Chapter One

The Golden Curtain Pavilion had only opened its first floor and top floor to display the Liuli glass for customers to browse. Now that the wine was ready, it was only natural to set a day for selling it.

When Zhou Yao returned to the Golden Curtain Pavilion's backyard, she saw every maid clutching a delicately wrapped box of powder fragrance.

"Did you hear? Xunhua Pavilion just came out with a new powder. Let's wait until we get paid and then buy it!"

"Definitely! The Golden Curtain Pavilion pays well enough that we could buy every powder we fancy and still have money to spare."

"But Sister Qing'er and Sister Su'er make wonderful blends too—just as good as Xunhua Pavilion's."

"It's just that they produce so little each month."

"Absolutely! Especially Sister Su'er. At Qingyun Terrace, she was the best at making perfumes. But here at the Golden Curtain Pavilion, her talent is going to waste..."

Fragrance powder... The words triggered a memory. Before she'd left for the Jiuyao Kilns that day, Qing'er had seemed on the verge of telling her something. Most likely about this very subject. Zhou Yao stored the thought away, promising herself to revisit it later.

She fetched the wine from the backyard, ladled out bowls, sweetened each with honey, and passed them around to everyone at the Golden Curtain Pavilion and Zhao's Wine Shop for a taste.

The shopkeeper exclaimed, "This wine is incredible! The grape fragrance is rich, with a subtle sweetness and a touch of astringency. No other fruit wine compares."

"Wine doesn't have to be steeped in white liquor," Zhou Yao murmured, lowering her gaze to drain the last drop from her bowl. "When we scale up production, can we hire workers at the wine shop to do it?"

The shopkeeper nodded eagerly. "You're paying us more than triple our old wages. It's an honor to work for you!" he beamed. "Don't worry about this; leave it to us."

Over the next few days, Zhou Yao put Chen Yuwen in complete charge of the Jiuyao Kilns and the new apprentices he'd brought in, overseeing all Liuli production and firing. Custom orders at the Golden Curtain Pavilion were put on hold. After the initial delivery reached customers' homes, her servants delivered four or five more shipments of Liuli cups. To keep quality consistent, they had to stop taking new orders for now.

Zhou Yao shifted the Golden Curtain Pavilion's focus to wine. She turned the first floor into a display area for various Liuli items, and converted the second and upper floors into a tea and wine hall.

Previously, the Golden Curtain Pavilion lacked a license to sell alcohol. But with Zhao's Wine Shop as a partner, they could now openly serve wine as part of the wine shop's supply.

Having set a date and purchased all the wooden tables, the Golden Curtain Pavilion officially started selling wine.

Unlike others that served wine in earthenware, Zhou Yao's establishment used Liuli glass for every vessel. A single serving with a lacquered spoon cost a thousand taels of gold.

"Shopkeeper, the wine is excellent and certainly novel, but why so pricey? Ordinary wine costs a few qian, and even the best doesn't reach a thousand taels!"

"A splash of wine costs more than a Liuli cup? On my modest wage, I can't even dream of it!"

"Ah, but these grapes are tributes from the Western Regions, sir. Even a small batch takes ages to brew, so the price naturally reflects that."

"I see." The customer nodded understandingly. "In that case, I'll give it a try."

"Of course. Lord Yun is a regular, so I'll add a little extra." Zhou Yao waved over a maid. "Fetch the gold-flecked Liuli cup and fill it for him."

That single cup of wine, if priced separately, would fetch one hundred fifty thousand taels of gold. Zhou Yao had just given it away with a few words. The maid's heart ached at the loss, but the guest was thoroughly pleased.

"Shopkeeper Yao is far too generous. I'll be sure to spread the word!" He clasped his hands in thanks and settled by a window.

Meanwhile, patrons drawn by the wine filed in steadily. The Golden Curtain Pavilion had never seen such a crowd—even busier than opening day.

After a full day of business, Zhou Yao had taken in ten million taels of gold from wine sales alone. Combined with her earlier Liuli cup earnings, she ranked among Chang'an's foremost merchants. If she were second, only Lady Gu of the Gu Mansion could claim first.

Zhou Yao had earlier set aside a portion of the wine and sent Cuiwei to deliver it to the Qi Mansion. She'd heard that Qi Yanhan enjoyed his drink, so naturally, she sent him some.

She considered it a recompense, hoping he'd appreciate this delayed offering.

Once the last guest had left, Zhou Yao locked up and sought out Qing'er. The last time she'd visited had been upon hearing Qing'er's sister was gravely ill. Since then, they'd only crossed paths when Qing'er was quietly working at the Pavilion, exchanging barely a few words.

