Having made their decision, Qin Lu didn't leave immediately after court the next day. Instead, he turned toward the imperial study.
"Oh? What brings you to the study today?"
With no major court affairs recently and the New Year approaching, Emperor Qin Yuan was in a good mood—his voice even carried a rare note of warmth.
Qin Lu clasped his hands respectfully and spoke clearly:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, it's like this—although the Princess Consort has married into my household, he is, after all, a man. He often finds life in the inner courtyard dull, so he occupies himself by tinkering with novel inventions."
"Hmm... Finding ways to pass the time isn't necessarily a bad thing."
Qin Yuan initially frowned slightly, then seemed to recall something and nodded in agreement.
As emperor, he naturally believed women—or in this case, male spouses—should content themselves with quiet pursuits like tea and flowers within the inner quarters.
But given that he'd personally arranged Gu Yanshu's marriage to Qin Lu, he couldn't help feeling a twinge of guilt over the matter.
His gaze drifted to the glass lantern shade on his desk—a recent favorite of his.
Since its installation, reading memorials at night had become noticeably easier.
And this glass shade, too, was one of Gu Yanshu's "idle inventions."
Perhaps the boy's restlessness wasn't so problematic after all.
But just as he finished nodding, Qin Yuan realized something amiss.
Why would Qin Lu specifically report on his spouse's hobbies?
The memory of Qin Lu presenting the glass lantern shade days ago resurfaced.
Had Gu Yanshu created something new?
Anticipation flickered in Qin Yuan's chest.
True to his expectations, Qin Lu produced a meticulously prepared proposal:
"Recently, the Princess Consort mentioned wanting to start something called a 'newspaper office' to alleviate his boredom. However, given the significance of such an undertaking, we believe it should be submitted for Your Majesty's judgment."
"Newspaper office? What's that?"
The unfamiliar term piqued Qin Yuan's interest. Noticing the document in Qin Lu's hands, he gestured for it.
Eunuch Wang, standing nearby, hurried forward to retrieve the proposal and present it to the emperor.
At first glance, Qin Yuan's expression remained indifferent.
But as he read further—understanding the newspaper's purpose and potential—his gaze grew increasingly focused.
A competent leader's fundamental skill was painting compelling visions for subordinates.
Having spent his previous life as a business magnate, Gu Yanshu had mastered this art.
Drafting an enticing proposal for the newspaper was child's play—especially when the "vision" was already packed with tangible benefits.
Though Qin Yuan was no genius, he wasn't foolish either.
He immediately recognized the newspaper's immense potential.
Closing the document, he studied Qin Lu with a complex expression:
"The Princess Consort said this matter should be decided by Us?"
After a brief pause, Qin Lu amended his statement:
"Your Majesty understands clearly—what the Princess Consort actually proposed was for Your Majesty to establish this newspaper office."
"For Us to establish it? Why?"
Qin Yuan's eyes narrowed slightly, his inscrutable expression deepening.
With so many advantages, why would Qin Lu hand this opportunity to him?
Just as suspicions began swirling in Qin Yuan's mind, Qin Lu clasped his hands again:
"Reporting to Your Majesty, once operational, the newspaper will inevitably spark fervent discussion among scholars and intellectuals. Its founder would gain considerable prestige within academic circles. The Prince Li's estate has no need for such scholarly acclaim."
Gu Yanshu had prepared Qin Lu thoroughly for this audience, considering countless approaches before settling on blunt honesty.
Qin Yuan might be mediocre, but he wasn't incompetent.
Flowery exaggerations wouldn't mask the newspaper's true value.
Better to state plainly: The benefits were too vast for Prince Li's estate to handle alone.
Besides, wasn't it natural for a son to seek his father's help when a venture grew beyond his control?
As predicted, Qin Yuan's stormy expression cleared after a moment of stunned silence.
Then, with a low chuckle that carried unmistakable amusement, he muttered:
"You two are certainly shrewd!"
The laughter in his voice confirmed his approval.
Hearing this, Qin Lu relaxed—Gu Yanshu's strategy had worked perfectly.
And judging by the emperor's reaction, the next steps would likely unfold exactly as predicted.
While Emperor Qin Yuan and Qin Lu were engaged in a harmonious conversation inside the imperial study, outside, someone was growing increasingly restless.
