Chapter 469: It wasn't in vain that he had helped out back then, although it didn't help much

In the last two days, many residents of the Imperial Capital were confused—how did such a festival suddenly appear without any warning?

The news of the Myriad Flower Assembly spread quickly through the Imperial Capital via government announcements, and major flower shop owners were overjoyed, mobilizing goods overnight.

In front of the shops on both sides of Vermilion Bird Street, colorful flowers were placed overnight, and the air was filled with a rich floral fragrance.

"Have you heard? This Myriad Flower Assembly will even open parts of the Imperial Garden!"

"That's the Imperial Garden; a place ordinary people like us can't go to once in a lifetime. I wonder if we can go this time."

"You're thinking too much; never mind ordinary people, even ordinary nobles haven't been there. To go to those places, you either need merit or a pivotal status."

"It's said the Prince of Anxi is personally supervising it, and even rare flowers offered from the South will be exhibited! It's truly something to look forward to."

On the streets and alleys, the common people were discussing it.

Thanks to the convenience of the orbital train, the news quickly reached surrounding cities.

Many young couples came specifically, wanting to leave beautiful memories on this romantic festival.

Inns and restaurants were overcrowded for a time, and the businesses of tea houses and silk shops were booming.

Inside the Ministry of Revenue, officials looked at the latest tax reports, all showing surprise.

The Minister of Revenue, Liu Minghan, stroked his beard and pondered, recalling the argument in the court yesterday—

"Your Majesty, this move might consume the national treasury's silver..." Liu Minghan had strongly opposed it at the time.

Li Chen didn't care: "My dear minister, you are overthinking; the people need some celebration."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Prince of Anxi and the officials also echoed him.

Liu Minghan had no choice but to agree.

After all, this Emperor of theirs hadn't done anything too outrageous.

And his dissuasion was also his duty, and Li Chen hadn't said anything to him.

Now it seemed His Majesty was indeed far-sighted.

The commercial tax revenue from these two days alone far exceeded the expenses of preparing for the flower festival.

Liu Minghan sighed: "This orbital train is truly beneficial to the country and the people; news travels a thousand miles a day, and tourists travel conveniently."

He hadn't just sighed once; this thing had truly greatly promoted the development of the May Tian Ce Dynasty.

If Li Chen knew what he was thinking, he would definitely say: In terms of news dissemination, what is an orbital train? If a communication tool like a 'mobile phone' could be developed, that would be a true revolution.

But this thought could only be hidden in his heart for now; after all, without corresponding materials, it couldn't be made.

And at this moment in the Imperial Palace, Li Chen was tidying his clothes in front of a bronze mirror.

"Your Majesty, the carriage is ready." Eunuch Cui reported outside the door.

"No need; many people are coming today, so carriages are inconvenient for travel. I'll walk there." Li Chen changed into a brocade robe embroidered with the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce emblem, preparing to pick up Li Meng.

After walking a distance from the palace gate, a familiar figure walked over.

Zhao Jing walked up quickly, full of smiles: "Young Master, please stay! I am Zhao Jing of the Zhao Trading Firm; I once had a meeting with you in the Tasha Kingdom."

Li Chen feigned recollection, but actually knew it perfectly well.

During that micro-visit to the South, he had indeed crossed paths with this Boss Zhao.

He remembered that this Boss Zhao had a transcendent status in the South.

During that micro-visit, Li Chen said he was a merchant, and coincidentally, Li Chen was still wearing clothes with the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce logo now.

This matched up.

Seeing Li Chen appear, Zhao Jing was also overjoyed.

Li Chen said with a smile: "So it's Boss Zhao; what can I do for you?" Zhao Jing rubbed his hands and lowered his voice: "To tell you the truth, I want to seek an audience with President Jiang of the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce, but I'm troubled by having no one to introduce me..."

Saying this, he took an exquisite brocade box from his sleeve and continued: "This is a night-pearl specialty from the South; I hope you will accept it, Young Master."

When asking for help, Zhao Jing knew the rules very well.