If not for the maids' chatter today, Zhou Yao might never have thought to pursue fragrance powder again.

"Qing'er, are you awake?" Zhou Yao called from outside the door, dressed simply. "That day you came to see me—what was it about?"

Qing'er was clearly occupied. When she cracked the door open, she was flustered and nervous, stammering as she concealed something behind her back. "M-Madam..."

"Actually, I wanted to give you this..." Qing'er thrust the powder box she'd been clutching toward Zhou Yao. "Thank you for saving my sister back then. With the doctor's care, she's recovered wonderfully!"

"I'm glad to hear she's recovering," Zhou Yao said with a nod.

Noticing Zhou Yao still standing at the door, Qing'er quickly stepped aside to let her in.

"Did you make this yourself?" Zhou Yao lifted the lid of the small porcelain jar, dabbed a little on her wrist, and inhaled. The fragrance was so refreshing it caught her off guard. "It smells lovely."

Qing'er blushed and dropped her gaze. "I'm glad you like it, madam."

She'd been hovering a couple of steps away. Zhou Yao rose and drew her to a seat beside her. "Do you have a steady supplier for petals?"

Qing'er settled but couldn't keep still. At Zhou Yao's question, she hesitated, then shook her head. "I always bought what I needed on the spot. I never thought about long-term sources... But I spoke with Sister Su'er a few days ago. She might know from her past work."

"What if I put you and Su'er in charge of making the fragrance powder and opened a dedicated shop for the two of you in Chang'an? How does that sound?"

Qing'er shot to her feet and bowed deeply. "I want only to stay at the Golden Curtain Pavilion and serve you faithfully. My spare time goes to caring for my sister. I have no other intentions—please don't send me away."

Zhou Yao lifted her to her feet. "Don't kneel so readily. If you must kneel, kneel to heaven, earth, and your parents. I'm not sending you anywhere. I want you and Su'er to head the fragrance powder production and lend a hand at my other shops."

"This way, you'll earn more and provide better for your sister. And if someday you choose to leave, you're free to go."

Seeing Qing'er's hesitation, Zhou Yao added gently, "You can discuss it with Su'er tomorrow. If we open the shop, you'll receive your monthly wage plus a share of profits based on how much you sell."

After a pause, Zhou Yao continued, "Once I deduct the costs for each bottle, you two will split forty percent of the remaining profit equally."

Qing'er nodded. As soon as Zhou Yao left, she hurried next door to find her sister.

Zhou Yao then visited Su'er. Su'er was blunt and immediately assured her she'd take care of the petal supply. By the time Qing'er agreed, word had already leaked that the Golden Curtain Pavilion was buying petals in bulk—all over Chang'an's black market.

Still smarting from the last incident where a shop full of women had been exploited, Zhou Yao chose the new location with great care. She set it up not far from the Golden Curtain Pavilion, in a conspicuous spot on the main street, so help was never far away.

During this period, Zhou Yao also bought several properties in Chang'an. Only once the deeds were in her name and the plaque "Ninth Princess Mansion" hung above the gate did she finally have a place in the vast city that was truly hers alone.

It was her dwelling, her home for the years ahead. The imperial palace had never felt like home, never offered refuge for her heart.

Ever since reaching maturity, she had never possessed a princess mansion like her peers. She'd received no titles, no lands. Other princesses wed for love; only her marriage had been a sacrifice to power.

From this moment on, Zhou Yao, refusing to bow to fate, embraced her new life. This was the finest 'dowry' she had earned for herself—no need to depend on men, nor rely on charity, nor play the pitiable figure to win sympathy.

What she lacked now was ultimate power. Only at the apex of authority could she realize her most profound ambition—unity for all under heaven!

After purchasing the shop and land titles, Zhou Yao plunged back into a hectic routine. She left the decorating to others and sought out Su'er and Qing'er to begin producing fragrance powder.

Sourcing petals proved far simpler than obtaining Liuli or wine. Within days, cartloads filled the courtyard of the Ninth Princess Mansion.

Zhou Yao moved Su'er and Qing'er into the mansion, so they could handle both production and shop management conveniently.

The mansion's location was ideal—close to both the new shop and the Golden Curtain Pavilion, making daily oversight easy. And just a stone's throw from the Qi Mansion.

For half a month, Qing'er and Su'er worked without pause at the new shop, while Zhou Yao and Cuiwei directed the new servants in renovating the mansion. They barely stopped until the shop officially opened. In just over a month, the residence boasted lotus ponds, pavilions, wooden blinds, and Liuli windows—lavish yet tasteful. Rockeries dotted the grounds, and lush bamboo created a sense of 'winding paths leading to hidden glades.'

