Gu Yanshu had initially considered experiencing the third-floor reading lounge himself—
(A nostalgic return to his student days.)
But the intense scholarly atmosphere dissuaded him.
After observing quietly from the doorway without disturbing a single patron, he and Qin Lu withdrew.
Only one reader seemed to sense their presence, glancing up briefly—
But by then, they were already leaving, leaving behind nothing but the faintest rustle of robes.
——
"I hadn't expected the Princess Consort to dedicate an entire section to this."
Only once they'd descended did Qin Lu voice his thoughts.
In his understanding, Gu Yanshu was a man of calculated pragmatism.
Carving out a charitable space in a profit-driven establishment like Guiyuanju seemed uncharacteristically altruistic.
Gu Yanshu chuckled, unoffended.
"This floor wasn't originally intended for impoverished scholars."
Initially, he'd designed the third floor as a scholarly salon—
(A refined gathering place for intellectuals, akin to modern book clubs or academic forums.)
The reduced pricing had merely been a courtesy for cash-strapped students.
"An unintended but welcome outcome," he murmured.
Qin Lu arched a brow.
"You seem… pleased with this development?"
(Despite the lost revenue from accommodating penniless scholars daily?)
"Extremely." Gu Yanshu met his gaze meaningfully. "The Daily Gazette hasn't even launched, yet Your Highness's reputation among scholars has improved markedly. Why do you think that is?"
The answer was obvious:
The third-floor reading lounge.
Since Taoranju's reopening, all of the capital knew Guiyuanju and Yaoyue Pavilion belonged to Prince Li's household.
Scholars benefiting from this space naturally viewed the prince with gratitude—
(Silencing past criticisms effortlessly.)
Moreover, this was just the beginning.
When the Daily Gazette eventually debuted, this very lounge would serve as its first distribution hub—
(Ensuring instant readership among the educated class.)
Gu Yanshu knew the math:
*Feast once and starve later, or dine modestly and eat forever?*
He smirked, adding:
"Besides… never underestimate the potential of youth."
(Even one grateful scholar rising to prominence would repay this investment a hundredfold.)
Qin Lu repeated the phrase slowly, savoring it.
"'Never underestimate the potential of youth'… The Princess Consort sees far indeed."
"Naturally."
Gu Yanshu accepted the praise without false modesty, even tossing Qin Lu a playfully smug look.
——
After Guiyuanju, they visited Taoranju—
Despite reopening over half a month prior, the establishment remained packed to the rafters.
Patrons flowed endlessly between:
Porcelain collectorsGlassware enthusiastsCustom order clients
To avoid causing a stir, they lingered only briefly before departing.
As for Yaoyue Pavilion—
(The women-only teahouse posed… logistical challenges.)
During its soft launch, some noblewomen had entered with male attendants.
But as operations normalized, an unspoken consensus emerged:
*Only maidservants allowed.*
Now, aside from performers and storytellers, not a single man could be found inside.
According to Manager Yao, even those male performers would soon be replaced by trained female counterparts within two months.
With their entire entourage being male, an inspection tour was out of the question.
(And dinner awaited.)
So they headed home—
(Where a certain prince would soon learn the true cost of his consort's "charitable" ventures…)
After acquiring Yunci Zhai and the Zhou family's kilns, Gu Yanshu plunged into another whirlwind of activity.
Unlike the silk trade—where the brand could be revitalized—Yunci Zhai's reputation was beyond salvage.
The storefront would inevitably close.
But the Yunci Kiln behind it?
That was another story.
By sheer coincidence, the Yunci Kiln was located remarkably close to Taoran Kiln.
Like its counterpart, it boasted a small estate and farmland—modest but sufficient to deter prying eyes.
(Naturally, the Zhou family had bundled these into the sale.)
Ever since perfecting glass production, Gu Yanshu had intended to separate the ceramic and glass kilns—
But finding suitable land proved difficult, forcing him to operate both under one roof—
(A key reason for Taoran Kiln's sluggish output.)
