Chapter One

The moment the doors open, every seat is filled. Whether it's this year's new brew or a hundred-year-old vintage, if you need it, you'll definitely find it here at Zhao's Wine Shop.

Zhou Yao's interest was piqued by his earnest manner. "Oh? Is that so?"

"Of course!" he laughed heartily. "It's all thanks to the lords' favor—they've seen fit to entrust this shop entirely to my care. Why, in recent years, quite a few of the medicinal wines sent to the palace came from here."

"If that's the case, give me an ounce of each to sample." She produced a gold ingot from her sleeve and handed it over.

He pocketed it with a swift smile. "Right away!"

He hurried behind the counter, opened a jar, and with practiced ease set a bowl of rice wine before her.

Zhou Yao eyed the wine, noting it hadn't been weighed. "This..."

"You haven't weighed this. Are you sure it's an ounce?"

He waved a hand, his smile turning serious. "No need. If it comes up even a drop short, I'll not only waive the charge—I'll give you the whole jar behind me."

"Really?" she asked, curious.

She picked up the bowl. Its chipped rim bore faint notches, and the outer color had long since faded beyond recognition—much like the shop itself, unremarkable from the outside.

She took a sip. Despite the shabby vessel, the clear, fragrant wine was without fault—enough to draw any customer back.

"I guarantee it. I've sold wine all my life and never made a mistake. If you don't believe me, miss, I'll weigh it for you this very instant."

She waved him off. "No need. I trust you."

Over the next stretch, Zhou Yao sampled everything else. The shopkeeper served a steady stream of customers, each singing the wine's praises.

When only a few tables remained occupied, Zhou Yao presented the shopkeeper with the land deed she'd secured from Chen Wenhua.

"I'm the new owner of this shop. As of today, I'll be overseeing its management. I imagine Chen Wenhua's people have already told you."

The shopkeeper's hand, mid-wipe, slowly stilled. "Oh... so you're the new owner! I've been remiss! Forgive me. How could I have taken that money just now?"

He reached for the ingot, but she waved it off. "No need. It was meant for you."

"Your wine is excellent, but there's one shortcoming. You're missing a variety."

"Missing a variety?" He blinked in confusion. "Impossible. Every variety in Chang'an is right here."

"And what if the variety I want isn't even found in Chang'an? What would you do then?" She picked up the battered bowl from the counter. "And these—they've seen better days and ought to be replaced."

"You mean..." He still didn't catch her meaning.

"We can add a grape wine." She tapped the counter twice. "I'll supply the grapes; you'll supply the winemaking skill. What do you say?"

"Grape wine? Never heard of it!" He seemed taken aback, but she didn't mind.

"Never heard of it?" That made sense—grapes had always been tribute to her father; very few ever trickled down to officials or commoners.

"After noon, have the back wall knocked through and the craftsmen build a moon gate. Connect the Golden Curtain Pavilion with the wine shop. I'll set aside a space there for winemaking in the future."

Zhou Yao noticed the shopkeeper had been acting distracted and uneasy since learning the deed was in her hands. She could understand his worry—his authority and monthly income might be stretched thin or cut.

"This shop will stay under your management, same as when the Zhao family ran it. But the grape wine we make from now on goes exclusively to the Golden Curtain Pavilion." She watched his conflicted expression and continued, "Your skill is impressive, and I won't let talent go to waste. If this works out, I'll double your wages."

With his concerns laid out on the table, the shopkeeper had no reason to refuse. He accepted cheerfully. "Thank you, benefactor!"

"Send the shop's account books to the Golden Curtain Pavilion by tomorrow. You may go back to work."

She didn't rest after leaving the shop. She went straight to the black market in search of grape vendors. If she recalled correctly, there'd been some there when she'd first returned to Chang'an.

She made several rounds without luck, then stopped to think. It struck her that relying on the trickle of grapes brought from the Western Regions would never be enough for winemaking. If she planted the seeds in Chang'an, once they bore fruit, she'd not only solve the shortage but open a new revenue stream. The more she thought about it, the better it sounded.

"Miss, miss." Someone called softly from nearby. "Over here, come here!"

Zhou Yao turned toward the voice but saw no one. Before she could look elsewhere, a tap came on her shoulder from behind.

