With the matter of the newspaper's chief editor now settled and Gu Yanli taking the initiative to persuade Wen Qingxiao, Gu Yanshu felt a significant weight lift off his shoulders.
Even Qin Lu noticed the change in his mood.
During their morning martial arts training session, Qin Lu couldn't help but ask:
"You seem to be in a particularly good mood today, Princess Consort?"
Gu Yanshu hummed lightly, clearly pleased.
"Elder Brother came by a couple of days ago—Your Highness knows about that, right?"
Qin Lu had been on his wedding leave for some time, and military affairs had piled up in his absence. These days, he left early and returned late.
If not for his promise to train Gu Yanshu in martial arts—and his concern for Gu Yanshu's health—he would have gone straight to the military headquarters after court sessions instead of returning to the estate.
When Gu Yanli visited two days ago, Qin Lu happened to be handling military affairs. By the time he returned, Gu Yanli had already left.
"Xingren reported it to me."
"Then Your Highness must also know what I've been worrying about lately?"
Gu Yanshu, currently holding a horse stance, tilted his chin slightly upward.
"I do."
Qin Lu's tone carried a hint of silence.
After all, Gu Yanshu had previously sought his help on this matter, but Qin Lu truly hadn't been able to find a suitable candidate.
The thought had even left him with a faint sense of defeat.
Knowing Gu Yanshu wouldn't bring this up without reason, Qin Lu quickly pieced together the implication.
"Did your elder brother recommend someone suitable?"
"Mhm~"
Gu Yanshu gave Qin Lu an approving look, not bothering to keep him in suspense.
"Wen Qingxiao."
Though Wen Qingxiao had already faded from prominence by the time Qin Lu returned to the capital, his reputation had been well-established long before.
Even before Qin Lu joined the military, Wen Qingxiao had already been renowned in the capital for his literary talents.
Qin Lu's former tutors had often praised him, so he was naturally familiar with the name.
Hearing it now—both familiar and distant—Qin Lu, after a brief moment of thought, had the same reaction as Gu Yanshu:
"The sixth son of the Wen family? He does fit your requirements, but hasn't he withdrawn from society?"
"He did in the past," Gu Yanshu admitted, his mood lifting further. "But after Elder Brother spoke with him, he's agreed to meet with me."
Though Gu Yanshu didn't know what Gu Yanli had said to persuade Wen Qingxiao, as long as the latter was willing to meet, the matter was already halfway resolved.
Qin Lu was well aware of Gu Yanshu's silver tongue—he could talk the dead back to life if he wanted.
"When is the meeting?"
"Today, around mid-morning. Elder Brother will come to pick me up."
Gu Yanshu shifted slightly, adjusting his stance.
Young Master Gu's foundation was pitifully weak. These days, Qin Lu had only been having him practice basic exercises like horse stances.
Yet even these basics were challenging for Gu Yanshu.
Each time, he relied on his extraordinary willpower to push through.
Right now, he was clearly nearing his limit.
"Do you want me to accompany you?"
Qin Lu glanced at the incense stick burning nearby—only a finger's width remained.
"Better not," Gu Yanshu chuckled. "Wen Qingxiao is a scholar. If Your Highness shows up looking all fierce and intimidating, you might scare him off."
"I'm fierce and intimidating?"
Qin Lu's brow arched slightly, his expression darkening in mock displeasure.
Gu Yanshu wasn't the least bit intimidated. If anything, his smile widened.
"Look at that expression right now—isn't that the very definition of 'fierce and intimidating'?"
"Since my Princess Consort has already labeled me as such, wouldn't it be a shame if I didn't live up to the reputation?"
In one swift motion, Qin Lu stepped forward, scooped Gu Yanshu up, and began massaging the acupressure points along his legs before he could react.
Gu Yanshu instinctively glanced toward the corner—sure enough, the incense stick had burned out.
"Fierce and intimidating, hmm?"
Qin Lu's fingers moved with practiced gentleness as he repeated the question.
Gu Yanshu leaned his weight against Qin Lu, utterly unrepentant.
"Mhm! Absolutely terrifying. I'm shaking with fear."
"Ungrateful little thing."
Qin Lu chided him lightly, but his hands remained tender.
Xingren, who had been approaching to inform them that breakfast was ready, silently retreated a step, standing frozen in the corner.
Why do His Highness and the Princess Consort keep acting like this?
Is it too late to request a transfer to the Fifth Prince's household?
The answer, of course, was yes.
