Half a month slipped by in the blink of an eye.
Today marked the grand opening of the perfume shop within Beiwang\Northern Palace.
Over the past two weeks, the courtesans of Baihua Tower had worked tirelessly to promote the palace's new line of perfumes. Thanks to their efforts, nearly everyone in Yancheng had heard of the miraculous scents produced under the royal banner.
As the sun rose, the shop doors opened to a flood of noble ladies and wealthy wives from across Beijun. Within less than half an hour, every single bottle of perfume crafted over the past half month was completely sold out.
Lu Chen, however, did not attend the opening. He remained in his study, poring over a map of the world with unwavering focus.
Now that he had set his sights on claiming that lofty position, he could no longer afford the leisurely days of idle reading and detachment. Strategy, economics, and power had to become his new companions.
Just then, Mu Zixuan and Zhou Xiaoxiao returned. Seeing them back so quickly, Lu Chen set the map aside and looked up.
"My beloved, how were the perfume sales?" he asked casually.
Mu Zixuan didn't answer right away. Instead, she remarked, "Your Majesty, I believe the perfume is still priced far too low."
Lu Chen raised an eyebrow, surprised by the comment. "Oh? And why do you say that?"
She responded calmly, "Our palace managed to produce just under two thousand bottles over the past half month, and they were all sold out within less than thirty minutes of opening."
Lu Chen blinked, visibly taken aback. "That fast?"
He wasn't foolish. He'd priced the perfumes at one or two taels of silver per bottle based on Beijun's modest economy. This was a land riddled with poverty, where not many households could afford such luxuries. He had assumed that only a handful of wealthy families would indulge in such extravagance. But to hear they had sold out in under half an hour?
Zhou Xiaoxiao stepped in then. "Your Majesty, there were many outsiders among the buyers—especially merchants from foreign caravans. They seemed extremely interested in the perfume and often bought dozens of bottles at once."
Lu Chen's expression shifted as understanding dawned.
So that was it.
It wasn't just the nobles of Beijun. Merchants had caught wind of the perfume's value and were scooping it up in bulk, likely intending to resell it in richer territories—like the capital.
They didn't buy it for personal use. They smelled profit.
Lu Chen fell into thought. Clearly, his vision had been too narrow. If he was going to raise an army, he'd need an abundance of silver—and relying on Beijun's impoverished population would be pointless. He would have to turn outward, towards wealthier regions.
After a while, he looked back at Mu Zixuan and Zhou Xiaoxiao, his eyes thoughtful.
"My beloved, let's imagine for a moment," he said to Mu Zixuan. "Suppose you were still in the capital, still the unmarried daughter of the Mu family. If you heard about a perfume like this being sold, how much would you be willing to pay for a single bottle?"
Mu Zixuan pondered for a second, then replied, "Your Majesty, if it were me, I'd be willing to pay up to twenty taels of silver for a bottle."
Her background and status were representative of the upper-class women in the capital. If she would pay that much, others from wealthy families would likely follow suit.
Lu Chen made his decision without hesitation.
"Then it's settled," he declared. "We'll open perfume shops in both the capital and Sufeng City. From now on, the standard price for a bottle will be twenty taels of silver."
"And once our production increases, we can raise the price further, especially for bottles that are packaged in finer porcelain."
Even if he couldn't return to the capital himself, that didn't mean he couldn't do business there. He was certain perfume would sell well in such an affluent place.
Mu Zixuan nodded, but then added, "Your Majesty, we'll need to inform my father about this."
She wasn't wrong. Lu Chen could not personally oversee affairs in the capital, and perfumes would no doubt become a highly profitable and sought-after commodity. Jealousy, greed, and sabotage were inevitable. Having someone trustworthy oversee operations was essential.
Lu Chen smiled faintly. "Then I'll trouble you, my beloved."
Mu Zixuan continued, "As for opening a shop in Sufeng City, I'm afraid we'll have to notify Aunt Chu. The Chu family's backing will be necessary."
Sufeng City was the crown jewel of commerce in the Great Xia Dynasty, a bustling metropolis nestled south of the Yangtze River, dominated by the noble families of Jiangnan. It was a place where only those with status and power could survive in business.
Without noble protection, a shop wouldn't last long before being robbed or shut down.
Lu Chen nodded. "I'll speak to Aunt Chu about it later."
Since Chu Yuqin was out patrolling the palace grounds at the moment, there was no rush. He knew well that such things couldn't be rushed. Opening a store required time and planning.
At that moment, Zhou Youyou quietly stepped behind Mu Zixuan and nudged her gently, as if reminding her of something.
Mu Zixuan immediately understood and smiled sweetly. "Your Majesty," she said, "Baihua Tower's promotion has made the perfume so popular. Don't you think it's time we formally invited Miss Wang to the palace and thanked her personally?"
For the past two weeks, Lu Chen had been spending most nights in Zhou Youyou's room. The poor girl was already feeling overwhelmed.
Though Mu Zixuan and Zhou Xiaoxiao occasionally took turns tending to him, they both had children to care for. Lu Chen, mindful of that, rarely allowed them to exhaust themselves too much.
But for Zhou Youyou, there were no such limitations.
Naturally, she hoped Wang Qingci from Baihua Tower could share the burden. However, as a concubine, she couldn't make such a request outright. So she had secretly asked Mu Zixuan to bring it up under the guise of offering gratitude.
Today presented the perfect opportunity.
Lu Chen didn't miss a beat. "That sounds good," he agreed. "But you'll have to invite her in your name."
Half a month had passed, yet just the thought of Wang Qingci's soft, boneless body made his heart stir. He hadn't reached the ninth level of cultivation yet and couldn't fully suppress his desires. That woman's memory still lingered in his mind like a forbidden dream.
Mu Zixuan smiled knowingly. "I understand."
Then she turned to the maid beside her. "Xiaorou, go to Baihua Tower and invite Miss Wang. Tell her that I wish to thank her personally."
"Yes, Princess."
Xiaorou left immediately for Baihua Tower.
Before long, she arrived and relayed the message to Wang Qingci.
Upon hearing the invitation, Wang Qingci's brows furrowed slightly.
Her last visit to the palace had left her deeply unsettled. She still hadn't figured out how she had been drugged that day. For the past two weeks, she had racked her brain, going over every detail of that evening—but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't find any clue as to how or when the drug had been administered.
The thought of Mu Zixuan inviting her again made her suspicious. She was certain this was Lu Chen's doing.
Just the thought of that demon made her delicate body tremble.
That night... he hadn't let her go for hours, treating her as little more than a toy.
She hesitated. Should she go? Or wait a few more days until her people from the Blood Moon Tower arrived?
After a long pause, she finally made up her mind.
She would go.
First, she couldn't refuse an invitation from the palace. Even if she was merely a courtesan in name, declining such a summon could cause unnecessary trouble.
Second, this time she was prepared. She wouldn't fall for the same trick again. She carefully packed a pouch of muscle-softening powder in her sleeve. If Lu Chen tried anything this time, she'd strike first.
There was no way she'd allow herself to be toyed with a second time.
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