Spoiled and mad critic of powerful ministers

"We merchants, when we're out and about, all we want is a good night's sleep. What's the use of all those fancy decorations? The real skill is being able to get a good night's rest!"

He plopped down on the bed and pressed down hard on the thick mattress.

It's just the right firmness, without the discomfort of a hard board or the musty smell of old straw.

"Exquisite, so incredibly meticulous!"

Gao Yisheng sighed, his tone tinged with a touch of melancholy.

"If all the inns in the world were like yours, we wanderers wouldn't have to fear finding a place to stay."

He raised his head and stared intently at Shen Qiongju.

"Manager Shen, you can make this business big. Not only should you do it in Wu County, but you should also expand to the prefectural city and Jiangnan."

Gao Yisheng stood up, walked to the window, and looked at the bustling street outside, as if he could see a certain future.

"I, Gao, am putting this out there: whether I can get a good night's sleep on the road from now on depends entirely on you."

"You must open these kinds of inns all over the world!"

Shen Qiongju stood behind him, a confident smile curving her lips.

"Boss Gao's words are auspicious."

Shen Qiongju poured Gao Yisheng a cup of tea, the aroma of which wafted gently.

"However, for now, we still need to ask Mr. Gao for his feedback. Please feel free to tell us if you feel uncomfortable during your three-day stay."

Gao Yisheng took the teacup and laughed heartily.

"Don't worry! My younger brother works here as a waiter, right? I'll have him serve me tea and water every day; I'll enjoy the service at Qionghua Inn!"

A sly glint flashed in Shen Qiongju's eyes when Gao Hong was mentioned.

That young master has been thoroughly tormented by Manager Cui these past two days.

I wonder what his expression would be if he saw his own brother sleeping soundly in a top-class room, covered with a soft blanket, while he could only wipe tables downstairs.

"Then I won't disturb Boss Gao's rest any longer."

Shen Qiongju gave a slight curtsy and withdrew.

The moment the door closed, she heard Gao Yisheng let out a comfortable sigh from inside the room.

This step can be considered a solid one.

As long as they grasp the pain points of these wealthy merchants, the reputation of Qionghua Inn will spread throughout the entire Liangzhou trade route in less than half a month.

Qionghua Inn was fully booked every day for the first three days after its opening, except for the rooms available for VIP card holders.

On this day, Shen Qiongju was checking the inn's monthly revenue when the curtain was suddenly lifted.

A cold wind, carrying dust, blew in, making the account books on the table rustle.

The messenger was a servant of the Shen family. He nearly ran himself to death on horseback, his face was covered in dirt, and his lips were chapped.

"Young Miss, something has happened."

The man's voice was hoarse as he pulled a crumpled letter from his pocket.

"At the Fucheng branch... someone has died."

Shen Qiongju paused in her vermilion pen, and a drop of red ink fell onto the account book, resembling dried blood.

She took the letter and read it quickly.

The letter was smuggled out by someone from prison by Shen Song; the handwriting was messy, indicating it was done in haste.

On the eve of the branch's opening, a woman's corpse was found lying in the center of the lobby.

His clothes were disheveled, and his death was gruesome.

What's worse, the woman wasn't from a respectable family; she was a notorious prostitute in the area.

The prefectural government acted with astonishing speed, sealing off the shops before dawn.

Shen Song, Master Lu, and several other craftsmen working on the site were all locked up and taken to jail.

They were all charged with "rape, murder, and disposal of the body".

Shen Qiongju carefully folded the letter and tucked it into her sleeve.

Her hands were steady, only her slightly white knuckles betrayed her emotions.

If it were an ordinary murder case, the authorities would simply investigate. Why would they shut down the shop and arrest people, and even the interrogation process be so swift and decisive?

This is because someone doesn't want Qionghua Pavilion to open in the prefectural city.

"Prepare the car."

Shen Qiongju stood up, her voice frighteningly calm.