At this critical juncture of the succession struggle, every move of the princes was under intense scrutiny—especially Qin Lu, who was already a leading contender.
Since Qin Lu had made no attempt to conceal his visit to the emperor after court, many had taken notice, sparking rampant speculation about his purpose.
No one was more concerned about this than the First Prince, Qin Sheng.
The last time Qin Lu had visited the imperial study, it was to present that glass lantern shade—a move that not only put Qin Sheng at a disadvantage but also earned Qin Lu considerable favor with the emperor.
For days afterward, the emperor had praised the lantern shade with visible delight whenever it was mentioned.
Now, Qin Sheng couldn't help but wonder—what scheme was Qin Lu plotting this time?
Just as his suspicions reached a peak, news arrived that Qin Lu had already left the imperial study.
During their discussion, only Chief Eunuch Wang had been permitted to remain in attendance.
Eunuch Wang had served the emperor since his princely days, and even someone as bold as Qin Sheng wouldn't dare attempt to bribe him.
Thus, Qin Sheng had no way of knowing the exact content of Qin Lu's conversation with the emperor.
He could only piece together fragments of information:
Qin Lu had presented something to the emperor, who was reportedly extremely pleased with it.Before Qin Lu departed, the emperor had entrusted him with some task, accompanied by encouraging words like "Don't overthink it, just do your best."
Beyond these vague clues, Qin Sheng could uncover nothing else.
After hours of analysis with his advisors, he remained clueless about the implications.
Frustrated, he had no choice but to set the matter aside—while doubling the number of spies monitoring Prince Li's estate, hoping to glean hints from their subsequent actions.
Unlike Qin Sheng, who was practically tearing his hair out, Qin Lu was in excellent spirits.
Just as Gu Yanshu had predicted, after handing over the newspaper project to the emperor, Qin Yuan had ultimately delegated its establishment back to Prince Li's estate.
Not only that—aware of the newspaper's slow initial returns—the emperor had even personally contributed 100,000 taels as startup capital.
While this sum fell short of Gu Yanshu's estimated costs, free money was still free money.
With the imperial decree and funding secured, Gu Yanshu could proceed without reservations.
He immediately dispatched people to scout locations for the newspaper office and began preparations.
Despite being in the early stages, Gu Yanshu didn't forget to visit Wen Qingxiao—
First, to fulfill his promise of personally inviting him out of seclusion.
Second, to discuss the inaugural issue's release date and content.
After deliberation, they settled on the first day of the new year for the debut—
This allowed Wen Qingxiao ample time to prepare while capitalizing on the auspicious symbolism of a "new year, new beginnings."
One evening, Qin Lu had just returned to the estate and was removing his cloak when he casually asked Xingren:
"What has the Princess Consort been up to today?"
There was a reason for his inquiry.
Since finalizing the newspaper plans, Gu Yanshu had seemingly entered a "lull"—
Apart from martial arts training with Qin Lu, handling routine affairs, and inspecting construction progress at the main courtyard, he appeared to have little else occupying his time.
But Gu Yanshu was not someone who could sit idle.
True to Qin Lu's earlier report to the emperor—"The Princess Consort enjoys tinkering with odd inventions in his spare time"—he had indeed kept himself busy.
In just a few days, he'd produced an array of novelties:
ToothbrushesImproved toilet paperSoap and scented soap
Particularly noteworthy was the scented soap—Qin Lu found it surprisingly pleasant to use.
Unlike the slippery, skin-tightening soapberries that left his hands dry and cracked with frequent use, this soap left his skin smooth and moisturized.
And after Gu Yanshu started using it during baths... Qin Lu's appreciation had only deepened.
As his fingers unconsciously rubbed together at the memory, Xingren bowed slightly:
"Reporting to Your Highness, today the Princess Consort was still working on the silver mirror."
"Silver mirror?" Qin Lu's brow arched in mild surprise.
Lately, each time he returned home, he'd hear reports of Gu Yanshu's latest creations.
But this silver mirror—first mentioned days ago—was still unfinished?
Curious, Qin Lu altered his path.
Instead of heading to Cheng Ying Courtyard, he turned toward a small side courtyard Gu Yanshu had repurposed as a workshop.