Prosperity Pavilion

A doggerel poem had been circulating in the capital for some time, no one knew quite how it started:

The Carefree Prince of Great Yin,
Has a unique passion for sin.
First for his sister-in-law, a lady so dear,
Second for widows, shedding a tear.
If you ask how he fares in his quest,
He’s like a bean sprout, put to the test.
Neither long nor strong, he lacks all might,
Soft and limp, a dried radish in sight.
Searching below for what can’t be found,
Fumbling through weeds on the forbidden ground.
The ladies are panicked, their eyes filled with dread,
And the rumors fly fast, leaving virtue for dead.

In no time at all, young maidens and wives alike would cover their faces and giggle behind their sleeves. "Dried Radish" and "Bean Sprout Prince" became the epithets of the Carefree Prince. At the Wanhua Pavilion, the capital’s largest brothel, the air was thick with noise as countless talented young men poked fun at the Prince, never tiring of the joke.

Li Lingli’s maid, Xiaowei, was nearly moved to tears by the gossip and reported it to her mistress. Li Lingli laughed, "Are there so few rumors about your mistress already? To wear the crown, one must bear its weight. No one can come between the Prince and me; in this life, he is the only one I recognize. Keep your mouth shut; do not let the Prince hear of this."

The thirty-six generals of Tiangang were truly extraordinary. News from all over the capital poured back to them, and soon, the factions within the court and the corruption behind them were all laid bare. Old Thirteen of Tiangang used his mastery of Lu Ban’s crafts—a skill bordering on the supernatural—to lead workers in a three-day, three-night sprint to renovate the Deyilou Restaurant, which now wore a brand-new look. Young, beautiful waitresses dressed in uniform cheongsams perfectly accentuated their figures. Two lovely hostesses stood at the entrance, greeting guests with smiles.

An unprecedented menu was presented on paper, with clear prices and honest service, accompanied by free tea and appetizers. Outside, drums pounded, banners fluttered, and the road was lined with poles bearing the names "Deyilou" and "God’s Drunkenness." On its trial opening day, the place was packed, a constant stream of people flowing through. Dongpo pork, fish-flavored shredded pork, kung pao chicken, sauerkraut fish, spicy chicken... one fresh dish after another emerged from the kitchen, causing a sensation throughout the capital.

"God’s Drunkenness" and "Concubine’s Smile" were sold exclusively at Deyilou. They also introduced a prepaid system: deposit one hundred taels and get twenty more, plus discounts (excluding alcohol). In just three days, they had over five hundred members and had recouped over sixty thousand taels. They even launched a "Fast-Leg" delivery service, bringing food to doors and collecting the dishes afterward.

Deyilou was ostensibly managed by Wei Qing, the younger brother of Li Lingli’s sister-in-law, Wei Hongying. The work exhausted Li Lingli. Jing Chen, feeling sorry for her, said, "Sister Lingli, let me give you a massage." He had a maid bring foot-washing water, then proceeded to soak her feet and give her a foot massage. When Li Lingli tried to refuse, Jing Chen put on a stern face: "Behave, dear. Whether as a younger brother or as a husband, it is my duty to serve you. You show me kindness, and I shall repay you with jade. There is no one else here." Li Lingli looked at Jing Chen with tenderness, thinking: *Oh, my Prince, even if I were to die for you, I would do so willingly, without a single regret.* Jing Chen gently caressed and kneaded her jade-like feet. The foot soak was indeed soothing, and the Prince's massage was just as pleasant.

Everything was moving in a positive direction. Every day, Deyilou would send free dishes to the Prince Qin’s mansion, specifically addressed to Xiao Cui, sometimes including snacks. Little Jing Xuan would watch expectantly every day, hoping for the endless variety of French fries, potato chips, chicken drumsticks, and chicken tenders. Once one had tasted the food from Deyilou, everything else seemed bland. Yang Simin had tried to refuse several times, but to no avail. The delivery came rain or shine, and eventually, it became a habit. Gradually, she grew fond of the mysterious owner of Deyilou, admiring his sense of gratitude.

The residences of the Grand Princess and the Commandery Princess received the same treatment: two dishes and a soup per meal, never repeated. The Commandery Princess, Jing Se, was particularly puzzled. Three years ago, the Third Prince of Xiliang, Dugu Shangyang, had sought to marry a Great Yin princess, and the Emperor ordered Jing Se to go. Upon reaching the Jianming Pass in the Western Frontier, the Xiliang delegation heard rumors that Jing Se was not of royal blood—a bastard—and annulled the engagement on the spot. Jing Se was rejected, becoming a laughingstock. The Emperor was furious, demoted the Princess to a Commandery Princess, and halved her allowance. She had lived in extreme hardship ever since. For three years, she had not stepped outside, spending her time writing poetry and painting. She hadn't even attended the New Year's Eve vigil, much like Jing Chen.

One day, Xiaoxia delivered food to the Commandery Princess’s mansion and handed a letter to Xiaolin'er. As Xiaolin'er walked toward the room, suspicious and confused, Jing Se asked with a smile, "Is that more food? Xiaolin'er, what news did you gather for me?"

Xiaolin'er handed over the letter, which featured beautiful, tiny regular-script calligraphy titled "To Jing Se":

Spring has its flowers, autumn the moon,
Summer has cool breezes, winter the snow.
If you have no idle worries hanging in your heart,
Then every season is the best time of your life.

Signed: Huang Qilang.

Jing Se savored the poem, finding it broad-minded, free, and easy; the more she tasted the words, the more she loved them. Her mood naturally lifted! She wrote a reply and gave it to Xiaoxia. Xiaoxia was temporarily helping at Deyilou and hadn't returned to the Prince's mansion; she and Xiaolin'er had become their couriers, and the two maids had grown familiar with each other.

