HLnovel Chapter 126 Something's happened!
Chapter 126 Something's happened!
Xia Li hadn't slept for a day and a night, so the first thing she did upon returning to Jin Yu Man Tang was to get a good night's sleep.
But I never expected that when I woke up, the sky would have fallen!
"Master! The city lord has sent someone to invite you."
"what's up?"
"This servant does not know. But the other party's attitude does not seem like a good thing."
Xia Li rushed to the city lord's mansion, only to find the city lord standing there arrogantly, surrounded by a group of swaggering followers. Upon seeing her, he was not as warm as before.
Unsure of the other party's purpose, Xia Li still maintained proper etiquette and said with a smile:
"What brings my uncle, the city lord, here?"
The city lord, with an arrogant air, announced a bombshell: "The land deed belongs to the city lord's mansion, and now I am taking it back."
Xia Li was taken aback and asked, "But my Golden Jade Hall has only just started operating! Now they're suddenly asking me to move addresses, and I don't even know where I am..."
Before she could finish speaking, the city lord interrupted, "This land deed belongs to the city lord's mansion, and the things on the land deed, such as this 'Golden Jade Abundance,' naturally also belong to the city lord's mansion."
She finally understood; the other party was planning to rob Jin Yu Man Tang outright!
Xia Li was so angry that her eyebrows stood on end and her beautiful eyes were filled with rage.
"This shop is something I've worked so hard to build up. Why should you just take it away like that?" she shouted resolutely.
The city lord sneered and glanced at Xia Li with disdain. "Hmph, little girl, be smart and let go obediently. Perhaps I, the city lord, can show some mercy and give you the wages of an ordinary worker. Otherwise, you can forget about getting anything!"
Xia Li gritted her teeth, her heart filled with extreme anger, but she knew she couldn't be forceful at this moment, so she softened her tone:
"Lord of the City, this matter is of great importance. Please allow me to go back and consider it."
"Sure!" The city lord waved his hand dismissively.
……
On the way back, Xia Li ran into Yu Yang and voiced her doubts:
"Why has the city lord's attitude changed so drastically? He was so kind and approachable before, why is he now trying to rob Jin Yu Man Tang outright? Even if he wants it, surely he wouldn't be so ruthless out of consideration for our past relationship?"
Yu Yang said from the side, "Perhaps it's because Zhou Yan'er has already broken ties with you, so the city lord didn't hold back when he made his move."
"What?"
"When I got back today, I went to her and explained the situation. I told her that I liked her, and she ran away crying."
"..."
No wonder, with you doing this, how could he possibly give me a pleasant look!
Xia Li hurriedly returned to Jin Yu Man Tang and summoned his subordinates to discuss countermeasures.
But who could have imagined that no sooner had she returned to the shop than the city lord arrived with a large entourage, looking as if he intended to flatten the entire shop.
Upon entering the inner hall, the city lord loudly proclaimed with an arrogant expression:
"Little girl, this city lord doesn't have that much patience. Quickly call your people out to cooperate with the handover!"
Don't talk about martial arts!
Xia Li snorted coldly: "Is the City Lord planning to force a sale?"
"The land deed was stolen, and I, the city lord, have come to retrieve it. What is wrong with that?"
"This land deed was clearly given to me by you!"
How can you prove it?
"Everyone here can attest to it!"
“These are your people, so naturally they’re on your side. I ask you, have you gone through any proper channels with the authorities?”
"..." He gave it to me directly at the time, and to show my trust, I never went to the government to verify it.
At this moment, one's own trust has become a weapon used by the other party to attack them.
Despicable and shameless!
She looked at the other person with disappointment.
The city lord showed no mercy: "Hand over the Golden Jade Hall obediently, and I will let bygones be bygones."
Xia Li glared angrily: "Don't even think about it! This shop is my lifeline, and I will never easily hand it over to an unreasonable person like you!"
"Then there's nothing to discuss." The city lord's face darkened, and he roared, "Guards, arrest this thief who stole the land deed and his accomplices and throw them in jail!"
The city lord's personal guards immediately came up to arrest Xia Li and the others.
Xia Li knew that if they were really arrested this time, wouldn't they be tortured into confessing?
However, if they resist, they might be charged with provoking the government.
At this critical moment, a cold shout rang out:
"I'd like to see who dares to touch her!"
Xia Li looked closely and realized it was her!
She once again saved herself from danger.
The visitor was none other than Zhao Jihua.
Zhao Jihua's voice was as loud as a bell, carrying an undeniable authority.
"I am Zhao Jihua, daughter of the Prince of Jin. Why don't you all leave at once?"
The city lord bowed and said, "Miss Zhao, you are unaware that the thief before us stole the land deed of my city lord's mansion. According to the law, he should be arrested and executed..."
"How dare you! How could the Prince of Jin's adopted daughter, my adopted sister, covet your little land deed?"
The city lord, however, seemed unconcerned, as if he had known all along. He continued, "Even though she is the adopted daughter of the Prince of Jin, she cannot use her status to bully and dominate the market, can she? We must be reasonable."
"How much is your land deed? I'll give you a silver note right now! From this day forward, Jin Yu Man Tang will have nothing to do with your city lord's mansion!"
"Miss Zhao is joking. This isn't about the money. It involves theft, and according to the law..."
"What? Why don't we go and reason with His Majesty? You don't think that without official proof, I can't find out anything, do you?"
He's suspected of being related to the imperial family, which would damage the reputation of the imperial family. If things really escalate, he'll definitely come out worse off.
So he said, "Alright, alright, you can compensate me according to the value of the land deed now. But let me make this clear: this place is now being used for the business of 'Golden Abundance,' so the value of the land deed will definitely increase tenfold, and I will also take 70% of the annual profits from 'Golden Abundance'..."
Zhao Jihua was furious and couldn't help but curse, "So self-righteous, are you really blind in public? Your shamelessness is as thick as a city wall!"
The city lord said bluntly, "I know how you, Prince Jin, came to be. A hundred years from now, this Prince Jin's mansion will still change hands. I advise Miss Zhao to step down when you should, and not to help when you shouldn't. Don't wait until the emperor dislikes you and everyone can bully you."
"Are you trying to completely offend the Prince of Jin's residence with your actions?"
“Sister,” Ali tugged at Zhao Jihua’s sleeve and whispered in his ear, “He’s acting too arrogantly. He’s probably backed by someone behind him. Let’s avoid his sharp edge for now.”
"...Alright then."
In the end, Xia Li almost emptied his family's coffers before he could finally sever all ties with the City Lord's Mansion and enjoy a life of wealth and honor.
Zhao Jihua kept wiping away tears, feeling heartbroken. She hugged her younger sister tightly and said, "You've been wronged, sister. Come on, let's go back to the capital. You can pick any piece of land you want, we'll buy it and rebuild it ourselves. We won't let you suffer here like this."
"No, sister, you go first, I'll go back later." Xia Li pushed her away.
“??” Zhao Jihua looked at his sister with a puzzled expression.
Xia Li said in a sinister tone, "The phrase 'forgive and forget' is too hypocritical. I prefer the wheel of fortune to turn, and let it turn in the opposite direction!"