Qin Yining sat at the head of the table. Ruilan and Qiu Lu stood to her left and right.
She was silent and didn't immediately respond. Instead, she carefully examined Shopkeeper Zhong.
Zhong Yucheng was close to sixty years old. He was of medium height and was slightly plump. He wore a sapphire blue brocade gown with a pattern of fortune and a dark brown cotton cloak. He wore a warm hat on his head. In the middle of the hat was a sapphire the size of a fingernail. Just by looking at his attire, she could tell that he was a very respectable person.
But right now, his face was miserable. His wrinkles were filled with the word "worry". His white goatee trembled. When he saluted Qin Yining, he bowed very low as if he couldn't bear the weight.
Qin Yining quickly calculated in her mind.
A shopkeeper like Shopkeeper Zhong was much more respectable than any shopkeeper she had seen when she was selling herbs outside. In the past, she should be the one nodding and bowing to others. But now, this shopkeeper was kneeling in front of her. She couldn't find a way to deal with it for a while.
However, she was the new owner of Zhao Yun Agency. Although she could rely on the head shopkeeper for business matters, she still had to make some decisions. How to convince the public in the future all depended on today.
Qin Yining thought of this. Her back straightened and her aura became stronger.
Silence had always been the most profound response.
Shopkeeper Zhong saw that the new owner was a young girl but could keep her composure. Thinking of the powerful Duchess Ding, he didn't dare to slight her and lowered his head even more.
Ruilan and Qiu Lu couldn't help but admire their young lady. No other young lady had such grace and aura.
The silence lasted for the time it took to brew a cup of tea. Then Qin Yining slowly spoke.
Because she had to think, she spoke very slowly. But when she spoke, each word seemed to carry more weight. "Master Zhong, did you come specially today for something important? Please stand up and respond. Ruilan, take a seat. Qiu Lu, bring good tea. "
Ruilan and Qiu Lu did as they were told.
Shopkeeper Zhong stood up, bowed, and stepped back. He only sat down on one side of the table that Ruilan brought over. Then, he took over the white porcelain red plum tea bowl that Qiu Lu brought over with both hands and put it on the short table beside him.
Qin Yining played with the lid of the teacup in his hand and said, "There are no outsiders here. If Shopkeeper Zhong has something to say, please speak your mind. However, if you have any problems in the future, feel free to come and tell me directly. But if you continue to kneel like this in the middle of winter and don't get up, what will you do if you hurt your body? I still have to rely on you for my future business. "
Shopkeeper Zhong was a smart man. Hearing this, he immediately understood that Qin Yining was blaming him for possibly ruining the girl's reputation. He hurriedly got up and bowed, "Boss is right. This lowly one was reckless this time. I won't do it again in the future. It's just that today's matter is urgent, so I came here rashly. "
While speaking, he quickly looked up at Qin Yining. He saw that the girl sitting at the head of the table was wearing a gorilla red cloak. Under the light, her face was so beautiful that it was hard to describe. A pair of slender long eyebrows outlined a bit of heroism, which made her eyes bright and deep. She could be called an unfathomable figure.
Shopkeeper Zhong was shocked and hurriedly said, "Boss, something happened to the Zhao Yun Agency. I can't deal with it, so I come to ask for your advice."
Qin Yining's heart skipped a beat. Although he had a hunch that even if he got the Zhao Yun Agency, he would not get the bonus for free. However, when it happened, he still felt unprepared.
Qin Yining was flustered, but he looked calm. He just raised his chin and motioned for Shopkeeper Zhong to continue.
Shopkeeper Zhong said, "A few days ago, we rented a girl from the Musical House. She was fourteen years old and looked like a flower bud. Who would have thought that just one day after she arrived at the restaurant, Prince Ning broke in and snatched her away without saying a word?
"It's not that I don't have any bodyguard boxing masters. Our Zhao Yun Agency will not be bullied for no reason. But Prince Ning is powerful, so I really don't dare to offend him.
"Now this girl has been in Prince Ning's Mansion for three days. The rented person was lost. I really can't explain it to the steward of the Musical House, so I come to ask you to help me. "
There was a moment of silence in the room. It was so quiet that you could hear a pin drop.
Ruilan and Qiu Lu were listening on the side. In an instant, they were so scared that cold sweat came out!
Who didn't know who Prince Ning was in the Dayan?
Prince Ning, Yuchi Jinming, advocated force. He was good at leading troops in war. As the emperor's brother, he was favored by the emperor. The emperor had few children, and he once adopted Prince Ning's son as a prince. Although the emperor later had a prince, he gave the prince back to Prince Ning. After all, the status of Prince Ning's Mansion was not ordinary.
However, no matter how good Prince Ning was, he was a licentious and tyrannical person. If he liked a girl or a young wife, he would directly take her away.
How could a girl in the boudoir like Qin Yining deal with this kind of thing?
Just when Ruilan and Qiu Lu were complaining about the injustice and sweating for their master, they heard a clear laughter.
Qin Yining said with a smile, "Shopkeeper Zhong is a wonderful person. This is the first time I've seen you beg someone like this. Since you don't want to tell the truth, please do as you please." As she spoke, she picked up a cup of tea.
Serve tea to see the guest out?!
