Selling wife for fame? Kick out the scumbag and marry the new emperor to enjoy the harem of favors

Chapter 201

Xie Jiu was well aware of Zhao Xingjin's little trick of coming and going.

The two maids were a little anxious, fearing that Zhao Xingjin had something on his mind and was therefore unwilling to come, but Xie Jiu didn't care much and just told them to finish their work first.

Meanwhile, Zhao Xingjin temporarily put Xie Jiu out of his mind and first discussed the tariff issue with the Xichi people.

Not a single point will be conceded.

His attitude was even tougher than at the beginning, leaving the Xichi people completely helpless. However, they also found the amount unacceptable, resulting in a stalemate.

outside the palace.

Xie family.

The person keeping watch below reported that Xie Mingshen seemed to be leaving the mansion again.

Upon hearing this, Xie Wei immediately perked up and prepared to follow.

As before, Zhao Zaiyan met with Xie Mingshen, but this time the two met in a different place, a private garden-style kitchen with excellent privacy.

You can't get in without a reservation, and inside it's a small house with a group of guests, completely separate, so there's no chance of eavesdropping.

Xie Wei had no choice but to be kept outside, but he became even more certain that if they could meet in such a place, they must be going to close the deal.

So he immediately turned around and went back to his residence, deciding to wait first.

As he expected, the two people inside, who had just met him, immediately got straight to the point without any preamble.

"Thank you, Prime Minister. I have offended you greatly in the past, and I hope you will not hold it against me. I will give you everything I promised you. I hope you can put in a good word for our dynasty. The tariffs are really too high. Xichi Kingdom is short of medicinal herbs and has to purchase a lot from Dajing every year. Now that our iron ore is being sold here, our profits will be greatly reduced."

Zhao Zaiyan looked troubled, his previous arrogance completely gone, and his words were full of pleading.

However, Xie Mingshen did not seem smug. He felt that everything was under control, so he simply said in a deep voice.

"Lord Zhao, I will not go back on my word as I promised you, but you have seen the Emperor's attitude now. He is probably not as easy to talk to as before. I cannot guarantee that this matter will be successful."

"We humbly request your assistance, Chief Minister. Once the matter is resolved, we will certainly add another generous gift!" Zhao Zaiyan cupped his hands in greeting.

This gesture pleased Xie Mingshen, who nodded in agreement.

However, when he returned to his residence, his trusted spies mentioned something to him, and he could no longer laugh.

"You mean, after I left the manor, the young master also secretly followed me out, avoiding everyone?"

"Yes." The servant nodded. "I also figured it out. After you left, I went to the young master's courtyard to deliver things as usual, but I didn't see the young master. According to the young mistress, she was teaching the young master in the inner room."

He paused, then continued, still thinking.

"But I later unexpectedly saw that Song Qing, who was by the young master's side, returned through the back gate of the mansion about half an hour later. With him was a servant dressed as a servant, but his figure looked like the young master's. But why would the young mistress deliberately hide the young master's departure? And if he were to come and go normally, why would he need to disguise himself?"

After hearing these words, Xie Mingshen frowned deeply, his eyes flashed with a cold light, and his expression became solemn.

"Alright, don't tell anyone about this. You may leave."

"Yes."

The servant responded and quickly and quietly left.

After the servant left, Xie Mingshen pondered for a moment, then immediately went to his study. After carefully checking the room and confirming that there were no signs of disturbance, he breathed a barely perceptible sigh of relief.

He then instructed the outsiders, "Summon the young master to see me."

Soon, Xie Wei received the news and was also puzzled.

"You summoned me here now, perhaps to confess about the trade with the Western Chi Kingdom?"

“I don’t think so.” Madam Fan became wary. “If Father-in-law wanted to tell, he wouldn’t have kept it from my husband for so long. The fact that he suddenly summoned my husband now suggests something is amiss.”

After speaking, she pondered for a moment and then instructed, "No matter what, husband, you must never reveal that you have discovered your father-in-law's deal with the Xichi people!"

"Okay, I understand, don't worry." Xie Wei took his wife's hand and patted it gently.

Then he got up and went to the study.

When I arrived, Xie Mingshen was watering the potted plants in the room, looking quite relaxed.

Hearing the noise, she turned around and looked over. "Coming."

"Yes." Xie Wei lowered his eyes. "I wonder why Father summoned me here."

Xie Mingshen's gaze swept over him. "I heard you went out of the manor? The servants said that Song Qing, who is by your side, went out for a while. Was it to run an errand for you, or something else? The capital is not as peaceful as it seems on the surface these days. Don't go looking for trouble."

Xie Wei was taken aback when the other party asked about this directly, and he couldn't help but clench his fist.

"Why aren't you saying anything?" Xie Mingshen put down the small copper watering can and walked towards him step by step. "What did you do outside today?"

Judging from Xie Mingshen's words alone, one might think he is concerned. But if one listens to his tone and notices the sinister look in his eyes, one will know that this is no ordinary father's concern for his son.

Xie Wei looked up at him, a chill running through her heart.

He could tell that Xie Mingshen probably hadn't trusted him since he went to Lizhou and had now returned to the capital.

He keeps pretending to be a kind father, which is disgusting.

Xie Wei thought this to himself, but he still lowered his eyes to hide his emotions. After a moment of silence, he suddenly looked up, stared intently at Xie Mingshen, and questioned him sharply.

“I should ask Father this question. Why did you leave the manor quietly today, and why did you meet with people from Xichi Kingdom? Someone reminded me before that Father seemed to have secret dealings with the people of Xichi. I didn’t believe it at first, but today Father suddenly left the manor quietly, and the carriage even took a detour, as if afraid of being followed. Father, you can’t be confused!”

Seeing his son's agitated state, Xie Mingshen did not answer his question, but instead pressed Xie Wei for answers.

"Who reminded you? What did you see today?"

"I don't know who it was. That person was very mysterious. On my way back to the manor, they had a begging child deliver a message to me." Xie Wei lied without batting an eye, and then said, "Today, Father's carriage deliberately avoided us. I lost track of them and didn't find anything, so I had no choice but to come back."

Xie Wei said, still looking somewhat annoyed.

His words relieved Xie Mingshen. His gaze fell on Xie Wei's face again. Seeing that he really didn't seem to have noticed anything, he rolled his eyes, sighed, and said in a deep voice.

"It must be that old scoundrel Wei Zhang trying to sow discord between you and me, father and son. I do have contact with that Xichi man, but it's all official business. How could we be secretly communicating?"

When he said this, Xie Mingshen looked both angry and helpless.

"Today, Zhao Zaiyan from Xichi Kingdom privately arranged to meet me, saying that we wouldn't discuss official business. That's why I traveled discreetly. However, my guards said that someone seemed to be following me, so I took a longer route. Who would have thought it was you!"