Once the shop was largely arranged, the three worked in the courtyard, sorting and washing each fresh petal. Qing'er handled sun-drying; Su'er mixed the petals with other spices, ground them to a fine powder, and filled the small blue-and-white porcelain jars, fresh from the Jiuyao Kilns, each painted with the flower that corresponded to the scent inside.

Where other shops used plain vessels, the Fragrant Orchid Pavilion's blue-and-white porcelain stood out. No one in the country had encountered such delicate ceramic bottles with their intricate blue-and-white interlocking patterns.

The assortment of scents was varied. Yet in terms of health benefits, they couldn't rival the century-old incense houses. As for rouge or face powder, they lagged behind the lead-based products that were finer and more adherent.

Zhou Yao pondered how to create a novel 'fragrance powder' that captured the essence. She instructed Qing'er and Su'er to prepare a batch using various popular formulas, pack them into the porcelain jars, and display them at the Fragrant Orchid Pavilion.

On opening day, a decent crowd came to browse. Many admired the exquisite porcelain, but few made actual purchases.

Puzzled, Zhou Yao drifted over to eavesdrop on the customers.

"These little porcelain jars are gorgeous, but the price is steep. If I buy one today, it'll eat up my monthly allowance... such a pity."

"Exactly! And these scents are just common recipes. Why not stop by Fang's Medicine Shop later, buy the herbs, and grind our own?"

"Great idea! We'll save a fortune!" They took off.

Zhou Yao moved to another area and overheard, "These patterns are utterly original. Pity they're so tiny—only fit for powder or knickknacks. If they sold this porcelain separately, I'd snap it up!"

Another woman gasped, pointing. "Look at the bottom of this jar!"

"What?" The woman inspecting the powder looked up, and her face mirrored the same shock.

Curious, Zhou Yao followed their gaze. There, on the base, was the unmistakable mark of the Golden Curtain Pavilion.

"Wait—my aunt's nephew is a senior guard for a wealthy family. He told me he saw Liu Li at the mansion, even showed me—this is the exact pattern!"

Her excitement made her voice rise before she caught herself. By then, the crowd had already grabbed the remaining jars from the counter.

"Look what you've done! Blabbermouth! The shopkeeper didn't even say these were from the Golden Curtain Pavilion..." The pair, who had barely managed to grab a single jar, looked crestfallen.

"You know how hard it is to even get an appointment at the Golden Curtain Pavilion! Getting finished porcelain is nearly impossible. We've really missed out."

Zhou Yao trailed the crowd to the checkout. The store was buzzing. Those two women's words sparked an idea.

The Golden Curtain Pavilion's fame was at its peak in Chang'an. Why not use it to boost the new shop? With the shop's recent opening, a few discounts could attract customers—lower prices, higher volume, more profit.

Once the new batch was ready, she'd raise the price by forty percent, then offer an 88% discount—a win-win for everyone.

The more she earned, the more she could share with her staff. The better their pay, the harder they'd work—and the more she'd make.

Money would beget money, beget money—wealth would come pouring in!

The earlier batch of fragrance powder had sold out completely. As customers walked out carrying their purchases, Zhou Yao seized the moment to announce, "Thank you all for your support! Anyone who buys a jar today can bring it back on the fifth of next month for a drawing."

"The grand prize is a Liuli cup from the Golden Curtain Pavilion. Second prize is a reservation for next month's Liuli or porcelain. All participants receive an 88% discount coupon for both shops. And if a returning customer brings new guests, they'll get a 70% discount on new arrivals, plus a buy-five-get-one-free offer."

"Welcome, everyone!" Zhou Yao's eyes sparkled at the sight of the gold piling up beneath the counter—her customers mistook her delight for genuine warmth.

After the last guest departed, Zhou Yao said to Su'er, Qing'er, and the rest, "We didn't prepare enough powder. Since we're sold out, we'll close early today."

"When you return, bring over the sisters from the Golden Curtain Pavilion who know fragrance-making to help for a few days. You've all worked hard—once I finish tallying, I'll add a little something extra for everyone!"

That day, each bottle sold for 3,000 wen—about five taels of gold. With eight hundred bottles, total earnings came to four thousand taels of gold.

Four thousand taels of gold... Zhou Yao had never kept close tabs on her accounts. She only knew she now ranked among the city's top merchants.

She hadn't realized how recklessly the city's wealthy youths could throw gold around, while beyond the city walls, famine and death were everywhere. Those pampered sons of officials reveled in luxury, unable to tell wheat from chaff.

