The most dissolute couple in the capital

The warm pavilion in the backyard of the Liang Prince's Mansion.

The early winter sun shone through the brightly lit windows into the warm pavilion, where the underfloor heating was blazing. Cui Qingyi was comfortably nestled on a rosewood chaise lounge covered with thick snow fox fur, holding a cloisonné enamel hand warmer in her hands, idly flipping through the list of names in last month's "Golden Book of Orchids and Magnolias" sent by Chenxiang Pavilion.

"Tap, tap, tap..."

Not far away, in front of a large rosewood table, Li Chengjing, the noble and dissolute prince of the Great Ning Dynasty, was unceremoniously rolling up his sleeves, holding a small jade pestle, and pounding something in a white jade medicine bowl.

"Qingyi, this stuff is so hard to handle!" Li Chengjing wiped the fine sweat from his forehead. "This spice is as hard as a rock before it's ground, and the smell is pungent. If it weren't for preparing face cream for your esteemed guests at the Agarwood Pavilion, I wouldn't bother with this."

Cui Qingyi lazily lifted her eyelids, glanced at the names in the account book, and casually asked, "These are the ingredients sent by Miss Wang, the daughter of the Vice Minister? She insists on adding them to her beauty cream. What rare stuff is this that even the Prince finds difficult to obtain?"

"Benjiva incense!" Li Chengjing muttered, pursing his lips as he continued pounding the incense. "It's not so much that this stuff is rare, but that it's impossible to buy outside. It's a special tribute from a small kingdom in the Western Regions, and there are only two or three boxes of it. This incense is incredibly effective at dispelling cold. Consort De in the palace, who is getting old and suffers from cold-related ailments, sent it all over there. Even the Empress Dowager didn't keep any. Where did this Miss Wang get it from?"

Cui Qingyi's fingers, which were turning the pages of the book, suddenly stopped.

The spices exclusively supplied by the Imperial Household Department for Consort De's exclusive use were brazenly found in the custom-made face cream box of the eldest granddaughter of the Wang family of Taiyuan.

The current head of the Wang family, Wang Si, holds the official position of Grand Chancellor, wielding real power in the Council of State Affairs and making him a highly influential official in the court. As a result, the Wang family has reached its zenith, unmatched in its power and influence.

Wang Chengyuan, who followed his master over the wall and rode horses every day, was this old man's son born late in life.

The Miss Wang who delivered the spices was none other than the granddaughter of Vice Minister Wang, the apple of the eye of the Wang family of Taiyuan.

interesting.

Just a few days ago, she heard that Consort De was making a big fuss about bringing Miss Lu from the Lu family of Fanyang into the palace under the pretext of "accompanying her aunt." The women of the Lu family even made a special trip to her Chenxiang Pavilion to go on a shopping spree to buy clothes for entering the palace.

A loving mother and a filial son—truly a loving mother and a filial son.

"Your Highness," Cui Qingyi asked with a smile, "Did any officials from the Censorate submit a memorial this morning, requesting His Majesty to decide on the Second Prince's consort as soon as possible?"

"It seems that's true." Li Chengjing put down the jade pestle, shook his sore wrist, and leaned close to the bed, trying to appease him. "The second son is indeed of age. But what does that have to do with us? Qingyi, look, my hands are all red."

Cui Qingyi gently squeezed his slender fingers, her tone tender: "Of course it's related. Since the source of these spices is so 'precious,' our Agarwood Pavilion is just a small business. How could we possibly mix them properly? If we mix them badly, it would be a small matter if it hurts Miss Wang's reputation, but it would be a big deal if it offends the Second Prince's 'heart.'"

Although Li Chengjing had no interest in the intricacies of court politics, his ability to read between the lines had improved dramatically in the past six months, and he immediately understood: "Got it! They just can't concoct this face cream today!"

-

Meanwhile, in the most bustling East Market of Chang'an, inside the Chenxiang Pavilion.

A delicate fragrance filled the air inside the store, where several elegant ladies were selecting limited-edition perfumes in glass bottles. Outside the VIP area, however, a boisterous slamming of the table shattered the store's tranquility.

"Your Chenxiang Pavilion has quite the airs!" Manager Kang from the Wang family of Taiyuan glared at him. He had only been promoted recently and was counting on handling this matter well to impress his master!

He pointed his finger at Manager Xiao and spouted nonsense, "Our young lady sent the raw materials ten days ago, saying she'd pick up the face cream today. And now you're telling me you can't make it? Do you know this face cream will delay the young lady's flower-viewing banquet the day after tomorrow? Do you even want to keep your shop open?!"

As the saying goes, harmony brings wealth, and one should not be swayed by petty arguments.

