bribe their hired staff with large sums of money.

The other party was also quick-witted. Taking advantage of the late hour, if they hadn't been alert and hadn't been so preoccupied with opening for business today, they would have been caught off guard.

Upon receiving the evidence, Shang Mingshu initially failed to recognize it as the banner of the White Lotus Sect. It was only after being reminded by her knowledgeable guards that she understood.

Besides the Japanese pirates, the White Lotus Sect is the one that the current emperor despises most. If it is indeed proven that she colluded with the White Lotus Sect, not only her, but the entire Shang family will also be implicated.

Holding the evidence, Shang Mingshu knocked on the county government door that very night, waking the furious magistrate from his sleep. Since it concerned the White Lotus Sect, the magistrate had to suppress his anger.

"If you can't explain the reason, how can you prove your innocence?" The magistrate held the familiar object, his eyes deep.

Shang Mingshu: "My lord, I dare not make baseless accusations, but I do have a plan to find the culprit."

"Just tell me."

“Since someone has framed me, someone will surely report me tomorrow.” Shang Mingshu said calmly, “To make sure the person who reported me has no way to defend themselves, I will put the fake flag back in its original place. When the magistrate sends people to search, I will first lie and say that nothing was found, so that the person who reported me and the person he bribed will confess without being asked. After the traitor of the women’s teahouse is captured, the magistrate can thoroughly investigate this person. With witnesses and physical evidence, everything will be complete.”

Shang Mingshu had no intention of proving her innocence; she was innocent, so why should she need to?

The burden of proof lies with the one who makes the false accusation.

This also avoids being falsely accused of orchestrating the scheme to harm others.

We must establish our authority and serve as a warning to the staff of the Yingtian Prefecture Incense Monopoly Bureau.

In addition...

Making an example of someone is never meant for a few employees; these people aren't worth her time.

"He Sui, send a message, tell them to take action." A sharp glint flashed in Shang Mingshu's eyes.

Madam Tang left a day early, which was a pre-arranged itinerary, and Shang Mingshu would not easily stop her. However, her obstruction here was inextricably linked to Madam Tang, so how could she let it go so easily?
The more she didn't know about her background, the less she could let her disappear from her control. As soon as Madam Tang left the city gate, she sent people to follow her. If nothing happened to her, fine, but it would just be a waste of time for the guards.

Even if she has something to do here, she won't let Madam Tang off the hook.

"Send someone to investigate Shi Qingyu's whereabouts again." "Does Madam suspect Madam Tang..." He Sui was startled.

"The accusation that I colluded with the White Lotus Sect is not an ordinary hatred." Her incense trading license has just opened for business. No matter how much it offends people, it is not as ruthless as this one that would lead to the extermination of nine generations of a person. Acting like this in the business world will also be criticized, ostracized, and alienated.

In this world, besides the Shi family, Shang Mingshu can't think of anyone else who would hate her so much that she would want the entire Shang clan to be buried with her.

Only Shi Guangbo and Shi Qingyu died outside and were carried back for Shi Houqiong to identify. She did not see Shi Qingyu's body with her own eyes, and this method was indeed very similar to Shi Qingyu's.

Shang Mingshu did have doubts about Shi Qingyu's death at the time, but she just didn't care. She wasn't even afraid of Shi Houqiong, let alone Shi Qingyu.
This time, Shi Qingyu gave her a big gift instead. She was thinking that as she opened one incense trading license after another, she would have to deal with the local bullies time and time again. Now, this trouble has been solved by the pillow that Shi Qingyu handed her.

Let's use the Han family's recipe for this chicken!

"Send a message to Suzhou immediately and deliver it to Young Madam Liu as quickly as possible." Shang Mingshu twirled the silk palm leaf fan in her hand, the smile on her lips not reaching her eyes.

"Madam, the steward of the Han family requests an audience." Shang Mingshu was thinking about the Han family when He Mai's voice came from outside.

"You've come quickly." A hint of coquettish charm appeared between her brows as Shang Mingshu gently fanned herself with her fan, her soft tone icy cold. "I won't see you."

The steward of the Han family never expected that Shang Mingshu, who had been so polite before, would refuse to even see her, and would not even bother to find a reason to excuse her, but would simply say that she would not see her.

He returned home in a huff and told Old Madam Han what had happened. The old lady fell silent after hearing the news, and even Old Master Han and Madam Miao, who were waiting for news, couldn't help but feel uneasy.

The oppressive atmosphere made Madam Miao uneasy. She spoke with a fierce but weak voice: "This is outrageous! A mere merchant's daughter dares to disregard her grandmother..."

"Shut up!" Old Madam Han slammed her hand on the high table, her face darkening.

Startled, Miao trembled. Grandpa Han quickly said, "Grandmother, please calm down. There is still room for maneuver. I will personally come to apologize."

"Personally go to apologize?" Old Madam Han sneered, pointing at Madam Miao and saying to Master Han, "You are just as ignorant as her! Enjoying the benefits of the old man's family in Yingtian Prefecture, you think too highly of yourself, mistaking politeness for flattery and respect for fear. You don't know your own limitations!"

"Grandmother!" Grandpa Han had never been spoken to so harshly by his grandmother. He stood up abruptly, his face flushed. "I know that our family has declined because of my lack of talent and ability, and I have failed to restore the glory of our ancestors! Even though the Han family is in decline, how can we allow a mere merchant's daughter to run rampant and act so arrogantly!"

After saying this, Grandpa Han turned and left.

Seeing that things were going badly, Old Madam Han shouted, "Come on, stop him! Stop him!"

In the Han family, Old Madam Han still held more authority as the matriarch, and someone immediately rushed forward to stop Old Master Han. Old Master Han kicked the person to the ground.

In the end, it was the guards of the Han family who stopped them. Even as several people held him down, Grandpa Han continued to struggle, shouting, "Let me go!"

"Slap—" Old Madam Han stepped forward and slapped her grandson across the face. Her chest heaved. "The merchant's daughter you mentioned has been awarded by the imperial court. Her teahouse in Fengtian Prefecture is supported by the Princess Consort of Yu and noble ladies from the Duke's mansion! All who come and go are dignitaries. What do you have?"
Why do you think the magistrate didn't send someone to inform me beforehand?

One sentence was enough to choke Grandpa Han.

The magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture had some kinship ties with the Han family, so he couldn't possibly be unaware that someone was plotting against Shang Mingshu behind this.