Chapter 115
Chapter 115
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: uly
Chapter: 115
Chapter Title: Part 15: Social Circle
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Luoyang, the neighborhood where the uppermost class resided.
Beneath the warm spring sunlight, a rare sight even for Luoyang was unfolding.
In a garden meticulously tended by artisans, a European-style banquet was taking place.
Outdoors, tall tables were arranged at regular intervals for easy access while standing.
Atop the finest silk tablecloths lay simple finger foods served on ornate porcelain from renowned workshops.
What was astonishing was that those strolling through the music-filled garden were dressed in European noble attire.
It wasn't a perfect historical recreation of any specific European nation, but no one here cared about such details.
"Ahh. At the very least, I wanted to invite a proper European orchestra."
A young lady in the most splendid attire sighed while gazing at the orchestra.
The colored-eyed foreigners were playing their instruments with all their might to please the host, but they couldn't hide their amateurish skills.
"No, this is already an exceptionally fine performance."
"Really?"
The young lady's eyes sparkled.
"I assure you."
The one standing beside her, spouting lies without batting an eye, was a tall, handsome man also clad in European noble garb.
"It's on par with the orchestra I saw at the Spanish embassy's banquet previously."
"Coming from the renowned Yeon Consultant, famous for his refined tastes, this puts my mind at ease."
Yeon Consultant Yeon Ha-eung smiled softly.
"Hehe. Shall we have a word with the orchestra then?"
When he gallantly extended his arm in European fashion, the young lady happily placed her hand on it.
Cursing inwardly at the snugly tailored outfit, he approached the orchestra with her.
They had just finished a piece and were on break, greeting the pair with awkward expressions.
"Performance... opportunity. Thank you..."
Yeon Ha-eung cut off the one fumbling through Central Plains speech while eyeing their shabby old instruments.
"Hoi!"
He addressed them in passable Dutch.
"(Are you from the Netherlands?)"
One who spoke Dutch replied.
"(We're from the Great British Empire.)"
Yeon Ha-eung shrugged and switched to English.
"(You're not an orchestra—you're sailors, aren't you?)"
They all panicked and waved their hands frantically.
"(No! We are an orchestra!)"
Ignoring the uproar, Yeon Ha-eung finished what he had to say.
"(If I see you at another banquet I attend, I'll hang you all.)"
The sailors, who had planned to scam naive young ladies out of high-paying side gigs before departing soon anyway, went pale.
Yeon Ha-eung beamed at them.
"(If you understand, smile like you mean it. You swindlers.)"
The sailors plastered on their brightest smiles.
"Wow, as expected of Consultant Yeon! Your foreign language skills are incredible!"
"What did they say?"
"What were you talking about?"
Before long, the area was filled with wide-eyed young ladies.
Utterly unfazed, Yeon Ha-eung smiled at the highborn young ladies.
"They said it's an honor to perform for ladies of noble blood."
With a wave from Yeon Ha-eung, the fake orchestra poured their souls into the performance.
"Oh my! As expected of the orchestra invited by the host young lady— even their words are so elegant!"
"How about hosting another European-style banquet next time?"
The host young lady, hailed as such, couldn't hide her delight at the other young ladies' praise.
While they chatted, Yeon Ha-eung slipped away discreetly and approached the steward, who stood by respectfully.
The steward's initial puzzled look turned to flushed anger as Yeon Ha-eung spoke, soon replaced by repeated bows of gratitude.
'That settles one matter.'
The steward would relay Yeon Ha-eung's "favor" to his master.
Catching the swindlers and smoothly resolving the issue so the host's daughter wouldn't lose face before other families' young ladies was a significant favor in social circles.
This favor would one day return as another.
The Luoyang Sword Clan's outer division handled commerce not by clashing with rivals or negotiating for greater gains, but by steadily accumulating such favors.
'Now, time to carry out the special mission.'
"Consultant Yeon! Consultant Yeon! Any new gossip this time?"
"The info you gave last time about the porcelain exhibition was so useful!"
"I'm curious about news on the Eldest Young Master too!"
Yeon Ha-eung smiled at the flock of chattering young ladies.
"Actually, I have some truly shocking news this time."
His voice dropped low, drawing all eyes.
"I'm sharing this specially for you all."
The gossip-loving young ladies fell silent, staring intently at Yeon Ha-eung.
Some mocked him as "gossip on legs," but in Luoyang's social circles, he ranked among the top five luminaries.
