The next day, just as dawn broke.
Hou San rushed in frantically.
"Master! Master! Someone from the Prince's Mansion is here!"
Feng Yuan was practicing his boxing in the courtyard. Hearing this, his movements did not pause in the slightest.
Only after finishing a set of forms did he take the towel handed to him by Hou San and wipe away his sweat.
"What did they say?"
"The... the Butler from the Prince's Mansion came personally, saying the Prince invites you over for a chat!" Hou San was so excited his face turned red.
Feng Yuan nodded, his expression still unchanged.
"I understand."
He turned back to his room and said to Uncle Fang, "Uncle Fang, bring that wooden box from yesterday."
The residence of the Prince was indeed extraordinarily grand.
Feng Yuan was led by the Butler through several courtyards until he reached a secluded Study Room.
Prince Zhongshun was wearing simple, plain clothes, practicing calligraphy from a copybook.
Seeing him enter, he did not look up.
"You're awake?"
"By the Heavenly Grace of Your Highness, I am awake." Feng Yuan bowed.
"Do you remember what happened last night?"
"This Student... misbehaved due to drinking and offended Your Highness. I beg Your Highness for forgiveness." As Feng Yuan spoke, he prepared to kneel.
"Enough." Prince Zhongshun put down his brush. "If this Prince intended to punish you, you wouldn't be standing here now."
He walked to the Main Seat and sat down, picking up his tea.
Feng Yuan took out the carved wooden box from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.
"This Student dares not show off literary skills before Your Highness. This is just a small trinket I made myself, which I present to Your Highness boldly, as a small token of my sincerity."
Prince Zhongshun made an "oh" sound, showing interest.
He took the wooden box and opened it.
A delicate, elegant fragrance of osmanthus wafted out.
The rice-yellow "pastry" inside the box looked quite exquisite.
"What is this item?"
"Reporting to Your Highness, this item is called Soap."
Feng Yuan took the Soap and walked to a nearby washstand.
He asked the Servants standing by to fetch clear water, and also took out a soft cloth used for cleaning Antiques, which had some oil stains on it.
In front of Prince Zhongshun, he wet the Soap and gently rubbed it on the soft cloth.
Fine lather quickly appeared.
He rinsed the soft cloth in the water, and when he pulled it out, the oil stains were completely gone, leaving only a faint scent of osmanthus.
Prince Zhongshun's eyes lit up.
He was not a fool who couldn't recognize quality.
With just one look, he recognized the value of this item.
"This thing works even better than the lye soap used in the palace."
"Your Highness has sharp eyes."
Prince Zhongshun stood up and paced back and forth in the Study Room.
"What do you intend to do with this item?"
"Reporting to Your Highness." Feng Yuan bowed. "This Student wishes to conduct a business transaction with Your Highness."
"Oh? You, a scholar, are engaging in business." Prince Zhongshun stopped pacing, looking at him with interest. "Tell me about it."
"The method for making this item is unique to this Student. However, I am of low status, lacking wealth and power, and cannot guard against such immense fortune."
Feng Yuan looked up, his gaze sincere.
"This Student is willing to offer the entire business of this item to Your Highness. I only ask that Your Highness grant me some protection."
"As for the Silver Taels earned from this business, Your Highness may take ninety percent, and this Student will take only ten percent, enough to make a living."
Prince Zhongshun was stunned.
He stared at Feng Yuan, as if trying to see a flower bloom on his face.
After a long moment, he suddenly burst into loud laughter.
"A nine-to-one split? Hahaha! You young man, you are truly interesting!"
He walked up to Feng Yuan and patted his shoulder.
"If this Prince truly agreed to your terms, and the news got out, wouldn't I become a villainous merchant who exploits the weak?"
He pondered for a moment, then held up two fingers.
"This Prince will provide the money, the manpower, and the location. You provide the formula and manage the production."
"For the profits, you get two, and I get eight."
"How about that?"
A look of sheer ecstasy immediately appeared on Feng Yuan's face, and he dropped to his knees with a thud.
"Your Highness's Heavenly Grace! This Student... this Student will repay you with his life, though it is insufficient!"
Prince Zhongshun nodded in satisfaction and helped him up.
"Work hard. Following this Prince, you will certainly benefit."
Feng Yuan was genuinely excited; things were finally looking up for him.