Chapter 501: What Are They Up To, Forcing a Palace Coup

On the evening of the third day, he finally got what he had been waiting to see.

The back gate of the Gu family opened, and a man in a grey short jacket stuck his head out, looked left and right, then stepped aside to let a young man in a blue shirt pass.

The young man was just over twenty, looking fair and clean, his brows and eyes about eighty‑nine percent like Gu Xian.

He lowered his head and hurried out, crossed the alley and turned into an inn at the street corner.

Wang Gouer crouched in the corner, squinting as the young man entered the inn, then watched the grey‑jacketed man retreat to the back gate and shut the door.

He had seen Gu Xian earlier that morning; when Gu Xian left Wu Wang Fu, he watched from a distance several times.

The young man truly resembled Gu Xian, but his gait differed: Gu Xian walked with a straight back and steady gaze, while this man walked with his head down, glancing left and right.

Wang Gouer crouched a while longer, made sure there was no other movement at the inn's entrance, then retreated into his hideout.

He pulled a slip of paper from his chest, then extracted a charcoal pencil from the sole of a broken shoe, and scribbled a few characters crookedly.

"The Gu family is troubled; the head family has sent someone to Yingtian, apparently with illicit intent."

He rolled the slip into a thin coil, slipped it into a bamboo tube, sealed it with wax, and tucked it back into his chest.

As soon as night fell, he rose, leaned on a broken bamboo pole, and limped southward.

Passing a steamed bun stall, he bought two buns, stuffing one in his chest and gnawing on the other.

After walking a while, he turned into an even narrower alley, stopped before an unremarkable wooden door, knocked three times, paused, then knocked five times.

The door opened; the person inside said nothing, took the bamboo tube, and closed the door.

Wang Gouer turned and walked back, gnawing the bun, limping like a genuine crippled beggar.

The news was reported up the chain and reached Liu Zhen before night fell.

Liu Zhen read the slip, sneered, and rode his horse toward Wu Wang Fu.

Zhu Yong was in his study reviewing the progress report on the telegraph line; Lin Yuan had already laid over a hundred li of cable near Jinan, and at this pace, completing the connection to Beiping by year‑end would be no problem.

"Prince, the Brocade Guard has news," Wang Gui entered from outside, handing over a secret report.

Zhu Yong took it and unfolded it.

The Gu family's head sent their legitimate second son Gu Rui to Yingtian Prefecture, where he is covertly mimicking Gu Xian's speech and mannerisms.

Gu Rui has been staying at the Fengle Inn on the east side of the city for three days, during which he has repeatedly interacted with people sent by the Gu family.

Gu Mingcheng has been secretly contacting several merchants in Jinling, apparently plotting something.

After reading it, Zhu Yong placed the secret report on the table.

"Gu Mingcheng, the head of the Gu family's main house."

He tapped the table lightly and said calmly, "What does he intend? A switch?"

"Prince, your insight is clear."

Wang Gui said, "Liu Zhen reported that Gu Rui looks eighty‑nine percent like Gu Xian, making him hard to distinguish for those unfamiliar, and Gu Rui has been deliberately copying Gu Xian's gait, tone, even the way he lifts a tea cup."

Zhu Yong fell silent for a moment.

"Anything else?"

"The Brocade Guard also discovered that Gu Mingcheng has been secretly contacting several prominent merchants in Jinling, all heads of major Jiangnan trading houses," Wang Gui whispered, his voice low.

"What are they trying to do, force a palace coup?"

"It's unclear for now, but the Brocade Guard is investigating."

Zhu Yong leaned back in his chair, looking at the secret report on the table.

Gu Mingcheng has appeared in the Brocade Guard's investigation reports.

He is Gu Mingyuan's elder brother, Gu Xian's uncle, and the head of the Gu family.

The Gu family's business is substantial—silk, tea, salt, money shops—whatever makes profit, they do.

Gu Mingyuan controls only a small portion; the bulk lies in Gu Mingcheng's hands.

"Prince, should we arrest them?" Wang Gui asked.

"Not yet; let's see what else they do," Zhu Yong said, tapping the table lightly.

Wang Gui replied with a nod and stepped back.

