Volume 5 Chapter 15 – High Society

===================

Translated by Rain

Read it only at Novelbyu.com & Utoon.net

===================

Luoyang, the residence district of the upper class.

Under the warm sunshine of a spring day, a scenery rarely seen even in Luoyang was unfolding.

A European-style banquet was being held in a garden managed by the hands of a craftsman.

Outdoors, high tables were regularly arranged to make them easy to approach while standing.

On the highest quality silk tablecloths, simple finger foods were placed on brilliant porcelain from famous workshops.

The surprising thing was that those walking through the garden where music flowed were wearing European-style aristocratic attire.

Although it did not completely replicate the historical evidence of a specific European country, at least no one here cared about such things.

“Ah. At least I wanted to invite a proper European orchestra.”

One young lady dressed in the most splendid attire sighed as she looked at the orchestra.

Although the Semu people were playing their respective instruments with all their might for fear of displeasing the host, they could not hide their clumsy skills.

“No. At this level, it is a very splendid performance.”

“Is that so?”

The young lady’s eyes sparkled.

“I guarantee it.”

The one standing beside her and telling lies without even wetting his lips was a tall, handsome man who likewise wore European-style aristocratic attire.

“It is excellent enough to rival the orchestra I saw previously at the banquet of the Spanish Embassy.”

“Since Advisor Yeon, who is famous for his high insight, says so, this girl feels relieved.”

Advisor Yeon, Yeon Ha-eung, smiled gently.

“Fufu. Then shall we speak with the orchestra for a moment?”

When he politely offered his arm in the European fashion, the young lady happily placed her hand on his arm.

Cursing inwardly at the tight attire that had narrow sleeves/pants, he approached the orchestra with the young lady.

Those who had just finished playing and entered a break welcomed them with awkward expressions.

“Performance…, opportunity. Thank you…”

Looking at their clumsy junk instruments, Yeon Ha-eung cut off the words of the one who was stammering in the language of the Central Plains.

“Hoi!”

He spoke to them in Dutch, which was reasonably usable.

“(Are you from the Netherlands?)”

Then, the one among them who spoke Dutch replied.

“(We are from the British Empire.)”

Yeon Ha-eung shrugged his shoulders and spoke in English.

“(You guys are sailors, not an orchestra, right?)”

At those words, everyone waved their hands in panic.

“(No! We are indeed an orchestra!)”

Yeon Ha-eung ignored their clamor and finished what he wanted to say.

“(If I meet you again at a banquet hall I go to, I will hang you all.)”

The sailors, who had intended to pull off a high-paying side job by deceiving young ladies who knew little of the world since they were going to leave soon anyway, turned pale.

Yeon Ha-eung smiled brightly at them.

“(If you understand, laugh along with me. You swindlers.)”

At that, the sailors did their best to put on bright smiles.

“Wow, as expected of Advisor Yeon! Your foreign language skills are amazing!”

“What did they say?”

“What kind of conversation did you share?”

Before they knew it, the surroundings were filled with girls with sparkling eyes.

Without being flustered in the least, Yeon Ha-eung smiled toward the young ladies of noble families.

“They said it is an honor to have the opportunity to play for you, who inherit noble blood.”

As Yeon Ha-eung signaled, the fake orchestra began to play with their absolute soul.

“Oh my! As expected of the orchestra invited by Lady Ju, even their words are elegant!”

“How about holding a banquet in the European style again next time?”

The host of the banquet, called Lady Ju, could not hide her joyful expression at the favorable reviews of the other young ladies.

While they were talking, Yeon Ha-eung slipped away and approached the chief manager who was standing politely.

The chief manager, who had a puzzled expression at first, turned red and blue as Yeon Ha-eung’s words continued, and soon expressed his gratitude to Yeon Ha-eung repeatedly.

‘That’s one job done.’

The chief manager would convey the ‘grace’ Yeon Ha-eung bestowed to the master he served.

Catching the swindlers and smoothly resolving the matter so that his daughter would not be humiliated in front of the young ladies of other families was a considerably large grace in high society.

This grace would return as another grace someday when needed.

The normal business of the Outer Courtyard of the Luoyang Sword Family placed emphasis on accumulating grace like this on a regular basis, rather than setting boundaries with opponents or bringing in greater profits through negotiations.

‘Now, shall I perform the special mission?’

“Advisor Yeon! Advisor Yeon! What new news is there this time?”

“The story about the porcelain exhibition you told us last time was very useful!”

“I am curious about the Eldest Young Master’s news too!”

Yeon Ha-eung smiled at the young ladies who gathered while chattering constantly.

“Actually, there is truly shocking news this time.”

Yeon Ha-eung’s voice lowered softly, drawing everyone’s attention.

“I am sharing this news especially for you.”

The young ladies, who were crazy about rumors, even stopped chattering and looked only at Yeon Ha-eung.

Although some ridiculed Yeon Ha-eung by calling him ‘rumors with legs,’ at least in Luoyang’s high society, he was a celebrity ranked within the top five.

After teasing them with clever speech a few more times, Yeon Ha-eung came to the main point.

