Reborn as Murong Fu: This Time I'm the Protagonist

Chapter 478 The Owner of Fanlou

A'Zhu teased, "You stingy little thing, you can't even remember your hometown after I ask you to be the host."

The two women teased and joked with each other, but Murong Fu's mind was filled with doubt: he only remembered that Abi had been sent to Suzhou by someone to be raised, nominally as Murong Fu's personal maid, but in reality, she was an adopted daughter of the Murong family. In the past, Murong Fu had been too busy traveling around the world to investigate, so why had he never heard this girl mention that she was from Bianjing?
Murong Fu said, "Abi, was the person who sent you to Suzhou back then really your father? Why has no one ever come to take you home all these years?"

Abi's eyes dimmed: "I don't remember, I don't remember anything at all."

Murong Fu said, "Since we've come to Bianjing, we might as well send more people to search thoroughly. If Abi still has any relatives alive, we might as well bring them to Suzhou to take care of them together."

……

For the next seven days, Murong Fu came to Fanlou. Sometimes he came with Zhang Dun and a few others, and sometimes he came alone. Every time he came, Murong Fu was always very generous. It would not be an exaggeration to say that he spent a fortune.

Today, Murong Fu brought Zhang Dun along and asked for a waterside pavilion to drink with him.

Zhang Dun said, "You've spent no less than 500,000 strings of cash at Fanlou these past few days, haven't you? Are you so sure that the owner behind Fanlou will come to meet you? What if they just don't bother with you at all? Wouldn't all that money have gone down the drain?"

Murong Fu smiled faintly and said, "It's nothing. It's just 500,000 strings of cash. It's worth it to have the opportunity to dine with Prime Minister Zhang and enjoy the scenery of Bianliang."

As soon as he finished speaking, the waiter gently knocked on the door. After receiving Murong Fu's permission, the nimble waiter tiptoed in and said respectfully, "Young master, my master invites you to the Banana Pavilion on the third floor for a chat."

Murong Fu gave Zhang Dun a meaningful smile. A flash of surprise crossed Zhang Dun's eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

Murong Fu took the lead, and Zhang Dun instinctively wanted to follow. The waiter bowed slightly and said with a smile, "Sir, I'm sorry, my master has instructed that only this young master is invited to go up. Please wait here."

A hint of displeasure flashed across Zhang Dun's face. He snorted coldly but said nothing. He sat down again, picked up the wine pot on the table, and poured himself a drink.

Murong Fu smiled and said, "Uncle Zhang, please sit here for a while and don't move around. I'll be right back."

Murong Fu followed the waiter up to the third floor. Surprisingly, although the third floor was in the same building as the first and second floors, it seemed to be a world of its own. The noise downstairs was completely isolated from the third floor. The entire third floor was so quiet that even the sound of breathing seemed to have become louder.

Murong Fu was slightly taken aback, but then he understood: the materials used on this floor must be special absorbent materials, and the architectural layout is different from the previous two floors, thus creating the effect of a quiet place in the bustling city.

After leading Murong Fu to a quiet room, the servant said, "Please wait here, young master. My master will come to see you shortly."

Murong Fu raised an eyebrow noncommittally: since he took over as the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect, he had never encountered a situation where he had to wait for someone. But so be it, after all, he needed their help this time, and when one is under someone else's roof, what harm is there in bowing one's head?

However, when Murong Fu looked at the interior decoration of the room, he was slightly surprised.

In short, it's understated luxury with a touch of sophistication. On the rosewood table sits a complete set of pen holders and paperweights carved from mutton-fat jade. The paperweight is carved into the shape of a lion holding an embroidered ball in its mouth, lifelike and lively. What's even more remarkable is that it's carved entirely from a single piece of white marble, with incredibly smooth lines, showcasing the craftsman's superb skills.

The walls of the room are adorned with calligraphy and paintings by masters of various schools, from Su Dongpo and Cai Xiang in recent times to Li Bai and Huaisu in more distant times. What is even more remarkable is that the room prominently displays an original copy of the "Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion" by Chu Suiliang of the Tang Dynasty. This single piece alone is probably worth more than the entire building.

However, Murong Fu's attention was soon drawn to something else.

It was a huge map.

Although the maps produced by the drawing technology of that era were very abstract, Murong Fu was able to roughly recognize the locations depicted on the map based on his memory.

The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun!
It seems this building has more than just a royal background.

From a later perspective, this picture can only be described as a rudimentary sketch, but in this era, it can be described as a vital national treasure, a matter of national security.

Murong Fu stared quietly at the map in front of him, a playful smile playing on his lips.

He had already sensed that someone was secretly observing him from the room opposite, as soon as he entered, but he pretended not to know and let the other party reveal themselves.

Finally, after the time it takes to eat a meal, the door was gently pushed open, and a young man dressed in a light red robe walked in with a smile: "Distinguished guest, I had an urgent matter to attend to and was unable to greet you in time. I am truly sorry to have kept you waiting."

The cuffs and collar of his robe were embroidered with gold thread in the style of Suzhou embroidery, depicting flowers and birds. Judging from the craftsmanship, it was most likely the work of a high-ranking embroiderer from the Imperial Palace's Embroidery Bureau.

The man had a face as handsome as jade, lips as white as rouge, and a three-lobed beard that was clearly well-groomed. His demeanor exuded a carefree and nonchalant air, but the occasional glint of shrewdness in his eyes revealed that he was not as simple as the playboy he appeared to be.

"My name is Wang Zhantu, and I am now the manager of this Fanlou restaurant. May I ask your honorable name, sir?"

Murong Fu smiled slightly, thinking to himself that the other party was also planning to play dumb to the end. He did not believe that the other party would not even know his name. A restaurant that could stand for decades next to the palace must have all the connections and know the background of almost every important guest. He had been here for seven days in a row, and he was afraid that the other party had already found out his background by then.

Since the other party was pretending to be confused, Murong Fu was happy to play along and said with a smile, "My name is Su Mu, a native of Suzhou. My family has some assets. I have long heard that Fanlou is a paradise on earth, so I came here to enjoy myself."

"However, in my opinion now, the claim that Fanlou encompasses all the world's treasures is somewhat undeserved!"

Wang Zhantu's eyes narrowed, then relaxed: "Oh, that's strange. I'd like to hear what else in this world my Fanlou cannot sell."

Murong Fu said something with a smile, and the man's expression immediately changed drastically.