Zhu Yong stood and walked to the window.

Outside the window, dusk deepened, and the courtyard's electric lights were still off.

In the distance, toward the Qinhuai River, a cluster of lights glimmered, mingling with the faint sounds of silk and bamboo music.

He stood for a while, then turned and left the study.

In the back courtyard, Guanyin Nu was busy in the kitchen with Zhu Huanhuan.

Zhu Qiongwu rode his small tricycle around the courtyard, humming an unknown little tune.

"Dad!" Seeing Zhu Yong enter, Zhu Qiongwu dropped the tricycle and ran over.

Zhu Yong bent down, lifted his son, and said with a smile, "Did you go to Dabentang today and practice martial arts..."

"Yes... Dad, today my brother‑in‑law came to propose marriage?"

Zhu Yong glanced at his son; the boy was surprisingly well‑informed.

"Who told you?"

"Sister said so; she said she now has a brother‑in‑law."

Zhu Yong said nothing.

Zhu Qiongwu looped his arm around his father's neck and asked, "Dad, what does my brother‑in‑law look like? Handsome?"

"He's okay..."

"Is dad good‑looking?"

Zhu Yong laughed, patted his son's head, and set him down on the ground.

"No one is more handsome than your dad."

Zhu Qiongwu pedaled a small three‑wheel cart and ran away.

Zhu Yong stood in the courtyard, looking toward the kitchen.

The stove fire reflected on the window, shadows flickered, and the voices of Guanyin Nu and Zhu Huanhuan could be heard faintly.

Zhu Yong stood for a while, then turned and walked back to the study.

The secret report on the desk was still there. He picked it up and read it again, a slight smile curling his lips.

Li Dai Tao Jiang.

Gu Mingcheng's appetite is not small.

Zhu Yong sat down, took up the pen, and began writing a letter.

The letter was addressed to Zhu Biao.

"Elder brother, there have been movements on the Gu family main house side; Gu Mingcheng has sent his legitimate second son Gu Rui to Yingtian Fu, secretly imitating Gu Xian's speech and behavior, intending Li Dai Tao Jiang.

The Brocade Guard is watching, and for now we have not stirred up any trouble; elder brother, what do you think we should do? Brother Yong bows."

After finishing the letter, he sealed it and handed it to Wang Gui: "Send it to the Eastern Palace."

"Yes…"

After Wang Gui stepped back, Zhu Yong stood up and walked to the window.

Dusk had fully darkened, and the courtyard's electric lights turned on, illuminating the whole courtyard as bright as day.

He suddenly recalled a sentence Zhu Huanhuan had said, "Gu Xian is a good person."

Good people are bullied, honest people are schemed against.

Gu Xian is honest, but not foolish.

Gu Mingcheng thinks himself clever, but cleverness ends up misleading him.

He wants to see what wave this Gu Mingcheng can stir up.

Eastern Palace, in the study.

Zhu Biao sat at the desk, with the letter Zhu Yong had just delivered placed before him, and finished reading it.

"The Brocade Guard discovered that Gu Mingcheng had contacted several businesspeople in Jinling." Zhu Biao handed the letter to Chang Wan, who was seated opposite.

Chang Wan took the letter, read it once, and her eyebrows slightly furrowed.

"Elder brother, this Gu Mingcheng, his nerve is not small."

Zhu Biao nodded, stood up, and walked to the window.

The courtyard of the Eastern Palace also had electric lights, bright and clear, illuminating the courtyard's flowers, grasses, and trees distinctly.

Zhu Biao stood for a while, turned back to the desk, picked up the pen and began writing a letter.

"Second brother, regarding Gu Mingcheng's matter, do not stir up trouble for now; let the Brocade Guard continue to watch, see which people he has actually contacted, and what backup he has.

As for Gu Rui, since he has come to Yingtian Fu, don't let him leave; let him see well what kind of son‑in‑law the Wu Wang Fu has.

By the way, Huan Huan, have you spoken to her? What was her reaction?"

After finishing the letter, he sealed it and handed it to the eunuch, saying: "Send it to Wu Wang Fu."

After the eunuch stepped back, Zhu Biao sat back in his chair and leaned against the backrest.