Favoring the concubine and killing the wife? She divorced the concubine and lived with her concubine

The Xiao family had two cargo ships, which they used to deliver goods to the capital. Compared to the government's grain ships, these were smaller, but they were more than adequate for transporting delicate items like porcelain.

But the two cargo ships, from the steward to the boatmen, are all Xiao Zongshan's confidants. Moreover, Xiao Lan has now given the order, and the old steward looks around at the workshops and docks from time to time, so it is difficult to take action against them.

Xiao Cheng naturally knew this, so he asked Xiao Zongwen if there was a better way to do this.

Xiao Zongwen naturally did, and glanced outside the door.

Xiao Cheng was puzzled, so Xiao Zongwen lowered his voice to explain, "Xiao Lan assigned a servant to Xiao Xuan, so let's keep it quiet."

"I heard that the old housekeeper has a useless young son who likes to gamble." Xiao Zongwen said this and looked at Xiao Cheng.

"Yes." Xiao Cheng confirmed, "There is a gambler, but the old housekeeper has plenty of money and can pay it back. I haven't heard that he is in trouble."

"It seems that Xiao Fei's family also has a son who hangs out in gambling houses. Why don't we arrange a gambling game together and let them all have fun." Xiao Zongwen said lightly, glancing outside the door.

Xiao Xuan didn't know why Xiao Zongwen said these things in front of him, but no matter what, he had to tell Xiao Lan about it as soon as possible.

"If we can control the old butler, it will be much easier to deal with the boatmen. But will Lin Rui do business with us for no reason?" Xiao Cheng was still a little unsure.

"Businessmen are driven by profit, and we're all members of the Xiao family, so why can't we do this business? He went back and collected a lot of medicinal herbs, and Xiao Lan asked him to hold back the goods with just a letter. Since he's in a hurry to sell them, he might be able to make a little more profit."

Xiao Cheng thought Xiao Zongwen's idea was very good, and instantly he sighed, "My son, you are suffering outside!"

"Father, don't be sad. The important thing now is, if the cargo ship project is successful, who will go to the capital." Xiao Zongwen looked at Xiao Cheng, knowing that Xiao Cheng was going to volunteer.

"Then I have to go, won't you go?" Xiao Cheng asked back.

Xiao Zongwen smiled bitterly, "I got sick in the north. If I stay on the boat, I'm afraid I'll die before I can even get paid."

Xiao Cheng was about to grimace again, but Xiao Zongwen quickly said, "Let Xiao Xuan go with you, so the child can also gain some experience."

Xiao Xuan was stunned. His father didn't even go on such an important matter? Even though he was not in good health, he entrusted this matter to him. Did it mean that his father still trusted him after all?

"Okay, I'll go then!"

Xiao Zongwen stood up and said to his father, "Then I'll go make some arrangements first. This matter can't be delayed any longer."

The two came out of Xiao Cheng's house. It was getting dark outside. They saw the wind blowing, blowing up the red leaves on the ground and making them fly all over the sky.

Xiao Zongwen tightened the collar of his cloak, thankfully the hand warmer in his arms was still warm. He turned to glance at Chi Yu, whose nose was red from the cold. "Being a servant is a dead end. Why don't you just follow me? I can even make you the shopkeeper. I heard you did quite well before? You might consider it!"

After saying this, without waiting for Chi Yu's reply, he walked out of the yard. Xiao Xuan and Chi Yu exchanged a glance, then followed him in silence, one in front and the other behind.

Xiao Zongwen then took Xiao Xuan to find Fan Zhixing. Now that Fan Zhixing's restaurant was gone, it would not be easy to rebuild it, so he put the business on hold for the time being.

The three of them sat opposite each other in the room. There were two charcoal stoves lit, and Xiao Zongwen still sat next to one of the stoves.

"Xiao Xuan, I'll leave this matter to you. Can you do it?" Xiao Zongwen put his hands on the stove and looked up at Xiao Xuan who was standing in front of him.

"Father believes in me?" Xiao Xuan asked back, with anticipation in his heart.

Fan Zhixing slapped Xiao Xuan on the back and complained, "He's your biological father, how could he not believe you?"

Xiao Zongwen sighed softly, "Although you are useless and weak, you are my son after all. Now it has come to this that only you can do this for me. If you can succeed, I will definitely look at you with a different eye. If you can't, then I will just regard you as having no destiny with the Xiao family."

Xiao Xuan's heart stagnated, and an indescribable emotion rose up. "I..." He was about to agree, but then he thought of Xiao Lan.

"If that doesn't work, just ask your Uncle Fan to go. Although I don't want him to show up and cause trouble, but if you..." Xiao Zongwen turned to look at Fan Zhixing.

