Chapter Five: The Fragrance of Wine and the Art of Power

Su Qingyue gazed at the dark gold token, her fingertips trembling imperceptibly within her sleeves.

Despite the countless dignitaries frequenting the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, the man before her was none other than the Imperial Grandson of the Eastern Palace. She had always been sharp-witted and understood that if this person were merely an ordinary royal scion, he would never dare to bring a token of the Inner Treasury to such a place to discuss business. Although Li Chengche usually kept a low profile—and rumors in the palace painted him as "sickly, taciturn, and cowardly"—meeting him in person revealed that he was far from the simpleton the rumors suggested.

Suppressing a momentary flash of surprise, Su Qingyue bowed low, her voice lowering with practiced deference: "Forgive me, Your Highness, for failing to greet you from afar upon your arrival."

Li Chengche waved a hand, his tone casual and languid: "Sit. I’ve come to discuss a business venture with you today."

"Please, Your Highness, speak."

Seeing that Li Chengche had no intention of putting on airs, Su Qingyue looked up. She focused on the calm in his eyes and tightened her composure.

Li Chengche tapped his index finger against the table and spoke slowly: "I have investigated the web behind your Drunken Immortal Pavilion. Three or four out of every ten taverns in the capital, if traced to their roots, all bear your name. Others think you are merely the proprietor, little knowing that your pavilion is nothing more than a front—a nail driven into the city."

The words were brutally direct. Su Qingyue’s heart tightened, and her fingers inside her sleeves nearly dug into her palms. Yet, she forced herself to steady her breathing and offered a soft, gentle smile: "Your Highness is too kind. I am merely managing some trade for others."

Li Chengche’s gaze remained ripple-free. He cast a cold glance at her, his tone as measured as before: "Stop the charade; we are both people who understand the truth. You have your methods, and I have my plans. You didn't manage to spread your web across Chang’an these past few years by relying on this pretty face."

He changed the subject, a light, seductive smile playing on his lips: "I have come to offer you a greater path to prosperity."

"I await your instructions, Your Highness."

Hearing this, Su Qingyue’s heart sank, though she kept her voice steady. Could it be that the palace had set its sights on her business and intended to seize it?

Li Chengche reached into his sleeve and produced a piece of paper densely covered in writing. He spread it out before her and nodded slightly: "This is a recipe for brewing wine. Wine made according to this method is mellow and rich, smooth on the palate, and grows more potent the longer it is aged."

"There are many wine shops in the Great Tang, but few possess this specific craft."

As Li Chengche finished speaking, Su Qingyue glanced down. Even she, accustomed to the storms of the world, could not help but let her eyes flicker. A cursory glance told her this was no ordinary forgery. If it could be realized, it would fetch an astronomical price—not just in Chang’an, but among the wealthy families in Jiangnan and Guanzhong.

However, she dared not nod immediately. She looked up at him and probed softly, "How does Your Highness wish for me to proceed?"

Li Chengche withdrew the paper. His smile remained gentle, yet carried a hint of casual, overbearing authority: "It is simple. You open a distillery according to my recipe, brew the new wine, and sell it. How much you sell depends on your own capability. As for the profits... seven parts for me, three for you."

Su Qingyue was stunned, her expression shifting subtly. Seven parts for him and three for her? In the business world, such a split was tantamount to treating her like a servant. Yet, she dared not question a single word. The man before her was the Imperial Grandson, not some common nobleman. If he truly wished it, she could be erased from Chang’an by nightfall.

Thinking of this, she bowed her head in contemplation before murmuring, "I... thank Your Highness for your patronage. However, if this is to be done, I will need your covert protection."

Li Chengche laughed, unbothered by her small maneuver: "Do not worry. Since I have dared to give you the recipe, I naturally have the means to protect you. You only need to follow the formula, start by replacing the stock at the Drunken Immortal Pavilion, let people get a taste of it, and then slowly release it to the wider market. As for those gluttonous dignitaries... they will naturally do the promoting for you."

His words were light, yet left no room for error. Su Qingyue understood that while he had placed the recipe in her hands, he still held the vital pulse of the operation. The ingredients, the heat, the ratios—without his nod, even with the recipe, she could never capture the soul of this wine.

She rose slowly and curtsied once more: "I shall take your instructions to heart, Your Highness."

Li Chengche arched an eyebrow, watching the woman’s submissive demeanor with a cold internal scoff. He knew that in this world, no one was truly obedient, but it did not matter. All he required was for these people to execute their tasks perfectly. As for what they thought in their hearts... he did not care.

...

At the same time, in the Eastern Palace, the Lady Zheng reclined in a warm chamber, idly toying with a jade pendant as she listened to her trusted nursemaid whisper a report: "The scouts have returned. They say His Highness the Imperial Grandson has gone to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion."

Lady Zheng’s expression remained unchanged, though she raised an eyebrow: "The Drunken Immortal Pavilion... is that not in the flower district?"

"Yes. The scouts say that as soon as he arrived, he had the top courtesan wait on him, and then summoned the proprietor. They carried on for most of the night before the party broke up. He drank to his heart’s content, and the courtesan Red Feather even personally attended to him as he retired..."

The nursemaid’s voice dropped, full of implication. Lady Zheng clicked her tongue softly, a smile curling on her lips as she spun the jade pendant rapidly between her fingers: "Excellent."

"They all say he is a sickly weakling. It seems he is nothing more than a dissolute wastrel who cannot control his own desires. A man who lives only for pleasure... is he truly fit to contend with my son?"

Meanwhile, in the study of the Prince of Qin’s mansion, Li Shimin sat at his desk, his fingers rhythmically tapping the wood. A trusted aide presented a report: "Your Highness, the Imperial Grandson went to the Drunken Immortal Pavilion today."

"He had the pavilion’s top courtesans wait on him and stayed the night, showing no intention of returning to the Eastern Palace..."

Li Shimin raised an eyebrow, a cold smile tugging at his lips: "The Drunken Immortal Pavilion... Ha, the boy has quite the taste."

"The world says he is indifferent and without desire. Who would have thought... it was all an act."

Seeing the subtle shift in Li Shimin’s expression, the aide asked carefully, "Does Your Highness wish to..."

"Watch him, that is all."

"A man who knows only how to drown himself in wine and lust is useless when it comes to achieving great things."

Li Shimin’s gaze remained steady as he spoke coldly. The aide withdrew, internally marveling at the Prince of Qin’s piercing insight; with a single word, he had effectively signed a death warrant for the Imperial Grandson.