Chapter 193 - 194: The Split

Chapter 193: Chapter 194: The Split

Gu Wenheng sneered inwardly. ’So this guy beat around the bush for so long, and it was all leading to this.’

’Great. Now he’s leaving the choice to me. As if I have any real say in the matter.’

Gu Wenheng put on a look of sincere terror. "Oh, what ever shall I do? I’m just an ordinary Scholar. How about... I just release the secret formula to the public?"

"You can’t do that!" Bai Jinglie blurted out, flustered. But he immediately caught himself. ’Knowing this kid’s temperament, he won’t compromise that easily.’

"Wenheng, I’ll stop beating around the bush," Bai Jinglie said, knowing all the lines he’d prepared on the way here had been thrown into disarray. He decided to just lay his cards on the table. "The Holy Emperor’s intention, and mine, is to find a strong backer for this glass of ours. That way, others will be forced to show some restraint."

Gu Wenheng leaned forward slightly. "So, what the Young Master means is that the Holy Emperor himself wishes to be this backer."

Bai Jinglie gave a slight nod. "However, from now on, these secret formulas cannot be held by you alone. The Holy Emperor intends to open several more workshops."

Gu Wenheng’s expression remained unchanged. "Then what’s the profit split?"

"You’re not worried? Not afraid?" Bai Jinglie felt a little unsettled seeing that Gu Wenheng was completely unfazed and handling this so calmly. "This is the current..."

Gu Wenheng stood up and clasped his hands in a bow towards the heavens. "The Holy Emperor is benevolent; he surely wouldn’t make things difficult for a humble subject like myself. And I trust that Prince Bai has also come with sincere intentions."

Bai Jinglie burst out laughing. "Brother Wen Heng, you’re as perceptive as ever. It seems I couldn’t have bluffed you even if I wanted to."

With that, he took a letter from his breast pocket and handed it to Gu Wenheng with both hands. "This is the agreement the Holy Emperor and I came up with. Take a look and see if there’s anything you’d like to change. I’ll ride back with all speed and make sure you don’t get a raw deal, Wenheng."

Gu Wenheng was speechless. ’The way these ancient people think is truly fascinating. Am I supposed to feel like I’m getting a good deal just because the Holy Emperor is stepping in?’

Nevertheless, he respectfully took the letter and opened it. Upon seeing the elegant calligraphy, he glanced up at Bai Jinglie.

Bai Jinglie rubbed his nose. "I drafted it all. The Holy Emperor’s seal is at the bottom."

Looking at the contract before him, Gu Wenheng found himself developing a sliver of goodwill toward the man in power. Although he had to hand over the secret formula, he wouldn’t have to worry about any of the subsequent tedious details, and he would still receive a thirty percent share of the profits.

Prince Bai was to bear the responsibility for all production and sales, yet he would only receive a twenty percent share.

As for the one who took half, everything under the heavens was already his. From his perspective, this was probably a very magnanimous arrangement.

"This... isn’t this a bit improper?" Gu Wenheng clutched his chest, a troubled expression on his face.

"I know you’re getting the short end of the stick on this, Brother Wen Heng. But sometimes a loss is a blessing in disguise. At the very least, you’ve made a name for yourself with the higher-ups before even taking the imperial examinations. This will only help your future, not harm it."

Gu Wenheng shook his head, which caused a flicker of displeasure in Bai Jinglie’s heart. ’This kid doesn’t seem to know what’s good for him.’

"Young Master, I just feel that the profit split in this agreement is wrong."

"Oh? Then how would you like to split it?" Bai Jinglie asked, his displeasure not showing on his face in the slightest.

Gu Wenheng dipped his finger in his tea and wrote a few numbers on the tabletop. "I have no objection to the Holy Emperor’s share. It’s just that your share seems too small. I’m only providing the secret formula and won’t have to worry about anything else. Taking thirty percent is too much. I think it would be more perfect if we switched our shares."

Bai Jinglie was stunned. It took him a long moment to say, "Do you have any idea how much even a ten percent share of this is?"

Gu Wenheng smiled. "Of course I do. But one shouldn’t be rewarded without merit. I am more than satisfied to trade my secret formula for a twenty percent share of the profits."

The two of them went back and forth for a while longer before finally settling on the distribution as Gu Wenheng had proposed.

"It’s getting late. Why don’t you stay for a meal?" Gu Wenheng offered politely.

But Bai Jinglie had no time for such things. Now that the matter was settled, a mountain of tasks awaited him.

Besides, an agreement had been reached, and a message had to be sent to the Holy Emperor in Shangjing.

Watching Bai Jinglie and his men depart in a hurry, Gu Wenheng gave a self-mocking smile, then flicked his sleeves and returned to his study.

When Jin Qianqian received word that their guest had left, she told the kitchen staff to stop their preparations and headed for the study.

Seeing Gu Wenheng’s expressionless face, Jin Qianqian knew he wasn’t happy. She walked over and rubbed his back. "Is it settled?"

Gu Wenheng pulled her into his arms. "It’s settled. The backer is much more powerful than we imagined, though. I suppose that counts as a pleasant surprise."

Jin Qianqian cupped his face. "I certainly couldn’t tell from your expression."

Gu Wenheng seized the opportunity to steal a kiss. "It’s just... I’m still having trouble getting over the hurdle in my mind. In an era like this, there’s simply no such thing as human rights."

Gu Wenheng explained the reason for Bai Jinglie’s visit, and Jin Qianqian’s brow furrowed as she listened.

"So, they didn’t say anything about our soap workshop?"

A smile touched Gu Wenheng’s lips. "I told them a while ago that the secret formula for the scented soap was part of your dowry. As long as they don’t want to face public censure, they won’t touch it.

"But this works out for the best. With this glass partnership, your soap workshop can now operate openly and aboveboard."

Jin Qianqian patted her chest. "Thank goodness. While they were busy taking the meat, they at least left us some of the broth.

"But thinking about it, we haven’t really lost out for the time being. We might not have been able to hold onto the glass workshop on our own anyway. At least this way, we still get a cut."

"It seems we need to re-evaluate Prince Bai," Gu Wenheng said. "Judging from this, his relationship with the one on high is quite good, not at all like the rumors of him being out of favor."

Jin Qianqian paused. "...Does this mean you’re in the same boat with them now?"

The thought sent a shiver of retroactive fear through Jin Qianqian. If Gu Wenheng hadn’t thought of that, or if he’d been more stubborn and refused outright, what fate would have awaited him?

Gu Wenheng had clearly considered this as well. "You could say that."

* * *

After the Lantern Festival, everything returned to normal.

A few days earlier, Gu Wenheng had written out the secret formula for Bai Jinglie. Now, with that burden off his shoulders, he was able to show up punctually for Mr. Nan’s lectures every day.

Prince Bai and his companions, however, were not nearly so idle. He, along with Lu Ping and Shan Ke’an, all but disappeared from Yingshan Academy.

"Wenheng, you should probably start packing things up at home," Deng Yuanhang suddenly reminded him one day.

"Isn’t there still almost a month left?" Gu Wenheng asked.

"You have a large household and significant business now, Wenheng," Deng Yuanhang replied. "If you don’t start preparing in advance, you’ll be in a frantic rush when the time comes.

"You could even start sending back some of the less important luggage in batches."

Speaking of which, Deng Yuanhang’s face filled with envy. "I never would have thought you could build such a fortune in the short time you’ve been here, Wenheng. But since you won’t be living here anymore, are you thinking of selling your house?"

Gu Wenheng raised an eyebrow at him. "Why do you ask? Has someone been making inquiries through you?"