The shopkeeper glanced at the sparse poetry wall outside the door and sighed in agreement, "Isn’t that so? It’s just a stroke of luck. It’s just about putting up a poetry wall and holding onto someone influential, as if anyone couldn’t do it."

One sentence awakened the dreamer.

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion said, "Yes, yes, quickly find a way to locate this Young Master Nantang. I heard that Zhang Hanlin and others are trying to get to know him. Those noble ladies are all copying his poems. By the time Shen Changle continuously releases poetry collections, this person is likely to become famous throughout the Capital City, and then it will be even harder to make connections."

The shopkeeper looked troubled.

"I heard that Princess Fuyun personally inquired from the Dingbei Marquis’s wife, saying that this person doesn’t like meeting people. After guiding Mr. Qin in poetry this year, he won’t come out to see guests or visit friends for the rest of the year. Moreover, Mr. Qin is the cousin of the Dingbei Marquis’s wife; how can Young Master Nantang ally with us?"

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion was not concerned.

"Isn’t it said that this person is a good friend of Mr. Songshan? That Mr. Songshan was previously telling stories in the theater and was invited by the Dingbei Marquis back to the mansion for storytelling. Unexpectedly, he turned out to be talented and stayed at the Dingbei Marquis Mansion. That’s how Sixth Master Gu and others got to know Young Master Nantang. If we find a way to connect with Mr. Songshan, we can also connect with Young Master Nantang."

The shopkeeper was discouraged.

"Don’t we have our own brand here too..."

Before he could finish, the owner of the Book Sea Pavilion interrupted, "We couldn’t even win when we challenged them, so what’s the use of talking about that? We’ve been strategizing for years, and yet we aren’t comparable to them? The reason why people admire Young Master Nantang’s poems is not just because the poems are good, but also because they received praise from the Emperor. Otherwise, why do you think Princess Fuyun and others are trying to gather information?"

The shopkeeper suddenly realized, "You mean..."

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion nodded, "You only saw Empress Lin marrying off Princess Fuyun to Zhang Hanlin, who comes from a poor family, but forgot that Princess Fuyun is Prince Qi’s sister. Do you think Princess Fuyun is investigating Young Master Nantang just for Zhang Hanlin? It’s likely more for the sake of His Highness Prince Qi."

The shopkeeper widened his eyes and asked, "Is Princess Fuyun gathering talented people for His Highness Prince Qi?"

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion nodded and said, "Prince Qi has quite a few supporters who previously sided with the late Empress and the former Crown Prince, mostly coming from noble families. Prince Qi’s maternal family has declined and is not of much help, and the Emperor is suppressing the aristocratic families, so he has been lying low. Now, with Empress Lin marrying off Princess Fuyun to Zhang Hanlin, it appears to suppress Prince Qi further, but it’s actually a bad move, giving Prince Qi the chance to win over scholars from poor backgrounds. That Zhang Hanlin is from Jiangxi, and the current Grand Secretary is also from Jiangxi. Plus, how many Advanced Scholars has Jiangxi produced over the years? They have a Jiangxi Fellow-Townspeople Association, forming alliances in secret, and their influence is significant."

The shopkeeper extended his thumb, sighing, "Only someone like you could see things clearly."

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion laughed and said, "You are all busy running your business, so how would you know about these court affairs? I merely figured it out thanks to a few friends.’

These friends were naturally court officials who passed the Advanced Scholar examination concurrently with him.

The shopkeeper flattered him for a few moments and then asked, "Is it that Princess Fuyun can’t find out about Young Master Nantang because the Dingbei Marquis is reluctant to back Prince Qi?"

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion laughed, "That I don’t know. It’s just that the ties between the Dingbei Marquis and His Highness Prince Qi run deep, and no matter how cautious they are, they wouldn’t be at ease."

Saying this, he folded the fan in his hand and pointed upwards.

This was a reference to the current Holy Emperor.

The shopkeeper was shocked.

"Impossible, isn’t the Dingbei Marquis heavily relied upon? He oversees major Capital Inspections.’

"You people only see the surface. What kind of feats has the Dingbei Marquis accomplished, yet he hasn’t even been granted a Duke’s title? The major Capital Inspections were simply because the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers didn’t want to marry their legitimate daughters to the Crown Prince, which offended the Emperor, so the Emperor used him as a tool."

The shopkeeper gasped.

"Even as the whole family of Dingbei Marquis..."

"That’s the foolishness on his part. Wise people know to nurture a threat to keep themselves significant. He drove away the Yelv Clan people, and with no more skirmishes at the Northern Border, who would still value him? Besides, growing up with the former Crown Prince, many people are very uneasy about him."

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion spoke happily, reopening his fan and shaking it.

The shopkeeper looked full of admiration, "It indeed pays to read more books. Military generals, after all, think a little less."

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion laughed, "We are only here for profit and shouldn’t bother with these idle matters. Young Master Nantang doesn’t like socializing, which is a good thing. Since he isn’t deeply tied to any faction, his fame relies solely on his poetic talent. If we manage to connect with him, we can ensure long-term benefits."

The shopkeeper put on a worried face, "I’m afraid he won’t easily agree to join us."

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion became serious, "Wealth and riches move people’s hearts. Even if one doesn’t care for gold or silver, everyone has a weakness. Moreover, those who aren’t keen on entering officialdom usually aren’t concerned about major court affairs. If we just find Mr. Songshan and make clear the situation of the Marquis Mansion, for their own protection, they will also stay away from the Marquis Mansion or leave a way out."

The implication was that the Book Sea Pavilion was the way out for Young Master Nantang and Mr. Songshan.

If they didn’t want to be firmly bound to the Dingbei Marquis Mansion and Prince Qi, they should accept the invitation of the Book Sea Pavilion.

The shopkeeper looked full of admiration, smiling, "You truly are wise, sir."

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion, full of self-satisfaction, shook his fan and smiled, "Though I haven’t entered the court to serve as an official, I do have a bit of strategy."

The shopkeeper flattered, "If you were in the court, where would there be room for others?"

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion laughed dryly a few times, then changed the topic, asking, "Is the revolving lantern in front of our door prepared for the Empress Dowager’s birthday? Otherwise, the people from the Five Cities Military Department will urge us."

The shopkeeper said, "The people from the Five Cities Military Department come and go, checking household registrations and business licenses, and now they want lanterns at the store entrance. They said if the street wasn’t orderly, it would have to be changed, truly troublesome."

"The Empress Dowager has always kept things simple. This is the first birthday she’s celebrated this year, and it coincides with the Mid-Autumn Festival. It’s not that troublesome. If we put a bit more effort and make something nice, not only will the Five Cities Military Department appreciate us, but the Capital Governor Mansion will too."

The shopkeeper immediately said, "Then why not invite back the Nine Lotus Lanterns?"

The owner of the Book Sea Pavilion pondered for a moment and said, "If there’s still time, go ahead and invite them. I suddenly have an idea. Let’s make some good lanterns and hold a poetry contest at the store entrance. Give the top three winners our most expensive lanterns... using the theme ’Empress Dowager’s Birthday Lantern Watching.’ Haha, this time Shen Changle might not win."

The shopkeeper rolled his eyes, clapped his hands, and said, "Brilliant! We’ll also invite some officials from the court to support us. If we can get Young Master Nantang and Mr. Songshan to join, who else’s poetry collection will sell if not ours? This idea is really excellent, and the Empress Dowager and the Emperor will certainly remember us. Shen Changle’s happiness won’t last much longer."