Chapter 50: High-End Operations! Advertising in the Hall of Supreme Harmony!

Advertising.

Making it known to all.

"If our glass mirrors are to become coveted treasures sought after by the nobility throughout the capital and even the entire Great Ming, we must make everyone aware of them, drive them wild with desire, and leave them utterly mesmerized."

Zhu Gaochi stood up, placed his hands behind his back, and paced back and forth across the room, his eyes glittering with confidence and anticipation. "The first step, naturally, is to establish the fame of the glass mirrors and prompt the capital's elite to compete for their purchase!"

The little chubby fellow spoke eloquently, setting the tone for the venture.

These glass mirrors would be sold exclusively to high-ranking officials and nobles, for only they could afford them and put them to proper use. Ordinary folk toiled from sunrise to sunset, bowed down by the heavy burdens of life, with neither the leisure nor the financial means to acquire such exquisite trifles merely for adornment.

Li Jinglong and Xu Zengshou sat to one side, nodding deeply in agreement, their faces reflecting full approval.

The craftsmanship of the mirror reached the absolute pinnacle of refinement. The mirror plate itself, of the finest and most unblemished clarity, was framed in precious rosewood. The rosewood grain was delicate, radiating a warm, gentle luster. Artisans had carved intricate patterns of dragons and phoenixes upon it with such lifelike precision that they seemed ready to soar into the sky at any second.

On the reverse side of the mirror was a landscape painting specially commissioned from a master artist. Mountains and rivers embraced one another amid rolling mists, every single brushstroke imbued with the artist's dedication, ensuring that each mirror remained an incomparable, one-of-a-kind masterpiece.

After all, the glass mirrors were positioned in the ultra-luxury, high-end market, and their complementary decorations certainly could not lower the standard. Those high-ranking officials and nobles were people of refined taste; having spent a fortune on the mirror, they would never look twice at a shabby frame.

"Just how can we make everyone know about it, go wild for it, and become obsessed with it?"

The four fell into deep contemplation, and the room grew quiet for a moment, broken only by the soft crackling of the burning candles.

It was Li Jinglong who first broke the silence. His eyes lit up, and he eagerly suggested, "Women! The noble ladies in the capital will undoubtedly adore this. If word reaches them, they will surely scramble and fight over themselves to come and buy one!"

Women across the world all loved beauty; this was an indisputable fact.

Following this line of thought, Zhu Gaochi instantly conceived a plan.

"As expected of you, Second Sister!"

"Then we shall adopt a two-pronged approach, moving on two fronts!"

The other three turned their gazes toward him in unison. Zhu Gaochi smiled and said, "First, we shall present a full-length mirror to the Empress Dowager. It must be richly carved with beams and painted pillars, inlaid with gold and jade, so that it may match Her Majesty's esteemed status."

Upon hearing this, Zhu Xiongying's eyes lit up, and realization dawned upon him instantly.

"Now that the Empress Dowager has recently recovered from her grave illness, both court consorts and noble ladies of the capital will be entering the palace to pay their respects in the coming days. In this way, they cannot fail to notice our glass mirrors, and the capital's noble women's circle will be conquered!"

Hearing these words, both Li Jinglong and Xu Zengshou were immensely stirred.

Immediately afterward, Zhu Gaochi tossed out another proposal, his gaze falling upon Li Jinglong. "Furthermore, this part depends on you, Second Sister. Among the top courtesans and leading beauties of the Fourteen Towers of Chunjiang, there are over a hundred, yet only you are intimately acquainted with them. This step rests entirely in your hands."

Following the founding of the Great Ming, the founding Emperor Zhu converted the Directorate of Music into the Ministry of Rites' Entertainment Bureau, which specifically housed the families of political offenders, prisoners of war, and women implicated by association.

Upon arriving at the Bureau of Music, these young female relatives were systematically instructed in various arts by the resident matrons—some learning the transverse flute, some stringed instruments, and others the zither. Though their skills differed, their destinies were largely the same: once trained, they were enrolled in the official music registers and assigned to state-run brothels established by the Entertainment Bureau, reduced to courtesans solely for the entertainment of merchants and nobles, serving as a stable source of revenue for the imperial court.

Consequently, just outside the Jubao Gate in Nanjing, more than a dozen state-run brothels had sprung up. The names of these establishments were recorded in the historical annals of later generations, such as Feiyan, Xiangfen, Liunong, and Meiyan—epitomizing the most flamboyant and dazzling of names. Among the common folk, the entire district was collectively known as the "Fourteen Towers of Flowers and Moonlight along the Chunjiang."

