Chapter 109: The Chamber of Entertainers

In the Prince’s residence, Yang Cheng delivered a batch of furniture, meticulously crafted by his own artisans, to Prince Zhu Wushang.

The furniture was exquisite, with a soft and smooth texture. Unlike ordinary pieces, these radiated luxury and nobility, adorned with precious materials and lifelike golden dragons carved along the edges, making them appear exceptionally distinguished.

Zhu Wushang was delighted, once again hosting Yang Cheng with fine wine, delicacies, and performances.

Yang Cheng found himself growing increasingly fond of Zhu Wushang. Though he appeared to be a playboy on the surface, he was good-natured at heart—a pitiful man neglected by his father and brothers. Zhu Wushang, in turn, liked Yang Cheng for the same reason: he saw no distinction between status and could converse with him as a genuine friend. The two grew closer, discussing the rise and fall of dynasties, ancient and modern romance, humanities and geography, and legends of the martial world; there was nothing they did not talk about.

However, the Prince’s residence was truly boring. The hospitality always consisted of the same three activities: appraising treasures, watching dances, and strolling through the garden. While novel at first, after three or four visits, Yang Cheng had lost interest. Seeing Yang Cheng sitting there, lost in thought while watching the dancers, Zhu Wushang waved his hand, dismissing the dancers and musicians.

Yang Cheng could not help but ask, "Your Highness, do you not find it dull, doing the same things every day?"

Zhu Wushang looked dejected at the mention of this and sighed, "Master Yang, it isn't just you who finds it dull. I’ve been watching this for over a decade; I’m sick of it. But besides eating, drinking, and playing, what else can I do? Countless eyes are watching me."

"Indeed, I suppose this is the confinement of the imperial family?" Yang Cheng nodded.

"Confinement? Yes. I can only complain to you. We princes and grandsons of the emperor look high and mighty, beyond measure, but to put it bluntly, I am just being kept in captivity. I can never leave my fiefdom for my entire life, condemned to eat, drink, and play until I die, just to put certain people at ease," Zhu Wushang said, downing a cup of wine.

"Have you never thought of doing something else?" Yang Cheng asked.

Zhu Wushang looked around in a panic, confirming no one was near. Only Yan Wenlong stood guard outside the door. Yang Cheng had heard from Zhu Wushang that this man was like an uncle to him and the only Golden Core stage expert in the residence. Because the imperial family feared that princes might form cliques or build private power, the military restrictions on princes were even stricter than those on other noble families.

Each Prince’s residence was limited to no more than two hundred guards, and only one Golden Core expert was permitted. This single expert was a member of his mother’s family, specifically arranged to protect his safety. As for the steward, Yan Huan, his cultivation was only at the Foundation Establishment stage, yet he too had been carefully selected by the Yan family to assist Wushang.

Zhu Wushang said, still shaken, "Master Yang, one must not speak carelessly." He feared being advised to rebel; he had seen the tragic ends of his ambitious brothers in the imperial palace. Whenever politics were involved, he made sure to stay as far away as possible, daring not to touch them.

*You’re a prince, yet you’re scared to this degree,* Yang Cheng thought. He had watched plenty of palace dramas and naturally had no intention of provoking such trouble, so he changed the subject: "Your Highness, don't call me Master Yang; it sounds distant. Just call me Yang Cheng."

Zhu Wushang nodded, feeling less constrained by etiquette when with Yang Cheng. "I am a few years your senior, so may I call you Brother Yang?"

"That works," Yang Cheng laughed, then asked curiously, "By the way, Your Highness, you mentioned before that the annual tribute from your fiefdom is only eight million spirit coins. Why so little? Not to mention that Wuzhou is vast and populous—the city of Wuzhou alone has a population in the hundreds of millions—why is the tax revenue so low?" Yang Cheng was not afraid of taboos; he was purely curious and asked about the state of his finances directly.

Zhu Wushang sighed, "Most of the tax revenue from Wuzhou City must be sent to the Eastern Capital, and from there to the Central Capital. This is the imperial decree; no city-state dares to keep it privately. The City Lord keeps a portion for administrative affairs, and what is sent to me is only this much. And it isn't even eight million in coins; it includes grain, silk, jewelry, and medicinal herbs—all folded together to barely reach that value."

"Sigh, it’s not enough."

Yang Cheng was silent. If Zhu Wushang were not so extravagant, he would still be considered a man of great wealth.

