Zhenguan: I, Dou Fengjie, will not be the first cuckold.

At noon, three hundred drumbeats were heard, and the gates of the West Market finally opened.

The bustling West Market immediately came alive.

The enticing aroma of spices, the tempting wine-selling women, and the various treasures, both real and fake, create a feast for the eyes and the palate, a culinary delight shared by both the Central Plains and the Western Regions.

Dou Fengjie led twelve servants, weaving through the crowd.

If Mangbojiesunbo has already appeared, will Xuesong be far behind?

The facial features of merchants from the plateau are very distinctive; if you're too lazy to remember them, just look at the rosy cheeks of their faces.

Without enduring years of exposure to the cold winds of a snow-capped mountain, one cannot develop these characteristics; even applying ochre cannot conceal the difference.

"Snow lotus, ochre, nine-eyed pearls..." a highland merchant shouted in a booming voice.

It's not that merchants from the plateau don't sell livestock; the cattle and horse market is in another corner of the West Market.

Not to mention, there were also many young women and ladies chattering away as they bought ochre.

The ochre-colored makeup, a style popular in high-altitude regions, also found many fans in the Tang Dynasty.

"No cedar trees?" Dou Fengjie asked when there were fewer people around.

"Expert, very few people carry this stuff. I happen to have a section here, but it's a bit pricey," the Tibetan merchant said slyly, opening his palm.

Merchants dared to demand five thousand coins for a cedar tree as thick as a strong man's waist and about ten feet long.

Dou happy immediately retorted, "It's only a small piece, and you dare ask for five strings of cash?"

The merchant chuckled: "Sir, look carefully, I want six thousand coins."

Dou Fengjie stared wide-eyed for a closer look and then discovered that the merchant had a branch next to his thumb, making him a six-fingered man!

Dou Fengjie stopped Dou happy and said seriously, "I need at least three cedar trees every year. Manager Xi will negotiate with you, and the price will remain the same."

Dou Xi was so happy that his mouth almost stretched to his ears. He never thought he would become a manager one day!

Wait a minute, the young master is unwilling to reveal his surname, which clearly indicates his concerns. I must not act recklessly!

Stay calm, we must stay calm. We'll celebrate together when we go back to visit Mother!

"My lord, your loyal friend Sangsong assures you, no matter how much cedar is needed, I can arrange it perfectly."

The merchant grinned.

He wasn't happy about how much money he made, but rather that Tibet had gained another source of income.

Bringing cedar trees from the Himalayas is also very expensive.

"You don't even dare to give your surname, why should I believe you?"

Dou Fengjie was a perfectionist.

"Mother Sangsong greets Duke Zan."

Sang Song's demeanor changed instantly; the slickness of a merchant quickly transformed into the reserved composure unique to an official.

Sure enough, even though Dou Fengjie didn't reveal his name, Niang Sangsong already knew everything about him.

Few people who can stay ahead of the times are simple.

Dou Fengjie nodded slightly: "Very good. If the lady ever senses something is wrong, I can provide a way out."

After the transaction was completed, Tang Shanzhan, accompanied by his servants, carried the cedar tree towards Longzhengfang.

Only Niang Sangsong remained scratching his head. The clan chief, Mambujie Shangnang, persuaded Supi to return to Tibet with just a few words. For his merit, Supi was promoted to Grand Master, which is equivalent to the prime minister in the Central Plains. How could this be wrong?

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In the northwest corner of Longzhengfang, there is a cluster of abandoned houses.

Fangzheng Tang Bugu assigned this area to Dou Fengjie, and ordered his eldest son Tang Shanzhan to lead nine other servants to follow Dou Fengjie's arrangements.

Outside the courtyard gate, Li Tai's ten henchmen stood with guns in hand.

Inside the courtyard, Li Tai, the Prince of Yue, dressed in hempen clothes and whose fat jiggled as he walked, happily accompanied Dou Fengjie on a aimless stroll.

