The Strategy of Love

Cheng Chu had never thought his poetry drafts would come together in a collection, nor had he imagined Sihai Bookstore would take an interest in his work and publish it. More than that, he suddenly felt he wasn't squandering his family's wealth anymore; it turned out he could make money while spending it.

He kept urging Yan Qing to drink one cup after another, constantly thanking Brother Yan.

Yan Qing really wanted to smash the wine cup against his face, but didn't have the heart to do so, considering he had genuinely made a hundred thousand taels of silver off of him.

Someone curiously asked, "Brother Cheng, have you met the owner of Qiyun Mountain?"

Cheng Chu shook his head, "No, I have not."

Yan Qing was surprised, "You haven't met them?"

He remembered the maid saying that Qiyun Mountain belonged to her young miss, who had passed by the hunting ground. If he wasn't mistaken, the road led to Qiyun Mountain, and she was obviously heading there.

"I haven't," Cheng Chu shook his head, "How could someone like the owner of Qiyun Mountain be easily seen by me? It's said that even when the Crown Prince went to Qiyun Mountain, he was stopped and not allowed to enter."

Yan Qing gave a wry smile, that was true.

The Crown Prince, drawn by its famed begonias, set out for Qiyun Mountain. Upon arrival, he was turned away, the reason being he lacked the Mountain Entry Jade Plaque required for admission. Qiyun Mountain adhered to its own rules.

The Crown Prince was so angered he wanted to take action, but for unknown reasons eventually backed down and headed straight back to his residence.

"Why didn't you give that jade plaque to the Crown Prince?" Yan Qing swirled his wine cup and asked.

Cheng Chu shook his head and lowered his voice, speaking in a hushed tone, "The Crown Prince wanted to admire Qiyun Mountain's begonias and was blocked from entry; he must harbor resentment towards Qiyun Mountain. If I eagerly send over the Mountain Entry Jade Plaque I bought, wouldn't that be slapping the Crown Prince in the face? My sister might end up out of favor because of me."

Cheng Chu's sister was a consort in the Eastern Palace.

Yan Qing looked at him seriously, not so foolish, is he? How had he ever thought this guy was a simpleton? Where had he gotten that wrong impression?

The banquet ended when the moon was high in the sky, with Cheng Chu thoroughly intoxicated.

Upon leaving Zuixian Pavilion, someone slung an arm over Yan Qing's shoulder and said, "Brother Yan, care to enjoy ourselves at Huahong Square?"

Yan Qing shrugged the hand off, "I'm not interested!"

"What man doesn't love the pleasures of Wenrou Village?" The man leaned in closer, "Your lack of interest must be because you haven't yet tasted its ecstasy. Once you do, you're sure to spend your days and nights there."

Yan Qing looked disgusted, "What's there to taste in perfume and powder?"

The man laughed heartily, "That's where you're wrong, the scent of a woman is the essence of Wenrou Village."

Yan Qing pushed him away, distancing himself, "I can't stand it."

"Then, how about Qingchu Restaurant? A selection of young male servants, fresh and tender, I guarantee you'll be back for more?"

"Aren't you disgusting?" Yan Qing kicked out, scolding, "I, young master, love wine, wild tastes, music, and all sorts of fun and games, but that doesn't include women and... men. Get lost!"

The man, previously drunk, sobered up from the kick. Seeing Yan Qing's angry demeanor, he quickly scrambled up from the ground and hurriedly apologized, "Forgive me, Brother Yan. Cool down, I won't speak out of turn again. I'm off."

Yan Qing huffed.

The man promptly scampered away.

Finally in peace, Yan Qing rubbed his ears, which had been suffering the whole time. Not wanting to ride a horse or take a carriage, he strolled leisurely back home in the cool night breeze.

The streets were deserted, with no one walking about, and the silence was profound, as the entire Capital City, except for the pleasure quarters, had fallen into a deep slumber.

After Yan Qing walked down a long street, a carriage approached him from behind, moving swiftly and steadily—the rhythmic sound of the wheels rolling over the ground was quite distinct.

Yan Qing, who had been walking in the middle of the road, moved to the side upon hearing the noise. The carriage passed by him, but after a short distance, it suddenly stopped.

The carriage curtain was lifted, and Liuli poked out her head, looking at Yan Qing, "What a coincidence, Young Marquis Yan!"

Coincidence? Meeting on the street in the dead of night was indeed quite coincidental.

Yan Qing stopped in his tracks, casually looking at Liuli. She had only opened a small part of the curtain, revealing her head, making it impossible to see if there were others inside the carriage.

Liuli smiled at him, "My mistress mentioned that the land on Qiyun Mountain was lying fallow for years, but now, thanks to Young Marquis Yan, we've found a way to make a fortune from it."

She reached out, took out a jar of liquor, and tossed it to Yan Qing, "This jar of Begonia Brew is for Young Marquis Yan as a token of our appreciation; please don't be too polite."

Yan Qing saw the jar of liquor flying towards him and caught it quicker than his brain could process the action.

Seeing that he had caught the liquor, Liuli said with a smile, "Until next time, Young Marquis Yan!"

The carriage continued on its way, and her mistress did not show her face at all.

Yan Qing: "..."

Why were his hands so damned nimble? Why accept the liquor? Bestowing the Begonia Sea for three days in exchange for a hundred thousand taels of silver—how could such a wealth-bringing opportunity be dismissed with a mere jar of liquor?

Feeling aggrieved, Yan Qing watched the carriage disappearing into the distance, contemplating whether he should chase after it to smash the jar against the carriage, and then disdainfully say, "Who would want your lousy liquor!"

After struggling with the thought for a while and seeing the carriage vanish, he lowered his head and opened the seal; a fragrant aroma from the fine liquor wafted up to his face.

What fine liquor!

Indeed, it was exceptional!

Such fine liquor would be better off in his stomach than offered to the Earth God.

So, he took a swig from the jar, then another, and another...

After a few drinks, his anger completely dissipated.

This was indeed the priceless Begonia Brew from Qiyun Mountain.

The Begonia Brew was reserved for His Majesty, and over the past few years had become the Emperor's special drink. When His Majesty was in a good mood, he might give a cup or two to a Prince or a court official as a token gesture, but never a whole jar, because even His Majesty didn't have much.

The most ironic thing was that ministers of past dynasties dreaded the Emperor's gift of a cup of liquor, as it often spelled doom. Whereas now, everyone hoped for just such a favor from His Majesty; it had status and benefits.

It was rumored that the craftsmanship of making Begonia Brew was exceedingly complex, and the brewmaster was incredibly lazy. Not lacking money and without much ambition, the brewmaster made wine only when he felt like it, producing just a few dozen jars each year. He provided twenty jars for His Majesty's use, and it was said he kept the rest for himself; giving twenty jars was already a great honor to His Majesty.

Since the Empress Dowager also loved liquor, His Majesty would give five jars to Changning Palace. The Empress Dowager being his great-aunt, he could just about manage to hold onto half of her affection amid the jealousy of the ranks of Princes and Princesses—to receive one or two jars from her. But he had too many fair-weather friends, all of them spoiled and used to sharing in good fortune as well as misfortune. Hence, as soon as the Begonia Brew given by the Empress Dowager was delivered to the Marquis Duanjing's residence, those friends would come sniffing around, and in one sitting, they would drink it all up.

Now, he had obtained a jar of Begonia Brew out of season, and the feeling he had earlier—that he had been greatly disadvantaged—had completely evaporated.

Qiyun Mountain must also produce enchantresses, right? They knew exactly how to manipulate people's hearts.