Shengjing.
Bai Shuang crossed the bustling streets and fell on the eaves like lightning. The glazed tiles were lush with greenery, contrasting with its long white feathers.
There was a loud chirp and someone immediately threw pieces of meat in the courtyard.
Bai Shuang spread her wings and swooped down, quickly grabbed the piece of meat, and swallowed it in a big mouth. Her expression seemed to be extremely satisfied, and she stopped on the windowsill.
Chen Chuangu helplessly approached, intending to reach out and take the letter tube. However, Bai Shuang dodged and avoided him, its wings brushing against the back of his hand in disdain.
“Bai Shuang.” A man’s clear voice came, and Bai Shuang immediately rushed over.
Chen Chuangu turned around and said, “I just fed it meat a moment ago, and it didn’t show any mercy.”
After taking down the letter, the man glanced at him lightly, let Bai Shuang fly away, and returned to the house alone.
Chen Chuangu sighed and entered.
“What did Young Master Rong write?” Chen Chuangu came closer and raised his eyebrows, “The handwriting is decent, isn’t it rumored that Young Master Rong is ignorant?”
After returning to Shengjing, he had inquired about Rong Xi’s affairs from various sources, but there was not a single good comment, only slanderous words.
“The Jiang family has already submitted the iron smelting method to the authorities.”
The man folded the letter and put it into the secret box under the desk, and then said: “The Jiang family’s iron smelting technique was originally ordinary, but now it suddenly obtained a strange method. This matter is truly suspicious.”
“Do you also doubt that it is from Young Master Rong?” Chen Chuangu asked with a smile.
The man chuckled lightly, “The art of briquettes, coal stoves, thin pots, and frying had never been heard of before, and there was no sign of them. However, they came into being when he arrived in Linxi. Feng Shan’s letter mentioned that Rong Xi is quite whimsical in making wooden furniture.”
Chen Chuangu was silent for a moment, and then said: “But now that the Jiang family has presented the iron smelting technique, the Ministry of Industry has remained silent. Could it be…?”
“This matter should continue to be investigated thoroughly.”
Once the new emperor ascended the throne, he would surely cleanse corruption. Those who concealed the iron smelting technique in an attempt to gain personal profit would be made an example of.
—-
Mengshan County.
Rong Xi went to Jiang’s iron shop, sat down with Jiang Weiping, and said straight to the point: “Brother Jiang, you reported the iron smelting method to the county government earlier. What was their reply?”
We’re sorry for MTLers or people who like using reading mode, but our translations keep getting stolen by aggregators so we’re going to bring back the copy protection. If you need to MTL please retype the gibberish parts.
“P tjnf yffc lcragemafv ab jkjla atf lwqfglji mbega’r jkjgv.” Aljcu Qflqlcu abiv atf ageat.
Lf reywlaafv la ab atf mbecas ubnfgcwfca, ktlmt atfc cffvfv ab gfqbga ab atf qgfofmaegji ubnfgcwfca. Mgbw atfgf, la kfca ab atf Zlclrags bo Pcverags. Po atf Zlclrags bo Pcverags vffwfv atf lgbc rwfialcu wfatbv ab yf lcvffv gfwjgxjyif, atfs kbeiv gfqbga la ab atf Zlclrags bo Lberftbiv Coojlgr, jiibmjaf oecvr, jcv jkjgv gfmbuclalbc.
Generally speaking, these procedures could be completed within one month.
However, the iron smelting technique was of utmost importance to the country and the people. If the government were not foolish, they would have been eager to report it to the court and would not have delayed the matter.
It had been nearly a month since Jiang Weiping reported to the county government, but there was still no movement at all, which was really strange.
Rong Xi frowned in thought.
“Brother Rong, is there any problem?” Jiang Weiping asked anxiously when he saw Rong Xi’s expression.
“Nothing.” Rong Xi replied with a smile.
Even if there was something suspicious, it had nothing to do with them as mere bystanders.
After chatting in the iron shop for half a day, after Liu Zishi finished practicing martial arts, Rong Xi and Liu Zishi returned home together.
As soon as he entered the house, Liu He hurriedly greeted him, with a strange look on his face, and said in a low voice: “Report to the young master, Someone from Shengjing has arrived..”
“Who is it?” Rong Xi couldn’t help but slow down.
Seeing Liu He’s unsuspecting expression, Liu Zishi sensed something amiss and clenched his fists, closely following Rong Xi.
After spending time with Rong Xi day and night, Liu Zishi knew that the rumors were false, so he guessed that the young master had been unjustly accused when he was sent to Linxi.
Previously, the young master’s good deed of saving someone resulted in a tarnished reputation. Now that someone from Shengjing had been sent here, Liu Zishi feared it might not go well.
No matter what, he would definitely protect the young master.
When they arrived at the main hall, a man was sitting and drinking tea. When he saw three people entering, he stood up slowly and said with a fake smile: “I’ve met Young Master Rong.”
This person was in his thirties, with unkempt eyebrows and small, sharp eyes that clearly showed disdain. Despite harboring contempt in his heart, he wore a fake smile on his face, which was truly repulsive.
Rong Xi remained indifferent, adopting a haughty posture, casually leaning on the table without sparing even a glance.
The atmosphere in the room was heavy for a while. Liu He left to prepare food in the kitchen, while Liu Zishi poured tea and served dishes to Rong Xi, remaining silent and seemingly uninterested.
“This servant, is called Qian Zhong, came to visit the young master on the order of the master. The master wrote a handwritten letter and wanted to hand it over to the young master for viewing.”
