Being an emperor is not something he can do, so he can only rely on his connections.

"Fenghuaxueyue," a property owned by Zhang Jingwei, has long been renowned in Yunzhou. More than just a hotel, it's a sprawling complex integrating natural hot springs, a top-tier winery, a luxurious theater, and a variety of leisure and entertainment options, arguably Yunzhou's largest den of illicit entertainment. Security is tight, with sharp-eyed and sturdy guards stationed every three steps. The service is impeccable, with dedicated personnel accompanying guests throughout the entire process, from directions to check-in, with a respectful and attentive attitude. The interior is lavishly decorated, with carved beams and painted rafters, a splendid display of gold and jade, as if transporting a corner of Chang'an's prosperity to this northern border town.

Of course, this comes at a staggering price. A top-tier executive suite, boasting six bedrooms and two living rooms, can cost hundreds of taels of silver per night. Rumors of "a night of romance" have long circulated among merchants. Many wealthy merchants are willing to lavishly spend lavishly on entertainment and socializing, simply to showcase their wealth and status.

Today, the hotel welcomed a beautiful woman of extraordinary temperament, and her arrival quietly accelerated the entire hotel's operations. A group of more than ten people booked three adjacent executive suites at once. The innkeeper personally greeted them, not daring to neglect them in the slightest. Not only did he deploy the best maids, but he also temporarily added a team of capable guards to ensure the safety and privacy of the VIP guests.

Entering the suite, even Empress Dowager Shi, accustomed to the opulence of the imperial court, could not help but marvel at the sight before her. Underfoot lay a thick, Western woolen carpet, soft and silent, as if sinking into the clouds. The walls, painted entirely in vermilion lacquer, shone brightly, illuminating the entire room. Most striking was the massive chandelier overhead, composed of countless transparent crystal pieces. Though unlit, the light from the window refracted, shimmering with brilliance and a commanding presence.

Yanyan, the accompanying personal maid, touched the carved step-out bed out of curiosity, then stepped lightly on the carpet. She couldn't help but exclaim in a low voice: "Your Majesty, the floor is so soft, and the bed is so soft too! Is this... is this the fairyland?" Her face was full of childlike curiosity and excitement.

Empress Dowager Shi, however, was drawn to a peculiar object in the bathroom. It was a white porcelain seat, oddly shaped, with a wooden water tank and a dangling drawstring above. The instructions were posted on the wall nearby. She carefully read them twice, but her expression remained uncertain, a mixture of hesitation and inquiry.

She finally tried it as instructed, gently pulling on the string.

"Crash-!"

Suddenly, a rush of water sounded, and the water in the tank rushed down, instantly washing away the dirt and restoring the cleanliness of the toilet. This sudden sound and the automatic cleaning function startled her, and her heart palpitated slightly.

"Yan Yan, come and see! These things are truly bizarre!" Her tone was filled with unconcealed wonder. "Just pull the rope, and the water flows out on its own, taking… taking all the filth with it!"

“Yan Yan… Yan Yan…”

She called out several times, but received no response. Turning back, she saw the girl slumped over on the incredibly soft sofa in the living room, breathing evenly, already asleep. The fatigue of the journey, coupled with the comfort and warmth of the room, had made her relax.

Empress Dowager Shi sighed softly without blaming anyone.

She walked to the window and pulled the heavy velvet curtains with her own hands to block out the noise outside.

This time, she brought Yanyan, her closest old friend, with her on her incognito visit. She had been by her side since she was still the Princess of Liang, and they had a special bond.

In the huge suite, she had no desire to sleep. The turmoil in her heart was far greater than her physical fatigue.

Recently, court officials, especially those who rose from the lower ranks, have been almost unanimously praising Zhang Jingwei and Gao Yang. Even more alarming was the discovery that some minor officials sent to Gao Yang on official business were actually able to purchase real estate in Chang'an upon their return! What magical power had Gao Yang possessed to amass such wealth? Was it a harsh government, fiercer than a tiger, or was he truly omnipotent? Whether driven by curiosity or a lingering anger at being left out, of being surpassed, she decided to see for herself.

She paced the room, looking here and there. Her eyes were drawn to the wall lamp. It was a unique lamp with two long silk ribbons dangling from the bottom of the lampshade. Curious, she gently tugged on one of them.

With a slight "click" sound, a small cluster of jumping sparks appeared in the lampshade. Then, a soft and bright light instantly filled the area around the lampshade, illuminating the corners clearly.

She was startled and tentatively pulled another ribbon.

There was another slight "click" sound, and there seemed to be a small mechanism clip inside the lampshade closing, and the light suddenly went out.

The light and dark were completely controlled by the two thin ropes.

Empress Dowager Shi was stunned. She had spent so long in the inner palace, accustomed to the flickering flames of candles and oil lamps. She had never seen such a convenient and wonderful lighting device before. No wonder... no wonder even a discerning court elder like Gongshu Dan, a descendant of Lu Ban, would take a different view of Zhang Jingwei and praise him highly.

She slowly walked to the dressing table. The large mercury-glass mirror was crystal clear, revealing even the subtle wrinkles around her eyes. Her face remained beautiful, well-maintained, and remarkably elegant. But as she stared, the question that had lingered in her mind for countless late nights surfaced uncontrollably again:

"Could it be... am I really going to be trapped in that golden cage for the rest of my life?" A trace of indescribable loneliness and unwillingness quietly passed through her bright eyes.

