Chapter 509: All-Out Support for Trading with Nanyuan (Part 6)
"Alright, go on and attend to your business."
Gu Shuo nodded.
"Wait..."
Gu Shuo turned back.
"That little girl from the General’s residence is quite nice. Her temperament is a bit like yours when you were young." When Mrs. Dai was at the Xiang family’s home facing the little girl, for a fleeting moment, she was reminded of a six-year-old Gu Shuo.
Just as stubborn, and not afraid of anyone. She’d dare to point out anyone’s mistake.
"So, Mother, do you like her?" Gu Shuo was a little delighted.
"She’s a good child."
"If you have time, Mother, you should visit her at the General’s residence more often."
"Alright."
"Mother, I’ll be leaving now. There are still some matters at the Water Mirror Platform."
"Go on."
Gu Shuo spurred his horse and left.
Mrs. Dai lowered her gaze in thought. Her son had been very happy when he mentioned the little girl. Though it was only for an instant, she had caught it.
’Her son dotes on the little girl from the General’s residence? Why?’
"My Lady?"
Mrs. Dai returned to her senses. "Let’s go."
"Hiyah."
The carriage started to move slowly.
Mrs. Dai lowered the curtain. In that moment, her worries vanished. ’Whatever the reason, as long as my son is happy, that’s all that matters. Besides, I don’t dislike the little girl from the Xiang family either.’
’After she finished handling the Gu family’s affairs in a few days, she would definitely pay another visit.’
"Look at his attitude! We can’t count on him. What’s the use of raising a son?" Gu Mingqiu fumed inwardly.
’He clearly knew I was in the carriage, yet he didn’t even greet his own father.’
"Hmph." Mrs. Dai snorted coldly.
"This is all your fault for spoiling him! You’re always badmouthing me in front of him. You’re the one who poisoned his mind!" Gu Mingqiu said, huffing with anger.
"Our son has a mind of his own. Anyone with eyes can see what kind of character you have, does someone else need to point it out? Poisoned his mind? Everyone in the Gu family is as sharp as a tack. You grew up among them, so how is it that none of their shrewdness rubbed off on you?"
"You... Fine! I can never win an argument with you." Gu Mingqiu turned his head away and fell silent.
Mrs. Dai sneered. ’After all these years with the Gu family, his only virtue is that he doesn’t dare to walk all over me. If he ever tried to defy me to the death, I’d beat him until he was crippled!’
「The twenty-fifth of May. Capital City, Posthouse.」
Prince Yu had been worried ever since he received the Emperor’s letter. He felt the conditions his imperial brother had laid out were pushing their luck. It had been three days since the message was passed to Gu Shuo.
With no sign of anyone from Gu Shuo, he felt deeply unsettled.
They had no more excuses to delay their departure from the Capital City. After thinking it over, he decided he had to make a trip to the Water Mirror Platform himself.
"Royal Uncle, how many more days do I have to be cooped up in this room?" Helian Chen pouted, his face etched with displeasure.
"Just two more days."
"Two more days? If I stay cooped up any longer, I’ll start growing mold!"
"Endure it for Nanyuan’s sake."
"Didn’t Imperial Father send a letter? What are we still waiting for?" For Helian Chen, the past half-month had felt like a year, not to mention he had to take some medicine every few days to keep the Imperial Physicians from the palace at bay.
If this kept up, he’d get sick from boredom even if he wasn’t ill to begin with.
Prince Yu thought for a moment, then called out the door, "Someone, prepare the carriage."
"Yes, sir."
"Royal Uncle, where are you going?"
"I’m going to find Boss Gu and get a definite answer. If we delay any longer, the Beili Emperor will grow suspicious."
"Oh. Well, Royal Uncle, can I go to the General’s residence today?" Helian Chen asked tentatively.
"You will stay right here at the posthouse and go nowhere. If you cause any trouble for me, I’ll have your Imperial Father punish you properly when we return to Nanyuan," Prince Yu warned.
Helian Chen grumbled, "Fine, I won’t go."
Prince Yu sighed softly and turned to walk out the door.
Three days without a reply. He faintly knew the answer in his heart. For Nanyuan in its current state, the terms Boss Gu had offered were already the best they could hope for.
