Han Shaomian pretended not to notice this subtle scene and said calmly, "So, everything the merchants in the Youzhou Chamber of Commerce do is under the orders of Xie Yingping, is that so?"

Who wouldn't be able to confuse right and wrong? Since he had seen through the other party's tricks, Han Shaomian naturally seized the other party's loopholes and said, "If that's the case, Xie Yingping actually asked me to invite you all here. How can such a witness be convincing?"

"That's right, Lord Han is right! The people in this Chamber of Commerce are all under the same roof as the Xie family. How can we trust their words?"

"That's right. All the jade artifacts in Youzhou are controlled by them. Now asking them to testify for the Xie family is child's play, isn't it?"

As soon as Han Shaomian finished speaking, the people outside the hall started cursing. They must have been dissatisfied with what the Xie family had done. They came here today not to watch the fun, but to vent their anger!

Upon hearing this, Xie Yingping secretly glared at Boss Li, then spoke, "Master Han, this Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary association! I'm not forcing anyone! Besides, since we're all in the jade business, I don't want to cause chaos in the Youzhou jade market. That's why I'm suggesting the establishment of a Chamber of Commerce, and this is also approved by the government! I'm dedicated to stabilizing the Youzhou jade market, but I didn't expect to be questioned like this, Master. It's truly a thankless task!"

"Yes, sir! Clan leader Xie really has good intentions! The quality of Youzhou's jade wares is uneven, and Clan leader Xie also has good intentions. In order to let the people buy good jade, he opened the Chamber of Commerce! And this suggestion was recognized by everyone at the beginning, so it was implemented with pride!" Boss Li tried his best to speak for Xie Yingping. The smile on his face and the look in his eyes showed the caution of a businessman, and his words were the essence after being honed for a hundred times, and people could not find any fault with them!

"Really?" Han Shaomian remained unwavering and unconvinced by their unanimous agreement and the acquiescence and silence of the others. He gradually turned his gaze towards Boss Li and spoke in a cold voice, "It is said that Steward Mo of the Xie family has been in frequent contact with Boss Li these past few days. Is this true?"

Upon hearing Han Shaomian's question, the smile on Boss Li's face immediately vanished. He shook his head solemnly and denied it, "No! Absolutely not! Your Excellency, I am innocent. I am busy managing my own jade shop all day long. Even if I had some contact with Manager Mo, it was purely a business matter. Please understand!"

Faced with Boss Li's sudden change of expression, Han Shaomian remained calm and composed, with a stern expression on his face. No matter whether the other party was excited or begging for mercy, he always maintained the most basic calmness and did not let the chaos in front of him dazzle his eyes and mislead his judgment!

It was obvious that Boss Li was lying. If Han Shaonian was not completely sure, why would he suddenly mention this? He nodded again to the guard beside him, and the guard quickly walked into the back hall and brought out an old man in his sixties. The old man looked at Boss Li timidly, and when he saw Xie Yingping standing next to Boss Li, he shrank back even more. Then he quickly saluted to Han Shaonian and said, "I am honored to meet you, sir!"

"Old man, get up and talk!" Han Shaomian folded up the letter he had just opened and read, and spoke in a clear voice!

"Thank you, sir!" After hearing Han Shaomian's words, the old man stood up, but because he was afraid of the people standing in the hall, he couldn't help but stand to the other side, and then lowered his head and dared not look at anyone!

"Old man, tell me about the people Boss Li has met in the past few days!" Han Shaomian glanced at Boss Li's puzzled look and then asked!

Seeing Han Shaomian asking questions, the old man dared not hide anything and said, "To answer your question, sir, I am a servant of Boss Li's family. These days, I often see Steward Mo of the Xie family often looking for Boss Li to discuss things! Once, I accidentally heard Steward Mo talking to Boss Li about the jade mine. It seems that he mentioned that if Boss Li can help the Xie family stabilize the merchants in the Chamber of Commerce, the Xie family will give away a few jade mines as a thank you gift in the future! However, their voices were too low, and I couldn't hear clearly, so that's all!"

"Bullshit! Li Er, I took you in with good intentions, but you actually slandered me in front of Lord Han! How have I wronged you? How dare you talk nonsense like this!" Before the old man even finished his words, Boss Li started yelling. He was so angry that he wanted to rush forward and beat up Li Er who didn't dare to look up. Even Xie Yingping, who was standing next to him, had a frost in her eyes!

However, after hearing what the old man said, other merchants began to whisper to each other, and some of the bolder ones began to question Xie Yingping and Boss Li in front of Han Shaomian!

"Uncle Li, no wonder you always spoke well of the Xie family before. It turns out that you have already colluded with each other and planned to divide up the jade mine in Youzhou!" Boss Zhu spoke sarcastically. Thinking about how he had rashly followed Boss Li to the yamen today, he felt that he was a sucker. He worked hard for a long time, but all the benefits were taken by Boss Li alone!

