In the Ming Dynasty 1498, my restaurant connects two worlds.

Chapter 128 This pawnshop is dishonest

Wu Huai, representing both the government and the military, demonstrated all his sincerity within his authority, with only one goal: to help the Ming Dynasty stabilize its economy.

After a brief conversation with Wu Huai, Zhu Youcheng led everyone to the Wuying Hall. The Wuying Hall was warm and cozy, where court painters, mounters, eunuchs, and maids were all performing their duties, mass-producing calligraphy and paintings.

Song Xiaoyi, through a combination of deception and intrigue, tricked Zhu Youcheng into writing the seven characters "Da Ming Royal Leisure Garden" and affixing his personal seal.

In reality, Zhu Youcheng knew this very well.

The future "Da Ming Royal Leisure Garden" will be the comprehensive food center of the entire capital, and the VIP area will be a major source of revenue for the palace.

These seven characters written by Zhu Youtang can deter all villains and save a lot of trouble.

After collecting the thousands of paintings and calligraphy works in the Wuying Hall into his system space, Song Xiaoyi met the legendary "Ming Dynasty's Number One Prodigal Son," Fang Jifan.

Both being good young men of modern times, the two hit it off immediately and became accomplices in their schemes. In the end, Song Xiaoyi decided on the choice of the chief steward of the "Great Ming Royal Leisure Garden"—it was him!

He is a great talent in economics and management.

The group, including Zhu Zhishan, Zhang Mengjin, and Wen Zhengming, remained at the Wuying Hall to continue replicating famous paintings from the Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties with Tang Bohu and others.

Wu Yunqiu stayed behind to work with the court mounters, mounting famous paintings.

Xiao Qiuying naturally stayed behind to study.

Pearl and Miaolan stayed in the palace to assist with the mounting and framing, and spent their free time keeping the Empress company.

"Brother Jifan, it seems we're the only two brothers who are least welcome and will have to leave the palace all alone?"

"If you don't want to leave the palace, that's fine too. How about I call Zhang Yong from the Imperial Household Department?"

"Alright, alright, Brother Yi, let's run!"

Hahaha~~~

"You two rascals! Don't forget to visit the Crown Prince's residence! You two are supposed to be Junior Chamberlains of the Crown Prince's residence, and you're completely incompetent!"

Originally, it was just Song Xiaoyi alone, and it wasn't easy for him to mess with Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao. Now, with Fang Jifan added to the mix, the two of them working together would surely make the Crown Prince's residence look like a treasure.

With such heavy snow, how can we properly prepare a snowball?

Of course, it's to take the crown prince out to do bad things!

After discussing it, Song Xiaoyi and Fang Jifan, along with the Crown Prince and Wei Bin, set off. Mu Bin, still worried, also brought two Imperial Guards. The group of seven headed towards the largest pawnshop in the capital.

"Shopkeeper! I'm here to redeem the antiques and calligraphy I pawned!"

"This humble subject pays respects to Your Highness the Crown Prince!" The pawnshop manager was very perceptive; of the seven people in the group, he immediately spotted the youngest one, as the Crown Prince's casual attire was too conspicuous.

Before leaving, Song Xiaoyi deliberately didn't remind the Crown Prince to change into civilian clothes, just to maintain that air of authority.

"Shopkeeper, you only have eyes for the Crown Prince... But you're right, the Crown Prince is the most powerful here, but today I'm here to redeem my pawned items, it has nothing to do with the Crown Prince. Here's the pawn ticket, hand over my things."

"Okay... Young Master Fang, please wait a moment, I'll go get it right away, I'll go get it right away."

Even in the dead of winter, the pawnshop owner was covered in sweat and his eyes were darting around. Song Xiaoyi knew something was amiss.

This is going to be interesting.

Sure enough, the pawnshop manager didn't come out until more than an incense stick's time had passed. He was holding a few small items and a pawn ticket. "Young Master Fang, your pawned items... are all here."

