Chapter 335: Lord Nangong and the Emperor

The villagers still wanted to say something, but they heard Ye Lulu say, “It’s our family’s business to hire people. Our family is the decision-maker and no one can control us. However, other than hiring people, our family still has to buy vegetables from the village in the future. The amount of vegetables that our shop needs isn’t something that a few families can provide alone. We have to find many families and this is on a long-term basis.”

These words were like a heavy stone. As soon as they landed, the entire scene fell silent.

The villagers all looked at Ye Lulu.

“Really?!” Someone in the village was the first to come back to their senses and said in surprise, “You’re really buying vegetables from the village?”

Ye Lulu nodded. “Why not? We have to use them anyway. Isn’t it more suitable to help the villagers than to buy them outside? Besides, the vegetables planted in the mountains are sweeter.”

“We will buy them, but it’s still up to our family whose vegetables we want to take in. This is our family’s business. No one else can make a decision.”

“If you come over to force us again, don’t blame me for looking for the village head. There’s no reason that the villagers can force our Guan family to do things.”

Someone immediately reacted quickly. “Yes, yes, of course. Are you really buying vegetables? How?”

“Yes, yes. Buy from our family. Ye Lulu, our family has planted the most vegetables in the village. Moreover, our vegetables are the greenest and sweetest. They’re the most suitable to be bought!”

“Our family’s vegetables are the best. My mother-in-law knows how to grow vegetables the best!”

“Ye Lulu, what’s the price for the vegetables? Our family has vegetables now!”

Now, the group of people did not look like they had gathered together to bully Father Guan just now. Instead, they turned around and looked at Ye Lulu excitedly. It was impossible for the villagers to continue with their arrogance once the matter of buying vegetables was raised.

This was because if a new restaurant wanted to buy vegetables, it would have to be on a large scale. Furthermore, it would be a long-term matter. Many families might be able to sell vegetables to the Guan family! The probability of earning money was high, so naturally, no one was willing to work together to force the Guan family.

The situation changed immediately. Father Guan, who was subconsciously standing behind Ye Lulu, heaved a sigh of relief.

In any case, he really could not handle such a scene, especially since they were from the same village.

Ye Lulu said, “I’ll plan for this. We’ll talk about the price and other things tomorrow.”

“Alright.”

“Ye Lulu is really a good person. She’s even buying vegetables from the village.”

“Then I’ll have to plant more vegetables!”

All the villagers smiled and let Ye Lulu in.

However, some people who wanted to force the Guan family and see the Guan family in a sorry state became angry.

Why did everything change all of a sudden?! It was different from the beginning!

“Hah, you sound so sure. Maybe when the shop opens, there will be no business at all and no vegetables can be sold?”

Auntie Beizi in the crowd said meanly, “You dare to collect vegetables from the entire village? You’re so arrogant. Aren’t you afraid that the words you say will become farts? If this spreads to the villagers, what will happen if your shop closes as soon as it opens? Won’t the villagers’ vegetables suffer?”

It was unknown when Auntie Beizi had started to argue with the Guan family. She just couldn’t stand to see the Guan family doing well. Furthermore, she spoke loudly and didn’t hide anything.

Ye Lulu paused in her footsteps, turned around, and said with a smile, “Our family will not accept any of Auntie Beizi’s family’s vegetables.”

The other villagers immediately looked nervous when they heard that. Then, they hurriedly said, “Then you have to take my family’s vegetables.”

“That’s right. You can refuse to accept Auntie Beizi’s, but you should accept our family’s.”

Ye Lulu smiled and turned around to enter the house.

Auntie Beizi’s eyes darkened. She was so angry that her face flushed red and smoke almost rose from it. This Guan family was too infuriating!

The Guan family had discussed this together and decided to open the shop in six days.

Initially, they did not plan to drag it out for so long, but unfortunately, the recent days were bad. There was only a good day after six days. Furthermore, Guan Chibei echoed this.

Hence, the date was set for six days later.

This was even better. Ye Lulu had given a few villagers pre-employee training in advance and told them about the general business model of the shop in the future, what they needed to do, and some rules and taboos.

For example, there were two taboos. Firstly, one had to be clean and tidy. Secondly, they had to be honest. If one went against any of these two points, they would immediately be fired and wouldn’t be invited back in the future.

Ye Lulu even specially explained that as she was in the food business, cleanliness and health were the most important. One could not do things dirty. Furthermore, integrity was important. If one was dishonest, it was hard to guarantee that they would not do something. She would definitely not leave them behind.

When Ye Lulu said this, she put on a serious expression. The aura on her body was completely different. It was a serious attitude.

She even looked a little stern.

The villagers quickly nodded. In any case, they looked very afraid on the surface. However, she didn’t know what was going on inside their hearts and if they really paid attention.

In the next few days, there was news about what had happened in the city.

Madam Rufei had sent someone to deliver a letter to Lord Nangong. As soon as Lord Nangong received the letter, he was immediately shocked. He did not stop and immediately took a boat north, returning to Yingzhou.

