Substitution
Jin Xiaoxiao touched He Nanxing's eyes. "Sister Nanxing, your eyes tell me that you, like me, yearn for freedom."
He Nanxing finally nodded, "Okay, I promise you."
Jin Xiaoxiao happily pulled her along, "Then let's go to the textile factory now, let's go see Sister Baiguo first."
On the other side, Yue Xiao returned to the palace with a gloomy expression.
He summoned all his staff and asked, "Han Qing has been released, did you know?"
Chen Ji, who had a goatee, spoke up: "Young master, we just received news of Han Qing's release when you left."
Yue Xiao swept the teacups and teapot off the square table, shattering them and spilling tea all over the floor. "Why?"
Chen Ji walked around the mess and came to the opposite side of Yue Xiao, handing him an article. "Young master, I heard that the emperor released Han Qing after reading this article."
Yue Xiao snatched the paper from Chen Ji's hand, read it through, and looked at him suspiciously. "Just based on this article?"
Chen Ji explained, “This article alone is not enough. The reason why the Emperor agreed to release him was because the Imperial Censor Wang Liang strongly defended Han Qing, and the recent rumors about sorcery among the people corroborated Han Qing’s testimony. The most important reason was that the Emperor believed in the loyalty of the Han family. With these factors combined, Han Qing was released.”
Yue Xiao questioned Xi Yan, who was standing on the outermost edge, "Why is Han Qing awake?"
Everyone followed Yue Xiao's gaze to Xi Yan, but Xi Yan had her head down and her face was covered by a veil, so no one could see through her expression.
"I've said it before, a person with a strong will can't control a Gu worm for long."
When Han Qing was controlled by the Gu worms, Yue Xiao was so happy that he overlooked the second half of Xi Yan's words. Now that Xi Yan reminded him, Yue Xiao remembered the second half of the sentence.
He swallowed his words of reproach and turned his anger towards the standing staff, "Gentlemen, I've provided you with good food and drink, and this is how you repay me? Chen Ji, I allocated you ten thousand taels of silver, where did you spend it all?"
The staff members hung their heads and dared not utter a sound.
Chen Ji looked up at Yue Xiao and said, "I didn't keep a single coin of the ten thousand taels of silver. If you don't believe me, I'll do whatever you want with me."
Yue Xiao didn't believe it, but he couldn't react now because Chen Ji was one of the first people to follow him, and doing so would discourage the others.
Yue Xiao stopped looking at Chen Ji and asked the others, "Han Qing's release is a foregone conclusion. Is there any way to take away his military power?"
Chen Ji knew Yue Xiao well, and he guessed what Yue Xiao was thinking. A wave of sadness washed over him, knowing that their master-servant relationship had come to an end.
Just then, a voice announced from outside the door, "Young master, Manager Zhang of Qin's Cloth Shop requests an audience."
Unable to come up with a solution, Yue Xiao impatiently hissed, "What's wrong now? Let him in!"
When Manager Zhang entered the room and saw that everyone's expressions were very solemn, his heart skipped a beat; he had come at the worst possible time.
Seeing that Manager Zhang was standing there without speaking, Yue Xiao asked in a deep voice, "What is it?"
Shopkeeper Zhang replied cautiously, "Young master, yesterday was the day that cloth shops from various places arranged to pick up their goods from our Qin family's cloth shop, but we haven't seen a single person since. I was suspicious and sent someone out to inquire, only to find out that they bought the cloth yesterday and left the capital overnight."
Yue Xiao immediately stood up straight. "What did you say?"
Manager Zhang trembled. "Young master, I also found out that they bought cloth from the newly opened Jinjin Textile Factory."
Yue Xiao kicked over the armchair behind him, "Where did this Jinjin Textile Factory come from?"
Shopkeeper Zhang's back was soaked with sweat, and his face was dripping with perspiration. He lowered his head and replied fearfully, "Young master, the reason why Tianhong and other cloth shops dare to compete with Qin's Cloth Shop is because their supply channels come from Jinjin Textile Factory. I've heard that the owner behind Jinjin Textile Factory is the same person as the owner of Rongguang Perfume Shop. But if the cloth price is set so low, isn't Rongguang Perfume Shop afraid of being dragged down?"