Jing Se now looked forward to receiving a reply every day; it had become her entire life—a bit like an online romance in later ages. Jing Chen encouraged and comforted her; sometimes it was just a sentence, sometimes a poem, and sometimes lyrics from a later era. One sentence, in particular, deeply moved her: "The world is so big; I want to go and see it. Life is more than just the drudgery before your eyes; there is also poetry and the distance."

As work gradually settled into a rhythm, it was time to wade into the murky waters of the court. It was a chance to make money and observe the trends—why not?

Jing Chen took Zhang Meng and Zhao Hu to the Grand Preceptor’s mansion. Grand Preceptor Pang wielded immense power, secretly supporting Prince Qin, Jing Wei. "Who dares to trespass at the Grand Preceptor’s mansion?" a vicious servant shouted.

"Slap his mouth," Jing Chen ordered. Zhao Hu stepped forward and delivered two slaps that left the servant’s mouth bleeding. "You blind dog, go and report that the Carefree Prince is here to visit the Grand Preceptor!" Zhang Meng scolded. The servant held his face and scrambled to the backyard.

"I didn't know the Prince was coming. Please forgive me for not welcoming you properly!" Grand Preceptor Pang said with a chuckle.

Jing Chen glanced at him, lowered his head, and feigned a timid tone: "My respects, Grand Preceptor. I have established my own mansion, and two days from now, the head chef of Deyilou will be cooking, so I have come specially to invite you."

The Grand Preceptor looked at the invitation—it was written in the Grand Princess's hand, and one had to respect the family. He thought: *You foolish prince, it’s a miracle you’re still alive, and you still dare to try and win me over.* He smiled and said, "Prince, I am truly sorry. Recently, His Majesty has ordered me to oversee the Grand Princess’s martial arts tournament for a suitor, and with the former Crown Prince’s rebellion, I am swamped with trivial matters. I cannot spare a moment; I hope the Prince will understand this old official."

Jing Chen replied, "That doesn't matter. If the person cannot come, the gift is enough."

The Grand Preceptor’s face darkened. Jing Chen quickly waved his hands: "I misspoke. If the gift cannot come, the person is enough."

Was that even a thing to say? Could a person come empty-handed? Jing Chen quickly added, "My words didn't match my intent. I meant that you are a pillar of the court, and my respects have been paid as long as you are here."

The Grand Preceptor smiled faintly, "Your courtesies are well-noted, Prince. Since I cannot attend personally, I will have my steward send a gift."

Jing Chen looked visibly disappointed: "Grand Preceptor, please, nothing too extravagant. A small token is fine. I shall take my leave now."

The Grand Preceptor rolled his eyes. The officials of Prince Qin’s faction all used the same excuses. Only a few officials—some out of respect for the late Empress, others for the sake of the Grand Princess—came to the mansion to deliver gifts. Although there were few guests, the haul of gifts was substantial.

Jing Wei threw the invitation to the ground. Yang Simin tried to persuade him: "Your Highness, even if you dislike him, you cannot ignore the proprieties. The Seventh Prince came in person to deliver the invitation. He has shown his respect; we cannot let people say that Prince Qin’s mansion lacks manners. You are the elder, he is the younger; you must at least keep up appearances."

"I will not go. If I go, it sends a signal that he is my man... Well, then, Princess, you shall go in my stead," Jing Wei said sullenly. Yang Simin knew her father, Yang Lin, held no real power and commanded no troops, offering no help to Jing Wei’s grand ambitions. Jing Wei had originally wanted Li Lingli, not her. They had been married for six years and had shared a bed only three times; ever since she became pregnant, Jing Wei had not stepped foot in her room. Now, he even wanted to divorce her. Yang Simin felt a deep, piercing sorrow. No matter how well she behaved, she could never win Jing Wei’s love. He called Xu Chenying his "beloved consort," a title he had never once used for her.

Li Lingli and Jing Lan were close friends, and during this time, her life was full—busy, but happy. As the saying goes, a happy event brings a refreshed spirit! Li Lingli was all smiles and glowing with health, which surprised everyone. She pulled Jing Lan, Jing Se, and Yang Simin to play mahjong; their maids formed another table, and the courtyard was filled with five tables of mahjong and bursts of laughter. Apple juice, orange juice, lemonade, fries, chicken drumsticks, chicken tenders, cakes, lamb skewers, beef skewers... these were all delicacies never seen before. The mansion was a scene of peace and jubilation.

Su Mingquan, the grandson of Duke Su Shichang, was incredibly excited, as if he had discovered a new continent. He realized that if he opened shops with these items, the business would surely flourish. He made up his mind, constantly circling Jing Chen and proposing partnerships, sharing many of his own ideas.

Jing Chen thought: *Su Mingquan is a famous playboy in the capital, but he is truly a business genius. A single tree cannot support a house; I need to bind myself to the court ministers.* He laughed foolishly, "I have no problem with that, but the mansion is run by the Princess. I will discuss it with Lingli; it shouldn't be a problem."

Su Mingquan thanked him profusely and said with a sly, obsequious grin, "Prince, to celebrate our pleasant cooperation, I invite you to the Wanhua Pavilion tomorrow night for drinks and entertainment. I hear that the two top courtesans, Su Xiaoxiao and Dong Wanwan, will be performing together, and talented scholars from all over are rushing to the capital for the Grand Princess’s tournament."

Jing Chen pretended to clap, laughing, "Hurray! I’ve never been to the Wanhua Pavilion before."