The East Ward of Xi'an City exploded with popularity.
It wasn't only the night market that drew crowds. Even during the daytime, the entire area buzzed with life, voices overlapping, footsteps never ceasing.
The peculiar snacks introduced by Li Daoxuan were, in truth, merely an opening move—a clever hook to lure people in. Once the crowds gathered, it wasn't just those rare treats that sold. All manner of ordinary goods soon followed, filling stall after stall.
Rice, noodles, vegetables.
Potatoes, sweet potatoes, corn.
Chili peppers, black pepper, Sichuan peppercorns.
Whatever goods could be procured were immediately transported into the East Ward.
With such a dense and constant flow of people, there was no such thing as unsellable merchandise. Everything found a buyer.
Before long, the common folk grew accustomed to purchasing their daily necessities there. Rather than weaving through the inner city, they simply headed straight for the Ward.
As for the pricier snacks, their novelty wore off quickly. The common people gradually stopped buying them. After all, these weren't necessities, and most families were still far from wealthy enough to indulge freely.
Of course—
Zhu Cunji was an exception.
"Behold! Celestial Jelly, a divine gift bestowed by Dao Xuan Tianzun himself—"
Before the peddler could finish his introduction, Zhu Cunji waved his hand impatiently.
"I'll take it," he said. "All of it."
The peddler froze for a moment, then bowed deeply.
"Many thanks, esteemed sir. That will be ten taels of silver."
"These are Immortal Delights, refined through—"
"Enough talking." Zhu Cunji flicked his sleeve. "Buy them. Every last one."
"Eight taels of silver, Your Grace."
Behind him, the princely guards slowly transformed into porters. Before long, each man was burdened with large bundles, arms full, backs bent.
The steward followed anxiously, sweat already forming on his brow.
"Your Highness," he said carefully, "this… this level of spending is rather excessive. Our monthly expenses have already—"
"Expenses?" Zhu Cunji snorted. "With the Prince of Qin's countless estates, are we truly lacking money?"
The steward wrung his hands.
"We are, Your Highness. Quite seriously. This month alone, we are already more than three thousand taels in deficit."
Zhu Cunji paused.
"Oh?"
"Perhaps," the steward ventured, "Your Highness might consider restraining—"
"Only three thousand taels?" Zhu Cunji laughed. "A trifling amount! Let the music play, let the dancers whirl!"
The steward nearly collapsed.
"But, Your Highness… it is only the beginning of the month…"
Zhu Cunji ignored him entirely and turned to another stall.
"What strange, colorful things are these?" he asked.
The peddler's eyes shone.
"This, Your Highness, is Popping Candy—a delicacy from the Celestial Realm. Originally as large as a washbasin, it was crushed into smaller fragments for mortals to enjoy. Place it in your mouth, and it will dance! Since you are a frequent patron, allow me to offer you a complimentary taste."
He produced a piece no larger than a mung bean.
Zhu Cunji popped it into his mouth.
Crackle. Pop. Snap.
The candy danced wildly across his tongue.
Zhu Cunji's eyes widened in delight.
"Remarkable!" he exclaimed. "No mortal craftsmanship could create such a thing. This must be an immortal treasure. How much for one piece?"
"A hundred copper coins," the peddler replied instantly.
The steward was horrified.
"A single speck of candy, and you charge a hundred coins? Why not rob people outright?!"
Zhu Cunji waved him off.
"Buy them," he said lazily. "All of them."
"Your Highness," the steward pleaded, "this merchant is clearly charging based on the customer—"
"Not so," the peddler said smoothly. "The candy sold to common folk is inferior. What I offer Your Highness has a stronger pop. Naturally, a stronger pop commands a higher price."
"Hahahaha!" Zhu Cunji laughed loudly. "Well said! A stronger pop deserves a higher price. Buy every last piece!"
The steward covered his face.
Who could possibly measure how strong a pop was once it entered someone's mouth?
Zhu Cunji chuckled.
"Relax. This entire Ward sits on my family's land. Forty percent of the stall rents flow straight into the Prince of Qin's coffers."
The steward sighed.
"But Your Highness… your spending these past few days has already burned through several months of that rent."
"Hahaha! A few months' rent?" Zhu Cunji waved his hand grandly. "This Prince's Heir can afford it!"
The steward could only bow in defeat.
Turning a street corner, the group suddenly came upon a colossal structure rising from the eastern side of the Ward.
A massive stage stood at its center. Tiered seating rose around it in a trapezoidal formation, each row higher than the last. Even unfinished, it was imposing enough to accommodate thousands.
"What is this?" Zhu Cunji asked.
The steward hurried off to question a Blue Hat and soon returned.
"Reporting to Your Highness, they are constructing a grand theater."
"A theater?" Zhu Cunji frowned. "Opera? On such a massive stage—will the voices even carry?"
The steward lowered his voice.
"This theater is for more than opera. Its primary purpose is to show… movies."
"Movies?" Zhu Cunji blinked. "What are those?"
"They are performances acted out, recorded using celestial mirrors, then projected onto a screen. Many in Chengcheng and Puzhou have already seen them. They say the experience is extraordinary."
Zhu Cunji's interest ignited instantly.
"When will it open? Will it be better than the news mirrors?"
"I cannot say," the steward replied. "But… these movies require tickets. They are not free."
"A fee?" Zhu Cunji clapped his hands. "Excellent! Fewer people, better seats. Watch closely—once it opens, buy the best and most expensive tickets. I must see this myself!"
His orders were carried out without delay.
A month later, A Border Soldier's Tale of Daling River premiered at the Xi'an Grand Theater.
Xi'an's population dwarfed that of Gao Family Village or Puzhou, and accordingly, ticket prices were higher. Special VIP seating was arranged for officials and nobility, priced at five taels per seat.
Zhu Cunji arrived with his consort, secondary consort, concubines, sons, daughters—nearly half the VIP section was occupied by his household alone.
Lian Guoshi, Wu Shen, Shi Kefa, and many other officials were also present.
Then—
The siege of Daling River began.
At first, the officials merely watched.
Walls. Banners. Formations.
Familiar images.
But soon, the camera lingered.
On frozen hands gripping spears.
On exhausted soldiers gnawing dry rations.
On men collapsing in the snow.
The common folk cried out in anger.
The VIP section was silent.
Zhu Cunji's face grew pale. By halfway through, his hands were shaking.
Each cannon blast made him flinch.
Lian Guoshi sat rigid, brows knotted, mind racing through grain tallies and troop numbers.
Wu Shen clenched his jaw, recognizing every tactical failure.
Shi Kefa leaned forward, fists trembling.
When the final assault played—
Darkness fell.
Silence filled the theater.
Then—
Shi Kefa leapt to his feet, chair crashing behind him.
"This is intolerable!" he shouted. "Utterly intolerable!"
"How can the Jiannu be allowed such arrogance?"
He struck his chest.
"I request transfer to the border! Send me to the front!"
"Transfer me to the border!"
The words echoed.
Zhu Cunji slumped back into his seat, drenched in cold sweat.
The screen was dark.
But the battlefield remained burned into their eyes.