Perhaps truly responding to the lamp flower’s good omen, the journey to the capital went very smoothly.

When Lu Tong and her companion arrived at the imperial capital, it was already a month later.

Yin Zheng handed their entry documents to the city guard and crossed through the city gate with Lu Tong. Once on the street, she was dazzled by the prosperity of the capital and sighed softly: “Truly the imperial capital!”

Passing through the inner city gate, everything before them immediately became lively. Wine houses large and small were everywhere, and tea houses could be seen at every turn. Women in red silk skirts were selling peach blossoms, their fragrance filling the air. The entire city buzzed with voices and was crowded with people shoulder to shoulder. The lanterns hanging from wine houses were adorned with fine pearl curtains that sparkled with crystalline light in the sunshine.

The weather was clear and beautiful, with clouds completely dispersed. The marketplace was prosperous, the population abundant—it was truly wealthy and enchanting.

While Yin Zheng was still marveling, Lu Tong had already withdrawn her gaze and said: “Let’s find an inn to stay at first.”

In the capital where every inch of land was worth its weight in gold, room rates naturally rose accordingly. The two found a relatively clean small inn to stay in. Yin Zheng went to ask the inn to prepare some food, while Lu Tong went downstairs first.

The inn was located in the west of the city, still some distance from the most prosperous South Street, so the room rates weren’t too expensive. Most of those staying at this inn were traveling merchants who came to the capital to do business.

Lu Tong walked to the front counter. The innkeeper was a middle-aged man wearing a brown robe, busy working his abacus, when suddenly he heard someone in front of him ask: “Innkeeper, is there anywhere nearby that sells porcelain?”

The innkeeper looked up and saw a young girl standing before him.

Women from the capital were mostly tall and glamorous, but the girl before him was much more petite. She had an oval face, bright dark eyes, and excessively fair skin. She was very slender, appearing frail and delicate, wearing a white silk dress that was very plain. Her black hair was braided diagonally with only a frost-white silk flower pinned by her temple. Standing there, she was like a lotus emerging from water, graceful and beautiful.

Such a beauty seemed like a jade person raised in green mountains and clear waters, exquisite and translucent.

The innkeeper smiled: “Miss isn’t from around here, right? You look like you’re from South Jiangsu?”

Lu Tong neither nodded nor denied, only smiled slightly: “I’ve heard that the Ke family’s porcelain in the capital is excellent. Does the innkeeper know where one must go to buy Ke family porcelain?”

As soon as these words were spoken, before the innkeeper could respond, a customer sitting and eating in the main hall behind them shouted: “The Ke family? What’s so good about Ke family porcelain? They just happened to have good luck and caught the right opportunity!”

Lu Tong turned around and saw the speaker was a man dressed like a traveling merchant. After a pause, she asked: “Big brother, what do you mean by that?”

Hearing the address “big brother,” the traveling merchant was willing to share information and spoke up: “Originally, this Ke family sold porcelain in the capital but wasn’t known for any outstanding craftsmanship—their reputation was mediocre. But about a year ago, somehow they had good fortune when servants from Grand Tutor Qi’s mansion came to purchase cups, bowls, and dishes for the old madam’s birthday banquet and took a fancy to the Ke family. Old Madam Qi’s birthday banquet was held grandly, and the Ke family gained glory by association. Since then, many official families in the capital have come to buy porcelain from the Ke family, and their reputation spread.”

The traveling merchant took a gulp of the coarse tea before him and said indignantly: “Recently, the Ke family has almost monopolized the porcelain business in the capital, not leaving even a sip of porridge for other families. Now in the capital’s porcelain business, people only know of the Ke family—where’s the share for other families?”

Perhaps this traveling merchant was also one of those affected by the Ke family’s monopoly. Seeing Lu Tong’s contemplative expression, the merchant advised again: “Sister, don’t go to the Ke family to buy porcelain either. Now the Ke family only sells porcelain to official families and looks down on small business. Why seek unpleasantness?”

Lu Tong’s tone was gentle, but the smile in her eyes faded as she said softly: “Big brother, hearing you say this makes me even more curious. I’d like to see what kind of exquisite porcelain could move the Grand Tutor’s mansion, which is used to seeing fine things.”

