The Winery Deed

"Since you're so confident, you must have moved the prisoner ahead of time. I've changed my mind—I'm not just searching Golden Curtain Terrace." He pointed directly at the carriage Zhou Yao had arrived in, a smug smile curling his lips. "Now, I'll search your carriage as well!"

A flicker of panic crossed Zhou Yao's features before she suppressed it, but the Zhao family scion caught the look, and his conviction only grew.

"Search!"

At his command, the soldiers who had surrounded Golden Curtain Terrace poured inside. Before long, the frantic howls of the beagle echoed from within, the sound so piercing it gave everyone present pause.

The furnishings inside Golden Curtain Terrace were carelessly flung to the ground; the glass ornaments displayed for customers were shattered, and shards and fragments quickly littered the floor. Meanwhile, the carriage was searched personally by the Zhao family constable and a couple of petty officials.

He closed in step by step, and with each approaching stride, Zhou Yao could feel her heart hammering wildly against her ribs. He lifted the curtain without hesitation and found Su'er hiding inside the carriage.

"Caught red-handed. Now what do you have to say for yourself?" He raised an eyebrow, glancing triumphantly in Zhou Yao's direction, waiting to see her squirm.

She adjusted her sleeves unhurriedly. "And what makes you so certain she's a runaway slave?"

"The fugitive's portrait is right here. What excuse can you offer now?" He felt a wave of vindication. "Secure them all!"

"Hold it!" Before they could move, Zhou Yao restrained the soldiers, her voice icy. "Who told you she's a slave without registration? She's a maid of Golden Curtain Terrace. Do you think you can just take her away?"

"I can't? Hah!" He waved his hand, and the soldiers who had paused began forcing the staff of Golden Curtain Terrace to kneel on the ground.

"The owner of Golden Curtain Terrace defies the authority of this investigation—a crime punishable by death!" He pointed at the sword in Zhou Yao's hand, his implication clear. "And threatening to injure an official? That's enough to exterminate nine generations of your family. Seize her!"

The soldiers drew their swords, the blades glinting, and pointed them at Zhou Yao. "Our apologies!"

Zhou Yao gripped the hilt of her sword, ready to act, but the tense standoff was broken by the thunderous arrival of riders on horseback. The area around was dark except for where the torches illuminated, and Zhou Yao couldn't make out the features of the man who dismounted and strode toward her.

He looks familiar... where have I seen him before? she thought to herself.

"Halt!" the newcomer commanded, then hurried to Zhou Yao and knelt in respectful greeting. As he passed the Zhao constable, he shot him a vicious glare. His voice was booming, loud enough for everyone present to hear: "This official pays respects to the Ninth Princess!"

The moment those words left his mouth, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd. The first thought that crossed everyone's mind was that their lives were forfeit.

A thud reached her ears, and Zhou Yao turned to see the Zhao family scion collapsed on his knees, his legs having given way from terror.

They all understood that this kneeling was a plea for mercy before royal authority. If Zhou Yao reported today's events to the court or the Emperor, it wouldn't just be a matter of impeachment or dismissal—everyone present, along with their nine generations, would face certain death.

Zhou Yao averted her gaze from the cowering man and trained her eyes on the newcomer, who had finished his respects and lifted his head. She recognized him then: Zhao Wenhua, the eldest legitimate son of the Zhao family. She had once used him at Qingyun Terrace to sow discord between the Second Young Master of the Qi family and his brother.

"So it's Master Zhao. Is this how you make amends for your family's offense, arriving late?" Zhou Yao raised her sword, its tip a mere inch from Zhao Wenhua's throat, and laughed mockingly. "Coming to save the day is well and good, but you're too late. Plenty of people here heard what was said just now."

"A scion of the Zhao family, treasonous and reckless, insulting the royal family and attempting to storm a residence—today it's my Golden Curtain Terrace, tomorrow could it be the palace itself? This would be..." Zhou Yao paused mid-sentence, a glint of calculation in her eyes as she leaned in and whispered something into Zhao Wenhua's ear.

From an outsider's perspective, the shift in Zhao Wenhua's demeanor was unmistakable.

He shed his previous indolence, straightened, and bowed respectfully to Zhou Yao. "It was I and Zhao Xunwen who were rash in offending the Princess. Might we... speak in private?"

Meanwhile, on the other side, Cui Wei had received Zhou Yao's message and rushed to the Qi Manor to find Duyun, informing him of the situation so he could report to Qi Yanhan.