Yue Xiao suddenly looked up to the east, his face contorted with rage, "Yue Jia!"
Yue Xiao forced himself to calm down. "Men, go and investigate the Jinjin Textile Factory tonight."
As night fell, four men dressed in black walked through a quiet alley and arrived at the gate of Jinjin Textile Factory.
After looking up and confirming the words on the plaque, they climbed over the wall and entered.
"Ah!" As four synchronized screams rang out, people carrying torches emerged one after another from the courtyard.
The leader was Bai Guo, who coldly pointed at the four men in black whose legs were caught in animal traps, and ordered, "Take them away!"
Yue Xiao waited all night, but the men he sent out disappeared without a trace, like clay oxen sinking into the sea.
His bloodshot eyes revealed a madness. "Men, go and bring the owner of Rongguang Perfume Shop and his family here."
Half an hour later, Yue Xiao's men carried four people, threw them to the ground, squatted down, and slapped them hard across the face.
The four people lying on the ground had their cheeks instantly swollen and red, and were awakened by a sharp pain.
Manager Zhao of Rongguang Perfume Shop was the first to stand up, but before he could even stand up properly, he was kicked to his knees.
His face was filled with terror. "What are you going to do?"
Yue Xiao toyed with a dagger that gleamed coldly. "If you want your family to live, you'd better behave yourself."
Manager Zhao then realized that his entire family of four was there. He quickly helped his mother up, "Mother? How are you?"
"I will call you ten times. Tell me the recipe for Rongguang perfume and Rongguang soap within ten calls, or you will bear the consequences."
Just as Manager Zhao helped his mother up, he heard Yue Xiao counting down the last few seconds, which made him sweat profusely with anxiety.
Manager Zhao's wife also woke up. She hugged her son in fear and looked at Manager Zhao.
Manager Zhao's mother remained calm. She patted her son's hand and said earnestly, "Son, one must not be ungrateful. Don't do anything foolish."
Yue Xiao had already counted to two when Manager Zhao was thrown into a panic. "I...I haven't seen the prescription."
Yue Xiao gripped his dagger, moving back and forth between the four men, his eyes cold as frost. He murmured softly, "Don't know?"
Despite the sweltering heat, Manager Zhao shivered and quickly said, "I know the ingredients for soap are lard, various flower petals, wood ash, and seashells." He finished in one breath, afraid that if he spoke too late, Yue Xiao's dagger would stab a hole in them.
Yue Xiao sheathed his dagger, propped his head up with his hand, closed his eyes, and said, "I want you to make soap today."
The butler standing to the side replied, "Yes."
The shop assistants at Rongguang Perfume Shop waited for an hour, but Manager Zhao still didn't come to open the door.
Familiar customers kept asking him when he would open the door, so the shop assistant had to run to Manager Zhao's house to call for help, but the gate to Zhao's house was closed and no one came out no matter how much he called. Helpless, the shop assistant ran to Jinjin Textile Factory in the north of the city to look for Bai Guo.
Bai Guo put down his pen, looked up and asked the shop assistant, "You mean Manager Zhao has disappeared?"
The waiter, exhausted from running all the way, bent over and propped himself up on his knees. Hearing Bai Guo's question, he looked up and replied, "That's right, I patted Zhao's door until my hands were red, but it still didn't open. Boss Bai, is the shop open today? There were still customers waiting at the door when I left!"
Bai Guo pointed to the kettle on the square table, "Have a sip of water and rest for a while. I'll go back to the shop with you to open the door and welcome customers later."
After saying that, Bai Guo lowered her head again, picked up her pen, and wrote the matter down on the paper.
She took the folded paper and went outside, waving to the children. A group of children ran over, and the oldest one, Xiao Niu, asked, "Sister Baiguo, is there something you need?"
"Xiao Niu, go next door and give this note to Xiao Xiao."