As soon as Boss Zhu started talking, other merchants could not help but criticize the two of them, "Uncle Li is really amazing, I didn't expect you to be so thoughtful! You really hid it from us! We thought we were all in this together to get through this difficult time, but you had already secretly done it. Do you really think all of us are fools? You said so many high-sounding words, but it turned out to be a lie!" Boss Yang, who had been in conflict with Boss Zhu that day, also spoke with a forced smile at this time. He didn't expect that there would be a day when he would be played like a monkey. Xie Yingping really has a good way!

Boss Li was speechless for a moment. How could he win over the other dozen people? Moreover, these people were all shrewd businessmen with eloquence. They spoke one after another and left him no room to speak. In anger and humiliation, Boss Li stamped his feet fiercely and could only point at the old man and curse, "Li Er, I've treated you well, why are you talking nonsense? Who made up these things for you? Don't you think about it? Can you trust the words of such a person?"

"Why can't you believe it? Li Er is your jade shop clerk. Is he just too bored to slander you with something that doesn't exist? You're still trying to argue after all this. How despicable! We almost got tricked by you. It's really disheartening!" Boss Zhu didn't dare to get angry at Xie Yingping, so he could only point at Boss Li and curse. Judging from the jealousy in his eyes, it was probably not Boss Li's deception that he hated, but the fact that Xie Yingping had given up the jade mine and didn't give him a share. If he could get a few jade mines and mine them himself, the Zhu family would be prosperous in no time!

"Pah!"

"Have you had enough of the noise? This is a court, not your jade shop!" A cold and slightly chilly voice suddenly rang out amidst the quarrel. Han Shaomian stared at the people in front of him who were about to fight with a slightly cold expression. The gavel in his hand was slammed again, and everyone was startled back to their senses. They then remembered that this was in a court, and they almost behaved disrespectfully in front of others because of a momentary gain or loss!

A farce was suppressed in an instant by Han Shaomian, while Xie Yingping remained silent throughout the quarrel. He neither admitted the promise he made to Boss Li, nor denied that he used the mining rights of the jade mine as bait to make Boss Li work for him. Xie Yingping's attitude was ambiguous and confusing. It was precisely because of his silence that other merchants became angry and Boss Li became the target of everyone's attack. Only Han Shaomian, who was watching coldly, knew that Xie Yingping was so taciturn just to distance himself from the matter. He presumably knew that his promise to Boss Li was only a verbal promise. Therefore, after the matter was exposed, he was still able to remain calm and composed, without any panic!

"Li Er, I want to ask you, have you ever held a grudge against Boss Li for any reason?" Han Shaomian started with the small things and interrogated him slowly. Since the case was already in court, he naturally could not let go of any small details!

The old man was arguing fiercely with Boss Li, but when he suddenly heard Han Shaomian's question, he swallowed the curse that was about to come out of his mouth, turned to Han Shaomian respectfully, and answered honestly, "To answer your question, Boss Li is my boss, so there is naturally no conflict! It's just that an official came to question me yesterday, and I just said what I heard and saw. I hope your Excellency will understand!"

Seeing his sincerity and the seriousness in his words, Han Shaomian couldn't help but nodded slightly. Then he turned to Boss Li and asked, "Boss Li, is what Li Er said just now true?"

When Boss Li heard Han Shaomian ask him this, he couldn't help but glare at Li Er again, and then reluctantly answered, "Yes! I really have no conflicts with Li Er, but I didn't expect him to stab me in the back. People's hearts are really unpredictable!"

Han Shaomian, who was sitting in the hall, was in no mood to listen to Boss Li's complaints. After receiving the unanimous response from both of them, Han Shaomian spoke impartially, "Since he has no grudge against you, then he naturally has no reason to frame you! Moreover, the Xie family case has far-reaching implications. Since I am in charge of this case, I must investigate it thoroughly. Sending yamen runners to the jade shops and the mansion to inquire is also inevitable! Telling the truth is also a matter of conscience. Don't forget your duty because of greed for temporary benefits!"

There was something else in Han Shaomian's words, but it was not difficult for everyone to hear that he believed Li Er's testimony against Boss Li!

Seeing Han Shaomian's attitude, Boss Li was extremely upset. If Han Shaomian thought that he was protecting Xie Yingping for the sake of benefits, then the Li family would also be implicated. For a while, Boss Li frequently glanced at Xie Yingping, but he didn't expect that the other party would just stand there indifferent, with no intention of rescuing him at all. This made Boss Li furious, and he could only grit his teeth and reply to Han Shaomian's words, "I will remember your teachings!"

Han Shaomian closely watched the changes in the emotions in Boss Li's eyes. He knew it was time to ask the main question, so he said seriously, "Since you know you are wrong, then explain clearly what Manager Mo wants you to do!"

Boss Li, who had been lowering his head and winking at Xie Yingping, felt a chill envelop him when he heard Han Shaomian's voice. He was filled with hatred for Xie Yingping for not saving him at this moment. He suddenly raised his head and said impulsively, "Then Manager Mo hopes that I can stabilize the merchants in the Chamber of Commerce and hope that everyone will unite to speak well of Xie Yingping. He also carefully analyzed the current situation in Youzhou for me, making me understand that if Youzhou loses the Xie family, I'm afraid there will be other merchants to take over. By then, the status and treatment of small merchants like us may be worse than now. He also promised me the mining rights of the jade mine, and only then was I tempted!"

