Xi'an Prefecture's most high-end tailor shop once had a very elegant name: Rainbow Cloud Fabric Store.
The name implied that its cloth was as brilliant as layered rainbows, each bolt finer than the last. It catered exclusively to officials and nobility. Even the consorts of the Prince of Qin's Mansion had their dresses custom-made here.
Unfortunately, the shop had recently changed hands.
The new owner's surname was Li.
And ever since then, the shop's "temperament" had taken a sharp and unmistakable turn.
Sure enough, trouble arrived again today.
At the shop entrance stood a young maid in proper attire, her face flushed red with anger.
"This is outrageous!" she snapped. "Our mistress has always ordered her clothes here. How can a newly acquired shop suddenly refuse to serve the Prince of Qin's Mansion?"
Blocking the doorway stood Flat Rabbit, arms folded, grin smug enough to invite a beating.
"I'll do business with anyone," he said lazily, "except the Prince of Qin's Mansion."
The maid bristled. "A shop refusing customers—where is the reason in that?"
Flat Rabbit clenched his fists, each one as big as an alms bowl. "This is my reason. What about it? Angry? Go ahead—bring people to beat me."
"You—!" The maid's face turned crimson. "You barbarian! All you know is violence!"
At that moment, a handsome young man stepped out from inside the shop, holding a birdcage. He looked refined, polite, almost scholarly.
"Flat Rabbit," he said mildly, "we are civilized people. You shouldn't always talk about fighting…"
The maid's heart leapt.
So there were reasonable people here after all!
Her relief lasted less than a breath.
"…Just beating them isn't enough," the young man continued thoughtfully. "Tie their legs with rope, hang them upside down, and dunk them into a water vat. Let them practice holding their breath."
The maid froze.
"You— you people—!"
She had never, in her life, seen anyone show such naked contempt for the Prince of Qin's Mansion.
But she was only an inner-courtyard servant. She knew nothing of the storms raging outside, nothing of recent political shifts, nothing of how thoroughly the Prince of Qin's Mansion had been slapped in the face these past days.
Powerless and furious, she could only puff her cheeks and glare.
With Dao Xuan Tianzun backing them, Flat Rabbit had grown even bolder.
"This hero doesn't hit women," he said generously. "Go on—bring the men from the Prince of Qin's Mansion. I'll be waiting."
Left with no choice, the maid turned and left.
Halfway down the street, she ran straight into a junior steward from the outer hall of the Prince of Qin's Mansion. She grabbed him immediately and poured out her grievances, claiming a fabric shop ahead was bullying them without restraint.
The steward's face darkened.
"How dare they!" He rolled up his sleeves and stormed toward the shop.
Upon reaching the entrance, he roared, "Who dares disrespect the Prince of Qin's Mansion?!"
Flat Rabbit stepped out, waved cheerfully, and said, "Oh? You again? Healed up already? Tsk tsk. The Prince of Qin's doctors are quite skilled."
The steward took one look at Flat Rabbit and deflated instantly, like a punctured wineskin.
"Y-you… it's you… Wu Shen and Shi Kefa's man…"
Flat Rabbit smiled.
The steward didn't wait for a second smile. He turned and ran, dragging the maid along.
"Quick, go! These people are not to be provoked!"
The maid stumbled after him, utterly confused. "Why? Is the Prince of Qin's Mansion really so weak now that we can't even deal with a fabric shop?"
The steward hissed, "You wouldn't understand even if I explained. Just remember—leaving quietly is the right choice. Don't cause more trouble for His Highness the Heir Apparent."
"But… Mistress really likes the clothes from Rainbow Cloud Fabric Store," the maid said weakly.
The steward sighed. "Then she'll have to wear something else."
The maid fell silent.
Make do?
That was easier said than done.
Knowing a scolding awaited her, she returned to the Prince of Qin's Mansion, slipped into the inner quarters, and reported what had happened.
To her surprise, Zhu Cunji, the Prince of Qin's Heir Apparent, was sitting in the room.
The moment he heard the report, his face darkened.
The consort frowned. "Why would that fabric shop dare to defy us?"
Zhu Cunji snorted. "Hmph. That shop is backed by Investigating Censor Wu Shen and Xi'an Judge Shi Kefa. Behind them stands the entire civil official faction. They're deliberately opposing our imperial house."
The consort was puzzled. "Why would they bully our mansion? We haven't done anything wrong, have we?"
Zhu Cunji rolled his eyes.
He had no intention of explaining his "past deeds" to a woman—and in his own mind, he had never done anything wrong anyway. Everything he did was only natural for someone of his status.
Just then, a steward hurried in.
"Your Highness… our chicken supply is running low. Tonight, we may not have enough to serve the consorts in the Eastern Palace."
Zhu Cunji exploded. "Low on chicken? Is chicken gold now? Go buy more! Ten per person!"
The steward said awkwardly, "The farmers who used to supply us no longer raise chickens. Their stock was all acquired by the Li family chicken farm. They claim it's for unified, scientific breeding. Apparently… it's working very well. Chicken supply across the region has surged."
The consort was startled. "If supply has surged, why are we short?"
The steward lowered his head.
Zhu Cunji said coldly, "He refuses to sell to the Prince of Qin's Mansion?"
"Yes," the steward admitted bitterly. "He sells to everyone else. We rely on tenant farmers now, but they can't raise enough. We still have vegetables and grain, at least…"
"Wu Shen! Shi Kefa!" Zhu Cunji roared. "Outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!"
He was furious.
And utterly powerless.
After venting for a long while, Zhu Cunji slowly calmed down. Those at the top learned early how to rein in emotions.
"Prepare my sedan chair," he said finally. "I'm going to meet the Li family patriarch."
The consort was stunned. "Shouldn't you be meeting Wu Shen and Shi Kefa? Why see a mere puppet?"
Zhu Cunji sneered. "Women truly understand nothing. Wu Shen and Shi Kefa are rigid as iron—negotiating with them is pointless. But the Li family patriarch? He's a merchant. Merchants value profit above all else."
He smiled thinly.
"As long as I offer enough benefit, he'll turn around and bite his own masters."
The consort's eyes lit up. "Your Highness is truly wise!"
Zhu Cunji chuckled smugly.
"He may be their puppet today," he said softly, "but soon enough… he'll be mine."