Chapter Forty-Four: An Encounter with an Old Friend in the Eastern Market

A gust of autumn wind stirred, and fallen leaves danced through the air, drifting away with the breeze.

With a sense of boundless ambition, his robe fluttering, Lu Liaoliao cast a glance at the street swirling with autumn leaves and declared with pride, “Zhou Liuzi, haven’t I told you before? Either I make no money at all, or once I start, even I’m frightened by how much I can earn. With just a snap of my fingers, old Lu here can make silver flow in torrents.”

“You’re just riding on others’ coattails. That ten percent from every household won’t end up in your own purse, will it?” Zhou Liuzi replied coolly.

“Riding on others’ coattails? I’d like to see you try it. Without my brains, you wouldn’t even have the chance. Besides, after pulling off such a grand feat this time, do you think the one at the temple won’t reward me?”

Lu Liaoliao was thoroughly annoyed. Bringing this prickly fellow along was sometimes far less pleasant than the company of old Hu.

“When the money’s actually in your hands, then talk,” Zhou Liuzi said, still with that indifferent air.

Lu Liaoliao decided he’d had enough of this thorny wood of a man and wanted nothing more to do with him.

On a crisp autumn morning, Lu Liaoliao summoned Tang Xiaoqi and whispered mysteriously, “Dress up nicely. In a moment, I’ll take you out to meet Mistress. Then I’ll show you around Chang’an, and we’ll have a good long stroll.”

Tang Xiaoqi jumped up in delight, then paused, puzzled. “Mistress? Since when do you have another mistress in Chang’an?”

Lu Liaoliao leaned close and lowered his voice, “The lady at Yuzhen Monastery, with Master Taibai, heh heh.” He made a suggestive gesture.

Tang Xiaoqi was rendered speechless, and, in her confusion, mirrored his hand gesture. Suddenly, the two of them burst out in unrestrained laughter.

With a timid Tang Xiaoqi in tow, Lu Liaoliao entered the grand hall where they were greeted by Princess Yuzhen, beaming, and beside her, a beautiful Daoist priestess whose face was etched with sorrow.

Lu Liaoliao and Tang Xiaoqi instantly recognized the strikingly beautiful, high-nosed girl as Geshu Xiaoye, but dared not betray any hint of recognition. They knelt respectfully before Princess Yuzhen.

“Disciple Lu Liaoliao and Tang Xiaoqi pay their respects to Aunt Shiying!”

In excellent spirits, Princess Yuzhen waved them to their feet and examined Tang Xiaoqi closely, praising, “Gu Ye truly has an eye for talent. Even picking up a stray, he managed to find his junior such a lovely girl. Even I am rather taken with you.”

Neither Lu Liaoliao nor Tang Xiaoqi could muster a smile, standing there with heavy hearts, not daring to speak.

“This is my new disciple, Daoist Xiaoye. You should greet her,” Princess Yuzhen said, glancing at Lu Liaoliao as if issuing a challenge.

“Xiaoye greets Senior Brother Lu and Senior Sister Tang.” The heroic Geshu Xiaoye had been reduced to such a delicate figure.

“I have matters to discuss with your Senior Brother Lu. Take your Senior Sister Tang aside for a chat,” Princess Yuzhen ordered.

“Mm, you handled things well this time. But are you sure the tavern run by the Hu girls will prosper? And does that composting method truly increase yield by forty percent?” Princess Yuzhen began by offering praise, but then expressed concern.

“Mistress, you needn’t worry at all. That composting technique was tested long ago by Dongchang Yan—by now, it might even exceed forty percent. As for the tavern, you’ll see once it opens.” Lu Liaoliao replied with supreme confidence.

Princess Yuzhen nodded and asked, “Those assorted guilds in the Western Market, they’re offering up ten percent as tribute—there won’t be any trouble, will there?”

“Not at all. I showed them how to make money—they’re still busy thanking me, let alone causing trouble. Now that we’ve set the rules, the Western Market and Gaoling County are stable and secure. Prosperity comes from harmony, and with peace, even the officials are secretly pleased. Unless there’s some tricky lawsuit, all you need to do is show your impartiality, Mistress. Just accept their tributes with peace of mind.”

