Grand Opening (III) — That Was Three Thousand

Noticing the customers outside in high spirits, Zhou Yao quickly stepped aside to clear the main path, and before long the front hall of Golden Curtain Terrace was packed with people.

"Miss, do you still have any of the blue-green glass bracelets?"

A finely dressed young woman stopped Zhou Yao. Her attire was exquisite, not at all like a servant girl's. Before Zhou Yao could even wonder why such an honored guest would inquire personally, she was hailed by a guard on the other side.

"Shopkeeper, my master has taken a liking to that Hundred Flowers Glass Cup in the front. He's willing to pay a thousand gold for it, but... it looks like someone else has already claimed it."

"Wait a minute, I asked first! How dare you cut in line?" The wealthy young lady was displeased. "No way—today, no matter what, you'll serve me first!"

"What's money to me? I've got plenty too!"

She began arguing with the guard before anyone else could react. Seeing that things were about to spiral out of control, Zhou Yao hastily stepped in to placate both parties—she didn't want their sour tempers to spoil her profits.

"Dear guests, please calm down," she said, pulling them apart and soothing their frayed nerves while handling the situation methodically.

"Miss, would you care to look at our glass bead bracelets instead? They're strung from richly colored glass beads—we have every shade except those reserved for the imperial family. You can pick and choose according to your preference and have one custom-made to your liking. Does that sound acceptable?"

The young woman thought for a moment, then nodded. Zhou Yao smiled at once. "You have excellent taste! The glass bead strands are priced per bead, by color and size—all clearly marked, no haggling. If you'd like, I can have one of my people escort you over to take a look?" She stated the terms upfront to save both sides time and trouble.

"Hmph, since I'm already here, it's not like I'll quibble over a few coins." The young woman fished a gold ingot from her purse and tossed it to Zhou Yao. "That's a tip for you—lead the way."

Zhou Yao's face lit up. "Yes, yes, of course! I'll arrange it right away." She quickly beckoned Qing'er over and had her guide the honored guest to the counter displaying the glass beads.

Having dealt with that one, Zhou Yao turned to the guard who wanted the glass cup. She frowned and confirmed with some difficulty, "Your master wants the Hundred Flowers Glass Cup, then."

"Yes, my master took a fancy to it at first sight and insists on taking it home today." The guard suggested, "If you're in a bind, miss, why not let us buy it first?"

She shook her head. "That's not it."

That Hundred Flowers Glass Cup—Zhou Yao had actually prepared several sets. She'd sent one to the Empress the other day, and there were plenty more in the storeroom.

But with demand this hot, she'd be a fool not to milk it for all it was worth!

"The Hundred Flowers Glass Cup is quite labor-intensive to make, and it's first come, first served, so..." Zhou Yao's words died in her throat as the guard suddenly produced a box of gold ingots.

"This is my master's sincerity. I hope the shopkeeper won't refuse."

The guard spoke earnestly, and Zhou Yao didn't waste a moment. She immediately instructed, "Cui Wei, hurry to the front hall, wrap up that Hundred Flowers Glass Cup, and let the honored guest take it with him."

"Thank you for your accommodation, shopkeeper. The remaining three thousand gold will be delivered to the Golden Curtain Terrace courtyard by noon today."

The guard followed Cui Wei to retrieve the glass cup, leaving Zhou Yao standing alone, silently tallying in her head.

Three thousand gold!

Three thousand gold!

That was three thousand gold!!

A life of wealth and leisure was already waving at her from the horizon.

She couldn't stop grinning, but mindful of the onlookers, she had to fight to suppress the corners of her mouth before going back to handling the customers' queries.

Zhou Yao had had the craftsmen make plenty of glass bead strands in advance, but by the time she passed the counter again, the box holding them was empty.

The display strands she'd put on exhibit earlier had also been snapped up at a high price without her even noticing.

She was too stunned to speak. The first batch of glassware made days ago had been wiped out in the blink of an eye. Soon enough, the first congratulatory announcement came in the form of a gong strike.

Her jaw dropped in sheer disbelief, her pupils dilating slightly. She didn't even notice the gold ingot in her hand slipping and clattering to the floor.

She hadn't expected that on the very first day of Golden Curtain Terrace's grand opening, someone would spend as much as fifty thousand taels of gold.

That was no small sum by any stretch.

"Congratulations to Madam Gu for earning a top-tier opportunity!"

The attendants of Golden Curtain Terrace chorused their congratulations in unison, and the women who had come over from Qingyun Terrace—those skilled in music—launched into a lively melody. The interweaving sounds of strings, woodwinds, and pipes filled the air. Zhou Yao, eager to show appreciation, had even placed a set of bronze bells behind a screen, with a dedicated performer assigned to them.

The scene was so magnificent that one might say the music lingered in the rafters for days.

With Madam Gu setting the example, the other deep-pocketed patrons seemed to be spurred into action, and it wasn't long before Zhou Yao witnessed the spectacle all over again.

—

Today's entire stock of glassware and porcelain: gone. Not a single piece left.

Golden Curtain Terrace's storeroom looked like it had been raided by bandits—stripped clean.

Tired as she was, Zhou Yao felt deep in her heart that all the hardships she'd endured over the past days—waiting anxiously before the scorching kiln, watching the flames and temperature—had not been in vain.

Making glass was grueling and exhausting, but it was all worth it.

