Chapter 147: Competing for Talent

Chapter 147: Competing for Talent

Lord Azure Phoenix spoke to Sixteen in a very familiar tone, but Sixteen did not respond, only gesturing for them to proceed.

The three of them entered the main hall, and after exchanging formal greetings, Crown Prince Jia Hongyuan invited them to take a seat.

Crown Prince Jia Hongyuan was sitting by the window playing Go on a white jade board, where the black and white pieces had already engaged in several rounds of battle, with him being the sole player on both sides.

Qiu Huanian was not deeply versed in Go, but he could tell that this was an endgame stalemate. After a glance, he averted his gaze, but Crown Prince Jia Hongyuan suddenly asked, "What are your thoughts on this situation, Zisui?"

Qiu Huanian was slightly taken aback before realizing he was being addressed.

On the last official day off, Qiu Huanian had prepared a small banquet and invited Wen Huiyang for a gathering. The great scholar arrived as promised, bringing with him the courtesy names he had chosen for Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian.

In ancient times, men would receive a courtesy name after turning twenty, often related to their original name—either synonymous, complementary, contrasting, or derived from a relevant classical allusion.

For example, Du Fu, whose courtesy name was Zimei, as "Fu" in ancient times meant a handsome man, so his courtesy name was a typical synonym. Another example is Zhu Xi, whose courtesy name was Yuanhui, where "Xi" means brightness and "hui" means darkness, making it a contrasting choice. There’s also the classic case of Zhao Yun, whose courtesy name was Zilong, derived from the phrase in the Book of Changes: "Clouds follow the dragon, wind follows the tiger," based on a relevant classical allusion.

The formal selection of a courtesy name was a serious matter, in some ways even more so than choosing a given name. It wasn’t something one could casually pick like a playful nickname.

Wen Huiyang chose "Zisui" for Qiu Huanian. "Zi" was an honorific for men in ancient times, often used in courtesy names, while "sui" was synonymous with his original name. "Huanian" means a beautiful year, and what could be more beautiful in autumn than a bountiful harvest with full rice ears?

This name not only corresponded to his original name but also aligned with Qiu Huanian as a person, encapsulating his abilities and achievements.

Du Yunse's courtesy name was "Binzhi," derived from the classical allusion "I have distinguished guests, playing the se and blowing the sheng." "Bin" means to welcome others with righteousness, and when used as a verb, it means to host. After writing these two characters, Wen Huiyang patted Du Yunse's shoulder earnestly.

"I hope you can become a distinguished guest who works harmoniously with a wise ruler, serving the people and leaving a legacy for generations. I also hope that no matter what you encounter in the future, you can always welcome others with righteousness as 'Binzhi.'"

Du Yunse solemnly bowed and said, "Binzhi will remember my teacher's instructions and act accordingly."

Wen Huiyang smiled and nodded, then glanced at Qiu Huanian.

His gaze brushed over Qiu Huanian's face like a dragonfly skimming the surface of water, his eyes soft and wistful.

"I’ve spent my life in solitude, lonely and without family, but in my later years, I’ve been blessed with two good children like you. It seems Heaven has not treated me poorly."

That day, Wen Huiyang drank a lot, finishing two small jars and opening a third before Du Yunse stopped him.

Wen Huiyang wanted to resist, but Du Yunse gave Qiu Huanian a look, and Qiu Huanian directly took the jar away. Wen Huiyang huffed in mock indignation but obediently gave up the idea of snatching the wine.

And so, Du Yunse and Qiu Huanian's courtesy names were settled.

Qiu Huanian wasn’t surprised that the Crown Prince knew his courtesy name. Addressing someone by their courtesy name was a sign of closeness and respect. Qiu Huanian politely replied, "Your humble servant is not skilled in Go and does not know how to resolve this situation."

The Crown Prince curled his lips, "I thought Zisui might say, 'Why not just flip the board?'"

"..."

Qiu Huanian had indeed briefly considered that idea, but given that the person before him was a genuine Crown Prince of an imperial dynasty, he didn’t dare to be so bold.

Lord Azure Phoenix walked over to the chessboard, studied it briefly, and gestured with his hand.

"Flip the board? Are you certain that’s wise?"

The Crown Prince gently tossed the white chess piece into the chess basket, his calm words carrying a hidden meaning.

"Flipping the chessboard isn't hard, but how to keep all your pieces after flipping the board requires careful consideration."

Azure Phoenix Lord laughed and sat down, "Keep thinking, and let me know when it's time to flip the board for fun."

He sipped his tea and slammed the cup down on the table, then turned to speak to Qiu Huanian.

