Fake Eunuch: Discovering the Emperor is a Woman!-Chapter 187 - 185: Invitation Turmoil

"Hang up the signboard, but remember, cover it well with red cloth! Do not let anyone see the characters written on it!"

Indeed, the reason Lin Yi had just gone to the Ministry of Industry was to have this very signboard made!

As for the content written on the signboard, that’s right, it was indeed personally inscribed by the young Emperor.

And as the sign, draped in red cloth, was hoisted up high, almost everyone’s attention was fixed on this signboard.

This was exactly Lin Yi’s intent, deliberately exposing the signboard’s position beyond the surrounding curtains.

And the movement here was constantly drawing the onlookers’ attention.

For this reason, as Lin Yi made his move, as the signboard was hung, everyone’s gaze converged on this red cloth-covered sign.

While pointing and discussing, they were also guessing what could possibly be written on it.

It could be said that for the past month, the news had spread throughout the entire Capital City that a shop would open in the East Market, and indeed, the fanfare surrounding this shop was really quite grand.

Of course, although it was still unknown what business the shop would undertake, many had already realized that this shop was definitely not somewhere that ordinary folk like themselves could frequent.

As to why?

One look at the precious fabric by the inch, as well as the daily inscriptions by Master Ouyang, wasn’t it evident how upscale this was?

Even by guesswork, one could tell that the items to be sold here in the future would certainly be of high value.

This was, of course, Lin Yi’s deliberate doing.

And quite clearly, his objective had been thoroughly achieved.

"Sir, our shop has been fully renovated. Should we proceed with renovating the adjacent shops as well?"

Lin Yi, who was sitting in the hall, resting with a cup of tea, heard this report from his subordinates and waved his hand dismissively:

"There’s no need to rush the decoration. How are the negotiations for the row of shops around us?"

Indeed, they were discussing the shops surrounding the one that had been renovated.

During the renovation period, Lin Yi had sent people to negotiate directly.

For any willing sellers, Lin Yi would have his people take over immediately.

Furthermore, for those who were not willing to sell, Lin Yi raised the offer very high, indifferent to the inflated prices, as long as the other party was willing to sell.

And in this month, it’s safe to say that nearly ten shops on both sides and opposite the store were under Lin Yi’s control.

Of course, in this period, some shop owners also saw the grandeur of the other party.

Thinking that with such grand preparations, there must be grand plans, they were unwilling to sell their shops regardless of the high prices offered.

For such people, Lin Yi also had strategies. He first recorded this information and then investigated who was backing these shop owners.

After the investigation, Lin Yi directly sent people to pay a visit.

"You, a shopkeeper, refuse to sell? Okay, no problem, I won’t deal with you but directly with the backing behind you. I want to see if you’ll sell then."

Although Lin Yi’s position was merely that of an eunuch, unfortunately for others, his popularity at present was simply too great.

This made no one dare to underestimate him.

Even if they held him in utter disdain in their hearts, they still had to show some respect on the surface.

Especially when it was just a few shops in question, and even more so because you’re not seizing them but paying for them.

As a result, aside from a few taverns belonging to Princes, Lin Yi easily had the other surrounding shops in his hands.

As for the reason for acquiring so many shops, of course, there was a reason. For now, a single line of colored glaze did not require so many storefronts, but later on, he still had many other items to launch.

Moreover, he wasn’t just thinking of using these shops solely for selling merchandise; it wasn’t that simple.

"In response to your question, Sir, those few shops are still without offers. We have sent messages, but the other party has not heeded us."

This outcome was, of course, already clear in Lin Yi’s mind.

The owners of those shops were either Princes or backed by the Minister of War.

Therefore, it was within reason that they ignored him.

After all, with this shop as the center, he had everything within this circle under his control, and that was enough.

As for those on the outskirts, there was no need to hurry.

With the backing of those behind them falling from power, Lin Yi believed they would eventually fall into his hands.

"Are the invitations ready? Have people start distributing them today."

"Yes, Sir."

After the servant left, a number of individuals with the red, gold-embossed invitations made their way to the mansions of the Capital City’s elite.

It’s necessary to emphasize the luxuriousness of these invitations, which goes without saying.

Each invitation was custom-made on Lin Yi’s specific orders.

The craftsmanship was also something absolutely nonexistent in the present age.

That is, wrapping the red silk around bamboo slips to create book-like invitations reminiscent of those from a later era.

Not only that, but even the writing on them employed gold powder-infused golden ink.

All in all, just one invitation’s cost was truly significant - it couldn’t be made without a tael of silver.

Anyone who could receive an invitation held a position no lower than Fifth Grade.

Of course, that’s not to say that everyone above Fifth Grade received an invitation.

Lin Yi made a special list, and the individuals on this list were all from wealthy backgrounds.

Apart from these officials, the rest were from Aristocratic Families.

As long as your family had considerable assets, you would receive Lin Yi’s invitation.

The message on the invitation was simple, informing them that the first luxury goods shop of You Country was open for business and thus they were specially invited to attend with their wives.

What’s more, Lin Yi specifically noted on the back that these invitations would only be sent to people with status.

As for whether people would understand what ’luxury goods’ meant, that was beyond Lin Yi’s control.

He was after exactly this kind of prestige.

Sure enough, when this group of people received such invitations, they were all stunned!

Not only had they never seen such styling before, but the writing was actually done with gold powder!

To speak without exaggeration, just the characters on these invitations, if scraped off with a small knife and then smelted, could potentially yield some gold.

How could they not be shocked, how could they not be astonished?

...End of Chapter...