Don't Provoke the Black Lotus O [Transmigration Novel] - Chapter 17

17: The Scheme

When stepping into the general store again, everything was in complete chaos.

The elder brother who was beating the gong and his younger brother were both crying bitterly, “We really didn’t mean to frame Boss Huang, it’s just, just…”

“Just what?” Jin Yu angrily said, “You clearly colluded with that Wang guy!”

“Hey, hey, young lady, you can’t just say things like that. This matter has nothing to do with Wang!”

“It was you who instigated it! And you still won’t admit it?”

…

Zhang Chengji watched coldly from the side. He was only there to diagnose the condition and had no intention of wasting words on arguments.

As for Chen Feng, his late reputation was ruined, standing alone with a grim face in the corner. After today, his reputation was completely destroyed. Faced with the public’s condemnation, he was utterly powerless to defend himself.

Seeing Jin Yu still bickering with them, the troublemakers trying to gloss over the situation, and Wang Shichang busy distancing himself from the matter.

Trying to weasel out of it? No way!

“Stop arguing! Come on, this big brother, Boss Wang.” Jiang Ci said, pulling one person with each hand, smiling, “Let’s not argue here. Come with me to seek justice from the Emperor.”

“Seek… seek the Emperor?!” Wang Shichang stammered, quickly forcing a smile, “No, Marquis, such a small matter isn’t worth it…”

“You’re mistaken, Boss Wang! Matters concerning the people are never small! Besides, wasn’t the gong and drum beating quite a big deal?” Jiang Ci spoke earnestly, then turned to the other side, “And this big brother, don’t be afraid. Our Emperor is very reasonable. If you endure a few rounds of torture and your testimony doesn’t change, he’ll probably let you go.”

When the elder brother heard that he might be subjected to torture, he trembled and immediately knelt down.

As a commoner, he knew nothing and had never interacted with a high-ranking figure like the Marquis of Dingyuan. He had simply taken money to do a job. Now, frightened by Jiang Ci’s threat, he quickly confessed, “My Lord, please don’t joke about this! I admit my wrongdoing! I was entirely instigated by Wang Shichang! I beg for your mercy!”

Wang Shichang: “You… you… what nonsense are you spouting?!”

“I swear every word is true! Wang Shichang coveted Boss Huang’s recipe and hired many people to cause trouble at the general store! Both my brother and I, as well as Old Chen, were bribed by him! Today, he specifically instructed us to escalate the situation so that Huang’s store would be forced to shut down for good!”

With the troublemaker’s family member revealing the truth and Old Chen’s silent acknowledgment, the onlooking crowd erupted in uproar.

Seeing that he could no longer contain the situation, Wang Shichang grew truly desperate. He quickly closed the doors of the general store to prevent the outside crowd from witnessing the scene, then turned to Jiang Ci and said, “My Lord! We’re all on the same side here, why must you push so hard…”

“On the same side?” Jiang Ci replied, “You’re surnamed Wang, and I’m surnamed Gao. What relation do we have?”

Wang Shichang glanced at Xi Lingxue, deliberately pulling Jiang Ci aside and whispering in her ear, “I am actually under the command of Young Master Yao Zhi…”

He never expected things to escalate like this. It was just a peasant girl, yet the Marquis of Dingyuan would go to such lengths for Huang Fu!

Now, the only way to save himself was to reveal his connection to Yao Zhi!

Jiang Ci found the name familiar but couldn’t recall who it was for the moment, so she turned to Xi Lingxue and asked, “Who is Yao Zhi again?”

Hearing the name, Xi Lingxue couldn’t help but let out a cold laugh. So it was him…

No wonder Wang Shichang, a mere merchant, could act so arrogantly in the capital. Even when she had tried to get a worker from Wang Shichang before, she had been refused.

So, he had the backing of the Yao family.

Xi Lingxue coldly replied, “He is Yao Qin’s elder brother.”

Wang Shichang was utterly dumbfounded. This damned Gao Yi! Not only did she not remember Yao Zhi, but she also told everything to the princess! And here he was, trying to keep it under wraps!

How could Xi Lingxue and the Yao family ever get along?

With the pillow talk blowing against him, could he possibly have a good outcome?

Wang Shichang suddenly realized that he might have underestimated Gao Yi’s affection for Xi Lingxue.

But this matter was truly too strange. How did Xi Lingxue manage to turn the tables in such a short amount of time?!

Yao Qin had only left for two days to attend a Buddhist ceremony. Before she left, she and Gao Yi were inseparable, and it was said that she would soon be pregnant with his child. At that time, Xi Lingxue was still under house arrest in the villa, and every time she met Gao Yi, they would argue, even coming to blows on several occasions.

How could Xi Lingxue have defeated Yao Qin in just two short days?!

Was it just her looks?

…Xi Lingxue was indeed beautiful, but Wang Shichang felt there was more to it.

As his gaze inadvertently swept over Huang Fu, a sudden realization flashed in his mind.

That’s it, Huang Fu! She must be Gao Yi’s secret lover!

Ask yourself, which proper wife could act like Xi Lingxue, setting aside her status to personally accompany and help her husband’s little lover vent her anger? She even went so far as to invite the renowned Dr. Zhang!

