The Incense Monopoly Order

Chapter 174 Shang Mingshu's Counterattack
They only found out about Shang Mingshu's late-night visit to the county magistrate to file a complaint at this moment.

What does this mean? It means that the magistrate not only did not intend to communicate with them privately, but even the people in the mansion kept quiet. Otherwise, how could they have been kept in the dark?
Had they known Shang Mingshu had noticed their scheme, why would they have jumped into Shang Mingshu's trap?
In an instant, Grandpa Han's face turned ashen, and something in his bloodshot eyes seemed to crumble.

That was the bewilderment and disbelief of the unwavering belief in the glory of one's ancestors being shattered.

"You should burn incense and kowtow, begging for Heaven's mercy. The Luo family will not betray you!" Old Madam Han did not want to look at her distraught grandson any longer, and with her hunched back, she was helped away by her confidante.

As Grandpa Han watched his grandmother, whose back had always been straight, walk away with a slightly hunched back, his eyes stung with tears of regret.

He was no ignorant child. Why did the magistrate have to make such a fuss? Implicating the White Lotus Sect would be a great achievement, so why would he let the Luo family off the hook?

No matter how much torture or interrogation they used, they were always able to pry open the Luo family's mouth.

Things were spiraling out of control just as Grandpa Han had predicted. To make matters worse, after Shang Mingshu confessed to the Luo family that the Han family had instigated the incident, she ordered someone to report it to the county government.

She had a Guanyin statue worth hundreds of gold pieces that had been consecrated at Chongxiao Temple, which was stolen.

Even the county magistrate was surprised by how ruthless Shang Mingshu was.

This time he gave no instructions, and the news quickly reached the Han family. Old Madam Han was momentarily stunned, and then her gaze became complicated, a mixture of admiration, regret, and envy.

The admiration lies in the fact that, setting aside Shang Mingshu's methods against the Han family, Shang Mingshu's tactics were bloodless yet deadly.

It's a pity that a woman like Shang Mingshu has completely fallen out with the Han family, and even if this matter is resolved, it's impossible for them to be on good terms again.

She envied that the Shang family had such a descendant. If she had been born into the Han family, how could her family not prosper?

"Nonsense! She clearly presented the jade Guanyin statue to us, yet she dares to accuse us of stealing it!" Miao was so angry that she trembled all over.

Knowing Shang Mingshu's rebuttal, Old Madam Han calmly replied, "You can falsely accuse her of colluding with the White Lotus Sect, so why can't she falsely accuse you of stealing her Jade Guanyin?"

"Who would believe that if I told them!" Miao was still unconvinced.

Old Madam Han scoffed, too lazy to teach the foolish woman any further, and turned her gaze to her grandson, who had been like a walking corpse ever since he regained consciousness.

Lost in his own emotions, Grandpa Han felt a long silence. He looked up and met his grandmother's eyes. There was no more condemnation or expectation in her eyes, which made him lower his head in shame.

Thinking of his habitual, subconscious avoidance, Grandpa Han raised his head again. He knew that if the Han family wanted to get through this crisis, his grandmother had to step in. Otherwise, the accusation of colluding with the White Lotus Sect would be pinned on the Han family. He couldn't let his grandmother down again!
Mustering his courage, Grandpa Han hesitated for a long time before finding his voice: "It is true that the jade Guanyin was given by Madam Shang. If we make a fuss about it, we will only tell the world that Madam Shang is polite and knows the rules, while our Han family is poor and doesn't know the rules. We accepted the gift but did not do anything, went back on our word and even framed Madam Shang. The Han family's reputation will be completely ruined."

The most important thing for the Han family is its reputation. Because of its reputation, even though the Han family is declining, people still look up to it, and the high-ranking officials and nobles of Yingtian Prefecture still show it some respect. This is the prestige accumulated by their ancestors.

Once the Han family's corrupt practices are exposed, the powerful and influential families of Yingtian Prefecture will despise them and truly acknowledge their decline. They will no longer even receive the most basic respect. Unscrupulous individuals will seize the opportunity to attack the Han family!

Old Mrs. Han, who had already decided to give up on Grandpa Han, was tempted, but Grandpa Han had disappointed her too many times, so she kept a cold face and didn't say anything.

Miao didn't understand these things, but she would take her husband's words seriously. She gritted her teeth and said, "Then destroy it now. As long as the county government can't find it, what can the Shang woman do?"

Old Mrs. Han closed her eyes wearily.

Grandpa Han glanced cautiously at his grandmother. He wasn't without such thoughts, but he knew it wasn't right. His grandmother's attitude made him steel his resolve: "The magistrate has spread the word to the Han family. He knows exactly what's going on. Even if we destroy the jade Guanyin, let alone whether we can do it cleanly and without giving Lady Shang any leverage, once Lady Shang finds out we destroyed the body to cover it up, it will be an admission of guilt. The Han family will lose everything and be convicted of stealing Lady Shang's jade Guanyin!"

Seeing his grandmother suddenly open her eyes, her eyes filled with the same expectation she had for him in the past, even brimming with tears, Grandpa Han looked away awkwardly, but he was encouraged: "Even if we can ensure that Madam Shang has no evidence against us, the magistrate will be utterly disappointed in the Han family. There are no secrets that stay hidden forever."

"This won't do, that won't do!" Miao said angrily. "What do we want?"

Madam Han ignored Miao and just looked at her grandson with a quiet gaze.

Grandpa Han was torn. Over the years, he had indulged in a life of luxury and surrounded himself with sycophants. He had never left the world of Yingtian Prefecture and had gradually forgotten the world outside of Yingtian Prefecture. He was happy to immerse himself in it.

But today, the magistrate of Yingtian Prefecture actually abandoned the Han family for the sake of a merchant's daughter. This resounding slap hit Han's pride hard, hurting him even more than the actual slap his grandmother received!

He locked himself in his room and thought about things erratically for a whole day and night before finally waking up from his dream.

But when asked to bow down to Shang Mingshu, a merchant girl she looked down upon, he couldn't utter a sound until he noticed his grandmother's gaze gradually dimming, at which point he became anxious.

He knew that once this glimmer of light was extinguished, it would never reignite. He steeled his heart and said, "I will personally send a letter to Madam Shang, asking her how she can show leniency."

The Han family did not collude with the White Lotus Sect. The county magistrate has already investigated and found that he is an upright official and would not harm the Han family for personal gain. As for the White Lotus Sect, the matter can be resolved as long as the grandmother intervenes. The county magistrate would not have revealed Shang Mingshu's accusation against the Han family to them unless he intended to let the Han family off the hook.

Now, as long as Shang Mingshu is willing to let bygones be bygones, everything can be easily resolved.

Madam Han suppressed her pounding heart, pinched the soft flesh of her thigh hard with her hand, and tried to control her trembling voice: "Madam Shang is always respectable. To frame her for colluding with the White Lotus Sect is a crime punishable by the extermination of the entire clan. The fact that she was able to avoid retaliation is due to her own ability. She will not let this go easily."

Grandpa Han had thought all of this through. Some things were hard to say, but once he did, the rest would fall into place: "Madam Shang is a businesswoman who believes in harmony. As long as we show sincerity, she won't necessarily break ties with us."

"You'll agree to whatever she asks?" Old Madam Han couldn't help but confirm again and again.

Grandma's restrained excitement made Grandpa Han's heart ache: "Yes!"

"Good, good, good!"