Lu Liaoliao spoke with complete ease.

Only then did Princess Yuzhen let go of her worries and said with satisfaction, “It seems you’re far more useful than your master. When I used to ask him for advice, he’d always hold his head high and say not to bother him unless it was a matter of state.”

“You tell me, making the Mingqu clear, cleaning up Chang’an, boosting grain output, giving beggars a way to survive, bringing order to the Western Market and Gaoling County, making business flourish, even introducing those short-distance carriages for easier travel—if these aren’t great deeds for the realm and the people, what are they? You really do have some ability. I’ll be sure to mention you to my imperial brother, the Sage, when the chance comes.”

As his accomplishments were listed one by one, Lu Liaoliao could barely contain his delight. The possibility of word reaching the Emperor himself nearly made him float away. He waited, beaming, for Princess Yuzhen’s reward.

He waited a long while, but Princess Yuzhen showed no sign of offering anything. Did she really think Xiaoqi was some treasure her own son had picked up and given to him? Surely it couldn’t be that a word in front of the Emperor was all he’d get. He alone knew how immense the profits he’d brought her would be.

“Call Xiaoqi over here,” Princess Yuzhen said with a smile, as if speaking to the air.

Tang Xiaoqi was brought forward. With a wave of her hand, Princess Yuzhen had a young Daoist woman bring out two gorgeously decorated wooden chests. When opened, the light from the jewels inside nearly blinded Lu Liaoliao.

“These are ornaments and hairpins I bought during my early travels. Such a lovely girl—yet stingy Lu here hasn’t given you any jewelry. How unlike his master, Qinglian. Since I have no use for these anymore, and they aren’t from the palace, I’ll give them to you. No need to worry about breaking any taboos.”

Both Tang Xiaoqi and Lu Liaoliao were almost dumbfounded, staring blankly at the two full chests of jewelry before Tang Xiaoqi.

“It’s fine, you may go now. Oh, and Xiaoqi, keep a close eye on your man’s purse. Don’t let him become like his lecherous old master, spreading his affections everywhere. Without money, he won’t be able to chase women even if he wants to.”

Even after leaving Yuzhen Monastery, Lu Liaoliao had not recovered. Damn it, was there ever such a meddlesome, devious mistress?

The two chests of jewelry were handed to Zhou Liuzi to take home. Lu Liaoliao and Tang Xiaoqi, still dazed—one sweet, one bitter—set off to wander the Eastern Market.

In the neighborhoods around the Eastern Market, tree-shaded lanes led to homes with crimson doors. The market streets were lined with elegant and imposing shops, each offering rare and precious wares, frequented by the distinguished and wealthy.

Tang Xiaoqi clung to Lu Liaoliao’s arm, her gaze filled with curiosity, rarely entering any shops, preferring instead the simple pleasure of strolling the streets at his side.

She stopped in front of a jade shop.

“Your mistress just gave you so much jewelry. What’s there to see in a jade shop?” Lu Liaoliao said, a little sourly.

“Idiot! I want to buy you a fine jade pendant. You’ve been using Zhou Liuzi’s for ages and haven’t returned it. Aren’t you ashamed?” Tang Xiaoqi shot him a glare and marched inside.

Ah, his own wife truly did care for him! Lu Liaoliao followed, delighted.

When she saw the exquisite jade pendants in the ornate boxes on the counter, Tang Xiaoqi’s eyes were dazzled. But the astonishing prices made it hard for her to decide.

“Choosing a jade pendant, miss? This one is excellent—its color is warm but not overly translucent, glowing without being flashy, its luster reserved. Such jade is truly fine. Only twelve hundred taels of silver—a bargain for such value.” A voice sounded beside Xiaoqi, vaguely familiar.

Lu Liaoliao, thinking Xiaoqi was being pestered by some bold scoundrel, hurried over, only to realize it was a not-quite-stranger.

