They Really Knew How to Make Money
Lin Shan said, "We just finished a shipment back to Yuxi Prefecture. There's not much cargo, just one cartload of red goods. We have to leave tomorrow. Let's set off first thing tomorrow morning so our families won't worry."
Shen Jingchuan nodded in agreement, and the necessary tasks were completed.
This trip to Chang'an was incredibly fruitful. He became famous overnight at the poetry gathering, establishing his reputation as a talented scholar in the Chang'an City. He also successfully became a disciple of the Great Confucian Yan. He unexpectedly found a clue to the Spirit Stone, redeemed Bai Ruoli by a twist of fate, and even settled his relationship with Lin Qingyao.
The events that occurred at Phoenix Perching Tower last night spread throughout the streets and alleys of Chang'an City in less than half a day. Everyone was talking about it in teahouses, taverns, and on the streets.
"Have you heard? Bai Ruoli, the most beautiful of the Eight Beauties, was redeemed by the talented scholar Shen last night! Guess how much it cost? A full five thousand taels! That price could redeem ten top courtesans, it's an astronomical sum!"
"What's so special about that? I also heard that last night, Young Master Shen had a small gathering at Phoenix Perching Tower, where he wrote several more amazing poems on the spot. Everyone in the tower said they were even better than the ones from the poetry gathering."
"Really?"
"You don't know yet, do you? Phoenix Perching Tower has already spread the word that they'll be publicly announcing Young Master Shen's new work from last night tonight. They're charging admission tonight, ten taels of silver each, and the private rooms upstairs are at least fifty taels each. And even so, most of them are already booked."
"My goodness, Phoenix Perching Tower is too good at making money! Ten taels of silver is enough for an ordinary family to live on for half a year, but I don't have that kind of spare money."
"Hey, what's wrong with not having money? Let's go join the fun at the gate, maybe someone inside copied the poem and circulated it out, and we can be the first to see it."
"Okay, let's go together tonight, I'll just wait for you at the door!"
Prince Jing's Heir, Xiao Mingxuan, was drinking tea in the cool hall of his own villa, with two beautiful maids kneeling beside him to serve him.
Bai Ruoli was someone he had specially invited to Chang'an. This beauty, the most famous of the Eight Beauties, was renowned throughout the Great Qian Kingdom, and he had long wanted to try her out.
Prince Jing would never agree to him marrying a courtesan into his palace. He never intended to do so; he was just having some fun and trying something new.
He couldn't get away from the family banquet at the Prince's mansion last night, but he had originally planned to go to Phoenix Perching Tower tonight. With his status as the Prince's heir, he had money and power, so winning her over was a sure thing.
Just as he was pondering this, two people rushed in. Leading them was Wang Debiao, the son of the garrison commander of Chang'an, followed by Feng Shaoxian, the son of the prefect of Chang'an Prefecture. They were his usual hangers-on.
As soon as Wang Biao entered, he shouted, "Young Master! Something's happened!"
Xiao Mingxuan frowned. "What's the panic?"
"It's all over Phoenix Perching Tower!" Zhou Biao leaned closer:
"Bai Ruoli lost her virginity last night, and her benefactor is none other than Shen Jingchuan from the poetry gathering a couple of days ago! That kid paid five thousand taels of silver to ransom her!"
Feng Shaoxian nodded in agreement:
"Absolutely true. Five thousand taels! He just pulled it out like that. I never knew that pedantic scholar was so rich. If it were me, I wouldn't be so generous."
Xiao Mingxuan's face instantly darkened, and he slammed his teacup on the table with a thud. He had disliked Shen Jingchuan since the poetry gathering two days ago. What right did this pedantic scholar from out of town have to steal the spotlight? Now he dared to touch the woman he had been eyeing for so long. He was simply asking for trouble.
"Damn it!" Xiao Mingxuan cursed through gritted teeth, "I hadn't even had a chance to make a move, and this brat got there first! What kind of thing is he, daring to try and steal someone from me, the young master!"
Wang Biao, observing the situation, immediately moved forward and offered a sinister suggestion:
"Your Highness, we can't swallow this insult. Shen Jingchuan is from Yuxi Prefecture; he can't stay in Chang'an forever. He'll have to go back sooner or later. It's not convenient to make a move in the city. Once he's on his way, we'll find a few skilled men to intercept him halfway, kill the brat, and snatch the woman back. Wouldn't that solve everything? Then, once she's in your hands, you can do whatever you want with her."
Feng Shaoxian chuckled, his eyes filled with lewd calculation.
"That's right, then we two brothers will also benefit from the young master's good fortune."
Xiao Mingxuan's face darkened, his fingertips tapping the table repeatedly, his eyes growing increasingly murderous. He pondered for a moment, then slowly nodded. The three of them immediately huddled together, lowering their voices to plot.
That evening, Shen Jingchuan chose a fine restaurant near his residence and booked a quiet private room. He had already sent a message to Liu Hu Zhou Tong and the other two, saying that he would be leaving for Yuxi Prefecture the next day and would be treating them to drinks that night.
Zhou Tong, Xu Mo, and Su Yan arrived as promised, and Lin Shan and Lin Yue were also present at the table.
The group had barely sat down and had a couple of drinks when Zhou Tong smiled and cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Shen Jingchuan: "Brother Shen, you have no idea, the whole Chang'an City has been buzzing about it all day. The exquisite poems you composed last night, and the story of you paying an exorbitant price to redeem Miss Bai, have become the talk of the town."
Xu Mo nodded in agreement, his face filled with emotion:
"That's right. Being able to personally participate in such a scene makes the trip worthwhile."
Who would believe that someone could write several timeless poems in just one night? Only you, Brother Shen, have such talent.
Zhou Tong changed the subject, glanced at Xu Mo beside him, and joked:
"You know what, today the top courtesan of Phoenix Perching Tower, Zhi Shu, specially sent an invitation to my good brother, inviting him to a banquet tonight. Turns out, this guy's a true friend; as soon as he heard Brother Shen was leaving tomorrow, he refused to go and insisted on coming over to drink with us."
Xu Mo smiled, picked up his teacup and took a sip. "Brother Shen is returning to Yuxi Prefecture, so how could I miss the farewell feast? Zhi Shu, I'll be staying in Chang'an for a while anyway, so I can go whenever I want, there's no rush."
Shen Jingchuan smiled upon hearing this, picked up his wine glass, and stood up:
"Brothers, we owe you all a great deal for taking care of us on this trip to Chang'an. Without further ado, let me raise a toast to you all."
The group raised their glasses, clinked them together, and drank them down in one gulp.
Before parting, I gave my three older brothers a small gift.
As he put down his wine glass, Shen Jingchuan took out a small cloth bag from his pocket, laid it out on the table, and inside were three exquisitely designed watches neatly arranged.
"This little gadget is called a watch. It's used for telling time. It was made by a skilled craftsman in my Lineage. It's very convenient for checking the time."
All three of them had never seen anything like it before, and they immediately crowded around, their eyes full of curiosity.
Shen Jingchuan picked up a piece and patiently taught them how to tell the time, explaining its usage in just a few words. The three of them marveled at it, examining it from all angles, finding it both novel and practical.
Zhou Tong weighed the watch in his hand, his eyes suddenly lighting up. He wasn't good at studying, but he did have a knack for business.
Such exquisite and rare items would be sure to be snapped up by the young masters and nobles of Chang'an City if they were put out to business; the business opportunities hidden within are enormous.