With a clear plan forming in her mind, Yun Shu lifted her arm in high spirits.
"Someone, bring ink and paper!"
The Princess remained seated, unmoving. Naturally, the Tang household servants dared not ask her to rise or make room.
And so, for the first time ever, brushes, ink, and paper were laid out on the freshly cleaned dining table.
Someone had even thoughtfully set out a feather quill alongside the traditional writing tools.
Surprisingly, Yun Shu chose not the feather pen, but instead the regular brush—despite her less-than-skillful calligraphy.
[Buying Gossip at a High Price!]
The five large characters were not particularly elegant, but they were bold and eye-catching, taking up the entire scroll of xuan paper.
Then, with a few more strokes, Yun Shu added drawings of silver ingots and strings of copper coins.
"What is this?" asked Tang Muzhi after a pause.
He understood the words and drawings well enough, but he could not quite make sense of why Yun Shu had made such a sign.
"This is for your family's two shops."
As she finished the first poster, Yun Shu moved on to the second.
"Did I not mention earlier that Father Emperor assigned Eunuch Wang to help me collect information? What I want gathered is the latest fresh and amusing happenings in the capital.
But Eunuch Wang is only one man. He cannot possibly know everything that goes on.
So, I thought—why not set a small table outside your two shops, where the people can report their news and gossip? Once we gather enough information, Eunuch Wang can come by every few days to collect it."
Having outlined her plan, Yun Shu continued.
"All they have to do is share something they know—a curious or interesting incident—and they might earn a surprise reward. Most common folk would surely be tempted to give it a try. And if more people visit your clothing shop because of this, it may well improve business."
"Your Highness speaks wisely," Tang Muzhi nodded in agreement, though he raised another concern.
"However, determining what kind of information is worth keeping, and what is not... that standard seems difficult to define.
Does Your Highness already have staff in place for sorting such things?"
"Not yet," Yun Shu admitted, "so I'll have to trouble you, Cousin, to find two clever lads who can write."
In the early stages of any new venture, staffing was always a challenge.
Yun Shu shrugged lightly.
"As for the criteria, that part is simple.
The hour is still early. We can personally gather a round of submissions first. If the people you find observe a few examples, they will quickly learn the standard."
"Gather information?" echoed Yun Chuhuan, who until now had been sulking from not having tasted any new delicacies.
Hearing this sparked his interest at last.
"I want to come too!"
"You most certainly must," Yun Shu replied with a sly smile.
Yun Chuhuan: "..."
Why did he suddenly regret it?
Why did the air behind his back feel... ominously cold?
…
Tang Muzhi wasted no time finding suitable candidates.
His former study attendant fit the bill—quick-witted and literate.
In addition, he brought in Wan Zhanping, the grandson of Tang Residence's steward.
Wan Zhanping had sat for the imperial exams three times in past years but failed to even attain the rank of xiucai. At last, he had come to accept that scholarly success was not his fate.
He had not yet decided what to do with his life, and now this opportunity landed before him.
Though he was no scholar, Wan Zhanping had a rare gift for conversation and interpersonal dealings.
Back at the academy, there was not a single soul who did not know him. Even the boy responsible for sweeping the courtyard could count him as a friend.
A man like this—what better candidate to collect gossip?
Yun Shu was very pleased with him.
Wan Zhanping, too, did not disappoint.
Before even reaching the shop, he was already riding alongside the carriage, rattling off tidbits of gossip for Yun Shu's amusement.
"Your Highness might not believe this, but Fu Man Lou and Qing Feng Pavilion, those two inns that seem like bitter rivals—they're actually run by brothers! Blood brothers! Their relationship is excellent!
And the Wang family in the southern district—what a mess that place is...
Oh, and our own family's son-in-law, Young Master Cao—you know him, Your Highness? He cannot eat roast duck. Not only that, he can't even touch it. Breaks out in hives!
But the young miss adores it, so every few days, he still goes personally to Fu Man Lou and buys one to take home!"
Ah—news about that dog Cao already?
This one could go straight into the next edition of Capital Weekly.
In fact, Yun Shu already had the article title drafted in her mind.
Meanwhile, Tang Muzhi, listening from the side, frowned slightly.
"Are you certain that... Cao... frequently visits Fu Man Lou to buy roast duck for the young miss?"
"Positive!" Wan Zhanping nodded earnestly.
"Twice I've seen him there myself. The first time, Young Master Cao ran into Young Master Chen, the son of a Ministry of Personnel.
I clearly heard Young Master Chen ask him why he was buying roast duck when he couldn't even eat it. Young Master Cao said it was because the young miss liked it.
Young Master Chen even remarked that the young miss doesn't know how to care for others, and Young Master Cao defended her right away!"
Crack.
A small piece of the carriage wall splintered under Tang Muzhi's grip.
Yun Shu: "..."
Is she going to have to pay for that damage later?
That dog Cao is finished.
About twenty minutes later, the carriage finally pulled up in front of the Tang family's clothing shop. The shop itself was small, barely over thirty square meters. At this time of day, there were only a few customers browsing inside.
Tang Muzhi ordered a table and chair set to be moved outside. Yun Shu's handwritten poster was hung up beside it.
Passersby, though unable to read the bold characters, could at least recognize the drawings of silver ingots and coins.
Curious townsfolk began to slow their steps.
"What are they doing? Offering to write letters?"
"Impossible. Look at those people's robes. They look like nobles. Why would they bother with letter-writing money?"
"Then what's with the coins on the poster? If they're not making money, are they giving it away?"
"Everyone, gather round!"
Hearing the murmurs from the gathering crowd, Wan Zhanping stepped forward at Yun Shu's subtle nod and shouted in a booming voice.
"Don't pass this by! Come closer and hear the news!
The Tang family's clothing shop is buying gossip! That's right—buying!
Share a true and interesting tale with us, and you could earn no less than fifty copper coins. For the truly juicy ones, up to two hundred!"
"What? Did I hear that right? I tell them a funny story and they give me money?"
Wan Zhanping's loud voice quickly drew a large number of curious onlookers. But since such a thing had never been heard of before, no one rushed forward immediately. Instead, they stood at the edges, whispering to one another.
"Is that for real? There's no such thing as easy money. Sounds like a trap..."
===
The Ministry of Personnel (吏部, lìbù) was one of the most critical departments in the central government of imperial China. As the backbone of the bureaucracy, the ministry was responsible for overseeing the entire administrative workforce of the empire. Its duties included managing official appointments, evaluations, promotions, demotions, and dismissals. This ministry effectively controlled the fate of government officials and was instrumental in maintaining the efficiency and integrity of the imperial civil service system.