How skilled are those guys? How confident are you in your chances?
"Fifty percent, mainly because their moves are too insidious; I've never seen anything like it before."
"Then let's not alert them yet. Let me probe their strength first."
Gu Moran placed the black cloth over the Tubo position.
In the original novel, Pu Yunshan was able to rise to power through Xie Wanqing's connections, which shows that he was most adept at manipulating old relationships and people's hearts.
As for that childhood name...
It's not really a mistake for a young child to have seen certain people at the neighbor's bookstore.
If he were to press Xie Wanqing with the secrets given to him by the system, it would seem as if he himself had lost his composure.
But while reason is one thing, the thought of that self-important young man in a blue robe trying to use childhood acquaintances to get close to Xie Wanqing...
Gu Moran then felt that the map in the study was not so important for the time being.
"These people are to be kept an eye on by Lin Qingdai."
Gu Moran straightened his cuffs and walked out. Murong Xue followed him for two steps. Seeing that he was not heading towards the main courtyard or the front hall where the guards were being summoned, she crossed her arms and leaned against the door.
Where are you going?
"Accounting room."
"The assassins have already infiltrated the back alley, what are you doing in the accounting office?"
Gu Moran had already stepped over the snow on the corridor. Hearing her question, he didn't turn around. He simply raised his hand to tighten his fox fur coat and walked straight towards the east-side warm pavilion.
"Check the accounts."
Murong Xue watched his retreating figure, then looked down at the open military supplies ledger in the study.
"Tsk, this guy doesn't utter a single word of truth."
She snorted coldly, kicked away the snow piled up on the edge of the corridor, and turned to find Shen Ling'er and Su Yao.
Two braziers of silver-thread charcoal burned in the accounting room, and a copper kettle sat on a small stove, steaming.
Xie Wanqing sat at her desk by the window, the table covered with snow-white Xuan paper.
With his left hand on the contract delivered by the bookstore, he held a pen in his right hand to check the profit sharing of the new issue of the Fireworks Club.
The snow's light shone through the paper windows, and inside, the scent of ink mingled with the warmth of the charcoal fire.
Xie Wanqing had just circled a mistake in the accounting when she heard the soft sound of the door latch closing behind her.
She turned around and saw Gu Moran. She first put the pen back on the celadon pen holder, then looked at his malicious face.
"Wasn't Your Highness studying Tubo maps in your study? Why have you suddenly come to the accounting office?"
"I've come to investigate a more important account."
Gu Moran walked to her side, took out the bookstore contract and placed it aside. Then, he leaned down, leaning against the back of the chair, trapping her between himself and the desk.
Xie Wanqing smelled the lingering scent of ginger soup on his collar and noticed a small piece of charcoal ash from a map on his sleeve. She knew he had just come from the study and would never have made a special trip for a few ordinary accounts.
"What does Your Highness wish to investigate?"
Gu Moran didn't answer, but instead reached out and put his arm around her waist, pulling her up from the chair and using the back of the chair to block her from retreating.
Xie Wanqing pressed her palm against his chest, her fingertips tightening slightly as they touched the ties of his fox fur coat.
She wanted to ask if something had happened outside, but Gu Moran leaned too close, his warm breath on her cheek, leaving her words unspoken.
"What's gotten into you all of a sudden?"
"Someone's eyeing my accountant; I'll have to stamp his seal first."
Xie Wanqing didn't understand this seemingly nonsensical statement, and just as a look of doubt appeared on her brow, Gu Moran lowered his head and kissed her, silencing her further question.
A sleeve brushed against the edge of the desk, and several sheets of snow-white accounting paper filled with numbers slipped to the ground.
Xie Wanqing's hand, which had been resting against his chest, slowly gripped the front of the fox fur coat, while her other hand held onto the back of the chair to prevent the two of them from knocking over the copper kettle next to them.
Gu Moran held her tightly, but did not press her any further. He only stopped when she turned her head slightly to catch her breath, looking at her ear tips, which were flushed with embarrassment.
Snow fell from the eaves outside the window, scattering into white flakes on the bluestone ground.
Whispers soon filled the accounting room again, and the celadon brush rest, which had been placed neatly, became increasingly crooked with the rhythm of the swaying desk...
