Chapter 572: Adventure in the Teahouse!
East of Yijing City, Chenji Teahouse

Ye Kui came to Ye Mingsheng and whispered:

"Master, there is a private room upstairs in the teahouse..."

Ye Mingsheng shook his head and said:

"It's rare for me to go out, so I'll just go to the lobby bar. There's always something missing when I listen to it in the private room!"

"Yes!"

After receiving Ye Mingsheng's order, Ye Kui immediately arranged for protection. Ye Mingsheng was very satisfied with the cakes, tea, and storytelling level of Chen's Teahouse. It was very rare to find a place like this in today's time, so a month later, Ye Mingsheng visited again.

Although a full month had passed, Ye Mingsheng immediately caught Chen Xiangling's attention when he came again because she had left a deep impression last time. She was really curious about the identity of this mysterious man in black robe!
After hesitating for a while, Chen Xiangling was about to volunteer to serve the snacks, but when she just picked up the plate, a big hand blocked her way.

"father?"

Chen Xiangling looked at her father who suddenly appeared with some surprise, not knowing what Chen Qingshu was going to do.

"You go back, I'll take care of this table!" Chen Qingshu said seriously:
Although she didn't know why her father did this, looking at his serious expression, Chen Xiangling still obediently handed the plate to Chen Qingshu.

Chen Qingshu took the plate and walked towards Ye Mingsheng, carefully placed the teapot and cakes on the table, then said with a smile:
"Dear guests, here are the tea and pastries you ordered. Please enjoy..."

Looking at Chen Qingshu's cautious expression, Ye Mingsheng suddenly said:
"Are you the owner here?"

Hearing Ye Mingsheng's question, Chen Qingshu felt a little uneasy, but he still pretended to be calm and bowed his hands and said:
"Yes, my name is Chen Qingshu, and I'm the owner here!"

Ye Mingsheng became interested after hearing this and continued to ask:
"I just heard people gossiping about you being a scholar from Anhe. How did you start a teahouse business?"

Seeing Ye Mingsheng asking this, Chen Qingshu smiled bitterly and said:
"I am not very talented and well-educated, so I can't make further progress in my career, so I can only come back to make a living!"

Ye Mingsheng smiled and said:

"Your business is so prosperous, it's really too modest to say you only make a living!"

When Ye Mingsheng said this, a hint of vigilance appeared in Chen Qingshu's eyes, but he still smiled and said:
"It's hard for a small business to be accepted by the public. All we have to fight for is the hard-earned money we earn from working from dawn to dusk. Sir, I won't bother you anymore. If you need anything else, just tell me and I'll deliver it right away!"

Ye Mingsheng smiled and nodded when he heard that. Seeing Ye Mingsheng nod, Chen Qingshu bowed and retreated back to the counter.
"Dad, who is that person? Why are you so scared?" Chen Xiangling quietly approached her father, a hint of curiosity flashed in her beautiful eyes, and she asked in a low voice:

When Chen Qingshu was about to pass by, she had been peeking from the side. Although she did not hear what Ye Mingsheng and the others said, she saw the whole scene. As the most famous teahouse in the east of Yijing City, their Chenji Teahouse had distinguished guests coming almost every day. Her father Chen Qingshu would sometimes come out to receive them personally, but he always treated them with courtesy, neither humble nor arrogant, and rarely was he as respectful as he was today.

This undoubtedly made Chen Xiangling, who was already curious about Ye Mingsheng's identity, even more curious about Ye Mingsheng. What was the identity of this man who looked only a few years older than her?

Facing his daughter's question, Chen Qingshu smiled bitterly, shook his head and said:

"do not know!"

Chen Xiangling was even more surprised when she heard the answer given by her father. In her eyes, her father had always been very calm. Why was he so respectful when he didn't know the other person's identity?
As if he could see his daughter's thoughts, Chen Qingshu explained:

"Father, I really don't know the identity of that young man in black robe, but look at the people sitting next to him. Although they are in plain clothes and seem to be listening to a storyteller, they are actually quietly protecting the safety of that man in black robe!"

"All of these people are martial artists. You can tell from the military that they are elite warriors who have survived hundreds of battles!"