Fortunately, both Qin Lu and Gu Yanshu had responsibilities to attend to. After a brief moment of affectionate bickering, they separated.
After breakfast, Qin Lu left as usual to handle military affairs, while Gu Yanshu prepared to meet Wen Qingxiao with Gu Yanli.
Perhaps taking Gu Yanshu's claim of "forgetting how to ride a horse" seriously, Gu Yanli once again arrived in a carriage.
Not long after the carriage departed from the Prince Li's estate, Gu Yanshu noticed something odd.
"This doesn't seem to be the way to the Hanlin Academician's residence?"
Though he had never visited the Wen family's estate, he could make an educated guess based on the capital's general layout.
In Tianqi's capital, the northern sector housed the imperial palace.
The western districts were reserved for the mansions of noble families and established aristocratic houses.
The eastern quarters accommodated officials of lesser standing and newly risen elites.
The current Hanlin Academician, Wen Qingxiao's father, came from a family whose influence surpassed even that of the Chengen Marquis's household.
For three generations, the Wen family had produced officials serving in court.
The current Grand Secretary of the Cabinet was none other than Wen Qingxiao's grandfather.
Given such prestige, the Wen family's residence would undoubtedly be located in the western noble district.
Yet the carriage was now heading in a completely different direction—toward the outskirts of the city.
With just a slight deduction, Gu Yanshu could deduce that the Wen family's residence should be located in the western noble district of the capital.
Yet now, the carriage was heading in a distinctly eastern direction.
"Indeed, this isn't the way to the Hanlin Academician's residence."
Gu Yanli nodded, confirming Gu Yanshu's guess before explaining:
"Qingxiao prefers quiet. He found the main household too noisy, so he moved out and settled elsewhere."
A flicker of understanding passed through Gu Yanshu's mind.
It wasn't that Wen Qingxiao found the Wen family residence noisy—he simply didn't want to see people.
Though this thought crossed his mind, Gu Yanshu didn't voice it aloud.
Before long, the carriage came to a stop.
Following Gu Yanli, Gu Yanshu arrived at a secluded courtyard nestled in a quiet corner of the city.
Though the location was remote, the surroundings were breathtaking.
Plum trees lined the path, their blossoms in full bloom at this time of year.
A glance revealed delicate flowers dotting the branches, their subtle fragrance drifting through the air, intoxicating the senses.
It seemed arrangements had been made in advance.
After just two knocks on the courtyard gate by Gu Yanli, a servant emerged to usher them inside.
The servant led them along a winding path before stopping at a pavilion.
"Young Master is currently in his study. If the two gentlemen follow this path straight ahead, you'll find him."
"Understood. You may leave."
Gu Yanli waved the servant away with practiced ease—clearly, this wasn't his first visit.
Once the servant withdrew, Gu Yanli offered a quiet explanation:
"Qingxiao values solitude. Unless instructed otherwise, the servants never disturb him."
Gu Yanshu nodded in acknowledgment while discreetly surveying the courtyard.
The interior mirrored the exterior—plum trees dominated the landscape, their blossoms lending an ethereal beauty to the surroundings.
Though the courtyard was modest in size, every detail had been meticulously arranged for comfort and elegance.
Even the flowerbeds boasted rare and expensive blooms.
To an outsider, this place might seem like a hidden paradise.
Yet the most striking feature was the silence.
Were it not for the occasional glimpse of servants moving in the distance, Gu Yanshu might have wondered if the place was inhabited at all.
Amid this unnatural stillness, Gu Yanshu's mind conjured an image of Wen Qingxiao—
A recluse, perhaps tinged with melancholy, maybe even harboring traces of despair and resignation toward life.
Just as this mental portrait solidified, Gu Yanli pushed open the study door.
A voice, cool and faintly detached, drifted out:
"You're here?"
The moment those words registered, Gu Yanshu felt a jolt of clarity.
How could one describe such a voice?
It was crisp yet elusive, serene yet almost otherworldly.
Like the first chant echoing through a temple at dawn, it carried an air of transcendence.
Following the sound, Gu Yanshu finally laid eyes on Wen Qingxiao—
And realized the man before him bore no resemblance to the brooding, reclusive figure he had imagined.
The man seated in the study wore a blue brocade robe, his waist-length hair loosely tied back with a single jade hairpin.
A book lay open in his hands, his slender fingers resting idly on the pages—every inch of him exuded an air of effortless grace.