“If Miss really wants to go to the Ke family, it’s not difficult,” the innkeeper was very amiable and smiled as he gave Lu Tong directions. “The Ke family is in the south of the city. Follow this street straight ahead until you can see Luo Yueqiao bridge in the city. You should follow the bridge, and at the end of the bridge there’s a Fengle Building. Below it is an alley—pass through the alley and you’ll see the Ke family’s large residence.”

Lu Tong thanked the innkeeper and the traveling merchant before returning upstairs. Upon entering the room, Yin Zheng had already set out the food and urged Lu Tong: “Miss, please eat first.”

Lu Tong sat at the table and picked up her bowl and chopsticks along with Yin Zheng. Yin Zheng tentatively spoke: “Miss, I just heard you asking about the Ke family’s residence downstairs…”

Lu Tong said: “Let’s eat. After we finish eating, I need to make a trip to the Ke family.”

According to the traveling merchant, the Ke family had their good fortune a year ago—which was also when Lu Rou died.

It really made one unable to avoid overthinking.

…

South Street was much livelier than the west of the city.

On Luo Yueqiao bridge, people flowed like fabric. Even the river breeze passing through the city carried the scent of powder and rouge. Many horn lanterns were tied under the bridge railings. It was said that on clear nights, the lights were like fireflies, and the silver-white new moon fell beneath the bridge, filling the city with moonlight.

Passing through the small alley below Fengle Building, at the end stood a large high gate tower. The door plaque read “Ke Residence” in two characters—this was the Ke family’s newly purchased mansion.

It was noon, and a servant in blue clothes was leaning against the main gate dozing. Although the Ke family was wealthy, the master was harsh and stingy with the servants. There were few people at the gate, and after working at night, they still had to work during the day, making it inevitable to slack off.

Just as he was getting drowsy, he suddenly heard someone in front of him speak: “Young man, is your family’s young master Ke Chengxing, Master Ke?”

The gatekeeper jolted awake to see two young girls standing before him, one of whom wore a veil.

He said: “Yes, you…”

“My mistress is a cousin from the late madam’s maternal family, requesting to see your honorable Old Madam Ke.”

…

In the Ke family garden, the peonies were blooming beautifully.

Old Madam Ke disliked plain things—being in business, she always preferred things lively and abundant. After buying this residence, she had the few clumps of green bamboo originally planted in the house dug up, then filled in the small pond and renovated it into a garden. The garden bloomed year-round with flowers in abundant profusion.

At this moment in the main hall, Old Madam Ke was sitting on a long couch watching a maidservant embroider a fan, with honey orange cakes and boiled chestnuts on the table. She would occasionally pick up a piece to put in her mouth, then complain that today’s pastries were made too bland.

The gatekeeper entered and said quietly: “Old Madam, there are people outside requesting an audience, saying they are cousins from the late madam’s maternal family…”

Old Madam Ke’s expression changed, and her voice involuntarily became shrill: “Whose cousins?”

The gatekeeper shrank back: “The late madam’s…”

Old Madam Ke’s brow furrowed: “Didn’t the Lu family all die out? When have we ever heard of any maternal family cousins?”

The nanny beside her said: “Perhaps they’re distant poor relatives who couldn’t be reached with eight poles, who don’t know about the Lu family’s affairs and have come to take advantage.”

Old Madam Ke thought for a moment and instructed the gatekeeper: “No need to pay attention to them, just send them away.”

The gatekeeper departed to carry out orders, but returned shortly after.

Old Madam Ke was impatient: “Haven’t they left yet?”

“No…” the gatekeeper said with some difficulty. “The visitors say they had deep affection with the late madam’s family, and hearing that the Lu family has fallen into ruin, they’ve come to retrieve the late madam’s dowry…”

“Dowry?” Old Madam Ke’s face immediately became ugly. “What ignorant poor relatives—dowry? What dowry did that Lu woman have!”

The gatekeeper swallowed and spoke carefully: “The other party said if they can’t see Old Madam, they’ll move a stool to sit at the gate and ask the neighbors house by house. Old Madam, with people coming and going, if word spreads it might not sound good…”

Old Madam Ke’s face was livid. After a long while, she squeezed out a few words through gritted teeth: “Let her in!”