On the long street, a deathly quiet stillness.

Like lightning striking down, leaving scorched earth—it was roughly like this.

After a moment.

A sudden roar arose, sweeping through the long street. Then waves of people could be seen surging forward in crowds, scrambling to see “the forbidden love between Prince Jing’an and the tanhua candidate” and “the shocking spectacle of a man marrying another man on the street.”

The devastatingly beautiful prince of Yingdu and the elegant, talented tanhua—two figures who originally had no connection and could never have any connection—had actually sparked such earth-shattering passion. How could people not be excited? Not tremble? Not feel wild? Not go crazy?

The crowd quickly scattered the parade procession.

Before them loomed the tall horse approaching the tanhua candidate.

The zhuangyuan and bangyan showed expressions of horror—being startled by a horse was no joke!

Opposite them, Yu Zixi, who never cared about consequences, smiled as she controlled her horse, tilting her head and looking innocently at the new tanhua…

…Little brat, they don’t dare rush toward me—they’ll definitely charge at you. Little brat, did you think taking advantage of me was so easy? Today I publicly declare marriage to you, tomorrow you’ll be famous throughout the land with the title of “Rabbit Tanhua” firmly attached—thank me, quickly thank me!

Remembering that day when this poor scholar had pressed her down, arrogantly asking over and over: “Should I kill you? Should I kill you? Should I kill you?” Yu Zixi felt this world was truly strange. She had always been the one bullying others, yet she had actually capsized in the gutter and been bullied by this stinking brat. If she didn’t take revenge, she’d be unworthy of being Yingdu’s number one demon.

She had long known he was a candidate from Dezhou, specifically waiting for this moment of public spectacle to block him. Come on, Rabbit Tanhua—from now on, bear your brilliant reputation and muddle through Yingdu’s official circles!

With swaying grace, Prince Jing’an’s smile was like brilliant fireworks in the night sky.

The crowd surged, their footsteps toward the young tanhua sounding chaotic as thousands of troops and horses.

Just as they were about to rush before the tanhua’s horse.

The young man suddenly raised one finger—his middle finger.

The masses were astonished. The people of Xi Liang naturally couldn’t understand the meaning of this bold modern cursing gesture, but in such an intensely surging situation, why had the tanhua candidate suddenly raised his middle finger?

People are naturally curious. Those in front had already stopped, looking bewildered as they also raised their middle fingers, murmuring: “…What does this mean?”

Others followed suit, confusedly raising thick or thin fingers, crossing their eyes like fighting cocks, asking each other: “What does this mean?”

“A new secret code from the courtesan houses?”

“A flirting gesture between Prince Jing’an and the tanhua candidate?”

Everyone stared at the tanhua candidate, watching him smile as he pointed his raised middle finger at Yu Zixi.

The masses unconsciously followed his manipulation, also confusedly pointing at Yu Zixi together.

Thousands of fingers pointed at Yu Zixi in unison.

Quite spectacular.

Qin Chang Ge smiled again, raising her middle finger once more toward Yu Zixi.

Thousands of fingers again pointed at Yu Zixi in unison.

Despise. You.

We all despise you together.

…

Facing the bewildered crowd and Yu Zixi, who had been laughing happily but was now also puzzled by the finger army, Qin Chang Ge smiled gently and said: “Everyone, would you like to hear why Prince Jing’an dislikes Zhao and intentionally wants to ruin Zhao’s reputation?”

Concise and to the point, one sentence was enough to clarify Yu Zixi’s intentions. The crowd’s understanding turned to excitement as they shouted: “Yes!”

“Ten days hence, at Fengman Tower on Zheng’an Street—fine food and wine, with legendary tales to accompany your meal. We look forward to your presence.”

“Excellent!” Another round of cheers, with some quick-witted people saying in astonishment: “But there’s no Fengman Tower on Zheng’an Street…”

However, the tanhua candidate was already smiling and cupping his hands on horseback, turning his horse to proceed. The crowd was still puzzled about “when did Fengman Tower open on Zheng’an Street,” unconsciously making way. The procession continued forward.

Reaching Yu Zixi’s group, Qin Chang Ge smiled: “Your Highness, you want to marry me? No betrothal gifts, no matchmaker, no announcement to heaven and earth above or parents below—I’m still a current tanhua after all. Isn’t this too shabby for me?”

