Chapter 105: Zhan Hu Returns to Deliver the News
Lin Xiaoyue calculated in her mind that a shop would have at least five people, including the shopkeeper, the clerk, and the handymen. If the shop was a little bigger, more people would be needed. In that case, "Brother Liang, we must take over these shops. I've calculated that the Cheetah Army has 200 people. We can keep 10 to 20 people in our teahouse and Yuanheng Inn respectively. The rest of the shops, from the shopkeepers to the handymen, will have more than enough people to accommodate five to ten people each. In addition, the bookstore also needs our people, and we must take back the valley."
Liang Jingyao took a candied fruit and put it into Lin Xiaoyue's mouth, then said with a smile, "I've considered what you said. To facilitate my actions, I plan to have some tea with the county magistrate tomorrow and talk to him about life."
Lin Xiaoyue spat out the core of the preserved fruit and asked in surprise, "Are you close to the county magistrate in Yangming Town? Last time, I saw you easily obtain the lawsuit certificate. Now, several storytellers in town have come to inquire about it many times, but every time they see the lawsuit certificate on the wall, they have to back out. Some have even sent messages to me, offering to cooperate with me. I plan to give them a few days to discuss it with them."
Liang Jingyao couldn't help but admire Lin Xiaoyue's talent in negotiation. No, it should be said that Lin Xiaoyue was very talented in every aspect, very perfect! He sometimes envied Lin Xiaoyue's intelligence and courage. If Lin Xiaoyue were a man, who would be the most famous man in the world?
"The county magistrate here was promoted by my father, but he's a low-key person. Yangming Town isn't very prosperous, so few people care about him. After all, the wealthy and powerful have all flocked to the capital, and the only people willing to stay here are middle-class merchants. Those who are slightly better off have also rented courtyards in the capital."
Lin Xiaoyue was somewhat thankful that Liang Jingyao's father had a discerning eye for talent. They had done so much in Yangming Town, how could the county magistrate not know about it? Anyone else would have come knocking on their door! This county magistrate was willing to turn a blind eye, indicating that he was biased towards Liang Jingyao.
"Brother Liang, does he know that you live in the valley? Otherwise, how could it be such a coincidence that the coffin shop is right at the foot of Yangming Mountain?"
Liang Jingyao nodded and said, "That's right! Back then, our entire family was driven out of the capital and exiled to the northern border. My father was afraid that going to the northern border would cut off all contact with the capital. Also, in case of an emergency, he wanted to leave an heir, so my father tried every means to make me fake my death on the road and let me escape to Yangming Town to find the county magistrate here. When the county magistrate saw me, he let me live in the valley and gave us the most advantageous location for entry and exit. I saw that the coffin shop was not very popular, so I opened a coffin shop there."
Lin Xiaoyue felt that this was probably the cycle of cause and effect. At first, the old prince was the county magistrate's benefactor, and now the county magistrate has become Liang Jingyao's safe haven, so it is useful to help a good person.
After dinner, Lin Xiaoyue took the time to go to the front yard to tell stories. Just like in the afternoon, when she said she would stop for two days, the guests were reluctant to let her go. In the end, she told one more story before returning to the backyard to rest.
At this time, Zhan Hu had returned from the palace. He brought new news that the second prince had died of excessive blood loss. Emperor Liang punished the chief physician. Although he did not let him be buried with the second prince, he still demoted him to a military doctor. He left the palace that night and set off for the border.
When Lin Xiaoyue heard the news, she felt that the imperial physician had escaped a disaster. Being a military doctor might not be such a bad thing! These were troubled times, and Emperor Liang had a volatile temper. Working for him meant putting your head on the line. It would be better to be a military doctor, safe and free.
"The Imperial Physician is seeking refuge at the border, so maybe he's secretly happy about it! By the way, has the Princess's son returned? Jingyi is dead, and since Emperor Liang couldn't agree on a marriage, will he still make him the Crown Prince?"
Liang Jingyao nodded and said, "I received a letter from the eldest princess, saying that Emperor Liang has not given up on granting a marriage. Jiacheng will be able to enter the capital in about two weeks. I just wonder which girl Emperor Liang has chosen this time?"
Lin Xiaoyue felt that it wouldn't be difficult to find out. After all, at the age of marriage, there were only a few families that opposed the eldest princess. "Brother Liang, if you write a letter to the eldest princess, Emperor Liang will most likely look for her sworn enemies or those who are dissatisfied with her. She can look among these people if she wants to know. If she and Master Jiacheng want to refuse the marriage, they can have Master Jiacheng pretend to be sick, disfigured, and act crazy for a while. No girl from a good family would want to marry someone like that."
Liang Jingyao took out a piece of rice paper, picked up the pen and said, "Yue'er is really smart, I will write now."
Lin Xiaoyue stretched and said, "Take your time to write. I'll go to bed after I wash up. I have to travel tomorrow morning!"
Liang Jingyao put down his pen and pulled Lin Xiaoyue to the next room. "You sit down and rest for a while. I'll go get some water."
Soon, Liang Jingyao came in with a bucket of hot water and a bucket of cold water. "Hurry up and wash. I'll go out first."
Since Ge Baoquan's death, the teahouse has been completely taken over by Liang Jingyao's people, so Lin Xiaoyue and Liang Jingyao no longer have to pretend to be a couple. Liang Jingyao left the larger east wing to Lin Xiaoyue, and he still slept in the west wing. Lin Xiaoyue has always been satisfied with Liang Jingyao's gentlemanly demeanor. This should be the romance of respect.
Lin Xiaoyue didn't want to waste Liang Jingyao's time, so she quickly washed up and let Liang Jingyao take the water away.
The next day, Lin Xiaoyue got up very early, but Liang Jingyao had already bought things for his godfather and godmother, including two pieces of cloth, half a pig, some sugar, a basket of eggs, a live chicken, a live duck, and some supplements such as ginseng, red dates, and longan, which filled the entire carriage.
Lin Xiaoyue had just finished her breakfast when she saw so many things stuffed into the carriage. She said with a bit of a smile: "Brother Liang, you bought too much!"
Liang Jingyao smiled and said, "What's the big deal? As long as they are your family and friends, I will treat them as my own family and friends. Besides, you are going there to ask for help, so we should be polite."
Lin Xiaoyue nodded. Yunyun was the apple of her godfather's and godmother's eye. It was risky to let her come here to help her. It was reasonable for her to buy more. It was indeed Brother Liang who thought more carefully about this matter.
"Okay! Since you are ready, Brother Liang, I will set off."
Liang Jingyao helped Lin Xiaoyue onto the carriage, "Zhan Xiong and Zhan Liang, protect Yue'er! Don't let anything happen to her!"
Zhan Xiong and Zhan Liang responded, "Yes! Master, don't worry!"
Sitting in the carriage, Lin Xiaoyue listened to the loud voices outside, and felt warm in her heart...
The carriage was running forward with a "clang clang" sound. Lin Xiaoyue leaned back in the chair and felt sleepy from the shaking. She took a thin blanket and covered herself with it, ready to take a nap.
Suddenly, the voices of officers and soldiers outside were heard, "Stop, routine inspection!"
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