"Hey! I'm here!" A woman in a deep brown robe typical of Western Regions merchants stood before her. The robe couldn't mask her lively, cheerful spirit.

"I saw you a moment ago. What are you after? Scented powder, ointments, liuli ornaments, guavas, gold and silver trinkets—I've got it all. Why not buy from me? I'll give you a discount! I've traveled far and wide and know everyone around here." She gave her chest a confident pat.

Zhou Yao appreciated women who made their own way, and she was happy to give this one a bit more consideration. "That's fine, but I need a large quantity of fresh grapes. Can you bring them from the Western Regions to Chang'an?"

"Fresh grapes?" She frowned. "In large quantities?" She shook her head. "I've only got a cartload here. Any more would be trouble—over half would spoil in transit, and bulk fruit shipments aren't even easy to get through the city gates."

Zhou Yao's hopes sank. She hadn't expected her winemaking plan to be nipped in the bud before it even took root.

"But I do have raisins and grape seeds." She slipped off several pouches from her belt and pulled out a light green one. "Was in a hurry today, so I've only got a bit. Take a look." She pressed the seeds into Zhou Yao's palm. "Finest quality. Apart from what goes to the palace, this is all I have left."

Zhou Yao examined the plump seeds—they were in excellent shape. "Alright, I'll take all your seeds and the fresh grapes too. Package them up and send them to the Golden Curtain Pavilion." She tucked the seeds into her sleeve and produced a pouch. "Work out the price. I'll give you a third as a deposit, and the rest once the goods arrive."

"So you're from the Golden Curtain Pavilion! My apologies! I'm Feng Ling." She clasped her hands in a Central Plains salute. "That place has made a name for itself lately. Rumor has it their liuli rivals the Western Regions'. Would I ever get a chance to see it?"

"You flatter me. That's just outsiders' talk. Compared to Western Regions liuli, I can't match their craftsmanship."

"Since fate brought us together, I'll throw these seeds in free. The rest comes to fifty taels."

Zhou Yao counted the gold in her pouch, paused, then unclasped her double-buckle lotus pendant and handed it over. "Miss Feng, take this. When you come to the Golden Curtain Pavilion, you can trade it in."

Feng Ling took it, examining it with raised brows. "How generous! This pendant must be worth a thousand taels. Aren't you afraid I'll run off with it?"

Zhou Yao laughed. "Not at all. Just come by the Golden Curtain Pavilion tomorrow."

"Alright!" She tossed the pendant and caught it deftly. "You're a straight shooter. If you hit any snags with the grapes, come find me here anytime. I'll teach you."

By the time Zhou Yao returned, the moon gate linking the wine shop and the pavilion had taken rough shape, awaiting the craftsmen's finishing touches. As she made for the front hall to check on recent liuli orders, Su'er—the girl frightened the day before—approached.

Su'er hung her head. The moment she saw Zhou Yao, she dropped to her knees and stammered an apology. "Benefactor, it's all my fault. I brought so much trouble on you and the Golden Curtain Pavilion—I even had soldiers surrounding the place." She pursed her lips. "I've come today to say goodbye. I can't be a burden to you all any longer." She pressed her forehead to the ground. "Thank you for taking me in. Only now do I see the kindness you showed the sisters at Qingyun Terrace that day. I have no way to repay you, only..."

"The ground is cold—don't say such things. None of that matters." Before she could finish, Zhou Yao raised her to her feet. "You did great service yesterday. Go to Cuiwei and register for your reward." She continued, "I'll have your household registration drawn up and delivered to your room. If you fancy anything, tell Cuiwei—she'll set aside money for clothes and jewelry. And if you're willing, you can join the other sisters in making incense. I hear you're skilled at blending fragrances." She offered a gentle smile. "Maybe someday you can show me?"

Su'er's eyes brimmed with tears, and she couldn't speak for a long moment.

"There, don't cry. Any more tears and your makeup will smudge." Zhou Yao produced a handkerchief and dabbed at Su'er's cheeks.

"Thank you, benefactor. From now on, Su'er will devote herself to your cause!" She started to bow again, but Zhou Yao stopped her.

