A bookshop that doesn't focus on proper business and only thinks of underhanded schemes naturally needs to be managed properly.
Just before Yuwen Lan could speak, Yan Shu received a message from the system—
【Speaking of this Zhao Jingshi, there's a bit of a story.】
Yan Shu immediately perked up at this, 【What story?】
The system continued, 【This man didn't originally have the surname Zhao; he was surnamed Wei, and he wasn't from the capital. The Eight-Sided Bookshop was originally founded by a merchant named Zhao Hairong, who was a local of the capital. Zhao Hairong loved reading and, for the sake of business, converted his old residence at the southern end of Gongyuan Street into a bookshop. At that time, there weren't many bookshops in that area, and Old Zhao was quite honest, so the business was always good. However, Old Zhao had no sons, only two daughters, and they couldn't help with the business. So, Old Zhao took in an apprentice, who was this Wei Jingshi.】
【Wei Jingshi was quite good at getting things done and initially quite capable, so Old Zhao liked him. Later, seeing that the man was alone and helpless, Old Zhao even adopted him as a foster son and helped him buy a house in the capital and start a family.】
Yan Shu couldn't help but sigh, 【To treat a foster son like this, Old Zhao was quite kind.】
The system agreed, 【Indeed, but unfortunately, this man had poor judgment and failed to see that Wei was actually a treacherous wolf in sheep's clothing. Old Zhao's wife passed away early, and his daughters later married out. Old Zhao lived alone and liked to drink. Eventually, his health deteriorated from drinking, and he suddenly passed away at just over fifty. The two daughters, grieving, returned to arrange their father's funeral, only to find that Wei Jingshi had changed his name to Zhao Jingshi and was wearing mourning clothes, claiming to be their father's adopted son, publicly stating that his foster father had adopted him as his heir before his death.】
Yan Shu gasped, 【Is he planning to inherit Old Zhao's estate? Is that true? Did Old Zhao really do that?】
The system replied, 【That's definitely false! Old Zhao wasn't stupid; he had his own daughters, why would he give his estate to an outsider? Besides, even if he really wanted to do that, he would have to inform his daughters. Could such a significant matter be kept from them?】
Yan Shu also said, 【Exactly, so did the Zhao sisters believe him?】
The system continued, 【At first, they naturally didn't believe it, but this Wei Jingshi was unscrupulous. He had secretly prepared various documents while his foster father was still alive, sneaking into Old Zhao's house while he was drunk and asleep, pressing Old Zhao's hand to make fingerprints, and bribing officials in advance. At this critical moment, he presented these false evidences, forcing the Zhao sisters to fail in their lawsuit at the yamen, and they could only watch helplessly as their family's estate was taken over by this man.】
Yan Shu couldn't help but shake her head, 【Indeed, another ungrateful wolf in sheep's clothing, comparable to Zhang Shengkang who betrayed his master and ancestors! For a bit of money, he even changed his surname, truly capable of such despicable acts!】
No, even if Wei's ancestors and Old Zhao's spirit in heaven could endure, she couldn't!
She immediately told Yuwen Lan, "Your Majesty, I heard that the owner of the Eight-Sided Bookshop has done other unscrupulous things. Please allow me to thoroughly investigate him and expose his ugly face to the public before he is punished!"
Saying this, she broke free from his embrace and strode to the desk, immediately starting to write vigorously.
Yuwen Lan, "……"
So sudden?
Seeing her serious and focused expression, completely unlike her usual cute self, he could only suppress the disappointment in his heart and said beside her, "Take it easy, don't rush, and don't tire yourself out…"
Hmph, this despicable Eight-Sided Bookshop, harming his beloved consort and ruining his plans, must not be let off lightly.
The next day, readers in the capital were pleasantly surprised to find that, after just a few days, the usually lazy Xiaoyao Gongzi had released a new story.
Excited, people rushed to buy it.
After the recent "gender" rumors, the curiosity about her in the city had only increased, leading many to want to uncover the truth from her new story, resulting in even more explosive sales than before.
However, upon reading it, everyone was surprised to find that this story was unusually specific, with names, addresses, and a clear target.
It wasn't about anyone else but the old affairs of the Eight-Sided Bookshop at the southern end of Gongyuan Street in the capital.
The story began with the case of Zhao Jingshi, the "adopted son" of the Zhao family, and the two biological daughters of the Zhao family fighting over their late father Zhao Hairong's inheritance. It gradually revealed how Zhao Jingshi came from a small place outside the capital to the capital, how he transformed from a young apprentice to the foster son of the owner, and how he changed his surname from Wei to Zhao, finally inheriting the Eight-Sided Bookshop.
People then realized that the case at the beginning of the story was actually a miscarriage of justice, and that the seemingly respectable Zhao Jingshi was actually a heartless scoundrel.
Filled with anger, everyone condemned this man, and some emotionally charged readers even went to the Eight-Sided Bookshop to confront him in person.
However, upon arrival, they found that the bookshop was closed.
Heh, this Zhao, oh, should we call him Wei, must be guilty.
Indeed, Zhao Jingshi was very nervous at this moment.
As soon as he heard about Xiaoyao Gongzi's story this morning, he bought a copy and had the writers in his bookshop study it. To his shock, he found that it was about him!