"I often hear people raving about Qiu's Six Staples. When are you opening a shop in the capital, Zisui?"

He also followed the Crown Prince's lead in calling him Zisui.

Qiu Huanian replied, "The first batch is ready and will be available soon. Would you like to check it out then, Azure Phoenix Lord?"

Azure Phoenix Lord agreed, "Sure, I'll get you an opening gift. From now on, you'll have to hook me up when I buy from you."

Qiu Huanian smiled without making any promises, "As long as the workshop can make it, I'll definitely set some aside for you, Azure Phoenix Lord."

Unlike the remote northeast, the capital is a melting pot of exotic goods from everywhere, and the competition is fierce. Qiu's floral essence and hydrosol aren't market leaders, and after a year, their signature oyster sauce has many knock-offs, with the best ones copying about seventy percent of the flavor.

Qiu Huanian knew this was par for the course and stayed cool.

The two biggest advantages of Qiu's Six Staples are: first, the buzz is well-managed, with the reputations of Lady Qishu and Number One Scholar Du being very prominent, which has kept Qiu's Six Staples in the limelight; second, the quality is excellent. Although imitations can replicate about seventy to eighty percent of the flavor, they still can't match the recipes Qiu Huanian brought from the modern era, which have been adjusted and verified countless times.

So, Qiu Huanian plans to stick with premium products, focusing on promotion and limited sales, finding his place in the fast-paced capital business scene, and smoothly keeping Qiu's Six Staples running.

"Can't you make more?" Azure Phoenix Lord asked.

Qiu Huanian remained cautious, "My shop is small, and I can't afford to expand too much. I can only take it one step at a time."

Azure Phoenix Lord laughed, "Zisui is really a smart guy."

Qiu Huanian smiled along, taking it as a compliment from Azure Phoenix Lord.

Next, the Crown Prince seriously inquired about the sapling cultivation. Having spent the past month at the royal estate, he knew more about the saplings' growth than Qiu Huanian, which is why he attached great importance to the matter.

"Guanzi once said, 'A good ruler must first enrich the people, then govern them.'" Crown Prince Jia Hongyuan shifted his gaze to the map of the Yu Dynasty hanging on the side.

"If everyone in our great Yu Dynasty has enough to eat and knows how to behave, why worry about not being able to awe the world and rule all nations?"

Qiu Huanian saw the ambition of a great leader in the Crown Prince.

A thriving and peaceful Yu Dynasty, bursting with life, needs a forward-thinking and resolute ruler to lead it towards an even more prosperous future.

Azure Phoenix Lord was also very interested in fruit trees, particularly grapevines. When Qiu Huanian mentioned the downstream industry of wine from the grapevines, he stroked his chin.

"After your grapevines produce grapes, why not join me in making wine?"

"Do you know how to make wine, Azure Phoenix Lord?"

"My mother was a tribute woman from a small Western country, and the only thing that country excels at is making wine. I have a good recipe, but I've never used it. If you're interested, we can work together—I'll provide the recipe, and you provide the grapes, labor, and venue."

Azure Phoenix Lord didn't mention how to split the profits; for him, money wasn't important. He was just suddenly interested.

Qiu Huanian had no objections. A ready-made good recipe was too good to pass up, and the wine could also benefit from the reputation of the only Azure Phoenix Lord from the Western regions and the Yu Dynasty.

With Qiu Huanian present, the Crown Prince and Azure Phoenix Lord didn't discuss more private matters. After chatting for over an hour, a palace attendant reminded the Crown Prince it was time for his medicine, and Qiu Huanian took the opportunity to bid farewell.

Azure Phoenix Lord also left with him, and sixteen silently followed behind to see them off.

They walked all the way outside the hall, approaching the area where the sedan chairs and horses were kept, but Sixteen made no move to stop.

Lord Azure Phoenix suddenly halted and turned to ask Sixteen, "Does Sixteen have something to say to me?"

Sixteen shook his head. He then asked, "Then is there something to say to Zi Sui?"

Sixteen spoke, "Not at all."

Qiu Huanian sensed something and smiled, "Thank you, Sixteen, for seeing us off. From here, Lord Azure Phoenix and I will walk together."

Although Qiu Huanian wanted to have a good chat with Sixteen, it was clearly not the right time.

Instead, Lord Azure Phoenix seemed to have something to say to him, while Sixteen had a faint intention of preventing it.

Sixteen remained silent for a moment, then bowed slightly and took his leave.

Lord Azure Phoenix raised his hand, signaling Qiu Huanian to walk a few steps aside with him.

After ensuring no one around could hear their conversation, Lord Azure Phoenix finally spoke.

"I've actually wanted to meet you for a long time."

