After waking up from a night’s rest, Shen Hao washed up and left Hong’en Hall. Last night, Hong’en Hall was unrivaled in the spotlight, and its own songstress Lian Xiang suppressed all others with fifty-nine thousand flower lanterns to clinch first place in this Courtesan Competition.

As the music faded and the noise dispersed, Shen Hao was treated with great warmth as if he were their benefactor. Two outstanding songstresses were sent to his room, allowing Shen Hao to mess around until past midnight before finally quieting down.

As for the truly lucky one, Lian Xiang, she handed Shen Hao a jade pendant she always kept on her, repeatedly telling him to wear it often.

Shen Hao accepted it with a smile. Other than taking the opportunity to get a little something, he had no intention of actually getting together with Lian Xiang, that little minx. After all, now that she’d claimed the top courtesan spot again, it was the time for Hong’en Hall to rake in money—would they let her go easily?

There’s plenty of time in the future. Shen Hao had a hunch he’d have more to do with that minx sooner or later.

He went home first to change his clothes before heading to the Upper Emissary. Just as he stepped inside, he saw Tang Qingyuan grinning and waving at him from afar, jokingly calling him "Poetry Saint."

"Sir, don’t make fun of me now, will you?" Shen Hao laughed, also a bit curious—how did Tang Qingyuan, who’d just returned to his hometown, hear about this overnight?

"Oh come on, make fun? Even I want that kind of reputation, and you’re still playing coy? You know your two new poems spread overnight? The entire Li City scholars’ circle blew up about it. When I took the teleportation array this morning, at least ten people were talking about the way you dominated at the Blue Moon Association last night."

"Heh, made you laugh, sir." Shen Hao wasn’t embarrassed. He didn’t care much about these titles, but he wouldn’t refuse them, either. Honestly, it just felt good to slap around the four braggart rich kids who tried to show off in front of him last night.

But Shen Hao didn’t stay long at the Thousand Households Station. Yesterday was just an unexpected experience for him—putting on a show in this world with that Kui Treasure his ancestor left behind. Nothing to be proud of.

Shen Hao’s self-regulation was excellent; last night’s incident didn’t shift his pace one bit.

Besides, poetry wasn’t really his thing. It was fine as a one-off, but taking it too seriously would be ridiculous. Life still had to go on—best to put away those thoughts and keep muddling along honestly.

He dropped by Wu Changhe’s Public Office to request leave, saying he needed to head to the Imperial City. Wu Changhe didn’t press him and just let him go.

Actually, Shen Hao didn’t even have to ask Wu Changhe for leave. He could’ve left Fengri City on Black Banner Battalion business, and Wu Changhe couldn’t have done anything. But Shen Hao didn’t want to completely sour their relationship. It’s better to keep up appearances where you can.

After getting leave and giving Wang Yiming a few instructions, Shen Hao took two guards and used the teleportation array to head for the Imperial City.

This time in the tea room of the Jingxi Town Governor’s Office, Shen Hao didn’t have to wait long. The gatekeeper checked his waist token, reported to Jiang Cheng in the Public Office, then came right back to guide Shen Hao inside—essentially letting him cut in line through the back door.

"Subordinate Shen Hao greets the lord!"

"Sit down. I heard you came up with two more famous poems. You’re practically famous throughout the Imperial City now, you know."

"Heh, sir, you’re exaggerating."

"Exaggerating? Tsk tsk. Last night, Xiao Qi and the three other rascals went back to the Imperial City and spread your two poems everywhere. They added plenty of extra flavor, too—claiming it was their guidance and provocation that inspired your literary burst. Now, if you’ve ever read a book, you’ve probably heard your name.

Heh, Xiao Qi’s the one who gave you the title ’Poetry Saint.’ Hahahahaha."

Jiang Cheng was obviously well aware of what happened in Hong’en Hall last night, which is why he laughed so much about Xiao Qi and the others’ antics.

Shen Hao was dumbfounded. Weren’t those four young masters supposed to loathe him after last night’s face-slapping? At the very least, shouldn’t they be quietly holding a grudge? When did they turn around and start hyping him up? And doing it so eagerly?

But thinking a bit deeper, he realized—it wasn’t some blood feud, so what grudge would there be? With all this fuss, people outside might even say they admire Shen Hao, and isn’t catching a bit of fame a win for them too?

It was just that this kind of hard riding of his coattails looked pretty shameless.

After a few more jokes, Jiang Cheng suddenly changed the topic: "I heard you’ve taken an interest in Lian Xiang?"

"Mm... a bit. That woman gets me fired up, I really do want to have her. Sir, do you think there’s something wrong with that?" With Jiang Cheng, Shen Hao didn’t hold back. Besides, Zhang and Gan would probably tattle to Jiang Cheng anyway, so admitting it outright was the straightforward thing to do.

"Heh heh, Lian Xiang is sultry enough—any man would want her. But before, Liao Chengfeng treated her as his own property, and no one else dared get close. But behind Hong’en Hall is someone even Liao Chengfeng doesn’t dare provoke, so Lian Xiang’s always remained unattached. Now that she’s the courtesan again, I doubt Hong’en Tower will let her go any time soon.

As for Liao Chengfeng... He’s in trouble himself now and can’t worry about it. So, Shen Hao, I’ve got faith in you! Do your best and win Fengri City’s top courtesan!"

Jiang Cheng’s sudden encouragement left Shen Hao a little speechless. Was this trying to goad him into butting heads with Liao Chengfeng?

He didn’t quite get it.

"Alright, tell me, what brings you here this time?"

Seeing Jiang Cheng finally get to business, Shen Hao hurriedly took a dossier from his storage bag and handed it over. It contained his earlier reports on the progress of his two-step plan and his next follow-up actions.

Jiang Cheng took this dossier very seriously, reading through it twice in detail before handing it back to Shen Hao.

"That Flying Dragon does have some skill—after taking Li City and Pingshun City, half the black market in Fengri City’s jurisdiction can’t escape your watch. As for the rest—Tu Kui City and Tan City—you can take your time. You’re doing well, pacing yourself too. Now, while you consolidate, you’re starting to monetize your intel channels, which is exactly right.

But where are you going to get the manpower for all this? You can’t keep having Flying Dragon personally train people, can you?

And for your second step with the brokerage, you’ll need reliable people there too."

Shen Hao replied, "I plan to transfer some skilled hands from Li City Black Banner Battalion to help out. Also, I’d like to ask for your support, sir, for a few dependable experts I can deploy."

Manpower was indeed short, and that was one of Shen Hao’s main reasons for coming to Jiang Cheng this time. With the two-step plan’s prospects, there’s no way Jiang Cheng would let Shen Hao run everything alone—having his own men involved was essential, so Shen Hao bringing it up showed initiative.

"Sure. You handle your picks from Li City as you see fit. I can send a few reliable people to help you as well. Hmm... I’ll have them get in touch with you secretly. Let’s not have this go through Fengri City Thousand Households Station, understood?"