Royal Gold Magistrate

After over ten days of preparation, the capital city was filled with a strong festive atmosphere.

The streets were adorned with all kinds of decorations, lanterns, pleasure boats, and various vendors lining the streets.

Gongs clanged, drums beat, and horns blared in a cacophony of jubilant sounds.

Fang Zheng found it especially refreshing. To be honest, it was hard to experience such a concentrated holiday vibe while cooped up in Taoyuan County.

In Taoyuan County, to foster cohesion, Fang Zheng often organized activities like stage performances and comedy skits every few days.

Over time, many cultural activities had formed fixed industries that happened spontaneously among the people without needing official guidance.

As this became routine, he got used to it. After all, the same things happened every holiday.

But what was different in the capital was the especially large scale of the activities and the number of participants, far beyond what Taoyuan County could match.

This scene of ten thousand people sharing in the revelry was quite infectious.

Naturally, a den of sensual pleasures like Hidden Fragrance Pavilion would go even more all out! They had booked an entire street in front of the pavilion.

During the festival, the authorities turned a blind eye to such situations. After all, no one wanted to actively shatter the touch of color added to an otherwise dull and monotonous life.

The street had temporary vendor stalls that were auctioned off. Fang Zheng undoubtedly secured one of the best spots.

The closer to Hidden Fragrance Pavilion, the higher the prices for the goods. The commoners congregated more towards the end of the street, where the prices were naturally lower.

Fang Zheng’s stall was set up by his own hand, with a simple yet luxurious decorative style. The servants responsible for selling the goods were also different from the other stalls – they were all beauties dressed in light gauze.

Their faces were veiled and their clothes studded with small sequins, exuding an exotic air.

As the sky darkened, the lanterns were lit.

Fang Zheng took the opportunity of the holiday to take his close associates out for a stroll.

Zhang Biao and Li Yuanzhao naturally stuck by his side, now joined by Xiao Tao, Bai Yi, and the Lu Fa couple.

Xiao Tao was very fond of such lively activities to begin with, so she ran off to play on her own after not much wandering.

Bai Yi hesitated for a bit before deciding to follow behind Fang Zheng, only glancing around at the surroundings with a tinge of melancholy and reminiscence in her eyes.

Seeing Lu Fa and his wife along with Bai Yi looking a bit restrained, Fang Zheng turned around and said, “Be merry today! If you want to buy something, buy it. Your Young Master is footing the bill!”

“Thank you, Master!” Hearing this, Lu Fa was overjoyed and ran off, leaving his wife behind.

Lu Fa’s wife stood there a bit at a loss, tugging at the hem of her clothes bashfully.

Fang Zheng smiled, took out a twenty tael banknote and handed it over. “Take it and spend it. If you go over, you can get reimbursed at the manor! If you don’t like this dog of a husband, your master will help you trade him for a new one.”

Lu Fa’s wife accepted the banknote with a shy smile. “Thank you, Master. Changing husbands won’t be necessary. Could you have Captain Zhang give him a beating when he returns home?”

Zhang Biao grinned, “No problem!”

With that, Lu Fa’s wife also happily left with the banknote.

Fang Zheng turned to look at Bai Yi, “You aren’t going to have some fun?”

Bai Yi shook her head, “I’ll pass. I’m not too fond of holidays. Just walking with the Young Master is good.”

Fang Zheng once again handed over a twenty tael banknote. “Good! Buy whatever catches your eye. If you spend too much, it can be deducted from your wages.”

Bai Yi couldn’t believe her ears, her beautiful eyes once again staring at Fang Zheng like brass bells.

This dog of a man! Do you dislike me that much?

She said in embarrassed anger, “Why! Why can’t I get reimbursed from the manor if I overspend?”

“Because you don’t have a Taoyuan residency permit.”

“…”

The four continued strolling down the street, only Bai Yi seemed a bit dejected.

Li Yuanzhao was like a dog off its leash, finding everything novel. He’d buy a bit of whatever he saw, quickly piling all sorts of packages big and small onto Zhang Biao.

Arriving at the entrance of Hidden Fragrance Pavilion, Fang Zheng once more surveyed the stall he designed, quite satisfied in his heart.

What is minimalism! What is wabi-sabi? This is it! Who wouldn’t be dazzled by this light luxury style amidst all the garish decor?

Fang Zheng said smugly, “Look, this is our spot. Tonight we’ll make our first fortune relying on it!”

Zhang Biao scratched his head, “Young Master, your stall isn’t finished. It doesn’t even have a single flower.”

Li Yuanzhao chimed in, “Exactly, exactly! Just two shabby beams with some slapped on paint. Old Fang, tell us who did it! We’ll go beat him up!”

Fang Zheng’s face fell.

Up until now, besides him, no one knew what these diamonds were. He had been vague even with Li Yuanzhao, afraid of accidentally spilling the beans in the crowd and having someone overhear.

So he had handled the setup and decor himself, and trained the female salespeople, without bringing anyone else along.

Hehe, a pair of country bumpkins who didn’t understand the Young Master’s aesthetics at all!

“Xiao Bai! Tell me, isn’t the decor of this stall beautiful?”

Bai Yi muttered, “What’s beautiful about it being so bare? Wasting such a good location. Look, the other stalls have already started attracting people, only this one has nothing.”

“…”

Fang Zheng felt like he had been struck by lightning. He never expected that if being a scientist or writer didn’t pan out, his path as a designer would also run aground.

He said awkwardly, “That’s all unimportant. Good wine needs no bush. As long as the product is top-notch, this is all secondary!”

Li Yuanzhao leaned in and said softly, “Old Fang, what are you selling exactly? Can you tell me now?”

“What’s the rush! You’ll know in a bit!”

At this moment, the doors of Hidden Fragrance Pavilion opened wide!

Countless beauties poured out from the building, lining up in two rows by the street, continuously scattering flower petals.

Madam Chun slowly walked out from the middle. Seeing Zhang Biao, her eyes lit up and she quickly threw him a coquettish glance.

Brother Biao was unmoved, eating the various snacks Li Yuanzhao bought on his own.

Madam Chun didn’t take it to heart. She started greeting people left and right, seeing that a very large crowd had already gathered in front of Hidden Fragrance Pavilion.

With a face full of smiles, she proclaimed, “On the occasion of the wonderful Qiyuan Festival, Hidden Fragrance Pavilion welcomes all you gentlemen. Miss Ningxin wishes to offer blessings to all the lovers in the world.”

Fang Zheng watched gleefully. It was his first time seeing a brothel hold this kind of event. He had thought there might be a discount or something.

But it turned out to just be Luo Ningxin coming out to play a tune.

Truly stingy!

As Madam Chun’s voice faded, Luo Ningxin appeared from the second floor in formal attire, a massive pink “diamond” necklace around her neck and a small, exquisite diamond ring on her finger.

She slowly sat down and placed her hands on the zither.

The maids on either side held oil lamps, continuously rotating their wrists. Half of the lamps were covered by mirrors, causing the light to ceaselessly reflect onto the necklace at Luo Ningxin’s neck.

As the zither music flowed out like water, the crowd below began to quiet down.

The pink diamond began to sparkle with radiance to the accompaniment of the zither…