Gu Moran looked at the numerous documents on the table, Shen Ling'er's medicine chest, the imperial edict being copied in Liu Ruyan's hand, and the continuous footsteps outside the door.
He raised his hand and burned the copy.
"Very well, all the ladies may stay with me in the study tonight."
The next day.
When the imperial edict arrived at Prince Yi's Residence, the blue bricks in the front courtyard were still covered with morning dew.
Gao Fu stood on the steps, with two eunuchs holding yellow silk behind him.
The wind wasn't strong in the courtyard, but the weight of the silk tassels made one's chest feel heavy.
Gu Moran his robe and knelt down.
Gao Fu unfolded the imperial edict, his voice steady.
"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Prince Yi Gu Moran, having established his fiefdom, has resided in the capital for an extended period, which is inconsistent with the regulations for princely fiefdoms. He is hereby ordered to depart in seven days and return to his fiefdom in Yi Prefecture. His troops, officials, and ceremonial guards shall continue to be managed according to the established system. This is the imperial decree."
As the last two words fell, only the soft sound of the wind rustling through the eaves remained in the courtyard.
Gu Moran pressed his forehead to the ground.
"Your subject receives the imperial decree."
He reached out and took the yellow silk, his palm brushing against the silk's surface.
Seven days.
The Emperor was quite anxious.
Gao Fu handed the imperial edict to him, his gaze sweeping over his face before settling on the group of women.
Su Yao held the account book with her head down.
Shen Ling'er held the medicine box, the copper clasp pressed firmly in her palm, making no sound.
Lin Qingdai knelt to one side, half of the Grand Commandant's Residence's token peeking out from her sleeve, her fingertips cold.
Upon hearing the words "seven days" on the imperial edict, Liu Ruyan's face turned even paler than the night before.
Murong Xue secretly whispered to Batuer, "Are there any horse farms in Yi Prefecture?"
Batuer didn't dare to answer.
Xie Wanqing stopped Murong Xue from speaking again with a look.
Gao Fu coughed lightly.
Gu Moran looked up, a bitter expression on his face. "Eunuch Gao, isn't seven days too rushed? My household has many people, many trunks, and even more madams."
Gao Fu's eyelids twitched.
"His Majesty, out of consideration for the Prince, has permitted the Prince's residence to prepare more carriages and horses as per regulations. However, the matter of returning to the Prince's fiefdom is of great importance and cannot be delayed."
Gu Moran, holding the imperial edict, his Adam's apple bobbing.
"Did Father Emperor say anything else?"
Gao Fu tucked the whisk into his arm, his tone remaining respectful.
"His Majesty said that Yi Prefecture is prosperous, and its mountains and rivers are good for people. Once Your Highness arrives there, you should just focus on recuperating and not worry about these matters in the capital."
As he said this, he took a step closer and casually added a sentence.
"The Yi Prefecture, Si Renyou, has always been upright and honest. The Commandant of the Vanguard Zhen Daijin, is also disciplined in leading his troops. If Your Highness arrives at your post and follows the rules, there will naturally be no problems."
Gu Moran's eyes flickered.
Si Renyou.
Zhen Daijin.
One was in charge of administration, the other was in charge of military affairs.
Gao Fu's words were a valuable one.
He swallowed his anger and bowed his head, saying, "Please thank my father for me, Eunuch. Just tell him that I am timid and always follow the rules."
Gao Fu glanced at him.
Knowing that he understood the emperor's concerns, he bowed and took his leave, and the eunuch followed him.
After the sounds of carriages and horses left the main gate of the Prince's Mansion, Gu Moran led everyone back to his study.
Once the door is closed, half of the dampness outside is blocked, but the room feels even more stuffy.
Su Yao spoke first.
Seven days? Too late.
She closed the ledger and went straight to the desk without even going around it.
"The treasury, estates, shops, debts, dowries, and expenses for each household—everything must be recalculated. If you still intend to feign illness and shirk responsibility, I'll throw the account books in your face."
Gu Moran carefully placed the imperial edict down and looked up at her.
