The next morning, the imperial city was already buzzing with gossip before the sunlight had fully settled across the rooftops.
Servants whispered about it while sweeping palace courtyards. Vendors discussed it while arranging their stalls. Even noblewomen who normally concealed their expressions behind silk fans were unable to resist joining the discussion.
The newest scandal had spread throughout the capital overnight.
Vanessa's own followers, Gilbert and Edmund, had been found unconscious in an alley.
That alone might not have been particularly interesting.
The problem was what had been written across their backsides.
"Prince Damien's husband's backside is whiter than the prince."
The sentence quickly became the center of countless interpretations.
"Was that just an insult?"
"So Prince Damien has a male lover?"
"When did the prince get married?"
"Perhaps the imperial family has some strange hobbies we don't know about."
The rumors multiplied faster than anyone could contain them.
People laughed until tears came to their eyes, while others eagerly added their own versions to the story.
Inside the palace, Damien's anger rose with every new rumor that reached his ears.
He nearly exploded after discovering that even palace servants were secretly discussing the scandal behind his back.
Whoever had done this would pay.
He immediately swore that he would find the bastard responsible.
Unfortunately for him, the actual culprit was currently walking through the General's Manor without a care in the world.
Since the marriage agreement had been broken and Zion was believed to have fallen into despair afterward, the people inside the manor had largely stopped paying attention to him.
Nobody cared where he went.
Nobody questioned when he returned.
To them, Zion had already become little more than a forgotten figure occupying an abandoned courtyard.
For Zion, that neglect was extremely convenient.
Early that morning, he quietly left the manor and headed toward the largest pawnshop in the imperial city.
The jewelry he had found in his room the previous day was tucked safely inside a cloth pouch beneath his sleeve.
The pieces themselves were simple, but they were not without meaning.
They had belonged to the original Zion's mother.
Zion could not make use of most of them himself, and under normal circumstances he would never have considered selling them. They were keepsakes, after all, and probably among the few things the original owner had left behind that were connected to his mother.
Unfortunately, circumstances were not normal.
If he wanted to survive and cultivate, he needed money.
So he brought the jewelry to the pawnshop.
Zion handed each piece to the shopkeeper and carefully instructed him to preserve everything properly. He made it clear that he intended to redeem the items in the future.
He might have been desperate for money, but he wasn't willing to let his mother's belongings disappear forever.
After completing the transaction, Zion stepped back onto the street with several thousand gold coins.
The amount was enough to ease his immediate financial problems, yet his expression remained somewhat complicated.
It was a considerable sum.
But when it came to cultivation, a considerable sum could disappear remarkably quickly.
A medical hall required a location, equipment, medicine cabinets, storage space, assistants, supplies, and, most importantly, medicinal ingredients. If he wanted to establish a reputation quickly, the expenses would only increase.
Zion walked through the crowded streets while considering the problem.
"The first thing I need is a suitable location," he murmured. "But I know almost nothing about the capital's business districts."
He had lived in the General's Manor for years, but that hardly meant he knew the commercial layout of the imperial city.
As he thought about it, a familiar figure suddenly came to mind.
Eirik.
The treasurer of Apollo Apothecary.
Zion's eyes brightened.
That was the answer.
Apothecaries and medical halls naturally had a close relationship, and after yesterday's conversation, Zion had already learned that Eirik was genuinely passionate about medicine. He was a scholar first and a businessman second, which made him considerably easier to deal with than someone motivated purely by profit.
Zion changed direction and returned to Apollo Apothecary.
When he explained his plan to Eirik, the old treasurer agreed almost immediately.
"Young Master intends to manage the clinic personally?"
There was genuine concern in Eirik's voice.
From his perspective, Zion was still extremely young, barely sixteen years old. Knowledge of medicine was one thing, but running a medical hall in the imperial capital was an entirely different matter.
It required money, manpower, connections, and the ability to deal with all kinds of people.
Zion, however, showed no hesitation.
"Yes."
His confidence was quiet rather than arrogant.
After a brief pause, he continued, "I don't know much about the capital's businesses or which locations would be suitable. So I'll purchase all the medicinal ingredients the clinic requires directly from Apollo Apothecary."
He looked toward Eirik.
"Consider it a partnership. What do you think?"
Eirik's eyes immediately brightened.
For Apollo Apothecary, establishing a long-term relationship with a young physician possessing Zion's level of knowledge was naturally beneficial.
"That's an excellent arrangement!"
The old treasurer's enthusiasm was unmistakable.
After thinking for a moment, he suddenly snapped his fingers.
"Actually, Young Master came at the perfect time. I happen to know of a medical hall that's currently being sold nearby."
His smile widened.
"If you purchase it directly, you won't have to waste time and money finding a location and renovating it from the ground up."
Zion's expression relaxed.
"That would be perfect."
"If Young Master is free now," Eirik said, "I can personally take you there."
Zion nodded.
"Then I'll trouble Treasurer Eirik."
The two soon left Apollo Apothecary together and headed toward the medical hall.
For Zion, it was only a small step.
But it was the beginning of something that could completely change his future in this new world.