Doted By The Regent King-Chapter 682 - 681: Do You Dare to Do It?

In the small teahouse, Hou Ling’s gaze was brazen as he scrutinized Purple Jade, assessing her from head to toe as if trying to discern her origins.

Unruffled by this impudent examination, Purple Jade calmly sipped her tea before setting it down and looking at the young man opposite her, smiling, "Have you looked your fill?"

Her nonchalance actually made Hou Ling somewhat uncomfortable. He picked up his teacup and took a big gulp before asking, "Who are you?"

"Who I am is not important. What matters are the Hou Family’s thoughts. The proposal I just made, Young Master Hou, do you dare to consider it?" Purple Jade asked with a smile.

With a huff, Hou Ling glared at her, "If you won’t even say where you’re from, why should I trust you?" Having said that, he stood up, ready to leave.

Purple Jade lowered her eyelids, gently touching the rim of her teacup with her fingers, and spoke softly, "Young Master Hou can plot to have the He and Zhang families slaughter each other, seize their clientele, and, as an outsider, steadily hold the butcher business in Shuangliao Town. Is that the extent of your measure?"

At this, Hou Ling’s steps faltered, and he suddenly turned around, his eyes fierce and even a bit ferocious.

That intensity was precisely the ruthlessness expected of a butcher, yet Purple Jade was not the least bit intimidated, meeting his gaze head-on.

Hou Ling sat down again, lowering his voice and demanding, "Who exactly are you? What do you want to do!"

Purple Jade placed her hands on the table and said, "I want the Lu Family to cease their butcher business in Taiping Town from now on. They must not touch it, neither now nor in the future."

There was a flicker in Hou Ling’s eyes before he leaned back in his bamboo chair, resuming a ruffian-like appearance. He glanced at her clean hands, which were not the hands of someone who did farm work, nor were they rough—rather, they were like those of a young lady from a wealthy household.

"Young lady, if you could discover Hou’s affairs, it would seem trivially easy for you to accomplish this task. Yet you go the extra mile to find Hou? I must wonder, what virtue or ability has drawn me into your ladyship’s attention!" Hou Ling chuckled with a sly laugh.

"You’re right, I could overpower the Lu Family with a display of force, or engage them in a price war, pouring Silver into buying all the pork, forcing them out of business. But why should I?" Purple Jade said with disdainful eyes. "Why should I waste my Silver on the filthy Lu Family? When I have a better choice, why should I throw Silver away on them? Why not use it for some good deed instead? The Lu Family is not worth our time!"

Hou Ling was moved, "Do you have a grudge against the Lu Family?"

"Not at all," Purple Jade shook her head, "it’s just that my master does not like the faces of the Lu Family—that’s all."

"Your master?"

Purple Jade looked at the young man and said, "Who my master is, you don’t need to probe. I just want to know if you want to reclaim the market in Taiping Town. It’s a highly profitable business. If you’re not willing, we can easily support another family to start this business."

Hou Ling said, "You might not know, but the Lu Family’s arrogance stems from their backing by the Village Constable and the Town Mayor. The Lu Family’s butcher business isn’t entirely their own. Otherwise, how could they be so insolent? Just because they have numbers? No matter the number, it’s not a match for someone with a bit of clout behind them."

As he spoke, Hou Ling grew somewhat gritted and his eyes filled with resentment.

"It’s just a Town Mayor," Purple Jade scoffed, "The Lord County Magistrate is supporting you from behind, what can’t you do? If that’s not enough, how about adding the Prefect as well?"

Hou Ling was startled, looking at her with a hint of disbelief.

"As long as you don’t take a life recklessly, whatever you do, you’ll be absolved of any crimes, and your family will be kept safe and sound. Hou Ling, do you dare to do it?" Purple Jade asked again.

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