Along less than twenty li of the Qinhuai River, there were actually fourteen state-run brothels. This Qinhuai region could be said to be the most bustling and worldly place of mortal life in Nanjing. Both banks were lined with colorful multi-storied pavilions and riverside houses. When night fell, countless resplendent lanterns reflected upon the rippling surface of the water, creating a scene of dazzling starlight that drew countless pleasure-seekers eager to visit.

Hearing this, Li Jinglong's face, which had just been filled with anticipation, instantly crumpled into a bitter expression, resembling an eggplant beaten by the frost. "No, wait! My father issued a stern warning that if I ever dare set foot in the Qinhuai district again, he will break my legs!"

At these words, Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Xiongying burst into unrestrained laughter, their upper bodies swaying back and forth, filling the air with a cheerful atmosphere.

"So what?" Xu Zengshou curled his lip in disdain, a trace of nonchalance on his face. "Is making money more important, or are your legs more important?" He shrugged and continued, "Besides, even a fierce tiger won't eat its own cubs; the worst your old man will do is give you another beating."

Upon hearing this, Li Jinglong pondered it carefully and decided it actually made a lot of sense. Thus, he cast aside his hesitation and readily accepted the task.

What was this called?

Visiting pleasure quarters on official business—and he was embarking on it with a sacred mission.

Finally, Zhu Gaochi put forward one last brilliant idea.

"Of course, aside from women, men likewise need to arrange their attire and crown. Especially for high-ranking officials and nobles, they pay even greater attention to their personal appearance and demeanor, which grants us another opportunity."

Zhu Xiongying's eyes lit up upon hearing this, and with perfect tacit understanding, he blurted out, "Gaochi, do you mean we should place a glass mirror right at the palace gates?"

Zhu Gaochi reached out in silent accord, giving him a resounding high-five.

Xu Zengshou and Li Jinglong watched the two little ones, feeling a prickling sensation across their scalps.

Are you two actually serious about this?

This is the bloody palace gate we are talking about! Do you really have to play for stakes this high?

Nevertheless, the two little ones were so excited they immediately set the plan in motion, departing in a carriage after nightfall while taking a glass mirror along with them.

The next morning, before the sky had fully brightened, a few waning stars still twinkled in the gray, hazy expanse of the heavens.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Xiongying rose early. Although they were still unaccustomed to waking at such an hour and sleepiness still lingered in their eyes, the mere thought of their grand money-making scheme instantly banished all drowsiness.

They quickly dressed, tidied themselves up briefly, and hurried toward the palace gates.

At this hour, it was still early, yet the palace gates were already bustling with activity.

As the hour for the morning court audience drew closer, court ministers gathered here in ever-greater numbers. They stood in groups of twos and threes, bowing to one another in greeting and exchanging casual pleasantries.

Ministers attending the morning court generally had to rise around three o'clock in the morning to reach the palace gates. Around five o'clock, the palace gates would open, and the hundred officials would file in sequentially, crossing the Jinshui Bridge to form formations in the plaza before entering the Fengtian Hall to commence the audience.

Outside the palace gates, the gathering throng of courtiers swelled, and the sky gradually began to brighten accordingly.

Zhu Gaochi and Zhu Xiongying rushed over in a flurry and began issuing instructions to their subordinates.

"Hurry up, set it up quickly! The ministers will all be passing through here soon on their way to the court audience."

Zhu Xiongying was the Grand Imperial Grandson, deeply favored by both the Emperor and Empress. He had always acted with a certain unbridled authority within the palace, and upon seeing him, the guards of the Imperial Army hesitated, with not a single one daring to step forward to stop them.

Zhu Gaochi directed a group of eunuchs to carry out two wooden frames. The objects atop the frames were shrouded in red cloth, radiating an air of mystery that instantly drew sideways glances from everyone nearby.

The imperial guards standing guard on the flanks were intensely curious, casting sideways glances out of the corners of their eyes, their hearts itching to see what sort of contraptions the two little fellows had hauled over.

The eunuchs positioned the two frames on the left and right sides of the palace entrance, precisely along the mandatory route for civil and military officials heading to the morning audience.

"Gaochi, this trick of yours is simply brilliant!" Zhu Xiongying gave him an approving thumbs-up.

Zhu Gaochi, however, chuckled cheerfully and waved his hand dismissively. "Basic operation, basic operation. Just wait and watch the good show!"

Bloody hell, advertising right inside the Fengtian Hall—if this doesn't become a sensation, it would be a violation of natural law!