"Alright, alright. Freshen up and collect your reward. Take two days off to buy what you like." Zhou Yao smoothed Su'er's hair. "Go on."

"Terrible news! Your Highness!" Cuiwei came running, breathless. "The Jiuyao Kilns—something's happened!"

"Calm down. Speak slowly."

"This morning, as you instructed, I went to the kilns. They were all off today, as you ordered. But when I came back from the back grove, the servants were all dead... The ground... the ground was covered with bodies!" Cuiwei looked ghastly—she'd likely never seen a corpse and was badly shaken.

"Su'er, since you're off today, why don't you take Cuiwei out for a walk to clear her head?"

Su'er agreed quickly and led the trembling Cuiwei to the back courtyard, leaving Zhou Yao alone.

She thought: All dead? Who would dare commit such an atrocity in broad daylight?

When she reached the kilns, the corpses were gone—even the bloodstains had been wiped clean. She checked the surrounding rooms, and after confirming she was alone, sat down on a Hu-style couch in the courtyard.

Such a thorough cleanup—it smacked of Qi Yanhan's style. But she couldn't fathom why he'd harm servants who had signed death contracts to his household. They'd only offended her yesterday; word couldn't have reached the Qi Mansion that fast. And the kilns were short-handed now. It wasn't the opportune moment for him to strike. If he'd waited, he'd have saved her the trouble of dealing with them herself.

What truly irked her was having to find replacements. If they lacked porcelain experience, they'd need training from scratch—a real hassle.

She was about to leave when she heard a stone skitter across the ground behind her. She turned, but before she could make anything out, hurried footsteps retreated. She gave chase, grabbing a shard of porcelain and flinging it. The piece grazed the runner's calf. "Stop!" She caught a glimpse of the back and guessed it was someone who'd slipped away when the kiln servants were killed.

The runner, of course, didn't stop just because she ordered it. "Stop now and you might live. Keep running..." But by the time she looked again, the limping figure had vanished into concealment.

—

According to plan, delivery was set for mid-October. But with the severe shortage of labor, she had to suspend new orders for the pavilion's liuli.

Following the merchant's advice, she planted the grape seeds in the pavilion's courtyard, leaving the watering and fertilizing to the staff.

She resumed her daily ritual of mixing clay and firing liuli. After about fifteen days of setting, she opened the kiln and drew out each piece. She screened, sorted, and split them according to order quantities, then marked them complete.

She'd also made extra bead necklaces and cups, all packed in wooden boxes for the pavilion. The beads could be offered to regular customers at a discount. To maximize profit, she categorized the beads by color and set time and quantity limits. Collecting all colors in one go would require six months of visits. As long as quality held, the gold would keep flowing.

The cups were prepared for the pavilion's future grape wine and summer drinks.

She'd asked Su'er to step in for Cuiwei days ago. Now, nearly half the pavilion's guards were assisting at the kilns.

"Su'er, put up notices over the next few days. Both the Golden Curtain Pavilion and Jiuyao Kilns are hiring—three strings of cash a month, room and board included. Also, take some people and buy a few servants from the slave dealer." Zhou Yao frowned, overwhelmed by the mountain of tasks ahead.

"The pavilion can be managed fine by me and the sisters, rest assured. The grape seeds you gave us have sprouted, and Miss Xun delivered the fresh grapes. When would you like to sample them, madam?"

Su'er reported all this, but at the word "taste," Zhou Yao shook her head. "These grapes aren't for eating." She didn't elaborate, simply lifting the beautifully packed wooden boxes onto the carriage one by one. "These are orders the pavilion took earlier. I've registered them all. Tomorrow morning, have the guards deliver them to the lords' residences." She turned to Su'er. "The errand is voluntary. Anyone who delivers a liuli bowl intact will be rewarded—one tael of gold per bowl. If a bowl breaks, no penalty, no reward, no compensation. Spread the word after noon."

Su'er, bearing a tray of liuli bracelets, bowed slightly. "Madam, with such a high reward, if the sisters from Qingyun Terrace want to go, may they?"

"Of course they can, but take extra people for safety." She thought a moment, then added, "Now that you're part of the pavilion, there's no need to mention Qingyun Terrace anymore."

