The hall was silent, so quiet that one could hear a pin drop.
Rong Shangshu’s back was soaked with cold sweat. He really didn’t mean it!
It was normal for scholars to look down on the commoners, but they usually kept their disdain in their hearts and didn’t show it on their faces.
Ministers: “…” Rong Shangshu is truly courageous! How dare he directly challenge the Emperor’s authority!
The young Emperor frowned slightly, his expression clearly displeased. He wanted to praise his son’s skills, but this bastard actually refuted it! How irritating! Rong Weijing is simply unreasonable!
Seeing that he was a member of the neutral faction, the Emperor wanted to use his son to win him over to the reformist faction, but now it seemed that was a wrong decision .
“Rong Xi, the eldest son of the Rong family, is a man of remarkable ingenuity and talent in crafting devices. He is also kind-hearted, open-minded, and has a gentle and composed nature. What do you, my fellow ministers, think of granting him 1,000 taels of gold and 1,000 bolts of silk?”
Cheng Hao was about to speak, but when he saw Qin Ke giving him a cold look, he became timid and felt extremely aggrieved.
The rest of the ministers thought that the reward of money and silk was nothing, and that the Emperor must not really want to promote merchants and craftsmen, so they all said, “Your Majesty is wise.”
After retreating from the court, all the ministers came out together.
Rong Weijing’s heart was still beating wildly and he was still sweating. Hearing a cold snort next to him, he turned to look.
Cheng Hao glared at him fiercely and walked away in anger.
Rong Weijing: “…” Crazy Cheng! He really has a brain disease!
Rong Xi didn’t know anything about the disputes in court.
He was currently accompanying Hu Yulin to procure tin foil and mercury. Tin foil paper was commonly used in the Wei Dynasty for making spirit money, so there should have been a lot of it on the market.
Hu Yulin had a wide network and quickly purchased a lot of tinfoil and mercury.
Although Hu Yulin didn’t know what Rong Xi needed them for, their long-standing friendship meant that whenever Rong Xi sought new materials, it heralded the birth of a new invention.
He waited patiently, and as expected, within a few days, Rong Xi appeared with a new invention, inviting him to Jiang’s iron shop.
“Brother Rong, what is it?” Hu Yulin was quite curious when he saw that the cloth bag in his hand was not big.
As Lady Jiang was present, Rong Xi handed over the bag and said with a smile, “This is for Lady Jiang.”
The three of them thought he was joking, and Lady Jiang took it with a smile. After opening it, she immediately exclaimed.
Hu Yulin and Jiang Weiping also came closer to take a look.
It was a square piece of glass. Although it was said to be glass, it was not glass. The glass was transparent, but this object can illuminate people’s faces.
“This is…” Lady Jiang saw her clear face in the mirror and was completely in disbelief.
Rong Xi’s eyebrows were curved, he was handsome and gentle, “A gift for you.” It is natural to give the mirror to a lady.
In the Wei Dynasty, all people used bronze mirrors to see their faces, which were not clear. Therefore, after making glass, Rong Xi began to think about mirrors.
Purchasing tinfoil and mercury to cover one side of the glass to make it look like a mirror.
“Brother Rong!” Hu Yulin got a glimpse of the business opportunity again and excitedly shook his wrist, “You are really, really…” He can’t put it into words anymore; Rong Xi keeps surprising him, like a deity descending to earth!
Rong Xi saw him like this and was also excited. He winked mischievously and said, “Do you want to sell it?”
To him, these things were ordinary, but in the hearts of Wei’s people, they were enough to cause a sensation.
Rong Xi couldn’t feel the same way, but when he saw the three people were excited, he suddenly felt heroic.
“Yes! It would benefit everyone! Hahaha.”
Hu Yulin smiled happily and suddenly took him into his arms and hugged him, “You are very amazing .”
It was a statement of excitement but also heartfelt sincerity.
The young man in his arms was obedient and gentle, with an open heart. Although they had only known each other for a few months, he was someone you couldn’t help but love.
It wasn’t just for business opportunities; it was more because of his gentlemanly qualities.
He was both endearing and admirable.
Feeling his heartbeat racing, Rong Xi smiled faintly and gently patted his back, “If it weren’t for Brother Hu’s help, I wouldn’t have been able to create these inventions.”
Hu Yulin took a deep breath, let go of Rong Xi, his eyes were extremely soft, “You are a genius, I should do those common things.”
