Calligraphy. That was something. In ancient China, good calligraphy was a sign of education and refinement. It was also potentially marketable.
Alex's business brain started turning. Limited resources, one marketable skill, hostile market environment, and a need for rapid capital acquisition.
He needed a product.
"Xiao Cui, do we have any money saved at all? Any emergency fund?"
"There's maybe five taels in the household box. We were saving it in case... in case we needed to bribe a physician if you got sick again."
Five taels. Not much, but it was seed capital.
"Bring me the writing materials," Alex said. "And I need you to do something else. Go to the market, or send Lao Zhang, and buy me these specific things." He rattled off a list: certain herbs, oils, alcohol if they had it, small glass or ceramic bottles if available, cloth for filtering.
Xiao Cui looked confused. "What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to make perfume."
"Perfume?"
"Yes. High-end, custom fragrance. In my... in the world I come from, there was a massive market for luxury scents. People would pay absurd amounts of money for unique fragrances. I'm betting that market exists here too, especially among wealthy noble women who want to stand out."
"But mistress, perfume is expensive! Only the imperial workshops make it, and it costs..."
"Exactly. Which means there's a monopoly, and monopolies mean inflated prices and limited selection. I'm going to break that monopoly." Alex was already calculating recipes in his head. He knew chemistry. He had used it for less pleasant purposes in his assassination work, but the principles were the same. Extract, combine, stabilize, package.
"But how do you know how to make perfume?"
Good question. Alex thought fast. "I had a dream while I was unconscious. A vision. The gods showed me many things from a different world. Strange knowledge. I think... I think they're giving me a second chance."
It sounded insane, but Xiao Cui's eyes went wide with wonder instead of skepticism. Right. Ancient China. People believed in divine visions and heavenly mandates. He could work with that.
"The gods spoke to you?" she breathed.
"Something like that. And they're very disappointed with how I've been living my life. They want me to do better. Be stronger. Stop being a victim." All of which was technically true, from a certain point of view. Alex was disappointed with how Yan Lingxi had lived, and he definitely wanted to be stronger. "So that's what I'm going to do. But Xiao Cui, this is very important. You cannot tell anyone about the vision. If word gets out that I'm claiming divine favor, it will cause all sorts of problems."
She nodded vigorously. "I won't tell! I promise!"
"Good. Now go get those supplies. Use three of the five taels. And be discreet. Don't tell the merchants what they're for."
After she left, Alex carefully got out of bed. His legs shook, and the room spun slightly, but he managed to stand. This body was weak. Malnourished, poisoned, and clearly hadn't exercised in... possibly ever, judging by the complete lack of muscle tone.
That would need to be fixed. A weak body was a liability. He had maintained peak physical condition in his old life, both for the corporate image and for the practical requirements of occasionally having to kill people personally. This body would need similar investment.
But first, he needed to make it through the next few hours without collapsing.
He made his way slowly around the room, taking inventory. The furniture was old but functional. One bed, one small table, two stools, a wardrobe that was mostly empty, a vanity with a cracked mirror, and a small altar in the corner with incense sticks and a Buddha statue.
The books Xiao Cui had mentioned were stacked on a shelf. Alex pulled one down and opened it. Classical Chinese poetry. His eyes scanned the page, and to his surprise, he could read it. Not just read it, but understand it. The knowledge was there in his brain, overlapping with his own memories. Yan Lingxi's education was still accessible.
Interesting. So the transmigration had merged the memories rather than overwriting them. He had his own knowledge and skills, plus whatever Yan Lingxi had known. That was a significant advantage.
He pulled down another book. History. Another one. Philosophy. All readable, all comprehensible.
Good. Very good.
He was exploring the wardrobe when Xiao Cui returned with Eunuch Wu in tow. The eunuch was middle-aged, with a cautious expression and a slight limp.
"Consort Yan," Eunuch Wu said with a small bow. "Xiao Cui said you were awake. This old servant is pleased to see you recovered."
Alex studied him. The bow was perfunctory, the tone polite but lacking warmth. This was a man who had learned not to invest emotionally in a losing proposition.
"Eunuch Wu," Alex said. "I understand you've served this household for three years."
"Yes, my lady."
"And in those three years, how many times has the Emperor sent messages or gifts to this pavilion?"
The eunuch blinked, surprised by the direct question. "I... none, my lady."
"How many times have I been invited to palace functions?"
"Only the mandatory ones, my lady. The seasonal banquets and the Empress Dowager's birthday celebrations."
"And how do the other servants in the palace treat you when you're running errands?"
A pause. Then, quietly: "Not well, my lady."
"Because you serve a low-ranked, unfavored consort, and therefore you have no status or influence."
"...Yes, my lady."
Alex nodded. "That's going to change. I'm going to be very direct with you, Eunuch Wu. I know my position here is terrible. I know I've been a failure and an embarrassment. But that version of Yan Lingxi is gone. I've had a revelation during my illness, and I'm going to rebuild this household from the ground up. If you want to stay and be part of that, you'll be rewarded. If you want to transfer to another consort's service, I won't stop you. But I need to know now. Are you in or are you out?"
It was the same speech he had given to executives during corporate restructuring. Give them the choice, make the stakes clear, and see who had the guts to gamble.
Eunuch Wu stared at him. "You've... changed, my lady."
"Yes."
"The poison..."
"The poison nearly killed me. I spent three days between life and death. It changes a person." All true. "So I'm asking you again. Are you in?"