The maidservants were stunned. It was Ruilan who reacted first and asked Shopkeeper Zhong to leave.
Shopkeeper Zhong was stunned and looked at the girl in the first seat in astonishment. He saw Qin Yining was calm and graceful, with a gentle smile, as if he wouldn't be shaken even if the wind and rain fell on him. Shopkeeper Zhong immediately put away his disdain and didn't dare to belittle her as a little girl. He knelt down with a thud.
"Boss, please don't be angry!"
Qin Yining said, "Shopkeeper Zhong, since you're here to beg me, don't try to deceive me. You rented people from the Musical House. I don't believe that you haven't lost your face like this before. How did you deal with it at that time? Now, since you can't deal with it well, it must be unusual. You'd better tell me the truth. I'll listen to it and maybe I can help you think of a way. "
Shopkeeper Zhong knelt on the ground and kowtowed, "Boss, you're wise. The girl who was taken away by Prince Ning was surnamed Tang and her name was Meng. She was the only daughter of the former Imperial Hospital's Chief Tang. Imperial Hospital's Chief Tang was sentenced to be executed because he poisoned the Empress. The women of the Tang family didn't want to be humiliated, so they all killed themselves. This Miss Tang escaped because she became a nun half a year ago. Later, when the incident happened, she was taken to the Musical House and then rented back."
Qin Yining understood the latter part of Shopkeeper Zhong's words even if he didn't say it.
She was born among the common people, so she knew more than the nobles in the capital city.
The emperor was muddle-headed and incompetent. He was almost seventy years old, but he only favored the Empress Cao, who was in her early twenties.
Cao was born in a famous family. Her father was the Crown Prince's Imperial Preceptor, Cao Bingzhong.
Imperial Preceptor Cao's daughter was the Empress, and his disciple was the Crown Prince. He was in the limelight in the imperial court, so he acted even more arrogantly.
As for the Empress Cao, it was said that she was devastatingly beautiful and seductive. Not only was she doted on, but she also frequently interfered with the imperial court. She was no different from Daji, Bao Si, Feiyan, and Hede in history.
The common people didn't call Cao the Empress, but the Demon Empress. Everyone said that the reason the emperor was so muddle-headed was because of the Demon Empress.
Qin Yining also heard about the Tang family on his way back to the capital city.
It was said that a certain imperial physician was on good terms with the civil officials in the capital city. He hoped to clean up the Emperor and eliminate the Demon Empress. In the Dayan dynasty, he used his position to poison the Demon Empress. He didn't expect the Demon Empress to be so tough. She was only half dead from the poison, but the entire family of the imperial physician lost their lives.
After hearing Shopkeeper Zhong's words, Qin Yining understood the origin of this Miss Tang Meng.
Today, Shopkeeper Zhong came as if his ass was on fire. Qin Yining was confused at first, but now she understood why he was so humble.
Tang Meng's father was the "hero" who killed the Demon Empress with poison. Tang Meng was the "hero's" orphan. She was brought back by the Zhao Yun Bureau, but they didn't protect her well. She was taken away by the perverted Ning Wang for three days.
Everyone could guess what would happen in these three days.
Presumably, the old antiques in the capital city must have tortured Shopkeeper Zhong a lot in these three days.
Those officials couldn't deal with Imperial Tutor Cao and Ning Wang, but they were more than enough to deal with a small shopkeeper.
Shopkeeper Zhong also had a son and nephew. If this matter wasn't handled well, Shopkeeper Zhong's family wouldn't have a foothold in the capital city. They might even lose their lives.
"No wonder Shopkeeper Zhong is so anxious." Qin Yining frowned and said, "I understand what you said. You can go back. "
He didn't say anything!
Shopkeeper Zhong said anxiously, "Boss, please show this lowly one the way. This lowly one's family will definitely be deeply grateful. We will be loyal to Boss for the rest of our lives!"
"Shopkeeper Zhong." Qin Yining said calmly, "What do you think I can do?"
This sentence was like a bucket of cold water poured over his head.
Yes, the original boss was a great talent like Sun Yu, but he didn't take on this hot potato.
Now the boss was just a girl in the boudoir. What could she do?
He was really turning to any doctor in his desperation!
Shopkeeper Zhong hung his head in despair. He could already foresee the future of his family. Maybe he would lose his life in a few days.
Qin Yining brought the tea again.
This time, Shopkeeper Zhong bowed politely and Ruilan saw him out.
Qin Yining slowly put down the teacup. Her indifferent expression was gone. She frowned and pursed her red lips. She felt like there was a big stone pressing down on her heart. She first paced back and forth in the room. She felt that the room was suffocating, so she walked to the courtyard.
Under the dim sky, the bamboo forest in the small courtyard rustled and the shadows of the trees were dense. It was as if this was the only place left between heaven and earth.
The anger in her heart was stirred up by a sense of justice!
"Bastard!"
Qin Yining was so angry that she couldn't help but curse. She fiercely kicked the stone stool, causing it to tilt and fall to the ground, making a muffled "bang" sound.
Ruilan and Qiu Lu were shocked. Mama Zhu hid in the room and didn't dare to come out. Mama Zhan stood in the corridor of the side room and quietly watched Qin Yining.
Ruilan supported Qin Yining. "Miss, don't be angry. Take care of yourself."
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