Manager Zhang finally couldn't hold on any longer and fainted, filled with resentment and indignation.
Ye Shan looked at Jia Yin and asked, "Princess, what should we do? Should we report to the Marquis?"
“No need,” Jiayin sneered. “The Princess’s mansion has a large business and keeps a low profile. Why would they send such a stupid servant to force us to buy and sell?”
"Of course, it was this servant who acted on his own initiative and brought shame to his master's family. I was just teaching this wicked servant a lesson on behalf of the princess's residence, and I didn't ask for anything in return!"
“Send the person back in a big show. If anyone asks, just tell the truth.”
"Yes, Princess." Ye Shan replied, then dragged the unconscious Steward Zhang out of the front hall. Once outside, he unloaded the carriage, tied Steward Zhang to the back of the horse, and headed to the Princess's residence.
There were quite a few guests in the front hall, and some young men and women drinking milk tea and eating snacks on the second floor. They were all startled when they saw this and naturally asked a few questions.
Shopkeeper Peng bowed to everyone with a bitter face and apologized, "I'm so sorry to have disturbed you all. This person came to our door the other day claiming to be from the Princess's residence, saying he wanted to buy the recipe for a birthday cake and asked for one hundred taels of silver."
"Think about it, everyone. A birthday cake costs several taels of silver. How could it be sold for only one hundred taels?"
"Besides, recipes are the foundation of all food shops, so we can't sell them. I refused outright, but he wouldn't let it go."
"Just now, he came to our door again and barged straight into the backyard. Coincidentally, the princess came over for a short visit, and not only did he not pay his respects, he also threatened to punish us! The princess was offended and, in her anger, taught him a lesson."
"Everyone says that the Princess's residence is reliable and should not bully others by abusing its power. So this person is either a swindler or an evil servant who acted on his own initiative. Our princess ordered that the person be sent to the Princess's residence for identification."
Everyone nodded in agreement and responded.
"Possibly, scammers are really rampant these days."
"A hundred taels to buy out the recipe for a birthday cake? This person must be crazy! If Baiyunjian is willing to sell it, I'll offer a thousand taels."
"Haha, I'll bid two thousand!"
Manager Peng pretended not to notice the probing intent of the crowd, smiled and bowed to express his gratitude, then instructed the waiter to send a small snack platter to all the customers upstairs and downstairs as an apology.
Meanwhile, Ye Shan led the horse, dragging Steward Zhang along, towards the princess's residence. Wherever they went, there were gasps of surprise, and no one understood what had happened.
Soon, a city defense patrol team arrived to inquire.
Ye Shan revealed the Marquis's badge, indicating that this person was a fraudster who was using the Princess's name to sell the recipe for the birthday cake for one hundred taels of silver.
He was going to the princess's residence to inquire, and if she was indeed not a servant of the princess's residence, he would send her directly to the Prefect of the Capital.
Upon hearing that it wasn't a case of revenge or murder, the city patrol team glanced at the human-shaped broom behind the horse and promptly made way.
Manager Zhang had been dragged along for a while, and his clothes and pants were almost completely worn out. Now, his white flesh was in close contact with the ground, and he was bleeding from the scrapes. He looked quite disheveled.
Even if they are scammers, they wouldn't be treated like this under normal circumstances.
The patrolling soldiers exchanged glances, all feeling that there was more to the story.
But they didn't say anything more, and followed behind, driving away the onlookers, and soon arrived at the gate of the princess's mansion.
The gatekeepers of the princess's residence were two teenagers. When they saw Ye Shan dragging the steward of the residence to the gate, they were stunned and immediately started shouting.
"Manager Zhang, Manager Zhang! What's going on?"
"Who are you? What gives you the right to hold Manager Zhang back? You've got some nerve!"
Ye Shan glanced at them coldly and said, "So this person really is the steward of your princess's residence? He came to our Baiyun Pavilion to force us to buy and sell, and even spoke rudely to our princess! I thought he was a fraudster, so I sent him here to confirm."
"I never expected that he really is the steward of your princess's residence! This is strange. Did he go to our shop to cause trouble on his own initiative, or was he on someone's orders to bully our princess?"
By now, a crowd of onlookers had gathered around, their eyes lighting up at the words, ready to prick up their ears and get ready to watch the drama unfold.
The two servants weren't completely stupid; knowing they couldn't handle the situation, they quickly ran inside to report the news.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, a well-dressed middle-aged butler finally came out of the gate, bowed to Ye Shan, and kept apologizing, adopting a very humble posture.
"Brother, I'm so sorry! This man is indeed the steward of our manor, but he's usually out on business and rarely comes back. I really don't know why he went to Baiyun Pavilion to cause trouble and offend the princess. It's a real sin, a real sin!"
"It's unfortunate today; our master is out and not at home. How about this, brother, you hand the person over to me first. Our household will certainly punish him severely and clean house. Later, when our master returns, we will apologize to the princess!"
"There's no need for an apology. The princess is an elder, how could our princess dare to accept such an apology?" Ye Shan waved his hand and said coldly, "From now on, please discipline your servants properly. Otherwise, if outsiders spread rumors that the princess's household is abusing its power and seizing property by trickery, then it will be a loss for us."
The head steward of the princess's residence had a stiff expression, but he forced himself to remain calm and continued to apologize with a smile.
Ye Shan pulled out a dagger, cut the rope, and kicked Steward Zhang down the steps in front of the door.
Finally, he brandished his knife twice and said sarcastically, "What do you think of my dagger, Steward? Don't let its short size fool you, it's actually quite sharp."
"When you encounter a greedy fool, just chop off their hand or stomp their foot—it'll be clean and efficient!"
The head steward gritted his teeth in hatred, but a hint of fear appeared in his eyes as he dryly praised, "It is indeed a fine knife!"
"Alright, I won't keep the head steward from cleaning up the house. Farewell!" Ye Shan sheathed his dagger, pulled on the reins, and rode through the crowd back to the shop.
The head steward of the princess's residence watched his retreating figure, veins bulging on his forehead.
But after glancing at the crowd, he put on a smiling face, spun around, cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, and then ordered his men to carry Steward Zhang into the mansion.
Once the gate was closed, the head butler strode off to the backyard.
Several servants carrying Steward Zhang were unsure what to do with him. One of them shouted, "Master Steward, what should we do with Steward Zhang? Should we call a doctor...?"
"What doctor are you looking for? Such an idiot is a waste of his life! Throw him on the ground and let the master decide his fate!" The head steward didn't even turn his head, threw down these words, and went into the second gate.
The servants exchanged glances, all knowing that Steward Zhang was probably in trouble.
So they carried the person to the base of the wall and quickly dispersed.
Regardless of what actually happened at the Princess's residence, just the fact that Ye Shan left with the human-shaped broom prompted Old Lady Li to say, "They say fame brings trouble, and even a thriving business can't bring peace!"
Jiayin hugged her grandmother's arm, not wanting her to be angry, and advised, "Grandma, this shop is a partnership between me and my Uncle Huang. Outsiders don't know this, so they came to test the waters. Once they find out the truth, they'll probably be scared to death!"
My darlings, there's an outbreak here. I got up early to grab groceries and queue for nucleic acid tests, which has delayed my writing. I'll only be posting two chapters today, and I'll resume three chapters tomorrow. I'll make up for this chapter later if I have the chance. I promise!
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