The Anchoring Object

The Anchoring Object. Outside the private room, drums thundered.

Bright lamplight spread like an orange sea.

Lu Gang shut the window, and the room immediately fell silent, cut off from the clamor outside.

Little Mirage Dragon flitted about, darting past everyone's eyes.

"Why has it gotten smaller?"

Xiang ChangSong circled the room, measuring its dimensions with his steps.

Honestly.

The private room was refined enough, with all the fruit peeled and the incense burner giving off a fine fragrance. Its only flaw was that it was not as large as those in Pingyang Prefecture. Though it was labeled a room for ten, it still felt somewhat cramped.

"Times have changed." Xu Zishuai sliced off a phoenix-shaped piece from a watermelon carved into birds and beasts, popped it into his mouth, then cut another slice to feed the Third Prince. "How can Pingyang Prefecture compare to the Imperial Capital? Every inch of land in the Imperial Capital is worth its weight in gold.

"Without a Grandmaster backing us, it's already good enough that we have a room for ten. If Master were here, maybe we could move up to the fourth floor. Mm, this watermelon's good. Come try some, Junior Brother Xiang."

"In weather this cold, where did the watermelon come from?"

"Why worry about that? As long as it tastes good, that's enough. Come on, share the melon!"

"Does the Celestial Ship Merchant Guild pay dividends to the court every year?"

Liang Qu sat down on the Arhat Bed, accepted the watermelon, and made idle conversation with Lu Jia, who had yet to leave.

"There is no such thing as dividends. When the Celestial Ship Merchant Guild encounters difficulties, the imperial family and even the court will lend a hand. When the imperial family or the court has need, the