Gu Jiusi emerged from Lu Yong's residence late into the night. Lu Yong had introduced nearly all his trusted associates to Gu Jiusi, allowing both sides to establish connections. After gaining a general understanding of them, they shared a meal together before Gu Jiusi finally returned.
Liu Yu Ru had received word that Gu Jiusi had gone to Lu Manor, but she hadn't expected him to stay so long. She had prepared a welcoming feast for him, thinking he would return home soon after, but instead, she ended up waiting until deep into the night.
Liu Yu Ru arranged for Jiang Rou and others to eat first while she remained in her room, studying matters of finances and waterways. Since she was selling grain and building such a large merchant fleet, she naturally needed to ensure a steady supply of grain. This meant purchasing more land, hiring more people—all of which required money.
As Liu Yu Ru calculated expenses late into the night, commotion arose outside as someone escorted Gu Jiusi home. She hurried out and saw him stumbling drunk, supported by others.
The people assisting him were unfamiliar to her, but they clearly weren't servants—likely officials of some sort. Even in his heavily intoxicated state, Gu Jiusi managed to bid them farewell, slurring, "Lord Wang, Lord Li, take care on your way."
Liu Yu Ru quickly expressed her gratitude to them. They smiled, exchanged farewells with her, then boarded their carriage and departed.
Supporting Gu Jiusi as they walked home, Liu Yu Ru felt somewhat displeased. She disliked him missing dinner and even more so his returning in such a drunken state.
Yet she restrained her temper, guiding him back to their room. Gu Jiusi draped an arm over her shoulder but still tried to support his own weight, as if afraid of burdening her, mumbling, "Have you eaten?"
Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru felt slightly comforted—at least he still cared about her.
She replied, "I just had some porridge to fill my stomach. Did you eat?"
"Yeah, I ate." Gu Jiusi let her help him onto the bed. Seeming exhausted, he lay down and murmured, "Drank a lot too."
Liu Yu Ru had water brought in and wiped his face. He appeared uncomfortable, struggling to speak. She ordered someone to prepare hangover soup. Lying on the bed, Gu Jiusi whispered, "Yu Ru, am I very unlikable?"
"How could you say that?"
Liu Yu Ru lowered her head. "Everyone likes you."
"Not really." Gu Jiusi's words were slurred. "Only you who care about me like me. Many others... dislike me."
"Especially now... I'm going to offend a lot of people."
Gu Jiusi spoke slowly, "I don't know how to flatter people... or get along with others... and I have a terrible temper..."
"Who told you these things?" Liu Yu Ru frowned, displeased. Gu Jiusi opened his eyes, staring at the canopy above the bed, and said gradually, "Lu Yong said I need to leave myself a way out. I think he's right."
"I can't keep being this reckless forever."
At these words, Liu Yu Ru's hands stilled. Gu Jiusi began retching, and she quickly called for a spittoon. After several dry heaves, he lunged forward on the bed, half his body hanging over the edge, and vomited loudly into the spittoon.
He seemed utterly miserable. Liu Yu Ru had never seen him like this—tears streaming from the corners of his eyes, a heartbreaking sight.Liu Yu Ru didn't quite understand why, but she felt particularly distressed. Gently patting Gu Jiusi's back as he vomited, she then used a damp cloth to wipe his face clean.
Lying on the bed, Gu Jiusi held her hand and murmured weakly, "Yu Ru, I feel awful."
Liu Yu Ru grasped his hand firmly and said gently, "The hangover soup will be here soon."
Gu Jiusi fell silent. After a long while, he suddenly spoke, "Yu Ru, I'm about to become the Minister of Revenue."
"I know," Liu Yu Ru chuckled softly. "We even prepared a banquet today to welcome you back."
"Finally, it's over."
He opened his eyes, his gaze somewhat dazed. "I've been really scared these past days. I used to think I was exceptionally capable, but now I suddenly feel like I'm not that capable after all. If you haven't killed anyone, but someone needs you to have killed, then evidence can be created to prove you did. Where is there any justice when faced with power?"
"I let you suffer."
Groping for her hands, he pressed them against his chest, closed his eyes, and repeated hoarsely, "I let you suffer."
"Jiusi..."
This was the first time since the incident that he had shown vulnerability to her.
She had always thought he was calm and strategic, but now she realized that Gu Jiusi's imprisonment hadn't just shaken her and made her feel incompetent—it had shaken him too.
Both of them were terrified deep down, yet they pretended to be each other's support.
Liu Yu Ru understood this feeling. Watching him frown while holding her hands against his chest, she finally said after a long silence, "So, did you go drinking with people today?"
"I will climb higher," Gu Jiusi sounded sleepy, his voice changing slightly. "High enough that no one can bully you."
"Yu Ru," he said seriously, "I'll be twenty soon. I've grown up. I shouldn't be willful anymore."
Liu Yu Ru didn't respond.
She helped Gu Jiusi drink the hangover soup, then undressed. At night, lying beside him listening to the steady rain outside, she eventually turned over, reached out, and embraced him.