Zhou Yao did the math and decided, "It's time."

She hadn't visited the palace in ages. Now that she was making waves in Chang'an, the Emperor's spies would surely inform him. Better to take the initiative than to wait.

She packed the counted gold ingots into wooden boxes and had servants carry them to the princess mansion. Then she distributed their shares to Su'er and Qing'er as agreed.

After costs, each person received five ingots. But since the Jiuyao Kilns had done more and weathered the summer heat, each kiln worker got eight taels, and Chen Yuwen received one hundred fifty taels.

"This is quite a haul!" Su'er beamed, counting her gold.

"No need to hurry. There's more to come." Zhou Yao took a calm sip of tea. "Let everyone rest. Later, load the remaining powder from the storeroom and set it out at the Fragrant Orchid Pavilion before opening tomorrow. Work extra hard these next few days—make more while the flowers are in bloom."

"Qing'er, Su'er—I hear you two know how to blend fragrances. Let's reduce the number of basic blends. If we develop exclusive formulas for the Fragrant Orchid Pavilion, we can sustain the business long-term." Zhou Yao paused, eyes lowered. "Once things settle down, you two can begin researching that."

"Yes!" they answered in unison, smiling.

After they left, Zhou Yao wandered to the backyard. Cuiwei was at the Golden Curtain Pavilion, Chen Yuwen at the Jiuyao Kilns, the shopkeeper tended the wine shop, and Su'er and Qing'er handled the Fragrant Orchid Pavilion. She'd hired many hands, yet somehow she still felt utterly alone.

Petals were still drying in the yard. Zhou Yao picked one up and studied it under the moonlight. If only she could dissolve the fragrance into a liquid, like an oil-based face cream. But creams were too greasy for summer. Something light and fragrant would be ideal.

Current powders were only good for indoor incense or scenting garments; outdoors, the wind whisked the fragrance away.

Before she could dwell on it, an idea sparked. She grabbed half the freshly washed petals from the rack, bundled them up, and, before curfew, rushed to Zhao's Wine Shop nearby.

The wine shop was still lit; the shopkeeper sat at the counter reviewing accounts. Without a word, Zhou Yao made straight for the stove, petals in hand.

The wine shop had everything she needed to test her theory. If she could infuse the fragrance into a liquid—like fruit wine—and exploit the quick evaporation of alcohol, wouldn't that deliver the refreshing effect she desired?

She lined a clean porcelain bowl with fine gauze and filled it with fresh petals, then set it into a pot with cold water surrounding it. On top, she placed a distillation apparatus.

She stoked the stove with firewood she'd brought, lit it, and fitted a condensation lid over the pot. Pouring cold water over the lid and sealing the seams with gauze, she positioned a porcelain jar beneath the drain tube.

Soon, drops of essence began to fall from the tube. She replenished the cold water on the lid repeatedly and didn't stop until the flow ceased.

Zhou Yao added more petals, replaced the lid, refreshed the cold water, and repeated the process until well past midnight—until the night watchman's call rang out again—before she finally had her first batch of floral dew.

Yet the fragrance faded too quickly, falling short of what she'd hoped.

So she poured the dew back and repeated the distillation. By the time she finished, dawn had broken.

She drained a drop onto a chopstick and touched it to a bowl of water. To her surprise, it floated for a moment before dissolving, releasing a lingering scent. Then she added a bit of the wine base to the dew, stirred well, sealed the container, and slid it into her sleeve.

When she finished, the world was bright. Exhausted, Zhou Yao found a room at the Golden Curtain Pavilion and fell asleep.

She'd been up all night, so she couldn't stay awake. She collapsed without telling Qing'er and Su'er about the floral dew. But chaos was already brewing at the princess mansion.

The next morning, after washing up, Su'er headed straight to Zhou Yao's West Fragrance Courtyard. She lingered outside the door for a while before calling out for her to wake.

Usually, Zhou Yao was already up and planning her day by now. Today was different. The breakfast tray outside the door sat cold and untouched, and Su'er feared Zhou Yao had fallen ill from overwork.

"Madam, breakfast is ready!" Su'er called. No answer. She pressed on. "Are you still planning to go to the Fragrant Orchid Pavilion today?"

After a long silence, Su'er hesitated, then pushed the door open. The room was tidy, and the bed looked as though no one had slept in it.

The possibility that Zhou Yao had vanished sent panic through Su'er. She rushed to fetch Qing'er and Cuiwei.

When Zhou Yao finally woke and emerged, she found the three standing in a row outside, with a physician at the front.

Bewildered, Zhou Yao fixed her gaze on Su'er. "What's going on?"

