Chapter 502: Huanhuan's Wedding Date

Chang Wan walked over and sat down beside them.

"Prince, how do you intend to deal with Gu Mingcheng?"

Zhu Biao thought for a moment, then said slowly, "First, let's see—if he's merely greedy, trying to push his own son onto Huanhuan, that's at most a pipe dream."

"If he has other designs, such as using this marriage to cling to the powerful or collude with court ministers, then don't blame me for being impolite."

Chang Wan nodded.

"As for Huanhuan, do you plan to tell her?"

Zhu Biao fell silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, "We won't tell her; let her prepare for the marriage properly. We'll handle these troublesome matters ourselves."

Chang Wan asked no further.

Night deepened, and the study in the Eastern Palace still had its lights on.

Zhu Biao sat by the window, staring blankly at the electric lamps in the courtyard.

The bulbs, encased in glass covers, emitted a gentle white glow that lit the courtyard brightly, making even the clump of bamboo in the corner clearly visible.

These electric lights were brought by the second brother, with cables drawn from the Zijin Mountain power station and strung all the way to the Imperial City, then to the Eastern Palace, then to Wu Wang Fu.

A press of the switch makes them shine; no need for candles or oil, saving countless chores.

But the human heart is far more complicated than a lamp.

Some people live their lives honestly, while others always seek shortcuts.

Gu Mingyuan conducts his business honestly, and the son he raised is likewise an honest man.

Gu Mingcheng is shrewd and calculating, and the son he raised is equally adept at scheming.

People raise the kind of sons they are; trees bear the fruit they are meant to.

Gu Mingcheng wants to swap a plum for a peach, pushing his son onto Huanhuan.

He doesn't know what the consequences will be.

The daughter of Wu Wang Fu is not someone just anyone can marry.

Gu Xian was chosen by Huanhuan herself, also favored by the second brother, and even the parents gave their approval.

Is this marriage something you can scheme?

He stood up, walked back to the writing desk, and read the secret report from the Brocade Guard again.

He ran through in his mind the names of the businesspeople Gu Mingcheng had contacted.

They are all owners of the most prominent large merchants in Jiangnan—some deal in silk, some in tea, some in salt, some in money shops.

Combined, these firms almost control half of Jiangnan's economic lifeline.

What does Gu Mingcheng intend by pulling them in...?

Force Wu Wang Fu to comply...

Or use this marriage to bring those people onto his boat...

A faint smile curled at Zhu Biao's mouth.

He schemed both against Wu Wang Fu and against Huanhuan.

This person truly has a bold heart.

The 24th day of the 4th month, the 25th year of the Hongwu era.

East of Yingtianfu City, at the Fengle Inn.

Gu Rui stood by the second-floor window, watching the beggar in the alley below.

The beggar had been squatting there for several days, in tattered clothes, hair in disarray, a limp on his leg; he spent each day crouched in the corner sunning himself, and when someone passed by and tossed a copper coin, he would bow his head.

Gu Rui glanced a few times, indifferent.

There were many beggars in Yingtianfu City; during those years of war and chaos, refugees were everywhere, some settling in the Capital City and becoming professional beggars.

He turned and walked back to the desk.

On the table lay a bowl of tea, a plate of peanuts, and a dish of pickles.

He lifted the tea bowl, took a sip, and set it down again.

It tasted the same as what Gu Xian drank, but the tea was different.

Gu Xian drank Longjing tea, while he drank plain water infused with tea stems; the color was similar, but the flavor was off.

He had been staying in Yingtianfu for five days.

During those five days, he went out early and returned late each day, wandering among the places Gu Xian frequented: tea houses, bookstores, and the school outside the city.

He had seen Gu Xian once in a tea house, a few tables away.

Gu Xian didn't notice him; he was different from others—when speaking, he looked into people's eyes; when walking, he watched the road ahead, never glancing sideways.

Gu Rui watched him, unable to articulate the feeling in his heart.

