Chapter 8

Lin Qing finally enjoyed a few days of peace after returning to her own little territory. However, it wasn't long before invitations from the Prince Rui Estate began fluttering like snowflakes into the homes of every high-ranking official and aristocrat.

Rumors about Prince Rui's birthday began to circulate through the streets and alleys. It was said that the Empress Dowager herself was overseeing the preparations, with the underlying intent of selecting a consort for the Prince.

As the Commander of the Tianlu Bureau was away, the invitation for the Prince Rui Estate was delivered directly to Lin Qing.

Meng Jie, having just finished reporting on official business, looked at the invitation with a troubled expression. "Deputy Commander, considering the fallout from last time, we are essentially at odds with the Prince Rui Estate. Should we really attend this birthday banquet?"

Lin Qing unfolded the invitation. The Prince Rui Estate had clearly pulled out all the stops; the design was exceptionally elegant and grand. "Of course we're going. There will be food and drink, so why wouldn't we? Given the profession we're in, we've already done our fair share of raiding homes and wiping out clans. The list of people who hate me could probably wrap around the capital city twice over. If I worried about every single one of them, I wouldn't be able to live at all."

Meng Jie was left dumbfounded. He scratched the back of his head, thinking that did, in fact, make sense. "Then what should we give as a birthday gift?"

"We'll go look on the street in a moment." Lin Qing slapped the invitation onto the table and said seriously, "And make sure to put it on the Bureau's ledger!"

The head clerk of the Tianlu Bureau was a legendary miser. After haggling until noon, the two of them finally walked onto West Street, clutching a trembling total of one hundred taels of silver.

In Lin Qing's view, West Street was the equivalent of a modern central business district. The streets were wide and tidy, lined with shops, countless vendors, and peddlers weaving through the crowds.

The people moved like waves, accompanied by the cries of vendors, the chatter of men, and the occasional delicate laughter of women.

The Great Yuan Dynasty was not particularly strict regarding women; at the very least, as long as they weren't alone in a room with a man, it was perfectly acceptable for them to go out on the street or dine at an establishment.

However, in other respects—such as a woman acting as the head of a household or remaining unmarried past the age of twenty—things were different. The former required a special imperial decree for those who had made significant contributions to the empire, while the latter resulted in doubled taxes.

Lin Qing, dressed in a green robe with Meng Jie trailing behind, flowed with the crowd, though she found little interest in the surroundings.

Seeing this, Meng Jie asked, "Boss, you don't like it here?"

Lin Qing shook her head. Her sense of smell was sharp, and the air in such crowded places was a chaotic mix of heavy perfumes and sweat, which truly irritated her.

Yet, she quite enjoyed the liveliness and didn't want to leave. Her eyes lingered on a scholar selling paintings ahead. Although his clothes were somewhat worn, his skin was as delicate as soft tofu, and his narrow, fox-like eyes held a hint of wicked allure. Looking at his lips, which were red and lustrous, one couldn't help but want to take a bite.

Seeing Lin Qing stop, Meng Jie called out in confusion, "Boss?"

Lin Qing replied, "Go, go, I'm busy."

"Huh?" Meng Jie looked in the direction of her gaze but saw nothing.

Lin Qing shoved a small piece of silver into his hand. "Go to the third alley, turn left, pass two more alleys, turn right, and it’s the third stall. That's an order. Go quickly."

"Understood." Meng Jie’s expression shifted, and he ran off with the silver.

Good, it was quiet now.

Lin Qing sauntered over to the painting stall, looking at a painting, then at the scholar, then back to the painting, and then back to the scholar.

The fox-like scholar was reading a book, and feeling her gaze, he curled his lips into a smile. Lin Qing thought the scholar looked even more like a fox now.

The scholar put down his book and rested his chin on his hand. "Looking at your demeanor, dear customer, are you planning to buy a painting or buy a person?"

Lin Qing pondered for a moment and asked earnestly, "Is the person for sale?"

The scholar’s eyes seemed to have hooks in them. He blinked at her, his red lips parted slightly as he breathed out two words: "Not for sale."

Lin Qing was expressionless. "Then I'll buy a painting." She thought for a moment. "Do you have anything related to a birthday celebration? I need to buy a gift."