"Yes..." Su'er bowed her head.

After delegating, Zhou Yao hurried to the pavilion. The front hall was thronged with customers buying liuli. Word had spread somehow—today's crowd was two or three times the norm. She could still manage, but with the kilns short-handed, she stopped taking new orders early and closed up sooner than usual.

The previous day, a member of the Zhao family's collateral branch had smashed the liuli on display. All that remained now were the gold-and-mulberry-silk curtain and the thin panes of liuli in the windows.

The generous rewards cleared the standing orders' balances. Within days, servants hauled box after box of gold into the pavilion. She handed out a small share of coins to the errand boys and maids, set aside five taels for Su'er to purchase servants, and sent a proportional cut to Qi Yanhan's residence. Only then did she have leisure to turn to the accounts.

It had been a while since she'd checked, and she found her wealth had grown considerably. Her vast sense of security rested on what the literati called "external possessions." Now, monthly expenses were modest—aside from repairs from Bige's destructive antics.

She went to the storeroom. The sweet, distinctive scent of grapes hit her as she entered. Seven large boxes sat there; she called for help to carry them to the well. They spent hours washing the grapes, then dried the crystal beads of water from their skins.

Through the now-finished moon gate, she went straight to Zhao's Wine Shop and fetched several clay brewing jars. The shop sold fruit wines, so the equipment and methods were on hand. She borrowed the tools, got the recipe from the shopkeeper, and followed it to the letter.

First, she discarded any rotten or split fruit, placed the intact grapes in the jar, and crushed them repeatedly with a long, heavy wooden pestle. Then she sealed it and had servants move it to the cool cellar to keep it from spoiling.

For seven days, she entered the cellar at the same time daily, opened the lid, pressed down the floating skins, and added honey. Once fermentation was complete, she strained the juice through fine gauze, pressing and squeezing repeatedly, then resealed the jar. The method called for resting twenty-one days before opening.

Making the wine took another seven days. Before she could straighten up, catch her breath, and mop the sweat from her brow, a newly hired servant and maid rushed in.

"Princess, something's happened in the front hall!" The servant pointed frantically. "Early this morning, a group came to the door raising a ruckus. The staff thought they were beggars and brushed them off." He continued, "But they kept insisting the liuli they bought didn't match what they paid for. They'd been shouting at the door for some time. Miss Cuiwei thought she could handle it without bothering you, but... they wouldn't let it go. They're still at the door, threatening to take it to the authorities and have them judge." He added, "I can tell they came with bad intentions. If this drags on, our business could be ruined!" The servant's worried face looked genuine.

Zhou Yao lowered her eyes in thought. The pavilion had recently gained great popularity, and envy was inevitable. She'd never gone out of her way to make enemies. Every piece of liuli passed through her hands and was inspected before boxing. There was no way the quality was at fault. So who was trying to make trouble? The truth could be settled with a single inspection.

Then she remembered: every bowl she'd made bore a unique mark on the bottom. If they produced the bowls, she could inspect them and prove her innocence.

"Come, let's go see." She washed her hands, dried them carelessly on her garment, and followed them out.

Close enough, they heard the wailing: "The Golden Curtain Pavilion is a black-hearted shop! They charge extortionate prices, keep customers waiting forever, and now even the first batch of bowls is this shoddy. If prices go up and quality goes down, what are we supposed to do?" The leader raised a fist and shouted to the crowd. "This shop ought to go out of business! The Golden Curtain Pavilion should return our hard-earned money!"

As she drew closer, she could see the hesitation on the onlookers' faces. Some whispered among themselves. One onlooker retorted, "My master bought a bowl here recently. From afar, I could see how pleased he was. The quality was obviously excellent—clear and radiant. What could be wrong with it?"

"That's nonsense! What liuli isn't clear?" The man sneered. "And you're just a servant—from that distance, how would you know the difference?"

"Well..."

His words silenced even those willing to defend fair play. His behavior was clearly deliberate.

Zhou Yao understood the situation at once. She stepped forward and said clearly, "Since this gentleman claims the pavilion's bowls are poor quality, it's only right that I handle this myself. I make every bowl myself, so I should judge their quality." Her calm, unhurried air seemed to irritate the man.