"By the way, have you given any thought to what we discussed last time? The women in my residence often ask about it," Zhu Wushang asked. In truth, he hadn't taken it to heart. It was something he had never heard of before, so he didn't hold high expectations.

Yang Cheng replied, "After we spoke, I gave it some thought. Your Highness, you have such a wealth of talent here; you could absolutely enter the entertainment industry. That line of work is a path to both fame and fortune."

"What do you mean by this 'entertainment industry'?"

Yang Cheng explained, "I see that the performers, singers, and dancers you have here must be the best in Wuzhou, right?"

Zhu Wushang said proudly, "That goes without saying."

"Your Highness, your appreciation for beauty and talent has led you to take in many women who are both beautiful and gifted. This is not only a virtuous act but also a resource. You are sitting on a gold mine without realizing it. If managed correctly, the wealth will roll in. This so-called entertainment industry is all about the affairs of romance and artistry, which is truly perfect for you."

Zhu Wushang raised an eyebrow, thinking: *Suitable for romance and artistry? Is that the image I have in people’s minds?* But then he thought, *So be it. The more I appear this way, the more the imperial family will be at ease. If I can live my life peacefully, why should I care about some hollow reputation?*

He then heard Yang Cheng continue: "Entertainment in Wuzhou is extremely scarce. Aside from watching duels in the martial arenas and listening to music in the brothels, there is almost nothing else. Your Highness can start by selecting prosperous areas in the city to establish several theaters. Choose the most excellent performers and implement a 'star-making' program. Select those with talent and beauty, train them, and have them perform in theaters first. The forms of performance can be diverse, such as songs, dances, and stage plays. Once the public’s appreciation has been cultivated, you can build hype for them, gain fans, and send them on tours across various regions. By then, they will be famous throughout the world, and everyone, from nobles to merchants and scholars, will be lining up to hand you their money..."

Seeing Yang Cheng talk about money with such unrefined enthusiasm, yet with such a logical plan, Zhu Wushang felt a stir of excitement. He waved his hand and said, "Wait, wait. This 'theater' and 'star-making program' you speak of... I’ve never heard of them. Please, Brother Yang, tell me more in detail."

So, Yang Cheng spent half a day giving Zhu Wushang a detailed introduction to the entertainment industry of his past life and the operations of talent agencies. He explained how to create stars, how to promote them, how to build fan clubs to generate hype, and how to organize tours. He also described various performance forms, leaving Zhu Wushang, a man well-versed in song and dance, truly amazed.

When they discussed the fervor of fans and the potential wealth of performers, Zhu Wushang was shocked and skeptical, yet he felt the immense potential for profit and became eager to try.

Zhu Wushang pondered for a moment and said, "Very well, I will do it." In any case, he was not short of money if he practiced a little restraint, and he had many conveniences at his disposal. He simply wanted to do something of his own.

He rubbed his head and added, "It’s just that I don't know the specific operations. I will need Brother Yang to lend a hand."

"That is easy to arrange," Yang Cheng said.

Zhu Wushang asked, "How should we take the first step?"

Yang Cheng replied, "In your name, establish an 'Artistes' Guild' to give these performers a legitimate status. You know as well as I do that your title carries weight; it can provide these women with security and ensure that outsiders don't dare to harbor ill intentions. Furthermore, as the guild grows, talented women among the common folk will feel that there is shelter under a large tree, and they will be more willing to join."

Zhu Wushang nodded. It was just like the mercenary groups—born out of necessity to provide wandering cultivators with a legitimate identity and protection. Yang Cheng pulled a small booklet from his robes and said, "You have an abundance of talent here; songs, dances, and lyrics will naturally be no problem. This booklet contains some lyrics I’ve written recently. They should be suitable for singing and provide a fresh experience for the audience. You can have them rehearsed. Whoever becomes famous from a single song can be considered the first 'star.' This is the beginning of our star-making program—we are going to manufacture stars in batches."

"There are also some stage play scripts in there that you can practice. Later, you can pick those with a talent for screenwriting to compose all sorts of stories. For example, depicting the beauty and twists of romantic love, or stories of heroic deeds—these are the things that most captivate the public’s appetite."

Yang Cheng chuckled, "Especially those tragic love stories; they are so addictive that it wouldn't be impossible to have the whole city empty out just to watch a performance."

Zhu Wushang took careful notes, wiped the sweat from his brow, and said, "Brother Yang, your words have been truly enlightening. I will need more of your guidance in the future." He could never have imagined that Yang Cheng was simply plagiarizing and copying; he genuinely believed that Yang Cheng possessed a miraculous mind.