Gu Yanshu had no idea that Zhou Wenyan's mind had raced through so many revelations in those brief moments.
His attention was entirely on Qin Lu's unexpected arrival.
"Your Highness, what brings you here?"
"Just finished duties at the Ministry of War. Heard you were here, so I took a detour."
The sheer delight on Gu Yanshu's face made Qin Lu's fingers itch—
So he indulged himself, ruffling Gu Yanshu's hair before straightening the slightly disheveled cloak draped over his shoulders.
"Oh~ Just a detour, is it?"
Gu Yanshu's eyes sparkled with amusement.
From the Ministry of War, neither the military camp nor Prince Li's residence was anywhere near Guiyuanju.
Anyone could see Qin Lu had gone out of his way.
"How did the negotiations go?" Qin Lu ignored the teasing, his expression unreadable.
Gu Yanshu almost pouted.
Back when we first married, this little deer's ears would've turned red at being caught in a white lie.
Now? A seasoned veteran, unshakable as a mountain.
Still, he answered dutifully:
"Smoothly. Final price was 250,000 taels—exactly as I predicted."
"Do you have enough funds?" Qin Lu wasn't surprised.
"Plenty. The teahouses and Taoranju have been thriving, especially Yaoyue Pavilion."
Gu Yanshu nodded without hesitation.
The recent 480,000-tael purchase of the Zhou family's silk trade had strained his reserves—
But glassware's explosive popularity and Yaoyue Pavilion's high-end membership system had replenished them swiftly.
(Two noblewomen had even splurged on black-tier memberships, instantly adding 20,000 taels to his coffers.)
His eyes curved into crescents at the memory:
"Not only enough—soon, I might even be the one supporting Your Highness!"
Another man might've taken offense at such a remark from his wife.
Qin Lu, however, merely nodded solemnly:
"Good. This prince will rely on you then."
Nearby, Zhige adopted the perfect expression of "I see and hear nothing."
Don't ask. Just know His Highness is thrilled at the prospect of being a kept man.
Gu Yanshu's smile deepened, his gaze luminous as he looked at Qin Lu:
"Is this Your Highness's first visit to Guiyuanju? Shall I give you a tour?"
"Mn."
Of course Qin Lu wouldn't refuse.
Thus began Gu Yanshu's proud showcase of his "conquered empire"—
(Ahem, no, his business ventures. Ahem.)
Every detail of Guiyuanju bore his design.
Though busy schedules had prevented him from supervising construction personally, he could still recite its every feature with intimate familiarity.
Qin Lu followed silently, but his attentive gaze left no doubt—he hung on every word.
Their leisurely stroll wasn't discreet.
Numerous patrons witnessed it, reigniting capital gossip about "Prince Li and his consort's legendary devotion"—
(With fresh embellishments, naturally.)
By now, they'd reached the teahouse's recreational quarters.
After inspecting the first-floor chess rooms, Gu Yanshu led Qin Lu upstairs to the storytelling hall.
Timing it perfectly, they caught a session in progress—
An excellent chance to evaluate the performer's skills while enjoying the tale.
Today's story?
The Legend of Chancellor He—
A recent capital sensation about a scholar's rise from peasantry to power.
The storyteller sipped tea, cleared his throat, and slammed the wooden block with theatrical flair—
"Last time, we spoke of He San's daring scheme to secretly enroll himself for the imperial exams! Today, we tell of *trials multiplied—misfortunes never come singly!*"
At this teaser, the previously relaxed audience straightened in their seats, tension rippling through them.
Had He San's plans unraveled?
The storyteller continued:
Enrolling himself was the boldest act of He San's life.
Even after a two-hour walk home, his heart still pounded when his parents asked about his younger brother's registration.
Luckily, the He family barely noticed him.
Satisfied that He Wu (the favored fifth son) was signed up, they ignored He San's nervous demeanor.
Life resumed its drudgery—
With He Wu "preparing" for the exams, his tutor assigned more coursework.
Of course, the lazy He Wu dumped it all on He San.
The increased workload meant less farm labor from He San—
A discrepancy his parents eventually noticed.
But He Wu, complicit in the deception, covered for him.
Though suspicious, the parents' blind love for their youngest let the lie stand.
Days passed until—
The eve of the examinations.
For a family that had never produced even a lowly scholar, this was momentous.
The entire He household escorted He Wu to the county seat—
All except He San, ordered to stay behind for farmwork.
This shattered He San's plans.
How could he take the exam now?
As the family departed, despair gripped him—
Until—
A miracle.
He Wu's tutor arrived unexpectedly.
The truth?
The tutor had long known He Wu's essays weren't his own.
By chance, he'd discovered He San was the true scholar.
Suggesting He Wu take the exams was actually a test for He San—
If the boy lacked the courage to enroll himself, the tutor would let the matter drop.
(No use helping those who won't help themselves.)
But He San's initiative proved a spark of ambition still burned within him.
Moved, the tutor offered salvation:
"Go to the exam. I'll handle your farm duties."
Overwhelmed with gratitude, He San raced after his family.
Yet another obstacle awaited in town—
How to enter the exam hall under his parents' noses?
As candidates filed in, time ticked away while his parents lingered outside.
In desperation, He San gambled everything.
He spent his meager savings on:
A decent new robe from a tailor.A cheap jade hairpin.
Transformed by these, he blended into the candidate queue, heart hammering as he angled his face away from his parents.
(Mentally rehearsing excuses if caught.)
Miraculously—
They didn't recognize him.
During inspection, his father seemed to hesitate—
But the fine clothing and hairpin dismissed his doubts.
Where would that worthless boy get money for such things?
And he's never stepped foot in a schoolhouse—how could he be sitting exams?
Thus, through sheer parental neglect, He San slipped into the examination hall—
His fate hanging in the balance.
——
"Truly, misfortunes never come singly!"
The audience exhaled collectively as He San cleared this hurdle, settling back into their chairs—
Eager for the next twists:
Would He San pass?
When would his parents discover the truth?
If successful, how would he navigate the higher-level provincial exams?
Just as these questions arose—
*BANG!*
The storyteller's block slammed down, followed by the classic cliffhanger:
"To know what happens next—
Tune in next time!"
"That's it?"
"It's over already?"
"But it just started!"
The audience instinctively glanced toward the incense stick marking the performance's duration—only to find it completely burned out.
Realization dawned:
Today's storyteller hadn't cut the session short—in fact, he'd generously extended it!
Yet disappointment still flickered across their faces.
After weeks of patronage, they knew Guiyuanju's ironclad rule:
*One tale per session. No encores. No extensions.*
But soon, their spirits lifted.
Though The Legend of Chancellor He had ended, another master storyteller was preparing to begin Ironhand Constable—
A gripping crime thriller equally renowned for its twists and vivid scenes.
Today's installment promised to reveal:
*"Who left the headless corpse in the bridal chamber?"*
(A mystery that had sparked fierce debates among regulars.)
Some had even made wagers—
The losers would treat the correct guessers to tea.
Anticipation reignited as they settled in for the next tale.
——
Meanwhile, Gu Yanshu and Qin Lu had retreated to the third-floor reading lounge—
A world apart from the second floor's lively performances.
Here, silence reigned.
Patrons spoke in hushed tones, if at all.
Those moving between shelves did so with exaggerated care, avoiding even the slightest disturbance.
And every seated guest was deep in study—
Transcribing texts with monastic focus, their expressions solemn, their postures rigid with concentration.