The last time Gu Yanshu met with the Zhou family, Guiyuanju had not yet opened for business, so he had arranged their discussion in a random teahouse.
This time, however, he naturally chose his own territory—where he could inspect his thriving empire while negotiating.
But the differences didn't end there.
Aside from the location, the attendees had also changed.
In addition to Zhou Da (Eldest Young Master Zhou) and Zhou Si (Fourth Young Master Zhou), a middle-aged man in his forties was present.
Having clashed with Yunci Zhai multiple times, Gu Yanshu had long since studied the Zhou family's records—so he immediately recognized the man's identity:
Zhou Wenyan, the current head of the Zhou family and father of the Zhou brothers.
The meeting proceeded smoothly, with both sides maintaining a polite and civil atmosphere, far from the hostile tension outsiders might have expected.
Today's performance at Guiyuanju was a comedic crosstalk act, and the audience erupted in laughter at the punchline.
Seated in a private room on the third floor, Gu Yanshu's lips curled into a faint smile as he brewed tea.
When the three Zhou men entered, they were greeted by this scene—a breathtakingly beautiful man, serene and poised, smiling faintly as steam curled from the teapot.
"You're here? Sit."
Hearing their arrival, Gu Yanshu gestured casually to the seats opposite him before finally tearing his gaze from the stage.
"Greetings to Your Highness, the Princess Consort of Li Wangfu. May Your Highness be at peace."
Zhou Wenyan bowed slightly before taking his seat, his eyes studying the man who had repeatedly outmaneuvered his sons and brought the Zhou family to ruin.
Gu Yanshu was young—especially to Zhou Wenyan, who was nearing fifty.
In fact, according to Zhou Wenyan's knowledge, Gu Yanshu was even a few months younger than his youngest son.
Yet this youth had single-handedly orchestrated the Zhou family's downfall.
Zhou Wenyan's scrutiny was blatant, but Gu Yanshu didn't shy away—instead, he met it with unflinching calm.
"What is Patriarch Zhou looking at?"
With a casual wave, Bai Zhu, standing behind Gu Yanshu, stepped forward to pour tea for the three Zhou men.
Zhou Wenyan was, by all accounts, a successful businessman—in modern terms, he'd be considered a tycoon.
Having weathered storms, he wasn't as rash as the younger generation. Without a hint of awkwardness, he replied frankly:
"Your Highness is… different from the rumors."
After all, the rumors painted Gu Yanshu as a useless, hot-tempered playboy—a typical spoiled noble.
Zhou Wenyan couldn't be certain how much of Yunci Zhai's downfall was Gu Yanshu's doing, but the composure he displayed now was far beyond that of a mere wastrel.
Gu Yanshu neither confirmed nor denied it.
Of course I'm different—the soul inside this body has been replaced.
"Patriarch Zhou is also unlike what I imagined."
Though Gu Yanshu had never met Zhou Wenyan before, he had interacted with all three Zhou brothers.
Zhou Mao'ran (Second Young Master Zhou): Mediocre in ability but prone to delusions of grandeur. Reckless and short-sighted—a fool in the business world.Zhou Maoyuan (Fourth Young Master Zhou): Smarter than his second brother, though still lacking in skill. At least he was grounded in reality—just young and in need of tempering.Zhou Maojie (Eldest Young Master Zhou): The sharpest of the three. Calculating, strategic, and adept at biding his time. Unfortunately, his status as a concubine-born son left him with little influence in the family.
Yet whether it was Zhou Er, Zhou Si, or even Zhou Da—none could hide their resentment when facing Gu Yanshu.
Even now, Zhou Da's gaze held no goodwill.
But Zhou Wenyan was different.
He faced Gu Yanshu with utter calm, as if the man across from him wasn't the architect of his family's ruin.
After a brief pause, Zhou Wenyan understood Gu Yanshu's meaning and chuckled lightly.
"This commoner is past fifty. Though I wouldn't claim to have seen through the world's affairs, I can at least say… I know how to lose gracefully."
The price war's defeat.
Selling the silk business to salvage Yunci Zhai.
Every step—though decided by his sons—had his approval.
They were outplayed.
There was no one to blame but themselves.
If anything, Zhou Wenyan felt gratitude toward Gu Yanshu.
Despite the Zhou family's dire straits, Gu Yanshu was still willing to buy their remaining assets, ensuring they wouldn't be left penniless and destitute.
Gu Yanshu's hand paused mid-sip, his eyes locking onto Zhou Wenyan's for a long moment before he sighed faintly.
"It's a pity we stand on opposing sides."
"Know how to lose gracefully."
Three simple words—yet how few could truly embody them?
In his past life, Gu Yanshu had seen countless so-called successful men—once dignified and polished—shatter into hysterics after business failures.
Some even chose suicide.
Someone like Zhou Wenyang—composed and philosophical in defeat—was exceedingly rare.
And among those rare individuals, most would bide their time, waiting for the right moment to stage a comeback.
So Gu Yanshu's regret wasn't mere politeness.
Zhou Wenyang cupped his hands slightly, acknowledging the compliment, then seized the opportunity:
"If Your Highness regrets it… perhaps you could show mercy when negotiating the price later?"
"If Patriarch Zhou expects me to haggle, then you must also recognize that your family's pricing is unreasonable. A fair transaction requires no 'mercy.'"
The moment money was mentioned, Gu Yanshu's business instincts kicked in.
Appreciation is one thing—business is another.
Seeing Gu Yanshu's ruthlessness, Zhou Wenyang sighed inwardly but quickly accepted reality.
With the topic of bargaining raised, the two swiftly moved into negotiations.