What do you call this?

Grand scheme!

No wonder Gao Yi dotes on the princess so much!

Yao Qin didn’t lose unjustly.

Jiang Ci was still unaware that Wang Shichang had already concocted a dramatic scenario in his mind. “So it’s Yao Qin’s brother… then we really are on the same side. In that case, taking this matter to the Emperor would be unseemly. Boss Wang, let’s settle this privately.”

Wang Shichang thought to himself, you’re saying this so loudly that everyone in the store, whether they should know or not, now knows. How is this a private settlement?

Of course, he only dared to grumble in his heart. On the surface, he forced a smile and said, “The Marquis is right… This matter was my oversight, and I offended Boss Huang. I am willing to compensate double the losses for the general store!”

Wang Shichang, ever flexible, immediately knelt before Huang Fu, kowtowing and apologizing profusely.

Only if Huang Fu was satisfied would Gao Yi be satisfied. If Gao Yi was satisfied, Xi Lingxue would have no reason to pursue the matter. So, in the end, it all came down to pleasing Huang Fu!

With everything clarified, the losses compensated, and the mastermind kneeling before her, Huang Fu’s anger had long since dissipated.

“…Boss Wang, please get up and speak.”

“Ah, Boss Huang is truly magnanimous.” Wang Shichang said. “Then, as you can see, there are still so many people outside, and our Ningxiang Pavilion needs to continue doing business…”

Huang Fu understood his meaning. He wanted her to explain a few words to protect the reputation of Ningxiang Pavilion, but this matter was not something she could decide.

Huang Fu said, “Boss Wang, you should ask the Marquis for his opinion.”

“Oh, right, right.” Wang Shichang immediately fawned over to Jiang Ci, “My Lord, whatever you command, I will surely fulfill!”

Jiang Ci smiled faintly and leisurely said, “Then you’ll have to ask my wife~”

As she spoke, she winked at Xi Lingxue: Quick! Ask him for the person! Get Seven Miles Fragrance over here!

Isn’t there some kind of heavenly system? She’s now handing the knife to the female lead to let her “kill” so she shouldn’t get electrocuted again, right?

Xi Lingxue was slightly stunned, not expecting Gao Yi to be waiting for this. She had been worrying about what to do with Wu Wei, but now it seemed everything was resolved.

To be honest, even though there was still some lingering resentment in her heart, she now found Gao Yi much more agreeable than before.

If it weren’t for Gao Yi today, the matter with the general store wouldn’t have been resolved so smoothly.

Xi Lingxue said, “I have no other demands. I only want one of the workers from your store. Of course, I won’t take advantage of you. We can discuss the price for his release.”

As soon as Wang Shichang heard this, he knew it was about Wu Wei. Xi Lingxue had personally come to ask for him before. Back then, he didn’t think much of this commoner princess. Who would have thought she would later marry Gao Yi and be so favored!

But Wu Wei was, after all, his cash cow, and Wang Shichang couldn’t bear to part with him.

He put on a troubled expression, “Your Highness, Wu Wei is our most outstanding perfumer at Ningxiang Pavilion. This might be—”

“Might be what?” Before he could finish, Jiang Ci interrupted, “Aren’t we all on the same side? Why fuss over a worker? Whatever my wife says, you do. If you have a problem, tell Yao Zhi to come find me.”

Wang Shichang wanted to cry. How could he dare say such a thing to Yao Zhi? But compared to that, he was even more afraid of Gao Yi.

This person was the only heir of the Gao family! The Emperor was extremely indulgent toward her. Even if Gao Yi led her troops to ransack Ningxiang Pavilion, the Emperor wouldn’t do anything to her!

Wang Shichang’s heart ached so much he could barely breathe. Now, he either had to hand over his cash cow or let Ningxiang Pavilion’s reputation be ruined. Either choice was like cutting flesh from his heart.

This time, he truly lost both the battle and the war!

With trembling tears in his voice, he said, “I will follow the Marquis’s orders…”

Jiang Ci patted his shoulder, “Boss Wang, you’re too kind.”

And so, the farce came to an end. In the end, it was Huang Fu who stepped forward to explain that it was all a misunderstanding, and the onlookers finally dispersed.

The losses at the general store still needed to be carefully calculated, so Wang Shichang left with Chen Feng and the troublemakers.

Zhang Chengji had another appointment in the afternoon. He had never liked Gao Yi’s character, and if it weren’t for Xi Lingxue’s intervention, he wouldn’t have come.

But this time, he was truly impressed by Gao Yi.

Xi Lingxue personally escorted him out of the general store, “Thank you, Dr. Zhang, for today. Without you, no one else would have dared to challenge Old Chen.”

“Hmph, that old fool Chen Feng.” Zhang Chengji said. “But I have a feeling that even if I hadn’t come, Gao Yi still had a backup plan.”

Xi Lingxue paused slightly and asked, “You… noticed something?”

“It’s hard to say for now. Let’s take a closer look tomorrow at the Marquis’s residence. Also…” Zhang Chengji’s expression darkened as he looked at Gao Yi. “This person is definitely not a good match. Why bother wasting your thoughts on her?”

Xi Lingxue followed his gaze and saw Gao Yi hovering around Huang Fu.