Huh? The Tyrant Cries After My Inner Thoughts Were Exposed!

Shen Ruhui rubbed his nose and said to the bookshop owner, "The information in this booklet is all true and hard to come by. I need seventy percent of the thirty silver taels it sells for."

The bookshop owner hesitated. Getting thirty percent for himself was a good deal, but... "Thirty taels, isn’t that a bit too high?"

What if those outsiders find it too expensive and don’t buy it?

Shen Ruhui was unconcerned, "This booklet even includes preferences and habits. Just spread the word a bit, and there’ll be plenty of buyers."

The targets are these out-of-towners, sell as many as possible and make as much as possible.

If they can’t even afford thirty taels to marry a high-class lady, they better pack up and go home.

The bookshop owner felt a bit troubled... This Mr. Shen really isn’t fit for business—such a high price will scare off those with little money.

He thought: I need to find a reason to bring the price down, after all, the more who buy, the more I earn.

Looking at Shen Ruhui, he flipped through the booklet, and who would have thought, even Princess Jinyang was in there!

There were pictures and notes on preferences and habits, down to favorite dishes and wines from which shop, and even details on her taste in men’s appearance and clothing...

The bookshop owner’s eyes lit up, forget thirty taels... wow, this should sell for a hundred taels!

This Mr. Shen is truly his ticket to wealth!

...

As the year-end approached, Su Juan noticed odd occurrences around her, starting with frequent encounters at East Moon Building with young gentlemen who had attended poetry gatherings, and young masters from various families in the Capital.

Some wore white robes, held paper fans, or tightened their belts to show off their figures, others would coincidentally meet her at Baihua Building for a drink.

They hovered around her wherever she went, seemingly knowing all about her.

Su Juan’s temple throbbed, sensing something was wrong, she brought it up with Shen Ruhui several times, but Shen Ruhui said those people might have inquired in advance, after all, Su Juan only frequented a few places.

In the Capital City, who wouldn’t know she loves the dishes cooked by the chef at East Moon Building?

Su Juan believed him, until she encountered Marquis Ping upon leaving the palace one day and picked up a dropped booklet.

She picked up the booklet, finding the cover familiar, but didn’t think much of it, hurriedly caught up to return it to him.

Marquis Ping accepted it with a smile, "Thank you, Your Highness, losing it would cost this old man a hundred taels."

Su Juan’s brow furrowed, [A hundred taels?]

"My Lord, may I have a look?"

Marquis Ping didn’t refuse, handing the booklet to Su Juan, "Just bought it from the market a couple of days ago, considering my son is also getting of age, it’s time to find him an appropriate match."

Upon opening the booklet, Su Juan saw that it contained portraits and preferences of noble ladies of the Capital, clearly the work of Shen Ruhui.

[A hundred taels, money-hungry madness!]

Marquis Ping thought a hundred taels was reasonable, since it contained true information, and if it helped marry his son to a good wife, it would be worth every penny.

Su Juan kept flipping, and Marquis Ping suddenly thought of something and wanted to stop her, but it was too late; she had reached the last few pages.

Her own portrait was right there, age, preferences, it was all listed, including times she might appear at East Moon Building and Baihua Building, her preferred drinks at Baihua Building, her liking for handsome and genteel men in white attire, preferably with a shapely posterior...

Such detailed entries covered three full pages!

Others at most had one page, but she occupied three, showing how well this person knew her, likely someone close.

Su Juan’s face darkened, [No wonder I keep running into a crowd wherever I go...]

Marquis Ping coughed lightly, couldn’t help asking in a low voice, "Dare I ask, Your Highness, is what’s written accurate?"

Su Juan’s face was black with anger, "Accurate my foot, only a fool would believe it!"

She clutched the booklet tightly, quickened her pace out of the palace, eager to settle scores.

Marquis Ping, seeing this, felt even more that the hundred taels were well spent, yet after walking a few steps, realized his hands were empty, and hastily chased after Su Juan.

The booklet! How did she end up taking the old man’s booklet, a hundred taels!

...

When Su Juan rushed back home, Shen Ruhui was counting the silver he recently earned, delighted at the prospect of buying a grand house and hiring some staff for domestic help.

Just the thought made him happy; Su Juan is truly a money tree—whoever shakes it reaps joy.

Isn’t this life much better than writing those worthless booklets back then?

Su Juan smiled at him, "Wow, you’ve earned so much, it must have been hard work for you."

Shen Ruhui felt guilty inside but remained calm on the outside, "It’s just year-end, business is better than usual, so I earned a bit more."

Su Juan replied, "Oh, so Ruyi Building’s information trade is really profitable, huh?"

Shen Ruhui sensed something was wrong.

The next moment, Su Juan threw a booklet on the table, "Good job, Shen Ruhui, daring to sell my information! You’re quite the businessman!"

Shen Ruhui laughed nervously, trying to appease her, "I’ll give you half, I’ll give you half..."

Su Juan was furious, never did she dream her information would be sold like this, truly outrageous.

"Selling for a hundred taels, how dare you earn such ill-gotten gains?"

Shen Ruhui was puzzled, "What hundred taels?"

He picked up the booklet from the table and saw it was indeed his, "I just had it sell for thirty taels."

Su Juan: "It’s sold at the bookstore right now for a hundred taels."

At that moment, Shen Ruhui realized he had been cheated by the bookshop owner!

The owner had pocketed a full seventy extra taels.

Shen Ruhui immediately rolled up his sleeves, ready to settle the score with the bookshop owner and get his due.

Rushing out, he called back to Su Juan, "Don’t touch the silver notes on the table! I’ll sort it out when I’m back."

Su Juan simply pocketed the silver notes, let out a cold laugh, waiting for your return?

... 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

The matter of the Princess looking for a suitor stirred up quite a rumor, but there was no definitive news.

Spies from the Southern Country inserted in the Capital City tried to pose as foreign guests to smuggle out secrets, but were caught by people Su Juan had arranged in advance.

Shen Ruhui: "They’ve been interrogated several times, confirmed as Southern Country people, but due to increased vigilance at the start of the year, they’ve been lying low in the Capital without a chance to pass messages out."

At the start of the year, the Monarch of Southern Country passed away and Chu Guang took the throne. Su Juan had increased defenses, especially against Southern Country spies stealing Da Jin secrets, particularly border defense details.

Su Juan nodded, "Good that nothing got out, recently we’ve received word from the north that the Southern Country is showing signs of attacking Chu, and Prince Han has volunteered to go to the border for defense."