“Eating the same food as the common people? Just how bad must the meals be? County Princess Linghui is clearly making things difficult for you on purpose!”
The moment they returned to their room at the courier station, Li Zhidao shut the door and began complaining.
Gu Zhongxun glanced at him. “Since you know she did it deliberately, why let yourself be troubled by it?”
“There are thousands of commoners at the cement factory. What do they eat and drink? How are they living? Those are precisely the things I care about.”
Li Zhidao’s brows were knitted tightly, and his entire face seemed to droop with worry.
“A bag for fifteen wen? I certainly don’t believe it.”
As Gu Zhongxun’s trusted aide, Li Zhidao had always spoken frankly with him, never bothering to hide his thoughts.
That was also why Gu Zhongxun liked him.
Gu Zhongxun said, “There’s nothing wrong with the accounts. We’ll know once we take a look tomorrow.”
“Grandfather~”
A knock sounded at the door, and both men looked up at once.
“Come in.” Gu Zhongxun gestured for Li Zhidao to leave.
The door opened, and Gu Baozhu ran inside, with Gu Jinghong following a step behind.
Li Zhidao bent at the waist in greeting before leaving the room.
“Father, I want to go to the cement factory too.”
His stomach feeling a little empty, Gu Zhongxun picked up a peach pastry from the plate and took a bite. “Remember to wear men’s clothing.”
Gu Baozhu’s face lit up with delight, and she nodded vigorously. “All right.”
Gu Jinghong took the opportunity to speak, successfully earning himself a roll of the eyes from Gu Baozhu.
“Grandfather, don’t worry. I’ll stay by my aunt’s side the entire time.”
That night, Song Qiming could not settle his mind in the study.
When he opened the window and saw that the lamp in Song Jinzhao’s room was still lit, he hesitated for a moment before walking to her door and knocking.
“Elder Sister, are you asleep?”
“No. Come in.” Song Jinzhao paused in turning the pages of the account book and raised her head slightly.
Seeing the worry written all over Song Qiming’s face, she guessed what was troubling him.
“Everything for tomorrow has already been arranged. You don’t need to worry. Gu Zhongxun definitely won’t spot any problems.”
Song Qiming took a deep breath, but the worry on his face did not lessen.
“That isn’t what I’m worried about. After dealing with Gu Zhongxun for a year, I know that he’s deep-minded and has a powerful desire to control the Southwest.”
“Before coming to Suining City, he handed all his official duties over to his eldest son, Gu Huaiyuan, who serves as the prefect of Songzhou. We’re both prefects, and our official ranks are technically comparable, but he is a senior fifth-rank official while I am junior fifth-rank. In three years, when Gu Zhongxun retires, I’m afraid I won’t be able to secure the position of Southwest Regional Administration Commissioner.”
Song Qiming’s concerns were entirely justified. Gu Zhongxun had spent decades in the Southwest. There was no way the emperor would feel at ease appointing just anyone.
Gu Huaiyuan had remained in the Southwest ever since entering government service. Whenever a problem arose, Gu Zhongxun would guide and advise his own son. Gu Huaiyuan was undoubtedly the best candidate for the position of Southwest Regional Administration Commissioner.
The atmosphere in the room gradually fell silent.
Song Jinzhao slowly rose, bracing her fingers against the tabletop.
“What is suitable now may not be suitable later. What the emperor wants is peace in the Southwest. The Gu family can give him stability, but if it comes to resisting invasions by the Southwest’s ethnic tribes, Gu Zhongxun can’t do it, and Gu Huaiyuan can’t do it either. If the son simply succeeds the father, there will certainly be officials who oppose it.”
“The Southwest has always been a burden on the imperial court, and Suining Prefecture is the first line of defense against invasions from the region’s ethnic tribes. But if we can turn that burden into an unbreakable cornerstone, the emperor may decide to keep you here so that his throne can rest more securely.”
Song Qiming’s brows drew tightly together. “Gu Zhongxun has deep-rooted influence in the Southwest. If he wants to put obstacles in our way, we’ll have no way to guard against him.”
An outsider and his own son— even a fool would know whom he would protect.
The corners of Song Jinzhao’s lips lifted as she said meaningfully, “But what if Gu Huaiyuan weren’t in the Southwest?”
Song Qiming froze. His mind went blank for an instant before he quickly began to think.
The candlelight swayed, and his pupils gradually brightened.
Rubbing his chin, he paced back and forth across the room.
“Gu Huaiyuan has held the position of prefect of Songzhou City for five years. It isn’t impossible to transfer him elsewhere.”
Song Jinzhao blinked.
“The three members of the Gu family have been left in the Southwest for so many years. It’s time they were promoted to positions in the capital.”
With a direction to pursue, Song Qiming’s spirits soared. He clenched both fists and struck one palm with the other.
“Exactly. Transfer him away. Becoming a capital official has far better prospects than serving in the provinces. As long as he has no ulterior motives, anyone would know which option to choose.”