Han Shaomian listened carefully to Boss Li's reply. At the same time, he looked at Xie Yingping, who looked very calm. Seeing that Xie Yingping looked extremely calm, he asked Boss Li again, "Is Manager Mo the manager of the Xie family?"

"Your Excellency, yes! Manager Mo is the most experienced manager of the Xie family and is also Xie Yingping's confidant. Since he has already said this, it must be Xie Yingping's instruction, otherwise why would I be tempted? I beg you to show some leniency. I was just bewildered for a moment, and this matter was just a verbal agreement. I beg you to forgive me!" After he finished speaking, everyone saw Boss Li kneeling in the hall and kowtowing to Han Shaomian repeatedly, hoping that the affairs of the Xie family would not implicate him!

However, Han Shaomian did not kill them all. After all, it was the Xie family that committed the crime, and these merchants were also victims. They had been exploited by the Xie family for many years. Now that there was such a huge profit in front of them, they would naturally be tempted!

His eyes swept over the indifferent Xie Yingping, and Han Shaomian said to Boss Li, "You should get up first. As long as what you just said is true, I will give you a lighter sentence!"

After receiving Han Shaomian's assurance, Boss Li nodded repeatedly in gratitude, and kept assuring, "Everything I just said is true. Your Excellency is wise, Your Excellency is wise!"

However, Han Shaomian's attention had already returned to Xie Yingping. The others were easy to deal with, but Xie Yingping was a tricky person. At this time, there was a betrayal in the hall, but Xie Yingping didn't even blink. It can be seen that this person has strong concentration and a very firm mind. If he hadn't experienced many storms, he would not have such courage!

"The jade mine originally belonged to the imperial court. Even the mining should be approved by the imperial court. From what Boss Li said just now, the Xie family seems to have such a right! Xie Yingping, do you really regard the jade mine as the private property of the Xie family? You let your Xie family arbitrarily decide who owns the jade mine? What crime should you be punished for? Bang!" Han Shaomian's speech speed became faster and faster, and his voice became more and more solemn. The gavel in his hand slammed down on the table with the force of thunder. Not to mention the merchants standing in the lobby, even the people standing on the periphery were frightened by Han Shaomian's courage and dared not speak!

Xie Yingping was the only one who remained calm in the hall. Facing Han Shaomian's questioning, she calmly replied, "I am dissatisfied and puzzled! Everyone knows that the Xie family is the richest family in Youzhou and has made a living from the jade business for many years! This is bound to lead to jealousy and frame-ups among colleagues! Now that the Xie family is in trouble, we originally hoped that colleagues in the Chamber of Commerce could help each other through the difficulties, but we didn't expect that everyone would add insult to injury and put the Xie family in a position of disloyalty and injustice. I really can't accept it! And you, sir, have not yet investigated the truth of the matter, let alone asked for my opinion, but you are already making a decision in court. This makes me even more confused! I hope you can give me some advice!"

However, he didn't expect that Xie Yingping had already thought of a countermeasure during his silence. What he said was reasonable and showed the calmness and momentum that the head of the Xie family should have!

Han Shaomian is not someone who can be fooled. What Xie Yingping just pointed out are all minor issues. The real focus is still the mining rights of the jade mine. Now Xie Yingping wants to avoid the important issues. It depends on whether Han Shaomian agrees!

Han Shaomian raised his eyes to meet Xie Yingping's gaze and slowly asked, "Could it be that the Xie family's jade mining was also framed by others?"

Meanwhile, inside the Chu Mansion, the guards Chu Pei had sent to the Xie Residence quickly returned to the mansion. With a hint of anxiety on their faces, they reported to Chu Pei, "Sir, news just came from the government office that Lord Han has ordered Patriarch Xie to be brought to the government office for questioning! The merchants from the Youzhou Chamber of Commerce have also been taken there by the guards. I'm afraid the case will be decided today!"

"What?" After listening to the report from the guard, Chu Pei tilted the teacup in his hand slightly, and the tea inside immediately poured out and spilled on the carpet, but it did not attract Chu Pei's attention at all. He just frowned. Even though he guessed that Chu Feiyang had already taken action, he did not expect the speed to be so fast. After sealing all the jade mines in Youzhou, he actually wanted to convict the Xie family on the same day!

No, if the Xie family is convicted, wouldn’t I lose an arm?

Chu Pei suddenly stood up from his chair and without saying a word, led the guards towards the gate of the Chu Mansion!

The doorman saw his master coming out, and a hint of embarrassment flashed in his eyes, but he didn't dare to say anything more and quickly opened the main door...

Unexpectedly, what caught Chu Pei's eyes was Xiahou Qin holding a long sword!

Xiahou Qin was seen standing outside the Chu Mansion, sword in hand and a faint smile on his face. As the door slowly opened, he suddenly said in a loud voice, "I didn't expect my uncle to come and greet me personally!"