"This is a renowned physician from Chang'an. If you're unwell, madam, you should rest for a few days. We sisters can manage the shops." Su'er's brow creased with worry.

"I'm fine." Zhou Yao glanced at Cuiwei. "See the doctor out. Su'er, Qing'er, come with me."

They exchanged wary glances, nodded, and followed her inside.

Zhou Yao produced the perfume she'd distilled and handed it over. "Take a look."

Su'er unscrewed the bottle first. A rich floral scent flooded the room. Qing'er used the cap to dab a drop onto her wrist. It spread quickly across her skin, leaving behind an intense, lingering fragrance.

"What is this? It's not like powder that requires burning, nor like incense balls carried in a case—so convenient!"

"Yes! And you can apply it wherever you like. Madam..." Qing'er studied Zhou Yao's tired face and hesitated. "You didn't work all night on this, did you?"

"You went without sleep all night?"

Zhou Yao nodded, walked to the desk, and seated herself. Qing'er took the initiative to wet the inkstone and grind ink.

She wrote the detailed instructions on a piece of silk. "Later, have a craftsman make several more sets of this equipment and place them at the Fragrant Orchid Pavilion."

"Over the next couple of days, bring over a few people from the Golden Curtain Pavilion to clean the backyard, and buy more petals—make sure to get a wide variety."

"Is there still fragrance powder in storage?"

Qing'er nodded. "We made more today. Along with what's left, it should last until the fifth of next month."

"While you work on the powder, also prepare some perfume." Zhou Yao paused, then continued cautiously, "We'll only release thirty bottles a month. If any officials or nobles ask, send it to their homes and charge premium prices."

These corrupt officials lined their pockets through their positions. She might as well milk them for all they were worth with these novelties.

"Regardless, we must make another bottle today. The Eldest Princess loves citrus scents. I'll bring it when I visit her tomorrow." Zhou Yao thought for a beat, then stopped the pair as they turned to head to the wine shop's kitchen.

"Have a few sisters go to the Jiuyao Kilns and fetch the small Liuli bottles made some time ago."

"Remember: three sets each of Liuli cups, bowls, and tea sets; six each of Liuli bracelets and bead necklaces. Also take a jar of the newly brewed wine. When bottling the perfume, don't use the porcelain—use the clear, translucent Liuli bottles instead."

"As for the blue-and-white porcelain, select several fine pieces from Kiln No. 4."

"Yes!" they said in unison and excused themselves.

After double-checking the gift list, Zhou Yao sensed something amiss. With the Golden Curtain Pavilion thriving and the new shop just launched, releasing the perfume now wasn't ideal timing.

Both shops—and she herself—needed a powerful patron. The invitation to the Eldest Princess's birthday banquet was a godsend.

She mentally reviewed the most powerful consorts and their allies. The Eldest Princess, however, stood apart from all the noble factions.

Indeed, she was the only person the Emperor truly respected. Beyond that, the Eldest Princess was the only one who might speak to Consort Xi on her behalf to secure a fief.

After selecting her attire and accessories for tomorrow's visit, Zhou Yao went out and bought five baskets of tangerines from the market, carrying them to the wine shop's kitchen.

Autumn's best tangerines weren't in season. In summer, only the early varieties, laboriously carted up from the south, were available. Their taste was less than ideal, but that didn't matter for perfume-making.

She summoned the resting girls and instructed them to save the peels after eating the fruit. She also asked their supervisor to gather their recent feedback.

After washing all the peels, she stripped off the white pith and chopped them finely. The sharp, sweet-tart scent filled the room, with a hint of bitterness up close.

She put the chopped peels in a porcelain bowl and carried them to the stone mill in the backyard.

After scrubbing the mill clean, she fed in the peels with some water and ground them repeatedly. At some point, a tiny stream of essence began to emerge.

"Madam, the Liuli bottles have arrived!"

Su'er hurried over and, ever practical, placed a Liuli bottle beneath the mill's spout. Zhou Yao, struck by a thought, said, "Lord Qi always favored sandalwood. In the future, when we make it, send some to the Qi Mansion first."

"Don't set the bottle there yet—fetch some wide-mouthed porcelain bowls from the kitchen." Pausing to rest, Zhou Yao looked up and caught Su'er frozen, staring at the back entrance of the Golden Curtain Pavilion.

The sound of ragged breathing reached her ears. Su'er hesitated, then warned, "Madam, look who's here..."

The next moment, a figure drenched in blood burst through the back entrance into the Golden Curtain Pavilion.

Zhou Yao recognized him at once.

She thought, *We only just met a few days ago. What could have landed him in such peril now?*

Author's note: None.