"I still prefer you when you're willful."
She whispered softly.
But Gu Jiusi was asleep and couldn't hear.
When Gu Jiusi woke up, his headache had mostly subsided. Liu Yu Ru was already awake, personally helping him dress with the maid's assistance. Feeling somewhat uneasy, Gu Jiusi watched her fasten his belt and said earnestly, "I met some new officials yesterday. It was our first meeting, and there were many toasts. I couldn't refuse easily. Please don't be angry."
Hearing his apology, Liu Yu Ru couldn't help but smile. She glanced at him and chided, "Why are you so afraid? I understand you were doing serious business. But from now on," she adjusted his clothes and said gently, "don't drink so recklessly. It harms your health. You're Minister Gu now," she looked up with a playful smile, "a person of status. You should maintain some dignity."
This made Gu Jiusi laugh. He pulled her into his arms and whispered, "Hearing you call me Minister Gu makes your voice sound so sweet."
Knowing he was being mischievous so early in the morning, Liu Yu Ru glared at him, pushed him away and said, "Hurry up and go to court."Gu Jiusi lowered his head and kissed her before leaving. As he stepped out the door, he suddenly remembered something and said to Liu Yuru, "Oh, Yuru, are you short of money?"
Liu Yuru was taken aback for a moment, then nodded decisively: "Yes."
Gu Jiusi smiled: "Then give me the account books for Floral Visage. I'll introduce you to a money god."
After Gu Jiusi left, Liu Yuru stood dazed for a while before suddenly turning to Yin Hong behind her: "I think today's young master looks particularly handsome."
Yin Hong sighed helplessly: "Madam, does anyone who gives you money automatically become handsome in your eyes?"
"Not exactly," Liu Yuru said seriously. "For example, Brother Ye—whether he gives me money or not, I still think he's extremely handsome."
Ye Shi'an, who had just boarded his carriage, couldn't help but sneeze.
Since Gu Jiusi mentioned introducing her to a money god in the morning, Liu Yuru didn't delay. She prepared the account books early and took the opportunity to check on the grain shop's situation.
The grain shop was now managed by Ye Yun. After receiving guidance from Liu Yuru, she began consulting Yun Yun and quickly expanded on what she learned. First, she named the rice "Immortal Fragrance," then she contacted people in the palace and had the rice delivered to the Imperial Kitchen for Fan Xuan to taste. Fan Xuan immediately recognized it as Wangdu rice and was so inspired that he composed a poem praising it. In the following days, officials throughout Wangdu followed suit, rushing to buy this Immortal Fragrance rice to try. To expand sales, Ye Yun even set up tasting stations—setting up large pots at the entrance where she cooked batch after batch of rice for sampling. She prepared various flavored rice dishes: peppercorn rice, sesame oil rice, pagoda tree flower rice, osmanthus rice...
With free tastings, limited purchases, and high demand from officials, this "Immortal Fragrance" rice quickly became the talk of the Eastern Capital.
What was originally considered six-out-of-ten fragrant rice, with people lining up daily to buy it, became ten-out-of-ten fragrant. Within just a few days of sales, Ye Yun was already requesting additional shipments.
Thanks to Floral Visage's stable performance and Immortal Fragrance's hot sales, Liu Yuru's cash flow remained relatively comfortable. After checking the accounts in the morning, she emerged from the restaurant feeling quite pleased. She hadn't walked far when she heard a somewhat familiar voice say: "I didn't expect to meet Madam Gu here again."
Liu Yuru paused, turned around, and saw Li Yunshang standing there.
Li Yunshang looked somewhat haggard. Seeing her, Liu Yuru bowed and said: "Greetings, Your Highness."
"Out shopping?" Li Yunshang approached and walked alongside Liu Yuru: "Shall we walk together?"
Liu Yuru agreed without avoidance and walked with Li Yunshang. Maintaining a calm expression, Li Yunshang led them to a teahouse where they found a private room. After they both sat down, Li Yunshang suddenly said: "Are you laughing at me now?"
"Your Highness is of noble birth," Liu Yuru said softly. "How could a common woman like me dare to laugh at you?"
"This is probably the last time we'll meet," Li Yunshang sat calmly, her face displaying the stillness of someone nearing death—yet it didn't diminish her beauty in the slightest. She looked up at Liu Yuru, her eyes like glass: "Don't you have anything you want to ask me?"
"What would I have to ask you, Princess?"Liu Yu Ru took a sip of tea, her expression calm. Li Yunshang quietly watched her, and after a long while, she smiled faintly: "When my father was still alive, he once told me that I was his most beloved daughter, and he hoped my marriage wouldn't become a political bargaining chip. While he lived, he would protect me; after he died, my elder brother the Crown Prince would protect me, and I could be willful my entire life."
As she spoke, Li Yunshang turned to look out the window, her expression bitter: "Who would have thought they would both pass away so soon. Before my father died, he was still thinking about my choice of husband. Actually, at that time, there was someone in my heart."
