Our family has been rebelling for generations, and you've become the top scholar in the imperia

Half a month later.

Qin Feng was busy with the construction of the shop, spending his days with a group of bricklayers discussing how to build the brothel.

The brothels in Dongfang have completely closed down in the past few days, simply announcing their shutdown.

We're just waiting for the houses in Xifang to be completed so we can reopen here.

no way.

In the East District, scholars initially demanded discounts when courting girls, but gradually they even started asking the girls to give them gifts.

That makes no sense.

Not only that, those scholars also organized some kind of poetry appreciation gathering, requiring courtesans to accompany them, without giving them a single tael of silver throughout the entire event.

Finally, the brothel simply closed down.

If we keep going, the money might hold up, but the girls under our control won't.

Qin Feng is very busy.

Everyone in Xifang was very busy.

Everything is thriving.

but……

Grand Tutor Wang, who hadn't left his house for several days, went out today with his steward. Looking at the chaotic state of the East Ward, he immediately realized the seriousness of the problem.

In just half a month, and this is still the Dongfang where he has always lived?

On the entire street, fewer than three shops were open.

There wasn't a single person setting up a stall.

That was bad enough, but the air was filled with the smell of a latrine.

"You bastards, what have you all done?"

The Grand Tutor's Mansion.

Looking at Vice Minister Ren who had rushed over, Ding Yun who was in charge of governing the West Ward, and his grandson Wang Dengke who was assisting him.

Grand Tutor Wang was furious and slammed his fist on the table.

Finished!

It's completely over!

After seeing the methods the men devised to govern, Grand Tutor Wang was heartbroken.

What kind of mind could come up with such an inhuman method of governance?

Shops were forced to offer discounts to students, and all street vendors were driven away.

Just for the purpose of building some kind of book plaque.

This is forcing the shops to leave Dongfang.

"Your Excellency, the common people are ignorant and cannot understand my good intentions. In the future, the Eastern Quarter will become a sacred place for scholars, filled with the sound of reading aloud. At that time..."

"Guards, slap him in the face!"

Grand Tutor Wang glanced at Ding Yun, who was speaking eloquently, and waved his hand, ordering the servants to come up and slap him.

"Grand Tutor, why is this? This student is not convinced!"

"You're still not convinced? With a brain like yours, you dare to join the Southward Advancement Party? With people like you in the Southward Advancement Party, it's doomed to die out sooner or later. You idiot, a complete idiot with no brains at all. Did you become stupid from studying too much?"

"Drag him out and slap him!"

Ding Yun was dragged out.

Grand Tutor Wang's gaze fell on Vice Minister Ren.

"thump!"

Ren Qianyuan quickly knelt on the ground.

"I put you in charge of governing the East Ward, and after just over half a month, this is how you've done it? You're a Vice Minister of Rites; if he's brainless, are you brainless too?"

Faced with the Grand Tutor's questioning, Ren Qianyuan wanted to explain, but he couldn't explain at all.

Could it be that he hasn't been home at all lately?

Ever since the latrines were left uncleaned, the entire mansion reeks of a nauseating stench, no matter the time or place.

Especially at noon.

When the weather gets hot, just smelling that odor can make you dizzy for an entire afternoon.

After finally cleaning it up, it was robbed on the way out of the capital. Those thieves were truly inhuman.

They stole it half the night before it was delivered back, and I filled the latrine again.

He also contacted the Jingzhao Prefecture and arranged for a constable.

But it was completely useless.

Left with no other choice.

Ren Qianyuan hasn't returned recently; he's been staying at the Ministry of Rites.

Unexpectedly, Ding Yun has caused such a disaster to Dongfang.

It was him. I walked around Dongfang today and still can't believe it.

"Enough. This time, you'll lose in less than a month, let alone three months."

Grand Tutor Wang sighed heavily.

He didn't know what had become of Xifang.

But with Dongfang in its current state, let alone winning, if the Emperor were to actually come, it wouldn't be over until several people had their heads chopped off.

The most prosperous neighborhood was reduced to such a state in just half a month.

"Tomorrow, inform the officials of the Nanlin Party to discuss what official position to assign to Qin Feng..."

"Grand Tutor!"

"We must admit defeat. It was my poor judgment that led to this outcome. However, we must send someone to contact the shopkeepers as soon as possible and, no matter what conditions they offer, restore Dongfang immediately."

Grand Tutor Wang kicked Ren Qianyuan and cursed him angrily:

"I will discuss replacing the Vice Minister of Rites with someone else. You can wait for your official appointment for now. As for Ding Yun, tell him to go back to his hometown and never come to the capital again."

"Get out, take them out."

Seeing that Ren Qianyuan was about to climb up, Grand Tutor Wang gave him a cold look, then turned and walked into the inner hall.

"call……"

Wang Dengke knelt on the ground and let out a long sigh of relief.

Why didn't they scold him?

The sun rose in the west.

However, he hasn't done much lately, just obediently cooperating with Ding Yun, spending his days eating, drinking, and having fun with a group of scholars.

So cool!

Eating and visiting brothels, he actually spent several dozen taels of silver less than usual in a day.

"Make him kneel until tomorrow morning. Starting today, this wicked grandson is confined to his residence for a month and is not allowed to leave."

Before Wang Dengke could even breathe a sigh of relief...

From inside the hall came the old Grand Tutor's voice, filled with disappointment and frustration.

……

The Imperial Palace.

The Imperial Study.

Zhou Zhengde has been very busy lately.

The day for paying tribute is approaching, and several neighboring small countries have sent envoys with gifts.

The imperial court naturally sent someone to receive them.

Accommodation, food and drink, companionship... all must be arranged.

In previous years, it was always the best inn and restaurant in Dongfang.

However, the two neighborhoods are currently undergoing renovations, so where to arrange accommodation is a problem.

"Your Majesty, the people we sent out have returned. The Ministry of Rites still plans to hold the banquet at Xingyue Tower this year, and Haitian Pavilion for the meal."

Grandpa Miao ran in from outside and knelt on the ground to pay his respects.

Zhou Zhengde nodded.

As in previous years, that would be fine, but unfortunately there are no inns in Xifang, and even if there were, they would be too small to accommodate the envoys.

"What's wrong?"

The old eunuch seemed to want to say something but hesitated.

Zhou Zhengde put down his brush, frowned, and asked.

"Your Majesty...this servant...dares not speak!"

"What is it that you dare not say? I forgive you, speak!"

Even after racking his brains, Eunuch Miao couldn't understand how those bastards from the Nanlin Party managed to govern Dongfang. No matter how ruthless the Imperial Guard was, they couldn't possibly be this ruthless.

"There are no inns or restaurants left in Dongfang now; they've all closed down."

"What?"

Zhou Zhengde stood up abruptly.

In a few days at most, envoys from several countries will arrive in the capital.

"What is the Ministry of Rites doing? They've already closed down the shops, so why did they choose these other ones?"

"Your Majesty, the Ministry of Rites selected the inns a month ago, while the inns and restaurants in the East Ward have only recently closed."

"What happened?"

Zhou Zhengde realized that something was amiss.

Dongfang was the most prosperous neighborhood in the entire capital, with shops selling all kinds of food, drinks, and entertainment one after another.

How could so many shops suddenly close down?

Could it be that they are deliberately going against the imperial court?

"Your Majesty, the competition cannot continue. All the shops in the East Ward have been shut down by Ding Yun. The shopkeepers have all closed their shops, and even the brothels have been closed."

Grandpa Miao braced himself and began to speak in a deep voice.