Yan Bo recognized the yamen runner leading the group and flashed a fawning smile. "Captain Wu, is there perhaps some misunderstanding regarding this matter?"
"The books we are selling have been granted publication permits. How could these possibly be contraband?"
"Come, come, sit down and talk."
"Don't try to butter me up!" Wu Jiu said coldly, "Your permit is fake. There's no record of it in the county yamen."
Boom!
Wu Ningshi and Yan Bo felt their scalps tingle.
They understood the regulations of publishing better than anyone.
Every publication permit issued by the county yamen would have a corresponding record.
If there was no record.
It was undoubtedly fake.
And unprotected by law.
However.
They never imagined that the permit provided by Chen Nan would be a fake.
"I've made inquiries and confirmed that your Wu Clan Printing House has printed and sold sixteen thousand copies of contraband books recently," Wu Jiu stated. "According to the law, all profits from these sixteen thousand contraband books will be confiscated, and you will be fined thirty-two thousand taels of silver."
He then looked at Wu Ningshi. "If I recall correctly, the manager here is Madam Wu, isn't she? Please accompany us!"
"Also, Steward Yan, go back and inform the Wu Clan patriarch to prepare the fine!"
Upon hearing this.
Steward Yan's face instantly turned green.
Wu Ningshi was so terrified that she slumped onto the ground.
The Wu Clan was already on the verge of bankruptcy.
How could they possibly come up with so much money?
Chen Nan.
It was all Chen Nan's fault.
If this fellow hadn't procured a fake permit.
How would the Wu Clan be in such trouble?
At this moment.
She harbored a deep hatred for Chen Nan.
She truly regretted not having bitten off his lineage-carrying organ back then!
"Are you the author of this book, Bai Yu?" Wu Jiu asked Chen Nan, his gaze devoid of any emotion.
Chen Nan shook his head. "No, no, no, I'm a friend of the author."
Wu Jiu snorted. "In that case, you will accompany us back for investigation. Also, you'd better notify your friend and tell him to go to the yamen."
"Otherwise, the crime he committed will fall upon you."
Chen Nan sat on a stool like a lord, crossing his legs and sipping tea. "How did your yamen know that the Wu Clan Printing House printed and sold sixteen thousand books?"
"Where did you get this data from?"
"Why is it so accurate?"
Wu Ningshi and Yan Bo's expressions changed.
That's right!
How did they know this figure?
Wu Jiu's eyes glinted coldly. "We have our channels. If you have any objections, you can come with us to the yamen."
Chen Nan chuckled softly. "Captain Wu, if I may be so bold to ask, if my friend violated the law by publishing a book and earned huge profits, is the punishment truly just a fine?"
Wu Jiu snorted. "Naturally, it's not that simple. According to the law, in his situation, he would be thrown into hell."
Chen Nan's smile widened. "Do you think my friend, who can write a work as popular as 'Bai Yu,' would be foolish enough to publish a book without a permit, unaware of the law?"
"May I ask, what was his motive?"
"Tell me, what was his motive?"
"Is it truly that 'men die for wealth, birds die for food'?"
Wu Jiu became furious. "What do you mean? Are you implying that I framed you?"
Chen Nan slowly stood up, tidied his clothes, and revealed a meaningful smile. "If you want me to go to the yamen with you, that's fine. But is it truly worth it to 'die for wealth'?"
Wu Jiu's expression shifted dramatically.
Chen Nan's gaze made him feel a sense of fear and unease.
He hadn't expected the other party to see through him and realize he was acting under orders.
But he wasn't afraid.
He angrily retorted, "Even if you're eloquent, the books you published have no publication permit. The evidence is conclusive, and there's no room for your sophistry."
Chen Nan asked, "May I be so bold as to ask where the yamen gets its publication permits from?"
Wu Jiu cupped his hands towards the sky and said solemnly, "Naturally, from the City Lord's Mansion."
The yamen was where commoners sought justice.
And the most powerful institution was the City Lord's Mansion.
All commands and policies originated from the City Lord's Mansion.
"What if there's a possibility," Chen Nan boldly speculated, "that my friend obtained his permit directly from the City Lord's Mansion?"
Upon hearing this.
Wu Jiu was first stunned, then burst into laughter. "If your friend truly had connections with the City Lord's Mansion, why would he bother with the meager profits from writing books?"
"Alright, alright, enough nonsense, let's go!"
He had been wary of Chen Nan earlier.
But after Chen Nan stated that his friend obtained the permit directly from the City Lord's Mansion, he concluded.
Chen Nan was definitely bluffing.
If he truly had connections within the City Lord's Mansion, he could make a fortune with any casual business.
Why would he be interested in the profession of a writer???
"Captain Wu, I advise you not to interfere in this matter today!" Chen Nan said. "This is clearly a tactic of commercial competition, albeit a rather despicable one."
"If you alert the forces behind me..."
Wu Jiu became enraged, drew his saber, and pressed it against Chen Nan's neck. "Stop the gibberish! Are you coming or not? If not, believe it or not, I'll cut you down right now?"
Chen Nan laughed in extreme anger. "Fine, it's my fault for being too verbose and overly merciful. Let me say this clearly: it's easy for me to enter the county yamen, but it will be difficult for me to get out!"
With a face full of anger, he strode towards the exit.
At the same time, he was contemplating how to let Steward Tian know about their situation.
If he were truly imprisoned in the county yamen, the situation would be dire.
"Do you really have connections with the City Lord's Mansion?" Wu Ningshi asked in a voice as quiet as a mosquito, following beside Chen Nan.
Chen Nan replied, "Not me, my friend."
Wu Ningshi was on the verge of tears.
Your mouth is truly stubborn.
At a time like this, you're still fabricating a friend?
"Captain Wu, can I have someone deliver a message to my friend, asking him to surrender?" Chen Nan asked Wu Jiu on the way.
This person had pointed a saber at his neck.
This could not be easily forgiven.
Wu Jiu smiled meaningfully. "If I'm not mistaken, your 'friend' is you, isn't it?"
Chen Nan looked utterly astonished.
Has the Underworld learned the saying of fabricating friends?
Speaking of which.
If he were truly imprisoned in the county yamen.
Even if he didn't die, he would lose a layer of skin.
The key was that if no one knew he was imprisoned in the county yamen.
He would very likely be sent to hell.
Of course.
If he were directly thrown into the eighteenth level of hell, he would be quite happy.
Because then he could meet Empress Houtu.
But...
Given the crimes he had committed now, at most he would be imprisoned in the first level of hell.
What?
Rebel in the prison and attract Yuan Zun's attention?
That wasn't impossible.
The main issue was that his current strength was nowhere near enough to defeat the yamen runners in the prison.
He might even be hacked to death on the spot!
Just as he was racking his brains.
A furious roar echoed from the street: "Wu Jiu, I'll fuck your ancestors! Why are you arresting Young Master Chen? Do you know who he is? Are you tired of living?"