Chapter 49: Robbery-style Purchase
The Marquis of Wu'an's residence.
Cheng Fang got up very early.
I came home late yesterday, and after Cheng Jiaojiao started fussing, I cooked her a bowl of instant noodles.
In the end, it turned into the whole family eating instant noodles together.
Grandma and Mom both raved about instant noodles.
Although the father didn't say anything, he still finished all the noodle soup.
Hearing that it was given by the selfless Miss Jiang who donated the medicine, I felt even more fortunate to be able to taste such a delicious treat.
Upon learning that Miss Jiang had asked him to do something, the family repeatedly urged him to make sure the matter was handled well.
Even the usually stern father said:
If you encounter any difficulties, just come to him.
Cheng Fang believed that he could handle this small matter himself and that his father did not need to trouble himself.
I got ready to leave early.
Xuanwumen Street was bustling with traffic and people.
The air was filled with the caramelized sweetness of roasted chestnuts and the savory aroma of mutton soup.
In my ears, I could still hear the hoarse shouts of shop assistants from various stores.
Cheng Fang, dressed in a silver-gray brocade robe with cloud patterns, sat in a private room on the third floor of Jiyunxuan, the largest porcelain shop in the capital.
The tea had barely reached his lips when a cynical voice rang out.
"Cheng Fang, it's been over a year since we last met. The first thing you do when you come back is to patronize my business. That's really kind of you!"
The owner of the voice strolled slowly to his side, fanning himself with a fan. He wore a jade belt and brocade robe and was none other than the young master of Jiyun Pavilion.
He is also Cheng Fang's best friend who grew up together with him, always getting into mischief and playing pranks.
Cheng Fang finished his tea.
"And you say that? I've been away on campaign for seven or eight days now, and you haven't even brought a gift to pay your respects. I thought the Marquis's mansion was too low-class to catch your eye, Young Master Ji!"
Ji Wensheng's face instantly fell. "Why bring up something you shouldn't have said! Besides, is that what you call a war? It was just a supply mission. Even a dog could have completed it perfectly. People who didn't know better would think you were fighting on the front lines. What a show of bravado! Pshaw!"
Although Ji Wensheng said that, he also felt guilty for not being able to go out to greet his friend when he returned after being away for more than a year.
He then stepped forward, put his arm around Cheng Fang's neck, and whispered:
"Hey, I have to say, the new most beautiful courtesan in the capital, Eleventh Sister, is truly captivating and breathtakingly beautiful. I'll introduce you to her another day, consider it a welcome-back feast!"
Cheng Fang glared at him. "Tsk, aren't you afraid your father will lock you up again?"
Ji Wensheng hesitated for a moment, as if he was savoring the moment.
"With that slender figure and those tender, watery eyes, even just one glance would be worth ten days of solitary confinement!"
As he spoke, he suddenly winked at Cheng Fang, a malicious smile on his face:
"You must have been lonely during your year-long stay in the military, right?"
"Farewell, my Fengyan!"
Cheng Fang shook off his arm, not wanting to get too involved with this kind of lustful person who was willing to risk his life.
At this moment, the manager of Jiyunxuan led a group of neatly dressed waiters in blue cloth shirts, carrying porcelain in their hands, and slowly walked up to the third floor.
"Young Master, Prince Cheng." After exchanging greetings, the old shopkeeper began to introduce the porcelain in the shop assistant's hands.
"This is a Ru ware celadon washer with a warm, jade-like glaze; this is a Jun ware rose-purple glazed flowerpot with a fiery red glaze; this is a Ge ware gall-shaped vase with crackled ice patterns..."
"Wait!" Before the shopkeeper could finish his introduction, Ji Wensheng suddenly stood up and called out to stop.
Cheng Fang was listening attentively when he was suddenly interrupted, which made him somewhat displeased.
"Are you itchy again?"
"Sorry! Sorry!" Ji Wensheng apologized to him first.
Before Cheng Fang could react, Ji Wensheng spoke directly to the shopkeeper.
