Xi Yun Pavilion in Chang'an City
The building was three stories high, suspended in the middle with a double-layered promenade.
The first floor displayed the birthday gift from Duke Wang to the Eldest Princess: a red coral from the Southern Sea.
Its colors were vibrant, a superior specimen of coral bonsai.
The Eldest Princess, fond of it, had sent someone to display the red coral in Xi Yun Pavilion.
It was known that Xi Yun Pavilion did not accept just anything; only the rare and the precious.
However, the Xi Yun Pavilion, once a place no one dared to tread, was now doing booming business.
Even more astonishing was to see someone in a coarse cloth shirt squeezing into the crowd in front of Xi Yun Pavilion, making for a lively scene.
A traveler, having just passed through the West Market, was so struck by the bustling night scene that he couldn't move.
He looked up, pointed at the huge plaque, and whispered "Xi Yun Pavilion" several times.
Then he rubbed his eyes.
He had indeed seen correctly; this was Xi Yun Pavilion.
He had never seen so many people at Xi Yun Pavilion.
As the traveler stood there in astonishment, an old man hurried out from behind him.
The traveler quickly asked the old man, "Brother, is this Xi Yun Pavilion?"
The old man looked at him suspiciously, "Are you from out of town?"
The traveler nodded, "Yes, why?"
The old man pulled his clothes back, jostled his basket on his shoulder, "Yesterday, Xi Yun Pavilion announced that they would collect medicinal herbs and grains at double the price, for one day only."
He pointed to a notice nearby, "Young man, see for yourself. If you miss it, it's gone. I won't talk to you anymore, I still need to queue!"
With that, the old man darted away, and the traveler couldn't hold him back.
Curiously, he looked at the notice board nearby. Many rare items had been claimed, and only a few scattered listings for hard-to-find medicinal herbs remained on the board.
The traveler finally pulled out a notice for Qinghao from the corner.
His basket was full of it! He had intended to sell his herbs in Chang'an for a good price, but after searching half the district, not a single apothecary would buy them. Those that did offered extremely low prices, wanting his entire basket for two copper coins. Naturally, he refused!
The traveler stood at the entrance of Xi Yun Pavilion, holding the notice and thinking. Finally, gritting his teeth, he entered Xi Yun Pavilion with his basket.
As he stepped inside, he felt like Liu姥姥 entering the Grand View Garden.
The sudden shouts of "High!" and "Singing for sale!" made him jump.
"Is this young master here to sell medicinal herbs?"
Suddenly, a young woman to his left struck up a conversation with him. Clutching his basket tightly, he nodded stiffly.
Xi Yun Pavilion was not a place common folk could enter.
Yet, the woman merely smiled and asked softly, "What are you selling? If it's something we are specified to collect, we offer double the price."
The traveler's suspicion began to fade. He swallowed and handed over his basket, carefully saying two words, "Qinghao."
As soon as he spoke, the woman's eyes lit up, "Is that all?"
The traveler wanted to nod and shake his head at the same time.
But then he remembered the cartload of Qinghao outside that he couldn't sell, and how difficult this winter would be.
As if making a desperate decision, he said, "Yes, there's a whole cartload outside the city!"
The woman's eyes shone even brighter. She quickly led the man into an inner room and offered him tea.
The man was hesitant to sit, fearful.
Others were queuing at the counter to sell their goods.
He, on the other hand, was being led to the backyard.
Could they be planning to rob and kill him?
The thought made the traveler more panicked. He trembled and was about to bolt.
Just as his hand touched the door, it was flung open from the outside with a "bang."
Then, a young master with rosy lips and white teeth entered.
Li Yanzhu sized up the person who had collapsed on the ground in fear, then her lips curved into a smile, "Fellow countryman, don't be afraid. I just want to talk business with you."
As she spoke, she helped the traveler up and then motioned for him to sit.
The traveler dared not sit, on the verge of tears, shouting, "I won't sell!"
Li Yanzhu couldn't allow that. "No, I must buy this Qinghao!"
She applied a little more pressure, "Sit properly, or you won't be leaving this room."
Her sternness made the traveler obedient.
He trembled, not even daring to look at the celestial beauty of a young master.
Wait, a celestial beauty of a young master?
He immediately looked up and met a pair of sparkling eyes.
"Have you made up your mind?" Li Yanzhu leaned closer. "I'll take that cartload from you, but right now, I need to ask if you have anything else besides that?"
The traveler, who had just breathed a sigh of relief, instantly covered his pocket, his speech stuttering, "Are you... are you trying to steal it?"
Li Yanzhu chuckled upon hearing this. She moved back and sat on a stool, "What do you think this place is? Does Xi Yun Pavilion lack your meager wealth? It's just that we are in urgent need, so we are willing to pay double the price to acquire all your Qinghao."
"How much is double the price?"
Li Yanzhu glanced at him, "In the apothecaries of the West Market, your basket would fetch only 2 copper coins. Double that is 4. For your cartload, a thousand coins should be enough."
She lowered her gaze to the discarded tea leaves in her hand, "This is already more than double, but I want more than just this. If you can provide me with more, I am willing to pay even more."
After speaking, she put down the teacup and gestured with her eyes to Xiao Cui, who was standing by.
Xiao Cui nodded, then took a string of coins from her pocket and placed it on the table, "This is a deposit."
The traveler's eyes immediately widened.
Trembling, he pointed at the string of coins, "This... this is too much, I can't accept it."
Li Yanzhu clicked her tongue impatiently.
Xiao Cui spoke directly, "Take it if it's given to you. My young master wants all the Qinghao. Let me ask you, where are you from? Did you come to Chang'an just to sell Qinghao?"
The traveler lowered his head and replied meekly, "This humble one is from Beixian. Beixian has abundant Qinghao, so it fetches a low price. That is why I came to Chang'an to try my luck."
"It is indeed fortunate that you met me," Li Yanzhu stood up. "I will take all the Qinghao from your Beixian. I don't care how you obtained it, but as long as you deliver it, I will pay you at this price."
She placed her hand on the copper coins, "Bring the cartload of Qinghao from outside the city over later. Remember, the more you bring when I still need it, the better. Once I no longer need it, it will be worthless, so be quick, understand?"
After withdrawing her hand, Li Yanzhu walked out with her hands behind her back, stepping over the threshold.
She left the traveler alone in the room, staring blankly.
He grabbed the string of coins and weighed it in his hand, then pinched himself to confirm it wasn't a dream!
It must be that the God of Wealth he worshipped had answered his prayers!
He calmed himself, left his basket in the room, then hurried out of the city, retrieved the cart from outside the city, and then, before the curfew, drove the horse out of the city.
He was determined to make this deal!