Poet Immortal, Poet Sage, Duke of the State!

Bright Moon Palace.

Princess Zhaoyue stood by the window, her eyes lowered, seemingly lost in thought.

Qing Shuang stood behind her, having held back her words the whole way, and finally couldn't hold back anymore.

She snorted and spoke angrily.

"The eldest son of the Chen family is a real scoundrel. He doesn't even spare his cousin who came to visit!"

"His second son is a complete fool. He embarrassed our Great Ning in front of so many people. I'm ashamed for him!"

"Minister Chen is utterly shameless! He actually has the nerve to discuss a marriage exchange with His Majesty!"

"Your Majesty is really something, how could you appoint such a person as your consort!"

"If you ask me, that young master is more worthy of the princess. Hmm, I don't think I know his name..."

……

Princess Zhaoyue slowly raised her head, shook her head, and said, "Let's not talk about this anymore."

She changed the subject and asked, "By the way, how did you find that young master?"

Speaking of this, Qing Shuang immediately perked up and said happily, "The Grand Scholar and all those talented scholars couldn't come up with the first couplet, so I thought I'd go find that young master again. I didn't expect that he would appear on his own as soon as I got to the street! Princess, don't you think this is fate?"

Princess Zhaoyue smiled slightly and said, "Perhaps, he is the one sent by Heaven to save our Great Ning."

Qing Shuang took her arm and said with a smile, "I think he was sent to rescue the princess. It's a good thing he was here, otherwise the princess would have married that wicked prince from Yan!"

After Qing Shuang finished speaking, she suddenly slapped her forehead and said, "Oh right, I still owe that young master sixty taels of silver!"

Princess Zhaoyue breathed a sigh of relief, gathered her thoughts, and said, "Let's go find him and get his money back."

She thought for a moment and then added, "Oh, and when we meet him later, don't tell him who we are."

Qing Shuang was slightly taken aback and asked, puzzled, "Why?"

Princess Zhaoyue shook her head slightly, offering no further explanation.

"Life is like a journey, and I am but a traveler. Why should we need to have known each other before we meet?" He was so open-minded and insightful. If he knew his true identity, the two of them would never be able to return to that carefree atmosphere.

She really liked that atmosphere.

……

"Achoo... Achoo!"

In the small courtyard south of the city, Chen Chang'an sneezed twice in a row.

He sat on the stone bench, looking at the empty money bag, and frowned slightly.

He had just been kicked out of his home by Chen Wenyuan. With no relatives or friends and no one to rely on, he barely managed to rent this small courtyard to live in with only ten taels of gambling money.

After several expenditures, he had less than one tael of silver left.

Once he's spent that one or two taels of silver, he'll be left with nothing but the northwest wind.

Qing Shuang's image involuntarily appeared in Chen Chang'an's mind.

A couplet costs ten taels of silver. I helped her with five couplets and even gave her one. In total, she still owes me sixty taels of silver.

I wonder if that rich young woman will try to renege on her debt?

Chen Chang'an's intuition told him that she probably wouldn't.

However, relying on the support of a wealthy young woman is not a long-term solution.

We still have to find ways to make money ourselves, a lot of money.

Starting a business is a good choice.

In his previous life, he was the company's sales director, and he was responsible for securing most of the company's big orders through his painstaking efforts.

He was quite adept at doing business.

Right now, all that's missing is an idea.

Chen Chang'an pushed open the gate of the courtyard, looked at the bustling crowds on the street and the rows of shops on both sides of the street, leaned against the door, and fell into thought.

Snapped!

A mosquito that had been sucking blood on Chen Chang'an's arm was swatted flat by him.

"mosquito?"

Chen Chang'an looked at the bloodstains on his arm, his gaze shifting slightly.

Autumn has arrived, and there are more mosquitoes now.

In this era, there doesn't seem to be any particularly effective mosquito repellent technology.

If that thing were invented, wouldn't it be...?

Chen Chang'an raised an eyebrow, and an idea instantly formed in his mind.

only……

He touched the last tael of silver in his pocket and sighed helplessly.

Even a hero can be brought down by a lack of funds. Although that industry is highly profitable, he currently lacks the start-up capital…

"Whoa..."

A carriage stopped in front of Chen Chang'an's house, and two familiar figures got out.

It was the young heiress Qing Shuang and the girl who invited him to dinner.

Before Chen Chang'an could even greet him, Qing Shuang walked over with a hearty gait and shoved a heavy silk bag into his hands.

Qing Shuang crossed her arms and said, "Sixty taels of silver, not a single tael less, young master, I haven't reneged on my debt, have I?"