Not only was his name unchanged, but the location of the bookshop was also clearly written!
Moreover, the other party even knew the exact year and month he started as an apprentice, the year he got married, and how much money he spent on his wedding!
It was as if all his past deeds had been exposed…
In shock, Zhao Jingshi quickly closed the door of the study and planned to think of a countermeasure quietly.
What was going on? Could it be that Xiaoyao Gongzi had also secretly bought information about him?
But who could possibly know so much!
…
After thinking for most of the day, Zhao Jingshi couldn't come up with any countermeasures, and the shop assistants had already started to question him, whispering about his past.
"Did the shopkeeper really used to be surnamed Wei?"
"Probably, think about it, every Qingming Festival, doesn't he go to sweep the grave of the old shopkeeper on West Hill and also return to Pingling? Most people in Pingling are surnamed Wei, so he probably goes to sweep the graves of his original ancestors."
"Tsk tsk tsk, if he even changed his surname, does he still go back to sweep the graves of his original ancestors? I wonder if those ancestors are angry?"
"Exactly, especially since he still goes to sweep the old shopkeeper's grave every year, I wonder if the old shopkeeper is angry in his grave…"
"That's right…"
…
Zhao Jingshi was furious hearing this and immediately scolded the shop assistants.
However, one of the shop assistants with a fiery temper refused to take it and shouted angrily, "You ungrateful, heartless scoundrel, how dare you scold others! Anyway, we're not selling anything! I quit! There are plenty of bookshops with higher wages outside!"
With that, he threw down the book he was binding and walked out the door.
This infuriated Zhao Jingshi, and just as he was about to charge up and settle the score, he hadn't even stood firm when he heard a shout from the street, "There's that heartless Zhao Jingshi!"
Before he could react, rotten vegetables, rotten eggs, and other things were thrown at him…
In a panic, he wanted to go back inside, but someone had already blocked the door from the inside…
Across the river from Gongyuan Street was a teahouse.
At this moment, Yan Shu was leaning out of the window on the second floor of the private room, happily watching the commotion.
"Hey, that brother has good aim, the rotten sweet potato hit that Wei scoundrel right on the head!"
"Oh, that auntie is not bad either, how did she throw those two eggs so accurately!"
"Hey! I didn't expect this young man, who looks thin, to be quite strong, able to lift half a basket of rotten melon skins?"
She also waved to Yuwen Lan, who was drinking tea beside her, "Husband, don't you want to come and take a look? It's quite thrilling."
Yuwen Lan, "……You're happy, that's good."
He poured another cup of tea and also stood up to the window, glancing across the river and said, "It's been almost two hours, it should be enough."
She said, "The best part hasn't come yet."
Saying this, she handed him half a cup of tea.
Yuwen Lan raised an eyebrow, and before he could speak, she glanced out the window and said excitedly, "Here it comes, the climax!"
Yuwen Lan looked over and saw two groups of people coming from both the north and south ends of Gongyuan Street.
The two groups seemed to be in a fierce mood. After arriving at the Eight-Sided Bookshop, they found Zhao Jingshi among the pile of rotten vegetables and eggshells and immediately started punching him.
While punching, they cursed, "How dare you usurp our grandfather's estate, deceiving us for so many years!"
Yuwen Lan hummed, "Are these the children of the Zhao daughters?"
Yan Shu nodded, "Yes, the eldest Zhao daughter has two sons and two daughters, and the second daughter has three sons and one daughter. Today, the daughters and sons-in-law of both families are here."
Although these two families are not particularly wealthy, they have plenty of people. Today, let this scoundrel taste the consequences!
After all, this is what he deserves!
Hmph, how dare he buy her privacy? Incite others to write letters to scold her?
Today, let him know that Xiaoyao Gongzi is not to be trifled with!
Yuwen Lan, who had been listening quietly, "……"
Indeed, Xiaoyao Gongzi is not to be trifled with, and his consort is even more so.
The two of them watched from the window for about a quarter of an hour. Seeing that Zhao Jingshi's family had also brought people over, and to avoid escalating the conflict, Yuwen Lan called the guards and said, "Go and tell the children of the Zhao daughters to file a complaint with the Jingzhao Mansion again."
The guards complied and immediately went to the front of the bookshop.
Sure enough, after a round of persuasion, the grandchildren and sons-in-law of the old Zhao family immediately dragged the already bruised and battered Zhao Jingshi to the Jingzhao Mansion.
The excited crowd also followed to support them.
The previously chaotic bookshop entrance finally regained its tranquility.
However, there was a mess of rotten vegetables and eggshells left behind.
Yuwen Lan frowned, "It must be very troublesome to clean up."
Yan Shu said, "Let Zhao Jingshi's wife and children come out and clean it up. They've enjoyed the benefits of the Zhao family for so many years, a bit of labor is nothing."
Yuwen Lan nodded, "Good idea."
He then raised an eyebrow and looked at her, "Are you feeling better now? Can we go back?"
She blinked and smiled, "It's rare to go out once, Your Majesty, why don't you accompany me to Qingzhou Restaurant for a meal, hehe."
Yuwen Lan, "……Alright."
After all, it's to accompany her and make her happy.
She's happy, and he's happy too.
