"You finished so quickly. I haven't even gone over there yet," Gu Baozhu said, arriving late.
Gu Jinghong rode his horse around to his aunt's side and smiled at Song Jinzhao. "We'll take a stroll around the city ourselves. County Princess, you can head back first."
Watching the retreating figures of Song Jinzhao and her group, Gu Baozhu nudged Gu Jinghong with her hand.
"Why did you keep winking at me? Did something happen?"
Gu Jinghong nodded and slowly recounted the events at the medical clinic, especially Yang Cenan's request for the Song sisters to accompany him to Panzhou for medical consultations.
Before he could even finish, Gu Baozhu exploded.
"They absolutely cannot go to Panzhou! If the Yang family harbors any ulterior motives, they will never return."
Gu Jinghong replied, "The County Princess has already refused."
"Yang Cenan will definitely seek revenge when he goes back this time. Once they start fighting, it will absolutely be a fight to the death."
Gu Baozhu crossed her arms over her chest and said, "The young patriarch of the Yang family is practically the crown prince of Panzhou. Their internal struggles will only weaken their own power, which is entirely beneficial and harmless to the imperial court."
Gu Jinghong nodded. "The County Princess likely shares the same thought. That's why she strongly encouraged Yang Cenan to go back and seek revenge. She just wants to stir up internal conflict within Panzhou."
Gu Baozhu curled her lips into a smug smile, reaching out and clenching her fist to make a gesture.
"Great minds think alike. The County Princess is extremely brilliant and holds the nation in her heart; how could she possibly let such an opportunity slip by when it delivers itself right to her doorstep?"
Gu Jinghong lowered his eyes thoughtfully and murmured, "I truly didn't expect her to react so quickly."
"By the way, what did Song Anhao want with you? Why were you delayed for so long?"
Gu Baozhu smiled radiantly and said, "He wanted me to sell the Xue Family Bookstore to him, and I have already agreed."
Gu Jinghong opened his eyes wide in astonishment.
"Buy the bookstore? Song Anhao is only eight years old and he's already doing business?"
Gu Baozhu nodded. "I heard the County Princess has already let him manage a shop, but buying the bookstore was his own idea. The County Princess doesn't know about it yet."
"How much did you agree on for the price?"
The Xue Family Bookstore had been losing money year after year. It had only survived this long by relying on their grandmother's subsidies over the years, so it shouldn't sell for much silver.
Gu Baozhu held up her fingers to indicate the number eight to him.
"Eight hundred taels. We'll transfer the deed tomorrow."
Gu Jinghong stared at her blankly.
"You really dared to ask for that much. You're even swindling a child's money! That bookstore is worth five hundred taels at most."
Gu Baozhu retorted, "Who says I'm swindling him? Seeing as Suining City is about to prosper, selling it now is already a loss for me. If he wants it, he has to pay a high price."
Gu Jinghong shut his mouth, not wanting to argue. He didn't want to interfere in business matters either.
"Yang Cenan won't be able to leave for a short while. Are we just going to stay here like this? How about we play for a few days and then go back?"
Gu Baozhu shook her head without hesitation. "No way. He has his eyes on Shixue. I'm going to the clinic to keep an eye on things later."
Gu Jinghong said, "With so many yamen runners guarding outside, nothing will happen. Besides, Song Shixue knows martial arts herself, and she was personally taught by the County Princess. Even you might not be able to beat her in a fight."
Gu Baozhu glared at him. "Say that again."
The curve of Gu Jinghong's lips froze, and he quickly averted his gaze to look straight ahead.
...
The moment Song Qiming stepped into the government office, Shi Simian came up to greet him.
"My Lord, this is a letter from the Songzhou government office. Lord Gu wants you to build a good relationship with Yang Cenan."
Song Qiming took the letter and opened it. Besides instructing him to build a good relationship, Gu Zhongxun had specifically added a reminder at the end: when Yang Cenan leaves, yamen runners must be sent to escort him until he is out of the Suining Prefecture borders.
In the highly restricted study, Qingshuang stood before Song Jinzhao to give a report.
"Guan Nianshan recognized Zeng Boyan, but Zeng Boyan didn't recognize him. The two of them didn't speak."
"After returning to the inn last night, Huo Chong hasn't left at all. It seems like he is waiting for someone."
Song Jinzhao's fingertips tapped repeatedly on the desk, her gaze fixed on the map hanging on the wall for a long time without moving.
"Keep watching them. I have a feeling there's more to this."
