Chapter 75: Youjia Inn
Looking at the once prosperous Prince Mansion, the mother and daughter sat on the ground in despair, pounding the earth and crying out. "This damned Zhao Zun! How could he do this so ruthlessly? Woooo..."
At this point, the Prince Mansion, from its gold and silver treasures to the furniture and things, had been looted clean.
Apart from those servants he bribed, who were now gathered lazily in a group sitting on the ground, the rest of the servants had all disappeared.
The deeds to the Prince Mansion and the contracts of the servants had all been taken away by Zhao Zun, leaving only an empty house and some old junk.
In other words, the courtyard of the Prince Mansion could be lived in now, but couldn’t be sold.
Those unfaithful servants were left for her to command, but she had no silver to pay their wages.
She wanted to sell the servants to turn them into silver coins, but she didn’t have the contracts. To get silver coins, she could only rely on Zhao Qiao’er’s support.
This was simply heart-wrenching!
Leaving the courtyard of the Prince Mansion for Qin Yanran to live in was already Zhao Zun’s biggest forgiveness to Qin Yanran out of respect for his father.
Such a villain, let’s see how long Zhao Qiao’er can support her, and let Qin Yanran bother her daughter!
If the mother and daughter dare to commit evil again, Zhao Zun can at any time send people back to sell the Prince Mansion.
By then, Qin Yanran would have no place to shelter.
The wheels spun around, Zhao Zun’s convoy already gone far away.
The convoy filled with boxes took away all hope from Qin Yanran and her mother, leaving them pounding the earth and crying in the empty Prince Mansion...
...I am idly the dividing line...
At the corner of Qingquan Street, there was an inconspicuous little alley named Tongzi Lane. Not far into the alley, there was a three-story building with a closed door.
At this moment, inside the building, the Prince Mansion’s butler, Mr. Liu, was admonishing a group of servants.
"Listen carefully. Everyone has served in the Prince Mansion for many years and been loyal. Now the Prince and Princess Consort have gone to their fief, the Prince has returned all our contracts to us. From today onwards, we are no longer servants, we are free!" he said, raising a roll of contracts in his hand.
"What? Did I hear that right?"
"Ah? Really?"
"The Prince is so good."
"The Lady was good too. While we served in the Prince Mansion, the Lady never treated us poorly."
"Exactly."
"Hahaha, I’m free now. I don’t have to be a servant and serve others anymore."
"Heavens! I’m no longer a lowly wretch."
Below, there arose immediate cheers and chatter. These were loyal servants of the Prince Mansion, whom Zhao Zun had carefully sorted.
Among them were those born into service, families all working in the Prince Mansion, as well as servants who had only been there for a few years.
Zhao Zun knew Han Lei liked to play and lacked people, so he sent all these servants to Han Lei, letting her arrange them as she pleased.
Mr. Liu glanced around, knocking the paper roll in his hand, signaling everyone to be quiet.
Once it was quiet, Mr. Liu continued, "Although we were servants for years in the Prince Mansion, the Lady treated us generously, and the Prince Mansion’s prestige also protected us from being bullied. Now, the Prince and future Princess Consort trust us and worry we won’t have another path after leaving. So, the Princess Consort has acquired this building for us to run as an inn, doubling our wages."
"Wow! So much?"
"Who would’ve thought we’d not only be free but have double wages? Am I dreaming?"
"Running an inn gives us a path!"
"Great! There’s wages and a place to stay, that’s stability and livelihood for us!"
Everyone happily discussed, and Mr. Liu quieted them down again.
"Now, I’ll return the contracts to everyone. Line up and come forward to receive them," Mr. Liu began calling names one by one, then they came to receive their contracts.
After distributing the contracts, Mr. Liu continued, "The Princess Consort said, adhering to the principle of voluntariness. Those unwilling to stay at the inn after receiving the contracts can leave, no compulsion. Those willing to stay, I will continue to discuss management rules."
Stopping there, Mr. Liu waited a while but saw no one leaving.
"You all..." Mr. Liu paused briefly. "Are none of you willing to leave?"
"Not willing." All the servants unexpectedly replied in unison.
"Mr. Liu, I’m already used to following you."
"I have no skills. After leaving, I might starve myself."
"After leaving, where would we find double-wage jobs?"
"I have no family, nowhere to go."
"The Lady, Prince, and Princess Consort are nice people; I’ll stay here."
"If I go home, wouldn’t my father sell me off again? Better to stay here."
...
The servants, or rather, future employees of the inn now, never studied much and couldn’t speak lofty words, but their hearts were crystal clear.
They were those bought and sold, lowly people, servants of one master or slaves of another. Their former masters were high above, either beating or scolding; occasionally even denying food for mistakes.
Being sold into the Prince Mansion and meeting a gentle Lady was already considered fortune from past lives. Though the Prince and Princess Consort returned not long ago, they were also pleasant and amiable.
At first, the Lady spent silver to buy them into the Prince Mansion. Today, no one expected the Prince to return their contracts directly. Such a good Prince must have immense blessings!
Moreover, fearing they might lack future paths, the Princess Consort acquired a building for their business, employing them at double the Prince Mansion wages. The Prince and Princess Consort really considered every aspect for them.
After leaving, where would they find another such master’s family?
Seeing no one wanting to leave, Mr. Liu then said, "Everyone listen. The Prince and Princess Consort treat us like family, not only granting us freedom but also giving us a place to belong. The Capital City has many eyes, and it’s a place of gossip. We must also protect the Prince and Princess Consort securely. Since everyone’s willing to stay, I’ll now announce the inn’s management rules and precautions. Follow them strictly; violators will be dismissed immediately."
"Okay!"
The employees answered in unison.
"First, from now on, the inn’s name is Youjia Inn."
"Second, everyone must keep a secret; do not reveal that this inn is the Princess Consort’s property, only say it belongs to me, Liu Jie."
"Third, Youjia Inn will be our home. Each of us is a family member. In this great family, everyone must respect, love, and unite to move forward together."
"Fourth, everyone must work hard and be responsible. The Princess Consort said, those who perform well will be entrusted with key positions in the future. When branches open, they’ll be sent to manage them as shopkeepers."
"Fifth..."