I started out with seven husbands, and I worked hard to support my family while crying.

Chapter 289: Zhang Xuzi Appears

Zhang Xuzi smiled slightly, glanced around at the exquisite decorations in the store, and said.

"Miss Fang's Lingxi Pavilion is truly unique, and its business is booming."

Fang Xiaoxiao didn't respond, but just looked at him quietly, waiting for him to reveal his true purpose.

Zhang Xuzi then cleared his throat and spoke.

"To be honest, I've come here today to make a deal with you, young lady."

A bad feeling welled up in Fang Xiao's heart, and she asked.

"Supervisor Zhang, please speak."

Zhang Xuzi stroked his beard, still with that smiling expression, and said.

“Miss Fang, as long as you hand over ownership of Lingxi Pavilion, I guarantee that no one in Kyoto will dare to cause you any trouble, whether in business or in life. You will be safe and sound and live a carefree life.”

Fang Xiaoxiao's eyes widened, and she said angrily.

"Supervisor Zhang, this Lingxi Pavilion is something that Wan'er and I worked hard for, and it embodies countless efforts of ours. How can we easily hand it over to others!"

Lin Wan'er couldn't help but chime in as well.

"Supervisor Zhang, your actions are truly unfair!"

Zhang Xuzi's smile faltered slightly, then he pulled out a stack of papers from his pocket and said.

“Ladies, please don’t be impulsive. Look at these things. There are many irregularities in the business of Lingxi Pavilion. If I submit these to the authorities, I’m afraid…”

Fang Xiaoxiao snatched the papers, glanced at them quickly, and her face turned ashen.

She bit her lip and said angrily.

"Supervisor Zhang, this is clearly fabricated evidence! Don't even think about threatening us with this!"

Zhang Xuzi sneered.

“Miss Fang, the veracity of the evidence is not up to you to decide. In Kyoto, my words carry some weight.”

Lin Wan'er was so angry that she trembled all over.

"You're bullying me by abusing your power!"

Zhang Xuzi stood with his hands behind his back, a smug look on his face.

"Young ladies, a wise person knows when to yield. I advise you to behave and listen to me."

The atmosphere inside Lingxi Pavilion was extremely tense. Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er knew that Zhang Xuzi wielded too much power and were now in a predicament.

Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er were locked in a stalemate with Zhang Xuzi, and the air in Lingxi Pavilion seemed to have frozen solid.

Just as tensions were about to rise, a soft laugh suddenly came from the doorway.

"Hey, what kind of show is going on here?"

Everyone turned to look, and saw the eldest prince, Pei Zuo, slowly walking in.

He wore a magnificent robe embroidered with gold thread, a belt inlaid with jewels around his waist, and held an exquisite folding fan in his hand. He looked incredibly dashing.

Pei Zuo's face was full of smiles, looking every bit the kind-hearted person, as he spoke.

"Supervisor Zhang, what are you doing? You've frightened these two delicate young ladies so much."

Upon seeing that it was the eldest prince, Zhang Xuzi hurriedly bowed and greeted him, his face full of ingratiating smiles.

"Your Highness, the business of Lingxi Pavilion is suspected of being illegal. I am acting in accordance with the rules."

Pei Zuo snapped his folding fan shut and walked up to Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er, his eyes full of concern.

"Ladies, do not be afraid. I am always fair. If there is any misunderstanding, I will definitely seek justice for you."

Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er were puzzled. Why did the eldest prince suddenly appear and act so enthusiastic? Could there be something fishy going on?

Pei Zuo turned around again and reached out his hand to Zhang Xuzi.

"Bring it here, let this prince see your so-called evidence."

Zhang Xuzi hesitated for a moment, but still obediently handed over the evidence.

Pei Zuo pretended to look at it, then his face darkened and he shouted.

"Supervisor Zhang, are you trying to fool this prince? What evidence is there? You're clearly acting recklessly!"

Zhang Xuzi panicked and stammered.

"Your Highness, this...this..."

Pei Zuo snorted coldly.

"Supervisor Zhang, let's put this matter aside for now."

However, I, the prince, will have to keep a close eye on the future operations of Lingxi Pavilion.

"Ladies, with me here, I will ensure you are not mistreated. However, this business deal must proceed as I have stated."

Upon hearing this, Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er felt a chill in their hearts. It seemed that the eldest prince was not genuinely trying to help, but rather had ulterior motives.

The eldest prince stood with his hands on his hips, glaring arrogantly at Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er, and shouted loudly.

"Hmph, you two ignorant brats! My word is law! If you want Lingxi Pavilion to continue operating, you'd better do as I say!"

Fang Xiaoxiao blushed with anger and was about to retort when Lin Wan'er stepped forward.

She raised her eyebrows and shouted angrily.

"Your Highness, don't go too far! Although I, Lin Wan'er, am a woman, I am not someone you can bully at will!"

The eldest prince was taken aback at first, then laughed mockingly.

"Oh, who do we have here? It's Lin Wan'er. But so what if you are Wan'er? In this capital, I, the prince, call the shots!"

Lin Wan'er straightened her back and said with a haughty expression.

"Your Highness, my Lin family has been loyal and virtuous for generations, and I, Lin Wan'er, have never done anything to betray the royal family. Aren't you afraid that I will go to the palace to see the Emperor and report you to him?"

The eldest prince's expression changed slightly, and he felt a little apprehensive, but he still stubbornly insisted.

"Don't try to intimidate me with the Emperor!"

Just then, a commotion arose outside Lingxi Pavilion, and a servant scrambled in, shouting in a panic.

"Your Highness, something terrible has happened! Liu, the Empress's personal maid, has arrived. She says the Empress has decreed that you must return to the palace immediately!"

The eldest prince felt a chill run down his spine and cursed inwardly.

"Why did Mother Empress have to come looking for me at this time!"

But daring not to disobey the Empress's decree, he could only glare fiercely at Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er and say.

"You're lucky today, but I won't let this go!" With that, he hurriedly left with his entourage.

Fang Xiaoxiao and Lin Wan'er watched the Crown Prince's departing figure and finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Lin Wan'er's body trembled slightly, and her eyes reddened.

"Xiao Xiao, what should we do? The First Prince will definitely not let us off easily."

Fang Xiaoxiao held Lin Wan'er's hand and comforted her.

"Wan'er, don't be afraid. You are Wan'er, I doubt that the First Prince would dare to be too presumptuous."

At this moment, the shopkeeper came over and said with a worried expression.

"Wan'er, Miss Fang, this matter is probably not so simple. The First Prince is narrow-minded and will surely seek revenge when the opportunity arises."

Fang Xiaoxiao pursed her lips slightly, her eyes sparkling, and said seemingly casually.

"Renyi, all marriages in this world are predestined. Someone like Wan'er must be surrounded by admirers."

Li Renyi raised an eyebrow slightly, his expression calm.

"Why does Xiao Xiao say such a thing? Matters of marriage are complex and unpredictable."

Fang Xiaoxiao sighed softly, her tone tinged with resentment.