Chapter 85: Door-to-Door Debt Collection

Ye Residence

Ye Yu was entertaining several colleagues when a servant rushed in, reporting that the shopkeeper of the Medicine King Pavilion had arrived.

Ye Yu was startled; he never imagined that the shopkeeper of the Medicine King Pavilion would one day visit his Prime Minister's Residence!

Including Minister of Rites Li, several court officials also showed looks of surprise.

The shopkeeper of the Medicine King Pavilion holds a status in Xiliang City that is no lower than that of these officials!

"Brother Ye, could it be that you still have dealings with the shopkeeper of the Medicine King Pavilion? Why haven't I heard you mention it before?"

"Exactly, Brother Ye, you kept it from us and didn't mention a word—that's really not proper!"

……

Several officials expressed dissatisfaction, saying Ye Yu hid his talents, knowing someone like Zhuang Xian, yet didn't tell them or recommend them to know him.

Ye Yu also didn't know how to explain.

How could he possibly know someone like Zhuang Xian?

Zhuang Xian suddenly came to visit, and he was also shocked!

However, since an esteemed guest had arrived, he couldn't keep them waiting, so he hurriedly sent someone to invite them in.

Not long after, Zhuang Xian was invited in; upon reaching the front hall, he directly declined Ye Yu's hospitality and stated his purpose.

"Prime Minister Ye, sorry for the disturbance; I, Zhuang, have come today to collect a debt!"

Upon hearing this, everyone in the front hall wore a strange expression.

"Zhuang Xian, you're here to collect a debt?"

"Isn't Zhuang Xian an acquaintance of Ye Yu?"

"Could it be that they've misunderstood?"

Ye Yu looked bewildered, truly unaware of when he owed the Medicine King Pavilion money, and he asked in confusion: "Collect a debt? Shopkeeper Zhuang, have you made a mistake? Our Ye Family owes no money to the Medicine King Pavilion! The money for the medicinal pills we bought has already been paid in full!"

"Sir Ye, are you sure?" Zhuang Xian gave him a half-smile, then produced an IOU from his sleeve and handed it to Ye Yu. Ye Yu took it, and upon seeing the content and the signature and seal below, his pupils constricted.

"Three million five hundred thousand… Ye Sisi…"

Ye Yu could hardly believe his own eyes.

"May I ask, Shopkeeper Zhuang, what medicinal pill did my daughter purchase?"

"Tiger King Pill!" Zhuang Xian said, without blushing or racing heartbeat.

Tiger King Pill?

Several officials looked at each other, wondering how they had never heard of this kind of medicinal pill.

"If you don't believe me, Sir Ye, you can call out Miss Ye San for a face-to-face confrontation. Moreover, this sum of money should have been paid by Miss Ye San three days ago; it is now three days overdue. Our Medicine King Pavilion has a rule: for each day overdue, a penalty of five percent is charged. You, Sir Ye, surely know this regulation. Therefore, the total amount you owe today is four hundred and two thousand five hundred taels."

"Someone, go fetch Miss Three!"

Ye Yu gritted his teeth and gave the order.

"This rebellious girl, she actually hid it from him and spent so much money!"

Soon, Ye Sisi was summoned by the servants.

"Sisi, have you recently bought medicinal pills at the Medicine King Pavilion?"

Ye Sisi looked at Shopkeeper Zhuang, nodded, and admitted: "Not bad; I bought a bottle of Tiger King Pill from the Medicine King Pavilion a few days ago!"

"Did it cost three million five hundred thousand taels?"

Ye Sisi met Ye Yu's angry gaze and instantly felt a bit guilty.

"Father, it's not my fault; blame Ye Qingran—she insisted on competing with me, so I raised the price seventyfold."

"In other words, that so-called Tiger King Pill originally only required fifty thousand taels?"

Ye Yu almost spat out a mouthful of blood.

"Sir Ye, this money…"

Zhuang Xian smiled narrowly.

"This money cannot be given!"

Zhao Shi, surrounded by several maidservants, walked quickly over, her face showing a hint of gloom.

"Who is this?" Zhuang Xian asked, feigning ignorance.

"I am the lady of the Ye Residence!" Zhao Shi proclaimed proudly.

"I recall that the lady of the Ye Residence passed away many years ago; Sir Ye, you don't seem to have remarried, do you?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Shi's face turned as ugly as possible.

"This Zhuang Xian, his tongue is truly venomous!"

"Could it be that this lady is the birth mother of Miss Ye and Miss Ye San, Zhao… Yi Niang?"

At the utterance of "Zhao Yi Niang," Zhao Shi's throat felt sweet and bitter, her face lost color, and the anger and hatred in her heart surged like a wave.

"She, Zhao Ya, hates nothing more than being called Zhao Yi Niang!"