“There are such guards in Yijing City. The man in black is most likely a member of the Fengwu Army. In addition, there are more than a dozen people guarding him, and there are several people quietly guarding outside the door. Such a grand ceremony and such thorough protection are enough to show that this person is most likely a high-ranking official in the Fengwu Army…”

After saying this, a hint of worry emerged in Chen Qingshu's eyes. His only hope now was that this mysterious man in black was just a guest who came here to listen to books and drink tea. In these chaotic times, the last thing to mess with are these big-time soldiers. If those people really involve the military, I'm afraid that this will never end well!

Listening to her father's analysis, Chen Xiangling said with great admiration:

"Dad, how did you know that?"

Touching Chen Xiangling's head, Chen Qingshu said with a smile:

"Watch more, listen more, learn more! Xiangling, you will be able to do this sooner or later!"

Ye Mingsheng, who didn't know the Chen father and daughter yet and was analyzing his own identity, was listening with great interest to Zhang Sanwan's narration of the Romance of Sui and Tang Dynasties.

"When Yuwen Huaji saw his soldiers were exhausted, and then suddenly they had vomiting and diarrhea, and all fell ill, he burst into tears, thinking it was a punishment from heaven to take his life. He was terrified day and night. The Xia soldiers sent spies to report to the Xia lord. The loyal minister knew that it was Xu Maogong of Wei and Li Jing of Tang who had conspired, so he quickly summoned Fan Yuan to lead 10,000 infantrymen, disguised as Xu soldiers, and keep their marks, sneaking past Zhiji's camp at night and ambush 20 miles away!"

While listening to the storytelling, Ye Mingsheng picked up a piece of osmanthus cake and put it into his mouth. Ever since he ate the osmanthus cake from Chenji Teahouse last time, Ye Mingsheng could not forget the taste. The chef in the Governor's Mansion also tried it several times, and although it was delicious, it could never reach the taste and texture of Chenji Teahouse...
After finishing the osmanthus cake in his hand, Ye Mingsheng seemed to have thought of something, and asked Ye Kui beside him with a smile:

"Why is it so quiet today? No one is tasting the food?" Ye Kui said a little embarrassedly when he heard Ye Mingsheng's question.

"Last time I saw that you liked the Chen Family Teahouse, I took the initiative to quietly arrange for a few people to enter the Chen Family Teahouse. These cakes and teas are all made under their noses, so there should be no problem. But if you need it, I will have someone try it now!"

Ye Mingsheng laughed and scolded upon hearing this:
"You are such a thief!"

Ye Kui said respectfully:

"Your Excellency's safety is of utmost importance. I will never be careless and must ensure that nothing goes wrong!"

As soon as Ye Kui finished speaking, Ye Mingsheng had no time to say anything when he heard the sound of a door being pushed open. The next second, a haughty shout was heard in the lobby.

"Where is Chen Qingshu?"

Hearing the voice, Ye Mingsheng, whose interest was disturbed, frowned slightly and looked in the direction of the voice. He saw that the other party was a middle-aged fat man with a protruding belly and dressed in brocade silk, and behind him were several servants.

This middle-aged fat man seemed to be very famous. Several people whose interest was disturbed stared at him angrily, but when they saw that it was this middle-aged fat man, they turned their heads away and did not dare to look him in the eye...

At this time, Chen Qingshu came out and said to the middle-aged fat man with a smile:

"I didn't know you were coming, Master Zhao. I hope you will forgive me for not welcoming you. Master Zhao, please go to the private room upstairs!"

Facing Chen Qingshu's warm hospitality, this "Master Zhao" snorted coldly, and then he led his followers with his head held high and walked towards the private room upstairs. At this time, Chen Qingshu bowed to the guests in the lobby and said apologetically:

"Sorry to bother you all. As a token of our apology, we are offering a 20% discount on tea today!"

After saying this, Chen Qingshu gave a look to Zhang Sanwan on the stage. After receiving Chen Qingshu's signal, Zhang Sanwan started talking again. Although there was such a small episode, the teahouse soon returned to normal. However, there was one person who was concerned about this matter.

"Who is that person?" Ye Mingsheng looked at Ye Kui and asked:

Facing Ye Mingsheng's question, Ye Kui shook his head and said:
"Master, I don't know, but I heard that because of this Chenji Teahouse, the business is very prosperous and it makes a lot of money every day. It can even make tens of thousands of taels of silver every year, so there are many people who are eyeing this property!"

