Chen Xiaobei coughed and said, "Little Yue, Fang Jun was just about to toast the Princess. Since you're here, join us."
Feng Xiaoyue repeatedly agreed, "Yes, yes, we should toast. I was just so busy I forgot."
Chen Xiaobei knew it wasn't that Feng Xiaoyue had forgotten, but rather that in this era, toasting wasn't taken as seriously. It was his own past life's ideas that made him consider toasting so important now.
After finishing a cup of wine, Fang Jun continued, "Little Yue, Her Highness the Princess wants to open a few shops in town, including an inn and a general store. Later, you can help find suitable locations."
Upon hearing this, Feng Xiaoyue smiled and bowed to Princess Zhaoning, "Your Highness, please rest assured. Coincidentally, a few shops are looking to transfer ownership. I'll help you acquire them."
"Excellent, excellent," Princess Zhaoning was overjoyed. She beckoned, and Chunhua, who was by her side, immediately took out two silver notes from her sleeve.
"Here's five thousand taels of silver to start. Do you think that's enough?"
Feng Xiaoyue secretly sighed. A princess is indeed a princess, always so generous. But honestly, five thousand taels was more than enough to buy not just three or six, but ten shops.
"Your Highness, this is a town, not the capital. Shops here are not that expensive. A few hundred taels per shop should suffice."
Princess Zhaoning waved her hand dismissively, "It's fine, it's fine. Just buy a few more for me."
Chen Xiaobei listened and couldn't help but chuckle. But after his laughter, he understood that this clearly showed one thing: the Princess was truly bored staying on the mountain.
He gently nudged Liu Rumei's arm, and Liu Rumei, of course, understood his intention.
He knew the Princess better and understood that she was definitely not the type to stay quietly on the mountain.
"Your Highness, since you wish to conduct business in town, why not stay here?"
"Your Highness could also learn from Miss Xiao Yue!"
Hearing this, Princess Zhaoning's face lit up with joy. "Yes, yes, that makes sense. Then I'll stay in town for a while."
Chen Xiaobei smiled, his little plan having succeeded. With Princess Zhaoning around, Feng Xiaoyue would be absolutely safe.
Just as they were eating, they heard a commotion from outside.
Then Xiao Mu rushed up, saying anxiously to Feng Xiaoyue, "Sister Xiaoyue, some officers are here and they say they're here to arrest you."
Before he finished speaking, they heard hurried footsteps. Several constables fiercely stormed in.
"Who is Feng Xiaoyue?"
Princess Zhaoning's expression instantly changed. Guo Chuan, standing nearby, roared, "Who are you? How dare you be so insolent here?"
These constables glanced at Guo Chuan. Guo Chuan had come to Xiao Family Town in civilian clothes this time.
Of course, Chen Xiaobei and the others were also in plain clothes, none of them wearing official attire.
The constables looked at Guo Chuan and said, "We received a report that Feng Xiaoyue led people to impersonate some princess, and committed murder and arson here."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei smiled. Someone truly didn't know when to quit.
Feng Xiaoyue remained calm and said to the constables with composure, "I am Feng Xiaoyue. What business do you have with me..." Sudan Novel Network
Before she could finish, a constable flicked his wrist, and a chain flew out.
Seeing this, Princess Zhaoning's anger flared. Just as she was about to slam the table, Liu Rumei quickly reached out and stopped her, shaking her head gently.
Then she looked at Chen Xiaobei.
Chen Xiaobei spread both his hands flat and made a downward pressing gesture, signaling Princess Zhaoning to hold back her temper. Since they had encountered this, he decided to help Feng Xiaoyue resolve the matter once and for all and find out who was causing trouble.
Feng Xiaoyue was even more composed, asking the constables, "What do you intend to do?"
"What do we intend to do? Come with us to see the County Magistrate."
Fang Jun stood up and roared, "Do you have any respect for the law?"
The little maid was eager to step forward, but Chen Xiaobei pulled her back. Xiaobei gently shook his head, "Don't rush. Let's see who it is that's trying to arrest Xiao Yue."
Hearing Chen Xiaobei's words, the little maid nodded slightly and pulled Fang Jun back down to his seat.
Feng Xiaoyue offered no explanation and walked out with the constables. Chen Xiaobei, Liu Rumei, Princess Zhaoning, and the others followed behind.
As they descended from the third floor to the first, the surrounding diners saw the constables taking Feng Xiaoyue away and were all stunned, crowding forward to watch.
The constables, seeing this, were quite smug and said to the crowd, "Nothing to see here, disperse. This is the He family's property. Chen Feng Xiaoyue has usurped it."
Hearing this, Chen Xiaobei secretly chuckled. These people, so arrogant now, would likely be crying without a place to turn soon.
Feng Xiaoyue was escorted out of the restaurant. Outside, a horse was tied, and He Dali was sitting on it.
Upon seeing He Dali, Liu Rumei stopped in her tracks and also held back Chen Xiaobei.
Chen Xiaobei understood Liu Rumei's meaning. He turned to Princess Zhaoning and the others, signaling them with his eyes to all stop. Then he said to Fang Jun, "You follow them. We'll be right behind."
Fang Jun hurried out and clasped his hands at He Dali, "Brother, why are you arresting Xiao Yue?"
He Dali let out a cold laugh and pointed behind him, "Someone lodged a complaint, saying Feng Xiaoyue led people to impersonate some princess, not only killing He Shun and He Zhen, father and son, but also seizing their inn and residence. The County Magistrate has come to personally administer justice."
After hearing this, Chen Xiaobei and Liu Rumei exchanged a look and smiled.
When they returned from Gongguling, Chen Xiaobei had heard Feng Xiaoyue introduce the He family. They were a three-generation single heir line: He Zhen, He Shun, and further up was He Yi. He Yi was the true patriarch of the He family. Although already in his seventies, he was still very competitive.
Thinking that He Dali also had the surname He, Chen Xiaobei suddenly understood.
He Dali, along with several constables, led Feng Xiaoyue, followed by Fang Jun and the others, directly to the entrance of He Zhen's home.
Seeing this, Chen Xiaobei roughly understood. Although Princess Zhaoning had ordered the He family's residence to be confiscated and given to Feng Xiaoyue, Feng Xiaoyue had been too busy with the inn and residence to even visit.
Therefore, the He family members were still in the residence and hadn't moved out.
It seemed these people truly wouldn't believe it until they saw the coffin. Sometimes, people just liked to court death like this.
He Dali led Feng Xiaoyue to the main gate of the He family residence, dismounted, and beckoned. The constables took Feng Xiaoyue inside.
Fang Jun also quickly followed.
At this moment, a table and two chairs were set up in the middle of the He family courtyard. He Yi was having tea with Hu Fan.
When Feng Xiaoyue entered and saw Hu Fan in official robes, she stepped forward and gave a slight bow, "Xiaoyue greets the County Magistrate."