Since leaving Chang’an and traveling eastward, the Eastern Capital Luoyang was the first truly great metropolis they encountered on their journey. After suffering the devastation of the An Lushan Rebellion, Luoyang City, which had once been nine-tenths empty, gradually recovered its vitality over the decades following the end of the war. Though it no longer possessed the prosperous splendor of its peak Tang period with a million inhabitants, it remained the undisputed premier city of the Central Plains, with extremely flourishing commerce.
With the vouchers carried by Yang Xingjian, Bao Zhu withdrew one hundred taels of gold ingots and thirty strings of copper coins from a Persian money house in the South Market. Having the donkey carry the money, she excitedly began her shopping expedition.
Yang Xingjian, being middle-aged with a wife and daughter, naturally understood the formidable nature of accompanying someone shopping—at best it meant financial ruin, at worst complete exhaustion. Every word and action required careful consideration. Not daring to risk his life in accompaniment, he claimed he needed to find suitable lodgings for the princess and fled first, leaving Wei Xun and Shisan Lang, the master and disciple, to accompany her.
The South Market occupied the space of two wards and at its peak had over three thousand merchant establishments. Since the Emperor had not visited Luoyang for a long time, regulations had become lax, and some shops even dared to cut holes in the ward walls to conduct business facing the streets. The entire market appeared chaotic yet lively.
Having endured exposure to wind and weather throughout the journey, Bao Zhu had been constrained and impoverished in clothing, food, lodging, and travel, leaving her thoroughly stifled. Finally getting this opportunity, she began at the gold and silver shops and toured through the hat shops, boot shops, clothing stores, silk shops, fabric shops, colored textile shops, dye shops, and cosmetics shops. Regardless of the uneven quality of marketplace goods, she had to enter every store and examine everything, wanting to buy whatever caught her eye.
Before long, the master and disciple were laden with the miscellaneous items she had purchased, carrying packages large and small in dazzling variety.
Seeing that their old clothes had sparse weave with trouser cuffs dangling at their ankles—apparently they had grown taller while walking on the road—and that commoners’ clothing used little fabric to save material, Bao Zhu simply dragged them both to a clothing store where all three of them measured for new garments.
Shisan Lang was initially quite interested, but as the shopping continued, his expression grew increasingly vacant. Watching Bao Zhu try rouge colors one by one at the counter, he couldn’t help complaining to his master: “I don’t know why, but though I never felt tired walking all day on the road before, today after just shopping for two hours, my feet hurt, my legs ache, and it feels like all my strength has been drained away.”
Wei Xun looked at his disciple with equally vacant eyes and remained silent. He thought that aside from everything else, just her purchase of these cosmetics meant that in the future, with her staying in bed and daily makeup routines, calling people to depart each morning would waste countless effort.
Bao Zhu held two small porcelain boxes, undecided, and turned to ask them: “Which of these two colors, light or dark, is more beautiful?”
Shisan Lang looked blank: “I can’t see the difference. Aren’t they both red?”
Bao Zhu snorted coldly and turned her gaze to Wei Xun.
Wei Xun held his breath and pondered for a moment, then pointed to the bright red box saying: “This is fresh blood spurting from a severed head.” Then pointing to the dark red box: “This is blood slowly seeping from severed limbs. Isn’t the brain-colored one on your mouth quite nice already?”
Bao Zhu cursed: “Killjoy!” She raised her leg to kick him, but he nimbly dodged.
She turned back to the counter and told the shopkeeper: “I’ll take one box of each of these dozen colors!”
The shopkeeper beamed: “This young lady is so generous! I’ll waive the small change—that comes to eight hundred coins total!” He ordered his assistant to wrap up all the rouge and hand it to her.
After leaving the cosmetics shop, Wei Xun advised: “Forget the cosmetics, but the jewelry you ordered at the gold and silver shop—it’s best not to carry that on the road.”
Bao Zhu rolled her eyes: “Don’t flaunt wealth—do you think I don’t understand? What I ordered isn’t jewelry.”
Walking further, they passed a fruit shop. Shisan Lang, both annoyed and tired, begged to buy some dried fruits and dates. Bao Zhu gave him money, and he dove into the shop to select snacks. Of all the group, only the donkey felt happy—the more she spent, the fewer and lighter the copper coins on its back became.
Bao Zhu noticed a line of men standing on the main street, all middle-aged and elderly, apparently queuing to shop. Looking up, she saw it was a large pharmacy with a signboard reading “Rongqing Pharmacy.” She found it strange—there was no reported epidemic in the city, so why did buying medicine require queuing? Perhaps there was something special about it?
