Free Web NovelChapter 252: Chapter 252: Handling with Ease
Hu Jin instinctively denied it. "I did not!"
Ming Lingyi asked, "Then have you seen the property’s deed?"
Hu Jin gritted his teeth. "Boss Hu is a major merchant here. He’s a man of his word, and we all trust him. When I wanted to rent a restaurant on Vermilion Bird Street, why would I need to see the deed? Every merchant in the whole Capital City knows this property belongs to the Hu family."
Ming Lingyi feigned a look of sudden realization. "Oh, I see. So you didn’t know. Well, that makes things simple. I can take out the contract I signed with Boss Feng right now, and we can go to the Jingzhao Mansion together to file a complaint against Hu Tuchao."
As she said this, a sly smile touched Ming Lingyi’s eyes. She sounded as if she were genuinely offering Hu Jin advice.
"This Hu Tuchao is a real piece of work, cheating even a member of his own clan like you. To think a man like that has a decent reputation in Shangjing’s circles! We absolutely cannot let such a hypocrite get away with this today!
Why don’t we go to the Jingzhao Mansion right now? We can submit your rental contract and my property deed for the Lord Governor to inspect. What do you say? I’m sure Lord Gongsun will grant you justice!"
As she spoke, she took a rolled-up document from her robes and unfurled it for all to see. It was a brand-new contract, stamped with the official seal of the government. This was enough to prove that Ming Lingyi had rented the building from the true owner of the property’s deed.
Sweat beaded on Hu Jin’s forehead.
How could he dare to sue Hu Tuchao? He was only here at someone else’s request to cause trouble, hoping to ruin the Ming Family Restaurant’s opening or at least extort a hefty sum.
If he actually teamed up with Ming Lingyi to sue Hu Tuchao, turning on his own, Hu Tuchao could probably just spend some Silver to smooth things over. But as for him, his future days in Shangjing would be numbered.
He had thought that a young woman with just a few people by her side would be easy to intimidate and take advantage of. Who would have guessed she had such a formidable character with her? And she herself was so sharp-tongued, with every word hitting its mark, even bringing the government into it.
Now, she was forcing him to make a choice.
But whether he admitted to conspiring with others to set Ming Lingyi up or pretended to have been deceived himself, there was no way he could gain anything from this situation. In fact, he was likely to get himself dragged into it.
"I... I must have remembered the wrong place..." Hu Jin’s bravado had crumbled, and he was trying to find a way to back down gracefully.
He dared not choose either of the options Ming Lingyi had given him.
"Remembered wrong?" Ming Lingyi sneered. "You storm in here with all these men, demanding we clear out and even trying to injure my people, and you think a simple ’I remembered wrong’ will make it all go away, Boss Hu? Even if you remembered wrong, the address written on this contract is correct."
Ming Lingyi’s gaze swept over the two men still wailing on the floor, then to the thugs behind Hu Jin who were now scared silent, and finally landed back on Hu Jin’s sweaty face.
’If he wants me to give him an out, he should first consider if he has enough face with me to deserve it.’
"Everyone here today is a witness to these events. You have no proof, yet you forcibly entered private property, attempted to commit violence, and tried to ruin the auspicious opening day of my restaurant." Ming Lingyi’s tone turned cold. "I may be a mere merchant, but I know the law. Guard Li," she called out suddenly.
Li Yun, who had been standing silently behind her all this time, took half a step forward in response. Though he said nothing, an invisible pressure instantly enveloped the main hall, making Hu Jin and his men feel as if they were suffocating.
Meanwhile, Manager Qian, who wasn’t far from Ming Lingyi, was so shocked by this scene that his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
’The reigning Emperor has really become "Guard Li"?’
Moreover, he stole a glance at the Emperor and saw that he seemed completely immersed in the role he was playing today, showing no dissatisfaction whatsoever at being called "Guard Li."
Manager Qian silently looked up and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
’I must be getting old. I just can’t understand how these young ladies and gentlemen interact these days.’
"Tie all these men up and hand them over to the Jingzhao Mansion," Ming Lingyi said. "Tell them that someone forged a contract, forcibly seized private property, and committed assault with weapons. Ask the Lord Governor to handle them strictly according to the law!"
"Yes," Li Yun replied simply, but his body was already in motion.
Hu Jin’s face paled in horror. "You dare! I... I’m..." He wanted to drop the name of the person backing him, but he hesitated, choking on his words.
But Li Yun moved like a phantom. The crowd only saw a blur, and in the next instant, Hu Jin’s arms were twisted behind his back and he was slammed to the ground, letting out a pained "OWW!"
Hu Jin hadn’t just brought two thugs; the rest of his men saw their master being subdued and instinctively started to rush forward, only to be frozen in place by a single, chilling glare from Li Yun.
How could a group of ordinary guards possibly compare to a man who had been on the battlefield, killed enemies, and lived life on the edge?
"Anyone else want to try?" Li Yun asked. His voice wasn’t loud, but it landed with the weight of stone.
No one dared to move.
Seeing that Li Yun had single-handedly brought the situation under control, Ming Lingyi stopped worrying about the group. She turned to the slightly stunned Manager Qian and said, "Get some rope and tie all these men up securely." Then, as if worried that the men being held in check by Li Yun’s gaze might not cooperate, she added, "You haven’t injured anyone, so even if you’re taken to the Jingzhao Mansion, the Lord Governor won’t be too hard on you. But if you hurt anyone, even a single person, none of you will be able to escape responsibility."
Ming Lingyi’s words were a clear use of the carrot and stick.
The meaning was clear: if they behaved, she could let bygones be bygones. But if they insisted on following Hu Jin down this dark path, they wouldn’t be walking out of this door in one piece today.
’She looks like such an easygoing young lady, but who knew she could be so ruthless in her words and actions?’
The troublemakers in the main hall all quieted down, not daring to move. It seemed Ming Lingyi’s words had been quite intimidating.
"Manager Qian," Ming Lingyi said. "The peace in our Capital City has always been well-maintained. Go take a walk down the street, and if you see any Patrols from the Jingzhao Mansion, please trouble them to come to our restaurant and take these people away."
She was once again planning to use the government to do her work for her.
It couldn’t be helped. The fighters she’d hired for the restaurant hadn’t arrived yet today. Of all the people present, besides Li Yun, who could fight? To be safe, the task of delivering people to the government office should be done by people from the government office.
Manager Qian was overjoyed. His boss had only been here for a short time, yet she had already turned the tables so quickly. She handled the matter so clearly, with a perfect sense of pace and control, and with such ease. It was hard for him not to be pleasantly surprised.
However, just as Manager Qian was about to lead his men outside, someone else arrived at the door.
"Boss Ming."
A clear and resonant male voice called from the entrance.
Ming Lingyi couldn’t help but turn her head.
