Chapter 25 It's Time to Meet

Yunxi had already informed Gu Nanxiao about Shi Qingchen's intention to come looking for them.

Therefore, when Shi Qingchen directly mentioned Zhao Yunxi's existence, Gu Nanxiao showed no surprise, nor did he deny it outright. However, he was not so kind and did not intend to answer Shi Qingchen's questions.

Currently, on the surface it is a power struggle between the Yongwang Mansion and the Shi Mansion, but Gu Nanxiao knows in his heart that the person confronting the Shi Mansion is actually Zhao Yunxi.

For this reason, Gu Nanxiao didn't need to worry about what cards the Shi family father and son would play. He only needed to use an ambiguous attitude to brush them off, and leave the rest to Yunxi.

However, Shi Qingchen's attempt to inquire about Yunxi from him, or even to meet with Yunxi, was futile. The little girl had already instructed him to refuse all requests on her behalf.

Gu Nanxiao looked down at Shi Qingchen, who was a head shorter than him, with a condescending and disdainful gaze. After a moment, he scoffed without any mercy and turned to leave.

In the following days, as soon as the morning court session ended, the emperor would summon the Shi family father and son to the imperial study for questioning. The emperor would subtly inquire whether the Shi family still had any prescriptions they had not yet handed over.

Judging from the Emperor's attitude, the Grand Secretary Shi had clearly determined that the Shi family was deliberately hiding something, but Shi Qingchen indeed had no more prescriptions left.

However, judging from the frequency with which the emperor summoned them, it was clear that he did not trust them at all.

Although the Shi family father and son were already overwhelmed with problems, in Yunxi's plan, it was only just beginning. She had long guessed that the Shi family would offer up what they had left: the improved papermaking formula and woodblock printing technique.

Therefore, the second grand gift she tailored for the Shi family, the Huimin Bookstore, also opened today.

The Xueguang paper sold in Huimin Bookstore caused a sensation among students as soon as it was released.

Because the Xueguang paper is not only much whiter than the paper sold at Shijia Bookstore, but it is also half the price of the paper sold at Shijia.

Not only Xuan paper, but Huimin Bookstore also sells many rare and unique books at very affordable prices. The money that buys one book at Shijia Bookstore can buy four books at Huimin Bookstore.

What surprised everyone even more was that the reason why the books at Huimin Bookstore were so cheap was because Yunxi had brought out a movable type printing technique that was even more advanced than woodblock printing, and the books at Huimin Bookstore were printed using movable type printing.

The reason Yunxi provided Shi Qingchen with modern knowledge that wasn't the most advanced version was actually to imitate the pace of cultural progress.

They first present the less advanced inventions, then release the final version. This is done simply to make the appearance of this future knowledge less abrupt and to reduce skepticism.

Unfortunately, although Yunxi's plan to assist Shi Qingchen was excellent, she didn't expect the Shi family to give her no chance to implement it. However, the schemes that weren't used before are now proving perfectly effective.

As expected, the invention of Xueguang paper and movable type printing immediately confirmed the Emperor's suspicions about the Shi family. Feeling fooled, the Emperor, in a fit of rage, dismissed six members of the Shi clan from their official positions. Even more than a dozen of the Shi family's protégés were implicated.

Moreover, the Emperor also handed over these vacant military and political positions to the Grand Secretary's political rivals. Now, not only can they never get their official positions back, but even the mistakes they made while in office could become sharp weapons used by their political enemies to stab them.

Since taking over as Grand Secretary, the Shi family head had never been publicly reprimanded by the emperor in court. He was so ashamed and indignant that he wished he could disappear into the ground on the spot.

He used to be so grateful to have such a brilliant son, but now he hates this rebellious son just as much.

Moreover, the emperor asserted in court that Shi Qingchen was a hypocrite who deceived the world and stole fame, and also revoked the calligraphy work titled "Young Talent" that had been personally written by the emperor for Shi Qingchen.

But for Shi Qingchen, the stigma that filled the capital and his precarious career were nothing compared to the shock of learning that Yunxi had secretly kept the prescription she gave him.

In his view, given Yunxi's feelings for him, she must have given him the best, so there must be something he didn't know. His most urgent task right now was to find Yunxi's sworn sister and ask her about it.

So, in the following days, Shi Qingchen would wait in front of various shops or in front of the Yongwang Mansion after court each day.

Yunxi had all the Shi family's movements under her control, and she felt it was time to meet with Shi Qingchen.

She asked Qianyu to send a message to Fengxun and Que'er, asking them to mention to Shi Qingchen that Yunxi has a habit of releasing lanterns during festivals.

And she guided him, saying that since she was so familiar with Yunxi, her sworn sister should also release a lantern for her sworn sister after Yunxi's death.

Sure enough, upon hearing this possibility, Shi Qingchen, who had been searching high and low without success, felt that he should try his luck no matter what and should not give up any opportunity.

So, on the day of the lantern festival, Shi Qingchen, along with Feng Xun, the only person who had ever met Yunxi's sworn sister, arrived early at the lantern market to wait for them to arrive.

They carried two lanterns from sunrise until nightfall. Finally, on the stone bridge, they saw a familiar, delicate figure in a pale yellow dress.

Yongwang Mansion

Gu Nanxiao had originally planned to have a drink with some close friends of his age at Ruyi Tower in Kyoto tonight. But halfway through the banquet, they suggested going to a pleasure boat to listen to music and admire beautiful women.

He found it utterly boring and refused. He just wanted to come back and be with Yunxi, even if they did nothing but stay together quietly, he would feel at ease. Gu Nanxiao couldn't help but smile when he thought about that scene.

But as soon as they returned to the manor, Mo Yu came to report: "Master, Miss Zhao just went out with Qian Yu, saying they were going to the lantern festival. Should I go and bring Miss Zhao back?"

Upon hearing this, Gu Nanxiao was not disappointed at all, but said with great interest, "There's no need to bring her back. Since it's the Lantern Festival, why don't we go and join in the fun?"

Gu Nanxiao instructed Mo Yu to drive the carriage to the entrance of the lantern festival alley. The two walked together through the market, and when they passed a lantern stall, Gu Nanxiao took a fancy to a kitten lantern on the stall.

The stall owner assumed he had his eye on the rabbit lantern next to him, so he immediately picked it up and introduced it: "Young master, you have excellent taste. This rabbit lantern is the style that young ladies love the most. Look at this cute little rabbit, it's just what a girl would like."

Gu Nanxiao didn't take the rabbit lantern, but instead reached out and picked up the kitten lantern himself. This kitten lantern was exquisitely made, perfectly capturing the lively, agile, and endearing appearance of a kitten.

When Gu Nanxiao saw the kitten, he was reminded of the scratches Yunxi would leave on his body every time they made love.

Mo Yu observed his master's expression and knew he had taken a liking to the cat lantern, so he immediately took out some silver to pay for it. The shopkeeper received a large piece of silver and thanked him profusely, saying many auspicious words. Gu Nanxiao simply nodded slightly, picked up the cat lantern, and began searching for Yunxi's shadow in the crowd.

He was already tall and had long legs, so standing in the moving crowd, he looked down at the throng of people in front of him like a crane among chickens.

After surveying the area, his gaze settled on the figure holding a floral paper umbrella on the bridge. Just then, Yunxi slowly turned around as well.

After confirming that it was indeed his kitten, Gu Nanxiao unconsciously curled the corners of his lips and strode over.

However, Gu Nanxiao stopped in his tracks after taking only two steps.