The scholar’s eyes lit up. He immediately pulled out three scrolls from his stall and spread them out one by one. "Judging by your attire, the person you are gifting must be of high status. These are all fine pieces from my collection. Take a look; the price is negotiable."

Lin Qing admired the three paintings and praised, "Indeed, they are all quite good. This first one, the Waterfall View, looks so real from afar that the water spray seems tangible. But what I like best is this chicken at the bottom of the waterfall... hmm, it’s truly the finishing touch. Look how plump this chicken is—it must be at least two years old, right?"

The fox-like scholar silently rolled up the first painting.

Lin Qing looked at the second one and continued her praise, "What a magnificent painting of galloping horses! Their forms are sturdy and vigorous. But what I like most is this donkey leading the group. Look at that lithe and graceful posture! A whole group of horses can't even keep up with one donkey. It makes one rather hungry—makes me crave donkey-meat dumplings."

She looked at the sky with nostalgia. There was a saying—dragon meat in the heavens, donkey meat on earth. Fresh donkey meat was delicious!

The scholar blushed slightly and rolled up the second painting as well.

The third was a "Pine Forest Birthday Celebration." Lin Qing flipped through it, feeling little interest. Seeing that the scholar wasn't taking out any more, she said dismissively, "I'll take this one."

The scholar let out a long sigh of relief, a smile appearing on his face. "You have a sharp eye. This is an authentic piece from the previous dynasty, perfect for gifting, though the price is a bit high." He held up three fingers and waved them. "Three thousand taels."

Lin Qing held up one finger. "One tael."

The scholar was stunned. Three thousand taels turned into one tael? Was that even how bargaining worked?

He began to doubt his life. "This is an authentic work!"

Lin Qing said calmly, "I have the real one hanging by my bed."

The scholar gritted his teeth in frustration. "Three hundred taels."

Lin Qing said firmly, "One tael. If you won't sell it, I'm leaving."

The scholar was getting desperate. "Fine! One tael it is! It's yours!"

He gritted his teeth, wrapped up the painting, and shoved it into Lin Qing's arms.

Lin Qing was satisfied. She pressed the tael of silver into the scholar's hand, taking a moment to feel the silkiness of his skin. "If you ever decide you want to be sold, you can consider me."

The scholar’s face turned ash-gray as he shooed Lin Qing away.

Meng Jie was standing at the intersection looking around. When he saw Lin Qing, he finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Boss, where did you go? I thought you’d been kidnapped by assassins. I was so scared I nearly ran back to the Bureau to bring reinforcements."

Lin Qing stepped back sharply, pinching her nose and holding her breath, asking in a muffled voice, "What is that smell?"

"Stinky tofu." Meng Jie held up what he was carrying. "I went exactly where you told me, and that's where the stinky tofu vendor was. This stuff smells awful, but it tastes delicious."

Lin Qing had loved it in her previous life, but in this one, her nose was far too sensitive. "Go eat that over there. Once you're done, head straight back to the Tianlu Bureau."

Meng Jie was bewildered. "Aren't we buying the gift?"

Lin Qing pointed to the painting in her arms. "Already bought. 'Pine Forest Birthday Celebration,' authentic."

Meng Jie was shocked. "I've heard of this painting; it should be worth thousands of taels. Where would we get that kind of money?"

Lin Qing shook her head and waved a finger. "Only cost me one tael."

"One tael?!" Meng Jie couldn't believe it. "Even a fake wouldn't cost just one tael!"

Lin Qing smiled. "If someone is willing to give it away, why shouldn't I take it?" Did he really think she couldn't tell? The fox-like scholar's appearance was incredibly striking, yet everyone around them acted as if they were blind—how could that be possible?

To put it plainly, it was aimed at her. One was willing to offer, and the other was willing to take; it would be foolish not to.

"Boss, look, is that young lady from the Marquis Yongning Estate?" Meng Jie suddenly pointed into the distance.

Lin Qing followed his gaze and saw Lin Junrou wearing her signature white dress, her face covered by a veil, walking toward them from afar.

Standing next to Lin Junrou was Li Hongjin. It was unclear what potent medicine Li Hongjin had used, but the bruises on his face had faded, and even his skin seemed better than before.