Chapter Forty-One: Trouble Has Arrived

My elder sister wept as she spoke, her eyes nearly swollen to the size of almond kernels. After taking the medicine, they waited for several hours before Mother Han finally awoke. Though she appeared weak, it was clear that her strength diminished with each passing day.

"Don't worry so much anymore. Everything at home is managed by me and Xiuxiu," Han Qing said gently, offering comfort to his family. They would no longer suffer humiliation at the hands of others as they had before, nor would they need to fret endlessly.

"Yes, as long as our family stays well," they replied, understanding well the preciousness of kinship, especially in the face of hardship.

A few days passed, and a letter arrived from Drunken Flower Pavilion. The investigation had been thorough, listing the various shady dealings of the Bai family's gambling house. While these matters did not fall directly under the court's strictest scrutiny, their oppression of the common folk was a frequent occurrence. They had especially forced many competitors into ruin, their families destroyed. Such old grievances could not be recounted in a single night.

Despite this, Han Qing did not act rashly. Even when faced with such danger, he remained calm and collected.

"If you have any thoughts, speak them directly. Don't keep everything to yourself," he said when Er Zhuang came to see him, the latter unable to voice his concerns and instead wearing a look of deep resentment.

"After that plagiarism incident, the authorities have started supporting us. Some wealthy patrons now want to partner with our bookstore," Er Zhuang explained.

Oh? It seemed they had realized the bookstore’s reputation brought in substantial profits and now wanted a share—or perhaps they hoped to profit without investment. But that would not be permitted.

"What terms are they offering?" Han Qing asked.

"They’re willing to provide distribution channels, selling our manuscripts to neighboring towns," Er Zhuang replied.

Han Qing considered the proposal's merits. "What do you think?"

"Big brother, don't tease me. I only manage the shop’s daily operations. I’m not cut out for such major decisions," Er Zhuang said, waving his hands anxiously.

Han Qing saw his loyalty. "Just say what you think. Don't worry so much."

"I believe that since they propose such terms, they’ll expect suitable compensation. We shouldn’t agree too quickly, but should test their intentions further," Er Zhuang replied cautiously.

"Is it Mr. Zhao?" Han Qing asked.

"Yes, the Zhao family from Longxi. They used to run a security escort agency and have cooperated with many shops," Er Zhuang confirmed.

Han Qing nodded. "Handle it as you see fit. If it works, send me a letter."

He no longer wished to meddle in these matters. As the shopkeeper, Er Zhuang should be capable of making such decisions.

Peace seemed to reign, but was soon disrupted by an unexpected event.

He had thought Drunken Flower Pavilion had already set a date for the grand gathering and invited him to attend. No one anticipated another tragedy would occur—a murder, no less.

"Brother Han, you’re finally here. The famed actress Yuan Xiaoyun of North County City died unexpectedly at home last night," someone reported.

What? Only last week, he had suggested inviting her. How could this have happened?

"Young Master Zhao is furious. He was an avid admirer of Yuan Xiaoyun. Now that his confidante is dead, how could he not be enraged?" Young Master Zhu said, unhurried.

The loss of such a star would ruin the reputation of Spring Garden, which had ties to several prominent families. No one dared take on the responsibility. They, as bystanders, simply regretted not being able to invite the actress and had to settle for less.

"Isn’t the Court of Justice investigating? Why are you so anxious?" Han Qing asked, seeing no immediate danger—perhaps these men worried too much.

But what came next left him at a loss.

"We’re not anxious, but that’s the problem—someone saw me at the actress’s house. Now they’re coming to take me in for questioning. You have to help me!" Zhu’s face was full of worry.

He had a clear conscience, but Drunken Flower Pavilion could not afford a lengthy investigation. The longer it dragged on, the more their business would suffer.

"At worst, you’ll be interrogated a few more times," Han Qing said calmly. The important thing was to keep Drunken Flower Pavilion from being mired in scandal, or it would be difficult to conduct any further activities.

"What about inviting other performers?" someone asked, catching Han Qing off guard. Though there were a few suitable for 'The Peony Pavilion,' losing several meant they could not assemble a complete troupe, and all their previous plans would be for naught.

"Look, here they come," Han Qing said, turning to see Wen Qi approaching with a large group, clearly intent on bringing someone in for questioning. Without warning, he had become a suspect.

"Master Han, are you truly canceling the gathering?" someone asked.

"No need. Aren’t there still other troupes? And invite the storytellers from the restaurant as well. The more variety, the better," Han Qing replied.

Miss Zhilian was quite taken aback. She had never thought to do this before, but she followed his suggestion, hiring the storytellers at a high price—a first for Drunken Flower Pavilion.

News spread quickly among the local elites, all eager to witness the spectacle.

"Have you heard? Drunken Flower Pavilion is shaking things up—not only inviting rival performers but also bringing in the storytellers I used to listen to over tea."

"Brother Wang, have you drunk yourself silly? How could anything so absurd happen? No actress ever paid attention to those storytellers before," they discussed enthusiastically, the gossip spreading throughout North County City.

Five days later, Drunken Flower Pavilion hosted a truly grand gathering, bringing together many talents.

"I’m just curious—who wouldn’t want to see Liu Xiaohong perform 'Three Variations of the Plum Blossom'?"

"Don’t say that; I’m even more eager to hear the storytellers' eloquence."