"This humble servant, Zhou Zheng, pays his respects to Madam."
The other servants, seeing this, also stepped forward tremblingly. Except for the one whose bundle had fallen to the ground, the others had all hidden their belongings behind their backs and looked guilty when they saw Ye Jintang.
Are you leaving the shop?
Ye Jintang said to the four servants, "You're stealing medicinal herbs from the shop?"
Her words sounded extremely soft, yet they carried an irresistible sense of pressure.
"Green Lotus went to fetch the officials."
Seeing that the four people other than Zhou Zheng remained silent, Ye Jintang gave instructions.
"yes!"
These men initially wanted to argue their way out, but when they saw that Ye Jintang was serious, they quickly begged for mercy, saying, "Madam, please spare us! We really had no choice but to do such a wrong thing given the current state of the shop."
"Please, Madam, consider our long-standing relationship at the pharmacy and do not report this matter to the authorities."
The servant in the lead knew that their actions were unreasonable, so he knelt down before Ye Jintang.
The other three, seeing someone kneel down, followed suit.
"A mistake is a mistake."
"If I'm not mistaken, besides the medicine, there's also silver in your baggage."
In the original owner's memory, such things were not uncommon. Because the original owner did not want to cause a big fuss, even if such things happened, they were only punished as a warning.
The reason these people were able to admit their mistakes so quickly is because they were certain that the original owner would let these things go as before.
Unfortunately... a cold glint flashed in Ye Jintang's eyes.
"What are you waiting for, Green Lotus?" Ye Jintang's voice came again, and Green Lotus quickly responded and went out of the house.
The four of them panicked. They thought that kneeling down would make Ye Jintang forgive them, but they didn't expect that he was serious.
Since that's the case, they couldn't just sit and wait to die before the government officials arrived.
The four looked at each other, clearly sharing the same intention, and stood up one after another.
“Madam, we have worked for the pharmacy for so many years. Even if we have not made any great contributions, we have certainly put in a lot of hard work. Do you really have to be so heartless?”
Seeing these people denouncing Ye Jintang, Zhou Zheng stepped forward.
"Do you have any conscience at all? The five of us were able to get into the shop because of Madam's kindness, but what have you done now that you dare to steal the shop's money!"
"Zhou Zheng, so what if we take it? Madam, don't think we don't know you're now the daughter of a disgraced official."
"Even if the government comes, who can prove that the contents of the bundle belong to the shop?"
"Brothers, let's go."
In their view, Ye Jintang and Zhou Zheng were just two people; what could they possibly do to them?
"No, you can leave, but you must leave the medicine and the silver behind!"
Zhou Zheng stepped in front of them.
"Screw you, Zhou Zheng! I've put up with you for too long. You think you're something special just because I call you 'shopkeeper'!"
The taller man pulled Zhou Zheng aside and looked at Ye Jintang with a hint of provocation.
"Madam, even if we take it, what can you do to us?"
After saying this, the others, perhaps genuinely worried about the arrival of government officials, all rushed to leave the shop.
"Trying to leave?" Ye Jintang watched this scene with a slight upturn of her lips. She raised her hand, and the door suddenly slammed shut, plunging the surrounding light into darkness.
"Are you sure you can leave?"
Why can't I open it?
Some people tried to open the closed door, but no matter how hard they tried, it wouldn't budge.
When the four realized they couldn't get out, they quickly turned their attention to Ye Jintang.
"Madam, what exactly did you do?"
"You could have left by leaving behind things that didn't belong to you, but now..."
"no."
Ye Jintang spoke slowly and deliberately, exuding a powerful aura of pressure.
"Fuck you, I'll fight you to the death!"
The rather burly man raised his fist, about to attack Ye Jintang.
Although Zhou Zheng was shocked by the situation, he rushed forward without thinking when he saw that these people were really going to make a move, and took the punch head-on.
"Madam, please leave the backyard immediately."
Even though he was injured, Zhou Zheng did not forget to urge Ye Jintang on.
"Take care of yourself first," Ye Jintang said, her tone softening slightly.
As for these four men, since they're so eager to die, she'll grant their wish.
The four of them realized their current predicament; if they let Ye Jintang leave, given her status, they would be the ones to suffer.
Since we can't avoid it, we might as well go all the way!
The four men surrounded Ye Jintang, and the burly man in the lead looked at Ye Jintang with ill intent.
"Madam, we don't want to make things difficult for you, but you brought this upon yourself. Since that's the case, we have no choice but to offend you!"
After saying that, he swung his sword at Ye Jintang first, but before he could get close to Ye Jintang, the man felt an external force binding him tightly.
With a thud, the three people next to the burly man fell to the ground.
"What...what did you do to me? Why can't I move?"
Upon seeing the situation of those around him, the burly man immediately tried to stop, but felt his whole body stiffen.
The door was kicked open at that moment, and Green Lotus came in with several guards.
"Miss, are you alright?" Green Lotus glanced at the person on the ground, her gaze towards Ye Jintang filled with worry.
Ye Jintang shook his head, then said to the arriving officers and soldiers, "Besides him, please take these four back for further interrogation."
"yes."
The officers and soldiers dared not slack off in the slightest after receiving the order.
They should know that anyone who has any connection with His Highness the Regent is someone they can't afford to offend.
The officers and soldiers quickly took the four away, leaving only her, Lühe, and Zhou Zheng in the pharmacy.
When Zhou Zheng saw this scene, he was dumbfounded. Usually, these government officials were the most indecisive in their dealings. Even if someone came, they would use other reasons to get away with it.
Especially in the capital, it is impossible for anyone to have any connection with a powerful or influential person.
Ye Jintang glanced around the pharmacy. The layout was quite good; in addition to the area for dispensing medicine, there was also a place for people to rest.
If the area could be divided up, it would become a clinic that could both dispense medicine and provide treatment.
Ye Jintang continued walking inside, referring to the backyard Zhou Zheng had mentioned earlier...
As Ye Jintang walked to a corner, he indeed saw a door. After opening the door, he saw a courtyard house.
There are several rooms in the courtyard, and several stone tables in the middle.
The house is in the back, the clinic is in the front, and there's a door separating them—this place is really nice.
As Ye Jintang examined these items, Lühe and Zhou Zheng followed along.
"Your name is Zhou Zheng?"
Upon seeing the two people who had arrived, Ye Jintang focused her gaze on the man.
"yes."
Zhou Zheng lowered his head, perhaps because he had just witnessed what happened; his tone was respectful but also somewhat cautious.
After replying, he knelt down before Ye Jintang without waiting for her response.
What are you doing?
Seeing Zhou Zheng's actions, Ye Jintang asked.
“Madam, I never expected them to do such a thing. It was my oversight. I beg you to hold me accountable as well.”
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