Golden Curtain Terrace's first-day revenue had been so high that Zhou Yao worried it would peak and then plummet. So she decided to introduce pre-orders starting the second day and reduce the daily supply of glass cups and bead strands.

Moreover, the shop would close for one day every three days.

After closing, Zhou Yao counted all the earnings. In the days that followed, more servants arrived, carting away several wagonloads of gold ingots.

Eventually, she had to set aside two empty rooms just to store the gold temporarily, until she could take it to the money shop to deposit.

After today's frenzy over glassware among the nobles, the rumor those two had spread—about glass being a bad omen—was deftly dissolved by Zhou Yao. The gossip that had circulated through Chang'an for days collapsed on its own.

Having counted the day's income, Zhou Yao set aside half the gold ingots, loaded them onto a cart, and had Cui Wei escort them to the Qi Manor.

That amount of gold could buy three Golden Curtain Terraces—and pay back all she'd borrowed from him, with interest. Between the two of them, the marriage that existed only in name required just one plea from Zhou Yao to her father and a signed declaration of divorce from them both.

As for her promise to Qi Yanhan—to help him topple Elder Qi—she would see it through.

Just as she had unhesitatingly fled the wedding all those years ago, this was something she was bound to do.

Zhou Yao sat cross-legged, watching the sky outside the window gradually darken. She was counting the time, waiting for the incense stick on the table to burn down—by then, Cui Wei should have reached the Qi Manor...

Just as Zhou Yao had predicted, the moment Cui Wei had the chests of gold ingots carried into Qi Yanhan's courtyard at the Qi Manor, Duyun came running at the noise.

Frowning, he pointed at the chests on the ground in confusion. "Miss Cui Wei, what does His Highness the Ninth Prince mean by this?"

Cui Wei waved her hand dismissively. "Madam said these are thanks for Master Qi's timely assistance. And there are five more chests outside—those are to pay for the deed to Golden Curtain Terrace and to repay Master Qi's loan in full."

"But..." Duyun was at a loss for words. "But..."

"But what? Stop with the buts. My job today is to deliver these goods to the Qi Manor. Now that I'm done, I'll be on my way."

Cui Wei trotted out the door, adding as she left, "This is all money our madam earned herself! Don't forget to report to your master!"

The moment Duyun turned, he found Qi Yanhan standing behind him—a man who had been listless and ashen-faced for days on end.

Duyun couldn't help but sigh, thinking: Ever since the Ninth Princess and the master had their big fight, the master's been like a ghost for days. Not only does he not say a word, but he also takes apart anything that comes in pairs, and he can't even bear to see pairs in poetry! Yesterday, the new flower buds in the courtyard were pinched off one after another. The night before, two birds stopped at his window, and in the blink of an eye, one of them was knocked unconscious by a game piece he hurled.

It was utterly miserable...

At this rate, things were only going to get worse...

Duyun cautiously turned and bowed toward Qi Yanhan, but the expected rage never came. The man simply stood there quietly, then turned and walked away.

This was...

The corridor of the Qi family estate had been designed to be exceptionally long when it was built—long enough to let a person mull over many things from one end to the other.

Things like the current layout of the court, and the balance of power.

Or, say, that princess who was nothing but money-grubbing.

Qi Yanhan truly couldn't understand how anyone in this world could be so devoid of sentiment.

Every time he went to see her, he would fumigate his robes with incense beforehand—sandalwood, the most calming scent of all, costing a thousand gold for a tiny amount. But for the moments he spent with her, even the most expensive fragrance was worth it.

Back in the Western Regions, when he'd shot an arrow to save her, it wasn't because she had any real value—it was simply because she was her.

And yet, that day she'd dared to call them 'strangers.'

Right. They were strangers, after all.

Were it not for this marriage he had begged for, the two of them would indeed have remained strangers to each other.

"Betrothal gifts, name inquiry, auspicious rites, bride price, date selection, bridal procession..." Qi Yanhan murmured the Six Rites under his breath as he walked, his absent-mindedness plain for anyone to see.

Without the completion of all six rites, and with the wedding never actually held, how could they be called 'husband and wife'?

But theirs was a marriage sanctioned by imperial decree. No matter what, he was still her husband in name!

His attention scattered, Qi Yanhan failed to notice the step at the end of the corridor.

Ah—!

He slipped and crashed to the ground, dust covering his arms and robes. As his hand hit the floor, beads of blood welled up alongside the muddy black-and-red scrapes—a thin layer of skin scraped clean off his palm.

He sucked in a sharp breath through his teeth, then pounded his fist against the ground in frustration. The pain radiating from his palm only deepened his irritation.

His pent-up fury finally found an outlet in a single order: "Duyun, what are you standing there for?! Bring me a change of clothes!"

He cast aside the garments that had been newly tailored just yesterday. Only after a fresh bath, incense, and a change of attire did the gloom that clung to Qi Yanhan's brow seem to wash away like it had been submerged underwater.

As the dried tea leaves steeped in the scalding water, a clear idea began to form in Qi Yanhan's mind.

Since Zhou Yao had grown close to that porcelain maker at the Nine Kilns, why not pay him a visit himself and—'seek his advice'...

At this thought, his tightly knit brows finally relaxed, and he broke into the first genuine smile he'd shown in days.

If one overlooked how unnerving that smile was, that is.