Chapter 114 Setting the Scene

Having resolved a major concern, Xie Qi was in high spirits, walking with a spring in his step.

A flower fell on his shoulder, which he casually brushed away. His eyes and brows were languid and languid, revealing a hint of frivolity.

Passing by the Treasure Pavilion, he turned and went inside, where he purchased a large plaque of considerable value.

He originally wanted to order a piece of pure copper with gilded plaque, but he was too short of money. Looking at the large plaque that was cast in copper and inlaid with gold and would not fade over the years, Xie Qi really liked it.

only……

He raised an eyebrow, glancing over the hardwood and bamboo weaving.

After much deliberation, I finally chose a large plaque made of huanghuali wood, which was expensive but still within my budget.

He didn't leave any inscription, only paid a deposit. Xie Qi planned to go to Yuan Xu's place the next day and ask the newly appointed Admiral of Textiles to personally inscribe the words.

Only in this way can they continue to leverage Yuan Xu's influence.

With everything arranged, he went to Jixia Village.

As soon as I entered, I saw Yun Zheng running out.

"Master, I was just about to come looking for you."

"What do you want with me?"

Xie Qi handed the order for the large huanghuali wood plaque from Zhenbaoge to Yun Zheng, then sat down and leisurely sipped some cool tea.

Seeing his lazy appearance, Yun Zheng sighed, "Please stop drinking, something terrible has happened."

"What happened?"

Yun Zheng said, "I'm afraid you won't need this big plaque or your storefront."

Upon hearing this, Xie Qi raised an eyebrow: "Something went wrong with the Jiang family's shop on Wanbao Street?"

"yes."

Yun Zheng's face showed a hint of worry: "Yesterday morning, after Eunuch Yuan announced that the Jiang family had failed to pay city taxes and that their property had been seized, he led people to surround the Jiang family members at noon."

"Many items on the books couldn't be taken with them, so they were sealed off relatively quickly. Only some large items that were easy to sell were tampered with."

"Among them is the shop on Wanbao Street."

"The shop was sold off ahead of schedule?"

Xie Qi said, "This shop is considered stolen property. Even if it is sold a few days earlier, the money can be returned and the shop can be taken back."

Yuan Xu wouldn't want any obvious, publicly visible businesses, so he had already made arrangements with Yuan Xu to take this shop.

Even though it has been resold, he will not give it up.

"If it were that simple, it would be fine."

Yun Zheng sighed: "I don't know if it was a coincidence or if we ran into the Fang family①, but the shop was not simply resold, but was included in Madam Jiang's dowry."

"dowry?"

Xie Qi remained silent for a moment, then suddenly let out a cold laugh.

The person behind this is quite cunning.

Although the law does not explicitly prohibit the misappropriation of a woman's dowry, who would willingly bear the charge of "embezzling dowry"?

If Yuan Xu were to do something like that, his very backbone would be broken.

Xie Qi frowned and thought for a long time before saying coldly, "Go and find out when this shop was transferred to Madam Jiang's name. If it was just a few days ago, just accuse her of transferring family property to avoid punishment."

"If it's been a long time, find a clerk who does paperwork and change the date on the document. If that doesn't work, then find a way to get Madam Jiang to hand over the shop herself."

"It has nothing to do with coercion or bribery."

No part of the Jiang family's businesses, from top to bottom, are clean.

All of this was gradually seized by Jiang Hong from other merchants after Jiang You became the Imperial Textile Commissioner.

Since the Jiang family is dishonest, he has no need to be kind to them.

Jiang You was a eunuch, and his only nephew was Jiang Hong. Therefore, the Jiang family had no clan. Otherwise, it would have been easier to handle the matter by putting pressure on the clan.

Xie Qi rubbed his fingers, somewhat irritated.

He wasn't upset that the shop he had almost acquired had slipped away; rather, he had promised Yuanzhu a few days ago that he would give her a sum of money.

If he can't do it, won't Yuanzhu look down on him? Wonju will think he's just a useless person who talks big but doesn't follow through?

Xie Qi reached out and rubbed the hem of his clothes vigorously, his irritation rising again.

"Go find Madam Jiang..."

Yun Zheng shook his head: "It's too late, sir, it's too late."

With a sigh, Yun Zheng's handsome face fell: "Everyone says the other party is from the Fang family, and they act very decisively. By the time I found out that this shop had been transferred to Madam Jiang's dowry, it had already been sold."

“Not a single penny passed through the hands of the Jiang family, and even the money from selling the shop has disappeared.”

Xie Qi's eyes were cold: "The low-ranking official who confiscated the property didn't notice..."

"They didn't know either. Didn't we inform Eunuch Yuan in advance? When that clerk discovered the shop had been transferred, he thought it was at our behest."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Qi couldn't help but grit his teeth.

Good, good, good, I've run into a ruthless expert.

"Have you found out who the buyer is?"

His face was grim, his eyes filled with a cold glint. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "Could it be Xiecui Workshop?"

During this period, the only one that had dealings with Jixia Manor and suffered losses was Xiecuifang.

"no."

How can you be so sure?

Yun Zheng said, "After the private banquet, I became acquainted with Luo Qing. The next day, he came to thank me for introducing him to Eunuch Yuan."

"Although I am not as good at business as you, I am quite good at judging people. Luo Qing is loyal and righteous enough not to befriend me while cheating me."

"Even if I misjudged him, I was having tea and chatting with Luo Qing the other day. When he learned that the shop on Wanbao Street had been sold, he was even more surprised than I was."

"What did I do before? Do you think I wouldn't be able to tell if you're putting on an act in front of me?"

Yun Zheng was handsome, but he came from a humble background.

He was originally an actor, specializing in female roles. Once, he was performing at a wealthy family's house, and the head of the family took a few extra glances at him because he was handsome and had a graceful figure.

In the short time it took to perform, he displeased the mistress of the house. After the performance, he was beaten until his leg was broken and he was thrown out the door.

Later, when Yuan Xu came to Suzhou Prefecture, he rescued him on a whim and then handed him over to Xie Qi.

That's how he became the manager of Jixia Manor, a position he held for two years.

Someone like Luo Qing is definitely not a master of acting.

After thinking for a moment, Yun Zheng said, "I think it's something that ordinary men would find hard to think of, such a method seems to be used more often by women."

"As it turned out, my idea was indeed proven correct; she was indeed an old lady with a clean background."

Xie Qi raised an eyebrow: "Have you found out who's behind this?"

Yun Zheng coughed lightly: "Cough, we didn't find out about it, they came to us themselves."

"What's the meaning?"

Yun Zheng turned and went to the accounting room. A short while later, he came out with a blank white contract.

"The person behind this is quite the mastermind. They came to our door specifically asking if we wanted to take over the shop."

"..."

Upon hearing this, Xie Qi was so angry that he sneered.

What a grand scheme, a scheme specifically designed for him.

This man saw that he had gained Yuan Xu's favor and would be eager to seize a place in Suzhou Prefecture, so he specifically chose the Jiang family's shop on Wanbao Street, guessing that he would start from there.

Okay, okay.

Xie Qi said "good" three times in a row, then reached out and tore off the white contract, glancing at the price.

really……

Xie Qi was filled with rage.

He said that if a trap was set specifically for him, how could it not take a big bite out of him!

----

The term "Fangjia" in the previous text refers to an expert who is proficient in a certain industry, not a family or businessman with the surname Fang.