“What do you want then?” Yu Zixi, still pondering the meaning of those thousands of raised fingers and forgetting to order an interception, blinked at Qin Chang Ge. “Should I come with three matchmakers and six ceremonies, wearing red and green to marry you? But I only want to marry you as my male concubine.”

Amid everyone’s shock, Qin Chang Ge smiled as usual: “Really? But I have no interest in Your Highness.”

Raising her finger again, Qin Chang Ge said softly: “I most hate having sex without love… Your Highness, please, make me fall in love with you—surely you’re not so lacking in confidence about your beauty that you think yourself unlovable and must resort to force?”

“I like your provocation,” Yu Zixi smiled seductively at her, gracefully leaning aside to let her pass, also saying softly: “I’ll let you off today, but you must tell me what that gesture means.”

Spurring her horse forward with leisurely bearing, the handsome young man in black robes had the style of a noble youth from Wuling. Under the spring sun, he raised his head indifferently, his every movement carrying natural romantic charm.

“Oh, it means: ‘Though spring colors fill the city, they cannot be contained—one jade tree extends beyond the wall.'”

…

On Zheng’an Street that day, crowds flowed like the sea.

All searching for that “Fengman Tower.”

They wandered the kilometer-long street from east to west and west to east, but couldn’t find any signboard related to the character “wind.”

The crowd dispersed in vast numbers at sunset, cursing the new tanhua for being so cunning—apparently staging an empty city stratagem.

Unexpectedly, that very night, nearby residents vaguely heard sounds of house and building construction. Drowsily turning over in their sleep, they wondered who was building at the middle of the night, disturbing peaceful dreams? The next morning, residents facing the street opened their back courtyard windows and stared dumbfounded at an empty lot on Zheng’an Street where a building had suddenly and magically appeared.

Of course it was still rough, but this speed was quite miraculous. Busybodies who had watched the street parade drama immediately speculated—could this be the “Fengman Tower” the tanhua candidate mentioned? Did construction only begin now?

From then on, the building worked nightly and renewed daily. Indeed, in just ten short days, an exquisite and unique tavern was completed. On the final day, people watched vegetables, wine, and meat flow into the tavern like water—quantities tongue-waggingly large. Head chefs and waiters were all in position, each looking sharp and clean like young masters. Only the proprietor was nowhere to be seen. People gathered at the entrance, staring intently, waiting for the signboard to be hung and to see who owned this tavern. The new tanhua? Wasn’t he said to be from an ordinary family in Dezhou?

The sun rose high, making people sweat and grow restless. From afar, they saw Prince Jing’an’s characteristic eighteen riders rolling in like wind, setting up a fire-red heavy brocade sunshade with flowing tassels in the shade directly opposite the building. Yu Zixi, still in fire-red, lazily sat under the umbrella, propping her chin and staring at the building with upturned peach blossom eyes, smiling yet not smiling.

Being a prince was truly good… keeping dogs and slaves, shelter from wind and sun, wanting both men and women, guaranteed harvest in drought or flood, tsk tsk…

At midday, just as the crowd was growing restless, they saw several riders slowly approaching from the street’s end.

Sharp-eyed people cheered loudly: “They’re coming! I recognize him—the new tanhua!”

Everyone stood on tiptoe to look. Indeed, the young man in blue robes on the left had elegant bearing and flying spirit—it was the tanhua candidate.

Who was in the middle? Such a big horse, but they couldn’t see who sat atop it.

An empty horse?

A small fire-red brocade robe, its color so gaudy it surpassed even that person who always wore red as his signature and made red clothing his personal characteristic. The red robe was actually embroidered with red beauty figures. Looking closely, the beauty had snow-white skin and black hair, seductive eyes like silk. Her backward glance and smile seemed somehow familiar—the clever ones were already looking at Yu Zixi—eh, wasn’t this Prince Jing’an in women’s clothing? So this was how he looked in female dress…

Dressed so hatefully flashy, acting so dramatically eye-catching—no need to guess, the modified version of Xi Liang’s Crown Prince had arrived.