They exchanged smiles, understanding each other without words.
“I’d like to find Master Feng and ask him to make some frames.” Rong Xi finished speaking and prepared to leave.
The three people immediately expressed their intention to go together.
Arriving at the Feng residence, they met Feng Shan and explained their purpose. Seeing the mirror, Feng Shan was also extremely shocked and naturally agreed.
“Master Feng, after the work is completed, I still need your help to send one to Shengjing.”
He had made several mirrors, one of which he intended to send to the Prince’s Mansion as a token of gratitude for Qin Ke’s help in reaching the Emperor.
Feng Shan had no reason to refuse.
A few days later, an urgent letter was sent to the Prince’s mansion, and along with it was a package from Mengshan.
When Qin Ke returned from the palace to the mansion, he saw Chen Chuangu smiling and holding something in his hands.
“Feng Shan sent something here, what do you think it is?”
Hearing it was from Feng Shan, Qin Ke quickly got up, snatched the letter and package from him, and opened the letter first.
The handwriting was unique and easily recognizable, causing a slight smile to appear on his lips.
Chen Chuangu raised an eyebrow and leaned closer to see, but he was cruelly pushed aside, unable to see anything. Seeing Qin Ke’s gentle expression, he couldn’t help but stroke his chin, his mind spinning.
The cold-faced Yan Luo, Prince Qin, seems to have changed recently, especially in matters related to Rong Xi. There must be something fishy going on.
“What did Rong Xi give you?” Chen Chuangu pretended to open the package.
Qin Ke glanced at him sharply, took back the package, and said expressionlessly: “The letter said it was a mirror.”
“Mirror?” Chen Chuangu laughed immediately, “Why did he give you a mirror?” A real man, what’s he doing looking in the mirror? That’s something only young ladies would do. Rong Xi is really naughty.
Qin Ke’s face grew colder. He opened the package and opened Feng’s wooden box, only to see an exquisite round mirror lying inside the box.
The mirror surface was smooth and translucent, and everything was reflected in detail.
“This is a mirror!” Chen Chuangu naturally saw it and exclaimed in disbelief.
It turned out that the mirror Rong Xi mentioned was a new type of glass mirror. This mirror shone brightly with their faces on it, as if there was someone exactly like themselves in the mirror.
Even the small mole on the earlobe was clearly visible.
“Rong Xi…” Qin Ke murmured almost inaudibly, then chuckled lightly, his eyes sparkling.
The person in the mirror also smiled and whispered.
Thinking of what Rong Xi entrusted him with, Qin Ke placed the mirror back in its box and carried it out of the mansion.
Chen Chuangu didn’t even have time to ask him where he was going.
Just as Qin Ke left the palace, he returned, much to the Emperor’s surprise. Seeing him holding the wooden box, the Emperor was suddenly delighted and astonished.
“Rong Xi made something new again?”
His eyes fell on the wooden box, waiting for Qin Ke to open it.
When the lid of the box was lifted, Qin Ke took out the mirror and presented it to the Emperor, who was suddenly startled by his reflection in the mirror.
He widened his eyes, seeing the faint mole beside his nostril clearly visible. He couldn’t help but lean closer to take a look, and the person in the mirror also leaned closer.
He observed carefully, then suddenly laughed, “So this is how handsome I am.”
Previously, bronze mirrors were not only unclear, but also easily distorted people’s faces, and only the facial features could be roughly seen.
Qin Ke put the mirror back into its case, his expression gentle.
“Your Majesty, during today’s court discussion, Minister Cheng proposed to safeguard the interests of craftsmen’s innovations, and I believe it’s feasible,” he said, seeing the Emperor showing interest, then continued, “There are countless skilled craftsmen in the Wei Dynasty, besides Rong Xi, there must be more creative minds. If the court establishes special rewards, it will surely stimulate a wave of creativity and prosperity in the Wei Dynasty.”
The Emperor smiled helplessly: “Is it really Cheng Hao’s idea?”
The two had known each other for more than ten years, and although the Emperor had never seen through Qin Ke, he had some tacit understanding.
Cheng Hao was just a fanatical weapon maker, so he could never say such words. Looking at Qin Ke’s recent behavior, the Emperor understood a bit.
“These ideas were also proposed by Rong Xi?”
Qin Ke nodded, “I believe that the foundation of reform lies in the people.”
