Astonishment

Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion.

Situated in the north of the Capital, right in the middle of the broadest and busiest street, it occupied the space of seven or eight storefronts. Its interior was stately and luxurious.

Outside, several burly, powerfully built attendants cleared away every trace of snow.

Inside, glazed treasures and jade stones lined the counters, alongside exquisitely carved trinkets. They drew the eyes of countless passersby, only for those same people to feel the emptiness of their purses.

Ren Yan approached.

Then he was stopped by the guards at the entrance.

Only after he said he was the servant of a young master from Xuanguo Estate and invoked the estate's name did the guards let him inside.

Several richly dressed young masters were strolling leisurely through Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion, admiring the various items on display. Attendants and stewards followed beside them, smiling as they introduced each piece.

When Ren Yan entered,

a steward came over and asked, "Which young master of Xuanguo Estate are you serving, and what are you looking to purchase?"

As the steward approached, Ren Yan's mouth twitched. For a moment, he found it difficult to speak, but in the end, he still took out that sheet of paper and handed it over.

"My master asked me to find your shopkeeper and give this to him. He said he wanted to exchange it for two hundred gold..."

The moment those words fell,

the steward froze.

Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion was no ordinary merchant house, and its shopkeeper was not someone just anyone could request to see. Most matters could usually be handled by the stewards.

Several people nearby also cast curious looks their way.

After a brief hesitation, the steward accepted the sheet from Ren Yan and began reading it.

As he read, his brow gradually furrowed.

At times he looked puzzled, at times thoughtful, at times utterly astonished. Finally, he took the paper and headed deeper inside, saying to Ren Yan as he went, "Wait here."

Ren Yan had already prepared himself to be "invited" out, yet the steward's reaction left him stunned.

After reading that sheet of paper, the man actually seemed unable to make the decision himself!

For a moment, an indescribably absurd feeling rose in Ren Yan's heart.

As time passed,

that absurd and eerie sensation only grew stronger.

Until a richly dressed middle-aged man emerged from within Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion!

The shopkeeper of Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion!

He held the sheet of paper in his hand, now folded into a neat square. Walking up to Ren Yan, he said pleasantly, "What your master wants is not merely two hundred gold, is it? Repeat exactly what he said in detail."

Ren Yan stared blankly at the shopkeeper before him. He stood there in a daze for a while before snapping awake as if from a dream and hurriedly replying, "Yes. My Second Master said..."

A short while later,

Ren Yan walked out of Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion with a heavy bundle on his back, containing a full two hundred gold. He was still somewhat dazed, as though he had just woken from a dream.

He understood nothing else, only that Chen Mu had truly used that sheet of paper to secure an audience with the shopkeeper of Ten Thousand Treasures Pavilion—and had obtained two hundred gold!

This was two hundred gold, not two hundred taels of silver!

Among all the young masters and young ladies of Xuanguo Estate, only those few legitimate sons could afford such a sum. The other concubines' sons and daughters could not possibly come into contact with such a large amount of wealth so easily!

Gradually, Ren Yan recovered from his daze.

At once, he hugged the bundle carefully to his chest, vigilantly watching his surroundings as he hurried back toward Xuanguo Estate.

Holding such a great sum of money, he no longer dared entertain the slightest thought of skimming some off. As he walked, even the hands clutching the bundle trembled faintly.

Study.

Chen Mu was carefully reading a copy of the "Demon and Ghost Compendium."

Creak.

The door was pushed open.

"Second Master, it is time to eat."

Xiao Mei entered expressionlessly, carrying a wooden tray. Without caring that this was the study, she set it directly on the tea table nearby.

Chen Mu did not look up at her. He merely continued reading, lifted his teacup, and took a sip.

Just as Xiao Mei set down the tray and was about to leave,

knock knock!

The door was knocked twice.

"Come in."

Chen Mu did not look up, his voice calm.

At the doorway, Ren Yan stamped his feet to shake all the snowmelt from his shoes, then carefully entered the study and placed the bundle on the table before Chen Mu.

The bundle was opened,

revealing rows upon rows of Gold Ingots.

Xiao Mei, who was about to leave the study, caught sight of the scene from the corner of her eye and froze. One foot had already crossed the threshold, yet it hung suspended in midair.

Deep astonishment appeared in her eyes.

In her daze, she heard Chen Mu speak.

"They gave Gold Ingots? That works. What else?"

"There is also a letter."

Ren Yan hurriedly took a letter from his robes and handed it to Chen Mu.

Chen Mu picked up the letter and began reading it carefully.

Meanwhile, Xiao Mei walked out of the study in a daze. Even after returning to her own room, she remained absent-minded, unable to calm her mind.

That light, fluttering sheet of white paper and those heavy Gold Ingots were simply too far apart. For a moment, she had even thought it was an illusion.

A full ten Gold Ingots.

Two hundred gold!

Even in Xuanguo Estate, this was absolutely no small sum. Chen Mu had mentioned it so casually that morning, yet he had truly brought it back just like that.

With such ability, how had he previously remained inept in both letters and martial arts? He had even let servants withhold his monthly allowance and had been unable to restrain even a maid like Xiao Feng.

When Xiao Mei came back to herself,

she realized that she had already returned to her room.

She drew a deep breath and clenched her fists, feeling a measure of strength in them. Only then did her heart settle slightly. Once her emotions calmed, she resumed practicing.

Elsewhere,

after Chen Mu finished reading the letter, he nodded lightly and took up his brush to write his name. Then he handed the letter back to Ren Yan, who had been standing respectfully at the side, and said,

"Send the letter back. Tell them this arrangement is acceptable."

"Yes."

Ren Yan answered respectfully.

"Oh, right."

Chen Mu stopped Ren Yan again, picked up a Gold Ingot from the table and weighed it in his hand. "Take two ingots and deliver them to the East Courtyard for me on your way."

"Yes, Second Master."

Ren Yan, who had been waiting at the side, promptly responded.

There were many East Courtyards in Xuanguo Estate, but he naturally knew which one Chen Mu meant—the courtyard where Chen Mu's sister-in-law, Ning Shi, resided.

"You are to hand them to her personally. Tell her that I have received much care from her over the years, and that even when I fell ill, it was Sister-in-law who hired a physician. I have always kept this in mind. Recently, I gained something by chance and earned a little money, so I am giving it to Sister-in-law to help with household expenses. She need not work herself so hard or worry so much in the future."

"This servant understands."

Ren Yan answered properly and left, carefully carrying the two Gold Ingots.

Chen Mu picked up the Demon and Ghost Compendium again from where he had set it aside.

The Demon and Ghost Compendium could be considered a collection of strange tales, but it was said that many of its stories had been drawn from events that truly happened in the past. It also recorded the appearances and abilities of many demons and ghosts.

That was why Chen Mu read it so carefully, broadening his experience and knowledge.