By the time Qi Yanhan received word and arrived, the crowd outside Golden Curtain Terrace had dispersed. The troublemakers were gone without a trace, and Zhou Yao and Zhao Wenhua were nowhere to be found.

Moonlight cast rippling shadows on the window as the sound of flowing water drifted in. Inside the room, two figures engaged in conversation were silhouetted against the screen by candlelight. On the wooden table lay an unfinished weiqi board, the black stones clearly holding the advantage.

"Master Zhao's skill at weiqi is truly unmatched," Zhou Yao said, a subtle smile playing at the corner of her lips, her lowered gaze concealing her thoughts.

"The Princess flatters me. I was no match for you—I lost by a single stone..." He held a piece hesitantly, looking at Zhou Yao with uncertainty. "What is it that Your Highness desires? Please speak plainly."

"You're a clever man, Master Zhao. Why not reconsider the terms I proposed earlier?"

Zhao Wenhua's piece slipped from his fingers and clattered onto the wooden floor with a crisp sound.

"If that's the case, I beg Your Highness to forgive my impertinence." He moved to kneel again.

"Don't be so hasty. We haven't finished this game yet." Zhou Yao's smile remained as she watched him, exuding complete confidence. "I'm only asking you to inherit Chancellor Zhao's position, not to kill you." She captured a stone from the board, speaking slowly. "I won't pressure you now. If you agree, I'll give you a grand gift when you take office."

"But if you refuse, remember—when the household is annihilated and nine generations are executed, you, your father, and all your brothers and sisters won't escape."

"Your Zhao family has been repeatedly constrained by the Qi family at court. They back the Crown Prince, and your days these days can't be easy. Better to work for me."

"I can guarantee your future advancement and keep today's affairs sealed. Not a word will leak to anyone."

Zhao Wenhua's gaze was still unsettled, but Zhou Yao felt the stakes on the board were more than sufficient.

"The Ninth Princess is married into the Qi family, so you'd naturally be one of them. Why should I trust you?"

Zhao Wenhua regarded her with suspicion, but Zhou Yao unhurriedly tossed her piece back into the container, leaned back in the armchair, and looked at him lazily.

"Believe it or not, what leverage do you have left to bargain with me?"

"Take your time going home to think it over. Will your father, who dotes on his concubine and neglects his wife, pass the chancellorship to you, or to the favored son of his beloved concubine?"

Zhou Yao noticed his hand clench into a fist at his side and let out a soft snort. "You want that position, but you don't have the ability to seize it."

"I accept your terms." Zhao Wenhua was silent for a long moment before speaking. "But what is it you want me to do?"

Seeing that he had finally gotten to the point, Zhou Yao shifted her gaze from the board to Zhao Wenhua. "A wise man submits to circumstances. You're a sensible man, Master Zhao. Rise, no need to kneel."

Only after her approval did Zhao Wenhua hesitantly get to his feet.

"Sit. Don't stand there like you're being punished." Zhou Yao didn't mince words. "I'll lay my cards on the table today. Our cooperation won't be breathed to a soul. But the man who insulted me before Golden Curtain Terrace today—I cannot let him go."

Her meaning was clear: Zhao Wenhua was to take the man back and deal with him.

He lowered his head, thought for a moment, then nodded. "Agreed."

"The losses at Golden Curtain Terrace will be recorded in a ledger, and you'll reimburse me in due course." Zhou Yao raised an eyebrow at him. "Since you're cleaning up his mess, I won't refuse your goodwill. But... the glassware on display in my shop is worth a fortune."

She feigned a troubled expression. "It's just that... the price of glassware is the talk of the town these days in Chang'an. Surely you've heard, Master Zhao?"

"This..." Zhao Wenhua, who had never lacked money, was now at a loss. He hesitated, looking at Zhou Yao. "Your Highness, the court's treasury is stretched thin. Officials' salaries are overdue. To suddenly demand such a huge sum—even if my father were here today, he couldn't promise so much money!"

"No matter."

Zhou Yao had already calculated this the moment she was provoked at the gates of Golden Curtain Terrace. The Zhao family was not of insignificant standing, but they were honest officials. Unable to rely solely on their court salaries, they had opened several shops within Chang'an to sustain themselves.

"Master Zhao holds five wineries under his name, does he not?"

Zhou Yao smiled at Zhao Wenhua. "If I'm not mistaken, there's one of your family's shops not far from Golden Curtain Terrace. A prime location."

"I won't ask for much—just that one winery."

Zhao Wenhua hesitated. "This... this isn't quite..." He paused briefly before continuing, "A winery is different from other businesses. Wine is something directly controlled by the imperial..."

