Free Web NovelChapter 1410: Chapter 470: Public Embarrassment
"Miss, are you the owner of the Huangquan Water?"
The old lady looked at the bottle of Huangquan Water in her hand, heavy and much more than what was sold at the guild’s entrance, and then saw Ye Lingyue smiling with narrowed eyes, suddenly understanding.
"I wouldn’t say owner, just rather lucky. I am Ye Lingyue, the City Lord of Huangquan City. This Huangquan Water is produced in Huangquan City and is not something rare, so there’s no need for you to keep it in mind."
Ye Lingyue and the old lady got along very well, chatting away happily. The old lady told Ye Lingyue that her surname was Fu, named Rong Ying, and she lived on the east side of Xuanwu City. If Ye Lingyue had time, she could visit her on the east side of the city.
After chatting with Mrs. Fu for a few more sentences, Ye Lingyue bid farewell to the old lady.
After the old lady left, Ye Lingyue returned to the Jia Tianxia guild.
Upon entering, she saw Jia Fugui grinning from ear to ear.
Forty-nine bottles of Huangquan Water had been sold at an astonishingly high price, with the buyers being some of the old demon hunters and wealthy people in the city.
The Huangquan Water for the second day was just sold out, and people were already eagerly asking about the sales time for the third day.
Some even refused to leave, setting up their places overnight outside the Jia Tianxia guild in a long queue.
For a time, the whole city was in uproar.
However, the news of the sky-high priced Huangquan Water spread like wildfire, quickly reaching the Jiu Provinces Hall.
"What! You’re saying that the most popular Divine Water being sold these days in Xuanwu City is actually a specialty from Huangquan City?"
It’s said that people fear fame as pigs fear growing fat. With the sensational sales of Huangquan Water and Jia Fugui’s vigorous promotion, how could the money-loving Master Chen not pay attention?
What made Master Chen most angry was that Ye Lingyue had made over a million Spirit Stones in just two days, making him almost jump in fury.
Earlier, he thought Ye Lingyue refused to compromise because Huangquan City was poor. He even considered lowering the price by fifty thousand Spirit Stones if Ye Lingyue came to him when the deadline was near. Who knew that she wasn’t short of Spirit Stones at all?
"Reporting to Master, I’ve already investigated. It’s not some miraculous water, just ordinary spring water, likely from a spring in Huangquan City. It just looks colorful and has some effects, which have been exaggerated into calling it Divine Water."
Patrol Envoy Mu also harbored a grudge against Ye Lingyue.
The spies she stationed near the Jia Tianxia guild happened to overhear the conversation between Ye Lingyue and Old Madam Fu.
As soon as she got the news, she reported it to Master Chen.
"I’ve never heard of any Huangquan Water from Huangquan City. If spring water alone can sell for thousands of Spirit Stones per bottle, I really underestimated that woman. I can’t stand it. This woman has gone against our Jiu Provinces Alliance several times. If I can’t deal with her, how will I have a foothold in the Jiu Provinces Alliance in the future? You, think of a way, I don’t want that woman to be able to stay in Xuanwu City."
Master Chen was furious, his moustache bristling.
With the emergence of Huangquan Water, Huangquan City’s reputation soared. If this continued, people might really move to Huangquan City.
"Master, there’s no need for you to act personally in this matter to avoid leaving a trail for others. You just need to inform the City Lord’s Mansion, and I’m sure someone will deal with her." Patrol Envoy Mu suggested.
Only then did Master Chen remember, after all, the plan to abolish Huangquan City wasn’t entirely his own idea. Another master from the Jiu Provinces Alliance, City Lord Ma, also held a grudge against Ye Lingyue.
After all, Xuanwu City was City Lord Ma’s territory, and having him step forward was naturally more justified.
With this thought, Master Chen whispered a few words to Patrol Envoy Mu, who then went to the City Lord’s Mansion.
On the third day, Huangquan Water was still selling hot.
With Jia Fugui there, Ye Lingyue couldn’t be bothered to stress over the Huangquan Water issue.
Unexpectedly, something happened around noon.
"City Lord, trouble! Jia Fugui’s guild has been trashed, and our Huangquan Water has been confiscated. The City Lord’s Mansion summoned us for questioning."
Upon receiving the news, Ye Lingyue realized something was wrong.
She knew that with such a profiteering item as Huangquan Water, trouble was bound to come, just didn’t expect it would come so quickly.
Ye Lingyue was not flustered and went to the Jia Tianxia guild.
The street was the same as yesterday’s, yet today, the guild was even more bustling than the previous day.
However, the reason for the bustling was quite different.
When Ye Lingyue arrived, the street sides were already crowded with people.
City Lord Ma from the City Lord’s Mansion and Hong Yulang were both present, and upon seeing Ye Lingyue, Hong Yulang gave a gloating smile.
"City Lord Ye, you’re finally here. The people from the City Lord’s Mansion said we were conducting illegal business, inflating prices, and that the water has no real effect."
Jia Fugui, upon seeing Ye Lingyue, hurried forward.
He was also confused. Everything was going well with the sale of Huangquan Water, but out of nowhere, the people from the City Lord’s Mansion barged in and confiscated dozens of bottles of Huangquan Water.
"City Lord Ma, may I ask what rule of Xuanwu City have I violated by consigning water here and doing legal business?"
Ye Lingyue immediately saw that City Lord Ma was finding excuses.
Otherwise, why would City Lord Ma need to come personally just to shut down a mere guild?
"City Lord Ye, selling water isn’t illegal, but disguising mere spring water as spiritual medicine and selling it at a sky-high price of ten thousand Spirit Stones each is not right. Moreover, your City Lord’s Mansion’s alchemist has already checked, and there’s not a trace of medicinal ingredients in your so-called Huangquan Water. It’s just ordinary water with some pretty colors. Drinking it brings no benefits," City Lord Ma snorted coldly.
He didn’t believe for a second that Ye Lingyue’s Huangquan Water was any miraculous spring water; in his view, it was just refined medicinal water.
Since it was medicinal water, there should be some medicinal ingredients in it. But since there were none in the Huangquan Water, City Lord Ma seized the chance to make an issue of it.
As the City Lord of Xuanwu City, the best things in the city must naturally pay tribute to him.
Jia Fugui had improved his constitution with the Huangquan Water, remedying the signs of diminished vitality, purportedly managing three concubines in one night.
This news reached City Lord Ma’s ears, prompting him to have Hong Yulang find a way to acquire a bottle of Huangquan Water himself. To no effect.
Hong Yulang seized this opportunity, whispering into City Lord Ma’s ear, saying Ye Lingyue showed no respect for her elders, ignoring him, the City Lord, and deceiving the citizens of Xuanwu City.
At just this moment, Master Chen sent someone to fan the flames, prompting City Lord Ma to shut down the premises and arrest the people.
"City Lord Ma, without evidence, how can you claim my Huangquan Water is ineffective? Show me the proof."
Ye Lingyue, upon hearing this and looking at Hong Yulang behind City Lord Ma, noticed that despite his effort to conceal his emotions when Huangquan Water was mentioned, a hint of panic betrayed him.
