Chapter 504: Hang You All Up in the Newspaper

【Previously added two chapters of 4000 words, refreshed】

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Main text:

「Honored guest, what would you like to drink? Let's get a hot drink to warm you up. 」

「What do you all have? 」

「Today we have black tea, green tea, caramel milk tea, hot cocoa~」

「Give me a cup of milk tea, a cup of hot cocoa, extra sugar. 」 He just picked the strongest flavor there!

「Sure thing~ Sincere Hui collects forty taels from you. 」

Those nearby stared at this price—this isn't selling tea, this is outright robbery!

Change the setting and even the Great King would flip the table—people of Youzhou work a year facing loess and sky just to maybe have two taels of silver left, yet here a cup of milk tea costs twenty taels? But today this is his own milk tea shop's business, and the square is full of enemies coming to pick a fight with him. So the Great King calmly nodded and gave a sincere evaluation: 'A bit pricey.'

Everyone who heard the price: ……Just a bit?

「Guest, you may not know, there are two reasons for the high price: first, this is the Prince's Mansion square where idlers are forbidden entry—we've passed the moat, so the land is expensive! Second, the customers here are the most honored people under heaven, so we use only the finest, most precious tea and purest sugar……」

The Great King waved his hand impatiently: 'Go on~'

Even the Great King couldn't stomach it—when he didn't realize the tea Zhu Ti's milk tea stall used was just the bulk red tea from a nine‑yuan‑nine box of White Poplar Supermarket.

Soon, a warm sweet fragrance burst from their area—first sugar‑fried tea leaves, then milk added; once this pot boiled, the downwind side was enveloped in the aroma of caramel milk tea.

The hot cocoa wasn't as strong, but they boiled it and dumped in loads of sugar; even those who hadn't tasted it smelled a strange sweet fragrance. Sugar is a scarce commodity in the Great Jin, let alone the Great King's pure white sugar here. Look at those two nearby watching the apprentice dump in spoonfuls of snow‑white sugar—luxurious, too luxurious!

The Great King again drew half the square's attention; after receiving it, he passed the more acceptable milk tea to Fang Yiguang, saying, 'Don't stand on ceremony—drinking something hot is much better, and few see you suffering here.'

This guy took a sip of hot cocoa and gave his unreserved review: 'Hot drinks go down so comfortably~ Delicious!'

Fang Yiguang hadn't yet tried the Northern Border's milk tea, but having tried it, he couldn't praise it enough. They spoke softly, but everyone listened closely; upon hearing, the especially young all wholeheartedly agreed with the Great King. Protest as protest, we can't make ourselves suffer! These guys have eaten everything, just never suffered.

Old Man Fang rolled his eyes at the Great King, but ultimately didn't speak up to stop him; that whatever heat patch on his back was quite warm……

The Great King personally went out to promote the goods, and before noon the tea stall was already open.

Zhang Tonghe's little apprentice Zhang Wang looked around, sat down, and told his master, 'In a short while nobody will collapse.'

These scholar-officials really can do it—pulling off such a grand spectacle, they've actually set up an outdoor tea party at the Prince's Mansion gate!

The previous dynasty sent people to monitor the square's movements; after two reports, Xie Yuan didn't want to hear anymore. What peddler came in selling hand warmers, the Great King bought heat patches, the hand warmer's coal went out and he started selling coal, the Great King again and again led the way buying milk tea—what is all this!

Xie Yuan, annoyed, said: 'Should we just start selling lunch directly on the square soon?'

The little doctor who just ran in to deliver the message said: 'Sir, you're amazing! Steward Zhu said selling grilled giant squid would be more characteristic of Youzhou.'

Xie Yuan: ……

Lu Tong burst out laughing with a puff: 'No need to worry—this has truly turned into a mess of fun.'

The Great King didn't just sell giant squid in the square; he also sold grilled sausages, whatever strong flavor he sold. An old man stood up to shout unreasonably, and soldiers would come over to make him sit properly.

The Great King watched with relish, and when idle he'd secretly stretch his buttocks and waist.

The old men felt embarrassed eating these little snacks, so they'd also order two cups of hot tea; otherwise they couldn't stand the cold.

By mid‑afternoon, as the sky turned overcast, the kids had eaten and drunk their fill and were tired—he pulled out a killer move.

He placed two large heaters in front of Yang Sheng and Yang Fang.

The Prince's Mansion little eunuch brought the two heaters, silently placing the glaring one beside them; this special treatment drew the whole square's gaze. Yang Fang had a complex expression—what else is there not to understand? Obviously the Great King already knew they had come.

Originally, Yang Sheng was already fuming over this improper protest; now that the heater was set up, he stood up and flicked his sleeves away.

After the Yang family left, those still there not knowing what to do heard the Great King crisply ask: 'Is that it for today? So fun! Will we come again tomorrow?'

Fang Yiguang: ……

Or else go back and recalc—don't come again; all day just giving revenue to Northern Border stallholders, and still freezing himself enough to be spiteful.

With the Yang clan leading, Old Man Fang also rose and left; the Great King hurriedly followed—off work!

The scholar‑officials' first resistance against the Northern Border King's illegal assembly, thanks to the Great King's efforts, was declared a failure.

The Great King strolled all the way to the Peaceful Inn, checked in, and that evening invited Fang Yiguang to dinner to discuss the next steps.

Today's event was messy and not very dignified; the old men were unhappy and Fang Yiguang felt low, saying, 'Even if all these people went to sit in silent protest at the gate of the Long Peace Imperial Palace, it would be a major event, yet the Northern Border King didn't even show his face.'

My grandfather didn't say it, but I think this is hopeless. What could we use to threaten them? If someone tried to crash themselves to death at the Prince's Mansion gate, they'd likely be blocked by those stern big men. Even if a few were really killed, it might just become propaganda for the Northern Border's imperial examination flag. I asked my grandfather—scholar‑officials of the northern lands simply dare not get involved; those who came today are all from south of the Luo River Pass, and even if a few died, they probably wouldn't care.

The Great King looked at his brother Fang Yiguang with newfound respect—this brother is really clear‑headed!

They agreed to notify him of any news; only after dark did the Great King bring Ling Yin back to the Prince's Mansion.

Who would have thought the protesters still had no next move, yet the Great King swiftly hung them up in the newspaper.