Zhao Xing didn’t notice Zong Shichang’s expression and merely asked about the price, "How much is it worth?"
Zong Shichang smiled, "It was sold for 2,800 taels at the time."
Zhao Xing was overjoyed, "That expensive? It’s comparable to the price of a fourth-tier item!"
Zong Shichang replied leisurely, "The price, of course, far exceeds the value of the item itself. However, women’s items often fetch a profit of ten to even thirty times their cost."
Zhao Xing, delighted, asked, "How much for used goods?"
Zong Shichang shook his head, "Second-hand luxury items don’t fetch high prices as they are personal items. Of course, you can claim they are new, but without the promotional effects of my family’s auction house, you’d probably only get about forty percent of the price."
"I’ll sell it to you," Zhao Xing spoke, "I just want seventy percent."
Zong Shichang laughed and shook his head, "Brother, take my advice, don’t sell. Even I wouldn’t dare to buy it."
Zhao Xing inquired, "Are you saying it will cause trouble?"
Zong Shichang blinked, "Not trouble per se, but if I took it, she would beat me half to death."
Zhao Xing realized, "You know the owner of this item?"
Zong Shichang nodded, "Yes, her name is Lu Qian, the daughter of the Lu Family of Nanyang, and she has known me since childhood. She bought the Sparrow Feather Robe for over two thousand taels, and she will also be at the Moon Viewing Tower tonight."
Zhao Xing probed, "Mr. Zong, your warm hospitality today, are you trying to help her recover the robe?"
Zong Shichang chuckled, "How could I play such a villainous role?"
"She wants an opportunity to see you, and knowing her, she has no intention of blaming you," Zong Shichang hinted.
Suddenly, Zong Shichang winked subtly and whispered, "You are talented and extraordinary. If you could... return the robe, how would that be? You get my meaning, right?"
Zhao Xing understood.
The Sparrow Feather Robe is a personal item, now in his possession, which essentially means one of two things.
Either Lu Qian was overpowered and the robe was taken, or Lu Qian was saved by him, and the robe given.
Due to the Forget Sorrow Stele, no one remembered what had happened.
Perhaps Miss Lu mistook it for the latter.
Zong Shichang was setting this up, suggesting he might become a kept man!
Having lucked out frequently in the mountains, his fortune was at its peak but bound to decline, and misfortune was inevitable.
Was this what awaited him here? A romantic predicament?
Zhao Xing, indifferently, said, "I have no interest in this matter, I won’t be going to the Moon Viewing Tower."
He planned to avoid, steering clear of unnecessary trouble.
No matter what Lu Qian’s intention was, avoiding involvement was one way to handle it.
Zong Shichang urgently said, "No, Mr. Zhao, you must go, otherwise how will I meet Miss Liu next time?"
Only then did Zhao Xing understand, Zong Shichang had a crush and had made a deal with Lu Qian.
The two were both strategists and stakeholders in this.
After Zong Shichang disclosed his plot, Zhao Xing suddenly changed his decision.
Because he saw that Lu Qian was quite determined, and this wasn’t her first time approaching Zong Shichang about this matter.
Feeling that even if he refused this time, she would find another reason to meet him later.
If he couldn’t evade it, then he might as well resolve it.
After all, they were within the city, and the misfortune couldn’t be too severe; there definitely wouldn’t be any danger to his life.
It happened that he hadn’t seen the musicians and Dance Master for a long time, and they were supposed to perform the dance "Six Songs." There was no harm in going to see it.
"Going might not be too bad, Mr. Zong, since you’re enamored with Miss Liu, maybe I could help you," Zhao Xing suddenly thought of something.
Zong Shichang countered, "How would you help me?"
Zhao Xing explained, "I’ll sell you a poem, which you can use to express your feelings. At tonight’s banquet at the Moon Viewing Tower, you can present it to Miss Liu."
Zong Shichang was unenthused, doubting Zhao Xing could conjure any noteworthy poetry.
However, after Zhao Xing whispered the poem, Zong Shichang’s eyes lit up, "Eh? This poem actually has some substance... "
Zhao Xing smiled, "As the musician composes music to the new poem, her skills will significantly enhance. The broader the poem’s circulation, the better the effect. Since Miss Liu is a musician, she will surely appreciate it."
"If you’re doubtful, you can try it tonight, and if it doesn’t work, I won’t charge you anything. If you think it’s worth it, why not exchange the poem for a fourth-tier Preaching Painting?"
Zong Shichang, unaware of the intricacies, still trusted that Zhao Xing wouldn’t deceive him. He might not understand, but many others did, so he nodded, "Okay, I’ll buy it!"