This older cousin made him both envious and jealous.

He envied that he could marry the princess of Wu Wang Fu, and jealous that he could stand openly in the sunlight.

Meanwhile, he could only hide in the shadows, cautiously mimicking his every move, waiting for him to slip up, waiting for his misfortune.

"Second Young Master..." the gray-vested man said, lowering his voice as he entered from the doorway.

"What is it?"

"The master sent a message from Jinling, telling you to keep watching, not to act rashly, and said the wedding is set for the 18th of next month; before then, you must fully understand the eldest young master's habits."

Gu Rui fell silent for a moment, then nodded.

"Understood."

The gray-vested man stepped back.

Gu Rui went to the window again and glanced at the beggar below.

The beggar was still there, slowly gnawing a piece of steamed bun, as if savoring it.

They didn't look again, turned and walked back to the table.

Downstairs, Wang Gou'er was gnawing on a flatbread, his eyes narrowed to a slit, staring at the inn's second‑floor window.

The silhouette behind the window appeared again, stood at the window for a while, then retreated.

They noted the time, swallowed the flatbread, and kept squatting.

In the Brocade Guard Commissioner's office, Liu Zhen sat at the desk, a stack of freshly delivered secret reports laid before them.

Gu Rui went to the teahouse today, sat there for an hour, and no one interacted with them during that time.

Gu Rui went to the bookshop, bought two books, one the Analects, the other Mencius, both the editions that Gu Xianchang usually reads.

Gu Rui went to the school outside the city, stood at the doorway for a while, and did not go in.

Liu Zhen ran through this information in their mind and found nothing abnormal.

Gu Mingcheng was still in Jinling, hadn't left the house for several days, staying inside the residence.

The few businesspeople they had contacted, the Brocade Guard had already uncovered their backgrounds and were keeping an eye on them.

These people made no move for the time being, as if waiting for something.

They organized the secret reports and sent someone to deliver them to Wu Wang Fu.

Night fell, and the electric lights in Jinling City lit up one by one.

Gu Mingcheng stood at the window of his own study, watching the night scenery outside.

Jinling City has changed a lot in recent years: the Street has been widened, the road surface paved with cement, electric poles erected on both sides, their lanterns lit, illuminating the whole street brilliantly.

In the past, one had to carry lanterns at night, but now that's unnecessary; streetlights suffice.

"Master, a letter has arrived from the Eldest Young Master," the steward said, entering from the doorway and handing over a letter.

Gu Mingcheng took it and unfolded it.

Gu Xian's letter was brief, stating that he was already preparing the wedding, the ceremony set for the eighteenth of next month, and hoping that his elder uncle could attend.

Gu Mingcheng placed the letter on the table and remained silent for a long while.

They rose to their feet and paced around the study.

After walking several laps, they stopped and looked at a calligraphic piece hanging on the wall, a gift from the former Jinling Prefect, bearing the four characters "Hou De Zai Wu," the brushwork vigorous; they liked it very much and had displayed it for over a decade.

"Master, a message has also arrived from the Second Young Master," the steward said, handing over another letter.

Gu Mingcheng took it and unfolded it.

Gu Rui's letter was very detailed, listing Gu Xian's movements over the past few days: what time he left, when he returned, where he went, whom he met, what he said—nothing omitted.

Gu Mingcheng finished reading the letter, folded the paper neatly, and placed it into the drawer.

"Tell Rui, keep watching, don't relax, and also have him find a reliable person at Yingtian Fu to inquire about the situation at Wu Wang Fu, to see if any changes have occurred."

The steward replied with a nod and withdrew.

Gu Mingcheng stood at the window, looking at the streetlights outside.

The light was starkly white, illuminating the courtyard's trees and flowers with crystal clarity.

They stood for a long time, and only when the light grew dazzling did they turn and walk back to the desk to sit down.

They picked up the letter Gu Xian had written and read it again.

"The wedding is set for the eighteenth of next month."

Less than a month remains.