"What?! I have over a dozen treasures, and all you have left are these few pieces of junk?"

"Young Master Fang... look at this... this pawn ticket says... there's only this much."

"Bullshit!" Fang Jifan couldn't help but curse when he saw the pawn tickets that looked the same but had actually been switched.

Brother Xiao Yi was absolutely right!

"How about it, Brother Jifan? I told you to hold back a trick, didn't I?"

"Hehe, you really are a black-hearted pawnshop. Manager, the pawn ticket I just gave you was just a copy. This is the real pawn ticket."

Song Xiaoyi took out the pawn ticket, but before he could finish speaking, the shopkeeper rushed up and tried to snatch it from Song Xiaoyi's hand!

"Heh heh, old man, you may be old, but you're still pretty agile. If you manage to snatch this from me, I'll never be able to hold my head up in front of Commander Mu again!"

As Song Xiaoyi spoke, he stuffed the pawn ticket into his pocket, actually putting it back into his system space. Then he stepped forward, pressed down on the shopkeeper's shoulder, and said, "It seems you've done quite a few bad things for your master, and you even know how to destroy evidence? You dared to do this in front of the Crown Prince and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. It seems your master is not simple."

"Let's put aside who his master is for now, and first see what my treasures are missing!"

"This first item, a rough Song Dynasty piece?" Song Xiaoyi looked at the first item on the list and didn't understand. "What's a rough Song Dynasty piece?"

"Keep looking at the next part, that's a moon-white vase from the Song Dynasty Jun ware!"

"A Song Dynasty Yaozhou ware dish-mouthed vase?"

"A Song Dynasty Longquan ware flower plate?"

"And what's this 'Song Dynasty Black Skin'?" Song Xiaoyi asked, having just encountered a new slang term. He then picked up the thread, "I see, it's from Ma Yuan's 'Solitary Angler on a Cold River' from the Song Dynasty!"

"Where are all the things?! So many, and not a single one is left!"

"I've already pawned it all, and I thought—I thought Young Master Fang had definitely spent all the money and wouldn't—wouldn't come back to redeem it."

"Bullshit! It's not even past the expiration date. Don't you know the rules of pawnbroking?"

"It's pointless to talk to him, Brother Mou. It's perfect that you're here. According to the Ming Dynasty Code, don't your Embroidered Uniform Guard have the right to shut down this shady inn?"

"Buying and manipulating the market, and deceiving customers are all within the jurisdiction of the Northern Garrison of the Embroidered Uniform Guard."

"Let's seal off this shady shop first, then we'll go in and find it ourselves!"

"No! The Embroidered Uniform Guard has no right to shut down my pawnshop!" The pawnshop owner rubbed his aching shoulders, then suddenly forced a stiff smile, straightening his hunched back. "I advise you all to think twice before you act!"

"Ha! I refuse to believe it! Let's go!"

-

"Wait!" The shopkeeper struggled to break free from Song Xiaoyi's iron grip and turned to Crown Prince Zhu Houzhao. "Your Highness, may we speak in private—"

"You son of a bitch, dreaming nonsense!" Song Xiaoyi snapped out of his daze and slapped the shopkeeper across the face. "Do you think you can kidnap the Crown Prince to blackmail the Imperial Guards?"

"no----"

"No, no! You just want to! If you, this old bastard, succeed in this, we could all kneel down at the execution ground and commit suicide to atone for our sins!"

""

"You fucking give it a rest!"

Song Xiaoyi knocked the shopkeeper unconscious, turned and rushed into the inner room. He saw the apprentice cowering under the counter, trembling, while another richly dressed young man was hiding in the storeroom. Song Xiaoyi strode forward, grabbed the young man by the collar, and before the young man could finish speaking, "I—" his hand had already struck down, and the richly dressed young man collapsed silently.

We can't give them a complete answer.

"Go inside and look! His Highness the Crown Prince and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard are witnesses. We're only taking back what's ours! Punishing unscrupulous pawnshops is the Embroidered Uniform Guard's job."