Chapter 312: Smashing
That day, Wang Zhangsong and Boss Meng approached Yao Dingyuan, which was all his own fault for being so flashy. His spending at the brothel was extremely generous!
It drew their sidelong glances.
They also saw that he was very particular about the extravagance and quality when eating.
He required the procuress to use the finest utensils for serving. For shrimp, he wanted super gigantic lobster, for beef top-grade tenderloin, and for alcoholic drinks the finest nectar!
After inquiring, they found out he was a nouveau riche! No wonder he wore such obvious gold bead strings around his neck and wrists— wasn’t he afraid of being robbed?
They thought, why not let him use Heng Can Glazed Ware things?
As long as they got that Heng Can Glazed Glass Lamp, he would surely use the Heng Can Glazed Glass Lamp for eating.
That way, word would spread that it was a product from Heng Can Glazed Ware production!
That’s why these two approached him under the pretext of doing business!
At this moment, the two were still discussing at the workshop whether to stop production today, pack up the things— they always felt something was off!
Inspector Liu arrived at their hideout with bailiffs and began the investigation!
Caught red-handed with the goods!
They went straight into the workshop where there was a sealed factory room— this was the location given by Wu Dong. Outside were their original glassware!
When they entered, this gang had already sensed something wrong and started packing up the finished fake glazed ware lamps, with Boss Meng wiping sweat beads while directing.
“Quick, quicker!”
Suddenly someone kicked open the door! Upon seeing row after row of fake glazed ware lamps, the furious Inspector Liu gave the order.
“Take them all down for me!” The others tried to flee but were quickly subdued by the bailiffs, while Boss Meng had no chance to escape and was blocked at the doorway.
“What’s going on, who are you?”
Regretful— he should have run away earlier.
“No nonsense!”
“Where’s the other one?” Inspector Liu was looking for Wang Zhangsong.
Wang Zhangsong was sneakier; he had run to the backyard like an alarm bell had rung, preparing to escape!
But two bailiffs had already spotted him. One kicked Wang Zhangsong in the back as he tried to slip out the back door, sending him sprawling face-first into the dirt, and they captured him!
“Take all these inferior products back as well.”
Heading west, news of Meng Family Workshop’s glazed ware being destroyed and sealed spread rapidly!
The fake goods in the bailiffs’ hands drew crowds on the road— a grand procession. Wang Zhangsong and the Meng fellow were pelted with garbage, cursed at. The matter of the Heng Can Glazed Glass Lamp causing death was finally brought to light!
Prefect Fang obtained witness testimonies and evidence of their collusion. Thinking of so many victims, including his own madam, he didn’t hesitate for a moment and immediately sent people to arrest the Meng Family Workshop coordinator and Wang Zhangsong.
That was how they swiftly destroyed their hideout for producing fake and inferior products.
Xuanwu Yamen.
“However, Boss Li, regarding your private punishment of employees, as the local parental official, this official must hold you accountable to some extent.”
This Prefect Fang had to warn and punish him. With so many people watching the trial today, he certainly couldn’t encourage such evil practices.
Especially in these times, with so many black society thugs…
“Prefect Fang, whose responsibility are you pursuing?”
Suddenly, several people arrived from outside. The speaker was the God of War Prince Feng Qingcheng, with hands clasped behind his back!
Majestic and imposing.
And another one was actually Chief Eunuch Wen of the Imperial Household Department.
Why had these two come?
“Prince Xunyang has arrived!”
Everyone in the hall knelt in unison. Li Xi’er twitched her lips and joined in: “Greetings to Prince Xunyang!”
“This official greets Prince Xunyang and Chief Eunuch Wen. What wind has blown you two distinguished guests here?” Prefect Fang hurried over to receive them!
“No need for that, Prefect Fang. We are here to follow this case. As you know, all utensils used in the imperial palace inner courtyards are produced by Heng Can Glazed Ware. As chief eunuch of the Imperial Household Department, how could I pretend not to know?”
If there was a problem, he would bear great responsibility.
“Yes, Chief Eunuch Wen. Despite your busy schedule, you made time to come here to understand the case— thank you for your hard work. The case has been solved: it was the glazed ware lamps counterfeit by Meng Family Workshop imitating Heng Can Glazed Ware that caused it. This official will surely punish them severely and bring the crooked merchants to justice!”
“Good!”
Chief Eunuch Wen breathed a sigh of relief— as long as it wasn’t death caused by Heng Can Glazed Ware products!
Otherwise, not only would his head roll, but early that morning when he heard of this, it had caused a huge uproar in the imperial palace! He had immediately made time to come see the specifics, but unexpectedly the case was already closed.
Good, good!
As soon as Feng Qingcheng entered, his gaze lingered intentionally or not on Li Xi’er.
Hmm, indeed icy cold all over!
The rumors circulating in the streets about him and Li Xi’er— why had the God of War Prince still come over?
Could it be that it’s really true?
The crowd watching the excitement around them also stirred things up, whispering among themselves.
“Prefect Fang, in this Prince’s view, this Wu Dong really deserves a beating. To tell you the truth, the injuries on him were actually done by people by this Prince’s side. Are you going to deal with this Prince too?”
