While tranquility reigned in the Prince of Li's residence, the capital's citizens witnessed a flurry of novelties during this period.
Foremost was the grand reopening of two long-shuttered teahouses—Guiyuanju and Yaoyuege—
Their revival marked by unprecedented fanfare.
Not only did brass bands parade through streets, but attendants distributed printed leaflets—
A concept entirely foreign to Tianqi's capital until now.
Teahouse reopenings typically warranted little attention—
Such establishments dotted every thoroughfare.
Yet these leaflets promising complimentary gifts for presenting them during visits piqued widespread curiosity.
"Free gifts just for showing this? Might as well go!" became the common refrain.
What awaited inside stunned visitors—
From polished bluestone floors to those miraculous windows—
Crystalline panes flooding interiors with sunlight, unlike anything seen before.
Then came the real revelation—
Not just windows, but entire tea sets crafted from the same translucent material!
Watching tea leaves dance in those glass vessels became an attraction itself.
Naturally, patrons besieged managers with questions:
"These windows and teaware—what sorcery produces such clarity?"
The manager beamed, withholding nothing:
"Guests inquire about our glass windows and glass tea sets? This material's inherent property—all glass products share this transparency!"
Guiyuanju's pricing structure ensured its private rooms hosted only the affluent—
Precisely the demographic now coveting these glass installations.
"How might one acquire such glass?"
"These were procured by our proprietor. As for purchasing..."
The manager's artful deflection—
"Our proprietor assures glass will soon be available in the capital"—
Redirected frustrated inquiries into anticipatory buzz.
No amount of pressing extracted further details beyond:
"When the time comes, all will be revealed."
Faced with such polished non-answers, patrons reluctantly desisted—
Yet glass became the talk of every wealthy household, with servants tasked to monitor any related developments.
Beyond architectural marvels, other innovations delighted visitors:
Top-tier opera troupes performing on central stages;
Soundproofed private rooms ideal for discreet negotiations;
Even ingenious bell systems connecting directly to managers—
Discreetly summoning attendants without intrusive servants lingering nearby.
But the true masterpiece lay in the rear courtyard's scholar district.
While chess rooms occupied the first floor, the third floor's reading area became an intellectual haven.
Reportedly honoring the proprietor's scholar respect, prices here defied the establishment's upscale nature—
Basic tea service cost merely ten coppers, granting all-day access to bookshelves.
The collection prioritized examination essentials—Confucian classics, policy essays—
Yet also housed local chronicles and miscellanea for broader interests.
Impecunious scholars could freely peruse and transcribe texts—
Within three days, Guiyuanju became academia's darling.
Many struggling students now frequented the establishment, ordering minimal tea to access precious texts.
A thoughtful touch—a separate rear entrance allowed scholars to bypass the bustling main hall—
Preserving dignity for those who might feel out of place amidst the front rooms' revelry.
Moreover, the storytelling performances on the second floor proved utterly captivating.
Not only were the tales themselves unprecedented, but their narrative style broke entirely with tradition—
Fresh, exhilarating, and ruthlessly addictive.
Evidence abounded on the streets, where young aristocrats clustered in animated discussion:
"Well met, Fourth Young Master Zhao! What brings you out?"
"To Guiyuanju, naturally. And you, Second Young Master Li?"
"What fortune! I'm bound there myself. Shall we?"
"By all means—but quickly! Latecomers won't find seats!"
"From your urgency, I gather you're also attending the storytelling?"
"Indeed! Yesterday's cliffhanger had He San secretly registering for the exams—if I miss today's continuation, sleep will be impossible!"
"Remarkable coincidence! That very plot point kept me awake all night! Come, let's secure our places!"
Such exchanges became commonplace among the young elite.
The cause? Guiyuanju's flagship serial The Grand Chancellor's Rise—
Chronicling the trials of He San, third son of a peasant family.
Sandwiched between older and younger brothers, he endured the worst chores and scarcest rations despite superior intellect.
His parents denied him schooling, forcing him into labor to fund his brothers' education.
Yet He San rebelled—
Taking extra jobs to secretly save money, practicing characters with water-dipped fingers on stone floors.
Fate intervened through his youngest brother He Wu—
A wastrel who extorted He San into ghostwriting his school assignments after discovering his secret studies.
What He Wu considered blackmail became He San's golden opportunity—
Feigning reluctant compliance while honing his skills through these very assignments.
Years passed—
He San's scholarship flourished as He Wu, buoyed by stolen glory, gained local renown for "his" essays.
Flattered by tutors and peers, the deluded He Wu declared himself examination shoo-in—
Forgetting his reputation rested entirely on He San's work.
At thirteen, encouraged by tutors to attempt the imperial exams, He Wu agreed eagerly.
But when tasked with delivering household registries to the prefecture for exam enrollment—
He San seized his first glimpse of personal documents to make an audacious move:
Registering himself alongside He Wu.
The storytellers, trained by Gu Yanshu in modern narrative techniques, delivered this climax with masterful tension—
Audiences' pulses raced alongside He San's until—
Crack!
The storyteller's gavel fell:
"To know what follows, return tomorrow!"
Gone?
Just like that?
The abrupt ending provoked near-physical reactions from listeners.
Did He San succeed?
Was he discovered?
Could he sit the exams?
What were the results?
Such unresolved questions tormented patrons—
Yet the storyteller departed without acknowledging their desperate pleas.
Modern readers might recognize this as classic wish-fulfillment literature—
The underdog protagonist overcoming obstacles through talent and grit, eventually achieving meteoric success while tormentors grovel in regret.
Add melodramatic twists—secret nobility, switched-at-birth revelations—and the template completes.
But to Tianqi's ears, such narratives were revolutionary.
Unfamiliar with these tropes, listeners genuinely couldn't predict outcomes—
Hence their dawn arrivals to secure seats for each new installment.