Chapter 278: One penny of incense, ten taels of gold
Chunxi asked the servant to change the pot of good tea.
Before the tea was served, Lan Shu came into the front hall.
The previous times we met, Lan Shu was dressed quite simply, looking delicate and scholarly. But today, she was wearing a white brocade dress embroidered with many flowers, and her makeup was also different from usual.
Chunxi was still not good at dressing up, and couldn't tell what was different specifically, but she felt that Lanshu's whole temperament had changed, especially her eyes, which looked like a fox spirit.
Although Chunxi was curious about Yaoniang, she couldn't help but look at Lanshu twice when she saw him like this.
No wonder Lan Shu can be in charge of Wuyou Pavilion. Although he cannot compare with the prince consort in appearance, his aura is much more attractive than that of the prince consort.
"Is it not amiss for Madam to come here so hastily?"
As soon as they stood still, Lan Shu spoke apologetically. Chun Xi quickly shook his head: "It's not rude, sir, please take a seat."
As he got closer, Chunxi smelled a strange fragrance on Lanshu.
The smell was not strong, but it was particularly pleasant. Not only did it make people feel happy, but it also made them feel more energetic. Combined with Lan Shu's outfit today, it added to her charm.
It would be fine if he came in person to deliver the letter, but why did he make himself look like he was visiting a customer?
Chunxi felt a little strange, but because he had important matters to attend to, he kept it to himself.
After sitting down, Lan Shu told what he had found out about Yao Niang.
Yao Niang was twelve years younger than Qingyuan Hou. Qingyuan Hou was her first and last patron. They had only known each other for three months when Qingyuan Hou redeemed her and bought a small house in the west of the city to support her.
At first, Marquis Qingyuan only stayed with her for a short time, but as time went by, he started to stay there permanently.
Less than two years after the two lived together, Qingyuan Hou began to look for a doctor to regulate Yao Niang's health, hoping to have another child.
Beauty is fleeting. Although Qingyuan Hou redeemed Yao Niang, he did not give her a legal status. It is natural for Yao Niang to want a child, but women who enter the brothel must be fed with a sterilizing soup, so it is normal that Yao Niang has not made any movement for so many years.
"Over the years, she and the Marquis have lived like an ordinary couple. Apart from going out to buy groceries and doing some needlework to supplement the family income, she often goes to the clinic. There is a doctor named Li who prescribes a lot of medicine for her. He is a widower. If the child in Yaoniang's belly is not the Marquis's, this doctor is the most suspicious. Doctor Li sees many patients every day, but he has no relatives in Hanjing and has not been in contact with anyone recently."
Chunxi originally thought that Yaoniang was instructed by someone to suddenly give birth to a child and want to cause trouble in the Marquis' Mansion, but after hearing Lanshu's words, it seemed that she was overthinking it.
Yao Niang has been praying for a child for many years. If she just wants to use the child to gain power and status, Chunxi doesn't necessarily have to expose her.
After all, the Marquis' Mansion had a new mistress, so she could indeed relax a lot.
Chunxi pondered while asking Lanshu the price of this information.
Lan Shu narrowed his eyes and said, "The Pavilion Master personally went to inquire about this matter. He said that the lady is a friend of Miss Xiao, so it's not difficult to find out. Just accept the one hundred taels from before."
Lan Shu was just delivering a message, and Chunxi couldn't go to Xiao Yechen to ask for the price again, so this was the only way for now.
After delivering the message, Lan Shu was about to leave. As soon as he moved, the strange fragrance on his body came again. Chun Xi couldn't help but ask, "What's that smell, sir?"
Lan Shu adjusted her sleeves and raised her eyebrows: "Madam, do you like this fragrance?"
"It smells quite nice. Does this fragrance have the effect of refreshing the mind?"
Chunxi has been feeling sleepy lately and can never get enough sleep. But now, smelling this fragrance, she feels refreshed.
Seeing Chunxi's interest, Lanshu's smile deepened. "This is Wuyou Pavilion's new Soul-Stirring Incense. One of the spices in it is extremely precious, so it's quite expensive. Ten taels of gold can only buy one penny."
