However, as the saying goes, even a hero can be brought down by lack of money. He had to find a way to earn enough silver to live the rest of his life without worry before he could leave. So, on the fifth day of the second month, he disguised himself and slipped out of the The Howard Estate to look for business opportunities.

On the east bank of the river stands Yanglou, where flowers are as beautiful as jade and people as graceful as willows.

This saying is widely circulated among the people, describing Yanglou Street in the inner city of Bianjing. Yanglou Street is famous for its brothels, but those are not all it has to offer; the teahouses and chess clubs are also quite renowned.

Spring was in full swing, and almost all the unmarried young ladies and idle women had come to Yanglou Street to stroll and enjoy themselves, naturally attracting scholars and students to gather on the street as well.

William Carter, wary of assassination, disguised himself in a scholar’s robe, stuck on a pair of small mustaches, wore a square scarf on his head, and pretended to be a scholar out for a stroll. As a marquis, it was a piece of cake for him to put on some makeup.

At this moment, a grand poetry gathering was in full swing on Yanglou Street. Talented scholars and beautiful ladies had all gathered, with several great scholars presiding. It was a rare chance for people to make a name for themselves, and many courtesans liked to gain fame here.

It wasn’t time yet, so many scholars were leaning on the railings of the three-story buildings, enjoying the view and composing crude doggerel, drawing the attention of the young ladies.

Seeing this, he adjusted the scarf on his head, ready to enter the Pipa Garden and imitate Li Taibai, composing a hundred poems while drinking, to show these ignorant ancients what a true talent was. After all, he had read the history books, and since big names like Li Bai and Su Shi hadn’t appeared yet, it would be a real pity if their masterpieces were lost in this world. For the sake of future elementary school textbooks, he naturally felt it was his duty.

Unfortunately, before he could go in, a sudden commotion broke out.

“A worthless stone, and you dare ask for ten taels of silver? Do you take me, Fourth Master, for a blind man?”

“Mr. Turner, this jade pendant is a family heirloom. If my mother weren’t gravely ill, I would never sell it...”

By the street, a poor scholar was squatting on the ground, with a cloth stall in front of him displaying pearl hairpins and bird-and-flower pendants, the corners held down by a few stones.

The man called Mr. Turner was dressed in a wealthy man’s robe, picking through the items at the stall. His face was fleshy and rough, and he insisted on buying the bird-and-flower pendant for just one tael of silver. Though he looked crude, he clearly knew what he was doing; his words were well chosen, making the scholar both fearful and not quite angry. Some onlookers advised the scholar not to ask for too much, suggesting both sides compromise to make the deal.

In Bianjing, a dou of rice cost three qian of silver. The bird-and-flower pendant was made of fine materials and excellent craftsmanship, only a bit stained with age. If cleaned, it would be worth far more than ten taels. Having dealt with jewelry for half his life, William Carter could easily tell its true value.

After much haggling, the scholar finally nodded reluctantly, lowering the price to eight taels of silver.

Mr. Turner spat and said, “Fine, I won’t argue with you, bookworm.” He took the jade pendant and casually picked up one of the stones holding down the stall. “My table at home is broken, I’ll borrow this stone to prop it up.”

The stone was about the size of a palm. The scholar had picked it up while sourcing goods from Dushan, simply because it looked nice, and had never thrown it away. Now that he’d made a good profit, he didn’t mind at all.

Mr. Turner was grumbling and about to get up when another young man, also dressed as a scholar, walked over. “Brother, let me have this jade pendant. My wife at home insisted on this bird-and-flower pendant, and I’ve searched half the street to find it. It wasn’t easy.”

Mr. Turner frowned, sizing him up and down. Seeing that the newcomer was a weak-looking scholar, he showed a bit of menace. “Don’t you know the rule of first come, first served?”

“I don’t!” William Carter replied with a confident smile. After all, he was a big shot in the capital, with three thousand lackeys under him, strutting wherever he went.

Mr. Turner saw that this scholar seemed to have some background and frowned slightly. “South City Old Turner, foster father Owen Brooks. You should know your place, friend.”

There have always been local bullies throughout history.

He chuckled, “West City’s ‘Cao the Ladykiller’, foster father Old Bennett. You’d better watch how you act, brother.”

Old Bennett was, of course, his nominal foster father Henry Bennett, the eunuch most favored by Emperor Zhao Jie.

Mr. Turner was stunned for a while, unable to recall any ‘Cao the Ladykiller’ in the city, and frowned. “Friend, you can joke about many things, but...”

Before he could finish, he saw the scholar in front of him pull out a badge from his robe:

A tiger’s head engraved on the back, a black feather on the front.

The imperial bodyguard’s waist token.

It flashed by, but was clear enough to see.

The Black Feather Guards had a fearsome reputation in Bianjing, like the grim reaper himself. Old Turner was dumbfounded on the spot, and when he came to his senses, his face turned pale and he was about to kneel.

William Carter quickly helped him up. “Seeing how polite you are, I won’t hold it against you.”

“Sir... ahem! Thank you, Mr. Carter, for your magnanimity. Please accept this jade pendant as a small token of respect.” Old Turner was terrified. Compared to making a connection with the Black Feather Guards, a worthless jade pendant was nothing.

“Forget it. Since I’ve revealed my identity, I won’t bully you. Let’s just call it making a friend. If fate allows, we’ll meet again.”

He casually picked up the stone that had been holding down the corner of the stall, weighed it in his hand, and turned to leave.

He ran off faster than a rabbit.

Mr. Turner stood there with the jade pendant in his hand, dazed for a moment, unable to figure out what this official meant.

The moonlight was hazy.

Lights from ten thousand homes dotted the willows swaying in the wind, and singers and drinkers flowed through the pavilions and winding alleys.

Spring on the river, green and lush, with the moon bright and stars sparse.

In a small alley off Yanglou Street, three old locust trees stood at the entrance.

The alley was sparsely populated, the lights flickering on and off, and many houses were uninhabited.

William Carter stood in the alley, wiping the stone he had picked up with his sleeve.