"Hmph! A woman like you? You couldn't possibly make liuli bowls. Do you think I'm a child you can brush off?" He turned away. "Get your manager out here to talk to me. Otherwise—hmph, there's nothing to discuss!"

His arrogance suggested he was certain they couldn't prove anything and that compensation was a sure thing.

"I'm the owner of the Golden Curtain Pavilion. Speak to me directly." Zhou Yao fixed him with a stare. "I didn't expect the Zhao family's earlier farce wouldn't deter you. That's my fault—I was too soft-hearted."

"The owner is a woman!"

"You claim my bowls have problems, but why haven't you produced a single one of these so-called shoddy bowls? If the quality is truly flawed, show me. If I confirm it's from the Golden Curtain Pavilion, I'll compensate you tenfold. Then you're free to take your evidence to the authorities and sue me."

The moment she finished, the man produced the broken pieces. From a distance, they looked convincingly like her work. For a heartbeat, her confidence flickered.

"Well? Take a look—are these your bowls?" He smiled smugly, his gaze taunting her. "Shoddy goods! Selling fakes in broad daylight—fraud!" He raised an eyebrow. "I don't want your lousy coins. I want the Golden Curtain Pavilion shut down!"

Zhou Yao nodded, accepting his absurd demand. She trusted her staff and had confidence in her craft. "Since everyone is here, I ask you all to bear witness." She signaled a maid, who hurried to the storeroom and returned with a spare bowl. Holding it up, Zhou Yao displayed the mark on the bottom. "Every piece from the Golden Curtain Pavilion, regardless of size or price, bears this little dog pattern. You may pass this around and examine it freely. As long as you don't deliberately smash it, there's no issue in normal use."

She started to have the maid offer the bowl to the crowd, but the troublemaker immediately interrupted. "You say these bowls are from the pavilion, but how do I know what you sold me is the same quality as the one in your hand?" He went on. "Maybe you display fine liuli but sell inferior practice pieces. Mixing genuine and fake—clever. I admire your cunning." He gave a mocking bow. "I've never met anyone so shameless."

His relentlessness sparked her anger, but lashing out now wouldn't solve anything. Unfounded fury would only pour oil on the flames.

Cuiwei, drawn by the commotion, hurried out and whispered, "He's clearly here to pick a fight. Why not call the authorities and have him hauled off?"

Zhou Yao signaled restraint. "We can drive him off today, but next time customers might stop buying altogether." She turned back to the man. "You keep insisting that bowl is from my pavilion. Do you have the receipt you got when you placed the order?" She probed, watching his reaction.

"Of course! How else would I have gotten the bowl?" He said it with conviction, but Zhou Yao and Cuiwei sensed something off. They exchanged a glance, now certain the bowl wasn't from their shop.

Cuiwei spoke first. "What you may not know is that, although the pavilion's liuli is expensive and made to order, we've never issued receipts for pickups. Finished bowls are delivered directly to buyers' homes by our staff."

"If you still insist on the poor quality, why not let me see the broken pieces?" Zhou Yao descended the steps and came directly before him.

"Why should I trust you? You're obviously trying to destroy the evidence and then play the victim!"

Seeing reasoning was futile, she considered other options when a figure rushed forward and snatched the broken liuli from his hand. In a flash, the person stood before her. He bowed with clasped hands. "Ninth Princess."

Zhou Yao recognized Duyun. If Duyun was here, Qi Yanhan was likely nearby. She still hadn't had a chance to properly apologize to him since their last encounter.

"You! Robbing me in broad daylight!" The man spluttered. "If that's not a guilty conscience, what is?" A silver blade pressed to his throat before he could say more. "Th-this... sir, let's talk this out..." The man froze, every muscle tight, though he inched sideways, terrified the blade would draw blood.

"Say another word and I'll slit your throat right here." Duyun's threat sent a stir through the crowd. "Everyone hold on!" He called out, "Since things have come to this, best we settle it clearly before anyone leaves."

Once Duyun and the guards had calmed the crowd, a palanquin waiting at a distance was set down by bearers. Its very mode of transport signaled high status, drawing every gaze. After a long pause, Qi Yanhan stepped out unhurriedly.

