Under the urge of his impatient desire to uncover the truth, he quickened his pace.
The royal mansion was still immersed in the slow, lingering night, where the silence was so profound that one could hear a pin drop, making Gu Wen's footsteps more distinct and noticeable. So much so that the nobleman sitting in the study had already perceived his arrival before Gu Wen even reached the room.
The splendid bead curtain was lifted by an eunuch as Gu Wen walked into the study. A faint aroma of incense wafted from the animal-shaped burner. The nobleman was leaning over the desk, painting and writing. His plain yellow robe shimmered slightly under the candlelight, his features handsome and nobly indescribable.
Ninth Prince Zhao Feng, also a formidable contender for the Crown Prince of Daqian.
Ten years ago, the crown prince had drowned, and the current Emperor had not appointed a new successor. To this day, as the Emperor aged, storms brewed within the court.
Gu Wen advanced and knelt on one knee. In Daqian, except for extremely formal occasions, there was no need to perform the ritual of kneeling, not even the high officials had to kneel before the Emperor.
Only one type of person needed to kneel, a household slave.
Wherever there were people, there were hierarchies of high and low, noble and humble. There were two types of household servants: those who were descendants of noble families and entered with assets, and those like Gu Wen, who had no backing but were capable.
The former were considered servants, who were to be treated with respect by their masters. The latter were slaves, disposable at will.
But a smart master would tacitly allow the rule of kneeling by household slaves while being approachable and not sweating the small stuff.
"You've hurried over to the mansion late at night."
Zhao Feng set aside his writing brush, appropriately indicating closeness. This was another advantage for a household servant: it was easy to gain the master's trust and become his confidant.
Gu Wen was one of Ninth Prince's confidants; he was consulted for all matters related to commerce. However, this was the first time he had been summoned in the middle of the night.
Today, Ninth Prince's demeanor was also somewhat strange, closer than usual, even showing an extra hint of 'respect'? For a mere commoner like himself, whose skills were mostly in commerce—a respectable but modest profession for the powerful—
Zhao Feng casually inquired, "You have been with my mansion for about five years now, haven't you?"
Five years.
Gu Wen was slightly dazed as he realized that five years had passed since he had traversed time.
Five years earlier, he had become a beggar in Bianjing of Daqian, carrying a family heirloom jade pendant, which was said to contain a fated immortal connection. Before Gu Wen could figure it out, Ninth Prince's eunuch came asking for the jade pendant.
The man brought a dozen armed soldiers and disclosed his identity. Knowing he couldn't keep the treasure, Gu Wen set a condition—he wanted wealth and glory. Having struggled as a beggar for over half a year, if he couldn't keep the treasure, he might as well use the opportunity to escape poverty.
The other party agreed and then brought him into Ninth Prince's service, where he had remained until today.
Initially, when Gu Wen heard that the "ninth son had the legacy of the Great Ancestor," his first reaction was to flee, knowing that Ninth Prince would inevitably be drawn into the imperial succession battles. But seeing the workings of feudal society, he realized that the power struggles for the throne weren't as frightening as being a mere commoner.
Even with a great fortune, the next moment you could be nothing more than a fat pig under the slaughter of officials—they had myriad ways to devour you.
Thus, Gu Wen stayed in the Ninth Prince's mansion, using his modern corporate management expertise, becoming a crucial aide for managing the mansion's largest cash flow—the 'Marquis Wen'.
Gu Wen replied, "If not for Your Highness, your servant might have starved to death by the roadside. Your Highness's kindness is deeply engraved in my heart."
"Did you hear about the recent strange happenings in the city?"
"Indeed, someone saw a dragon's shadow under Dragon Bridge, a ten zhang high tree grew overnight on Vermilion Bird Road, the giant Buddha at White Cloud Temple emitted golden light, and someone encountered a white deer in Bianjing at night. These are considered auspicious omens, and everyone says that Daqian might have a reign of ten thousand years."
In ancient times, tales of gods and spirits were plenty, especially in recent times, and they were elaborately described.
Gu Wen had people ask around, and indeed a tree had suddenly grown on Vermilion Bird Road and even a hundred officials couldn't pull it out or push it over. In the end, they left it alone. Nowadays, Vermilion Bird Road was constantly congested because of this tree.
"You should know that all of this is true."
Zhao Feng took off the stone jade pendant from his waist and placed it on the table where Gu Wen could see, and his designation for Gu Wen suddenly changed, he said, "This was your family heirloom."
"Now it is Your Highness's."
"What if I want to return this item to you?"
Zhao Feng's body slightly leaned forward, his tone calm and gentle, as if he truly meant to return it to Gu Wen, yet unaware of the numerous hidden dangers emerging in the shadows.
Without hesitation, Gu Wen replied, "Then your servant would need to repay Your Highness's kindness. Last year alone, your servant spent three thousand taels of silver; I'm afraid it might be ten thousand over five years. My heart and soul are not enough to repay it."
"Does your Highness intend to let me freeload?"
Faced with the retort, Zhao Feng was startled briefly, then laughed lightly, his laughter quickly diffusing much of the murderous intent. He put away the jade pendant and teased, "My dear servant is indeed carefree, spending three thousand taels in a year, enough to buy a mansion here in Bianjing for less than a thousand taels. Yet, if I don't include the funds allocated from the Imperial Clan Court, my annual expenses might not even reach half of yours."
"Your Highness's holy virtue."
Gu Wen promptly complimented, aware that he had dodged another bullet today.
Serving the prince was like accompanying a tiger; although Zhao Feng was only a prince, his authority was mightier than the emperor's for Gu Wen and everyone else in the Ninth Prince's mansion.
Seeing Zhao Feng nodding in satisfaction, Gu Wen couldn't help but chuckle inwardly. This was nothing but a tactic of combining grace and severity, constantly keeping those below him in check while also enjoying the thrill of power dynamics.