A Dream of Splendor Episode 13 Recap
> A Dream of Splendor Recap
Although Song Yinzhang was new, her every move was elegant and poised, especially when lecturing the musicians, she appeared calm and self-assured. Yet, when facing Shen Ruzuo alone, she reverted to a young girl's timid look, trying to avoid him. Shen Ruzuo was puzzled, but he didn't bother her excessively. Instead, he escorted Song Yinzhang for a section of the journey before parting ways.
Just as Zhao Pan'er and Sun Sanniang were preparing to go out and look for Song Yinzhang, they saw her return from outside and learned about the Imperial Music Bureau matter. Zhao Pan'er was worried sick and couldn't help but complain that Song Yinzhang had acted on her own initiative. After all, the Imperial Music Bureau was a mixed bag, and how could she possibly handle it?
However, considering Song Yinzhang's sincerity and her desire to share the burden for everyone, Zhao Pan'er proactively apologized, and the good sisters made up as before. Sun Sanniang felt that Song Yinzhang joining the Imperial Music Bureau might not be a bad thing. Perhaps she could even bring dignitaries to patronize the teahouse, especially since business had been exceptionally slow in recent days. A Liao spy was held in the Capital Security Office.
After severe interrogation, the spy confessed that he had infiltrated the Great Song under the orders of Shi Quan, the Imperial Diary Officer, to gather military intelligence. However, although Shi Quan's official rank was not high, he was also the son-in-law of Qi Mu, the Censor-in-Chief. If this person defected, it would inevitably implicate the upright faction led by Qi Mu.
Therefore, Gu Qianfan saw at a glance that the spy was a Western Xia person, whose purpose was to set up a complex scheme to instigate conflict between the Great Song and the Liao people again. As expected, the spy's expression changed, and he refused to admit it even unto death. Gu Qianfan ordered his men to pierce his scapula with a steel whip, like a bloodthirsty and cruel Living King Yama.
The spy couldn't bear the humiliation and cursed Gu Qianfan viciously. Gu Qianfan was used to hearing this on a daily basis, but since his association with Zhao Pan'er, his state of mind had gradually changed. The Living King Yama in the eyes of outsiders had his own untold suffering. Precisely because of this, Gu Qianfan never let Chen Lian interrogate prisoners, simply because he didn't want him to be tainted by such a filthy place.
Yu Zhongquan suddenly came to the Southern Bureau. Because he was subjected to Chen Lian's sarcasm, he called Gu Qianfan by his full name in a fit of anger, only realizing later that he had been promoted to Deputy Envoy of the Capital Security Office and inevitably suffered punishment. In the following days, the teahouse had fewer and fewer customers, losing its initial liveliness. Some people even ordered a cup of plain tea, paid, and left in a hurry.
Zhao Pan'er came to the street to observe the shops nearby, wondering why there wasn't a single restaurant or eatery on an entire street in the vast city of Tokyo. Gu Qianfan explained the reason, saying that Tokyo's streets were divided by trade. Zhao Pan'er happened to open her shop on Mahang Street, where many horse farms and markets gathered.
Therefore, people in Tokyo knew from childhood that you buy raw medicine at Yaoxiang Bureau and clothes at the east end of Panlou. If you really wanted to drink tea, you had to go to Chatang Alley. Moreover, ordinary folks rarely drank refined tea, usually preferring plain tea, which was both cheap and simple. But now that the teahouse had opened and a lot of capital had been invested, Zhao Pan'er had no way out.
Gu Qianfan changed his usual spectator mentality and actively comforted Zhao Pan'er, also curious about her impression of him. After all, the reputation of the Living King Yama was widespread, and probably not many people were willing to approach him. In fact, in Zhao Pan'er's view, Gu Qianfan perfectly fit the description of being ruthless and cunning, and of course, decisive and distinguishing clearly between gratitude and grudges, which strangely had some similarities with her.
There are thousands upon thousands of people in the world, and each one is different. As for whether someone is good or evil, why care about others' opinions? Even if the Capital Security Office had a terrible reputation, Zhao Pan'er had not yet seen Gu Qianfan do anything bad.
As long as he wasn't fabricating charges and twisting facts without reason, even if he was ruthless, he was still a hawk and hound of the state, a claw and tooth of the people, and in her heart, a true hero. Because of Zhao Pan'er's words, Gu Qianfan's heart was gradually moved. At this moment, Song Yinzhang arrived at the teahouse.
Gu Qianfan explained to her that Shen Ruzuo was not a playboy but was skilled in music on weekdays, which is why he took the initiative to strike up a conversation. To his surprise, Song Yinzhang misunderstood that Gu Qianfan was secretly protecting her and couldn't help but feel a burst of secret joy. Sun Sanniang thought the teahouse's declining business was related to Gu Qianfan. Gu Qianfan didn't want to explain too much, so he simply took his leave.
That evening, Zhao Pan'er, Sun Sanniang, and Song Yinzhang discussed countermeasures on how to turn the tide and manage the teahouse well again. Sun Sanniang suggested catering to the common people's preferences and focusing on selling plain tea. Song Yinzhang felt this didn't fit the refined style. As a result, the two had an argument, and ultimately Zhao Pan'er had to step in to resolve the conflict.
Following Zhao Pan'er's method, they decided to rename the teahouse "Ban Zhemian" (Half-Covered Face) and divide it into two areas for guests. Downstairs, they would sell plain tea to attract popularity, while upstairs they would continue to sell specialty tea, and the price would be even higher than before. The intention was to restore the teahouse's elegant style, mainly focusing on the fame of the number one pipa player in Jiangnan.
Therefore, Song Yinzhang would not play more than three songs a day and would use the name of the former Prince Qian's consort, which would make scholars and literati flock to the teahouse.