This was the May Tian Ce Dynasty, not the Southern countries; one had to follow the rules here.

If anyone from the Southern countries saw this scene, their jaws would drop.

Was this still that Boss Zhao who could summon wind and rain in the South?

That Boss Zhao Jing, to whom even the Emperors of various countries had to give three points of face, was now so humble?

If an acquaintance were present, they would definitely think so.

But Zhao Jing knew in his heart that it wasn't that he had changed his temper, but that the water in the May Tian Ce Imperial Capital was too deep.

Li Chen looked at the brocade box Zhao Jing handed over; the night-pearl inside was emitting a faint blue glow in the sunlight.

This thing was indeed precious at the merchant level, but to an Emperor, it was just an ordinary toy.

However, thinking back to when he was in the South, although Zhao Jing didn't know his identity, he had once helped enthusiastically, so Li Chen still felt a hint of goodwill.

Li Chen pushed the brocade box back: "No need for things; Boss Zhao is visiting the Imperial Capital for the first time, so I should be the one to fulfill the duties of a host. How about this: after the flower festival ends, I'll try to help you pass a word."

Zhao Jing was overjoyed and bowed repeatedly: "Thank you, Young Master Li! Thank you, Young Master Li! It seems that getting to know you in the Tasha Kingdom back then was truly my good fortune!"

He was secretly happy; the people of the May Tian Ce Dynasty were indeed loyal and righteous—it wasn't in vain that he had helped out back then, although it didn't help much...

After the two agreed to meet at the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce the day after tomorrow, Li Chen took his leave.

Watching that straight back disappear into the crowd, Zhao Jing's attendant couldn't help but whisper: "Boss, this Young Master Li has an extraordinary bearing, but he doesn't look like a merchant at all; there's no copper smell on him."

Zhao Jing narrowed his eyes: "Do you think there are only merchants in the chamber of commerce? To gain a foothold, some chambers of commerce naturally pull in some powerful people to join. I think this Young Master Li is likely a young master from some noble family."

He paused, thoughtful: To be so composed in the May Tian Ce Imperial Capital, his background must not be simple.

Zhao Jing guessed that Li Chen might be a powerful person, but he didn't dare to think about the Emperor yet.

And at this moment, Li Chen had already arrived at Ma Hei's residence.

Pushing open the courtyard gate, he saw Li Meng, dressed in grand attire, standing under a flower tree in the courtyard.

She was wearing the most solemn festival attire of the Southern Frontier today—a purple long dress embroidered with flowers, a belt woven with silver thread shining in the sun, and silver ornaments covering her hair, jingling with her turning movements.

"Little Brother!" Seeing Li Chen, Li Meng's eyes lit up, and she bounced over like a happy little deer: "Do you think it's appropriate for me to wear this to the flower festival?"

Li Chen was momentarily dazed; Li Meng was usually lively and cute enough, but in this grand attire, she was even more indescribably beautiful.

The exquisite silver ornaments made her skin look like congealed fat, and her bright smile was even more brilliant than the flowers in the courtyard.

Coupled with that young and charming figure, it was truly exceptionally tempting.

Li Chen praised sincerely: "Very beautiful, but..."

He deliberately dragged out his tone.

"But what?" Li Meng looked down at her clothes nervously, thinking there was some mistake somewhere.

Li Chen took a brocade box from his sleeve like a magic trick: "It will be even more perfect with this."

This pair of earrings, known as "Star Universe," was carved from a whole piece of moonlight jade marrow offered from the North.

In the center of each earring floated three meteor diamonds of varying sizes, perpetually swirling within a specially made crystal cavity, truly as if a section of the galaxy had been intercepted and sealed within.

When the wearer moved lightly, the diamond cluster would create a star-vortex-like flow of light, refracting thousands of fine rainbow rays within the faint cyan halo emitted by the jade marrow.

Li Meng looked at the earrings in the box, not knowing what material they were, and was incredibly surprised.

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 470 =====

(End of this chapter)