“Just leave it on the table.” Rong Xi was extremely cold.
Qian Zhong was a little at a loss.
He relied on his reputation in front of the master and his wife, thinking that Rong Xi was just an abandoned son, how much trouble could he cause? He didn’t need to be treated with caution.
Unexpectedly, after meeting Rong Xi, he felt that he was completely different from what he was in Shengjing. Although he was still domineering, his momentum was different from the past, which made people feel nervous.
He placed the letter on the table.
Rong Xi signaled for Liu Zishi to open the letter. After skimming through it, it was nothing but accusations of being an unworthy son, lacking any novelty.
Liu Zishi, who already knew a lot of words, understood most of them, and instantly became angry, and felt sorry for Rong Xi in his heart!
If what was said in the letter had been all the master’s heart, then one could not blame the young master for being so disheartened and indifferent.
The master listens to other people’s rumors and has no trust in his own children. How can such a father be respected by the young master?
“Will the young master reply to the letter?” Qian Zhong asked.
Rong Xi glanced at him and said lazily: “How should I respond? Linxi isn’t as captivating as Shengjing. I don’t have anything to discuss with my father, so perhaps I’ll mention today’s incident of a servant mistreating their master. It’s quite fitting.”
“Young master!” Qian Zhong was startled, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.
But considering the master’s attitude towards Rong Xi, he was no longer worried. Rong Xi had a bad reputation and showed no concern for his elders or any words of remorse or self-reproach, which made Master Rong feel even worse.
The so-called servant mistreating the master was just caused by Rong Xi’s arrogance and pretentiousness, no one would believe it.
With no more fear in his heart, Qian Zhong stood up straight and said with a fake smile: “The yoing master is joking, I respect the young master and have never overstepped.”
“I’m tired, please step aside.” Rong Xi didn’t want to say anything more and closed his eyes to rest.
Qian Zhong sneered secretly and left.
Liu Zishi felt pity for Rong Xi, half-knelt beside the table , pinched Rong Xi’s shoulders and massaged his back, and said angrily: “That Qian Zhong’s manners are really bad!”
“Go and tell grandpa Liu that he will stay here tonight, and the meal can be as simple as he likes.” Rong Xi ordered.
Liu Zishi hurried to the kitchen.
He doesn’t want Qian Zhong to taste the delicious food!
In the room, Rong Xi retrieved the letter and glanced at it once more, his expression contorting into a sneer. If the previous owner were to read this letter, it would undoubtedly cause him immense anguish. Yet, Rong Xi was not that previous owner, and his heart remained as cold as iron.
For Rong Xi, the Rong’s family in Shengjing was just a stain that could be discarded at any time.
At the time of dinner, Qian Zhong went straight to the kitchen.
Though he wielded power, he dared not truly break the rules. If it were known that he dined with the master, it would surely be inappropriate.
In the kitchen, the Liu family’s members were holding bowls and eating. When they saw him approaching, they watched indifferently.
Qian Zhong scoffed coldly, “Where is the food?”
He didn’t dare to actually bully his master, but he had no qualms about mistreating this grandfather and grandson. And if he didn’t intimidate the owner, why should he be afraid of some servants?
The Liu family’s grandfather and grandson continued to eat in silence.
The kitchen was small, and the briquettes and charcoal stoves had been moved and hidden. At this time, the stove only contained three or two pancakes, which were clearly visible.
Apart from this, there was nothing else to eat.
Qian Zhong felt uneasy and asked with a glare, “Is this what you’re going to eat tonight?”
“Alas,” Liu He sighed, wiping his mouth, his eyes filled with sorrow. “The family is poor and can barely make ends meet. Having bread to fill our stomachs is already hardly enough.”
Qian Zhong was stunned. He had not expected that the ancestral home would be so poor. In this case, even Young Master Rong could only live on coarse cakes.
No wonder, when he saw the young master just now, he felt that he seemed a little thinner.
It is actually a bit pitiful, he smiled secretly in his heart.
Early the next morning, Qian Zhong hurried back before he could have breakfast. The food at the morning market noodle stall was much richer than in this ancestral home, and he didn’t want to let himself be wronged.
As soon as he left, the house returned to peace and harmony. The delicious breakfast was beyond imagination.
On a certain auspicious day of the zodiac, the new Emperor ascended the throne and continued to use the reign title of the previous Emperor until it was changed the following year.
In Rong’s house, Rong Xi’s face was filled with joy. He placed a piece of white candy in the palm of his hand and said, “Zishi, when you go to the county in the afternoon, take this candy with you to Jin Shi Xuan.”
Liu Zishi took it in surprise and nodded repeatedly.
The young master is so awesome! He actually made white sugar!
“Lang jun was so awesome!” Is that one of Rong Xi’s names? Like you have a courtesy name and name used for family/close friends etc?
Thank you, I edited it. “ 郎君 ” – Langjun is an honorific title for men in ancient times, and later it was also used as an honorific title for wives towards their husbands
Now I remember I’ve read and heard it before in costume drama’s 😍 , Langjun is the ancient version of 先生 xiansheng ?
Btw almost al the chapters begin with an error message: undefined array key 🤔
Did something happen with the format ? The first view chapters were more readable through the use of paragraphs. Now it almost seems like one conjoined text, no complaints though!!
Yes!! I didn’t know it had error… It is my first time, and I made a mistake in posting. I fixed them ^^!!!Sorry for the inconvenience.
Apology not needed!! I didn’t want to offend you is the previous format was you chosen style. Is much more readable now TYSM🤩❤️
Thanks for the chapter!
Thank you for your translation 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