He stopped mid-sentence, realization dawning as he looked up at Zhou Yao. In her eyes, he could plainly see burning ambition. He nodded in understanding. "I'll discuss it with my father when I return."

Zhou Yao fixed her gaze on him, her expression veiled.

About time he wisened up.

After he took his leave, Zhou Yao alone moved a piece and brought the unfinished game to its conclusion.

If the Zhao family's winery could be hers, she thought, she could expand her business. Though the shop was modest in size, it covered a significant portion of the Zhao family's expenses. Trading her glassware for just this one shop was practically letting Zhao Wenhua off easy.

— — — — — — — —

Meanwhile, at the Qi Manor, the servants had clustered together, idling and gossiping in small groups.

One young servant said, "Did you hear? That princess who married into our household a few years back—she was surrounded by officials today! I heard they killed her on the spot. Tsk tsk, what a tragedy!"

A maidservant exclaimed in shock, "They'd dare kill a princess? Their audacity is unbelievable!"

"That's right. The charge was something like harboring a runaway slave?"

"A runaway slave?!" Another woman's jaw dropped in astonishment, too frightened to speak, and she nervously glanced around to ensure no one else was listening before whispering, "How could nobles harbor runaway slaves? Are you sure you heard right?"

"Absolutely certain. Isn't our young master rushing off to save her?" She put on a knowing air. "Word is, that distant cousin of the Qi family is the owner of Golden Curtain Terrace, and the two of them had a fight right then and there over our young master."

"You wretches, daring to gossip about your masters behind their backs!" Duyun stepped through the threshold. "Execute all these gossiping servants."

No sooner had he spoken than black-clad figures dropped from the rooftop. A flash of white, and a heap of corpses covered the ground.

"Clean this up. Don't let the master know."

The shadow guards clasped their fists in acknowledgment, awaiting Duyun's orders. His gaze drifted toward the gate of the Qi Manor, and he murmured thoughtfully, "At Nine Kilns too... not a single one left."

"Understood!"

At that moment, Qi Yanhan strolled in from outside. He was already displeased at having gone to Golden Curtain Terrace only to find Zhou Yao absent, and returning home to hear the servants gossiping only soured his mood further. If his own household was in such a state, the ones sent to Nine Kilns were probably no better.

"You failed to oversee the servants properly. Go accept your punishment." Qi Yanhan didn't pause by the bodies for even a second, striding swiftly toward his own courtyard.

In the pavilion of his courtyard, a man had been waiting for Qi Yanhan's return. Dressed in a light green robe, from behind he appeared a gentle, refined scholar, but Qi Yanhan noticed the man seated in the pavilion, and his face showed no trace of a smile.

Qi Yanhan's eyes were cold as ice, his demeanor curt, and his tone impatient. "What a rare guest. How do you have the leisure to visit me?"

"It's been years, and you're still wearing that face like everyone owes you money. Even if I did owe you, you shouldn't treat me like this—after all, the Qi estate is vast and wealthy, why would you miss my meager scraps?" The man's voice carried laughter, his relaxed posture giving him a somewhat roguish air.

"If you have something to say, say it quickly, then be on your way." Qi Yanhan finally deigned to cast him a glance.

His playful companion was none other than Chen Yuwen, who had been absent from Nine Kilns these past few days. He leaned lazily against the pavilion pillar, fan in hand, gazing at Qi Yanhan with a smile.

"Still such a cold attitude after all this time. I've done what you asked of me, so when will you do what you owe me?"

Chen Yuwen watched Qi Yanhan, who had seated himself on a stone bench and was leisurely brewing tea, and felt a surge of irritation.

"We had an agreement before: once I took her as my apprentice, you'd help me with my affairs. I finally made it back here, and now you've called me all the way to Chang'an. What's your game?" Chen Yuwen, seeing Qi Yanhan's half-hearted indifference, angrily rapped his sandalwood fan on the stone table several times.

"If you're going to respond, then get to business." Qi Yanhan picked up the teacup, hiding it behind his wide sleeve as he took a small sip.

"Isn't this business?"

"I agreed, so I'll follow through." Qi Yanhan set the cup down. "The timing isn't right yet, that's all."

"You did well today, having the eldest son of the Zhao family called to Golden Curtain Terrace. When the time comes, you can go fetch your sister." Qi Yanhan rose to leave.

Chen Yuwen hastily called out and blocked his path. "I'm not finished! Wait!"

"If there's more, say it all at once. Don't waste my time!" Qi Yanhan frowned impatiently.

