Mr. Songshan looked at Marquis Gu, clapped his hands, and said: "Indeed, Young Master Nantang saw through this layer, truly remarkable."

Marquis Gu nodded repeatedly.

Qin Yuan humbly inquired, "From the gentleman’s words, is there a deeper layer?"

Mr. Songshan laughed, "Naturally."

Qin Yuan thought for a moment and smiled, "Perhaps it is not suitable to speak of it at this time."

Mr. Songshan nodded.

"This matter depends on whether fate aligns. Revealing it too early might be unwise, and whether it succeeds or not hinges on how things develop."

Qin Yuan said no more and lowered his head to drink tea.

The two brothers of the Gu Family watched them play this enigmatic game, genuinely feeling that scholars could be so obnoxious!

After a long time.

Qin Yuan put down the teacup and asked, "Weren’t we supposed to discuss something upon my arrival? Why not speak now?"

Mr. Songshan said, "Without seeing through this layer, what can we discuss?"

Qin Yuan laughed.

Cui Ming came over to refill tea for everyone.

Qin Yuan asked, "May I ask if we can discuss now?"

Mr. Songshan leisurely replied, "Though it’s not a secret matter, I believe that the principle of not spreading to many ears, secrecy leads to success."

Implying that Sixth Master Gu and Cui Ming were in the way here.

Sixth Master Gu stood speechless, sulked, and stood up saying, "Then I shall not disturb your secret conversation."

Since he couldn’t understand anyway, he left the good fortune to the Third Brother.

Sixth Master Gu glanced deeply at Third Brother.

Qin Yuan hurriedly said, "Cui Ming will guard outside, we need to discuss important matters, but Sixth Master, you need not leave; I have a matter that concerns you."

Cui Ming responded and gracefully walked out.

Sixth Master Gu paused, but did not immediately sit down, half-sitting, half-standing, looking at Mr. Songshan.

Seeing that Mr. Songshan did not object, only then did he sit down.

Mr. Songshan asked, "What important matter involves Sixth Master?"

Qin Yuan said, "It’s about Mrs. Zhao, and I presume Mr. Songshan knows about it. This matter has some connection with Mr. Songshan."

"Oh?"

Mr. Songshan was even more surprised.

Marquis Gu waited quietly for his little wife to speak.

Qin Yuan said seriously, "Mrs. Zhao’s two children were adopted by Brother Cheng from the clan as foster children, and now they live in the neighboring courtyard; last time, Marquis brought them to dine with you."

Mr. Songshan nodded, indicating he remembered.

Qin Yuan continued, "The two children have yet to have a tutor. Sixth Master’s child has returned from the Imperial College, mourning at home, and should not neglect their studies. I was wondering, if Mr. Songshan has time, would you be willing to help educate the children?"

Mr. Songshan squinted and thought for a moment, saying, "Since I am to take Sixth Master as a disciple, I can teach his children too. But human relationships require karma; if it doesn’t work out, we shouldn’t delay the children, and must find a suitable educator."

Sixth Master Gu quickly smiled, "Thank you, Master, naturally."

Mr. Songshan glanced at Marquis Gu and said, "As for Pang Cheng and Pang Yu, I cannot teach them. At our last meal, I noticed that these children are somewhat wild, and may struggle with my restraints. Pang Cheng should focus on martial pursuits. As for Pang Yu, he can follow to learn reading and writing, but higher knowledge is unnecessary."

Qin Yuan waited a while, and seeing that Gu Jinghui said nothing, she said, "Then I will ask my father to recommend a few tutors."

Gu Jinghui said, "I will trouble my lady and the father-in-law."

Qin Yuan said, "Sister-in-law Cheng did me a favor in this matter."

Sixth Master Gu glanced at Marquis Gu and smiled.

Marquis Gu said, "For my lady’s actions, I also feel indebted."

Mr. Songshan nodded with a smile.

"Is that all for this matter?"

Qin Yuan added, "Today, Sister-in-law Cheng came to the house and mentioned something. The Emperor plans a grand celebration for the Empress Dowager, so the Five Cities Military Department will strictly inspect household and merchant records. Brother Cheng asked her to inquire whether to use this opportunity to search for Mrs. Zhao and Xu Zhen."

Sixth Master Gu immediately said, "Naturally, we should. Whatever the cost, our Marquis Mansion will cover it. If Xu Zhen is found, the knot between the Xu family and the Gu family will be resolved."

Marquis Gu pressed his thumb, producing a cracking sound, clearly unsettled inside.

Mr. Songshan pondered for a moment, "It’s quite easy to hide someone in the Capital City, even the Five Cities Military Department cannot access certain places."

Sixth Master Gu asked, "What places are those?"

Mr. Songshan said, "That’s why they say reading ten thousand books doesn’t beat traveling ten thousand miles, these are places you privileged young masters couldn’t imagine."

Sixth Master Gu laughed, "After all, I grew up in the Capital City, where have I not played?"

With Qin Yuan present, he refrained from speaking plainly.

Even brothels and theaters where he was extravagant, he had visited many.

Mr. Songshan glared at him, "If I hadn’t traveled and asked around, I wouldn’t know the Capital City’s drainage system is deep and vast, with many homeless taking shelter there. Plus, there are miscreants forming gangs using it as a hideout. These are things that the Five Cities Military Department and Ministry of Industry can investigate."

Sixth Master Gu exclaimed, "Drainage system? It’s filthy and stinky, how can people hide there?"

Qin Yuan said, "I once heard of thieves crawling through drainage to steal from the National Treasury."

"And then?"

"Then... the thief was starved thin and squeezed in, took golden bricks. While crawling through, exhausted, bumped his head, and died inside."

Sixth Master Gu gasped for a long time.

Gu Jinghui glanced at Qin Yuan, picked up the tea, and took a sip, saying, "This can be dealt with, by having the Ministry of Industry’s Drainage Bureau lead people to dredge, remove silt, my Great Camp can send troops to help search."

Qin Yuan nodded, "Yes, there must be guilds in the Capital City responsible for cleaning waste from the streets, and associations formed by sewer maintenance workers, they should know a lot."

Gu Jinghui nodded, secretly amazed.

The little wife knows more about these things than him, seeming unlike a lady raised in seclusion.

Sixth Master Gu clicked his tongue.

Mr. Songshan sighed, "There are inaccessible places, like behind some kidnappers are protectors. Brothels, theaters, marketplaces are all trafficking hubs, without intel, merely searching is futile. If the nobility are hiding someone in their mansion, even checking household records won’t help."

No one spoke.

After half a tea’s time, Sixth Master Gu said, "We must try to search... otherwise... otherwise..."

Gu Jinghui said, "Search, of course, we must."

Sixth Master Gu perked up his ears for the latter part, yet heard nothing.

Qin Yuan suddenly said, "Mr. Songshan’s recent words remind me, places where kidnappers and nobles hide are hard to find, but with intel, it’s much easier."

Sixth Master Gu sat up straight and asked, "Then where can we find intel?"