Fengman Tower was actually originally Xiao Baozi’s idea. Ever since eating his mother’s fermented bean curd, he was moved by Xi Liang’s underdeveloped pickled vegetable industry and wanted to promote this delicacy. Qin Chang Ge wouldn’t pay him any mind—just be your crown prince properly. If you do business attracting bees and butterflies, aren’t you making me busy enough already?

A few days later, she saw Baozi and Youtiao’er huddled together, both sneakily stuffing their sleeves with palace treasures, planning to sell them at the western city’s black market for stolen goods, then use the money to buy a tavern on the verge of bankruptcy.

She even heard Baozi viciously say he planned to choose a tavern he liked—if it wasn’t bankrupt, he’d make it bankrupt by putting grasshoppers in the soup today and toads in the rice tomorrow, definitely making them sell cheaply to young master me.

Facing her son’s premature rebellious phase, the mother remained silent for a long time, then confiscated the treasures from her son’s sleeves, confined the blindly loyal Youtiao’er for three days as a warning, and decided to help her son with business after all.

However, Qin Chang Ge never made concessions for free. Her requirement was: within three years, you must expand this business, open branches throughout Xi Liang, and provide me with ten useful intelligence reports monthly. Otherwise, you fellow proven unfit for business and only suitable as crown prince should obediently return to the palace and study crown prince duties for three years without leaving.

Baozi scoffed: I’ll give you one hundred high-quality intelligence reports monthly! I’ll open branches in Li Kingdom!

Why Li Kingdom? He grinned, looking at Chu Feihuan, snuggling against his knee and hugging his neck, whispering: “That country should have been yours, right? I’ll help you take it back and beat to death all those who bullied you!”

Chu Feihuan was silent for a long time. Under a thread of sunlight, the handsome man’s face was hidden in shadow, expression unreadable. After a while, he reached out and warmly embraced the child.

Qin Chang Ge turned away then, pursing her lips to look at the pomegranate flowers blooming magnificently in May, so bright they hurt the eyes.

Thus, on parade day, when Yu Zixi publicly embarrassed her, Qin Chang Ge had a flash of inspiration, and “Fengman Tower” was born.

As for this inspiration born from Feihuan, derived from the compassionate and gentle disabled man Hua Manlou from “Lu Xiaofeng” in her previous life, and the tower name casually chosen by Qin Chang Ge—that it would later sweep across the entire Neichuan continent, becoming uniquely successful and wealthy beyond measure, and because of this, trigger national upheaval as a chain of famous towers—this was far beyond what Qin Chang Ge or Chu Feihuan could have predicted at the time.

Regarding Fengman Tower’s birth, Qin Chang Ge had considered that having chosen to hide greatly in court, yet being destined to lose invisibility due to inadvertently provoking Yu Zixi, she might as well be more outrageous. Wouldn’t a uniquely styled mad scholar Zhao Moyan and a gentle, kind palace maid Ming Shuang be even more mismatched?

Since she planned to accomplish something and would eventually become a high official, creating a public relationship that wouldn’t arouse suspicion and placing her son’s enterprise under her protection early would surely benefit his second career besides crown prince in the future.

So today he came quite showily to accompany the Fengman Tower boss on an inspection of the main store.

Seeing the sea of people, Qin Chang Ge grinned at herself: “It’s over, boss, you’re going to lose money.”

“What’s to fear? What they eat today, sooner or later I’ll make them spit out tenfold!” Baozi didn’t care, grinning as he climbed down from his horse in bright red, striding up the steps with great momentum, waving his hand grandly: “Hang the signboard!”

The three large characters “Fengman Tower” in gold on black background were slowly hung up under everyone’s gaze.

Thousands of people “hissed,” immediately creating a chilly airflow.

Standing imposingly on the topmost of three steps, Baozi shouted with mountain-swallowing momentum: “Fengman Tower opens today with special prices for customers! From now until midnight tonight, all dining customers eat completely free!”

“Hiss—” This time the airflow was even louder.

“Fine wine and food inside, free storytelling!” Baozi waved again.

People’s eyes lit up with surprise. Free meals and free stories—such unheard-of rare things! But… how old was this proprietor? Could this be some scam run behind his family’s back? Better not get beaten up after eating… better observe first?

