Chapter Five was already contemplating the prospect of Jiang Han marrying into the Princess's estate.

Jiang Han was slightly taken aback as he looked at the two young women before him.

One was the wealthy lady who had purchased his poems; the other, looking to be about twenty-three or twenty-four, possessed a graceful figure and an enchanting face.

How had this little heiress tracked him down? Could she be here to return the goods? He had already spent some of those three hundred taels of silver and certainly had no money to refund her.

Qin Yunmian blinked, not quite grasping what he meant by "seven-day no-questions-asked return policy."

Meng Hongshang studied Jiang Han with interest. Was this the gifted scholar that Youwei had spoken of? That poem, "Longing," had already been shown to the great scholar Zhongli and three other judges, all of whom had given it exceptionally high praise without exception.

The great scholar Zhongli had even remarked that the quality of the poem was on par with his own, worthy of a place in the top ten of the *Great Yu Anthology*. The *Great Yu Anthology* was a collection of poetry and prose edited by prominent scholars from the Imperial Academy and the White Deer Academy; only fifty works were selected each year, which spoke volumes of its prestige. Yet, Zhongli You believed that "Longing" would not only make the list but could break into the top ten—a tier typically reserved for works by the great scholars themselves.

After inquiring about Jiang Han’s residence, the two had come together. Meng Hongshang had expected to meet a long-renowned scholar or perhaps a disciple of a master, not an unknown nobody. Well, not quite a nobody—he did have a reputation, though it was entirely negative.

As she observed him, Meng Hongshang realized he was nothing like the polished, brilliant scholar she had imagined. His clothes, while not patched, were nothing more than common, coarse hemp. His eyes were clear, and upon seeing her, they had brightened only slightly, showing no signs of unseemly behavior.

"We are not here to return anything," Qin Yunmian finally responded to his remark, her tone cool and collected.

Relieved, Jiang Han replied, "Ah, then are you here to purchase more poetry? My apologies, but I am not selling any poems for the time being..."

He looked at the two and had a sudden thought. While the perfume he intended to craft would surely be superior to the scented balms of this world, even fine wine needs to be marketed. Were these two not his ideal target customers?

"I am planning to produce some perfume—essentially, a scented balm—in the near future. If you are interested, feel free to leave an address. Once I have finished making them, I shall send a few bottles to you both."

*Scented balm? A scholar like you knows how to make items for women?* And could anything you make possibly compare to the products of Mianxiang Workshop?

Qin Yunmian and Meng Hongshang were both stunned.

"I reside... in the courtyard past the west gate of Cuiyun Garden," Qin Yunmian said softly. "Just speak to my maidservant when you arrive, and you will find me."

Jiang Han’s eyes lit up. To live in a place like Cuiyun Garden and have a maidservant—this heiress's status was clearly extraordinary. As for her companion, her poise suggested she was no ordinary person either.

"Very well. Once I have crafted the perfume, I will bring it to you. By the way, may I ask your surname?"

"My surname is Qin."

"Miss Qin, I have no tea to offer in this humble abode, and I still have the courtyard to tidy, so I will not keep you any longer. When I have purchased some fine tea another day, I shall welcome you both again." Jiang Han issued the dismissal.

After seeing the two women out, Jiang Han considered what he still needed. He would need to order a signboard tomorrow. As for the name... *Old Spice? Dior?* No, this was the ancient world; he needed a name that would be easily accepted and sound high-end the moment it was heard.

The surname "Qin" seemed to carry great weight in the Great Yu. That little heiress was both wealthy and beautiful—in two lifetimes, he had never seen such a stunning woman. If only he could live off a wealthy wife. He shook his head; living off a woman was not as easy as it sounded.

*Stop overthinking. Just earn money and strive for a life of indulgence, listening to music in the pleasure houses!*

...

It was dusk, and the twilight was dim. Cuiyun Garden had quieted down, the scholars of the day having long since departed.

In a secluded pavilion, Qin Yunmian spread three sheets of paper across a stone table. Reading the verses and savoring their charm, she said softly, "These poems... they are truly excellent! Shangshang, what kind of person do you think he is?"

Meng Hongshang had also seen the other two poems. Aside from shock, she could only sigh—this man was overflowing with poetic talent! She herself was world-renowned, and many noble heirs and famous scholars had gifted her poems, yet none could compare to these. All three poems were titled "Longing," but each approached the theme from a different angle, and every one of them was a masterpiece.

"This man... I cannot quite see through him," Meng Hongshang mused.

According to reports from her guards, he was the son of Jiang Zhensheng, the head of the Anxiang Academy in Yunyang County. While not exactly notorious, his reputation was hardly stellar. He was just an ordinary man—neither a scholar nor a warrior, essentially a failure.

And yet, he was capable of producing these three exquisite poems. The reputation she had heard and the man she had seen were completely different!

Furthermore, his plan to make scented balm actually aligned with the rumors about him. It was said that he had spent three years in business, losing every penny he had; he seemed to fail at everything he touched. Seeing him decide to make scented balm now, she felt it confirmed that he truly lacked a head for business, which explained his previous failures.

Meng Hongshang suddenly remarked, "Do you think these poems might have been plagiarized?"

Qin Yunmian was startled. "You mean he didn't write these?"

"Well," Meng Hongshang pondered, "he failed his examinations repeatedly, yet suddenly produces these three masterpieces, and then sells them for a pittance. It is truly suspicious..."

"Shangshang, have you heard of the scholar Zhang?" Qin Yunmian asked softly.

"Zhang? Do you mean the one who wrote *The Unjust Cry in the Quiet Night*?"

"Yes!" Qin Yunmian nodded. "During the Huiming era of the Great Yu, Zhang failed his exams for over a decade. After one such failure, he wandered the Southern Mountains in despair and composed a poem that made him famous throughout the world. That poem is still recorded in the *Great Yu Anthology* to this day. I believe that poetry has little to do with whether one can pass the imperial examinations."

Meng Hongshang nodded. "That is true, but..." She looked at Qin Yunmian. "We have yet to confirm if he truly possesses such talent. You must not let yourself fall for him just because of three poems, understand?"

She knew the Ninth Princess was simple-minded yet incredibly stubborn; once she set her heart on something, no one could change her mind.

"I know..." Qin Yunmian replied. "Naturally, I wouldn't fall for someone just because of three poems!" She frowned slightly. "However, if he tries to make this perfume, I fear he will lose everything... Well, that might be for the best. If he ends up penniless, I shall simply make an offer to have him willingly marry into the Princess’s Estate."

The corner of Meng Hongshang's mouth twitched. *You are already plotting to have him marry into your household, and you claim you aren't falling for him because of his poems?*