Fan Zhixing patted Xiao Xuan on the shoulder and said, "You can do it. Xiao Xuan can definitely accomplish this little thing."

Xiao Xuan finally nodded, "It can be done."

"I don't like that girl Liu Yue, but she is Liu Yu's sister after all. For their sake, I won't touch that girl." Xiao Zongwen's palms were burning hot, and he felt comfortable only after rubbing his hands together.

"Father...that day..." Xiao Xuan always lacked confidence when speaking in front of Xiao Zongwen, and he stammered, not knowing what to say.

"I was just trying to piss you off that day," Fan Zhixing added.

I heard you asked Xiao Lan to send someone to Beidu to protect her? That's why you brought Chi Yu back, right?

Xiao Zongwen stared at the charcoal stove as he spoke, but Xiao Xuan felt that he was seeing through him. He was speechless, not knowing how to explain, where to start, which sentence to say.

"You don't have to explain. This is my last chance. Otherwise, don't call me father anymore..."

"It's... father."

-----------------

In the evening, the sky began to drizzle. It was just the beginning of winter, and the alternating sunny and rainy weather had made the weather suddenly cooler.

Xiao Lan and everyone settled down in an inn in the capital, while Su Ze continued to go to Pan's house with Pan Yingqiu that day.

When the head of the Pan family saw Su Ze suddenly bring Pan Yingqiu back, and Pan Yingqiu's face was shy and smiling like a peach blossom, he instantly felt that good things were about to happen to the two of them.

"Uncle, there's no need to bother. I'll just talk to you for a few words and then leave." Su Ze clasped his fists and bowed, stopping the enthusiasm of the head of the Pan family.

Although the head of the Pan family is Su Ze's elder, Su Ze is an official after all, so he still has to return the gift politely and hurriedly invite people into the study.

"Would you like to join us, Yingqiu?" The head of the Pan family looked back at Yingqiu with a kind smile.

"I want to say a few words to you." Su Ze emphasized without even looking at Pan Yingqiu.

"Okay, okay, I'm a shy girl, please."

The two of them entered the study one after the other. Su Ze lifted his robe and sat down without any courtesy, without much smile on his face.

The head of the Pan family couldn't understand what this attitude meant, but because he had seen it a few times before and didn't show much enthusiasm, he just thought that this was his temper.

"You and Yingqiu are the only ones back? Why didn't your parents come back to celebrate the New Year? You asked for leave to come back..." The head of the Pan family kept nagging, but Su Ze had lost his patience.

"Uncle, perhaps Pan's cousin has some misunderstanding and has lost her sense of propriety. I hope you can discipline her properly and don't let others say that the Pan family has poor family education."

Su Ze's voice was cold and rude, and the head of the Pan family was unable to react in time.

"What? What? Although Yingqiu isn't from a wealthy family, she has a good reputation among the girls in the capital. How can you describe her in such a disgraceful way?"

"She threatened my mother and tried to force me to marry her. If I didn't agree, she would come to the capital to ruin the reputation of my Su family, saying that my Su family did not remember our old friendship and that I gave up my position as fiancée for a woman and that I was a traitor." Su Ze said this with no expression on his face, staring coldly at the head of the Pan family.

The head of the Pan family didn't know what trouble Pan Yingqiu had caused in South City, which made people come to his house to scold him like this. However, if Su Ze could become Pan Yingqiu's husband, his Pan family would definitely benefit greatly.

"Is there any misunderstanding?" asked the head of the Pan family cautiously.

"There is no misunderstanding. I heard it with my own ears and saw it with my own eyes."

"Then, if you really want to give up Yingqiu for a woman, then what she said is not wrong."

"Oh? Pan Yingqiu and I are not engaged, so how can there be a fiancée?" Su Ze brushed off his robe and continued, "If you also think the Su family is treacherous, then there is no need for our two families to have any contact."

The head of the Pan family recently started a new business and has indeed not put more energy into other aspects. Su Ze's threat also made him angry.

"A few words between women is considered to be a false accusation against an imperial official? You can't bully people like this! Besides, most of our business now comes from the powerful Xiao family in the capital. Don't underestimate us!"

"The Xiao family? The Xiao family in Nancheng?" Su Ze asked with raised eyebrows and a smile on his lips.

"Of course! The big merchant in the capital, the Xiao family in the south city!" The head of the Pan family looked proud. If it weren't for the Xiao family's recent business of magical incense, it would not be his turn to speak so loudly in front of Su Ze.

"Oh, the woman Pan Yingqiu mentioned is the current head of the Xiao family in Nancheng."

Su Ze stood up this time and said, "Then I won't stay any longer. You can ask Pan Yingqiu what she wants to say, and then consider whether to discipline her properly."