“Ah, it’s you, Brother Lu! When did you arrive in Chang’an? You didn’t even tell me so I could give you a proper welcome,” Cheng Changmu greeted him first.

“No need, Brother Cheng. My home is in Chang’an—Yangsheng Hall on Pingwu Street in Ping’an Ward. What sort of welcome do I need?” Lu Liaoliao replied with a smile.

“So this beauty must be Miss Xiaoqi? Brother Lu, you move fast—I’m impressed!” Cheng Changmu teased.

“Not at all, not at all! Are you here to buy jade, Brother Cheng?” Lu Liaoliao grinned in satisfaction.

With sharp eyes, Cheng Changmu immediately spotted the phoenix pattern on Lu Liaoliao’s sword and was startled, though he showed no outward sign, giving Lu Liaoliao a friendly slap. “Hasn’t been that long since we last met, but you’re already treating Fatty Cheng like a stranger. Just call me Fatty Cheng.”

Before Lu Liaoliao could respond, Fatty Cheng moved closer to Tang Xiaoqi. “Sister-in-law Xiaoqi, haven’t made up your mind yet? Any pendant I recommend will be perfect for you.”

He was a somewhat familiar figure, and not at all disagreeable. Tang Xiaoqi hesitated. “It’s a lovely piece, but it’s just too expensive.”

“Sister-in-law, there’s plenty of top-quality jade in this shop. What price range were you considering?” Fatty Cheng’s tone grew ever more intimate, though Tang Xiaoqi didn’t notice.

“I was hoping to find something in the two to three hundred tael range,” she replied, her cheeks tinged with red.

Fatty Cheng looked troubled. His family’s shop barely had any pieces at such a low price. After a moment’s thought, he pointed at the pendant she’d been admiring and said, a little painfully, “That pendant you like—take two hundred taels off, a thousand is the absolute lowest. Just take it, Sister-in-law.”

Lu Liaoliao looked at Fatty Cheng in surprise. “Wait, is this jade shop yours?”

Cheng Changmu spread his hands. “Why else would I be here? Any noble family in the capital has a shop or two in the Eastern Market. Otherwise, how would we survive on just our hereditary stipends?”

Tang Xiaoqi lowered her voice, apologetic. “We should leave. We just don’t have that much silver. There’s a bit in the family accounts, but I wouldn’t dare touch it.”

“How much do you have on you?” Lu Liaoliao asked.

“With what’s left, plus some gold leaf I saved, maybe five hundred taels. Unless I sell some of the jewelry Mistress gave me, but I’d rather not,” Tang Xiaoqi looked up at Lu Liaoliao.

“A gift from an elder shouldn’t be sold. Let me talk to Fatty Cheng.” Lu Liaoliao quickly put a stop to her idea.

“Fatty Cheng, I only have five hundred taels. How about this—I give you an idea to make your shop’s business boom. Five hundred taels for the pendant, deal?” Lu Liaoliao suggested with a smile.

Fatty Cheng, seeing the phoenix pattern, had already decided to let it go for five hundred—half sale, half gift. Still, he was curious. “What idea, Brother Lu? Tell Fatty Cheng.”

“Among the wealthy young men, there are the scholars at the academies, and the courtesans who rake in silver by the bucketful. There are always rumors of love affairs between the two. All you need to do is quietly spread a story at one of the academies: that a certain courtesan bought a consecrated jade pendant from your shop and gifted it to her beloved scholar, who then passed the imperial exams with honors and married his courtesan sweetheart. The more the tale spreads, the more famous your shop will become.”

Lu Liaoliao spoke with complete confidence.

As Cheng Changmu was pondering, a clear, bright female voice interrupted: “Excellent idea! For a tip like that, even seven thousand taels would be worth it, let alone seven hundred.”

Lu Liaoliao stared in surprise at the young woman approaching from behind the counter. Dressed as a man, her skin was like snow, her features exquisite—at a glance, even more stunning than the legendary Xihua Prince. Beside her was a maid in green, also a rare beauty.

“Sir, have we met before?” The young woman in men’s attire gazed at Lu Liaoliao, a hint of uncertainty in her eyes.