Little Niu took the note, clutched it in his palm, and patted his chest, assuring her, "Don't worry, Sister Baiguo, I'm the fastest runner."
He had already run out the door before he finished speaking.
When they were looking for a site to build the Jinjin Textile Factory, Jin Xiaoxiao took a liking to three adjacent courtyards. Jin Minzhi, with a wave of his hand, bought them all.
The two courtyards on the far left were combined and converted into the Jinjin Textile Factory, while Jin Xiaoxiao gave the remaining courtyard to He Nanxing to live in yesterday.
Jin Xiaoxiao came to He Nanxing early this morning to discuss the establishment of a girls' college.
As the two were talking, Ji Jun walked in carrying a calf.
When Xiao Niu saw Jin Xiaoxiao, he grinned, revealing his teeth, and stretched out his hand, "Xiaoxiao, this is from Sister Baiguo."
Ji Jun let go of him, took the note from his hand, and handed it to Jin Xiaoxiao.
Jin Xiaoxiao unfolded and read it, then frowned in thought.
There's no need to guess; Manager Zhao must have been kidnapped by Yue Xiao. He likely had only two purposes in kidnapping him: to uncover the secrets of the Jinjin Textile Factory and the formulas for his perfumes and soaps. Manager Zhao didn't know the secrets of the textile factory, but he did know the ingredients for his soaps.
Thinking of this, Jin Xiaoxiao stood up and said goodbye to He Nanxing, "Sister, we've discussed the academy matters quite thoroughly. The rest will be done according to your wishes. I have other things to attend to, so I'll be leaving now."
He Nanxing got up to see her off, but Jin Xiaoxiao stopped her from getting up, saying, "No need to see me off."
Jin Xiaoxiao and Bai Guo meet at Rongguang Perfume Shop.
"Xiaoxiao, what are your thoughts on Manager Zhao's matter?"
Jin Xiaoxiao frowned. "It was my oversight that Manager Zhao was involved. I can't just ignore him. The only way to save Manager Zhao's family right now is to negotiate with Yue Xiao."
Bai Guo disagreed, saying, "He's a vengeful person. If Manager Zhao is captured by him, he's likely in grave danger."
Jin Xiaoxiao insisted, "I'm the one who dragged Manager Zhao's family into this mess, I have to save them."
Bai Guo pursed her lips. "How do you plan to negotiate?"
Jin Xiaoxiao's eyes flashed with determination, "Use the soap recipe to replace the person."
Jin Xiaoxiao went to Prince Yi's residence and asked Yue Jia to negotiate with Yue Xiao.
After hearing her words, Yue Jia looked at the four sheets of paper on the table with a complicated expression. "Are you really going to use these to exchange for someone?"
Jin Xiaoxiao's gaze also fell on the soap recipe. Her eyes were firm. "Exchanging a few flimsy sheets of paper for four living people is a win for me."
After a long silence, Yue Jia called the butler and said, "Go and call Yue Xiao."
Jin Xiaoxiao jumped off the chair. "Brother Prince, I'll excuse myself for a moment."
Yue Jia nodded, and Jin Xiaoxiao and Ji Yun were taken to the next room.
Yue Xiao arrived quickly. As soon as he entered, he casually sat down, lifting his robe. "How strange, you actually asked me to come to the East Courtyard."
Yue Jia didn't care about his attitude. She pointed to the paper on the table and got straight to the point: "The owner of Rongguang Perfume Shop doesn't know the complete soap recipe. Here are four complete recipes. If you're willing to release the person, they're yours."
Yue Xiao sat up straight, staring intently at the paper on the table. "Why do you have a soap recipe?"
Instead of answering, Yue Jia asked, "Do you want it?"
Yue Xiao stood up, walked over to get the prescription, and said, "Let's exchange one prescription for one person."
Yue Jia pressed down on the paper. "Four prescriptions for four people. I'll give you half an incense stick's time to consider. If you agree, you can bring people to exchange. If you don't agree, then you don't need to come."
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