Chapter 148: Chapter 148: How Could She Invite Two Court Officials?
"Which son of a bitch is spreading these rumors?! Get out here and face me!"
Xu Qian slammed his folded fan on the table with a POUND POUND POUND. ’How infuriating!’ he thought.
’How could the proprietress who came up with a poetry contest for her restaurant be the kind of person they’re making her out to be? Are they trying to insult my intelligence?’
’A restaurant I favor could never have an owner like that!’
Compared to the clamor from the crowd outside, Xu Qian’s outburst had little effect.
However, it did make Xie Ruijing, who was sitting right next to him, twitch his lips uncontrollably again.
’Xie Ruijing now felt an impulse. Once today was over, he was definitely going to hire someone to throw a sack over this guy’s head and beat him to a pulp.’
’How does he manage to land a perfect insult on my head with every single sentence?’
Xie Ruijing was fuming, but he had to keep a nonchalant expression on his face.
He subconsciously picked up the cup beside him and took another sip. He was just about to say, "Who knows about such things," but before the words could leave his mouth, Xie Ruijing’s throat went numb from the burn of the *burned saber* liquor.
Xie Ruijing flinched.
’I forgot this damned Immortal Brew was completely fraudulent!’
After the burning sensation subsided, Xie Ruijing looked at Xu Qian and said, "It’s not impossible. After all, how did the owner of this Ming’s Restaurant convince two court officials to work for her?"
Xie Ruijing sneered. If court officials were so easy to talk to, common people wouldn’t be so reverent and fearful when they saw someone in an official robe.
’What gives Ming Lingyi the right?’
After the men Xie Ruijing had planted in the crowd said these things, people were gradually swayed and started asking questions out of curiosity.
Things were developing in the direction Xie Ruijing had expected. He curled his lips in satisfaction.
Sitting in the teahouse opposite, Zhang Sifan knitted his brows. Voicing such doubts about an unmarried young woman was hardly the action of a gentleman.
Jiang Yuchuan and Gongsun Liangce also heard the discussion, which had been started by someone unknown, and both of them frowned in unison.
Just as Jiang Yuchuan was about to step forward and offer an explanation, a squad of Black Armor Guards suddenly surged in from the edge of the crowd.
This squad of Black Armor Guards was like a sharp blade, forcefully parting the crowd.
Wherever they went, everyone fell silent, not daring to say another word.
The lively clamor from before seemed to have been abruptly paused in that instant.
Even Xie Ruijing, who had been smiling just a moment ago, couldn’t help but sit up straight.
After the Black Armor Guards forcibly carved a path through the crowd, their leaders, with agile movements, suddenly snatched several people from the crowd and threw them directly into the open space at the front.
Before anyone could understand what was happening, Li Yun appeared, dressed in plain black clothes.
Not all commoners knew what the Emperor looked like, but almost all of them knew that in the Dayan Dynasty, only one person could command the absolute loyalty of the Black Armor Guards: the one on the Dragon Throne.
As the Black Armor Guards knelt in unison, the crisp scrape of their cold armor reached the ears of every spectator. Who among them could fail to understand who had arrived?
"Your humble servant greets Your Majesty."
"This old servant greets Your Majesty."
The two voices rang out almost simultaneously, as Jiang Yuchuan and Gongsun Liangce both prostrated themselves on the ground.
Their actions and words were like a signal.
Immediately after, a vast swath of people, both inside the restaurant and in the surrounding crowd, knelt down.
If they still didn’t know who the man in black was by now, they must have been living under a rock.
"This commoner pays respects to Your Majesty..."
"Long live the Emperor—"
Seeing this, Ming Lingyi also moved to prostrate herself.
But she had barely bent her knees, not yet fully kneeling, when an arm caught and supported her.
Li Yun steadily held Ming Lingyi’s forearm, helping her up.
"You may all rise." At the same time, Li Yun spoke to the two officials beside him and the commoners behind him.
Jiang Yuchuan had already learned last night that the Emperor would appear today. However, when he heard it with his own ears, he found it incredible and wasn’t sure if he would truly see the Emperor at Ming’s Restaurant today.
But Li Yun’s appearance was a genuine shock to Gongsun Liangce, the Lord Governor of Jingzhao Mansion.
’After all, when Miss Ming first sought me out, she never mentioned the Emperor would be judging this contest with me!’
After everyone around them had risen, Li Yun, as if forgetting he was still holding Ming Lingyi’s arm, did not let go. He turned and looked at the lead Black Armor Guard. "You, explain what’s going on with those men," he said in a calm voice.
The lead Black Armor Guard expressionlessly lifted the man closest to him, who was now trembling like a quail. "These men were hiding in the crowd, inciting the people around them and slandering Boss Ming. You lot are all in it together."
When the Black Armor Guards spoke, it was, of course, only after they had concrete evidence.
As soon as these words were spoken, the onlookers who had been standing near these men suddenly realized what was going on. And with the people of the Dayan Dynasty holding an almost unbreakable trust in the Black Armor Guards, the crowd erupted.
"I was just standing next to that man in the brown tunic. He didn’t say a word at first, not at all like someone who came to watch the excitement. But when he did open his mouth, it was to say that the owner of Ming’s Restaurant had an improper relationship with the two officials!"
"I heard it too! I was standing behind him just now. He kept saying that Boss Ming must have used some connection to get the two officials to come. Well now, this must be someone deliberately trying to frame Boss Ming! I’ve eaten at Ming’s Restaurant several times. Boss Ming is a very straightforward person, not at all like what you all were saying."
"No wonder! I was just thinking how strange it was that so many people suddenly started badmouthing Boss Ming. It turns out they were all working together!"
"Is someone trying to harm Boss Ming?"
Someone in the crowd shouted this, and the scene once again grew tumultuous.
All sorts of speculations began to fly.
Sitting in his seat, the expression on Xie Ruijing’s face was now completely different from before.
Although no one had mentioned Wangxian Building yet...
"I bet this whole thing is definitely connected to Wangxian Building!"
Xu Qian looked up and said this, as if it were just a casual remark.
Xie Ruijing was left speechless.
He suppressed the fury in his heart and looked at the spoiled young master who had been the first to link the men dragged out by the Black Armor Guards to Wangxian Building. "There’s no evidence for that. You shouldn’t speak carelessly."
Xu Qian scoffed. Although he was from a younger generation than Xie Ruijing, the latter was, at best, the son of a concubine. It was only natural that he didn’t feel the need to show Xie Ruijing any respect.
"It’s obvious if you just use your brain! Who else has a grudge against Ming’s Restaurant besides Wangxian Building? Last time, they sent beggars to cause a scene here. This time, I’m almost certain Wangxian Building is behind it again." Xu Qian earnestly countered Xie Ruijing’s point, even trying to persuade him.
Xie Ruijing was at a loss for words.
’How is it that this kid’s mouth is so good at prophesying disaster? All he wanted right now was to shut him up!’