After teasing them a bit more with clever rhetoric, Yeon Ha-eung got to the point.
"You've all heard about the joint venture between the Luoyang Sword Clan's Eldest Young Master and Fourth Young Master."
Everyone nodded.
Even young ladies uninterested in business knew of it, given their status.
"...And so, the Fourth Young Master has been attracting investment groups from Chengdu all the way to Luoyang."
Yeon Ha-eung's eyes gleamed.
"Among them are names that would shock you all. They're so famous, I need a moment to catch my breath just to say it."
He dramatically pretended to steady his breathing, making the young ladies stomp their feet in anticipation.
"Tell us quick!"
"Hurry! Hurry!"
After milking the moment, Yeon Ha-eung uttered the name.
"Tea Fan Maidens."
Screams of delight erupted from the young ladies.
"Tea Fan Maidens?!"
"The Tea Fan Maidens making waves in Sichuan right now?!"
"The ones where Sichuan young ladies line up every season for new artisan accessories?!"
One young lady smugly displayed her wrist.
"Hehe, this is the new bracelet they released last winter. My uncle brought it back from Sichuan for me."
A commotion ensued.
Such was the phenomenal popularity of Tea Fan Maidens, a business not even a year old.
For even young ladies from cultural hubs like Luoyang or trade centers like Shanghai to fall for its charms spoke volumes of its competitive edge.
"Maybe they're opening a new branch in Luoyang now?"
"Is that it?!"
"Consultant Yeon! Spill!"
"Hehe. Quite likely. Because..."
Yeon Ha-eung flashed a meaningful smile.
"...the founders of Tea Fan Maidens are heading straight to Luoyang right now!"
"You mean...?!"
"Yes! Shangguan Nanhua, the only daughter of the Chengdu Governor and representative of Tea Fan Maidens, is coming to Luoyang herself!"
Etiquette and poise forgotten, their mouths gaped wide.
"Sichuan's Number One Beauty!"
"Shangguan Nanhua herself?!"
"Coming to Luoyang?!"
They jumped for joy, forgetting decorum to Yeon Ha-eung's momentary alarm.
Such was Shangguan Nanhua's absolute influence in young ladies' social circles.
"And there's even more astonishing news!"
The young ladies trembled at Yeon Ha-eung's shout.
"The Luoyang Sword Clan's Eldest Young Master has invited the Tea Fan Maidens founders to Wongak Pavilion!"
The reaction was explosive beyond words.
Even the estate servants rushed to check the garden.
Wongak Pavilion, dubbed Peach Garden Paradise among social circle young ladies, and its enigmatic owner Yeon So-hyeon were always prime conversation fodder.
Now topped with the Sichuan's Number One Beauty, whom every Central Plains young lady admired.
'Heh heh heh. The special mission is going smoothly. Good start.'
Excusing himself for work, Yeon Ha-eung boarded his waiting carriage.
Changing clothes inside, he shouted.
"Hurry! To the next banquet venue!"
The day was short, the banquets many.
* * *
Se-ah, master of Crescent Moon Pavilion—the fastest-growing intelligence network in Luoyang—wanted to scream.
"Pavilion Lord. Another merchant here to buy Tea Fan Maidens intel."
"...Tell him to wait."
"The waiting room is full."
Most were customers buying Tea Fan Maidens info.
"Then have them line up in the hallway! I haven't eaten a single bite today!"
"...We'll coordinate with the teahouse across the street."
As her subordinate closed the door, Se-ah clutched her forehead and slumped into her chair.
"Gossip on Legs..."
What had he been up to in Luoyang these past few days?
His name filled her with dread.
"Pavilion Lord!"
"I said make them line up?!"
Her subordinate shook his head.
"A letter from the Luoyang Sword Clan, in the Fourth Young Master's name."
She tore open the seal without hesitation.
The message was brief.
[Come to Wongak Pavilion immediately.]
She ordered her subordinate.
"Summon 'her' from safehouse sixteen right now. We're heading to Wongak Pavilion at once."
* * *
The Fourth Young Master, with his chief maid's help, hurriedly dressed while shouting.
"Hong Dok Ji-ju! You're coming with me! Gather all the documents now!"
In the office the Fourth Young Master's group hastily vacated lay the report translating the cipher brought by Jeon Seo-eung.
[Investment Group. Three days from Luoyang.]