"Open the market!"
Zi Shou arrived at Shanglin Garden in his carriage and ordered the market opened.
Several noble scions, relying on their status, came forward to pay their respects, hoping to persuade King Zhou to drive out the commoners.
Zi Shou frowned and looked at Yin Pobai.
Didn't I tell you to beat them within an inch of their lives if they disobeyed? They should have been meek and obedient today, not crowding around me the moment the market opened!
Knowing he had failed to handle things properly, Yin Pobai stepped forward with several Royal Guards and beat those nobles back. He snarled, "The market is open. Anyone who disrupts market order will be killed without mercy."
Zi Shou said sternly, "You were all chosen by me to enter the palace as study companions. If you cannot even manage this much, have your elders come collect your bodies!"
Peng Zun broke out in a cold sweat. That part about collecting their bodies was no empty threat.
Just look at those ferocious Royal Guards. They really would strike to kill!
Peng Zun walked to the stall marked Jia-Bing No. 3 and glanced sideways. Sure enough, the Old Woman was beside him.
He had already realized something was wrong. These commoners were not here to serve them. In King Zhou's eyes, there was no difference between them and the commoners. They were all merchants in this palace market!
"Heartless Vegetable for sale! Come buy your Heartless Vegetable!"
The Old Woman called out with practiced ease. Besides Heartless Vegetable, her stall also had a steelyard specifically for weighing it.
Before long, cries of hawkers filled the entire market in Shanglin Garden.
The noble scions, meanwhile, all kept silent as if by mutual agreement.
Making them do business was one thing, but making