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The city marketplace had carried a strange silence for the past few days.
The noise had not decreased.
The crowds were still there.
But what had changed were the eyes of the people.
On a counter belonging to the Li Family rested a thin white sheet…
and beside it, a new writing instrument.
Paper.
And an ink pen.
Anyone who touched it paused.
Compared to bamboo slips, the paper was lighter.
Compared to cloth, cheaper.
And the pen—there was no need to dip it into ink.
After writing just a single line, people understood—
this was not something that would stop.
Li Tian did not begin with mass selling.
Only selected locations.
Only limited stock.
Only merchants, accountants, and record-keepers.
And wherever it reached, the old tools slowly began to feel obsolete.
At the same time, inside the Imperial Residence, the city's movements were being closely observed.
The Princess personally tested the paper and pen.
One document—written in half the time.
And in half the space.
She understood immediately—
this was not just business. It was a change of system.
That very evening, Li Tian received a discreet invitation.
No ceremony.
No court.
Just a closed room, and the Princess seated across from him.
"You are selling the product in the market," she said directly.
"But the real thing in your hands is the recipe."
Li Tian showed no haste.
"Selling a recipe," he replied calmly,
"costs more than selling a product."
The negotiation began.
The Princess's first offer—
100 gold coins.
Li Tian did not refuse.
He simply asked one question.
"How quickly will Imperial records change with that?"
Silence.
Second offer—
180 gold coins.
Li Tian showed her a few numbers written on paper.
The ink flowed cleanly, as if every digit knew its place.
"Every ministry's expense cut in half.
Every archive's space reduced to one-third.
And every copy—instant."
Third offer—
260 gold coins.
This time, the Princess's tone hardened.
"You are already profiting.
Why do you need so much?"
Li Tian answered without hesitation.
"Because once this spreads,
people won't even touch bamboo or cloth anymore."
"Paper will become a habit."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
The final round began.
The Princess took a deep breath and said—
"400 gold coins.
The recipe will remain in the Imperial vault.
But you will continue market selling."
Li Tian thought for a few moments.
Then he nodded.
The deal was finalized.
No handshake.
No written contract.
In this era, some agreements were sealed only through eye contact.
That night, Li Tian stood in the Li Family courtyard.
On one side—
a future secured by 400 gold coins.
On the other—
paper slowly spreading through the market.
"I have sold the recipe," he murmured to himself.
"But the flow will remain in my hands."
The moon rose above the city.
And with it,
preparations began for writing a new era—
with ink and paper.