Walking closer for a better look, she saw a notice posted at the pharmacy entrance, written in large red characters: “Famous Chang’an Physician Available for Consultation.”
Wei Xun mocked: “As the saying goes, visiting monks know how to chant sutras—these visiting doctors are quite good at deception too.”
Seeing it was a famous physician, Bao Zhu immediately ordered Wei Xun to join the queue: “You get in line first, I’ll go ask around.”
Wei Xun knew her thoughts and said helplessly: “These reputation-stealing charlatans can’t cure my condition.”
But Bao Zhu said: “We’ve already planned to rest in the city for a few days anyway. Taking a look won’t hurt.”
Wei Xun had no choice but to comply, leading the donkey to the back of the line. Several middle-aged men nearby gave him complex looks, seeing a pale, thin young man, and muttered sympathetically: “So young and already failing.”
Bao Zhu climbed the steps and noticed small text on the back of the notice board: “Heaven and Earth Yin-Yang Harmony Great Joy Powder in stock, containing Shangdang ginseng, wild cistanche, and epimedium, capturing the essence of heaven and earth to forge an indestructible vajra body.”
This line was mysteriously worded and unclear in meaning, but Bao Zhu knew about “Shangdang ginseng.” The finest ginseng grew in Shangdang, medium quality came from Baekje and Silla, and inferior grades from Goryeo. The Shangdang region was the best ginseng production area, requiring annual tribute to the court.
She then lifted the door curtain and entered. In the center of the pharmacy’s main hall sat a flat desk with a small pillow for pulse-taking, but the chair behind the desk was empty. Patients stood before the desk waiting, as the famous doctor seemed to have temporarily stepped away.
Bao Zhu asked the shopkeeper behind the counter: “Do you have Shangdang ginseng here?”
The shopkeeper smiled: “Yes, how much does the young lady need?”
“First let me see the quality. Don’t try to fool me with inferior goods from Baekje or Silla.”
The shopkeeper brought out refined ginseng slices to show her. Bao Zhu frowned: “They’re already sliced—how can I tell the origin and quality? I want whole roots.”
The shopkeeper said: “Shangdang ginseng is extremely precious. Whole roots cost more than their weight in gold.”
While they were talking, a dark, stout man with a head as large as a bushel basket emerged from the back room but immediately retreated upon seeing Bao Zhu’s face. This was Qiu Ren, ranked fourth among the Seven Deadly Sunsets. He had just washed his hands and returned to continue treating patients, but unexpectedly encountered an acquaintance in the shop.
Qiu Ren carefully scanned the main hall through the curtain gap, not seeing Wei Xun’s shadow, but knowing that wherever this young lady was, the Blue-Robed Guest must be nearby. Therefore he stood firm and refused to appear, secretly listening to her conversation with the shopkeeper. After listening briefly, he guessed who she intended to give the ginseng to.
Qiu Ren beckoned to the shopkeeper from behind the curtain and gave him a meaningful look. The shopkeeper found an excuse to ask Bao Zhu to sit temporarily while he handled some business and would return immediately.
His pharmacy business here was lukewarm, and with expensive South Market rent, profits were quite meager. Half a month ago, this traveling doctor named Qiu Ren had come to his door, claiming to have a secret virility formula that could make him rich, but needing a temporary place to stay. So they partnered up—Qiu Ren would practice under the identity of a famous Chang’an physician, while the shopkeeper provided the location and helped with promotion.
Many men in the world suffered from impotence, nearly thirty percent having unspeakable troubles. Qiu Ren’s secret medicine had potent effects and quickly gained fame. Word spread from person to person, and soon business was booming.
However, the shopkeeper knew full well that the expensive medicinal ingredients written on the outdoor sign were completely absent from the Great Joy Powder. Qiu Ren used some strange substances ground into powder to create the medicine. Though the shopkeeper was curious, the other party naturally kept the formula secret and unknown to outsiders.
“The young lady wants to buy ginseng. Quickly get her a good root and charge triple price.”
The shopkeeper frowned: “You’re in this business and know the market. Shangdang ginseng has the best medicinal properties and has become increasingly rare in recent years. Real goods are seldom seen. Among these South Market pharmacies, forget about Baekje and Silla ginseng—most use inferior goods from Zezhou and Yizhou cut into slices for prescriptions. Otherwise…”
Qiu Ren interrupted: “This young lady comes from wealth and is knowledgeable. If you dare cheat her, the person behind her will surely smash your shop. Honestly acquire a genuine root and make a big profit.”
