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

"What?"

The next morning.

After receiving the Emperor's decree, Grand Tutor Wang's expression changed drastically.

Because of the arrival of the envoys in the capital, the two neighborhoods held a competition in advance. The envoy of the winner stayed at an inn in the neighborhood, and the neighborhood head accompanied and received him throughout the process.

It's simply impossible to refuse now.

The imperial decree has been issued, and at noon the next day, the court officials will officially tour the two districts with the Emperor.

"Damn Ding Yun, check if he's gone. Bring him back immediately. Summon Ren Qianyuan as well, and all the other officials, without exception, come to me to discuss countermeasures."

Grand Tutor Wang paced frantically in the hall.

He quickly raised his head and instructed the steward to fetch someone.

still have a chance!

With so many shops in Dongfang closed, it's impossible to call the shopkeepers back in a short time.

but……

Behind every Nanlin Party official, there are countless businesses, naturally.

The Wang family was the largest grain merchant; all the grain shops in every neighborhood of the capital were owned by the Wang family.

It's only morning now, and there are still several hours left. We can easily move the shops of the officials and their families here. It's impossible for the emperor to visit every shop.

It is naturally impossible to discover.

There's no way to win.

But... losing isn't that easy either.

"I will arrange it immediately, and I guarantee there will be no problem."

Upon hearing this, everyone...

Knowing that time could not be wasted, he immediately instructed his servants to notify his clansmen to move the shop over as quickly as possible.

To restore the "prosperity" of the entire Dongfang area.

"The Emperor will surely launch an attack this time. Gentlemen, the East Ward has instructed all servants, vendors, and shops in each residence to operate normally. If anyone makes a mistake, I will not forgive them!"

"Grand Tutor!"

From the side, an official, looking worried, said softly:

"We can manage the other shops; we have cooks and bedding in the manor. But we can't do anything about the brothel. We can't have the women in the manor pretending to be brothel girls, can we?"

These words were spoken.

Grand Tutor Wang was also dumbfounded.

Forgot to consider the brothels. There are six brothels in Dongfang, which are very large, and each one has at least dozens of girls.

They're all closed now.

"The brothel can't stay closed, but luckily the Emperor arrived at noon. Although the brothel was open, most of the girls hadn't gotten up yet. Why can't they come? It's not like they're really going to entertain customers. Arrange for the women in your household to dress up and go into the brothel. After it's done, I'll reward them handsomely!"

After giving his instructions, Grand Tutor Wang ordered someone to summon Wang Dengke.

"Grandpa, I've been reading in my room the whole time, and I haven't gotten tired at all."

"Call all your cronies, let's eat, drink and have fun in Dongfang today."

"what?"

Wang Dengke blinked and exclaimed in surprise.

Now, in order to punish him, they've resorted to such underhanded methods as making him study in the mansion?

Did you offer him the opportunity to bring people to the East Ward to spend money?

What kind of tactic is this?

"What? Here is five hundred taels of silver. Remember, do what you usually do in the East Ward. If you mess this up, you can forget about ever leaving the Grand Tutor's mansion again."

Wang Dengke walked out of the Grand Tutor's mansion with the silver notes in his hand, completely dazed.

I really didn't expect that.

Will this day ever come again in my lifetime?

He offered money to let him have fun with his cronies.

"Young Master!"

"Go and inform the others to come to the East Ward immediately. Today's expenses of 500 taels of silver will be paid entirely by this young master. Tell them to bring their men."

Other officials' residences.

Chaos reigned at that moment.

The women in the household, in particular, all protested when they heard that they were to be disguised as prostitutes.

"Damn it, what kind of official are you? A prostitute? How could you even think of that!"

"Madam, please let me explain. This matter is of utmost importance. It's just a formality; no guests will be there. It's a performance for the Emperor's benefit. Guards, quickly help Madam change her clothes!"

In less than an hour.

All the closed shops in Dongfang have reopened.

All the vendors across the street set up their stalls.

Pedestrians gradually appeared on the street.

……

Noon.

A group of officials in plain clothes followed Li Zhengde as they slowly arrived at the East Ward.

"Um?"

Qin Feng walked to the side.

Looking at the endless stream of pedestrians and the dazzling array of shops in the East Ward, he couldn't help but ponder for a moment.

They exchanged a glance with Grandpa Miao.

Something is wrong!

All the shops in Dongfang have now moved to Xifang. What's going on with these shops?

Even the stall owners now set up their stalls in Xifang.

They will never come to Dongfang.

How...

Li Zhengde also looked at him with a puzzled expression. Wasn't it said that all the shops in Dongfang had closed down?

"Your Majesty, please come and take a look inside the East Ward. Some book signs have been built inside the East Ward, right behind these vendors."

The group followed them inside.

After close observation.

Qin Feng couldn't help but grin.

Whose stall sells even pastries?

Those who can set up stalls mostly sell vegetables or small odds and ends.

Moreover, the pastries displayed at the stall were clearly high-end products; such items are only available in larger stores.

It's important to know that sugar was a hard currency in ancient times, much more expensive than salt. Unless you were a wealthy family, you couldn't afford to eat much sugar all year round.

Can it also be used to make and sell pastries?

"How much are your pastries?"

Qin Feng squatted down and took the initiative to ask the stall owner in front of him.

"Qin Feng, stop wasting time. What are you doing here today? Don't you have any manners? Do you want to buy something? Let's go!"

Ren Qianyuan, who was in charge of keeping an eye on Qin Feng, walked over and said with a gloomy face.

Today is the last chance.

It's alright if the governance of Dongfang fails; now that we've lost like this, at most we'll be fined some salary. We absolutely cannot let the Emperor know that all the shops are closed, otherwise, at best we'll lose our official positions, and at worst we might have our property confiscated.

"Why is Lord Ren in such a hurry? Since you've come to inspect, you should naturally buy some and try it yourself. Let's see what you can find out. Shouldn't you ask the people how they are doing and how well you've governed the Eastern Ward?"

Upon hearing this...

Zhou Zhengde, who was walking ahead, stopped and turned back.

That makes sense.

All the shops in Dongfang were closed, and now it's like this again; there must be something wrong with that.

"Stadium owner, you haven't told me how much each of these pastries costs yet?"

"I...five coins!"

The stall owner looked to the old man in the crowd for help.

Forced to say a number.

How could he know how many coins each one cost? These were all made by the household itself.

Are you sure?

Qin Feng picked up a piece of pastry and examined it closely.

"The best osmanthus cake requires top-quality glutinous rice flour, white sugar, osmanthus flowers, and pure lard. Vendor, you're selling a piece of osmanthus cake for five coins. Aren't you losing money?"

"No...we won't lose money."

The stall owner turned pale and began to tremble.

"Won't you lose money?"

"Guards, arrest this man! He's spouting nonsense! What's the price of sugar in the capital these days? Making osmanthus cake requires a lot of sugar, and each piece sells for five coins. You can't even make back the cost of the sugar, yet you claim you're not losing money?"

"explain!"

Qin Feng stepped forward.

He grabbed the stall owner's clothes and pulled him out from inside.

He asked fiercely:

"Confess immediately! Why are you disguising yourself as a street vendor here? What is your intention? Could it be... that you've colluded with bandits and are lying in ambush here?"

The stall owner's pupils suddenly contracted.

He collapsed to the ground.

"It was...it was my master who sent me. Spare me, spare me! I'm not a thief, I...I'm just a servant of the Qian family."