Ye Mingsheng was not surprised by what Ye Kui said. You know, money can make people excited. More than ten thousand taels of silver a year is definitely very tempting in an era like today when overseas silver has not yet poured into the Great Zhou in large quantities and the price of silver is still very strong.

After a pause, Ye Mingsheng continued to ask:
"Who is the backer behind Chen's Teahouse?"

If Ye Mingsheng remembered correctly, the Chenji Teahouse was not popular in Yijing recently, but had been doing a booming business in Yijing for several years. In this official-oriented society, Chenji Teahouse was like a piece of fat meat. If it didn't have a backer, it would have been taken away by countless people long ago...
Facing Ye Mingsheng's question, Ye Kui hesitated and said:
"Chen Qingshu is a disciple of Feng Zhengshan from the Feng family!"

Hearing this name, Ye Mingsheng's eyes became profound. He knew the Feng family. After Zhao Fuqu's first wife died, he married a woman from the Feng family. So after Zhao Fuqu came to power, the Feng family also rose in wealth.

With the birth of Zhao Fuqu's second son, Zhao Jianwen, the Feng family's power and influence reached a new height, and they were about to become the most powerful clan in Youyan. Feng Zhengshan was the second master of the Feng family and had served as the governor of Youyan in the third year of Anhe.

Therefore, if Chen Qingshu has a relationship with the Feng family, it would be a normal thing for him to protect his own property by relying on the reputation of the Feng family!
As for why he is being targeted now, it completely explains it!

Although Ye Mingsheng did not deliberately target the Feng family, with the successful entry of the Fengwu Army into the pass and the demise of Zhao Fuqu, the Feng family, which was deeply involved with the Yan Army, naturally declined, and some lucrative family businesses were forced to be ceded.

If the Feng family had not been so big and deep-rooted, and if they had not been very tactful and not gotten involved in the Yan army's tricks after the Fengwu army arrived, it would probably not be as simple as ceding some family businesses...
Thinking of this, Ye Mingsheng remembered something. Ye Cheng had reported to him before that although the sisters Su Ruyan and Su Rumeng were sent here by his father Su Qinghe, Su Qinghe's wife, the mistress of Rumeng and Rumeng's sisters, was Feng Zhengshan's second daughter. This was also the reason why Su Qinghe was able to get the experience of being a governor.

The reason why the sisters Ruyan and Rumeng were given to Ye Mingsheng was because Su Qinghe's wife Feng strongly advised Su Qinghe. From this, it seems that Feng's shadow may be behind this. They may want to imitate the investment in Zhao Fuqu back then and follow the wife route for him, Ye.

Just as Ye Mingsheng was lost in thought, a roar suddenly came from the second floor of the teahouse.
"Mr. Chen Qingshu used the money to buy your teahouse to show his respect. You are so shameless. You open your dog eyes and see that the Feng family is in trouble now. They can't even protect themselves. Do you still think they can protect you like before?"

"You've pissed me off! Not only do I want your teahouse, but this little girl beside you has to warm my bed, too!"

Hearing these words, the expression on Ye Mingsheng’s face gradually became playful. He was now really curious about where this "Master Zhao" came from. What kind of immortal was he? In Yijing, he could disregard the law and make clouds and rain with a flip of his hand...

At this time, "Master Zhao", who had not reached an agreement with Chen Qingshu, came down from upstairs angrily. Seeing him coming down, everyone in the hall quietly focused their eyes on him. Seeing this, "Master Zhao" also roared at everyone angrily:
"What are you looking at? If you piss me off, I'll send all of you to jail!"

Ordinary people were intimidated by his threat and dared not look at him again, but Ye Mingsheng was still looking at him openly. Seeing this, Mr. Zhao immediately wanted to walk towards Ye Mingsheng, but as soon as he took a step, he found more than ten cold eyes looking at him.

As if he realized that Ye Mingsheng was not someone who could be trifled with, Master Zhao swallowed his words and walked out of the teahouse with his servants in silence.

After he left, Ye Kui asked Ye Mingsheng in a low voice:
"My Lord, I will go and catch this audacious dog right now!"

Ye Mingsheng smiled and waved his hand and ordered:
"Don't alert the enemy yet, find out his background first!"

Ye Kui assured in a deep voice:
"Yes! I'll do it right away. I will make sure to investigate him thoroughly..."

(End of this chapter)