Chapter 202: Substituting

When Situ Ming and his entourage walked into the restaurant.

His servant was still worried and asked, "Sir, if we leave the Crown Prince's wife alone like this, will it cause trouble?"

Situ Ming waved his folding fan: "I'm afraid she won't do anything."

"Ah?" The servant was confused, not quite understanding.

As they were talking, the two of them had already entered the restaurant.

Situ Ming glanced around the restaurant and asked the waiter in a low voice, "Are you sure that the Xu guy will be here today?"

"I'm sure of it," the servant said confidently, "He has an appointment with the Jinyang Prefecture Prison Warden to discuss matters in this restaurant. There's no doubt about it."

"He actually went to a low-ranking prison warden. It's clear that the Xu family is truly desperate and has nowhere else to turn to for help."

The servant smiled and agreed, "This is all thanks to the new Magistrate Meng.

After Meng Xiyan arrived, he relied on the imperial sword in his hand to purge all the important officials of Jinyang Prefecture.

Only these low-ranking officials and clerks managed to escape punishment."

A businessman named Xu was once one of the wealthy businessmen in Jinyang City.

The Xu family not only did business in cloth and grain, but also ran gold and silver shops, pawnshops, and other businesses.

The Xu family was extremely wealthy, so naturally they attracted envy.

Especially after Lan Hong came, he wanted to tear off some pieces of flesh from him.

As local tyrants, the Xu family is used to being arrogant and domineering, and they look down on everyone.

Acting as usual, recklessly.

He easily fell into the trap set by Lan Hong.

Killing someone in public is impossible to deny.

No mention of the private scheming and plotting. Publicly, Lan Hong was upright and just, sentencing the Xu family's only son to be executed in the autumn according to the law, and the sentence was quickly approved by the Ministry of Justice in the capital, granting the death penalty.

In order to save his only son's life, the head of the Xu family had to lower his proud head and negotiate with Lan Hong.

In the end, he exchanged most of his wealth for his son's life.

Just wait until the beheading is approaching, throw out a new scapegoat, and the only son of the Xu family will be acquitted and live openly in the sun.

Unexpectedly, the drought was exposed and Meng Xiyan showed up unexpectedly, disrupting all their plans.

Lan Hong can hardly protect himself now.

How can I still care about Xu?

The Xu family did not dare to approach the Lan family rashly. Wouldn't that be like confessing themselves and sending evidence of bribery into the hands of others?

No matter how unwilling the Xu family was, they had no choice but to accept the loss.

At the same time, the head of the Xu family did not want to give up his only son.

It seems that in just a month or so, the execution will take place in the autumn.

The Xu family was extremely anxious.

As the situation in Jinyang Prefecture stabilized a little, the Xu family could no longer sit still and began to move around.

Those powerful people above are all Meng Chifei's men. How dare he get involved?

I can only put some effort into the petty officials here."

Led by the servant, Situ Ming came to a private room that had been booked long ago.

After arriving at the room.

The servant put a tea bowl on the wall and put his ear under the bowl.

The sound of talking next door could be heard faintly.

"Wang, the prison warden, I have found someone who is 50% similar to my son in both figure and appearance. When the time comes, all I need is your cooperation..." A voice said, patiently and coaxingly.

"This... is the person you found reliable?" another voice asked worriedly, "If he betrays us at the execution ground, you and I will probably be in big trouble."

"Don't worry. During this famine year, many untouchables starved to death because they had no food to eat.

Two dan of grain, a lot of people, lining up to work hard." The first voice was contemptuous and disdainful.

"As long as you are willing to help me, you will definitely get some benefits.

A shop and one thousand taels of silver.

Even if you resign as prison warden after this is accomplished, this money will be enough for your family to live comfortably for three generations." The first voice continued to lay out the bait.

"This is a serious matter. The new prefect has adopted drastic measures, so we may not stand a chance." The first voice was still hesitant.

It was obvious that the two people in the conversation were the head of the Xu family and Wang, the warden of the Jinyang Prefecture Prison.

They were discussing how to replace the original with another and help the young master of the Xu family escape death.

A cup of tea is over.

The two sides did not reach an agreement.

Warden Wang has the desire to commit a crime but not the courage to do so.

The bargaining chips of the Xu family's head are indeed attractive.

But you may be alive to earn it, but you may not be alive to spend it!

If it were in the past, I would just do it, and if I was caught, the worst that could happen was I would be fired.

However, this man surnamed Meng is now going to kill people!

Especially after Meng Xiyan's purge, he had already become like a frightened bird.

Warden Wang left first.

After a while, the head of the Xu family followed him out.

However, when he went out, he was blocked by someone.

He moved to the left and the other person also moved to the left.

He moved to the right, and the other person also moved to the right.

This person is obviously here to cause trouble!

The head of the Xu family was very unhappy that the deal was not concluded.

He raised his head and was about to get angry.

Then he saw Situ Ming looking at him with a smile.

The head of the Xu family recognized Situ Ming at a glance. He was the manager of "Miao Bi Zhai".

He didn't show it on his face, but his heart skipped a beat: "You..."

"Master Xu, please excuse me for a moment." Situ Ming interrupted him directly and made a gesture of invitation.

A gleam of light flashed in the eyes of the head of the Xu family, but he still walked into Situ Ming's private room.

He discovered that Situ Ming's private room was right next to his own.

He looked around the layout of the private room inconspicuously.

Seeing the two tea bowls on the table by the wall, his pupils trembled: This Situ Ming was eavesdropping next door just now?!

Then wouldn't it mean that he had heard all of my tricks of "replacing one thing with another"?

His face changed, and he was about to attack when he heard Situ Ming's voice, saying slowly and calmly, "Master Xu, try the good tea I brought from the capital."

As he spoke, Situ Ming poured him tea personally.

The Xu family's patriarch remained calm, picked up the teacup and took a sip. Then his eyes lit up and he exclaimed from the bottom of his heart: "Good tea, really good tea!"

Situ Ming smiled and said, "The tea given by the emperor must be good tea."

The Xu family patriarch's hand holding the teacup trembled, and the tea spilled out.

But he was indeed an old fox who had been immersed in the business world for many years. It only took him a moment to adjust his mood.

He put down the teacup, his expression extremely calm: "Master Situ, you are eavesdropping and serving tea to me. It is really unnecessary to use such a big show to deal with a small businessman like me.

Master Situ, let's talk openly and honestly about what you want me to do."

Situ Ming didn't feel embarrassed at all by being pointed out so bluntly.

Instead, he said, "I'm here to seek cooperation with the Patriarch of the Xu Family. I need to be sincere enough so that you will be willing to work for me."

The head of the Xu family pretended to listen attentively.

Situ Ming no longer tried to play along and said directly, "You help me sell the grain, and I'll help you protect Master Xu."

This person was eavesdropping behind my back just now!

The Xu family's patriarch spread his hands and said, "I'm not the only one eyeing that batch of grain. I can't help you."

If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too ostentatious when you first entered the city, acting too high-profile and causing displeasure among your colleagues in the prefecture. Naturally, you must pay the price."

"Who said I want to protect that batch of grain!" Situ Ming said lightly.

[Note: Siyu: The head of a local prison. A prefectural prison chief is a ninth-rank official, not considered a regular official. His position is low, but his responsibilities are heavy.]