He went straight to the palace to report the truth to the emperor and then fearfully asked for forgiveness. It could be said that he had done his best. It also explained the truth. He said that Nangong Yupiao did not know that the boy was a prince. At that time, the inn was on fire. Nangong Yupiao was panicked and spoke nonsense. The Nangong family did not dare to offend the might of the heavens and was willing to accept any punishment from the emperor. There were no objections.

The emperor was originally very angry. Which emperor could accept their own prince being called a bastard? Then what was he? If it was someone else, he would have immediately beheaded that person. It would depend on his mood if he wanted their nine generations to be punished as well. After all, this crime could be both big or small.

If it became big, they could pursue it to the heavens.

However, Lord Nangong had a high status and power. His ability… was indeed outstanding. He was also very influential in the imperial court and was very capable. Most importantly, he had just made great contributions.

It was also related to the commoners. This meant he had the hearts of the people.

The emperor still had to give face to the current Lord Nangong. Since Lord Nangong personally pleaded for mercy and had only one daughter, so what if the emperor was angry?

The emperor could only be silent for a moment. Then, he said coldly that this matter had indeed offended the emperor’s prestige. A serious crime could be punished with treason. Nangong Yupiao had committed a huge mistake, but on account of the contributions of the Nangong family and Lord Nangong, he let this matter rest. However, Nangong Yupiao still had to be punished. She was punished to take out a hundred taels of gold to settle and take care of the beggars in Yingzhou.

This punishment could be said to be neither heavy nor light. To an ordinary person, a hundred taels of gold was an unimaginable sum. However, to Nangong Yupiao, who had been a noble child since she was young, it did not hurt her at all. In fact, she did not even need to pay for it. The emperor knew very well that Lord Nangong would pay for her.

Lord Nangong was extremely ashamed. He repeatedly kowtowed to the emperor to apologize and promised to take care of his daughter.

In the end, the emperor did not want to let Nangong Yupiao off just like that. He then said coldly that after Nangong Yupiao returned home, she would be grounded for a month and not be allowed to leave.

After Lord Nangong left the palace, the news was spread to Yuan City.

As it was a big matter, news quickly spread. After Madam Rufei received the news, Nangong Yupiao also knew.

Nangong Yupiao, who had been trembling and terrified for many days, relaxed immediately.

If the emperor let this matter go, then she wouldn’t have to worry about a huge punishment… As for the emperor’s fine and being grounded at home, it was nothing to Nangong Yupiao. She could simply pretend that nothing had happened. Even if she was imprisoned at home, it would be after she returned.

Nangong Yupiao felt completely relaxed. After dispelling the fear from the past few days, she immediately returned to her usual noble appearance.

When Madam Rufei received the news, she still lectured her and told her she could not say anything bad. However, Nangong Yupiao had already returned to her original state and did not take it seriously. She was very impatient with Madam Rufei’s words.

The youngest prince was temporarily living in the government and was personally watched over by Lin Yuchen and Madam Rufei. Now, Nangong Yupiao did not dare to provoke the youngest prince and stayed far away.

Moreover, since she had put her mind at ease, she might as well think of doing another thing…

Nangong Yupiao sent people to investigate the identity of the man who had saved her that night. That night, that man had hugged her waist. She could not lose him just like that.

It was simple to find out Guan Chibei’s identity. As Nangong Yupiao was someone with status, when she sent someone to the Golden Inn to ask, there was no customer confidentiality to speak of. The Golden Inn immediately told Nangong Yupiao what she wanted to know.

His name was Guan Chibei?

His name sounded good… but he was actually from the mountains?

Nangong Yupiao’s expression was a little disappointed for a moment, but then she remembered the other party’s appearance and skills. She also felt that the people in the mountains… could reluctantly be said to have a handsome aura, making him look even cleaner. The identity of a person in the mountains was extremely inferior to ordinary people, but to that man… it seemed to have become an otherworldly symbol.

Nangong Yupiao felt disdain in her heart, but she also liked him. Her feelings rose and fell for a while. In the end, she even sent people to find out Guan Chibei’s address. Then, she led a group of maidservants and went to Yunwu Village.

In ancient times, there was really no privacy to speak of, especially when high-ranking people wanted to investigate the situation of ordinary citizens. It was an easy task.

Nangong Yupiao had even spent a lot of effort this time to bring people up the mountain to find Guan Chibei. Of course, she was sitting in the sedan chair and was carried up the mountain by her followers.

Nangong Yupiao entered Yunwu Village. Coincidentally, Ye Lulu and Guan Chibei had just left. Nangong Yupiao met Guan Chibei in the village.

Her eyes lit up and her clothes fluttered. She immediately walked forward.

“You…” Nangong Yupiao completely ignored Ye Lulu and stood in front of Guan Chibei. She looked at him with bright eyes, and her gaze could not help but waver. A trace of red appeared on her face, but she suppressed it and revealed the arrogant look of a noble daughter. She said to Guan Chibei:

“Do you remember me? That night, you saved my…”