A Dream of Splendor Episode 14 Recap
> A Dream of Splendor Recap
To avoid future disputes, Zhao Pan'er suggested that the three of them divide the responsibilities. She would be in charge of the teahouse operations, Sun Sanniang would handle the kitchen and purchasing, and Song Yinzhang would be responsible for the musical performances. In this way, even if there were different opinions, the minority would obey the majority to prevent harming their sisterly bond.
Song Yinzhang readily agreed, and through this period, she no longer cared about external opinions and could bravely face her background as a musician. As expected, when the teahouse reopened, it immediately attracted countless literati and scholars. Gentlemen came from far and wide, including Mr. Zhuoshi and Yuan Tuntian, just to witness the so-called charm. From the decor to the way guests were welcomed, everything was meticulously crafted by Zhao Pan'er, instantly dazzling everyone.
When Du Changfeng learned the identity of the teahouse proprietress, he had to take a detour. Song Yinzhang's pipa music was captivating, and with top-quality tea and snacks, even at prices of several hundred "wen", it still made them yearn for it. Zhao Pan'er understood the literati's mindset very well. Each time, she only arranged for ten guests to go upstairs to listen to the music.
The other gentlemen who were a step behind couldn't help but beat their chests and sigh mournfully, and they would continue to visit again later. Not only that, Zhao Pan'er created her own "Nine-Nine Returning to One Tea," which was highly characteristic of Jiangnan, and served it with nine-colored famous porcelain, truly a unique offering in Tokyo. Soon the news spread throughout the streets and alleys of Tokyo, causing heated discussions among the students.
They were initially deterred by the sky-high price of the tea, but with He Si's skillful endorsement and echoing, they began to feel it was worth the price. As the teahouse business became increasingly popular, Zhao Pan'er knew this momentum wouldn't last long and needed other forms of promotion. The prime candidate was the courtesan Zhang Haohao. In fact, even before this, Zhao Pan'er already knew the difficulties Zhang Haohao faced.
Although she had previously performed before the emperor and won the applause of the masses, her popularity had waned since then. There were more than a hundred singing girls belonging to the Bureau of Music. With various celebrations continuously happening in the spring, everyone was putting in their utmost effort to prepare for performances in the palace. If the emperor were to bestow colorful robes as rewards, Zhang Haohao's position would likely be insecure.
Therefore, Zhao Pan'er was willing to cooperate with Zhang Haohao for mutual benefit, which could at least make her stand out from the rest. On the way back, Zhao Pan'er met Gu Qianfan and had a conversation with him. His intimate actions also made her heart flutter. But Zhao Pan'er found it difficult to accept this feeling and suddenly changed her attitude, which in turn made Gu Qianfan feel strange and utterly perplexed.
When tallying the accounts in the evening, Zhao Pan'er discovered that they had made a net profit of over four hundred "wen" on the opening day, which was sufficient proof that their strategy was effective. Song Yinzhang went back to her room to rest first, but Sun Sanniang noticed that Zhao Pan'er was not acting like herself and couldn't help but come over to show concern.
Only then did she learn about Zhao Pan'er's feelings for Gu Qianfan, but also her uncertainty about Gu Qianfan's attitude. In Zhao Pan'er's view, Gu Qianfan was a worthy person. However, his actions were elusive, sometimes close, sometimes distant, which made her heart feel suspended and unable to settle, especially after her experience with Ouyang Xu, which left her feeling lost and despairing about relationships.
Sun Sanniang was certain of Gu Qianfan's feelings and encouraged Zhao Pan'er to pursue him bravely. However, Zhao Pan'er had been hurt in love and dared not easily give her heart away. After calming down, she felt that it was better to rely on herself than on others, and only by being independent and strong could she avoid fearing that love would wane as beauty faded.
Meanwhile, Gu Qianfan recalled what had happened during the day and decided to ask Chen Lian for some advice, inquiring about his view on women's capricious moods. Chen Lian did not realize who Gu Qianfan was referring to. He stated that women always initially show enthusiasm before becoming reserved, and at this critical juncture, one must absolutely not fall into the trap and should continue to maintain a cool demeanor.
In the following period, the business of the "Half-Covered Face" teahouse increased day by day. Everyone loved the atmosphere and eagerly queued up to go upstairs to listen to the music. In contrast, Yu Zhongquan, intending to get revenge on Gu Qianfan, took the initiative to visit Xiao Wei, the son of Xiao Qinyan, and revealed Gu Qianfan's true identity and background to him.
Xiao Wei was no ordinary noble young master; he possessed a keener mind than average and instantly saw through Yu Zhongquan's scheme. In fact, Yu Zhongquan had other ways to deal with Gu Qianfan, but in order to avoid stirring up trouble and incurring Prime Minister Xiao's displeasure, he came here to show loyalty to Xiao Wei. Furthermore, Xiao Qinyan held a high position as a minister and would sooner or later become the future Prime Minister.
If the news about his illegitimate son fell into the hands of the upright faction, it would undoubtedly become a handle against him. Therefore, they should resolve the trouble of Gu Qianfan as quickly as possible while Xiao Qinyan had not yet arrived in the capital.
