Destined

Liu Yu Ru had come to bring Gu Jiusi some delicious food. After this period of imprisonment, Gu Jiusi had been confined to his cell every day, and with the meals Liu Yu Ru brought him, he had actually gained a noticeable amount of weight.

Fortunately, he had originally been quite slender, so this extra weight didn’t make him look unattractive—instead, it suited him perfectly.

Having spent so much time in the palace, Gu Jiusi was naturally hungry upon his return. Liu Yu Ru stayed by his side, watching him eat while listening to him recount events from the palace.

He had none of the Ye Family’s formalities, sitting cross-legged on the bed, slurping down noodles with gusto and without a trace of decorum.

Liu Yu Ru watched him with a smile, feeling as though he resembled a little white dog she had raised as a child—utterly delighted while eating, and when especially pleased, it would even lift its head and let out a couple of cheerful barks.

No matter how handsome or cunning a man might be, after spending enough time with him, one would inevitably discover his childish side. In those moments, all handsomeness and charm faded away, leaving only the overwhelming sense that he was utterly endearing.

Gu Jiusi told her about court affairs, while she shared updates about her business ventures.

"I don’t want to handle everything myself. There’s only so much one person can do. I’ll set up the larger framework, and let others manage the rest on their own."

"Aren’t you afraid they won’t do it well?" Gu Jiusi couldn’t help but laugh. Liu Yu Ru shook her head. "If one person does ten parts of the work, that’s only ten. But if ten people do eight parts each, that’s eighty. You can’t expect everything to meet your own ten-part standard—that just won’t work."

"I’ve noticed something about you," Gu Jiusi mused after a moment, unable to hold back. "How did you become so ambitious?"

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru pursed her lips. "It’s only because you eat too much."

"Don’t say things like that," Gu Jiusi retorted indignantly, quickly swallowing the food in his mouth. "Do you believe I’d…"

"Believe you’d what?" Liu Yu Ru leaned on the table, smiling as she watched him. Gu Jiusi stared at her for a moment, then coughed lightly, turned away, and muttered under his breath, "Eat half as much tomorrow."

Liu Yu Ru was momentarily stunned by his response, then burst into laughter. She covered her mouth with a handkerchief, afraid her laughter might be too unrestrained. Seeing her so happy, Gu Jiusi felt pleased as well.

After chatting for a while, it was time for Liu Yu Ru to leave. She picked up Gu Jiusi’s map and said gently, "I’ll take this map to study."

Gu Jiusi acknowledged with a sound, letting her take the book before he stood up and left.

After taking the booklet, Liu Yu Ru spent the entire walk back to her room flipping through it. It was an original map of the Great Rong dynasty, exquisitely detailed, with nearly every river and road meticulously drawn. As she studied the illustrations, she pondered deeply.

Currently, the rice they had in the Eastern Capital was all transported from Wangdu. Back when she was in Wangdu, she had purchased land, settled refugees, and managed them by having them contract the farmland. As a result, they now had a bountiful harvest. With the grain collected, it naturally needed to be sold far and wide. Familiar with the Eastern Capital, she knew it was a prosperous place. The cost of rice from Wangdu was only two wen per dou, but in the Eastern Capital, it sold for ten wen. Tempted by the considerable profit and misled by the minimal losses incurred when purchasing grain from Qingzhou, Cangzhou, and Yangzhou, she had made the miscalculation of shipping Wangdu’s rice to the Eastern Capital for sale.However, with nearly half of the goods lost in transit, the cost would be too high if they were consistently transported to the Eastern Capital for sale. Yet, the grain shop in the Eastern Capital had already been established, and she couldn't simply let it go to waste. If, as she and Ye Yun had discussed, they processed the rice from Wangdu into premium-grade rice for the nobility, they could barely keep the shop afloat, but the profits still fell short of her expectations.

If only she could reduce the costs, that would be ideal.

Liu Yu Ru pondered, then glanced at the map again. The map was crisscrossed with rivers—some areas had them, others didn't. She traced her finger along the river routes, following them upstream, and soon realized...

They all had sources.

Upon realizing this, Liu Yu Ru suddenly wondered if she could plan a route that relied solely on waterways.

Waterways varied in size, and some places couldn't accommodate large ships—a major drawback. What if she established warehouses along the way, set up grain shops, and used large ships for big rivers and small boats for narrow ones, selling grain along the route to distribute the costs?

The thought excited her. She suddenly grasped something: if she truly planned the route and built warehouses, she wouldn't have to limit herself to transporting just grain. She could ship many other goods. With a well-designed route, she could significantly cut costs, ensure safety, and improve efficiency. She might even open this transport route to small merchants, charging them a fee to deliver their goods along the way.

The idea was still rough, but Liu Yu Ru understood that she was envisioning a vast network. If she could find ways—through building warehouses, merchant fleets, and more—to lower transport costs and boost efficiency, she would outperform others in any future business ventures.

