Chapter 384: Pressing forward? Ulterior motives
He Zhaojun reached out and touched the cold pearls and jadeite. "The palace advocates frugality. As the Third Prince's consort, I naturally have to lead by example. In the past, I would have destroyed all of these. However, they are extremely exquisite, the result of the painstaking efforts of countless craftsmen. Wouldn't it be a pity to destroy them?"
"Sister Zhaojun, I think they're just expressing their longing for you after not seeing you for so long." Shao Shang couldn't bear to see some of the shopkeepers looking so bewildered. During He Zhaojun's absence from the Central Plains, she had helped run the business quite a bit, and she knew the personalities of many of the shopkeepers well: they were kind and honest, naturally harboring no ill intentions.
After hearing Shao Shang's words, He Zhaojun's tone softened slightly. "This won't happen again. Count the items and put them in the backyard storeroom. Then go to the mansion's account office and collect the equivalent amount in silver. Then you can go your separate ways."
The implication was clear: these gifts were purchased with money, not presented as gifts. Many shopkeepers paled even more after hearing this. Whether it was silk or pearls, if left unused for a long time in the warehouse, they would inevitably be damaged. Was He Zhaojun planning to shoulder all the losses?
"What are you all still standing there for? Are you staying for lunch?" Wen Ziduan's smile was gentle, but his words were incredibly powerful. As soon as he finished speaking, the guards in the mansion all stepped forward, clearing a path to the backyard storehouse. Their eyes met, then they all looked at each other, finally landing on Liu Qingshan.
Liu Qingshan's face was also a little dazed. He cupped his hands and said, "Young lady, you are kind-hearted and virtuous. We are rude to you. I hope you will forgive me. I will pay more attention in the future. Don't get angry and hurt yourself." As he spoke, he waved his hand, took the lead in carrying the box, and walked towards the backyard.
As soon as he moved, almost all the shopkeepers shouted and carried their belongings to the small accounting office to register. He Zhaojun and Wen Ziduan exchanged a glance, and Wen Ziduan smiled, "Don't worry, I've arranged for someone in the small accounting office to check thoroughly and prevent them from doing anything tricky."
Shao Shang then remembered the balance that He Zhaojun had asked her to make before, and guessed that something had happened in the shop. Liu Qingshan took the lead today, and although it didn't seem strange, their attitude was worth pondering.
"Sister Zhaojun, what happened? Is there something wrong with these shopkeepers?" Shao Shang stood up anxiously. She recalled carefully, "I've been in contact with them quite frequently this past year, but I didn't notice anything wrong. Especially Liu Qingshan. With his help, I've actually avoided a lot of trouble."
"What trouble?" He Zhaojun frowned.
"Not long after you left, shops in the capital were often bustling with people. The shopkeeper reported that someone was trying to take advantage of them and deliberately accused them of short weights. After investigation, it was found that they were being instigated by someone else. Then Liu Qingshan took action, and these people gradually disappeared."
He Zhaojun slammed the table. "I don't know what tactics Liu Qingshan uses. If anyone discovers that a shop's rice supply is insufficient and wants to inquire about it, he'll use force to suppress them. Plus, with the information layered around, by the time the higher-ups discover it, it's too late."
"That's right. What's more, he organized these people today under the pretext of visiting us, so he must have some ulterior motives. We must be on guard. I have ordered people to seal up all these gifts to avoid complications." Wen Ziduan had also considered this, but he didn't know his tricks yet.
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