The term "Taj Mahal" actually refers to India's national treasure, the Taj Mahal, but then again, naming a hotel after a tomb always gives a strange feeling.
Perhaps others felt the same way, so Liang En and his companions had booked a room in a European style rather than the local Indian style.
The suite was quite impressive overall, except for the abundance of windows—there were six in total, arranged in pairs of three semi-circular windows, each not very large.
This house design dates back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries when technology did not support large, safe glass windows, so small windows were used instead. Standing by the window, Liang En found the view excellent, with a beautiful beach and the famous Gateway of India in sight.
The Taj Mahal Hotel differs greatly from similar hotels worldwide: it is located by the sea, yet the entrance faces the city rather than the sea, and even the garden is on the city side.
There are rumors that the hotel's construction workers mixed up the blueprints while the European architect was on vacation, resulting in this unusual design.
In reality, the reason is simple. The designer wanted each room in the hotel to face the sea. The inland-facing U-shape of the hotel was intended for guest comfort, allowing the afternoon breeze to gently come from behind rather than directly from the bay.
Considering the humiliation of the hotel's founder, Tata, it makes sense that the design might reflect an unwelcoming attitude towards the British colonial forces arriving by sea.
The first afternoon was spent resting, partly to adjust to the time difference and partly due to safety concerns, especially with women around. Going out was not advisable.
Fortunately, this top-tier hotel had plenty of recreational facilities, so relaxation was not difficult as long as one was willing to spend money.
"There's an invitation." When Liang En and his companions woke up around 4 PM, they found an invitation slipped under the door, inviting them to a banquet that evening.
Liang En was a bit surprised by this sudden invitation from the Indian elite, but after chatting with the Indian staff accompanying them, he realized this was normal.
After all, this was the top hotel in India, where high-level gatherings often took place. If the event wasn't too formal, the hosts would often invite distinguished guests staying at the hotel to join.
From any angle, Liang En was now considered a renowned scholar, so it was easy to understand why he received such an invitation.
"The issue with clothes is a bit troublesome." Liang En's main concern about the invitation was the clothing. Dressing up with the Indian tycoons naturally posed a problem.
Given India's entrenched social hierarchy, many Indian millionaires had histories spanning hundreds of years and loved to display their wealth.
"Never mind, this will do." After a few minutes of frustration, Liang En realized that he was invited for his scholarly reputation, so his wisdom was his best adornment. He simply put on a formal suit.
"Elizabeth should be here; she suits this environment better," Jeanne d'Arc muttered softly. Although she had attended numerous real court banquets as a marshal of France, she wasn't skilled in such settings.
She wore a seemingly ordinary blue evening gown with minimal jewelry: a cross necklace, a ring, and a relic pouch at her waist.
Compared to the bejeweled ladies at the gathering, Jeanne's attire was much simpler, though in terms of value, it was no less than those thumb-sized gems.
Once they were dressed, it was nearly time. After tidying up, Liang En and his companions left the room and followed a hotel staff member to a large banquet hall.
Despite the mostly Indian attendees, the banquet was a Western-style buffet, with a full band playing relaxing music at the front of the dining room.
Looking at the scene before him, Liang En felt deeply shocked because it was a world away from the slums they passed through on the way.
The contrast between these two worlds was far greater than he had imagined, even making the people appear different. Compared to the slum dwellers, these people were noticeably more attractive and fair-skinned.
Liang En thought he was there just for a free meal, but unexpectedly, some Indian tycoons were very interested in archaeology and history. For instance, a magnate who monopolized one-fifth of the diamond industry in northern Surat, Mumbai.
One-fifth of Surat's diamond industry might not seem significant, but considering India handles around 60% of the world's diamond processing, with Gujarat accounting for 80%, mainly concentrated in Surat, this one-fifth was no small industry.
Especially since, apart from Mr. Verma's large modern factory in Surat, the other industries were mostly small, hand-crafted workshops.
"I once heard Count Boskiet mention you. He greatly admires your academic prowess." After greeting Liang En, Mr. Verma sat back down on the sofa with him.
"Of course, your jewelry designs are also wonderful. For example, I bought the ocean series brooch you designed for my daughters."
It's not surprising that Count Boskiet, who runs a luxury goods business, would know an Indian diamond magnate, as he would naturally need to deal with jewelers.
However, Liang En hadn't expected that he held such weight in Count Boskiet's eyes, enough for the Count to introduce him to his friends in his absence.
Especially considering the Count's poor health, their communication was mostly through his butler or emails, and they had never met or spoken directly.
"I am honored that you appreciate my work." Liang En replied politely after hearing the praise. The other man was not only a jewelry tycoon but also from a noble family, so his aesthetic judgment was certainly credible.
"No, it is my honor to obtain such masterful work." The bearded middle-aged man first complimented him, then said, "If possible, I would like to invite you to visit my processing plant and chat about jewelry."
At this point, Mr. Verma's intentions were clear. He evidently saw great potential in Liang En's future and wanted to explore the possibility of collaboration.
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