Having anticipated this and already instructed mother not to interfere, Baozi grinned and signaled. Disguised Huang Meng subordinates already positioned in the crowd all pushed forward shouting loudly.

“Little proprietor is so generous!”

“We thank you!”

“Little proprietor shows such magnanimity! Your business will surely prosper across four seas, wealth flowing from three rivers!”

Baozi bowed properly: “Everyone get rich, everyone get rich! Please support us in the future!”

More than ten people went in, head chefs and waiters immediately began working. All windows were wide open, the dining hall completely visible. Watching these people order fine wine and food, finishing and leaving with a wipe of their mouths, everyone’s eyes immediately turned blue. A shout of “Let’s go!” and they surged in like a tide.

Someone squeezed in while turning to call to Qin Chang Ge: “Tanhua candidate, aren’t you going to eat? Are you also a proprietor of this Fengman Tower?”

“This humble one must report to the Ministry of Justice today,” Qin Chang Ge smiled. “Being of poor scholar background, how could I qualify as proprietor here? This is Young Master Xue of the great Xue family of Dezhou, my benefactor’s son, come to Yingdu to see the world. I’m merely accompanying him.”

Everyone “oh”ed in understanding. The well-informed already remembered this tanhua candidate was unique, refusing to become a refined Hanlin scholar and instead becoming a Ministry of Justice administrator—such a place full of troubles and people where one easily offended others, what was good about it? Truly a strange person.

Never mind where he went—their free meal was more important.

The crowd poured into Fengman Tower like water. It looked like the entire city was flooding into the shop. Baozi calmly ordered people to set up a long row of tables blocking the shop’s perimeter, with special staff distributing tokens for queuing—entering the front, exiting the back. Those who had eaten got a mark on their token and couldn’t reuse it, preventing the type of people who would eat multiple times until death from appearing.

Halfway through eating, Baozi began visiting tables to gift clear congee and side dishes. The congee was made from Huainan premium fragrant pearl rice with chicken shreds and Li Sea dried scallops, cooked until fragrant and thick. The side dishes were the real highlight of opening Fengman Tower—chef-improved fermented bean curd, not so smelly now but still looking unappetizing. People today had experienced all new tricks and harbored unease, looking at this stuff resembling spoiled food, all hesitating to use chopsticks. So again, arranged Huang Meng subordinates acted as shills, eating enthusiastically with effusive praise. People have herd mentality—indeed, one taste and they immediately applauded with shining eyes.

Baozi excelled at timing. Immediately he sent up samples of various side dishes he’d recently pestered mother to recall and recreate. Xi Liang people accustomed to salted fish and cured meat with congee—where had they seen such light yet sweet, sour, spicy, or salty things with so many special flavors? They immediately clamored for more congee and dishes. Waiters, already instructed, were very respectful but firm, saying since congee and dishes were gifts, each person got only one serving, otherwise later customers wouldn’t have enough. Everyone grumbled but thought asking for more free food was indeed improper, so all agreed to return tomorrow.

Proprietor Baozi sat on the counter, smiling with such satisfaction, as if already seeing today’s scattered silver flowing out returning tomorrow even more impressively as rolling silver.

Well understanding the principle of striking while iron is hot, Baozi grinned and clapped again. The expensive new-style storyteller he’d hired and personally trained for ten days struck his wooden block and called out, his voice crisp and bright as he began storytelling on the impressive, spacious dedicated storytelling platform. Everyone’s attention was immediately drawn over.

But he wasn’t telling everyone’s tired old “Founding Heroes” stories. Before hearing much, people’s eyes began shining strangely.

The title was “Love Cultivation Manual—Teaching All Stupid Men in the World How to Win Beautiful, Rich Women with 180 IQ”

Original author: Jin Yong. Original title: “The Legend of the Condor Heroes.”

After this, the new book was “What Should I Love You With After Losing My Chastity?—The Return of the Condor Heroes”

Next: “The Story a Woman and 107 Men Had to Tell—Water Margin”

Next: “To Practice Divine Skills, One Must First Castrate Oneself—The Smiling, Proud Wanderer”

…

People had long forgotten their original purpose for coming to Fengman Tower, absorbed in eating. Now hearing the storytelling, they remembered the tanhua candidate had said he would tell the story of his conflict with Prince Jing’an at Fengman Tower. All concentrated on pondering the stories, so Yu Zixi sometimes became Guo Jing, sometimes Huang Rong, with others guessing Huang Yaoshi and Qiu Chuji.

