Xiao Zuo said with a hint of grievance, "If it were just some ordinary official or noble, I wouldn't have come to you. This person's identity is rather special."
Zi Yuan usually shared information with Uncle Dong, so they knew what had happened to Su Yun Mo recently and who she had offended.
Xiao Zuo instinctively glanced at Su Yun Mo, "Master, it's someone from Luo Yin Feng's faction."
A bright light flashed in Su Yun Mo's eyes. She immediately stood up and ran towards the exit, shouting as she went,
"This is a major issue. I have to handle it myself. We'll discuss the renovations and expansion of Jiu Lan Yuan another time."
Uncle Dong watched her flee, his beard bristling with annoyance, like a learned old scholar. "Little Master, you don't need to bother with such trivial matters. I can handle it myself!"
Su Yun Mo didn't reply, already out of sight.
Uncle Dong, fuming, also ran out.
No, he had to chase after her. It was rare for his Little Master to visit, and he absolutely had to make sure she heard all the reports he had prepared today!
Watching them chase each other, Zi Yuan felt a strange sense of a grandfather trying to force-feed his granddaughter, and helplessly looked up at the sky.
What was that saying again?
Ah, yes, every force has its counter.
When Su Yun Mo went downstairs, Wang Xi Ting was still throwing a tantrum.
The guests on the first floor had all fled due to her commotion.
Wang Xi Ting stood with her hands on her hips, flanked by seven or eight servants, shouting loudly.
"You people are blind! Don't you know who I am? It's an honor for me to want to book your establishment, and you dare to refuse my generosity?"
Su Yun Mo raised an eyebrow and walked down the stairs, picking up her words. "Oh? And who might you be that you have such great honor to bestow upon me?"
Wang Xi Ting was already enraged, and her joy from a recent imperial decree had clouded her judgment. Without even looking clearly at the person, she arrogantly raised her voice.
"I am the legitimate daughter of the Minister of War. My father is a favored official of General Luo, and I will soon be entering the palace as an imperial concubine."
"Now, my presence in this shabby place is to bring you glory. Once I enter the palace, you won't even be able to see me!"
She continued to shout and then turned around. Upon seeing the little dumpling descending the stairs, she froze.
Su Yun Mo stood on the fourth step from the bottom, not yet reaching the first floor. She stood there, maintaining a height similar to Wang Xi Ting's, with a playful smirk.
"Oh, so it's an Imperial Concubine. My apologies, my apologies."
Has the Emperor started selecting concubines? When did this happen?
She hadn't heard anyone mention it when she entered the palace a couple of days ago.
"Why is it a little girl?" Wang Xi Ting looked Su Yun Mo up and down with displeasure.
"I detest children the most. However, seeing as you have some discernment, I'll let this slide. I won't hold your disrespect against you."
With that, she raised her voice again. "Guards, come here quickly! Where is the manager of this place? Are they sending servants or little brats to attend to me? Is there no sense of propriety here?"
"No need to shout. I am the one receiving you today. Just state what you need," Su Yun Mo said, digging in her ear.
She had initially thought this person might be capable, but it turned out to be just a brainless, bullying good-for-nothing.
"You? Can you make decisions?" Wang Xi Ting asked disdainfully. "Let me tell you, I intend to book this entire place for three days and three nights."
She needed to celebrate such a significant event as entering the palace.
"Don't worry about the money. No matter how much it costs, I have plenty," Wang Xi Ting declared with a show of wealth.
Su Yun Mo crossed her arms. "If that's all, you can leave now by turning right. We don't have such a custom here."
Wang Xi Ting let out a cold snort. "With me here today, the rules have changed! Otherwise..."
She gave a couple of snorts and signaled to the servants behind her.
Those servants immediately stepped forward, intending to smash things.
Su Yun Mo narrowed her eyes dangerously and uttered two words: "Zi Yuan."
Zi Yuan leaped down from the second floor and, in a flash, subdued all the servants.
Before Wang Xi Ting could even see clearly, her people were all sprawled on the ground, clutching their heads or stomachs and groaning.
Wang Xi Ting, enraged, cursed them for their uselessness.
Suddenly, a figure flashed before her eyes.
Su Yun Mo had appeared before her without anyone noticing and then swept her legs.
Wang Xi Ting fell to the ground, letting out a yelp.
The little dumpling followed up with a kick to her stomach.
Su Yun Mo used her abilities, her force so great that she sent Wang Xi Ting flying out the door and onto the ground.
She immediately cried out in pain, clutching her stomach.
The onlookers outside were stunned.
They weren't shocked by Su Yun Mo's actions of fighting, but rather by her audacity in provoking someone from Luo Yin Feng's faction.
After all, the Luo family were veterans of two dynasties. Even during the previous emperor's reign, the head of the Luo family, Luo Zheng, had assisted in governing the court.
It was only after the former emperor's death that Luo Zheng retired and allowed his son to inherit his position. General Luo was also deeply trusted by His Majesty.
He had been as highly regarded as Duke Ying back then.
Su Yun Mo, at such a young age, provoking the Luo family, would likely lose her life tomorrow.
The crowd began to murmur.
Wang Xi Ting also made a threat, "You damned girl, just you wait. When I get back, I'll have my father send people to seal up this broken place."
"I'll be waiting, but I doubt your father would dare to come," Su Yun Mo retorted with a cold snort, then casually picked up a stool and threw it.
Seeing the stool flying towards her, Wang Xi Ting shrieked and covered her head with her hands.
The stool landed half a meter away from her face, narrowly missing disfigurement.
She was instantly terrified, her face pale, and she dared not speak another word.
Su Yun Mo sneered at this and then raised her voice to the staff of Jiu Lan Yuan, "Listen to me, all of you."
"From today onwards, especially anyone claiming to be from Luo Yin Feng's faction, if they come here to cause trouble, no matter their identity, throw them out."
"One comes, one is beaten. A pair comes, a pair is beaten. The Luo family is not welcome!"
If they were going to play, they would play big!
Hearing Su Yun Mo's arrogant declaration, everyone started to chatter and discuss.
They said Su Yun Mo was a fearless young calf, unaware of the immensity of heaven and earth.
Su Yun Mo let them talk and added, "No matter what happens, I will take responsibility. Do you understand?"
Zi Yuan led the response, "Understood!"
The others in the tavern also echoed their agreement.
The people helping out here were all brothers from the Blood Alliance. In the two months since opening the tavern, they had endured quite a bit of annoyance from those "wealthy idlers."
Today, it was finally a moment of great satisfaction!
As long as their Master had their back, what was there to fear?
The onlookers, seeing that even the staff of Jiu Lan Yuan were siding with Su Yun Mo, fell silent. They began to speculate about Su Yun Mo's true identity and how she possessed such capabilities.
Wang Xi Ting was not foolish. Seeing the situation, she realized that Su Yun Mo was not someone to be trifled with.
Furthermore, with her impending audience with the Emperor, she didn't want to be injured. She decided not to provoke Su Yun Mo further and quickly fled with her entourage.