Wang Shouli's words completely angered the others. He didn't care about their lives at all.
Lord Lin's face flushed with anger. He was no mere civil servant, so he didn't have all those empty words. He pointed at Wang Shouli and started to curse, "Don't forget, it was you who came up with the idea to hide Lord Xu, and it was you who hid him. Even if the Xu brothers wanted revenge, they would definitely be looking for you."
"So what?" Wang Shouli was not afraid at all. "My house is full of guards. If he dares to break in, I can catch him in the trap."
Master Lin wanted to say something but was stopped by the master next to him, "Alright, alright, stop talking. Now is not the time to argue. The most important thing is to discuss how to capture the Xu brothers."
"I heard a group of outsiders came into the city?" Wang Shouli sat at the head of the group, his narrow eyes scanning every official present. "Who let them in? Have their identities been verified?"
"They're just a group of ordinary merchants who insisted on entering the city without knowing the consequences. We had no choice but to let them in. Don't worry, Lord Wang, they won't cause any trouble." One of the lords was particularly greedy. "Besides, I heard that these people are either rich or noble. The recent plague has cost us a lot of money, and these wealthy merchants should at least donate a little."
"Oh?" Wang Shouli's eyes flickered. "Do you have any way to make them hand over the silver voluntarily?"
"Let's find a pretext, throw a Hongmen Feast, invite him over, and then give him a few words of warning. If he knows what's good for him, he'll naturally take the money." He paused for a moment, then adopted a stern tone. "If he doesn't agree, don't blame us for driving him to where the sick people are. Whether he lives or dies then won't be decided by us."
His words aroused the greed in everyone's hearts, and they planned how to plunder the rich businessman's money.
The study was bustling with noise. People were not discussing how to deal with the epidemic in Chu City, but how to seize other people's wealth. If anyone were to tell others about this, who would believe that these people were the officials of Chu City?
Wang Shouli saw that they had almost finished their discussion. He coughed lightly, interrupting the lively atmosphere of the spoils division meeting and said, "We will discuss this matter later."
The study suddenly became quiet. Wang Shouli really enjoyed the feeling of being worshipped by everyone. "Have you figured out how to capture the Xu brothers?"
"If we can't catch them, then forget it." Lord Zhang said with his big belly, "Let those two young boys stay outside, they won't cause much trouble." He just wanted to lie down and count the silver, and didn't want to care about anything else.
"Forget it if we can't catch them? Master Zhang is really taking it easy." Wang Shouli looked down on his lazy appearance and sarcastically said, "If they escape from the city and tip off the enemy, we'll be finished. By then, you won't even be able to save your head, let alone your money."
Lord Zhang was so frightened that his face turned pale. He said awkwardly, "Chu City is now guarded inside and outside. Even if they grow wings, they can't fly away. Lord Wang is worrying too much."
"Whether I am overthinking it or not, we must bring them back," Wang Shouli made the final decision. There was no room for negotiation on this matter.
Everyone looked at each other, and for a long time they couldn't think of a good idea.
Wang Shouli didn't count on them. He said a few words that were half warnings and half threats, and then let everyone go.
Situ Yao went out for a stroll with Su Mengyan as usual. If he met someone like Zhao Qing again, he could bring him back.
Furthermore, after Su Mengyan had strictly established rules for maintaining cleanliness, none of them showed any signs of being infected with the plague. This was a good thing; they only needed to find the patient and save him.
As soon as Situ Yao returned to the inn, he saw people from the yamen coming. He quickly pulled Su Mengyan behind him.
"Don't rush out, listen to what they say." Situ Yao didn't want to reveal his identity, he just wanted to find everyone out in secret.
The yamen runner was sent by Wang Shouli to deliver an invitation to Situ Yao. Since he was not at the inn, he decided to wait a while.
Situ Yao heard their voices outside, frowned, and pulled Su Mengyan out together. He looked so majestic that all the yamen runners fell silent and subconsciously wanted to kneel down.
It wasn't until Situ Yao sat down that they realized the man before them was just an ordinary merchant's son. There was no need to be afraid of him. Then they handed the invitation to him, "My Lord would like to invite you to Zuihonglou for a chat."
"I'm a complete stranger to Lord Wang. May I ask why you invited me to Zuihonglou?" Situ Yao asked bluntly. The yamen runner, not knowing what the higher-ups were thinking, replied impatiently, "Just go if you're told to. Why are you asking so many questions?"
"We are all from out of town, and we're worried that we might have offended Lord Wang, so we're asking you for information." Situ Yao pretended to be a wealthy young man and gave him the silver politely. "Please tell me the truth, Lord, so I can have a clear idea."
The yamen runner was very happy to receive the silver and said casually, "Just go. The master will never treat those who obey him unfairly."
Situ Yao sent the person away with a smile, but when he turned back, the smile was gone and he stared at the invitation with a cold face.
"Wang invites you over at this time? What does he want to do?" Su Mengyan didn't quite understand his actions and wondered if he had guessed their identities.
"We've been very discreet along the way, so it's impossible for us to be exposed. Wang Shouli won't know." Su Mengyan answered to herself. Seeing Situ Yao still staring at the invitation, she leaned over to take a look. "What is Zuihonglou?"
"Yiliaolou." Situ Yao spat out the two words indifferently. The plague in Chu City had been kept secret by them, and yet these officials were still thinking of having fun in the yiliaolou. No wonder he was so angry!
"Sir, are you going to keep the appointment?" Su Mengyan had a vague feeling that this would not be a simple banquet, but most likely a Hongmen Banquet.
Situ Yao sneered, "Go, why not?" He threw the invitation aside in disgust, "I was just trying to test their stance, and they gave me the opportunity."
When Su Mengyan saw his expression, she shuddered unconsciously, feeling that Wang Shouli and his gang would die miserably in the future.
"Sir, are you really going to the brothel?" Su Mengyan was a little curious. Would he hug people left and right when he visited the brothel?
This scene made Su Mengyan very uncomfortable, and she shook her head and drove it away.
Situ Yao looked at her with a smile on his face and said, "Yan'er doesn't want me to go?"
"Since you're worried that I'll be out looking for other women, then you should accompany me to Zuihonglou tonight."
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