Holding the heavy silver in his hands, Chen Chang'an's mood immediately brightened.

This young heiress really keeps her promise!

The start-up capital for starting a business is now available.

He smiled and said, "You're very generous, young lady..."

Qing Shuang proudly raised her head: "It's just a little money."

Just as Chen Chang'an was about to ask about Qing Shuang's martial arts, Princess Zhaoyue curtsied slightly to Chen Chang'an and said, "Thank you, young master. Your couplets have been a great help to us."

"It was just a small favor, nothing to mention."

Chen Chang'an waved his hand and said, "If this happens again in the future, remember to come find me."

Earning sixty taels of silver by matching a few couplets is the most profitable business.

Princess Zhaoyue blinked and said, "Speaking of which, we can be considered friends now. This time, can we learn your name, young master?"

"Well……"

Chen Chang'an looked at them, pondered for a moment, and then nodded, saying, "You can call me Shen An."

He didn't want to have any further connection with the Chen family, so he used Chen Chang'an's mother's surname.

Princess Zhaoyue nodded slightly and said, "So it is Young Master Shen An."

Chen Chang'an looked at them and asked, "May I ask your names, ladies?"

Princess Zhaoyue said softly, "This humble woman is... Gongyue."

Qing Shuang raised her chin and said, "My name is Qing Shuang, Xiao Qing Shuang."

After the three exchanged names, Princess Zhaoyue got straight to the point: "I see that you, young master, are full of learning. Why don't you take the imperial examinations, enter the court as an official, and benefit the country and its people?"

Chen Chang'an smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, young lady, but I am used to being free and unrestrained, and I do not want to be bound by the court. I have no intention of becoming an official."

He's only been here a few days, how can he possibly pass the imperial examinations?

Moreover, the business world is like a battlefield, and the officialdom is even more ruthless, devouring people without spitting out their bones.

This is an ancient feudal dynasty. If you enter officialdom without a background, you won't even know how you died.

Princess Zhaoyue was slightly disappointed, but she didn't press the matter and nodded, saying, "I see..."

Qing Shuang stood to the side, curiously sizing up Chen Chang'an, and asked, "Young Master Shen, you are so talented, if you don't want to be an official, what do you want to do?"

Chen Chang'an looked at them and suddenly had an idea.

My sixty taels of silver were enough as start-up capital, but far from enough to expand the business.

Qing Shuang could easily spend tens of taels of silver, and the meal that Miss Gong treated him to also cost tens of taels of silver. Aren't these two wealthy women, one big and one small, the best angel investors?

Whether it was the last bet or this sixty taels, it's enough to prove that their character is trustworthy.

Of course, besides them, Chen Chang'an didn't know anyone else here...

Chen Chang'an's eyes lit up, and he said, "Ladies, I have a business opportunity that's guaranteed to make money. Would you like to join me?"

Qing Shuang asked in surprise, "Besides composing couplets, you can also do business?"

Chen Chang'an looked at Qing Shuang, smiled, and said, "What? Miss Qing Shuang doesn't believe me? Then we can make another bet, like last time..."

Qing Shuang immediately shook her head. Last time she made a bet with him, she almost swallowed a knife. This time, she would never bet with him again.

She shook her head, then said, "I'm just curious, what kind of business are you going to do?"

Chen Chang'an said, "Floral water."

Qing Shuang asked in confusion, "What is floral water? I've never heard of it before?"

Chen Chang'an said, "A perfume that can repel mosquitoes, relieve itching, and remove odors."

Upon hearing "perfume," Qing Shuang instinctively said, "You mean... perfume?"

Chen Chang'an was slightly taken aback.

Has anyone in this world already invented perfume?

Chen Chang'an stared intently at Qing Shuang and asked, "What is fragrant dew?"

"This is it."

Qing Shuang took out a porcelain bottle from her bosom, opened it, and held it under Chen Chang'an's nose so he could smell it.

Chen Chang'an smelled the fragrance of flowers in the porcelain bottle and immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

The scent of this perfume is extremely faint; you can't smell it at all unless you sniff carefully. It's nowhere near as good as perfume extracted from alcohol.

He smiled slightly and said, "My floral water is different from this perfume. However, I plan to make a similar perfume in the future, which will be ten times more fragrant than the one you have..."

Qing Shuang rolled her eyes at him, her face full of disbelief: "This fragrant dew is from Ruyi Tower, it's all the rage among the noble ladies of the capital, even the concubines in the palace use it. How can your stuff compare to Ruyi Tower?"

Chen Chang'an laughed and said, "You'll see when I've got it all set up. I wonder if you two ladies would be willing to invest some money and work with me on a project? I guarantee you won't lose out..."