Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

The chief storekeeper fainted in anger, but everyone was so oblivious that Gu Xin also wanted to explode on the spot.

With a look of shame, he knelt before Jiang Pengji and offered a humble apology and asked her for forgiveness.

She forcefully helped him up, and with her usual expression, she said, “What is Uncle Gu doing? Get up quickly, do you want my life shortened?”

It was as if Gu Xin had aged significantly in one night, he cannot defy Jiang Pengji and he could only sit down embarrassedly. Feng Jin and the rest arrived at the scene; most of them trusted Gu Xin. They knew about his great contributions in Shangyang district and respected him.

“Master Gu, what happened on your journey, why did you…”

He had come immediately to admit his wrongdoings and he was haggard and looked like he hadn’t washed for days. Where was his usual calm composure?

Gu Xin replied, “Your servant has let the Master down, I accidentally messed up the task the Master assigned to me.”

Messed up?

Jiang Pengji narrowed her brows and solemnly said, “Uncle Gu, what exactly happened?”

Gu Xin frowned and explained himself, “Following the master’s orders, your servant transported a variety of glassware to Zhongzhao to seek new business opportunities. It was alright at the beginning but after a while, it seemed like an evil wind blew across Zhongzhao, and glassware of all sorts was sold everywhere. At first, they sold them at a high price but as there were too many stalls selling pirated copies, the price went from ten thousand to only a hundred strings of coins…”

After hearing this, the faces of all those present suddenly changed, especially Xu Ke who was so surprised that he bit his tongue. For Fengyi county to have such an abundance of family assets, wasn’t it because they relied on the “rare” glassware? Now the price of glassware had dipped from ten thousand to a hundred strings of coins, and there were signs that it could decrease further. If that happened, then they would lose their source of income.

Xu Ke managed Jiang Pengji’s treasury and he was clearest about the situation. The others also know that for Fengyi county to be wealthy, it cannot be dissociated from glassware.

Viewers in the live streaming room were also in an uproar. Based on Gu Xin’s description, there must be a huge ulterior motive behind this.

Xiaotianshi Zuimengla: “This is terrible — what’s the inside story?”

520: “#digsnose. What inside story can there be unless there’s an internal betrayer. Presently only the streamer possesses all the machinery to synthesize glassware. Zhongzhao is a place of seas and high mountains, how is it possible that it has been inspired to produce numerous glassware?”

Woai Nimen: “An internal spy? However, as you have all seen, the streamer has kept the formula to synthesize glassware a top-secret. Within and without, it is a well-protected secret and the streamer also has a sharp and watchful eye. The business has been prospering for a year already, how did the secret get leaked?”

Jintian Shuanggeng: “The likelihood of an internal spy is extremely high, but I believe the possibility of another lady who travelled back in time is higher. You have all witnessed, it is Zhongzhao again! Previously, the Four Self-Accomplishment Classics for Women emerged from there; this was exactly like the classics from ancient times. Now that glassware has emerged, if there are no signs of another time traveller, it is unbelievable.”

Guicai Guofengxiao: “Based on my expert analysis, except for an internal spy, or a woman who travelled back in time, there is also an unlikely possibility — perhaps someone unexpectedly managed to burn the kiln to synthesize glassware. Only the probability of this is low; even if they were able to burn it, they would not be so skilful.”

Yin Yuejia Zhuge Qinmo: “Don’t be so shameless, the viewer above, you even call yourself “excellent”, why did you not term yourself ‘useless’!”

Their heated discussion went on, they weren’t just curious about the truth behind this incident, but they’re also worried for Jiang Pengji.

Obstructing someone’s fortune is like killing one’s parents!

Jiang Pengji depended on the sales of this glassware to amass two billion and more strings of coins from the people in the north borderlines. If this incident hadn’t happened, they might be able to cheat Zhongzhao of a few billion strings of coins as well. In the future, they would need to worry about lacking in money. Now that her source of income is obstructed, how can she not rage?

Honestly, Jiang Pengji didn’t rage.

Compared to their unnerved expressions, instead, she appeared composed as if saying “so this is how it happened.”

She smiled and opened her mouth helplessly.