One person listened for a while, slapped his thigh, and realized: “I know—Mei Chaofeng!”

…

Baozi listened smugly for a while to the story he’d dug from mother’s mouth, then scrambled and distorted beyond recognition but definitely shocking enough. Glancing around, he saw mother preparing to leave with the demon prince blocking her. Raising an eyebrow, he beckoned a waiter and suddenly darted out.

Outside, the demon was tugging Qin Chang Ge’s sleeve, acting anxious: “Moyan, the fragrant bath is ready, the jade couch awaits—let’s go sleep.”

“Bang!” The waiter following Baozi with congee and side dishes crashed into the wall, nearly overturning his tray.

“Be careful, or I’ll dock your wages.” Baozi turned back with very boss-like instructions, his expression unchanged as he smiled at Yu Zixi. “This is Prince Yu? Why not come sit in the shop? Upstairs has private rooms, extremely refined, convenient for whatever you want to do, and good for atmosphere too.”

“Little proprietor understands so well. Are there rooms upstairs then?” Yu Zixi only gazed tenderly at Qin Chang Ge. “If you like it here, here is fine too.”

Baozi very proprietarily inserted himself: “Yes, yes, but someone once said ‘when fed and warm, one thinks of lust’—you need to eat first to have strength, right? Come, come.”

Waving his hand, the waiter presented the tray. Light yet enticing fragrance immediately dispersed faintly in the air. Yu Zixi raised an eyebrow—though accustomed to the world’s finest foods, she couldn’t help praising: “Good!”

Taking a bowl and casually tasting it, her eyes lit up again, but she carelessly set it aside, flicking over a bright pearl: “You’re young but extraordinary. In the future you’ll have many such pearls—let me give you an auspicious start.”

Baozi grinned and accepted it, loudly thanking her while pretending not to hear the gasps from surrounding spectators.

That was a premium Li Sea deep-water pearl, worth a thousand gold and impossible to buy. Only someone as indulgent and casual as Yu Zixi would randomly give it as a reward, right?

Yet here was someone even more casual, shoving that precious pearl into her sleeve and continuing to grin: “Your Highness? Upstairs please?”

Yu Zixi looked at Qin Chang Ge with flowing beautiful eyes. Qin Chang Ge smiled at her and actually said: “With beauty for company, why not be joyful?”

Beaming with delight, Yu Zixi strolled up the stairs. When entering the shop, the entire dining hall quieted momentarily.

Qin Chang Ge glanced at her son, Baozi glanced at the storyteller.

Receiving the look, the storyteller understood, struck his wooden block, and suddenly said: “The previous story, this old man will set aside and tell everyone a legendary tale from recent times, called: The Ice Mountain Goddess…”

Walking behind Yu Zixi, Qin Chang Ge clearly saw Yu Zixi’s body suddenly stiffen.

Qin Chang Ge’s eyes flashed.

Then she saw him slowly turn around, his face wearing a smile brilliant as sunshine, so radiant it seemed almost false, saying softly: “Your storyteller speaks so clearly, and the story is interesting. Let me listen.”

Saying this, he sat down, beckoning his guards to serve his own premium emerald tea, brewing a strong bowl—apparently planning to listen for a long time.

Qin Chang Ge’s mind raced with thousands of thoughts, but she pretended difficulty, saying in surprise: “Oh my, Your Highness, I originally thought this would just be a brief spring encounter upstairs. Considering Your Highness’s… stamina, I estimated it wouldn’t exceed a quarter-hour. I didn’t expect Your Highness would also want to listen to stories—this, this… I still need to report to the Ministry of Justice…”

“The future is long…” Yu Zixi showed no anger at Qin Chang Ge’s deliberate mention of the greatest insult to a man, only staring at the storyteller with a flower-like smile: “There will be opportunities for you to know this prince’s prowess…”

Mother and son exchanged a smile—Baozi smiled triumphantly, while Qin Chang Ge smiled with deep meaning.