The price for aquatic products was more than double what Nanyuan was currently paying, yet the Emperor was still trying to haggle. It was truly not a wise move.
At the Water Mirror Platform, on the fourth floor, it had been over a month since Gu Shuo resigned as the imperial merchant, and the handover of his duties was nearly complete.
The Emperor had dispatched a newly appointed official from the Ministry of Revenue to take over. This man was twenty-one years old, Li Mu, the eldest son of Vice Minister Li Zhengsi.
In the half-month since Li Mu had arrived at the Water Mirror Platform, he had been constantly auditing the imperial merchant’s accounts. His words implied he was afraid someone had been profiteering from the position.
Some of the bosses who had worked under Gu Shuo were very displeased by this and complained to him behind Li Mu’s back. Gu Shuo, however, paid them no mind and ordered everyone not to discuss the matter further.
’If Li Mu wants to investigate, let him investigate. It’s best that the royal commercial accounts are thoroughly checked. Otherwise, it would be troublesome if issues arose after I’m gone.’
A new broom sweeps clean. For the first five or six days, Li Mu was full of bluster, but after the seventh day, his momentum flagged. His days were spent auditing accounts, and nothing but auditing accounts.
He had never known that commerce involved so many ledgers that needed to be checked. Moreover, all the accounts were perfectly clear and without a single error.
"Lord Li, have you finished checking the accounts?" Gu Shuo asked as he knocked and entered the room.
Li Mu looked up. "Don’t be anxious, Boss Gu. Accounts must be checked meticulously. Give me two more days."
"Of course. Take your time, Lord Li, there’s no hurry. Oh, by the way, I’ve also had someone bring over the ledgers from the year before last. Please, take your time looking through them." A smile played on Gu Shuo’s face.
"The year before last? Isn’t there a summary ledger?" Li Mu’s head was starting to ache.
"But didn’t you say you don’t trust anyone, Lord Li? When you arrived at the Water Mirror Platform, you said one must be cautious with finances and that you would check every single transaction yourself. I found your words to be quite reasonable, so I had someone bring the ledgers from the year before last for your detailed inspection. I can only rest easy once you have personally verified them," Gu Shuo said with utmost sincerity.
Li Mu opened his mouth, embarrassed. "The... the ledgers from the year before last don’t need to be checked. Just give me the final total, Boss Gu."
"Oh, but they must be. Every transaction in the royal commerce has a trail. Lord Li must check them thoroughly. Otherwise, if any problems arise in the future, I will not take responsibility."
"I trust in your abilities, Boss Gu."
"If you truly trusted me, Lord Li, you wouldn’t be here auditing last year’s accounts all night. After some thought, I still believe it’s best to check the accounts from the very beginning." Gu Shuo would not allow him to refuse.
Li Mu was in a bind. For half a month, he hadn’t eaten or slept well. Another half-month of this would be the death of him.
"Your hands-on approach is truly admirable, Lord Li. I’ll have someone bring the ledgers in right away." Ignoring the immediate ugly look on Li Mu’s face, Gu Shuo continued, "If there is anything wrong with the ledgers, feel free to find me at any time. But once they are checked, confirmed to have no issues, and the handover is complete, the moment I walk out the gates of the Water Mirror Platform, any future problems with the imperial merchant accounts will have nothing to do with me. So please, Lord Li, be thorough."
Upon hearing this, Li Mu felt as if a thousand-pound weight had dropped on his head, pressing him down so hard he couldn’t lift it.
He was furious with himself. ’It’s all my fault for being so arrogant on my first day. I didn’t manage to intimidate anyone, and instead, I’ve just made my own life miserable.’
Gu Shuo, looking like a smiling tiger, turned and a smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
’He insisted on showing off his authority, so I’ll let him show off until he’s had enough!’
"Boss Gu, someone is here to see you."
Gu Shuo had just reached the staircase when he ran into an attendant rushing up.
"Did he give his name?"
"He told this lowly one to just say ’Nanyuan,’ and that you would know who it is."
’Nanyuan?’
The curve of Gu Shuo’s smirk deepened. "Show him up."
’He held out for three days before coming. Prince Yu certainly has some stamina.’
Before long, the attendant led Prince Yu upstairs.
"Prince Yu, to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?" Gu Shuo said, welcoming him into the room.