Chapter 367: Infamy

Chapter 367: Infamy

It was almost evening by the time they returned to the city.

Xin You, holding the reins, said to Xiaolian, "Let's check out Qingsong Bookstore."

Xiaolian, who also missed Manager Hu and the others, cheerfully agreed.

The streets were sparsely populated. The four rode their horses until they spotted the Qingsong Bookstore sign in the distance, then slowed and dismounted.

"Miss Xin You, will you be dining at the bookstore?" Xiaolian walked beside her.

"Sure. It's been a while since I've dined with Manager Hu and the others."

As they chatted and neared the bookstore's entrance, Xin You suddenly tugged Xiaolian back.

Thousand Winds rushed forward, shielding Xin You, while Ping'an caught the flying projectile.

The projectile turned out to be an egg.

Xin You commanded decisively, "Bring that person back."

Egg-throwing at the bookstore's entrance clearly wasn't the work of assassins.

Thousand Winds obeyed and left, while Ping'an remained by Xin You's side.

Liu Zhou and Shitou heard the commotion and rushed out one after the other.

"Boss Xin You, you're here." Seeing it was Xin You, Liu Zhou looked delighted.

Xin You pointed to the egg in Ping'an's hand: "Someone threw this at the bookstore's entrance."

Liu Zhou glanced at it and immediately frowned: "Again!"

"What's going on?" Xin You didn't go inside and stood at the bookstore's entrance to ask.

Manager Hu also came out.

"Yesterday, someone tossed rotten eggs at the entrance, but we didn't catch them," Liu Zhou said, clenching his fists. "If I find out who the little brat is, I'll make sure he regrets it!"

"Has the bookstore had any conflicts with customers recently?" Xin You asked Manager Hu.

Manager Hu shook his head: "No."

"Then we'll wait and see."

Manager Hu and Liu Zhou exchanged glances, unsure what Xin You meant by that.

Soon, Thousand Winds returned with a person in tow: "Miss Xin You, this is the person who threw the egg."

Xin You examined the person restrained by Thousand Winds.

It was a man in his thirties, wearing a padded robe, looking like a frail scholar.

Xin You glanced at Manager Hu.

Manager Hu slightly shook his head, indicating he didn't recognize the man.

Liu Zhou asked coldly, "Who are you? Why did you throw an egg at our bookstore?"

Passersby intentionally slowed down, and people from surrounding shops peeked out discreetly.

The man did not answer Liu Zhou's question, struggling to break free: "Let me go, are you going to carry out vigilante justice in public?"

Xin You observed coldly, confirming that the man was in his right mind, and her expression hardened: "Are you here for the bookstore? Or are you after me?"

The fact that he brought up vigilante justice showed that he knew her identity and her relationship with the bookstore. When Xin You realized this, she understood the man was probably after her.

The man's face changed slightly.

"What, all bark and no bite? I thought scholars had more backbone," Xin You said with disdain.

The man was instantly provoked: "That's right, I can't stand it anymore! You, a woman, using your position to push harmful policies, earning the world's scorn, you will get your retribution sooner or later!"

Xiaolian kicked him: "With a mouth like that, you're the one who will get retribution!"

The man screamed and cursed: "Tyrant and her lackey!"

His outburst drew a bigger crowd. Many people gathered together, whispering and pointing.

"What's going on?"

"That scholar threw an egg at Lady Xin, saying she is pushing harmful policies."

"I heard about it too, that new policy is downright wrong!"

"How is it wrong?"

"Think about it, combining the head tax with the land tax, we barely have enough poor land, and now we have to pay more taxes than before."

"I heard that if the new policy is really implemented, the landlords will jack up the rents, making it even harder for us."

The discussions of the people reached the man's ears, giving him great encouragement. He shouted at Xin You: "Lady Xin, when you acted as Miss Kou, donating to charity and helping disaster victims, it was truly commendable. How come you changed after gaining a higher status?"

Xin You smiled instead of getting angry: "Tell me, how have I changed?"

"You're a corrupt official, bleeding the people dry!" The man said with righteous indignation.

"The new policy hasn't been implemented yet, and you already assume it's exploiting the people? What proof do you have?"

"Proof? Isn't it plain as day? My family's hundred acres of poor land are barely enough to scrape by—"

Xin You coldly interrupted the man's indignation: "I'm asking for proof—right now."

The man was speechless.

He had seethed with anger upon hearing about the new policy, which is why he came to throw rotten eggs to vent his frustration. Now that the new policy hasn't been implemented, where would he get proof?

"Without proof, you are slandering and assaulting a government official," Xin You looked at the pale-faced man, not tolerating such a pretentious scholar, "Qianfeng, take this slanderous troublemaker to the authorities."

"Yes," Qianfeng responded and took the man away.

"Let me go, let me go, you're abusing your power!" The man screamed in terror.

Liu Zhou spat: "Coward!"

There are indeed many such people who seem fearless of authority but cower when faced with real consequences.

The onlookers didn't expect Xin You to be so firm and quickly dispersed.

Of course, they didn't really scatter. Some closed up shop, while others headed to various taverns and teahouses to discuss the new gossip about the scholar being sent to the authorities.

Xin You walked into the bookstore and took the tea offered by Boss Hu: "Boss, have you caught wind of the new policy?"

It's only been a few days, and those folks are already on the move.

Boss Hu shook his head: "I just heard about it today."

Xin You looked at Liu Zhou.

Liu Zhou shook his head too: "Yesterday, I overheard two scholars whispering, catching snippets like 'new policy,' but I'm not sure about the details."

"But from the looks of the crowd today, quite a few have caught wind of the new policy. Liu Zhou, round up some folks and hit the teahouses and taverns to see what's being said."

It seems their propaganda is targeted, specifically at those with modest means, especially scholars.

After dinner at the bookstore, Liu Zhou returned fuming.

"Those folks drinking and eating are really out of line, badmouthing the boss! The boss has saved so many disaster victims and done so much good, how can they forget all that?"

Xin You had anticipated this: "It's nothing. Most of those disaster victims can't even afford a drink."

"Boss, are we just going to let those people ruin your reputation?"

"Under the emperor's nose, no big waves can be made. It's not too late to wait a few more days."

The next day, a censor called out Xin You for her reckless behavior, and several others stood up to speak for the scholar.

Emperor Xingyuan listened silently and grasped the key point: "So, the scholar was dissatisfied with the new policy and threw rotten eggs when Lady Xin heads to the bookstore?"

Censor Du immediately explained for the scholar: "The scholar did not attack Lady Xin; he threw them at the bookstore entrance. It's quite common for the people to express their anger this way. Lady Xin, as a proponent of the new policy, not only failed to properly appease but also sent the person to the authorities, which is really inappropriate—"

Emperor Xingyuan's face turned cold: "Does dissatisfaction with the new policy justify throwing rotten eggs when Lady Xin heads to the bookstore? Are you all so protective of the scholar because you genuinely speak for the people, or because you are dissatisfied with the new policy?"