"Duyun." He swept a cold glance over the crowd, his eyes utterly indifferent. Hands clasped before him, he carried an air of nobility that gave people pause. When his gaze reached the troublemaker, the man began trembling visibly.

"Kill." He said it flatly, as if commenting on the weather.

Duyun moved to obey, but Zhou Yao stopped him. "Hold on!" She turned to Qi Yanhan. "Let's stick to the matter at hand. Why is Master Qi so eager to silence this man?" She looked at him with displeasure, only to find that the ruthless specter of a moment ago was now staring at her, tears welling in his eyes.

"Your Highness..." His voice softened, and he inclined toward her. "If Your Highness pleads for him, how could I refuse?" Ever since she'd spoken, he'd been like a stone statue awaiting his wife, his gaze never leaving her face.

Uneasy under his prolonged stare, she turned her face away. Qi Yanhan paused, then picked up a shard from the broken bowl and compared it to the display piece. One glance was enough to expose the trick. "Your Highness." He smiled at her. "Have you noticed the difference between the two bowls?"

Zhou Yao took the shard and held it in her palm. When she clenched her fist, it crumbled apart. "It's too thin, and... look at the pattern. It's completely different from our bowls." She'd struggled to get hold of the evidence earlier; with Qi Yanhan and Duyun's help, things moved smoothly. She examined the remaining pieces carefully and found no trace of the little dog mark.

"Since it's clear this man caused deliberate trouble, has Your Highness decided... how to deal with him?" His smile held an indulgent regard.

"Send this man and the evidence to the authorities." She brushed off her hands. As she turned back toward the pavilion, she glanced at Qi Yanhan. Her gaze lingered, and he noticed.

"If Your Highness is reluctant to see me go, I'd be glad to stay a while. Perhaps with me... you might find the answers you seek." A familiar smile tugged at his lips, though it didn't reach his eyes.

"Fine, since you say so, I'll ask." He smiled in response.

"Did you kill the people at the kilns?" She looked at him seriously.

"Yes." He toyed with the jade thumb ring on his finger. "The servants there weren't loyal. Disloyal ones aren't worth keeping."

"If you didn't like them, you could have sold them. Why take so many lives?" She frowned in confusion.

"What does Your Highness think?" His smile remained, wholly unconcerned with the servants' deaths.

"You..."

"I did it to set your mind at ease." He looked into the distance. "If their deaths could relieve Your Highness's worries, that would be their honor."

"Lately, the pavilion has been plagued by disturbances. Do you have any hand in them?"

"If I said no, would you believe me?"

"That depends on whether you're telling the truth."

He gave a faint smile. "Your Highness truly knows how to jest." His smile carried a bitter edge. "After all, as you said, we're strangers. Where would trust or scheming come from between us?"

"If we were truly strangers, the pavilion wouldn't be so renowned in Chang'an, Your Highness wouldn't have gone to the Western Regions, and we wouldn't have been betrothed by the king's decree..."

"Everything that's happened is fate bringing us together. When will Your Highness see that?" The more he spoke, the more heated he grew, his eyes reddening.

"Your Highness..." He sighed and murmured something Zhou Yao couldn't catch. "Forget it..." He lowered his eyes and spoke plainly. "The recent troubles stem from the merchants' guild. They're displeased that you, a woman, are running a business and making money. From ancient times, women have been bound by the maxim: obey your father at home, your husband after marriage, and your son after his death." He gave a light chuckle. "A woman who opens a shop and sweeps away their porcelain trade entirely—Your Highness is truly the first. That's why they target the pavilion. Today's bowl incident was likely orchestrated by the guild. I'm afraid incidents will only multiply. I only wish to remind Your Highness to be vigilant from now on." He warned her, though concern flickered within him. "Rumor-mongering is a common guild tactic. If you ever run into difficulties, you're welcome to come to the Qi Mansion. As long as you're willing, I'll always be behind you."

Long after his palanquin had departed, Zhou Yao finally absorbed his words. Was he only after a bigger cut? They were grasshoppers tied on a single string—if one prospers, both do; if one suffers, both do. Right? If so, she might as well give him a bit more next time.

Author's note: None.