Wearing brocade at night and traveling

  Travelers who are 100 li away from their place of residence must have a travel permit to pass through and lodge. The travel permit should indicate the traveler's name, native place, destination, date, and physical characteristics for verification by checkpoints and inns along the way. Those without a permit or with a permit that does not match their appearance will be arrested by the authorities.

  The road pass originated in the Tang Dynasty, but it was during the Ming and Qing Dynasties that the requirements were the most stringent. As a result, fake road passes emerged to meet the demand and became a tool for some people to make money. Fake road passes are not easy to produce, and ordinary people lack the technology to counterfeit them. Moreover, ordinary people find it difficult to be familiar with the various types of seals, forms, and hidden authentication marks used at different checkpoints, making it easy to identify fake ones. Therefore, what is known as a "fake" road pass is actually mostly genuine, but with false identification information on it, because those who produce fake road passes are often officials themselves.

  The next day after Ximen Qing arrived at the Judicial Department of Jinan Prefecture, he and Xiaoren came to a wine house not far from the department, ordered a private room, and had several dishes of wine. Just as they sat down and waited for a moment, a local idle rogue slipped into the wine house with a sly look on his face.

  Upon hearing the three long and two short knocks on the door, Ximen Qing immediately opened the door. The person slipped in, glanced at the two of them, smiled with a smirk, and then pulled out two road permits from his bosom.

  This man was a local snakehead, named Cheng Fan, but the locals called him "Lai Dian Gou" instead of his real name. Cheng Fan took out the two waybills from his pocket and handed them to Ximen Qing, saying: "Check carefully, if there's any mistake or error, once the goods are sold, they will not be returned or exchanged."

  Ximen Qing opened it and saw that the two road permits had a pile of seals on them. The long, rectangular ones were military passes, the square ones were county government passes, and the round ones were patrol checkpoint stamps. Just by looking at these stamps, the holders of these two road permits must have passed through many counties.

  The names of two people are also prominently listed: Gao Sheng and Xia Xun. Both men were from Xuzhou, traveling north to Beijing as accountants for a leather goods store to collect debts, and the physical characteristics described above match both of them perfectly.

  Ximen Qing hastily finished reading and repeatedly thanked him. Cheng Fang's face was smiling but his heart wasn't, saying: "No need to be polite, taking people's money and providing them with a way out, what you do is none of my business. However, if something happens, you must first destroy this road permit. Otherwise, if something really happens, we won't acknowledge it. Faking a road permit is an even more serious offense than not having one and wandering around everywhere. You should understand that."

  Ximen Qing smiled and said, "Understood, of course understood. Brother Cheng, rest assured that with our status, what kind of evil deeds can't we do? It's just that some things are not suitable to be done openly."

  Ximen Qing said, taking out the remaining twenty-five taels from his sleeve and handing them over to Cheng Fan. Cheng Fan glanced at the money with a smile, tucked it into his sleeve, bowed his hands and said: "Alright, I wish you two bosses all the best on your journey, I'm off."

  Waiting for him to leave, Xia Yu slightly frowned and said: "This person looks like just an ordinary hoodlum, how did he get the letter of introduction? Could it be fake, and was discovered by the officials along the way? Our big plan hasn't even started yet, and we've already made a mistake."

  Ximen Qing laughed and said, "Don't worry, can a scoundrel like him come up with this? Ha ha, these are the masterpieces of those in power, they just hide behind the scenes and won't directly deal with the employer. Don't worry, except for us two being fake, these two road permits, no matter where you take them to verify, are real."

  Cheng Fan had just accepted the money and was walking away from the wine tower with a pleased expression, when a young man in white clothes, fanning himself, approached him. As soon as he saw Cheng Fan, he beckoned to him and shouted: "You mangy dog, come here!"

  Cheng Fan's expression turned slightly unpleasant as soon as he heard someone calling out his nickname, but once he saw the person's appearance clearly, he immediately shrugged his shoulders, put on a big smile, and hurriedly ran up to him with a flattering tone: "Ah, Cao Gongzi, it's been just a few days since we last met, look at your complexion, radiant and glowing, with a rosy glow all over your face, either you've made a fortune or had a string of romantic encounters."

  Cao Gongzi burst out laughing and tapped his fan on his head, saying: "Stop showing off your eloquence, where did this come from?"

  It turned out that this person was none other than Cao Yu Guang, the son of Cao Da Ren, the judicial officer of Jinan. Cheng Fan took a step forward and lowered his voice to say with a smile: "Don't be modest, young master, I sold two more route permits today, making a total of 80 taels, young master, we have already covered all the blank route permits for other provinces and prefectures, you still need to think of ways to get some more, this business is booming!"

  Cao Yu Guang has now replaced Yang Xu as the business agent of Qi Wang. He is doing well in Qingzhou and no longer looks down on small businesses like selling road permits. He chuckled and said, "Let's not worry about it for now, I'll think of a way later. Who did you sell these two permits to today? What a big deal! Normally, one permit only sells for 20 guan, but this person paid twice the price. Hopefully, he's not some notorious thief or a fugitive wanted by the imperial court. We need to be careful when making money, we can't afford to make any big mistakes."

  Cheng Fan smiled and said, "Don't worry, sir. I wouldn't dare to get involved with such people. As per your instructions, every time I sell a road permit, I must first verify their true identity before helping them. These two individuals are not troublemakers. One is a merchant from Yanggu County named Xi Menqing, and the other is a student from Qingzhou named Yang Xu. I don't know what kind of illicit business they're involved in that requires hiding their true identities, but I'm sure they wouldn't be capable of murder or robbery."