The following morning.
In a private booth on the second floor of the Chunfeng Teahouse, facing the street, Zhao Wuxu personally lifted the copper kettle and poured the freshly boiled tea into a white porcelain cup.
The tea is this year's new crop from the south of the city, but the water is drawn from bamboo pipes laid out at Prince Yi's Residence. It is clear and refreshing to the taste, and no longer has the muddy taste of the well as before.
As he watched the steam rise from the surface of the tea, he felt increasingly displeased.
Gu Moran had only been in Yi Prefecture for a few months, but he had already done everything he could to promote the name of the Prince Yi's Residence to the people: repairing roads, connecting waterways, opening shops, and recruiting old soldiers.
Nowadays, even the waiters in teahouses, when mentioning the West City Reservoir, will casually praise Prince Yi's benevolence.
Pu Yunshan sat opposite him, dressed in a simple blue robe with only a warm, ancient jade pendant hanging at his waist.
He placed the folding fan flat on the edge of the table, held the teacup in his palm, but did not rush to drink it.
The men sent out last night have brought back news that the fireworks at Yi Prefecture Lantern Market did indeed use the old summons of the Liu Clan Army. Many wounded soldiers carrying old items have also appeared at the Tailwind Express Station. However, the person in charge of this matter is hiding behind the scenes. At present, all clues point to the Prince Yi's Residence.
"Brother Pu, when I was down on my luck, I was fortunate enough to be given a bowl of rice by Old Man Pu, and he also lent me a travel permit to leave. I will always remember this kindness."
Now that I see you descending the mountain, I shouldn't have dragged you into the chaos of Yi Prefecture. But Gu Moran has gone too far. If I continue to tolerate this, I'm afraid the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office and the people of the city will be harmed by him."
Zhao Wuxu put down the teapot, his voice filled with grief and indignation. At the end, he even raised his hand to cover the corner of his eye, as if he had truly suffered many unspeakable grievances these past few days.
Pu Yunshan looked up at him, his expression still restrained.
"Brother Zhao is now the adopted son of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner Yun Zhengze, and he is quite well-known in Yi Prefecture."
Even though Prince Yi is a prince, he still has to consider the laws of the court. What exactly did he do to drive you to this point?
These words were exactly what Zhao Wuxu to hear; he had already prepared a speech before going to the appointment.
" Prince Yi opened shops in the city, forcing merchants to hand over money. He also drove women wearing Hongxiu armbands to go around the streets arresting people and fining them. If they couldn't pay, they would be sent to repair roads and carry manure."
At this point, Zhao Wuxu leaned forward, deliberately lowering his voice.
He also recruited women of outstanding beauty into his household. Yun Shuyue, the leader of Black Wind Stronghold, was originally my adoptive father's legitimate daughter. After leaving home, she helped the elderly and weak in the mountains.
Seeing that she was quite beautiful, Gu Moran first tried to win her over with money, then stopped his adoptive mother from taking her home in the street.
Now that the person has moved into the Prince's mansion, even his adoptive father couldn't get him back after coming to the door."
Upon hearing Yun Shuyue's name, Pu Yunshan moved his fingertips along the edge of the teacup.
If it is true that Gu Moran forcibly detained the daughter of the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner, it could become a handle to check and balance the Prince Yi's Residence.
Seeing that he had reacted, Zhao Wuxu continued to add what he most wanted to say.
" Prince Yi already has six wives, all from prestigious families, yet he still refuses to let go of Miss Yun. One of them, Madam Xie, is the most gentle and refined. She is the daughter of Xie Huai'an, the Imperial Academy, and her name is Xie Wanqing. She is the foremost of the four great talented women in the capital."
Unfortunately, after entering the Prince's mansion, she could only do accounting and make money for Prince Yi; she had no freedom whatsoever.
Pu Yunshan paused in his tea-serving motion; the tea touched the cup's rim, creating several fine ripples.
"What did you say her name was?"
Zhao Wuxu had already investigated the Pu family's past, but he pretended not to know the details and only explained Xie Wanqing's background in more detail.
"The talented Xie Wanqing was later forced into marriage by the Prince Yi Prince Yi's Residence he found her beautiful and talented. Do you know her, Brother Pu?"