"Are you getting less and less discerning as you get older? How dare you put a hundred or so cartloads of porcelain in front of Prince Cheng? Take them away immediately and bring a batch of the finest quality!"
There are many taboos in the interactions between prominent families. Given the current status of the Cheng family, isn't this a deliberate insult?
If you offend him, Ji Yunxuan will be in deep trouble!
That's why Ji Wensheng was so nervous.
The old shopkeeper looked helpless. "Reporting to the young master, this is what Young Master Cheng ordered..."
Ji Wensheng then looked at Cheng Fang, "You gave the order?"
"Yes." Cheng Fang nodded.
Ji Wensheng breathed a sigh of relief upon hearing this and sat down.
"Why did you buy this hundred-odd taels of stuff? To use it as a flower arrangement at home?"
Cheng Fang stroked the purse on the table. "This is for a friend."
Ji Wensheng looked disgusted upon hearing this, "You buy a hundred or so of these things to give away as gifts, Cheng Fang, aren't you ashamed of yourself!"
“If you laugh, I’ll beat you up! This is money from Miss Jiang! She bought it for an elder, but she only asked me to handle this matter. She doesn’t want to rely on others for money.”
"Oh, that's a different story then."
Then, Ji Wensheng realized what was happening.
"Cheng Fang, is the Miss Jiang you mentioned the goddess Jiang who selflessly gave away medicine?"
Although the Crown Prince did not mention Jiang Ling's name at all when reporting the epidemic, there were many informants in the army.
Although His Highness the Crown Prince had explicitly forbidden it, it inevitably reached the ears of a few people.
Ji Wensheng was one of these few people.
His father and several uncles were in the army, and although they were not in high positions, they also got the information.
The spread of rumors was beyond imagination, expanding from being heard by a few people to the streets and alleys in just a few days.
Cheng Fang remained silent, knowing that Miss Jiang did not want to be mentioned too much.
Ji Wensheng, however, thought that this was a character who intrigued him even more than the courtesan Shiyi Niang.
"I heard you've seen that goddess? It's all the rage in the court. What does she look like? Is she kind and approachable, or does she have downcast eyes and inspire fear?"
"Is she young? Or kind-looking?"
"Is that elixir really that effective? Are you very familiar with the goddess? Could you help me get a few pills?"
Cheng Fang was annoyed and suddenly got up.
"That's not a magic elixir! And Miss Jiang isn't a goddess! Are you going to sell it or not? If you don't, I'll go somewhere else!"
Ji Wensheng grabbed him.
"Hey! Don't go! Sell, sell, sell!"
He complained, "If you don't want to help, then don't! Saying it's not a celestial medicine! Not a goddess! Aren't you afraid of offending the gods!"
Cheng Fang knew that nothing he said now would make a difference.
The story of a goddess from Ping'an County gifting elixirs to immortals spread like wildfire throughout the capital.
And many people can attest to this fact.
His Highness the Crown Prince also brought back some medicine, which he handed over to the Emperor and is now locked in the storeroom.
The discussions about the elixir of immortality and the goddess Jiang are now more heated in the capital than they were in Ping'an County back then.
Fortunately, the Crown Prince issued a gag order to the guards who had been to the Jixiang General Store, which prevented them from knowing about the Jixiang General Store and the fact that Jiang Ling was the goddess.
Cheng Fang ignored him and began to carefully select porcelain.
He picked them up one by one and examined them closely in the light from the window.
Among all the porcelain pieces, I chose the Ge ware gall-shaped vase with its crackled ice pattern.
“Sell me this for 100 taels.” He turned to Ji Wensheng and said.
"This is priced at 299 taels! Is this how you bargain?!" Ji Wensheng felt a pang of heartache.
"Are you going to sell it or not?!"
Ji Wensheng was utterly helpless at his robbery. He covered his eyes and gritted his teeth.
"Sell it! Sell it! Pack it all up!"
I made a bad choice in friends!
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