"Why?" Qiu Huanian was puzzled. Why would a young man from the countryside attract the attention of Lord Azure Phoenix of the Yu Dynasty?

"Because of Du Yunse."

Qiu Huanian blinked, a guess forming in his mind, and he subconsciously bit his lip.

Lord Azure Phoenix chuckled, folding his arms.

"Scholar Wen once taught the Crown Prince, and his disciple Du Yunse was also a rare talent. Seven or eight years ago, to better consolidate the Crown Prince's forces, the Emperor wanted Du Yunse to marry Lord Azure Phoenix."

Qiu Huanian's heart raced for a moment, but he quickly calmed down.

"It seems it wasn’t meant to be," he said, though his tone carried no regret.

Lord Azure Phoenix nodded, "Back then, Du Yunse refused the Emperor's marriage proposal, citing that he already had a betrothed at home. As a result, he was avoided by many and lost many opportunities, but in the long run, it was a blessing in disguise."

"My acquaintance with Du Yunse was fleeting, and we had no further connection, but I've always been curious about the betrothed he mentioned," Lord Azure Phoenix looked at Qiu Huanian with his distinctive eyes, "Now I finally see him—"

"Du Yunse's luck is quite enviable."

"..."

Qiu Huanian couldn't help but feel that Lord Azure Phoenix had an impulse to provoke him, as if wanting to tilt his chin up.

Truly, Lord Azure Phoenix, his demeanor was ahead of his time, and only the royal family could indulge such a character.

Qiu Huanian changed the subject, "Why did Lord Azure Phoenix suddenly tell me this?"

"I fear that in the future, someone might stir up trouble, deliberately misrepresenting past events to cause trouble. It's better I lay it all out for you now."

Lord Azure Phoenix massaged his wrist, "Speaking of which, Zi Sui seems to have a good relationship with Sixteen?"

"Hmm?" Qiu Huanian feigned ignorance.

"Sixteen followed us all the way, likely concerned that I might say something to upset you."

"Sixteen has always been quiet. Lord Azure Phoenix must have misunderstood."

Azure Phoenix Lord shrugged, "Guess I was wrong. Don’t forget to invite me when Qiu's Six Staples opens, Zi Sui. I’d hate to be disliked by someone I find attractive."

"..." Qiu Huanian responded with helplessness to Azure Phoenix Lord's smiling face.

As someone from ancient times, Azure Phoenix Lord's words and actions were way ahead of his time.

Maybe it’s his mother’s foreign genes—she was from the Western Regions.

"By the way, in about ten days, it’s the Emperor’s birthday. As a titled Township Lord living in the capital, you'll need to attend the palace banquet. Let's go together, Zi Sui. I’ll take you to see something interesting."

When Azure Phoenix Lord mentioned the "good show," his eyes narrowed slightly, and his sharp features broke into a smile.

Qiu Huanian felt that this "good show" was probably not going to be simple.

"What does Azure Phoenix Lord plan to do?"

"Grab a prince consort for fun. Don’t worry, it definitely won’t be Du Yunse," Azure Phoenix Lord said with a hint of regret. "Too bad you’re already taken, otherwise I’d snatch you."

Azure Phoenix Lord's words sounded like a joke, yet also serious. Qiu Huanian chose to ignore it.

Qiu Huanian felt that Azure Phoenix Lord was clearly a smart person. With the tense situation of the succession struggle in the capital, even if he did something out of the ordinary, there was likely a deeper meaning behind it, not just mere playfulness.

...

Once he got home, Qiu Huanian placed the pure dew into the water, had a refreshing bath, and lay down on the couch to rest in his thin gauze clothes.

With Mumian’s help, Lark and Agate had sewn many cushions and pillows of suitable sizes and shapes, fully decorating the main room of Qiu Huanian's inner courtyard. No matter where he lay, it was comfortable.

In such a cozy environment, even a workaholic like Qiu Huanian started to relax. After finishing his tasks, he would often take a short nap, stealing a little leisure time.

As May arrived, the weather grew hotter. Though Qiu Huanian’s belly wasn’t showing yet, he had noticeably less energy. Closing his eyes in the peaceful afternoon, he woke up to find Du Yunse already home from the yamen.

Qiu Huanian faintly felt someone covering him with a blanket. He whimpered and shifted his arms a bit.

"No, it's too hot."

"Brother Hua, listen. Your body temperature drops quickly when you sleep. You’ll catch a cold if you’re not careful. If you get a cold, you'll suffer again."

Qiu Huanian hummed a couple of times. His arms and legs, pinned under him, were a bit numb from poor circulation. Before he could speak, Du Yunse noticed and picked him up, helping to massage and knead them.

