Muyun Pavilion was the finest tavern in the capital.
The finest, and also the priciest.
Li Wanming had been here once before, to watch Pei Yanqi parade through the streets on horseback. She had even thrown a huge bouquet of flowers at the head of the champion, Pei.
On that day, her mother - in - law had won the tavern's holiday grand giveaway, and all the food and drinks were free.
...
This time, unfortunately, Li Wanming didn't have such good luck.
Today, she had to foot the bill for all the food and drinks herself.
But it didn't matter. She had plenty of money now.
With 100,000 taels of silver, she could even buy Muyun Pavilion.
Xiao Jingnan was extremely generous. He ordered the most expensive dishes and snacks here, filling up the table.
"Ordering so much. Can we finish it?"
Li Wanming sat on one side and couldn't help sneering.
Xiao Jingnan picked up a chopstick - full of stir - fried eel for her. "If we can't finish it, we'll take it home in doggy bags. There are so many people at home. They'll surely finish it."
"What on earth do you bring me here for?"
Li Wanming had no appetite for food. Her heart was filled with anxiety.
The grand opening ceremony had only resulted in the normal operation of Wanfu Pawnshop.
It was like a thunderclap that shook the world, but in the end, only a tiny drizzle fell, not even wetting the ground.
Two out of the three shops had encountered problems.
This made her start to doubt herself. Was she really cut out for business?
Could the success of the wine shop before just be a coincidence?
Could she really win the bet against the Imperial College?
Could she really rescue her elder sister?
...
"My lady, look. The sky is so blue," Xiao Jingnan's voice sounded.
"What..."
Li Wanming looked up blankly.
Indeed, the distant sky was as blue as washed, pure and flawless like a huge piece of colored glaze.
The Banshi Mountain in the distance undulated gently, looking like a Chinese ink - wash painting in the golden sunlight, beautiful as a scroll.
In the early summer of the capital, flowers were blooming everywhere, and the green willows were lush.
"My lady, how long has it been since you last looked at the sky?"
Li Wanming was slightly stunned.
How long... since she last looked at the sky?
She seemed to have been extremely busy this year.
The wine shop, the academy, the bet...
She had hardly had a moment of leisure.
Only on the Qixi Festival last year, when she had planned to go out and have fun, she had almost lost her life...
Oh well, better not mention it.
Xiao Jingnan poured a cup of wine in front of her.
"My lady, if a string is tightened too much, it will break."
Will it... break?
The soft sound of the liuqin came from downstairs, and a songstress was singing sweetly.
Her voice was as charming as a warbler's tweet.
Li Wanming's heart gradually relaxed.
The warm spring breeze outside the window blew on her face, bringing with it the fragrance of the hibiscus from afar.
Downstairs, some children were playing. Their parents were calling them back for dinner.
Yes, she was in such a vibrant capital.
With such beautiful scenery, why should she be so anxious?
How could she lose?
Behind her were Lu Ping, Wu Yao, Qinglan, Caiwei, her father - in - law and mother - in - law, Liu Yiyi, Pei Yanqi, as well as Chuntao and Xiao Jingnan...
With so many smart, lovely and capable people, how could she lose?
Li Wanming felt a sense of relief in her heart, as if a boulder weighing a thousand jin had suddenly disappeared.
She put down the wine cup and began to eat heartily.
"After this meal, it's back to work!"
Whether she won or lost,
The most important thing was that she couldn't be defeated!
She had to protect Zhaoyu Academy, bring her two elder sisters back home, and find a way out for so many helpless girls!
Xiao Jingnan smiled and drained the wine in his cup in one gulp.
"I've always said that my lady is blessed by the gods and will surely achieve her wishes."
...
The Changxing Inn had just been redecorated. They only needed to replace all the broken bowls, plates and screens, so it didn't take much time.
By the time Li Wanming heard that the Liu's Silk Store was booming, her inn had reopened for business.
However, the business was just so - so.
Well, it was understandable. Who would have a good impression of an inn that had kicked out its customers on the first day of opening?
Not to mention that there had been a fight on the first day, and then it had closed for rectification...
Who would want to come to such an inn?
Except for acquaintances...
In the evening, Liu Yiyi came.
She also brought Pei Yanqi.
Li Wanming had no idea how Liu Yiyi had convinced Pei Yanqi to compose a poem on the wall of the inn!
Pei Yanqi was a very strange person. He loved money, but at the same time, he had an unyielding backbone. He believed that a gentleman should earn money in a proper way. He cherished his title of champion and his reputation.
Back then, when Li Wanming had invited him to invest in the Li Family Wine Shop, he had repeatedly told her not to let anyone know that he was secretly doing business.
Later, for Zhaoyu Academy, it was only because it was a clean and noble academy that he had agreed to come and give lectures.
Even so, he had still embarrassed Li Wanming during the first public lecture because his reputation had been damaged...
Now, Pei Yanqi was writing his poem on the wall of the inn. Wasn't he publicly declaring that he was associated with merchants and reeking of the smell of money?
How could he agree?
...
Liu Yiyi glanced at Pei Yanqi, who was writing vigorously, and said, "Oh, it wasn't me who asked him to come. He came on his own initiative."
"On his own initiative?"
Li Wanming found it even harder to believe.
Pei Yanqi came on his own initiative to compose a poem and help her make money?
Although she really needed this help now... but this was Pei Yanqi! He was a man who never acted without a clear gain. Would he be so kind as to offer to help her, a money - grubbing merchant?
"Did he... ask for an exorbitant price?"
Li Wanming thought for a long time and couldn't figure it out. She could only start from the most direct reason - Pei Yanqi must have asked for an astronomical sum!
Liu Yiyi was stunned. "No! He didn't say a word about it!"
"Ah?"
Li Wanming was even more surprised.
Him?
Pei Yanqi?
Doing free work without asking for any reward?
And even risking his reputation as a champion?
It was impossible no matter how she thought about it...
Liu Yiyi pulled her over and whispered, "I saw him walking towards your place in the silk store today. Since I also had something to talk to you about, I came with him."
She quietly pointed at Pei Yanqi. "I feel that he's a bit strange today. Why don't you talk to him and cheer him up later?"
"What's wrong?" Li Wanming was even more curious.
"He seems to have been left by the emperor for a scolding... Judging from the direction he came from, it seemed that he had just come from the palace. And he had a gloomy face all the way. He wouldn't tell me anything I asked."
"I guess he must have been scolded by the emperor..."
Scolded by the emperor...
Zhao Yanke?
Li Wanming raised her eyebrows.
Zhao Yanke had fought with the Princess of Danyang in her inn the day before yesterday. And then he had scolded Pei Yanqi?
It seemed that there was no connection at all...
Li Wanming was completely confused. She wanted to go and ask Pei Yanqi for details, but Xiao Jingnan stopped her.
Xiao Jingnan's face was full of a smile that he couldn't hide.
"My lady wants to know why Brother Pei suddenly came to compose a poem, right?"
"Because..." He tried to suppress his laughter, but the corners of his mouth still couldn't help turning up. "Because it was His Majesty the Emperor who asked him to come!"
"Our Majesty said that agriculture and sericulture are the foundation of the country, but commerce can ensure the circulation of currency in the world. Only when commerce thrives can the common people truly live and work in peace and contentment."
"So when he heard that there was a unique inn in the capital, he asked Brother Pei to come and compose a poem to show the grace and attention of the court!"