The Taichu golden sky-shuttle glided over the vermilion inner walls of the Central Heavenly Capital and touched down on the white marble landing plaza of Central Dragon-Vein Avenue.
Directly ahead rose the Imperial Crown Real Estate Pavilion—a seven-story rotunda built from polished spirit-glass, golden nanmu timber, and glowing Spirit-Jade floor tiles. Every noble clan, merchant guild, and high official in the Nine Provinces bought their capital estates through its master array.
Lord Wen Zhengming stepped off the shuttle ramp, holding his wife’s hand while little Xiaoqin and Xiaomei looked up at the hundred-foot crystal chandeliers inside the lobby with wide eyes.
Even though the Wen family now wore spotless Seventh-Grade Ice-Silk defensive robes, their leather boots still carried a thin rim of melted gray slush from North Willow Alley.
“Chairman Lin,” Lord Wen whispered, hesitating at the foot of the wide jade steps. “The Imperial Crown Pavilion only sells inner-city estates starting at a hundred thousand Pure Immortal Jade. Even a modest three-bedroom courtyard near the outer wall would cost too much. Surely a simple inn in the scholar district would suffice...”
“Lord Wen, you’re the Chief Civic Auditor of Taichu Benevolence Group,” Lin Mo said, walking briskly up the steps with Su Wan and Chu Lingxiao at his side. “If my Chief Auditor sleeps in a cramped inn, people will think Taichu Group can’t afford real estate.”
