Hou San and Feng Fang stared at the solidified, pale yellow "soap" as if it were a miracle.
Feng Yuan, however, frowned.
"It's too ugly," he said, scraping off the rough impurities on the surface with a small knife.
"The smell is wrong too." It was a strange odor of lye mixed with oil, hardly fragrant.
Hou San leaned closer and sniffed hard. "Master, this smells much better than Soap Bean! Soap Bean has that astringent smell that chokes people!"
Feng Yuan shook his head.
What he intended to sell was not the Soap Bean used by common folk for washing clothes.
He intended to sell it to the noble families in Jinling City who were ignorant of the cost of firewood, rice, oil, and salt.
He intended it for young ladies like Xue Baochai, who scented even their sleeves with floral fragrances.
He intended it for officials like Jia Yucun, whose Study Room was always lit with the finest Sandalwood Incense.
To sell to them, this item could not merely be practical.
It had to look good, smell good, and appear precious.
"Hou San, go buy some of the cheapest dried osmanthus and dried jasmine flowers."
"Also, go to the carpenter's shop and order several palm-sized small wooden boxes; they must be carved."
For the next two days, Feng Yuan neither practiced martial arts nor studied.
He locked himself in the Rear Courtyard, like an alchemist driven mad.
He tried filtering the boiled soap liquid through gauze to remove impurities.
He tried mixing crushed flower petals into it, using the floral scent to mask the lye odor.
He failed again and again.
Either the floral scent was overpowered by the lye, or the soap body solidified unevenly.
That broken iron pot was heated red-hot by him, then cooled down, repeatedly tormented.
Hou San and Feng Fang watched, terrified, but dared not ask a single question.
It wasn't until the afternoon of the third day that Feng Yuan finally walked out of the rear annex.
He held a small, carved wooden box in his hand.
He opened the wooden box.
Inside lay quietly a square block of creamy yellow color and fine texture.
Several pale yellow osmanthus petals were embedded on the block, making it quite beautiful.
A sweet osmanthus fragrance drifted out slowly.
Hou San's eyes went wide.
"Master, this... is this still that lump of black stuff from the other day?"
Feng Yuan closed the wooden box and handed it to Feng Fang.
"Keep it safe."
He looked at the sun nearing the horizon.
He turned and entered the room, changing into the Plain blue cloth straight robe he wore when meeting Jia Yucun.
"Prepare the carriage; we are going to the Prefectural Yamen."
The Prefectural Yamen, Rear Hall.
Jia Yucun was currently sipping newly arrived pre-Qing Longjing tea.
Upon hearing that Student Feng Yuan requested an audience, he set down his teacup, his eyebrows lifting slightly.
This boy was quick in his movements.
He instructed the gatekeeper to lead Feng Yuan to the Study Room.
"Student Feng Yuan pays respects to the Prefectural Lord," Feng Yuan bowed, his demeanor even more respectful than last time.
"My Lord, I..."
Suddenly, he patted Feng Yuan's shoulder, not waiting for Feng Yuan to finish speaking.
"You've arrived at the perfect time. Tonight, there is an Elegant Gathering in the city; I will take you to broaden your horizons."
"An Elegant Gathering?"
"Indeed." Jia Yucun's lips curved into a meaningful smile.
"Those who can attend this Elegant Gathering are no ordinary people."
Feng Yuan's heart skipped a beat.
This was a test.
"It is all thanks to your cultivation, My Lord!" He bowed again, offering a deep salute.
Jinling City, along the Qinhuai River, Painted Pleasure Boats drift on the waves.
An extremely luxurious three-story Painted Pleasure boat was moored quietly in the most secluded cove.
The boat was brightly lit, and the sound of silk and bamboo music drifted faintly, yet it was not noisy.
Feng Yuan followed behind Jia Yucun and stepped onto the Painted Pleasure boat.
His Plain blue cloth straight robe looked completely out of place among the silks and fine clothes on the boat.
Inside the cabin, warmth rushed out, and Incense curled upward.
The floor was covered with thick Persian carpets, and famous calligraphy and paintings hung on the walls; every furnishing spoke of two words: power and influence.
More than a dozen men wearing various styles of Official uniform were gathered in small groups, conversing in low voices.
When they saw Jia Yucun enter, they all rose and cupped their hands.
"Brother Yucun has arrived."
"And who is this?" Someone's gaze fell upon Feng Yuan, filled with inquiry.
"One of my Disciples, the Top Scholar of the County Examination, named Feng Yuan," Jia Yucun introduced casually. "I brought him along to see a bit more of the world."
Upon hearing this, everyone showed a look of understanding, nodded slightly toward Feng Yuan, and then paid him no further attention.
A Top Scholar of the County Examination was truly insignificant here.
Feng Yuan kept his eyes straight ahead, following behind Jia Yucun like the most dutiful pageboy.
He knew the main character of the evening had not yet appeared.
Jia Yucun led him toward the Main Seat.
At the Main Seat, only one seat was set, but it was empty.
"My Lord, has the Prince not arrived yet?" Jia Yucun asked a middle-aged man who looked like a Steward, standing respectfully nearby.
"Replying to Lord Jia, the Prince is changing clothes in the inner cabin and will be here shortly."
The Prince?