He had already been restless these past days, unable to see Zhou Yao. Chen Yuwen could visit her at Nine Kilns every so often, but he, try as he might, couldn't manage it, even if he had to invent a plausible excuse...

If today's matter hadn't been handled so smoothly by Chen Yuwen, perhaps he could have seen her.

Qi Yanhan thought: then he could stage a 'hero saving the damsel in distress' right out of a storybook, and maybe the princess would grant him her favor a bit longer, and he could go along with the tide.

What a pity... truly the heavens didn't cooperate. When had Chen Yuwen, so unreliable in the past, ever been this efficient?

Why was he always so eager whenever it concerned Ninth Princess? Could it be that he harbored other intentions toward her as well?

The more he pondered, the more agitated he became. He glared at the man blocking his path, and his attitude toward him soured further.

"Move!"

Qi Yanhan shoved past his so-called rival and made straight for the study, leaving Chen Yuwen standing alone in the small pavilion, utterly bewildered.

"Hey! I wasn't finished!" Chen Yuwen shouted after Qi Yanhan's retreating back, trying to stop the lovesick fool.

But in the end, it was futile. The more Chen Yuwen called out, the faster Qi Yanhan's steps became.

"Has he lost his mind?" Chen Yuwen muttered under his breath. Receiving no response, he had no choice but to leave the Qi estate. Lingering past curfew would be suicidal.

He didn't believe Qi Yanhan would be kind enough to let him stay the night.

As time passed, the pale moonlight reflected on the water, illuminating the Zhao estate as well.

"Father, every word I've said today is true. The owner of Golden Curtain Terrace is not, as rumored, a distant cousin of the Qi family, but the Ninth Princess Zhou Yao, who married into the Qi household years ago."

Zhao Wenhua knelt on the ground, head bowed, kowtowing respectfully before speaking. "Today, Zhao Yong led soldiers to cause trouble and happened upon the Ninth Princess. His words were reckless and offended Her Highness."

"If she returns to the Qi estate and tells Qi Yanhan, then the Qi faction at court tomorrow will surely lodge complaints with the king..." Increasingly agitated, Zhao Wenhua lifted his head and stared directly at Chancellor Zhao.

"At that point, it will truly spell disaster for our Zhao family!"

His gaze shifted to Zhao Yong, the man who had caused this catastrophe, kneeling nearby, and he thundered in fury, "If not for my quick thinking—had the Princess not granted us her clemency today—a hundred heads on the Zhao family wouldn't have been enough to pacify her!"

"You insulted the royal family in front of so many people. It seems you've grown tired of living, and you think the Zhao family's standing isn't low enough!"

Outwardly, Zhao Wenhua played the part of a man angered by his kin's folly, but inwardly, who knew what schemes churned.

He let out a deep sigh and said, "Father, I share the blame for this. I failed to properly discipline my aunt's son. This is my fault! Please spare my cousin, Father; punish me instead..."

"My cousin likely acted only out of a desire to help Second Brother inherit your chancellorship, eager for success and gone astray in the moment." He knocked his head against the floor three more times.

"This entire mess is my doing. Please, no more punishment for him." Zhao Wenhua used the pause between kowtows to glance at Zhao Yong out of the corner of his eye, secretly gloating.

"This... this... how could this be? How could this be!" Zhao Yong muttered in disbelief. "How could she be a princess? I saw her clearly that day, bustling about inside Golden Curtain Terrace. If she truly were a princess, why would she do such menial work herself instead of leaving it to her servants?"

"Impossible. This is impossible!" Zhao Yong looked half-mad, and Chancellor Zhao could only sigh at the sight.

Chancellor Zhao sneered, his wide sleeve sweeping behind him as he turned. "You fool! You've stirred up enormous trouble. Get out of my sight!"

Zhao Yong hastily bowed, then stumbled from the room, leaving only Zhao Wenhua and Chancellor Zhao behind in the ancestral hall.

Chancellor Zhao pointed at Zhao Wenhua. "Now, tell me the whole story from beginning to end, in detail."

Half a stick of incense later, Chancellor Zhao nodded.

"Zhou Yao truly said she would let the matter rest hereafter?" He looked at Zhao Wenhua, half-convinced. "And she only wants one shop?"

Zhao Wenhua nodded in confirmation, layering the truth with omissions as he relayed it to Chancellor Zhao.

"But... if it's compensation for her losses, how could a single winery cover the value of so much glassware?"

"Alas..." Chancellor Zhao let out a long sigh. "Enough. I'm old. Let you young ones do as you please."