Even though Wen Qingxiao wasn't Gu Yanshu's usual type, the sight before him suddenly made him understand the meaning of the phrase:
"A peerless gentleman, as flawless as jade beneath the heavens."
No wonder, back when Wen Qingxiao was still in his prime, none of the capital's young noblemen could compare.
Forget his scholarly achievements—just this innate elegance alone was something few could ever hope to match.
As Gu Yanshu observed him, Wen Qingxiao's gaze also settled on the unfamiliar figure beside Gu Yanli.
"This must be the Fourth Young Master Gu?"
"Yes, this is my younger brother, Gu Yanshu."
Gu Yanli nodded before turning to Gu Yanshu.
"And this is the Sixth Young Master Wen I mentioned—Wen Qingxiao."
"Sixth Young Master Wen, I've long admired your reputation."
Gu Yanshu clasped his hands in a polite salute.
"Fourth Young Master Gu, the pleasure is mine."
Wen Qingxiao returned the courtesy with equal formality, setting his book aside.
"Please, come in and sit. I must apologize in advance—given my condition, I'm afraid my hospitality may be lacking."
His tone was calm, almost indifferent, as he mentioned his disability—no trace of evasion or shame.
It was as though he had long since made peace with it.
Before Gu Yanshu could respond, Gu Yanli cut in impatiently:
"What's with all this 'long admired' and 'pleasure is mine' nonsense? When I visit, you don't even bother serving tea—I have to brew it myself! Yet today, suddenly you're all about proper manners?"
Without waiting for an answer, he marched into the study, dragging Gu Yanshu along, and plopped down at a round table with the familiarity of someone who'd done this countless times.
He even rummaged through a nearby drawer, pulled out a tin of tea leaves, and began brewing a pot—completely at home.
Gu Yanshu's eyes caught on the teapot Gu Yanli had picked up.
It was part of the glass tea set he'd gifted the Chengen Marquis's household just days ago.
"Chongshan—"
(Wen Qingxiao's voice was soft as he explained, using Gu Yanli's courtesy name.)
"—worries that I spend too much time cooped up here, so whenever he comes across something novel, he makes sure to bring me a set. This tea set arrived just the other day."
His gaze flickered to Gu Yanshu.
"I've heard it was crafted by Young Master Gu?"
Though his words were tactful, Gu Yanli immediately grasped the underlying concern.
"I own a kiln workshop—the glass is produced there. It's not some rare treasure, so don't fret over it."
Relief flickered across Wen Qingxiao's face.
"That puts my mind at ease."
He was no stranger to luxury.
When Gu Yanli had first brought the tea set, Wen Qingxiao had been awed by its craftsmanship but hesitated to accept, fearing it might be too precious.
Gu Yanli had insisted, claiming Gu Yanshu had given him multiple sets—this was just one of many.
Reluctantly, Wen Qingxiao had taken it, though a lingering unease remained.
Now, hearing Gu Yanshu himself confirm its accessibility, that worry finally dissipated.
Wen Qingxiao might have been reassured, but Gu Yanli wasn't pleased.
"What, my word alone wasn't good enough? You had to double-check with Yanshu?"
"My apologies—that was thoughtless of me."
Wen Qingxiao acknowledged his misstep with a slight bow.
Gu Yanli waved it off, unimpressed.
"Enough with the formalities—you know I hate that!"
Though his tone was brusque, Gu Yanshu could tell their bond ran deeper than surface-level courtesy.
Wen Qingxiao didn't seem offended by Gu Yanli's bluntness either—if anything, his expression softened further as he chuckled in response.
Thanks to Gu Yanli's presence, the initial stiffness between Gu Yanshu and Wen Qingxiao melted away within minutes.
Formalities were discarded, and conversation flowed naturally.
After just a short exchange, Gu Yanshu realized Wen Qingxiao's erudition surpassed even his lofty reputation.
If he had to sum it up?
Worthy of every ounce of praise he'd ever received.
Despite Gu Yanshu's advantage of future knowledge and life experience, he still found himself humbled by Wen Qingxiao's depth of learning.
Once the pleasantries were out of the way, they turned to business.
Gu Yanshu had come prepared.
When the topic of the newspaper arose, he produced a meticulously drafted proposal and sample layouts, explaining each detail to Wen Qingxiao.
Wen Qingxiao studied the documents carefully, his expression unreadable as he absorbed the contents.
The prolonged silence made Gu Yanshu uneasy.
"Is there an issue?"
Setting the papers down, Wen Qingxiao finally spoke after a thoughtful pause.
"There is, actually."