Li Yunshang looked up at Liu Yu Ru: "Aren't you going to ask who it was?"
"What does that have to do with me?"
Liu Yu Ru's expression remained indifferent. Li Yunshang was taken aback for a moment, then suddenly laughed: "It actually does have something to do with you. The first husband I chose was Gu Jiusi. I originally thought of waiting for him to come to the Eastern Capital to meet him, and if he was really as good as Lord Jiang said, I would ask my father to issue an imperial decree for the marriage."
As she spoke, Li Yunshang fell silent, as if reminiscing about something. After a long while, she slowly said: "He was more outstanding than I imagined—very capable, principled, and quite handsome. The first time I saw him, I felt regret; he should have been mine. Actually, I'm quite jealous of you. Every time I heard about him protecting you or saw him accompanying you, I couldn't help but think that all of this should have been mine."
"I should have had a marriage free from politics," Li Yunshang said with longing in her eyes. "I should have married someone I liked and lived happily ever after."
Hearing this, Liu Yu Ru smiled gently: "Your Highness, you don't actually love him. You just feel that Gu Jiusi represents a symbol of a good life for you. If you had really married him, you probably would have regretted it."
As she spoke, Liu Yu Ru's eyes held a trace of nostalgia: "He wasn't like this before, and you wouldn't have liked who he was back then."
Li Yunshang listened, and after a long silence, she laughed: "Perhaps you're right."
"Does Your Highness have any other matters?" Liu Yu Ru glanced at the sky outside. "I have other things to attend to and may not be able to keep you company much longer."
Li Yunshang nodded. Liu Yu Ru bid her farewell and took a few steps toward the door before suddenly turning back to ask: "I heard you are to marry Young Master Zhang. I hope Your Highness will live well from now on."
Hearing this, Li Yunshang smiled: "I will."
She turned to look out the window and said lightly: "A phoenix will only perch on a parasol tree and drink only the purest dew. I will always live well."
Liu Yu Ru nodded. Li Yunshang looked at her and couldn't help but laugh: "I thought you would curse me."
"Hmm?" Liu Yu Ru seemed puzzled for a moment before understanding. She smiled: "To be honest with you."
Her voice was gentle: "I have always been lenient toward those weaker than me."
Li Yunshang was stunned. Without further conversation, Liu Yu Ru turned and walked out. Li Yunshang looked at the empty private room, and after a moment, she couldn't help but laugh aloud. But as she laughed, tears began to fall.
It was only at this moment that she truly understood how formidable Liu Yu Ru was.
A single sentence, neither harsh nor mild, perfectly polite, yet it struck straight at the heart, causing pain that made one convulse.
Li Yunshang grabbed a cup beside her and smashed it violently onto the floor. Then she closed her eyes in agony.Liu Yu Ru returned to her room and encountered the person brought by Gu Jiusi. He was Lu Yong's steward. Liu Yu Ru led him into the study, spoke with him privately for a while, then handed him the Floral Visage accounts.
"If Lord Lu wishes to earn money, I have many shops where he can invest. However, I am currently planning another matter. If Lord Lu is interested, I will personally visit him after preparations are complete."
The Lu steward nodded, took the account books, and departed. By the time he left, he and Liu Yu Ru appeared quite familiar. The steward held a favorable impression of Liu Yu Ru—one might say most people would form a positive impression after speaking with her, barring any special circumstances. This was likely the instinctive talent of a businessperson.
As Liu Yu Ru saw the steward to his carriage, she finally said: "My husband is still somewhat immature. He is quite young and will require Lord Lu's guidance and care in the future."
Hearing this, the steward chuckled: "To be frank with you, my lord has said that aside from Lord Gu's youthful exuberance, he needs no advice from others—he's a formidable man."
Liu Yu Ru didn't quite agree with this "formidable" assessment. She always felt Gu Jiusi appeared rather childish in her presence, hardly matching the description of "formidable."
Yet several days later, an incident occurred that shocked the entire court.
After spending five days auditing the treasury silver, Gu Jiusi finally concluded that nearly five million taels of silver were missing. This treasury theft case was directly connected to Liu Chun, and the number of officials involved in the embezzlement, as compiled by Gu Jiusi, reached nearly two hundred people. Gu Jiusi impeached every single one without exception.
Impeaching over two hundred officials in a single day set a nearly century-old record for most impeachments. That same day, an old court official foolishly engaged in a shouting match with Gu Jiusi in court and ended up vomiting blood from rage.
While leaving court, Ye Qingwen walked beside Gu Jiusi, cleared his throat softly and said: "Ahem, Jiusi, have you considered taking a concurrent position at the Censorate?"
Gu Jiusi smiled and politely declined Ye Qingwen's suggestion before cheerfully returning home.
Watching Gu Jiusi's retreating figure, all civil and military officials trembled with fear.
Thank goodness such a formidable man hadn't joined the Censorate.
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