“…”
Ten taels of gold can only buy one penny. What’s the difference between this and directly robbing money?
Chunxi took a deep breath and felt guilty for wanting to buy some back.
It is indeed easy to go from frugality to extravagance. She has only enjoyed a few days of good life, but she actually dares to buy things from Wuyou Pavilion.
After being shocked, Chunxi forced a polite smile and said, "After hearing the price, I feel that the taste is just so-so."
Not only did the smell become ordinary, but even the seductive aura around Lan Shu disappeared.
This is not a fox spirit, it's clearly a money-eating beast!
Chunxi made no secret of the fact that she couldn't afford it, and Lanshu didn't continue to recommend it. She just bowed and left.
At night, Shen Qingyuan returned home, and Chunxi first told him about Yao Niang.
"I want to observe first. If Yao Niang just wants to use the child to gain status, she won't bother me. I plan not to expose her for now. What do you think, my husband?"
Shen Qingyuan nodded: "Those people in the Marquis' Mansion are too idle, it's good to let them fight each other."
Chunxi thought he was praising himself, raised the corners of his lips in satisfaction, and then yawned loudly.
Shen Qingyuan immediately said, "You're sleepy, go to bed early. I have something else to do, so I'll go to the study for a while."
These days, Shen Qingyuan has been accompanying Chunxi to go to bed early. If he says there is something, it must be something very important.
Chunxi nodded and handed him the cloak: "It's cold at night, my husband, don't stay up too long. Remember to ask A Li to light the charcoal fire first."
"good."
In response, Shen Qingyuan carried Chunxi to the bed.
Chunxi was a little reluctant to let him go. She hooked her arm around his neck and made small talk: "Master Lanshu came to deliver the news today. He also had a very pleasant smell on him, which was quite refreshing. I wanted to buy some, but my husband, how much does that incense cost?"
"How many?"
"Husband, take a guess."
Chunxi grumbled coquettishly, and Shen Qingyuan cooperated by guessing the price: "One hundred taels?"
"Wuyou Pavilion only receives high-ranking officials and dignitaries, so you can make a bold guess."
"Two hundred taels?"
Shen Qingyuan flipped through the information. Chunxi shook her head and didn't waste any more time. She raised her index finger and raised her voice, "That one penny of incense costs ten taels of gold. Ten taels of gold, just for the smell. It's really too easy to make money from these nobles."
After saying this, Chunxi let go of Shen Qingyuan and wrapped herself in the quilt.
There was no way she would be such a sucker in her life.
Just as he was thinking, Shen Qingyuan's voice reached his ears: "What kind of fragrance is it?"
Shen Qingyuan's tone was somewhat serious.
Chunxi didn't know that the real master of Wuyou Pavilion was the prince, but Shen Qingyuan knew very well that the prince instructed Xiao Yechen to take charge of Wuyou Pavilion in order to grasp the situation of the major families so that he could quickly establish his authority and stabilize the court when he succeeded in the future, not to make a lot of money.
Selling incense worth ten taels of gold for just one penny is really not something His Royal Highness the Crown Prince would do.
"I haven't seen it either, but I just think it smells quite refreshing. Lan Shu said that there's a rare spice in it, so it's so expensive," Chunxi answered truthfully, but then added with concern, "My dear, although you're a favorite in the Censorate now, you must not forget your original aspirations. You must be a good official, and there must be a limit to how much you can dote on your wife. You absolutely must not become embroiled in extravagance and debauchery."
Chunxi's tone was very serious, and Shen Qingyuan was amused by her: "Okay, Madam is right. I will definitely remember your teachings and be vigilant at all times."
Chunxi leaned over and kissed Shen Qingyuan: "Okay, husband, go and get busy."
On the second day of duty, Shen Qingyuan went to find the prince first.
The prince really didn't know about the spices, but he had no idea about money, so he didn't think it was expensive to sell one penny of incense for ten taels of gold. He smiled and said, "I know you love your wife, so just let someone in the Japanese palace send some to Madam Shen."
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