Chapter 9: The Absurd Rumor

"If we cannot reach his height, we are not far off," Father Lu said with a nod, his tone heavy and profound.

Master Taixuan was a figure of immense charisma and refinement. As the preeminent poet of the age, his verses resonated through history, and his fame was such that wherever he traveled, the world would bow to welcome him. Once a poem of his was released, the people would scramble to recite it; in those days, the streets and alleys were filled with nothing but talk of him, from the mouths of children to the elders.

"Look at the present—is there anyone on the street discussing this book? Does anyone know of Mistress Xu? This is all your fault!" Father Lu fumed, frustrated by their lack of progress. For a scholar, beyond their writing, reputation was everything. They had reaped the benefits of Mistress Xu’s work, yet failed to make her a household name; this was their failure. Moreover, while Master Taixuan’s poetry followed the well-trodden paths of his predecessors, Mistress Xu’s work was something entirely unprecedented and unique. With the keen instincts of a merchant, Father Lu sensed, however vaguely, that he had stumbled upon something extraordinary. "Listen to me, you must do as I say," Father Lu commanded.

***

Xu Chengyue had recently received her payment. Though not a staggering sum, it greatly alleviated her financial strain. Having been cooped up at home for too long, she decided to head out to clear her mind and treat herself.

In the Tang Dynasty, there was a custom of wearing floral hair ornaments. Xu Chengyue loved flowers, but in her previous life, aside from wearing traditional Hanfu, it felt somewhat odd to pin fresh flowers in her hair on a daily basis. Now, however, it suited her perfectly. She joyfully plucked two sprigs of kerria flowers, vibrant and lush with fresh green leaves, and tucked them into her hair. Their brilliant yellow hue was dazzling. She tilted her head slightly, her eyes smiling as she looked at her two maids. "Do they look good?"

"Of course they do, Mistress. You are a beauty unmatched in this world, just like the Mistress Chu described in the books," Qiulu praised without reservation. In her heart, everything about her mistress was the best.

The praise was too direct. Xu Chengyue felt a shy flush creep across her cheeks, though she couldn't help but smile, biting her lip. She felt herself becoming increasingly vain; she knew they would praise her, yet she still asked.

"Mistress, the carriage is ready. Let us go," Xiahe said, poking her head through the doorway while holding the horse’s reins.

As Xu Chengyue stepped out and was about to board, a voice called out with a smile, "Mistress, where are you off to?"

Xu Chengyue looked back to see Mistress Zhou from next door, carrying a vegetable basket as if she had just returned from the market. They had exchanged greetings when they first moved in. "Nothing much these days, just heading to the Western Market to buy a few things," Xu Chengyue replied.

"Oh? A few days ago, I saw a strange gentleman knocking on your door. The commotion was quite frightening. Was he here to see you?" Mistress Zhou asked, prying with curiosity.

Xu Chengyue did not live in a wealthy district—she could not afford the rent there—but rather in a place where people of moderate means resided. They had never seen a gentleman as refined and well-dressed as Lu Hongzhuo. Furthermore, since Xu Chengyue arrived, she had kept to herself, rarely going out or socializing, which had made Mistress Zhou curious for a long time.

Not wanting to reveal that she wrote books, but finding it difficult to explain Lu Hongzhuo’s status, Xu Chengyue hesitated before saying, "He is just a friend of mine. He came because he had an urgent matter to discuss."

Upon hearing this, Mistress Zhou’s expression grew even stranger; she had never heard of a respectable young lady having a gentleman as a "friend." Unwilling to offer further explanations, Xu Chengyue promptly bid her farewell, boarded the carriage, and departed.

The carriage pulled up in front of an eatery. The first order of business when going out was, naturally, to eat. Since arriving in Luoyang, Qiulu had been handling their meals. However, while she knew the basics, she wasn't particularly skilled in the culinary arts, and the cooking methods of the Tang Dynasty were somewhat limited. With money in her pocket, they naturally went out to enjoy a treat.

The waiter at the eatery saw the three of them and hurried over. "Is the Mistress here to dine?"

"Yes, the three of us."

"Please, come this way, Mistress. There are private rooms upstairs."