Feng Qingcheng looked at Wu Dong like he was looking at a dead man! Wu Dong was scared stiff and didn’t dare breathe!
“Spare my life, Your Highness!”
He actually admitted out loud that he had people beat him? His favoritism was too obvious; he came to back him up, openly declaring it to the world!
Prefect Fang’s heart shook endlessly. Could this person really be…?
He glanced at Li Xi’er, his heart complex! No, this couldn’t be true?
The Prince was his idol; he didn’t want his faith to collapse!
Besides, this was just a minor offense. Was it necessary?
“Your Highness, this Wu Dong stole things from his own Owner’s factory, committing theft and disrupting the Glazed Ware market, causing huge losses to many innocent people. He got beaten as he deserved! This official still needs to judge and punish according to the law!”
“Right, he aided the wicked. I want to beat him too!” A buyer who bought fake goods said angrily, wanting to beat Wu Dong on the ground!
The others chimed in agreement!
“Mm, if you handle it according to the law, it’s a blessing for the people!”
Assistant Magistrate Ma nearby was already trembling in fear, afraid of being noticed.
Li Xi’er had long known about his filthy dealings with Wang Zhangsong and the Meng family; this matter wasn’t over yet.
“Assistant Magistrate Ma, I hear your manor has newly taken in a concubine, sixteen years old, very pretty and charming. Would you let everyone meet her?” Li Xi’er suddenly said faintly, shattering his illusions.
“Oh? Assistant Magistrate Ma, when did you take in a concubine?” Prefect Fang asked puzzledly. Why did taking a concubine require them to meet her?
Besides, as a parental official in his jurisdiction, he didn’t like his subordinates having flirtations in the inner courtyard!
He himself had only one Madam; he had given silver to free the women others sent him, letting them choose for themselves whether to stay or go.
If they stayed, they became maids in the manor. He was upright and honest, hoping for a promotion this time!
“Heh, sir, this matter isn’t worth discussing. I just…” He wiped his sweat.
“Assistant Magistrate Ma, lust is a knife above the word ‘color.’ This official has always upheld keeping oneself pure. Handle it yourself.” Taking a concubine wasn’t illegal, though he didn’t like such behavior among those around him.
Li Xi’er lips curved slightly. “Prefect Fang, you don’t know yet, do you? I hear Assistant Magistrate Ma’s new concubine is surnamed Meng!”
“What?” Prefect Fang’s face changed with anger, suddenly understanding something…”Men, seize Assistant Magistrate Ma for this official!”
Coming out of the Yamen,
“That was truly satisfying!”
“But why did the Burial Blade Gang come to watch the verdict?”
The people who had been standing next to Xie Ajin and Chen Jinhui only now dared to discuss in low voices.
“Hmph, this isn’t something for you people to worry about!” A cold rebuke sounded from behind.
“Cough! Boss Chen, Heir Xie, we were wrong.” The two turned back and saw Chen Jinhui and the second-in-command glaring furiously, scaring them half to death. They finished speaking and quickly slipped away.
Li Xi’er and Feng Qingcheng walked on the street, making her feel very safe, but she knew she couldn’t rely on anyone. He wasn’t speaking, so she opened her mouth. “Your Highness, why did you come?”
“Don’t you like this Prince appearing?”
“You’re not angry anymore? You know, those rumors about us, and that you’ve already married…”
“No need to remind me repeatedly. This Prince just got off work early today and came to take a look!”
He wanted to know what she was doing at this moment.
Seeing her holding back without speaking, Feng Qingcheng sighed softly and murmured tenderly, “Junior Brother, stay by my side forever, no matter in what capacity. I’ve figured it out; we don’t need any pretense between us. As long as you need it, Senior Brother will bow his head!”
Li Xi’er frowned. “You don’t mind me causing trouble and being unreasonable?”
“Compared to your coldness, Senior Brother prefers you being unreasonable, prefers you stirring up trouble. I’d rather you throw tantrums and act spoiled with me!”
Oh heavens, why make such a handsome, rich, powerful man say such sweet words to her!
This was death by a thousand cuts! Death by a thousand cuts!
“Junior Brother, you might not know, but this Prince doesn’t know why—everyone I see looks like you, but none of them are you!”
“Shut up!”
Dong Wen was thrown into prison in the morning and released in the afternoon, coming out in a daze.
In prison, he regretted it to death. Hearing it was the Owner who saved him, he was endlessly grateful.
Especially for privately making the Glazed Ware Lamp, he felt deeply guilty. Later, at the Glazed Ware Company meeting, he admitted his mistake in front of everyone. Li Xi’er punished him according to the rules.
The losses he caused this time were incalculable. Li Xi’er required tracking the buyers of the flawed Glazed Ware Lamps he made, persuading them to take them back at original price, with the Glazed Ware Company compensating their losses, and immediately destroying the returned ones.
Resolutely not letting flawed, unnumbered Glazed Ware Lamps enter the market.
If not for Owner Li finding the Meng family’s handle in advance and quickly handling the Glazed Ware Lamps that flowed out from his hands, who knows how many problems it would leave.
He knew this himself.