Two earthen stoves, ten steps apart, each with a large pot on top, and distillation apparatus attached to the pots.

The pot is used to steam fruit wine, from which at least 50% alcohol is extracted.

This is difficult, but there's no other way. Large-scale grain brewing requires approval from the Guanglu Temple's Liangyun Bureau, while fruit wine is not restricted.

While the fruits in the Guanzhong Plain may not be ripe yet, fruits from Lingnan, Jiangnan, Jiannan, Shannan, and Huainan have already been arriving in Beijing one after another.

Mangoes in Lingnan are already seven or eight tenths ripe by early June.

The fruits in Jiaozhou Prefecture ripen earlier, since Jiaozhou doesn't have four seasons, only a rainy season and a dry season.

Fortunately, Li Tai paid for the fruit wine, so Dou Fengjie didn't have to worry about the cost, as buying a large amount of fruit was quite expensive.

The other pot contains water, and steam is piped through cedar wood chips and bark, then carries away the fragrant cedar essence.

Afterward, the steam and flavoring are cooled by well water and then separated through a funnel, releasing a rich aroma.

Li Tai was filled with surprise, never expecting that it was actually possible to extract essence from cedar.

"Isn't this smell a bit too strong? Mother might not be able to stand the aroma."

Li Tai hesitated slightly.

He paid Dou Fengjie to make perfume so that Empress Zhangsun, who had not used cosmetics for a long time, could use them without any worries.

Filial piety, coupled with a little bit of scheming, is still beyond reproach.

"Three drops of flavoring are enough for a small bottle of purified liquor, about the size of a thumb."

Dou Fengjie demonstrated how to mix two bottles, and Tangshan Zhan immediately learned to do it.

Dou happy carefully mixed a few bottles, and upon smelling them, found them to be indistinguishable from those personally prepared by Dou Fengjie. He immediately beamed with joy.

When Dou happy took charge, he naturally had to put his heart into managing the "workshop".

Li Tai carefully put the two bottles of cedar perfume into his satchel, hoping to satisfy Empress Zhangsun's pursuit of fragrance.

After thinking for a moment, Li Tai filled two more bottles.

After all, Princess Wang of Yue and the pregnant lady also needed to be coaxed.

"Your Majesty, please take note: pregnant women and breastfeeding women should avoid these things."

Dou Fengjie offered a reminder.

Li Tai paused for a moment, then his lips moved.

Well, Empress Zhangsun is a heroic mother. She has already given birth to three sons and three daughters. I wonder if she will have another one.

Li Tai could only gently remind his mother to use it sparingly during her pregnancy.

As for breastfeeding, that was the job of wet nurses. Lady Suian, the wet nurse of Crown Prince Li Chengqian, is a vivid example.

After Li Tai left, Tang Shanzhan came over and said, "My lord, there's still plenty of wood left, and lots of wine too."

"Should the packaged perfume be taken to the groom's residence and sealed away?"

Tang Shanzhan knew that cedar perfume was a good thing, but it was not something they could get their hands on; even Tang Bugufangzheng, with his status, couldn't protect it.

Dou Fengjie glanced at Dou happy, who immediately gave instructions: "Move the wood, perfume, and fragrance into the cellar of the house. The fruit wine can be stored here, but the containers must be locked up."

"In addition, Tang Shanzhan, you will lead people to take turns guarding the house and clear away weeds and garbage as needed."

Tang Shanzhan only realized after receiving the order that even servants were divided into different ranks.

The Buddha's teaching of equality for all beings is merely a beautiful wish.

After settling in, Dou Shang asked, "Young master, was that merchant woman, Sangsong, a Tibetan spy?"

"Don't merchants and spies often switch roles?" Dou Fengjie smiled.

The practice of merchants also serving as spies is a long-standing one, so ancient that it is impossible to verify.

However, Tibet's history of dominance is relatively short, and Nyang Mangbujie Shangnang clearly did not yet know what it meant to be discarded after the birds are all gone, or what it meant to have too much merit and threaten one's master.