When selling the silk business, Zhou Wenyang had heard from his sons about Gu Yanshu's brutal haggling.
But only now, facing it directly, did he realize—
No description could capture the experience.
Gu Yanshu systematically dismantled the Zhou family's pricing rationale—analyzing Yunci Zhai's current state, worker morale, shop depreciation, and more—until he had slashed their already discounted price by another 20%.
Zhou Wenyan tried to argue but found no opening to interject.
For a moment, he even suspected Gu Yanshu knew Yunci Zhai better than he did.
In the end, the deal was settled at 250,000 taels—barely half what the Zhou family had received for their silk business just half a month prior.
With this, the Zhou family was left with nothing but this sum of silver.
As the contract was drafted for signing, Zhou Wenyan's hand paused. He looked up at Gu Yanshu.
"Your Highness."
"Hm?"
Pleased with the negotiated price, Gu Yanshu afforded him some patience.
"This entire affair… was orchestrated by you, wasn't it?"
"What does Patriarch Zhou think?"
Though Gu Yanshu didn't confirm it outright, Zhou Wenyan already had his answer.
Before meeting Gu Yanshu, both the First Prince's faction and the Zhou family had believed their downfall was Prince Li's doing.
Some even theorized that the prince had recruited a brilliant strategist.
But now, after this brief encounter, Zhou Wenyan knew:
There was no strategist.
Prince Li might not even have been deeply involved.
True power carried a distinct aura—confidence, authority, and an almost magnetic persuasiveness.
And Gu Yanshu embodied it flawlessly.
Lowering his gaze to the contract, Zhou Wenyan signed without further hesitation, then pressed his family and personal seals beside his name.
Every movement was deliberate, almost ceremonial.
Staring at the document, he felt a pang of loss—this single sheet of paper now represented two generations of the Zhou family's labor.
Noticing his melancholy, Gu Yanshu tactfully redirected the conversation.
"Two hundred fifty thousand taels. Young Masters Zhou, please verify the amount."
At his signal, Bai Zhu stepped forward, placing a lacquered box before Zhou Da and Zhou Si.
The simple action made both brothers freeze.
Bai Zhu's immediate compliance meant one thing:
Gu Yanshu had predicted the final price down to the last tael.
What kind of terrifying control was this?
Zhou Wenyan's throat tightened as a realization struck him.
"The porcelain bowls used by beggars and laborers in the southern slums…"
"Taoranju also placed a substantial order with Yunci Zhai."
Seeing no need for denial, Gu Yanshu admitted it freely.
"Why?" Zhou Wenyan's voice was raw.
The beggars' bowls had been the final, crushing blow—the move that ensured Yunci Zhai's total annihilation.
He could accept losing the price war—Zhou Mao'ran had been reckless, and Taoranju won fairly.
He didn't regret selling the silk trade—it had been a collective decision, a misstep owned by the entire family.
But after Yunci Zhai's reopening, Zhou Wenyan had believed the feud with Taoranju was over.
Why this merciless execution?
Before Gu Yanshu could answer, Zhige, standing in the corner, twitched his ear subtly—a sign he'd received a covert message.
Stepping forward, he bowed.
"Your Highness, His Royal Highness Prince Li has arrived."
Gu Yanshu's brow arched.
He knew Prince Li's shadow guards had unique communication methods—akin to "sound transmission" in legends.
Zhige wouldn't speak without certainty.
"First floor?"
"Nearby." Zhige glanced toward the door.
The implication was clear: Qin Lu was just outside, waiting without interrupting.
With the contract signed, Gu Yanshu saw no reason to delay. Rising, he nodded to Zhou Wenyan.
"The private room is reserved until closing. Patriarch Zhou may stay as long as needed. I have matters to attend to."
As Bai Zhu opened the door, Gu Yanshu paused on the threshold and left one final, cryptic remark:
"I am the Princess Consort of Li Wangfu."
Then he was gone—already spotting Qin Lu's silhouette down the corridor.
Zhou Wenyan watched as Gu Yanshu approached a figure in the hallway.
Though the distance obscured details, Zhige and Bai Zhu's deferential postures confirmed it: Prince Li himself.
He saw Gu Yanshu say something that made the prince reach out and ruffle his hair affectionately, then adjust the fur-lined cloak draped over his shoulders.
Even without hearing their words, the intimacy between them was palpable—a prince's open adoration for his consort.
And in that moment, Zhou Wenyan finally understood.
Gu Yanshu's parting words hadn't been a mere statement of identity.
They were the answer to his last, unanswered question:
*Why the merciless execution?*
Because I am the Princess Consort of Li Wangfu.
Because your family dared oppose my husband.
And because—winning is what I do.
Though the title of Imperial Merchant held no official rank, the financial rewards were immense.
Every merchant granted this privilege in Tianqi Dynasty was wealth beyond measure, their households swimming in gold and silver.
And as the Princess Consort of Li Wangfu, Gu Yanshu would never tolerate a rival faction—especially the First Prince's camp—retaining such a lucrative asset.
It was only now that Zhou Wenyan felt true, unreserved admiration for Gu Yanshu.
Losing to such a man… my sons had no chance. The Zhou family never stood a chance.
The Zhou family was finished—but he couldn't help wondering:
*How long until the First Prince falls too?*
A bitter chuckle rose in his throat as he recalled that the marriage between Prince Li and Gu Yanshu had been orchestrated by the First Prince and his mother, Consort Hui.
When the dust settles, will His Highness look back on this "masterstroke" with regret?
As for his daughter, now married into the First Prince's household…
If possible, he would extract her from that sinking ship.
If not… she would have to be sacrificed.
The Zhou family was battered and broken, no longer able to weather even the slightest storm.