" Madam Su, please bear with it for now." He raised his hand and touched his face. "You still need to keep this face; you'll need it to plead poverty in the palace."
Su Yao stared at him, wanting to say, "Are you still going to play the poor card? How shameless!" But she held back the words, simply opening the ledger and starting to write.
Shen Ling'er took a step forward, carrying the medicine box.
"The tide in Yi Prefecture is high, and the road is long; many people will fall ill along the way. We need to prepare medicine first. Also... we need to prepare for the Shen Family's affairs."
She spoke softer when she said the second half of the sentence.
Gu Moran saw her fingers digging into the copper clasp of the medicine box, leaving red marks on her palm. She was enduring it, trying not to think about the Imperial Medical Bureau, not to think about Elder Shen, not to think about how many unspoken words were hidden behind that confession.
" Ling'er," Gu Moran looked at her, " Elder Shen is still at the Imperial Medical Bureau. I'll find a way to send a message."
Shen Ling'er looked up, her eyes welling up with tears, but her words were direct.
"How are you going to hand it over? You're about to leave."
Gu Moran didn't answer immediately.
The gates of the palace have always been paved with lives. Answering too quickly at this moment would sound like he's just trying to appease her.
Liu Ruyan took the imperial edict from his hand, her gaze lingering on the words " Yi Prefecture." After a moment, she spoke, " Yi Prefecture is far from the capital. Flower-Between Pavilion is in the capital, as is Jiulou. Madam Chun and the others..."
She didn't finish her sentence, but the tension in her lips was palpable.
She was in such a hurry that her biggest fear was that the old connections would be severed. Flower-Between Pavilion could be saved, or whether something would happen to the old building, were not issues that could be resolved simply by saying "take it with you."
Gu Moran out and pressed down on the corner of the imperial edict to prevent her from wrinkling it.
"Not everyone needs to leave."
Liu Ruyan looked up at him.
"You want to keep people in the capital?"
"Of course." Gu Moran turned to look at Uncle Fu, "But not now. Gao Fu just left, and most of the eyes in the palace are still watching. Anyone who sends a word out now is offering their neck."
Uncle Fu bowed his head. "This old servant understands."
Lin Qingdai took two steps closer, and then pressed the token in her sleeve back completely.
"I won't be able to contact my father as often anymore."
Her words were direct, and the study fell silent for a moment.
Gu Moran immediately accepted. "Don't worry, my father-in-law has already given me more than enough. Taking more would be too conspicuous."
Lin Qingdai glanced at him, the annoyance in her eyes still lingering.
She wasn't afraid of going to Yi Prefecture with him; what she feared was that once they were far from the capital, her father would completely shut down the Grand Commandant's Residence's line of communication with them. But she couldn't say too much about it, or it would bring trouble.
Murong Xue had already circled around to Gu Moran's side, her face serious.
So, does Yi Prefecture actually have a horse farm?
Gu Moran his head to look at her.
Even at this point, it's normal that she's still thinking about the horse first. When people are in a state of confusion, they grab onto the things they cherish most first, which is a more genuine reaction.
"There are mountains, water, and grain." He paused, then added, "The horse ranch... maybe not."
Murong Xue's face fell, and she tugged at her belt.
What about my horse?
Xie Wanqing coughed lightly at this moment and pushed a page of paper to the side of the table.
"The imperial edict arrived at the palace today, stating a seven-day grace period. However, tomorrow various government offices will come to inspect the carriages and ceremonial regalia, and the day after, the Imperial Clan Court will inquire about the entourage's roster. Add to that the Empress Dowager's birthday banquet, and the time left for actual business is less than five days."
The room was quiet for a moment.
Gu Moran looked down.
Several lines of text were already written on the paper, and Xie Wanqing circled the words "five days" three times, pressing the ink very firmly.
"Your Highness," she looked up, "If arrangements are to be made, they must be made tonight."
Su Yao had already turned to the back of the ledger, paused her pen, and then took over the conversation.
"I'll settle the accounts. Take what you can, and convert what you can't into receipts. We can't sell the shops in the capital all at once; if we rush, the price will be driven down to the bottom."