"No need, we shall sit downstairs." Xu Chengyue quite wanted to savor the atmosphere of an ancient inn, listening to travelers from all over the land chatting.

"…But there are many guests downstairs, including many gentlemen. I fear it may be inconvenient for a lady," the waiter said, hesitating; he had never encountered a lady with such a request.

In truth, Xu Chengyue was not particularly bold. If she were, she wouldn't have spent so long placating the Sun family without causing a scene. Moreover, she suffered from the typical social anxiety of a freelancer; at times, she feared the gaze of others, especially in crowded places. At this moment, however, she was forcing herself to be brave, feigning composure and acting as if her request were perfectly reasonable. Seeing her firm attitude, the waiter finally agreed and found them a clean table in a corner.

Since she had come to the Tang Dynasty, she had to sample the delicacies of the era. Crystal Dragon-Phoenix cakes, cherry pastries, "wind-vanished" fritters, snowy infant confections... Xu Chengyue ordered them all.

The food arrived shortly after, and she couldn't wait to taste it. The flavor was merely passable, leaving her slightly disappointed. Perhaps her palate had been spoiled by modern cuisine. *Perhaps I should write about food and farming, and crushing the arrogant? I would really shake up this culinary desert.*

In the middle of her meal, she heard a group at the next table talking.

"Have you heard? That Shanhai Bookstore is selling a strange book. Something about Witchcraft, Medicine, and Poison?"

Hearing this, Xu Chengyue froze, her chopsticks mid-air. Was this about her book? But how did the title get so distorted with just a two-character change?

"Looking at the title, is it about medicine?"

"Bah! You two only heard rumors and didn't get it straight. It’s not 'Witchcraft, Medicine, and Poison'—it’s 'The Divine Doctor and Poisonous Consort,' alright? I was standing on the other side of the street and saw it from a distance."

"Do you know what it’s about? Is it palace secrets and concubines fighting for favor?"

"I know this book," a guest at a nearby table chimed in, turning around with excitement. "It’s about a neglected daughter of the Prime Minister’s household who is sent to a temple and, after returning home, is married off to a prince."

"Tch, you’re making such a good story sound so boring. It’s clearly about how the Prime Minister disliked the child because she was ugly, but she met a master, regained her beauty, and learned profound medical skills. When she returned home, she gave her oblivious father, stepmother, and sister the shock of their lives!"

"No, that's not it. The father and stepmother clearly didn't know that the daughter had regained her true appearance."

"Sigh, why would such a beauty want to pretend to be ugly? I wonder when she will reveal her true face. It’s driving me mad with suspense!" the speaker said, feeling truly anxious.

"And it’s not just that—that Prince Li is also blind to her worth, failing to recognize a gem when he sees one."

...

Qiulu and Xiahe listened with rapt attention, their ears pricked up. Seeing the book their mistress wrote being so well-received made them happier than anyone. Xu Chengyue was puzzled—how had word spread so far in just one night? What had Master Lu done? She decided to go see for herself after eating.

"Waiter, bill please," Xu Chengyue called out. Hearing the voice of a young lady, the guests in the hall all looked over. Xu Chengyue remained unfazed as she paid the bill and left the eatery, accompanied by the waiter's, "Please walk slowly, Mistress."

As the carriage reached the street where the Shanhai Bookstore was located, Xu Chengyue lifted the curtain to peek outside. The title was indeed striking; it could be seen from a long distance. A banner, several times larger than those of other shops, hung at the entrance of the bookstore. The title was written vertically in bright red lacquer, with two smaller lines of text above and below: "A Masterpiece for the Ages" and "Suitable for All, Young and Old."

A large crowd had gathered at the entrance. Xu Chengyue stared, dumbfounded, at the bright red slogans that looked just like the banners of her previous life. She began to wonder if she had secretly bribed them without knowing. Otherwise, how could a merchant who dealt with scholars daily and cared so much about his reputation have done such a thing for her?

She had grown accustomed to the shamefully dramatic book title—after all, she had seen all sorts of book titles in her previous life. But this banner-like display made her feel a sense of shame she hadn't felt before, and she had the sudden urge to turn around and flee. Nevertheless, she decided to get out of the carriage and ask Lu Hongzhuo exactly what had happened.