  Cao Yu Guang was stunned, and exclaimed: "It's actually him? Hmm... I see. This person is indeed trustworthy. Alright, tell your boss to settle the account for this month's tolls, and have someone escort me home tonight. I still have some business to attend to, so I'll take my leave now."

  Cheng Fan caught up and said: "Young Master, don't forget that our supplies are running low."

  Cao Yu Guang walked while waving his hand: "Save save,

  "You said Yang Xu came to Jinan and even spent a lot of money to get a fake road permit?"

  Zǐ Yī Téng poured a cup of wine for Cáo Yù Guǎng and asked slowly. Thinking of Yang Xu buying a fake road, one stroke was worth forty taels, while her own seventeen years of chastity were only worth thirty taels on the night of the wedding, her heart was bleeding.

  Cao Yuguang held her on his lap, stroking her breasts and buttocks with his hands up and down, enjoying the soft and elastic tactile sensation like jade, while laughing: "Not bad, coincidentally let me meet him, otherwise, I didn't know he also came to Jinan."

  A deep resentment flashed in Ziyi's eyes, and she asked again: "Isn't he a student? According to reason, under the great Ming dynasty, he should be able to travel freely everywhere, why does he still need to spend money to get a fake road pass?"

  Cao Yu Guang took a sip of wine from her hand and said leisurely, "You don't understand this, do you? Many times, many people want to go out and take care of things, but it's not convenient to use their real identity. At this time, they need to use a fake identity. But if the route is not corresponding, how can they deceive others? So they have to buy a fake route."

  Zi Yi's eyes flashed with a hint of vigilance as he asked, "So, that means he's going to Beijing to do some nefarious deeds?"

  Cao Yu Guang chuckled and said: "Anyway, it's a shady business that can't be seen by others."

  Zi Yi Tong Da Xi said with a smile: "That young master should send someone to follow him and see what he wants to do."

  Cao Yu Guang was taken aback and asked in response: "What is he doing... what else does he want to do?"

  Zi Yi Tong was taken aback, and muttered: "Oh......, this is it......, didn't the young master say that the King of Qi favored him? If he were to overthrow him, wouldn't the King of Qi have to rely entirely on you?"

  Cao Yu Guang smiled and shook his head, saying: "Hmph, seven-tenths of his store is now in my hands, and I've also taken over several branches of 'Sheng Chun Tang Pharmacy'. Who else can the Seventh Prince rely on if not me? As for Yang Xu, he's already a spent force, why should I still be wary of him? Besides, what he's doing this time in Beiping, I've more or less guessed a bit. Hehe, this matter can't be controlled, doesn't need to be controlled, and shouldn't be controlled..."

  Zi Yi's teeth clenched in secret, but she didn't dare show her obvious hatred. Cao Yu Guang was a self-righteous fool, but he also had a high opinion of himself and wasn't someone who would willingly be a lapdog for a woman, running errands under her skirt. If he found out that she was using him to exact revenge on Yang Xu because of a past grudge, he would definitely be very unhappy. She had just arrived in Jinan and still needed to rely on him, so it was absolutely impermissible to make him unhappy.

  Cao Yuguang smiled complacently and patted the buttocks of Ziyi Tong, saying: "You're new to Jinan, it's good for you to get to know some famous officials and nobles. Today I've run around several places on your behalf, inviting a few big shots to come here and drink with us, to give you a boost. Mo Kongwen, Xiao Zhuo, Li Hao, Qiu Xia... these are all influential people in Jinan's official circles. If it weren't for my father's face, I wouldn't have been able to invite them. Later on, you'd better perk up and respond properly. In front of them, I've praised you to the skies, so even if you can't win them over as your subordinates, don't lose face in front of me, Cao Gongzi..."

  It turned out that Zǐ Yī Téng was proud of his talent and appearance, but because of the bet on the day of the hairpin, he ended up with the lowest price for the hairpin, becoming a laughing stock in Qingzhou. Unable to stay in Qingzhou any longer, he begged Cao Yu Guang to think of a solution.

  She was a government official in the teaching department, and even Cao's inner courtyard couldn't help her get out of it. However, it was still possible to arrange for her to be transferred to another place, so she used some connections to transfer her to Jinan Prefecture. Unexpectedly, they met again in this narrow road, and it turned out that Xia Liu was also here.

  Zi Yifu was filled with hatred in his heart, when he suddenly heard Cao Yuguo mention a few people, one of whom was called Chou Xia. He couldn't help but feel a surge of joy: "Chou Xia, isn't that the brother of Chou Qiu, the local tyrant who was overthrown by Yang Xu in Putai County? If I secretly reveal this news to him..."

  Death penalty cases, local officials have no right to sentence, must be reported to the capital, and the Ministry of Punishment will review and decide. Qiū Autumn's case was reported to the capital, sentenced to autumn execution, now is autumn, two days ago just took Qiū Autumn out of the big prison and cut off his head. It is said that because of this matter, his cousin Qiū Xià also received severe reprimand, seemingly lost his official position, how can he not hate Yang Xu?

  Her purple dress fluttered, her eyebrows slightly raised, and a satisfied smile slowly spread across her lips...

  Some women are not to be offended, even if you are unintentional or from start to finish, simply being used by her. Once she can't get what she wants, she will willingly think that you have wronged her, that you have let her down. Xia Yu wouldn't have expected, even if Zhuge Kongming were alive, that there would be a mysterious enemy waiting for him in Jizi.

  Thank you for your great support, I appreciate your kind intentions, thank you