Chapter Six: The Storybook

The following day, he entered the study.

He sighed inwardly, lamenting his inability to borrow money; lacking so much support yet yearning to change his situation, it was truly difficult.

His gaze then fell upon several romance manuscripts on the bookshelf, and a plan began to form.

“Xiuxiu, are these romance books rare in our town?”

Jiang Xiuxiu glanced at him in confusion, then blushed deeply.

She had always adhered to the belief that a woman’s virtue lies in her lack of talent; if she were to read such sentimental tales, surely it would invite gossip.

“They should be, I’ve never seen them before,” she replied hurriedly, then turned away to tidy the firewood.

“Xiuxiu, if you wish to learn to read, you can tell me,” Han Qing said, noticing the brightness in Jiang Xiuxiu’s eyes, especially as she glanced again at those books.

He did not fully understand a woman’s heart, but some debts must always be repaid. Besides, he was thinking ahead; he would need someone truly capable of managing the household.

“No, I’m a woman. I shouldn’t learn such things,” she replied hesitantly, though a hint of joy stirred within her.

Could it be that her husband cared for her after all?

Han’s mother watched the changes in him over the past few days, feeling gratified and murmuring to herself.

Could my son truly be growing up? Heaven help us, the ancestors of the Han family must be watching over him!

She took Jiang Xiuxiu’s hand, her face gentle and kind.

“Xiuxiu, our Han family wronged you in the past. Now that he’s slowly improving, I hope you two can live well together.”

Han’s mother noticed the evasiveness in her gaze.

She understood it was because her son had once despised her, so the daughter-in-law had been too humble, enduring hardship for too long.

After Han Qing finished reading all the romance books in the study, he felt numb.

They were too formulaic—how could anyone enjoy them? Moreover, most were about love affairs, appealing only to a limited audience.

What if he changed things?

Yes, he could seize this business opportunity.

After all, the first to venture forth is bound to reap surprising rewards!

With a rough plan in mind, he immediately brought up the matter at the dinner table.

“Mother, how much silver do we have left, apart from what’s needed for living expenses?”

Han’s mother’s face instantly turned pale.

This useless son—she’d just been comforted this morning, thinking he’d finally grown up. In barely three or four hours, he couldn’t resist going out to carouse?

“I still have—”

“What do you have? Nothing left,” Jiang Xiuxiu began to speak but Han’s mother cut her off.

“I’m not wasting money. I just plan to buy some paper, and funds to promote the romance books.”

Promote romance books?

Han’s mother felt dizzy; this foolish daughter-in-law didn’t know what romance books were, but she, an old woman, certainly did.

She’d thought he would study Confucius diligently.

In less than half a year, the imperial examination would be upon them.

And yet he dared!

“You unfilial son, you still owe the Bai family dozens of taels. I didn’t expect you to earn money to repay it, but now you dare—”

Han’s mother fainted with anger.

Yet the plan was not abandoned.

“Xiuxiu, tell me, just trust me this once?”

“There’s only two taels,” Jiang Xiuxiu said, conflicted, her face full of worry.

“Give them all to me. Mother’s anger will pass; once I settle everything, she’ll surely be at ease,” Han Qing urged, berating himself for his own uselessness.

Unable to earn a single coin—how could he support his family?

Taking the two taels, he hurried straight to Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.

The madam at the entrance recognized him as a regular.

Her face lit with joy, her smile stretching to her ears.

“Isn’t this Young Master Han? We’ve been waiting for you! What would you like today?”

“Madam Li, is Lady Zhilian here?”

“Oh, she’s here. I’ve reserved time for you,” Madam Li replied smugly, already counting on the girls to fleece him once more.

After a few minutes, a woman cradling a lute gently lifted the curtain and sat down.

“Would you like to hear a particular melody, sir?”

“I’ve long heard of Lady Zhilian’s famed beauty, and seeing you today, my heart is truly moved. But I come not for music; I wish to discuss another matter with you, if you’re interested,” Han Qing began, leading her into the topic.

To become a top courtesan at Drunken Flower Pavilion, one must be clever.

“You jest, Young Master Han. I am but a woman of the dust, seeking a few taels of silver. How could I possibly help you?” she replied, politely declining.

“What if this opportunity lets you take control of your own fate?”

Take control of fate?

Those four words struck Zhilian.

“A hard life need not last forever. Now there’s a chance—if you don’t try, how will you know you won’t succeed?”

This...

Zhilian hesitated.

She had entered Drunken Flower Pavilion at thirteen; three years had passed. Was she to live this way forever?

“Perhaps you could explain; I’ll listen,” she said.

Han Qing rejoiced inwardly; indeed, some words truly moved the heart.

“I am but a poor scholar, hoping to earn enough to travel to the capital for the exams, with no grand ambitions. But you could use this method to gain a steady stream of silver,” he continued, weaving his own hardships skillfully into the conversation, making her empathize.

“I’ve noticed that all the books on the market are for women to read, but none appeal to men. So I wrote a few manuscripts myself—would you review them?”

What?

If they were for men to read, what use would a courtesan have for them?

Zhilian didn’t quite understand.

“Just take a look, don’t rush to ask questions,” Han Qing said.

The words before her eyes were indeed very different from what she had read before.

There was even a lingering sense of fascination.

Just four or five pages, and she was already hooked.

“Is Lin Xuan in this manuscript truly such an extraordinary character?”

“So, you think the manuscript is promising. If it sells, wouldn’t we earn enough silver?”

He spoke slowly.

“Of course it’s promising.”

“Then I ask Lady Zhilian and the other girls at Drunken Flower Pavilion to help promote it, especially to the generous clients...” Han Qing said.

Zhilian nodded.

“As for the profits from the Mystic Sect manuscripts, we’ll split them fifty-fifty,” Han Qing said solemnly, then left the pavilion.

Is this man truly just an ignorant, penniless scholar?

Zhilian looked at the manuscript, suspicious.

Still, since she agreed, preparations had to be made.

When Han Qing returned home, he found his mother glaring at him coldly.

His wife’s face was full of grievance and disappointment.

“Did the wine and flowers at Drunken Flower Pavilion fail to keep you? If Liu Iron Ox hadn’t seen it with his own eyes—”

How was he to explain this?

Han Qing, hearing this, felt exasperated.

Just mentioning the romance book had made his mother faint.

If he told them he wanted the girls at Drunken Flower Pavilion to help promote it—

Wouldn’t that be the end?

“Mother, let me explain!”