“My shop doesn’t have that much capital for purchasing.”
Qiu Ren smiled: “However much you’re short, I’ll help you make up the difference. Opportunity knocks but once!”
Against the Blue-Robed Guest, Qiu Ren didn’t dare directly poison him, but since this young lady was voluntarily buying, he couldn’t pass up this advantage.
The shopkeeper asked puzzledly: “Yesterday you just said the Great Joy Powder was nearly used up and you needed to buy medicine to compound more. How do you have money to buy ginseng today?”
Qiu Ren thought that as long as he could trick that short-lived brat once, never mind delaying business—even losing money would be worthwhile.
“Just post a sign saying you’re out of stock. These useless fellows are desperately impatient. When funds return in a few days and you compound new medicine, it will create even more competition to buy, as scarcity increases value.”
This reasoning was logical and convincing. The shopkeeper, upon hearing it, clapped his hands in delight. He settled on a price with Qiu Ren, then returned to the main hall and told Bao Zhu: “Whole Shangdang ginseng roots are rare treasures that no pharmacy dares stock. If the young lady wishes to purchase one, leave a deposit and I can arrange procurement. If it’s not urgently needed to save a life, could you wait a day or two?”
Bao Zhu thought for a moment and agreed: “What’s your asking price?”
The shopkeeper said: “Let’s call it a lucky number—fifty taels of gold.”
Having learned some marketplace haggling techniques, Bao Zhu immediately cut the price in half: “Twenty-five taels.”
The shopkeeper laughed: “Young lady has never entered a pharmacy before, has she? Everyone knows you cannot bargain for medicine—it damages the medicinal properties. Thinking of the patient, not one coin can be reduced.”
Bao Zhu didn’t believe this and argued with him, then inquired of other customers. Hearing that ‘fixed pricing’ was indeed the custom in the medical trade, she gave up haggling and put down five taels of gold as a deposit. The shopkeeper wrote a receipt.
She added: “Having spent so much money, surely I can cut in line and have this famous Chang’an doctor examine my person first?”
Following Qiu Ren’s instructions, the shopkeeper said: “I won’t hide it from the young lady—the famous doctor ate something bad this morning and has unstoppable diarrhea. I’m afraid he won’t be able to see patients for several days.”
Wei Xun waited in line outside, being scanned by everyone’s gazes, all focusing on his lower regions, making him feel the atmosphere was strange and extremely uncomfortable. Just as he was about to explode and hit someone, Bao Zhu finally lifted the door curtain and emerged from the pharmacy, her face full of joy.
Subsequently, the shopkeeper followed her out and hung a “Great Joy Powder Sold Out” sign at the entrance. The queuing crowd immediately sighed in disappointment. Some even thought: Did this young lady buy up all the inventory?
A servant-like strong man rushed out from the queue and urgently called to the shopkeeper: “My master needs this urgently. Regardless of price, sell me ten doses!”
The shopkeeper, knowing the crowd was watching and unable to relent, and having already earned huge profits from the young lady equivalent to a year’s income, didn’t need to quibble over small amounts. He politely told the man: “Medicine also depends on fate. Today there’s no fate. The famous doctor has already gone deep into the mountains to gather herbs. Without heavenly treasures, how can one restore masculine vigor?”
While the servant argued with the shopkeeper, Qiu Ren quietly slipped away through the pharmacy’s back door, and the medicine-buying queue dispersed. Bao Zhu walked to Wei Xun’s side and happily said: “I ordered something good that will be ready in a day or two. Even if it can’t cure illness, it’s excellent for maintaining health and extending life.”
Wei Xun immediately felt something was wrong. Regretting that he shouldn’t have let her spend freely and should have kept sufficient travel funds, he immediately pressed: “What did you buy? How much did you spend? Without planning expenses, we’ll probably be eating chaff and swallowing vegetables in the latter half of the journey!”
Bao Zhu answered proudly: “Don’t worry about it—that was a very worthwhile expenditure.” After a pause, she complained: “When you took great pains to dig into my tomb, why didn’t you conveniently take more jewels? It’s caused me to be short of funds and hard-pressed on the road.”
Wei Xun said wonderingly: “I’ve been a thief for so many years, but this is the first time I’ve heard the victim make such a request.”