“You all must have heard of the joint venture that the Eldest Young Master and the Fourth Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family are doing this time.”

Everyone nodded.

No matter how uninterested in business matters they were, as their status was what it was, they knew at least that much.

“…And so, the Fourth Young Master attracted an investment delegation all the way from Chengdu, Sichuan, and invited them to Luoyang.”

Yeon Ha-eung’s eyes sparkled.

“Among them, there is a name that will surprise you when you hear it. Since it is an extremely famous business, I must catch my breath for a moment before I can speak that name.”

As Yeon Ha-eung mimicked catching his breath in an exaggerated manner, the young ladies stamped their feet.

“Tell us quickly!”

“Quickly! Quickly!”

Having dragged out the time sufficiently, Yeon Ha-eung spoke a name.

“Tea Fan Maiden.”

Instantly, cheers like screams burst from the young ladies’ mouths.

“He said Tea Fan Maiden!”

“Tea Fan Maiden! Do you mean that Tea Fan Maiden which is enjoying massive popularity in Sichuan right now?!”

“That very Tea Fan Maiden where Sichuan ladies line up and wait every time new accessories crafted by a new artisan are released?!”

At that, one young lady showed off, raising her wrist.

“Hoho, this is the new bracelet released last winter by that Tea Fan Maiden. My uncle brought it back for me when he visited Sichuan.”

A round of commotion arose.

To such a degree, this business called Tea Fan Maiden, which had not been established for very long, was enjoying sensational popularity.

That even the young ladies of noble families residing in Luoyang, the center of culture, or Shanghai, the center of foreign trade, fell for its charm meant that the competitiveness of the business called Tea Fan Maiden was outstanding.

“Could it be that a new branch of Tea Fan Maiden is opening in Luoyang too?”

“Is that so?!”

“Advisor Yeon! Tell us!”

“Fufu. The possibility of that is extremely high. Because…”

Yeon Ha-eung wore a meaningful smile.

“Because the founders of Tea Fan Maiden are coming directly to Luoyang at this very moment!”

“Does that mean…?!”

“That is correct! I mean Miss Sangwan Nan-hwa, the only daughter of the Chengdu Governor and the representative of Tea Fan Maiden, is coming directly to Luoyang herself!”

Forgetting both manners and dignity, everyone’s mouths fell wide open.

“The Number One Beauty of Sichuan!”

“That Lady Sangwan Nan-hwa herself?!”

“Is coming to Luoyang?!”

To the point Yeon Ha-eung was flustered for a moment, everyone forgot their dignity and hopped up and down in joy.

To that degree, the name Sangwan Nan-hwa possessed absolute influence in the social circle of young ladies at present.

“And there is even more surprising news!”

At Yeon Ha-eung’s shout, the young ladies felt their hands and feet trembling.

“The news that the Eldest Young Master of the Luoyang Sword Family has invited the founders of Tea Fan Maiden to Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment!”

To say the reaction was explosive was not enough.

It was to the extent that the servants of the mansion checked the garden to see what was going on.

The talk of Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment, called the Land of Peach Blossoms among the ladies of high society, and its mysterious master Yeon So-hyeon, was always a conversation topic that boasted the peak of popularity.

Yet on top of that, the name of the Number One Beauty of Sichuan, whom all young ladies in the land of the Central Plains longed for, was added.

‘Fufufu. The special mission is very smooth. A good start.’

Excusing himself on business to slip out of the mansion, Yeon Ha-eung boarded the waiting carriage.

He shouted as he changed clothes inside the carriage.

“Hurry! Let’s go to the next banquet hall!”

The day was short, and banquets were many.

* * *

Se-ah, the master of the Crescent Moon Pavilion, the information organization growing most rapidly in Luoyang at present, wanted to shriek.

“Lord of the Pavilion. Another merchant has arrived wishing to buy information about Tea Fan Maiden.”

“…Tell them to wait.”

“The waiting room is full.”

Most of them were customers who had come to purchase information on Tea Fan Maiden.

“Then tell them to at least line up in the corridor! I haven’t even had a single meal today!”

“…I will seek cooperation from the teahouse across the street.”

Once the subordinate closed the door and left, Se-ah clutched her forehead and slumped into the chair.

“Rumors with Legs…”

Just what on earth had he been doing in Luoyang in a mere few days?

She felt fear at that name.

“Lord of the Pavilion!”

“I told you to tell them to line up!”

The subordinate shook his head.

“A letter has arrived from the Luoyang Sword Family in the name of the Fourth Young Master.”

Without hesitation, she tore open the seal.

The content was brief.

[To Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment immediately.]

She instructed her subordinate.

“Call ‘her’ who is in safehouse number sixteen right now. We enter Pavilion of Perfect Enlightenment immediately.”

* * *

The Fourth Young Master shouted as he hastily prepared with the help of the Maid Captain.

“Red Venom Spider! You are coming with me! Pack all the data right now!”

In the office, which the Fourth Young Master’s group had hastily left, lay a report translating the cipher brought by a carrier hawk.

[Investment delegation. Three days’ distance to Luoyang.]