Liu Yu Ru had a general plan in mind. Upon returning home, she immediately summoned Lao Hei and others to discuss it, asking for his opinion on its feasibility. After listening, Lao Hei remained silent for a moment before saying, "Boss, your idea is excellent, but it's also extremely challenging."

"What makes it so difficult?" Liu Yu Ru asked thoughtfully.

Lao Hei explained, "The main issue is that waterways have their own intricacies. Back when you used government ships and had a large crew, no one dared to stop you. But for an ordinary merchant fleet, there are tolls to pay on the waterways. To set up such a shipping fleet, you'd first need to build good relations with the authorities and then with the river pirates along the route. Just these two tasks are tough enough. The rest mostly comes down to money."

Liu Yu Ru nodded as she listened. "I understand."

"But, Boss," Lao Hei coughed lightly, hesitating slightly, "these things may be hard for others, but for you, they might not be so difficult."

Liu Yu Ru looked puzzled. Lao Hei smiled. "After all, you are an official's wife now."

Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru was taken aback for a moment before the realization suddenly dawned on her.Among these matters, the most troublesome was so-called "connections"—how to build good relations with the court and how to establish ties with river pirates. These were the most difficult challenges. But now she was an official's wife. After Gu Jiusi's release from prison, he would serve as Minister of Revenue, while Ye Shi'an's family had connections in the Censorate. If she wished, she could simply use Gu Jiusi and Ye Shi'an's names to intimidate lower-level officials—who would dare show disrespect?

Once the government was handled, river pirates became a minor issue. Most river pirates had some connections with officials anyway. A word from the authorities would settle the matter. For those who refused to cooperate, they could simply have government troops clear them out.

Liu Yu Ru came to this realization but instead furrowed her brows. Old Black dared not speak further. After a moment, he heard Liu Yu Ru say, "Don't speak of this matter to anyone. We'll discuss it when the time is right."

Old Black acknowledged her instruction, and Liu Yu Ru dismissed him.

Old Black's words had precisely awakened Liu Yu Ru to a realization. The business she was conducting now was too closely tied to government connections. If investigated later, people would inevitably trace it back to Gu Jiusi. She needed to consider his interests more carefully.

After pondering for a while, she summoned Munan and instructed him to find people familiar with Da Rong's geography. She gave them three days to map out a route from Youzhou to the Eastern Capital, identifying locations along the way where warehouses could be established at minimum cost and maximum efficiency.

While contemplating these matters, Liu Yu Ru went to her room to review her accounts.

The next day, the Censorate submitted a memorial to the court stating that Gu Jiusi had been cleared of all charges and was a victim of framing. They detained all the guards involved and confirmed these individuals had no prior connections with Gu Jiusi—someone had instructed them to frame him. Fan Xuan publicly announced Gu Jiusi's reinstatement, appointing him as Acting Minister of Revenue to cooperate with the Censorate in investigating Liu Chun's case.

According to the Censorate's memorial, this case might involve extensive connections, so Fan Xuan took direct control, with all memorials to be submitted directly to him.

This outcome shocked the entire court. When officials emerged from the court session, everyone looked grim—except Gu Jiusi.

Gu Jiusi walked out with Ye Shi'an, Shen Ming, and Zhou Ye. The four of them, after all their efforts, finally breathed a sigh of relief. Zhou Ye looked at Gu Jiusi and sighed, "Now that you're cleared, I can rest easy. I'll depart for Youzhou tomorrow—come see me off."

Gu Jiusi smiled, "Then you should thank me for giving you more time with your wife."

Zhou Ye smiled wryly but didn't respond.

His relationship with Qin Wanqing was strong, but being separated with only annual New Year reunions in the Eastern Capital for official reporting made it hard for either of them to feel happy.

Seeing Zhou Ye's sorrow, Gu Jiusi immediately became serious and said earnestly, "Elder brother, don't worry. I'll take good care of sister-in-law."

"Indeed," Ye Shi'an added, "Brother Zhou, you needn't worry. We're still here and will help look after your family."

"I am reassured," Zhou Ye nodded without further comment.

As the four walked out together, Shen Ming clamored about holding a welcome-back celebration for Gu Jiusi. But just outside the palace gates, they spotted a servant in blue standing there. Seeing Gu Jiusi emerge, he hurried forward and asked, "Are you Lord Gu Jiusi?"

Gu Jiusi raised an eyebrow, "And you are?"

"This humble servant is from Lord Lu Yong's household. By my lord's command, I've come to invite you for an audience."Gu Jiusi paused, and everyone fell silent. After a moment, he turned to the three men and said, "Gentlemen, I'm afraid I must take my leave first due to some matters."

"Go ahead," Zhou Ye nodded. "Official business comes first."

After bidding farewell to the three, Gu Jiusi boarded the Lu family's carriage. The carriage rocked and swayed along the way, eventually bringing him to the Lu residence.

The Lu family's house was built with extreme simplicity, appearing quite impoverished compared to officials of the same rank.