"Tomorrow, take the deed, go to the magistrate's office to transfer the ownership, and hand it to her. Our Zhao family has always conducted itself with integrity and honor. Losing this one shop just means we'll scrape by a little more frugally."

"But..." Zhao Wenhua seemed about to say something more, but Chancellor Zhao cut him off.

Ever since the Qi and Zhao families reached a delicate impasse at court, the shops under the Qi family's name had been targeting the Zhao family at every turn. Aside from what the court provided for food and clothing, prices kept rising elsewhere, and Chancellor Zhao was fond of charitable deeds. Every month, no matter his own circumstances, he would send food and clothing to the poor, so there had been lean periods over the years.

"Since we owe her, this shop must be repaid. Say no more!" Chancellor Zhao snorted and left the ancestral hall.

Zhao Wenhua watched as Chancellor Zhao's figure gradually receded, a flood of mixed emotions stirring within him.

Pity that Chancellor Zhao, a man of romantic legend in his day, should in his old age end up duped like this.

But that wasn't Zhao Wenhua's concern. What he cared about was the seat of the chancellorship.

— — — — — — — —

Early the next morning, Zhou Yao received the deed to the winery, delivered personally by Zhao Wenhua. That flimsy strip of silk, in Zhou Yao's estimation, was worth more than the glassware lost that day.

After scrutinizing the characters on it carefully, Zhou Yao nodded. "Fine. I'll let the matter of the glass go. Now, what of that scion of your family?"

Zhao Wenhua hesitated, then said, "My father has always been gentle and disinclined to take life. Given the grave offense he has committed, he naturally..."

Before he could finish, Zhou Yao swept the glass cup from the table, sending it crashing to the floor.

"It is this official's failure." Zhao Wenhua quickly stood and bowed. "Though my father won't pursue the matter due to his aversion to killing, I am willing to relieve Your Highness's concerns and eliminate the threat!"

The last four words were spoken with deliberate heaviness, drawing a derisive laugh from Zhou Yao. "Relieve my concerns?"

"Hah. I think it's more about eliminating a threat to yourself. Don't forget, this was our agreement."

Zhou Yao stared at him. "Remove your cousin who holds a post at the constabulary, and no matter how outstanding you prove yourself, in Chancellor Zhao's eyes you'll never surpass his second son."

"Because you're not born of his favored concubine."

The moment those words left her mouth, Zhao Wenhua's hands trembled uncontrollably.

"Even if my father refuses to kill him, I'll do it myself!" He gritted his teeth and turned to leave.

Watching him go, Zhou Yao couldn't help but mutter, "Fool."

"If Chancellor Zhao actually passes the chancellorship to him, he'd truly be out of his mind..."

She turned her attention back to the thin strip of silk in her hand, lifting it to the light streaming through the window, examining it again and again as she murmured to herself, "Time to go take a look at the new shop front!"

Zhou Yao had long harbored plans to open a wine shop, but goods like salt, iron, and wine were tightly regulated. She could have used her princess seal to operate one under her own name, but the seal wasn't in her possession, so the matter had been postponed.

It wasn't until Zhao Yong brought the constables to cause trouble that she found the perfect opportunity to demand the winery.

The Zhao family's wine shop, as it happened, sat right next to Golden Curtain Terrace.

It had seemed distant before only because Golden Curtain Terrace occupied such a vast expanse that it gave the impression of a gap between the two establishments.

The moment Zhou Yao stepped inside, the aged aroma of rice wine hit her. The shop offered a wide variety, including standard fare like shaodao liquor and rice wine.

But none of these were what Zhou Yao had in mind. During her time in the Western Regions, she had tasted a drink called 'grape wine,' and when she asked about the brewing process, she learned the ingredients were remarkably simple.

If she could add grape wine to the shop's offerings, stabilize production over time, and expand to her Golden Curtain Terrace, business was sure to flourish!

She explored the area around the winery and discovered that its back wall could connect directly to the backyard of Golden Curtain Terrace...

That discovery alone was enough to keep Zhou Yao delighted for days. If the backyards could be joined, she could brew the grape wine at the winery and transport it directly to Golden Curtain Terrace.

"Ah, miss, what kind of wine would you like to buy?" The shopkeeper, a beaming smile on his face, approached Zhou Yao, a wooden ladle still in his hand.

Zhou Yao glanced in his direction but didn't reveal her purpose. Instead, she played along and pointed at the wooden sign above. "It's my first time here. Any recommendations, shopkeeper?"

The shopkeeper chuckled. "Honestly, miss, I don't mean to brag, but our shop—the Zhao family's—has the finest selection of wines in all of Chang'an!"