Xie Lanzhi did not expose him.
She gave him a chance: "Your Highness, go and persuade your father. Otherwise, your position in the Weidusi clan will be in jeopardy in the future."
"Your mother's clan is the same."
The magistrate replied, "Yes..."
He left Xie Xia's residence looking dejected.
In the blink of an eye, Marilyn glanced at the virgin several times, feeling he looked vaguely familiar. After he left, she immediately gaped, utterly astonished, and exclaimed, "He's that idiot's older brother?"
"He doesn't seem very bright either."
Xie Lanzhi said, "In the Central Plains, there is a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children. Even the legitimate son has a father above him. The power exercised by the legitimate son cannot exceed that of his father."
Marilyn picked up her teacup, took a sip, and couldn't help but shake her head: "In our Kingdom of Anro, the king chooses whoever he likes or whoever is capable as his successor. Moreover, the princes can do whatever they want, which is much more freedom than in your country."
Xie Lanzhi smiled faintly and remained silent.
Afterwards, Xie Xia arranged for a young lady from the Xie clan to receive Marilyn. However, Marilyn did not stay long, as people from Tianjing soon came to invite her back to the capital.
Xie Lanzhi, upon learning that it was Little Phoenix's order, did not interfere. Marilyn was initially reluctant to go to an unfamiliar place, until she heard that the Anluo envoy was also in Tianjing. She readily agreed.
In the afternoon, she led her men to Tianjing on Xie's ship.
Xie Xia couldn't help but ask, "Marshal, it's just a small country, why do you value it so much?"
Xie Lanzhi frowned and said, "I know what I'm doing. But you, with the enemy right under your nose, still had your treasury ransacked."
Xie Xia dared not refute; he couldn't very well say directly that the Si family was the hindrance. These past few days, the young master had clearly guessed that Si Hong wasn't dead, but he hadn't told the prince. Who knew what he was up to?
He muttered under his breath, "I find that strange. He's clearly the heir apparent, yet his younger brother manages such an important treasury. What right does he have to inspect the treasury?" That's why it's easy for someone to take advantage of the situation.
Xie Lanzhi had some idea of the shady dealings involved. Internal strife has always been a royal tradition, regardless of the era.
Si Lei's illustrious reputation has now been ruined by his two sons.
"Si Hong, I'll leave him to you." Xie Lanzhi had no use keeping this man around. She didn't want to waste her energy meddling in other people's affairs. But their family matters were indeed hindering her efforts to capture An Shan.
Instead of remaining passive, we should think of a way to strike first.
It would be perfect to just hand Si Hong over to Xie Xia.
Xie Xia received a burden, and he began to look gloomy. He would soon send Si Hong back to the capital and let Si Lei deal with it himself.
That night, when Si Hong was carried into the royal city in a sack, the entire city was thrown into chaos.
Speaking of Si Tang, he's quite adept at using a pretext. I heard that he invited all the officials of Weidu to the capital and, in front of everyone, exposed Si Hong's crimes, thus upholding justice even at the cost of family ties.
Si Lei, as a father, was caught completely off guard, and even if he wanted to make amends, he had no chance. Determined to protect their son, the officials were determined to overthrow this treacherous second son. Because the treasury of Weidu was emptied, the interests of officials throughout Weidu and other regions suffered severe losses.
They could no longer allow the prince to protect the second young master.
Especially after hearing that the second young master had swallowed the entire treasury and was going to Southeast Asia, the officials all wished they could skin him alive.
When a wall falls, everyone pushes it down. Even bearing the pressure of being condemned as a sinner for all time, Si Lei wanted to protect his son. Then, someone leaked the news to the common people, letting everyone in Weidu know that the second young master they were mourning was not dead. He had not only emptied Weidu's treasury but was also a traitor.
The people of Weidu immediately dismantled the tombstones and wreaths erected for the Second Prince in various places, and a group of people protested around the gate of the royal city.
Even the guards of the royal city heard that the prince wouldn't have enough money to pay his rations next month. They all had families to support, and the guards immediately protested. They didn't know who had incited the people to storm the royal city, and they almost stormed the prince's palace.
If Xie Bing hadn't intervened, the Prince's mansion would probably have been smashed to pieces by the people. The people outnumbered them, and the Prince's mansion had lost popular support. Furthermore, the officials weren't on Si Lei's side, but on Si Hong's.
Finally, Si Lei gritted his teeth, almost drawing blood from his lips. Blood flowed down his jaw.
Si Lei knelt on the ground.
The officials of Weidu were in an uproar.
"Your Highness, are you really going to plead for someone who betrayed his country for personal gain?"
"You are the lord of Weidu, and your reputation as the restorer of the dynasty will be ruined!"
"Your Highness, you're getting senile!"
At this moment, Si Tang's maternal family also jumped out to accuse Si Lei of blurring the lines between public and private matters. Even the princess didn't appear.
The maternal relatives of the magistrate believed that it was best for the princess not to step forward at this time, otherwise, her lifelong reputation would be ruined. Even if the princess lost her second son, she still had her eldest son.
Si Lei is different; he is openly defying everyone to protect a bad seed.
In the end, someone came up with the idea of secretly executing Si Hong and then announcing to the public that he died of illness. This was to save face for the officials of Weidu and the prince's son.
Si Lei refused.
“My son must have been deceived. Tang’er, you are the eldest brother, and your younger brother has always been filial. He would not do such a thing.”
Si Lei pinned his hopes on his eldest son: "Don't you agree?"
Seeing that his father still favored his younger brother even at this point, Si Tang couldn't bear it any longer and secretly ordered someone to go to the prison and have Si Hong disposed of.
The people of the royal city dropped everything and started rioting. Merchants heard that the prince had also taken their money from their banks. Some merchants even paid thugs to vandalize the royal city.
