"Quick!" A pale-faced man roared in a low voice, "Call them back!"
Now even His Majesty has paid attention to Anxin Keju. Although their little tricks are done covertly, they will definitely not be able to escape if they are really investigated seriously, and the nature of the actions will also be different.
Dissatisfied with the other person's slow running, this man with gray hair actually lifted the front of his clothes and ran forward at full speed.
"ah!"
Before he could run far, he bumped into a servant who was coming towards him to report the news.
He got up from the ground, and after recognizing the other party, his eyes were red like a beast. He didn't care about his forehead that was red and swollen from being hit. He grabbed the other party's collar and asked sternly: "Have you gotten off?!"
The other person wiped the redness and swelling on his forehead, and was stunned for a moment, then said: "Don't worry, sir! I have already given them medicine, just a little croton. It will only cause diarrhea, not life-threatening. I know what I am doing."
"You know nothing! Bastard!" He slapped the servant in the face.
Suddenly he began to tremble like a sieve, and his face turned even paler, as if he would fall down with a gust of wind.
The servant looked at the other person in confusion, his face full of grievance. It was the master who said to give the medicine, and it was also the master who beat him.
The chests of the people following behind him kept heaving. Seeing the man lying on the ground, they understood everything. Their eyes widened and their faces were full of despair.
Someone suddenly said, "No! We still have a chance! Everyone is at the door now, let's go and destroy the drugged food!"
The others immediately perked up: "Yes! There's still time!"
Several people ran wildly, the taste of blood running out of their throats, their feet felt heavy as lead, but they still didn't care and didn't dare to stop. They were now fighting for their lives.
When they ran to the back kitchen, the servant pointed to an empty pot and said, "I put croton seeds in this pot of porridge, but it seems to be gone now." He also found something wrong and said tremblingly.
The others no longer had any hope in their hearts, and the flames of hope in their eyes were extinguished in an instant.
Without that thought, he sat down on the ground in despair, gasping for breath.
Suddenly they felt a shadow at the door and knew someone was coming, but they still refused to get up like dead fish lying on the ground.
An Jingzhi walked in with his arms folded, followed by several servants.
"Because this is the kitchen where I plan to stay and enjoy my stay?"
"Where is the porridge?!" Someone suddenly stood up and grabbed An Jingzhi's legs tightly, his eyes bloodshot.
"Porridge? Of course it's for people to drink." Although it was poured out, he knew that someone would take action, so he just went with the flow.
I didn’t expect it to be such a coincidence that I happened to encounter the plaque bestowed by His Majesty.
"It's over... it's over..."
His hands loosened suddenly, and he had no strength left in his body. He collapsed to the ground, muttering to himself.
"You put croton in the porridge, right?"
"You know?!" asked a slightly plump shopkeeper.
"You guys are sneaking around all day, how could I not know?"
"What would happen to you if His Majesty knew about this?"
This was tantamount to slapping the emperor in the face. The emperor had just bestowed a plaque on Anxin Keju and asked An Jingzhi to do a good job, but they turned around and attacked Badou in an attempt to destroy Anxin Keju's business.
If the emperor doesn't deal with them, wouldn't he be rubbing his face on the ground?
"The croton seeds were not eaten by the scholar?!" The plump innkeeper understood the answer immediately, with a hint of surprise in his eyes.
The listless expressions of the others also brightened up a bit.
"What do you think?"
An Jingzhi sat on a stool and said casually, "Originally, I could have pretended not to know about this matter. At most, my business would have suffered a short-term loss, but His Majesty would definitely clear my name."
"What do you want us to do?" the slightly plump shopkeeper said immediately.
An Jingzhi raised his index finger and shook it: "It's not that I want you to do anything, but what can you do for me to save your life, no, I should say save the lives of your entire family."
Several people looked at each other in bewilderment. What could they do? Although they were the shopkeepers of the big inn, they were just working for the master behind the scenes.
The slightly plump shopkeeper probed, "Now that you, Boss An, have received the imperial plaque from His Majesty, you will surely expand Anxin Guest House, right?"
"What we're most lacking right now is an experienced manager. I wonder if I could have the opportunity to work for Boss An?"
An Jingzhi raised his eyebrows slightly, not expecting someone to figure it out so quickly.
Those who could be the head shopkeepers of various inns were naturally not fools. Everyone rushed to say, "We are also willing to work for Boss An!"
These shopkeepers were different from ordinary people. Although they were also servants of officials, they were not slaves with indentures, but commoners.
It’s just that other people in the family may be a little more troublesome.
But those are not what An Jingzhi needs to consider.
"Yes, but it's not that easy to do things for me."
He clapped his hands, and Gong Rong immediately stepped forward and handed over a few pieces of paper for the shopkeepers to see.
"Is this a contract of sale?" the slightly plump shopkeeper asked in surprise after taking a look.
Could it be that the other party had already predicted that this day would come, and had prepared the indentures, just waiting for them to step into them?
"Yes, only after I get your indentures can I let you do the work without worry." He saw that some of the shopkeepers looked unhappy, and said:
"But you don't have to worry. As long as you work for me with peace of mind, I will definitely return the deed to you in ten years."
Ten years is not impossible. Although they are already old, there is no problem living another ten years. It’s just a verbal agreement, and no one knows whether it is true.
What if the other party defaults on the debt ten years later?
Seeing everyone's suspicious eyes, An Jingzhi said with a half-smile: "You have no choice, right? If you believe me, you can take a gamble. If you don't believe me, I will immediately report you for throwing croton. Do you still have a future?"
The slightly plump shopkeeper immediately said, "I agree!"
He didn't even ask for a pen, he just bit his finger and pressed a fingerprint.
An Jingzhi looked at him putting his hand in his mouth and biting it, and made a sound of "tsk". He was a man who knew the times and was cruel to himself.
He really wouldn't dare to use such a person unless he signed a contract to sell himself.
…
After receiving praise from the emperor in the court, An Yuping was in high spirits on his way home.
He knew that the emperor would be pleased with his peaceful stay, and sure enough, it turned out to be true.
After returning home, the family discussed it and cooperated with His Majesty in the palace to expand Anxin Keju again.
After several imperial examinations, Anxin Keju was almost enough for all the candidates to live in.
It was no longer a difficult problem for Juren to take the imperial examination in Beijing.
In the entire capital, the only place higher than the Imperial Palace is Anxin Keju.
Everyone in the world praised the emperor's wisdom, and the emperor gradually took control of the court.
An Yuping also became the youngest prime minister, and An Jingzhi became the first imperial businessman.
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