“This matter will not be blamed on Uncle Gu. Not unless you think the method to synthesize glassware leaked because of you?”

Gu Xin was stumped, the people around consecutively thought of a possibility — internal spy!

The glassware was too profitable, so who wouldn’t be jealous? Merely burning some sand could earn a profit of ten thousand strings of coins almost instantly. The benefits were truly awesome.

As Gu Xin was deep in thought considering who could be the internal spy, he also appeared immensely embarrassed.

“There was an internal spy indeed, but this couldn’t have been done by her.”

Because the timing didn’t match. She was extremely certain and didn’t suspect that aspect. Though there’s no evidence, deep down she already understood what happened. In this world, she is not the only one who can synthesize glassware.

Could it be her?

The others looked at each other. From the streamer’s point of view, she already knew there’s an internal spy, but she pretended to be ignorant?

“But my lord…”

Without the glassware business, what else can they do?

Jiang Pengji smiled mockingly; she didn’t even rate this enemy as a threat. “Don’t fret, from this, we have gained knowledge on how foolish the person behind this is, why should we fear?”

Gu Xin is a businessman, he calmed down and considered the glassware piracy incident within Zhongzhao and shook his head helplessly. It was indeed foolish.

“The master is right. Although the glassware has an exorbitant value and the commodity is precious, few people know how it is synthesized. If the production process and sales were tightly regulated, even with only one kiln, they could easily become the richest person in the world. Wealth can conquer countries; this isn’t a foolish saying. That person doesn’t have foresight, they didn’t protect the recipe of synthesizing glassware. Instead, they caused the skill of kiln burning to spread throughout… this was utterly foolish.”

Gu Xin had witnessed tor himself how the value of glassware dipped from ten thousand strings of coins to become almost naught in Zhongzhao. Naturally, the person who first started the kiln burning wanted to take advantage of this to make money. However, this person was short-sighted, they were blind to the greed of the merchants. Such a profitable business, it was worthy enough to gamble one’s life and one’s family’s lives.

Precisely under the influence of benefits, this caused the glassware business in Zhongzhao to become ubiquitous which became a disaster.

Luckily, once Gu Xin sensed something amiss, he had already sold all the glassware below market price. He hastily left with the money earned and returned to Xiangyang district. Don’t be fooled by the pathetic state in which he returned. In fact, he had earned over 3 million strings of coins. Moreover, he went boldly against the big businessmen in Zhongzhao. Compared to Gu Xin who is an experienced merchant, how can those inexperienced merchants be his match? Gu Xin assessed the situation to be dire, so he left the business and fled when he earned the last sum of money. The merchant who took over thought he was on the road to amassing a fortune, but not long after he was disappointed.

Xu Ke and the rest looked at Jiang Pengji in awe.

They asked themselves honestly if their source of wealth was being forcefully blocked by others. If so, they would not only faint in exasperation, they might even explode in anger. His lord seemed fine, she was calm and composed. Moreover, she had the time to mock the mastermind.

“But my lord, losing this means to generate a fortune…”

Xu Ke is the treasurer, so his heart aches more because of this.

“Never mind. Anyway, there is enough money in the private treasury, so if the official treasury is depleted of cash, just claim from there.” The official treasury was low on cash; she has always been the one who contributed from her pocket. Jiang Pengji jokingly said, “Yet look at Zhongzhao, after this incident, likely, they will soon collapse.”

Throughout the country, there were large scale kilns creating the glassware. They were desperately trying to make money. Soaring numbers of glassware would decrease its value significantly. The first person who amassed this fortune has enjoyed enough and left, but those who follow behind are in deep trouble. Zhongzhao’s situation is not stable; the infighting between factions is chaotic and violent. The peoples’ lives are increasingly in turmoil.

Many perceive selling glassware as their means to endless wealth, to exit the vicious cycle of poverty, naturally, they will follow the trend.

Don’t underestimate the process of synthesizing glassware. Though the cost price is low, the temperature for kiln burning must be precise. The source of fuel to keep the kiln burning is also costly. For the common people to follow the trend, eventually they must invest their savings into it and they’ll not earn much.