Qiu Huanian yawned, waking up a bit, and casually asked Du Yunse how his day at the yamen went.

"Did Qi Yazhi invite you out for drinks again?"

"Yes, but I wanted to come back early to be with Brother Hua, so I didn’t go."

Qi Yazhi was the second-place candidate in Du Yunse's cohort during the Liaozhou provincial examination. He entered the second rank in the Palace Examination and later successfully joined the Hanlin Academy as a Shujishi.

Another top candidate from Du Yunse's cohort, Li Ruicong, did not enter the Hanlin Academy. However, with the help of his father-in-law's substantial financial connections, he managed to stay in the capital and now serves as an eighth-rank official in the Imperial Academy.

In the current Hanlin Academy, in terms of cohort and hometown connections, Qi Yazhi and Du Yunse were the closest.

Qi Yazhi was meticulous, gentle, and genuinely talented. In theory, he should have been a very good friend.

But after several interactions with him, Qiu Huanian always felt a certain distance, making it hard to form a genuine friendship.

Qiu Huanian puffed his cheeks and muttered softly, "How many times is this now? Every time you say you’ll come back to me, he still invites you out."

Du Yunse chuckled, his hands skillfully massaging Qiu Huanian's numb calves with just the right pressure.

"If Brother Hua doesn’t like him, I’ll keep my distance from now on."

Qiu Huanian was satisfied in his heart, but he said, "That doesn’t feel right—it’s like I’m keeping you from making friends."

Du Yunse raised an eyebrow, "Is Brother Hua hinting at something?"

Qiu Huanian stretched gently in Du Yunse's arms, and Du Yunse held him tighter.

"Today I visited the small estate next to the royal one—the saplings are thriving."

"The Crown Prince summoned me to the neighboring palace."

"I ran into someone there—"

Qiu Huanian spoke slowly, teasing.

"Guess who it is—get it right, and there’s a reward."

Du Yunse thought for a moment, then leaned down to kiss Qiu Huanian's lips.

"What are you doing?"

"Claiming a little reward early."

"Oh? You figured it out?" Qiu Huanian's heart itched with curiosity.

Du Yunse caressed Qiu Huanian's cheek, "Brother Hua ran into Azure Phoenix Lord."

"That’s one question down. Azure Phoenix Lord shared some old stories—guess what else?" Qiu Huanian continued to ask, half-truthfully.

Du Yunse knew this was a trick question. Instead of answering, he scooped Qiu Huanian up and carried him to the canopy bed, shutting the green gauze door.

Qiu Huanian's heart raced, "Du Yunse, you didn’t answer me—what are you up to?"

Du Yunse walked to the bedside. Qiu Huanian looked up at his handsome, jade-like face and instinctively swallowed.

The noble man leaned down, one hand on the bedframe, and gently nipped at his lover’s lips.

He moved slowly, patiently, but with an edge of dominance. Qiu Huanian instinctively wrapped his arms around his shoulders in response, his mind hazy in the exchange of hot breaths.

Only when Qiu Huanian was breathless did Du Yunse pull back, his voice rough in his ear.

"Let me take care of Brother Hua, alright?"

They both knew exactly what he meant. A shiver ran up Qiu Huanian’s spine, his whole body trembling with anticipation.

Since learning of the pregnancy, they hadn’t been close. As the physical discomfort faded, other needs surged. Qiu Huanian had been thinking about it for days, too shy to bring it up.

Du Yunse didn’t wait for Qiu Huanian's answer. He knew Brother Hua’s mind too well—now wasn’t the time to tease him.

Du Yunse slowly undressed the man in his arms, peppering him with kisses.

"Mm—"

"Du Yunse… Du Binzhi…"

Qiu Huanian covered his mouth with his hand, staring at the embroidered canopy above, tears welled in the corners of his eyes.

He couldn’t bring himself to look down, shutting his eyes in embarrassment. The indescribable sensation grew sharper in the dark.

After a while, Qiu Huanian curled his delicate toes, his calves feebly kicking against the bed.

"Du Yunse..."

Du Yunse got up and kissed the corner of Qiu Huanian's lips, clutching his red-eyed lover tightly in his arms.

His hoarse voice was laced with an indescribable mix of desire and tenderness, whispering in Qiu Huanian's ear.

"Huanian, I truly cherish you."

"I cannot be without you..."

"Just the thought that I might have missed you fills me with dread..."

Qiu Huanian did not expect to hear such palpable unease and fear from Du Yunse's mouth.

A soft smile tugged at the corners of his lips, and the faint trace of discontent in his heart melted away.

"That won't happen, didn't you say we were fated to find each other, no matter where?"