"Dong dong dong..."

The gentle knock on the door broke the silence in the room and woke up Yanyan who was sleeping soundly.

"Who is it?" Yanyan sat up suddenly and asked vigilantly.

A respectful and gentle female voice came from outside the door: "Hello, distinguished guest. I am here on the orders of the shopkeeper to provide you with afternoon tea service."

The door to the guest room was gently opened, and five or six waiters in uniform, elegant attire, pushed an exquisite multi-layered cart and filed in. The leader was still the smiling shopkeeper.

"Hello, VIP. This is a complimentary service specially prepared for our VIP guests in the Executive Suite. It's noon, when the sun is at its highest point. A skilled tea master will serve you fragrant tea, which will both relieve the heat and calm your mind, and help you fall asleep better at night."

Empress Dowager Shi had regained her usual grace and nodded slightly, "Thank you for your concern, Boss."

The shopkeeper bowed and asked, "Does the VIP prefer the gentleness of a female tea master or the elegance of a male tea master? We have options for both."

Yanyan immediately interjected, using the habit she had developed in the palace: "It's the rules. How can we allow a strange man to be alone in a room with my wife?"

However, Empress Dowager Shi waved her hand and said lightly: "It's okay, I want a man." She had lived in the deep palace for a long time, and all she saw were eunuchs and servants. Now she wanted to see what the man outside the palace walls looked like.

Yanyan was a little anxious: "Madam..."

The shopkeeper, however, seemed accustomed to this and replied calmly, "In that case, we would like to invite Master Nanzhu to serve tea to our distinguished guests. He is a master of tea art and will not disappoint us. Please enjoy your meal. If you need anything, just ring the bell inside the room. I will take my leave."

After the shopkeeper and his entourage left, the young tea master named Nanzhu stepped forward. He had a handsome face, a calm demeanor, and his movements were unhurried. He first retrieved two soft, brocade-covered cushions from the closet and spread them on the rug in front of the coffee table. "Ladies, please take a seat."

The master and servant sat down as instructed. Nanzhu then brought a tray with two cups of clear, warm water and a silver spittoon of exquisite workmanship. "Before serving tea, please rinse your mouths with this warm water to cleanse your taste buds."

The mouthwash seemed to have mint and a little spice added to it. When it took a sip, a cool feeling went straight through the throat, making me feel refreshed.

Nanzhu then began brewing the tea. His movements flowed like flowing water, imbued with a unique rhythmic beauty. As he did so, he softly explained, "This is a specially crafted Hunyuan scented tea, carefully selected by our owner as a tribute to the royal family. It's a rare find. Today, I'm brewing it with our prized Hengshan snow water. This water is incredibly light and gentle, perfectly stimulating the floral aromas in the tea. Drinking it brings a sense of tranquility and peace, instantly relieving worldly worries."

Yanyan habitually reached for a silver needle to test for poison, but Empress Dowager Shi stopped her with a look. Her gaze swept over the polished tea sets, instantly recognizing them all as pure silver. The condensation on the cups was crystal clear; if there was a poison, it wouldn't be so pure. She thought to herself, this is how meticulously crafted the Jingwei is.

She picked up the small silver cup and followed Nanzhu's guidance, first observing its color, then smelling its fragrance, and finally taking a sip.

"Indeed...it's clearer and sweeter than what I drink in the palace...or in ordinary places." She almost let the cat out of the bag and quickly covered it up.

Yanyan followed suit and drank the tea in the cup in one gulp.

Nanzhu smiled and gently reminded her, "Miss, don't swallow this fragrant tea too quickly. Let it slowly slide from the tip of your tongue to the back, savoring its layers of flavor." "Then slowly inhale a breath through your mouth, feeling the fragrance of the tea exhale through your nose, as if... as if a petal slowly lands between your eyebrows and in your heart."

Yanyan tried it as she was told. After a moment, her eyes lit up and she leaned close to Empress Dowager Shi and whispered, "Madam, it's strange, this tea... suddenly tastes so good!"

Empress Dowager Shi also nodded slightly and praised Nanzhu, "Mr. Nanzhu's artistic conception is too high, and his tea-serving skills are very different from what we usually see, unique and special."

Nanzhu smiled modestly and presented a few more plates of snacks. "This is a complementary tea snack called 'Cloud Cake,' made with the finest ingredients. If the tea becomes a little astringent later, a small bite will dissolve the astringency and bring back the sweetness."

Empress Dowager Shi savored the melt-in-your-mouth pastries and felt the lingering aroma of tea. She couldn't help but sigh, "Such delicacies can be found here! This little Gaoyang truly amazes me time and time again."

In reality, these so-called "cloud cakes" are just ordinary thousand-layer cakes with an elegant name; and the "snow water" supposedly sourced from Hengshan Mountain is simply ordinary deep well water, boiled, allowed to settle, and cooled to soften it. All of this is part of Zhang Jingwei's meticulously crafted "style." He understands this intimately, having specially trained a team of handsome, elegant, and well-spoken men and women like Nanzhu to serve as tea masters and waiters. With competent service, a satisfying atmosphere, and a luxurious setting, even a pile of shit can impress these distinguished guests with its "fat but not greasy" quality, representing exceptional value for money.

At this moment, Empress Dowager Shi had unknowingly immersed herself in this carefully woven experience that was both novel and luxurious.