Now, with Yunci Kiln in hand, the problem was instantly solved.
After inspection, Gu Yanshu swiftly relocated all ceramic production to the newly acquired site—
Rebranding it as Taoran Kiln No. 2, dedicated solely to porcelain.
As for Yunci Kiln's original artisans?
Gu Yanshu offered them a choice:
Stay under the new management.Leave with no hard feelings.
Most of the Zhou family's loyalists had already withdrawn, leaving only rank-and-file craftsmen—
Those who'd grown disillusioned when Zhou Er slashed their wages during the price war.
Upon learning of Taoran Kiln's generous pay and five-day workweek, nearly all chose to stay without hesitation.
Meanwhile, the original site became Taoran Kiln No. 1, exclusively for glass production.
The reorganization doubled output overnight—
Delighting customers who'd expected month-long waits for custom glassware.
As for the defunct Yunci Zhai storefront?
Gu Yanshu hadn't yet decided its fate.
With the New Year approaching and construction crews on break, he shelved the matter temporarily.
——
Amidst these developments, a personal triumph unfolded within Prince Li's residence:
The greenhouse vegetables were finally harvest-ready!
Staring at the lush, emerald-green leaves, Gu Yanshu beamed like a child with new toys.
"Such rapid growth! My daily efforts weren't in vain."
With a flourish, he ordered:
"Xing Ren! Pick two bunches for the kitchen—I'm dining on these tonight!"
Technically, the greens were still mid-growth—
(Four or five days from full maturity.)
But many farmers harvested at this stage for tender texture and juiciness.
Normally, Gu Yanshu preferred fully matured produce—
(His logic? "Juvenile vegetables are like child laborers—half-baked results!")
Yet after two months without fresh greens, principles gave way to raw craving.
Who cares about child labor when starvation looms?
Xing Ren, understanding his master's desperation, promptly uprooted two specimens for immediate cooking.
——
The greenhouse's success inspired ambitious expansion.
That afternoon, Gu Yanshu dispatched Zhige to Taoranju for additional glass panels—
Then commandeered a vacant courtyard for two new greenhouses.
Given the capital's harsh winters, each required underground heating ducts—
(A time-consuming installation.)
And even after completion, crops would need weeks to mature.
For now, the limited yield from the main greenhouse became a coveted treasure—
(Every leaf rationed like imperial gold.)
"Precious as they are..."
Even after adapting to feudal society's nuances, Gu Yanshu knew some sacrifices were necessary.
On the day the greenhouse greens finally ripened, he bit back his heartache and ordered Xing Ren:
"Harvest half for the Imperial Palace."
Qin Lu, observing his consort's barely concealed distress, glanced at the suddenly sparse vegetable patch and frowned.
"Keep them. We needn't send any."
"Absolutely not!" Gu Yanshu shook his head vehemently. "His Majesty must receive his share."
Walls have ears.
Even if Prince Li's household stayed silent, Gu Yanshu planned to eventually publicize greenhouse techniques—
(A future agricultural revolution he couldn't conceal forever.)
What if the Emperor later deduced they'd hoarded the first harvest?
*A crack in trust could sink the mightiest ship.*
After painstakingly elevating Prince Li's standing at court, risking it over vegetables?
Unthinkable.
Seeing Qin Lu's lingering reluctance, he softened his tone:
"Plucked greens lose freshness by the hour. Besides—"
He gestured toward the newly completed greenhouse in the side courtyard.
"We'll sow a fresh batch today. These remaining greens will tide us over until the next harvest."
Qin Lu understood the logic—he simply hated seeing Gu Yanshu deprived of anything.
But with the vegetables already picked (and time-sensitive), he finally relented.
Under his consort's insistent nudging, he personally delivered the bamboo basket of emerald leaves to the palace—
(While mentally calculating how to compensate Gu Yanshu tenfold.)