Upon entering, Gu Jiusi respectfully bowed and said, "Gu Jiusi pays his respects to Your Excellency."

Lu Yong was practicing calligraphy. Without looking up, he sneered, "What kind of 'Your Excellency' am I now, just an old commoner? Minister Gu flatters me."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi wasn't surprised. Lu Yong's resignation must have been at Fan Xuan's suggestion, and it was natural that he would know about Gu Jiusi acting as Minister despite not attending court.

He remained silent. Lu Yong glanced at him and said lightly, "Quite composed, aren't you?"

Then, tilting his chin, he said to Gu Jiusi, "Brew some tea."

The tone was extremely rude. Gu Jiusi stood thinking for a moment before sitting down at the tea set nearby.

Truth be told, he had never brewed tea before.

He had never been one for such refined pursuits, always preferring to drink wine in large gulps. Tasks like brewing tea were more suited to Ye Shi'an. But though he had never done it himself, he had seen it done. Clumsily, he managed to pour a cup of tea and placed it before Lu Yong. Lu Yong glanced at the teacup, then at Gu Jiusi, and said disdainfully, "The man is handsome enough, but the tea he brews is utterly hideous."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi felt like dumping the entire cup of tea over Lu Yong's head.

But he restrained himself, maintaining a smile. "May I ask why you summoned me, Elder Lu?"

"Don't you already know?" Lu Yong said unhappily. "Isn't it because of you that I'm sitting here now? You want the position of Minister of Revenue, you want the people under my command, you want me to guide you and pave the way for you. Do you think you can have whatever you want just because you want it?"

Lu Yong grew more and more agitated as he spoke, spittle flying through the air.

Gu Jiusi stood where he was, keeping his smile intact.

Lu Yong slapped the table and the armrest, pounding as he ranted, "Let me tell you, among all the junior officials in the Ministry of Revenue, you're the one I despise the most. You stir up trouble in the mud with your petty cleverness, thinking you're something special. If it weren't for Zhou Gaolang protecting you, you'd have died ten thousand times over!"

"Elder Lu, the tea is getting cold," Gu Jiusi said, unperturbed, reminding him. "Please drink."

Interrupted like this, Lu Yong calmed down slightly.

After a moment, he picked up the cup and said lightly, "This time, His Majesty wants me to step down. I understand—he can no longer tolerate me. If I don't resign, it will be difficult for him to manage others in the future. Once I step down, there are still those who follow me. They need someone to protect them and a place to go. His Majesty has vouched for you, asking me to hand them over to you. I can give them to you, but I have a few conditions."

Hearing this, Gu Jiusi couldn't help but laugh.

"Elder Lu," he said, sitting down. "At a time like this, you're still setting conditions for me?"Lu Yong's face stiffened. Gu Jiusi leaned back in his chair, crossing his legs in a casual manner and tapping the armrest intermittently, looking nothing like an official but rather like a wealthy young master idly chatting over tea in a teahouse: "Your people must have a place to go. They stood by your side, and if you fall, without my protection, they will soon fall too. Once they scatter, you will truly have nothing left in the court. But I am different. If you give me these people, my path will be smoother. If you don’t, His Majesty now intends to use me as a blade, Zhou Gaolang protects me because of Zhou Ye, and the Censorate is on good terms with me because of Ye Shi’an. I am still young and have plenty of time to gradually build my own network. Tell me, what leverage do you have to negotiate with me?"

Lu Yong remained silent. Gu Jiusi took a sip of tea and said slowly, "The terms should not be set by you, but by me. I poured you that cup of tea earlier because I still hold you in high regard. I’ve heard you came from a humble background, with no family connections, and climbed to your current position entirely on your own. To be frank, you lack scholarly talent, have no official rank or merit, and no backing—your official position was even purchased back in the day. Yet His Majesty has always believed in your capability. Whether I take your people or not is optional for me, but I need a mentor."

Lu Yong looked up at him. Gu Jiusi said calmly, "I have talent, a better background than yours, and I am wealthy. But Lord Lu, I am indeed lacking in one thing."

"I don’t know how to conduct myself as a person, let alone as an official."

Listening to his words, Lu Yong slowly smiled.

He understood.

What Gu Jiusi was seeking from him was the art of making others feel at ease. The reason Fan Xuan had always thought highly of him over the years, and why others, despite knowing of his greed, never gave him a hard time, was primarily because he knew how to handle people.

"Then what are your terms for me?"

Lu Yong spoke up. Gu Jiusi thought for a moment and said, "Aren’t you fond of money?"

He added lightly, "I assume you have wealth. My wife is exceptionally skilled at making money. Would you consider entrusting your funds to her for management?"

Lu Yong: "..."

Asking for his people, inviting him to be a mentor, and the condition was to hand over his money to his wife for business?!

Such terms were unheard of!

But after some thought, Lu Yong finally said, "Have your wife show me the account books of the businesses she manages. I’ll consider it."