"Young Miss, are you going to the prefectural city now?" Cui Ya, listening from the side, was terrified. "That's a murder case, and you, a woman, are going alone..."

"It's precisely because it's a murder case that I have to go."

Shen Qiongju interrupted her, her eyes sharp.

"Master Lu is too old to withstand the torture in prison. Shen Song is young and impetuous, and easily tricked. If I don't go, they'll be in a dead end."

Moreover, if this dirty water cannot be washed away, the reputation of Qionghua Pavilion will be completely ruined.

What is the biggest taboo in doing business?

unlucky.

Someone died before the business even opened; it was a violent death of a woman from the mortal world.

Who would dare to step across this threshold in the future?

"I'm going too!"

An arrogant voice broke in.

Gao Hong was leaning against the doorway at some point, with a rag tossed in his hand.

He was dressed in the blue cloth clothes of a waiter, but he managed to exude the carefree and unruly air of a spoiled brat.

"Young Master Gao, please don't cause trouble." Shen Qiongju frowned.

"Who caused the trouble?"

Gao Hong slung a rag over his shoulder and swaggered in.

"That area of ​​the prefectural city is rife with treacherous waters and cunning people. No matter how shrewd you are, there are some places you can't enter and some people you can't even meet."

He pointed to his nose.

"Although I'm just a waiter now, I still have some influence in the city. Besides, my brother gave you those two cartloads of glass lamps. If the shop goes out of business, wouldn't he be heartbroken?"

Shen Qiongju looked at him.

Although this kid is usually carefree and irresponsible, his words, though rough, are not without merit.

The Gao family has been operating in Liangzhou Prefecture for many years and has connections in both the legitimate and underworld circles.

"Okay, you're in."

Shen Qiongju no longer hesitated and turned to look at the silent man in the corner who had been following her ever since he returned from sending Pei Zhiyan off to learn martial arts.

"Pei An, you're coming with me too."

Pei An is Pei Zhihui's man; he has some skills and can save his life in critical moments.

Pei An clasped his hands in a fist and said, "Yes."

Shen Qiongju turned around and looked at Shen Huaide and Shen Huaifeng who had rushed over.

The two elderly people's faces were filled with anxiety.

"Father, Uncle."

Shen Qiongju walked over and grasped her father's trembling hand.

"I'm leaving this family business to you. Wuxian is our home, and we absolutely cannot let it fall apart. As long as the wine is still being brewed here and the inn is still open, I have the confidence to fight them in the prefectural city."

Shen Huaifeng, his eyes red-rimmed, nodded emphatically: "Qiongju, don't worry, your father will take care of things at home. If... if it really doesn't work out, we'll just pay compensation, get her out, and that's it. We can just give up the business."

"We need to make money, and we also need to do business."

Shen Qiongju turned and got into the carriage. The moment the curtain fell, a cold glint flashed in her eyes.

Did you think you could force her out with such underhanded tactics?

dream.

The carriage sped away, leaving a trail of dust in its wake.

Gao Hong rode alongside on horseback, while Pei An acted as the coachman, cracking his whip with a deafening roar.

They sped along the road.

What was originally a two-day journey was compressed into one day and one night.

When the majestic city walls of Liangzhou came into view, the sky was so dark it looked like it was about to collapse.

A large crowd had gathered in front of the notice board at the city gate.

Shen Qiongju lifted a corner of the curtain.

All that could be heard was a murmur of discussion among the crowd.

"Have you heard? That newly opened Qionghua Pavilion is a haunted shop!"

"That's right, a prostitute died before they even opened for business. I heard her blood was everywhere, seeping into the floor tiles and impossible to clean!"

"I've also heard that the place has bad feng shui, heavy yin energy, and is particularly bad for men!"

"Oh dear, who would dare go drinking now? Drinking would probably bring terrible trouble!"

Every comment was like a soft knife, stabbing into the signboard of Qionghua Pavilion.

Gao Hong was furious and wanted to rush over to argue, but Shen Qiongju stopped him in a low voice, "Don't move."