Shopkeeper Xiao bowed slightly and said apologetically, "Manager Kang, please calm down. It's not that our shop is trying to shirk responsibility, but the spice that Miss Wang sent is extremely potent. To blend it into face cream without harming the skin, it must be neutralized with top-quality snow lotus. These past few days, heavy snow has blocked the mountain passes, and we are short of ingredients. For the sake of Miss's beautiful appearance, we can only ask you to grant us a few more days."

"Don't try to fool me with those words!" Manager Kang, relying on the prestigious status of the Wang family of Taiyuan, completely disregarded a mere merchant. "I must get what I need today! Otherwise, don't blame the Wang family for being ruthless and sending you to the Jingzhao Prefecture prison to wake you up!"

"Wow, what a show of power! Do you own the prison under the jurisdiction of the Prefect of the Capital?"

A lazy, slightly playful voice came from the doorway.

Everyone turned around and saw a young nobleman, dressed in a deep purple brocade robe and with a piece of fine mutton-fat jade hanging from his waist, staggering in. Behind him followed a meek and obsequious attendant, carrying half a bag of freshly bought roasted chestnuts.

It was Liang Wang Li Chengjing, who had been sent by Cui Qingyi to "inspect the store".

Manager Kang was recently promoted and has been working in the courtyard for many years, so he has never met King Liang.

But since he was able to work for the Wang family in Taiyuan, he naturally had some discernment. He looked Li Chengjing up and down and saw that the brocade robe was made of Shu brocade, which was extremely valuable, and the jade pendant at his waist was a rare item with excellent quality. His heart skipped a beat, and he knew that this young man was either rich or noble, and it was not advisable to directly confront him.

Manager Kang put on a forced smile, cupped his hands in a gesture of respect, and said tentatively, "Young master, you flatter me. It's not that I'm trying to make things difficult, but this Chenxiang Pavilion has accepted rare spices from the Wang family of Taiyuan, but now they can't hand them over. As the manager of the Wang family, I naturally have to seek justice for my master."

He deliberately emphasized the words "Taiyuan Wang Clan," hoping to use the reputation of these five prominent families and seven influential clans to discourage the young master in front of him who knew nothing about his background.

"Oh! The Wang family of Taiyuan!" Li Chengjing peeled a chestnut and popped it into his mouth, nodding as if suddenly realizing something, his tone extremely sincere, "They are a prominent family, no wonder, no wonder."

Seeing his demeanor, Steward Kang immediately understood. He seemed to know the power of the Wang family, probably just a minor member of a wealthy collateral branch of a prominent family, or a young master from an ordinary noble family, nothing to be afraid of.

Thinking of this, Manager Kang's apprehension vanished, and he straightened his back once more.

He glanced sideways at Manager Xiao of Chenxiang Pavilion and said, "Young master is a reasonable man. This is a legitimate business. Since you've delayed your customers' appointment, you should ruin your reputation! If you can't hand over the cosmetics today, take all the shop's employees to the Prefect of the Capital for questioning!"

Li Chengjing spread his hands: "The Wang family of Taiyuan is of high social standing and great power. Even if you smash up this shop, arrest the employees, and even send the owner behind it to prison, there's really nothing you can do... there's nothing you can do."

Manager Kang was taken aback by his opportunistic reaction and was somewhat confused. He assumed the young master was a sycophantic fool and sneered, "Of course! Even if the owner of this shop were standing right in front of me, I would still arrest him without hesitation!"

"What a coincidence." Li Chengjing smiled and stepped forward, pointing to his nose. "To be honest, I am the owner of this shop."

But Li Chengjing's handsome face still wore a smile, though his eyes gradually turned cold: "However, before you arrested me, didn't you forget to ask who I am?"

Manager Kang subconsciously swallowed, a sudden and extremely ominous premonition rising in his heart. He forced himself to remain composed and stammered, "W-who are you?"

"My brother is the current emperor, what do you think?"

King Liang!

The steward of the Wang family's legs went weak, and he knelt on the ground with a thud. Cold sweat instantly soaked his back, and only one thought remained in his mind: It's over.

Li Chengjing looked down at him, grinning and revealing a set of white teeth: "Come, Liu Lu, go to the palace and give a message to the Emperor. Tell him that the Wang family of Taiyuan is dissatisfied with my servants' work and is preparing to teach us a lesson on behalf of the royal family."

"Your Highness, spare me! Your Highness, forgive me! I was blind to your greatness!" The steward, who had lost all his arrogance as a servant of a powerful family, kowtowed repeatedly, filled with deep regret.

Little did he know that the owner behind the highly sought-after Agarwood Pavilion, which was popular throughout the capital, was none other than the most unreasonable living ancestor in all of Chang'an!

Li Chengjing ignored the muddy mess on the ground. He used this straightforward approach, which countered all fancy moves, with unparalleled skill.

He turned to Manager Xiao and ordered, "Return that incense to him. Our shop can't afford it. Let them find someone else!"