Chapter 101: The Eastern Depot (Seeking First Subscription)

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Upon hearing Yu Huatian’s low-voiced report, Zhu Yu suddenly recalled—the conflict from the Wulin Outside Stories movie was about to begin. After learning the cause of the matter, Zhu Yu lost interest; the struggle between common folk and unscrupulous merchants was hardly something he, with his status, cared to intervene in.

Yet, though Zhu Yu wished to stay uninvolved, he found the spectacle amusing, especially as it was the live-action third installment of the Wulin Outside Stories film. The ensuing events unfolded smoothly according to the script over three days, though some deviations from his memory appeared. Notably, the crooked merchant named Pei Zhicheng was actually an official, which drew Zhu Yu’s attention.

Three days later, at dusk.

Zhu Yu stood on the second floor, gazing down at the lively scene unfolding in the main hall. The people of Tongfu Inn had captured Pei Zhicheng and, through threats and intimidation, forced him to confess the truth.

“You think I’m exploiting the common people? You want to act as heaven’s justice? Do you know how much silver I’ve made over the years? But in the end, I’ve kept less than ten percent. This business is ordered from above—I’m just a middleman. Catching me doesn’t do much harm. I advise you to abandon your blind confidence early on. Whether you use legal procedures or resort to force like you have with me, it’s all futile—there’s not a shred of hope.”

Pei Zhicheng was quite the character; upon realizing that the people of Tongfu Inn sought justice rather than money, he ceased resisting and instead began advising them.

“That’s none of your concern. I refuse to believe that there’s no law in this world. Hurry up and tell us everything you know,” Tong Xiangyu ignored Pei Zhicheng’s goodwill entirely.

“My puppet master behind the scenes is Chief Eunuch Pan of the Eastern Depot. If you want to accuse him, you won’t even get your petition accepted. The bundle you took downstairs holds the records of all the business I’ve handled over the years. Take it as evidence if you want to file a charge,” Pei Zhicheng said, watching the crowd’s reaction, which went exactly as he expected—they were all cowed by the name of the Eastern Depot.

Yet, away from Pei Zhicheng’s sight, two people reacted differently from the rest.

Naturally, these two were Zhu Yu standing upstairs and Yu Huatian behind him, who, though wanting to laugh, dared not. Inwardly, Yu Huatian mused that this place was too far from the capital; otherwise, he would have snapped up this inn immediately.

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After staying for several days, Yu Huatian had discerned that this inn was diametrically opposed to the Eastern Depot—it was a stronghold of the Western Depot’s resurgence.

“All right, we all know what you’re saying. You go upstairs and find a room to rest,” Tong Xiangyu said after Pei Zhicheng finished speaking, as no one else spoke up, she had to dismiss him.

“Ah,” Pei Zhicheng replied, scrutinizing the group carefully before sighing and turning upstairs.

As he ascended to the second floor, the first thing Pei Zhicheng saw was Zhu Yu’s stern, sullen face.

At first, Pei Zhicheng thought his eyes were playing tricks on him. After rubbing them hard and confirming it was no illusion, he trembled and immediately knelt down, burying his head in his arms without uttering a word.

Why did Pei Zhicheng recognize Zhu Yu? It was simple. Although Pei Zhicheng was only a low-ranking sixth-grade official in the capital, he belonged to the Ministry of Revenue and had had the opportunity to see the emperor’s face.

Not only Pei Zhicheng—Zhu Yu also remembered him from when he summoned Ministry of Revenue officials in the palace.

Just as Zhu Yu was about to speak, the commotion downstairs resumed.

“Xiao Guo, this matter depends on you now. You must set off for the capital tonight, explain everything clearly to your father, and submit the petition.”

The group exchanged uneasy glances until Tong Xiangyu broke the silence with a suggestion.

Upon hearing this, Guo Furong’s face darkened. After a few breaths, she said, “Sorry, innkeeper, I can’t go. There’s no guarantee we’ll win this case. If we do, everyone rejoices; if we lose, it’s a total defeat—heads will roll. Lao Bai, you must understand what ‘heads will roll’ means, right?”

Startled to be addressed, Bai Zhantang shuddered. “What? How could I know? I’ve never had my head chopped off.”

“I mean that feeling of having no tomorrow after today, struggling to survive day to day,” Guo Furong’s words plunged the room into silence.

From upstairs, Zhu Yu heard this and calmly turned to Yu Huatian. “Is the Eastern Depot really that formidable now? None of those downstairs are ordinary commoners, yet the Eastern Depot’s name frightens them so much?”

Suppressing a smile, Yu Huatian replied, “The Eastern Depot’s methods have indeed become excessive over the years. Its infamous reputation is hardly surprising.”

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Hearing someone mock the entire Eastern Depot so brazenly, Pei Zhicheng instinctively lifted his head but, upon seeing Yu Huatian’s face, immediately bowed it again.

The Western Depot’s Chief Overseer! No wonder—too formidable to provoke.

Satisfied with Yu Huatian’s answer, Zhu Yu ceased further questions and did not look back at the crowd below, lost in thought.

“So, according to you, this case won’t proceed?” Tong Xiangyu could not believe Guo Furong had spoken so bluntly and questioned her in disbelief.

“Innkeeper, why should we deliberately invite trouble? This Pei fellow is already in our hands. We can force him to refund the money the people paid for their houses, then chase him away. Whatever happens after that is none of our concern,” Guo Furong began persuading Tong Xiangyu.

“None of our concern? Are you unconcerned about how far his misdeeds spread? Eighteen Mile Shop suffers too, and you still don’t care? Those deceived commoners are strangers to you—so be it. But strangers are still human! A strange chicken is not a duck! A strange dog is still a dog! Don’t they deserve help and protection?” Tong Xiangyu fired question after question, her passion rising.

Zhu Yu listened, his heart stirred deeply. Without turning his head, he quietly ordered, “Write down these words and, when we return, make sure to relay them clearly to my ministers.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Yu Huatian’s interest in this small inn was truly piqued. The last time he was intrigued by an inn was many years ago—the Dragon Gate Inn, if he recalled correctly.

Before he could ponder further, the downstairs voices resumed.

“Tong Xiangyu, do you think I want to be a good person? But I don’t want my child to be executed before birth—is that wrong? Tell me, am I in the wrong?”