In short, Si Hong had designs on the treasury, even though he didn't take the money. But he was destined to take the blame for this enormous crime.
The money at Twin Islands was embezzled by Si Hong from his previous business dealings; he never touched the treasury's funds. No matter how innocent Si Hong protests in prison, he has at most committed embezzlement and filed a false police report.
In the Central Plains, these two cases would at most have reduced him to a commoner, not necessarily to execution. Who would have thought that the treasury of Weidu would also be empty? Lacking evidence, everyone pointed the finger at him.
Si Hong's voice was almost hoarse from shouting. He cried out to heaven and earth, but to no avail. The prison guards, having received the money, sealed the cell doors tightly shut.
"I'm truly innocent!!!"
"Father, Mother, save me!!"
These were his last voices as he disappeared into the dungeon.
The following day, despite the pressure, Si Lei decided to relinquish his identity to protect his son.
Then came the news from the dungeon that Si Lei had committed suicide.
Si Lei couldn't believe it, and he rushed into the dungeon. The last sound that echoed from the dungeon was Si Lei's painful scream.
After Si Hong's death, Si Tang was sitting in the main hall, flanked by the waiting officials of Weidu. Upon hearing of Si Hong's demise, the officials all breathed a sigh of relief.
The magistrate took the initiative to maintain order: "All county officials, quickly return to post official documents listing Si Hong's crimes to reassure the people."
The officials began to regard the magistrate as their pillar. As the officials left the capital, the people still made way for them.
Finally, official notices were posted in every street and county of Weidu, and word was sent to every village. The notice informed everyone that Si Hong had confessed to his crimes and, out of shame, committed suicide.
The Crown Prince, in charge of the overall situation, personally wrote IOUs for merchants and soldiers from various regions, repaying their money month by month.
With the officials' hints, the merchants chose to trust the official, and the merchants also guided the people to trust the official.
The official in charge even took 300,000 taels from his own private treasury to alleviate the worries in various regions, especially the military pay. The garrison soldiers returned to their posts, and order gradually returned to the capital.
The magistrate only has 300,000, which is a drop in the bucket and simply not enough.
He went to borrow it from Xie Lanzhi in person. At that moment, Xie Lanzhi was still looking at the nautical chart, worried about whether Xie Ying had reached the shore in time.
The reputation she had earned for her decisiveness and ruthlessness also reached her ears.
Xie Lanzhi sized up the seemingly gentle prince; he seemed to have changed quite a bit. The few times she'd met him before, he'd always been leisurely fanning himself, appearing carefree. Even after guessing his brother wasn't dead, he hadn't taken any action.
Who says people only have two sides? Maybe they have three.
The changes in the magistrate are so rapid now; though ruthless, they are just right for her.
Weidu will become the second major seaport after Yue. As a future gateway, Weidu needs a decisive, just, and impartial leader. Even if he's just following in his father's footsteps and cares about appearances, only wanting a good reputation. People need goals to motivate them to move forward.
Xie Lanzhi allocated him a huge sum of money: five million taels of silver.
It was exactly what I had earned from Si Lei before.
Five million taels is equivalent to a year's trade volume for Weidu. It's enough for the Director to maintain the status quo in Weidu. As long as Weidu remains stable, the deficit will definitely be reversed in three years.
"Thank you, Marshal!" Si Tang bowed deeply to her. "I will never forget your great kindness. I will repay you handsomely in the future."
Xie Lanzhi said, "Don't be too happy yet, you're still just a prince."
Her implication was quite clear. The sergeant lowered his head, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes.
"The Crown Prince will never forget the Marshal's guidance."
Xie Lanzhi didn't want to hear so many compliments, so she waved her hand and said, "Let's go back."
The official did not leave. He remained standing before her, then suddenly looked up and said, "Marshal, I've heard that you've been searching for the culprit who emptied the treasury. I wonder if the young master could serve you?"
"Do you have any clues?" Xie Lanzhi didn't have high hopes.
"have."
This powerful and resolute voice caught Xie Lanzhi's attention.
"explain."
The official in charge said, "I would also appreciate it if you could investigate my mother."
These were words brimming with disrespect and disregard for filial piety. Xie Lanzhi knew the magistrate wouldn't have uttered them so casually. He must have sensed something was amiss long ago, but out of consideration for her mother and past relationship, he dared not speak.
Now that he dares to harm his younger brother and swiftly stab his father in the heart, he will also readily confess his suspicions about his mother.
What a fine prince! To raise such a child, one must have been exposed to such influences from a young age.
This may be Si Lei's retribution.
Chapter 190 Xie Lanzhi Hunts Down the Real Substitute
In the ruins of Surabaya, there is a makeshift triangular hut, from which only faint sparks can be seen at night.
Coughing could be heard constantly coming from inside, and the air was filled with a pungent smell.
Xie Ying sat cross-legged on the ground, simmering some wild ginger she had gathered nearby in an earthenware pot she had found. She lifted the lid to look at the murky water and the dissolved ginger. When she thought it was about right, she removed some firewood and turned the fire down.
Then she wrapped the tile handle in cloth and poured ginger soup into a bowl with a broken corner.
Xie Ying forced herself to drink the pungent ginger soup, which burned her throat as it flowed down. But it warmed her up once it reached her stomach. Soon, she felt much better, and the dizziness and lightheadedness she had felt earlier were gone.
The snake she had caught sizzled on a branch over the fire. There was nothing else to eat. This was the only thing she could rely on to help her recover.
Xie Ying drank the unpleasant ginger soup to ward off the cold, then gnawed on the fishy and disgusting snake meat. After finishing, she threw the remaining bones into the fire, where they crackled and popped.
The surroundings were dark and silent. It was as if she were the only person left in the entire world.