"But unfortunately, this person is Zhuang Xian; she can only swallow her anger and pretend not to have heard."

"Shopkeeper Zhuang, you Medicine King Pavilion have colluded with outsiders to deceive my daughter; shouldn't this matter be given us an explanation?"

Zhuang Xian calmly asked: "How do you say that?"

"Shopkeeper Zhuang, my daughter bought a bottle of medicinal pill from the Medicine King Pavilion a few days ago for three million five hundred thousand taels, but the pill inside is fake!"

Upon hearing this, the faces of several officials, including Ye Yu, all changed.

"Zhao Shi sure has gall, daring to accuse the Medicine King Pavilion of selling fake medicine right in front of Shopkeeper Zhuang!"

"If this charge holds, it's fine; if not, should it provoke the Yaowang Valley, not only Zhao Shi herself but the Ye Family would also suffer misfortune!"

"Zhao Ya, what nonsense are you spouting!"

Ye Yu, anxious, questioned.

I'm talking nonsense; if you don't believe me, call Ye Qingran over and we'll confront each other face to face!

Ye Qingran?

How is it related to Ye Qingran again?

This rebellious woman, she only knows how to cause trouble; why didn't she just die five years ago?

Ye Yu was furious inside.

Go, call the young lady!

Not long after, Ye Qingran arrived at the front hall, leisurely.

Ye Qingran, just admit it: you and the Medicine King Pavilion staged a play, tricking our family's Sisi into buying fake medicine!

Seeing Ye Qingran, Zhao Shi launched a barrage of criticism.

Ye Qingran stared, then raised the corner of her mouth.

Since Zhao Shi could sit in her current position, she is far smarter than Ye Sisi.

Mother, how could Ye Qingran possibly deceive me! Ye Qingran is so stupid, how could she have deceived her!

Ye Sisi would absolutely never admit that she was deceived by Ye Qingran!

Sisi, don't speak first!

Ye Qingran, you speak!

What am I saying? When have I ever done such a thing? I'm just an ordinary girl; how could I know someone like Zhuang the shopkeeper? Aunt Zhao, you're thinking too highly of me!

Ye Yu and the officials all felt that made sense.

Zhuang Xian's status is special; even the emperor in Xiliang City must yield three points to him, Ye Qingran, a lady of the inner chambers, could never come into contact with him.

Ye Qingran's words actually made Zhuang Xian feel uneasy.

If not for having to cooperate with the act, he would probably have to bow his waist and say to Ye Qingran, 'Miss, Zhuang Xian cannot afford it!'

Zhao Shi's expression changed, and she frowned, saying, 'Who knows if the Medicine King Pavilion is using your and Sisi's conflict to swindle our Ye family's money?'

Upon hearing that, Ye Yu couldn't bear to listen any further.

Zhao Ya, that's enough!

Would the Medicine King Pavilion lack this bit of money from the Ye family?

Zhuang Xian gave a light smile.

Let me tell you this, Aunt Zhao: not to mention far away, just a few days ago at the Medicine King Pavilion auction, a single five-grade purification pill fetched over two hundred million; would our Medicine King Pavilion really be short of this bit of your money?

To put it bluntly, our Valley Master can casually refine some six-seven grade pills; put them in any auction and they'll cause a sensation in the Central Region, with countless aristocratic families willing to spend endless wealth to vie for them. Would our Medicine King Pavilion really be short of this bit of your money?

Ye Qingran gave Zhuang Xian a speechless glance: enough already, stop showing off!

Six-seven grade pills?

Oh my goodness!

Ye Yu and the officials, listening, felt their hearts pound with shock.

We thought five-grade pills were already the peak, but it turns out the Valley Master of Yaowang Valley can casually refine six- and seven-grade pills.

Indeed, they wouldn't even look at the Ye family's few million!

Several people wiped the cold sweat from their foreheads, feeling their worldview had been refreshed.

They came to watch the show, not to be stimulated!

Aunt Zhao, do you have anything else to say?

Zhao Shi was speechless.

Although we knew Yaowang Valley was formidable, we didn't expect it to be this formidable.

But no matter how formidable, they can't swindle her money!

That said, who knows if you won't use public office for private gain?

Zhao Shi, like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, ended up frightening Ye Yu and the others quite a bit.

Zhao Ya, are you crazy? Hurry up and apologize to Zhuang the shopkeeper!

Who is Zhuang Xian?

He is the direct steward of Yaowang Valley, taking orders directly from the Medicine King Gu Gu Master!

Offending him is practically the same as offending Yaowang Valley!

I haven't been talking nonsense; I have evidence! Zhao Ya smiled confidently and said to Ye Sisi: "Sisi, take out the remaining Tiger King Pill and see if it's worth that price—one test will tell!"

Zhuang Xian's brow barely twitched.

A lump of tiger dung—what's there to test?