Although the words sounded so, the situation was complex and not simple. Even if the new utensils were convenient, their cost was high, and ordinary people were still struggling to make ends meet. Where would they find the spare money to purchase these devices?
Only wealthy businessmen could afford it.
The new utensils have become luxury items, so how can we talk about benefiting the people? Both of them knew that it was not easy, and they were silent for a moment.
Qin Ke suddenly said: “I am impatient. Your Majesty, please forgive me.” He was so anxious for Rong Xi’s sake that he lost his composure just now.
The Emperor smiled and said: “No harm done. I am also anxious. But I believe, as the saying goes, ‘the boat will reach the bridgehead naturally.'”
Qin Ke saluted and wanted to take the box and leave, but was held down by the Emperor.
“The mirror stays.”
“Rong Xi has detailed the method of making mirrors in his letter. I would send this method to the Ministry of Industry, and Your Majesty will be able to get the mirror soon.” This was made by Rong Xi himself, so naturally he has to keep it.
In the Wei Dynasty, only Qin Ke dared to take things from the Emperor’s hand.
The Emperor glared at him and said helplessly: “Let Cheng Hao hurry up.”
Linxi, Qingzhou.
Rong Xi was reading in the study room when he suddenly heard a sound coming from the window. He looked up and saw a familiar figure looking at him haughtily.
He was pleasantly surprised and immediately opened the window to welcome the little ancestor, Bai Shuang.
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.
Bai Shuang fluttered its long feathers and stood arrogantly on the desk.
Ebcu Wl abbx atf ifaafg aeyf ogbw lar obba jcv bqfcfv la ab gfjv.
Ktf ifaafg kjr kglaafc ys Hlc Bf tlwrfio, wfcalbclcu atja atf gfkjgvr ogbw Llr Zjpfras kfgf mbwlcu rbbc, yea tlr qgbqbrji tjv cba yffc jmmfqafv ys Llr Zjpfras, obiibkfv ys atf gfjrbcr.
Coafg gfjvlcu atf ifaafg, Ebcu Wl rlutfv rboais, yea atfc ofia j rfcrf bo mbwobga.
He sighed for the limitations of the times and felt grateful for Qin Ke’s friendship.
After a moment of thought, he wrote a letter and fed Bai Shuang a few pieces of meat, letting it take the letter back to Shengjing.
Glass manufacturing was still in its infancy and could not be mass-produced, let alone mirrors.
Given the current situation, it was best to proceed steadily.
Hu Yulin had great ambitions, built several kilns, hired a large number of craftsmen, and fired glass. He paid extremely generous wages, and the craftsmen were all loyal and hardworking. Hu’s glass gradually spread to Qingzhou and even beyond.
If glass caused a stir in Mengshan County, then the imperial decree made Mengshan County boil like water on fire.
On the day of receiving the imperial decree, County Magistrate Shen Yi led all the officials to listen to the decree together with Rong Xi, Hu Yulin, and Jiang Weiping, creating a grand momentum.
From the elderly to the children in Mengshan County, everyone knew the name of Rong Xi.
In the imperial decree, the Emperor praised Rong Xi highly and rewarded him with a considerable amount of gold and silk. Regardless of the amount of money and silk, just being praised by the Emperor was a great honor.
A Minister of Rong came from Linxi, and now the Minister of Rong’s legitimate son is also so outstanding!
What about the commoners? And the craftsmen? The Rong family’s son and the Hu and Jiang brothers have all been commended by the Emperor. What an honor this is!
Hu Yun knelt down among the crowd and was so excited that tears filled his eyes. Although his son could not take the imperial examination and become an official, he was still able to get rewards from the Emperor, even if he was a businessman. To achieve this reward smoothly, we need the generous help of Rong Xi!
Rong Xi received the imperial decree calmly. Although his proposal had not been accepted, if this matter were spread throughout the world, there would surely be talented individuals striving for glory, focusing on creation.
Moreover, Qin Ke helped him get the Emperor’s permission, and the Qingzhou Ying Iron Division could release its authority to him and expand the purchase amount of iron ore.
It was a privilege given to him alone.
With a sufficient amount of iron ore, he could produce more utensils and materials.
After receiving the imperial decree, Shen Yi hosted a banquet, inviting the imperial decree servants to dine together, accompanied by Rong Xi, Hu Yulin, and Jiang Weiping.
The craftsmen of Mengshan were praised and rewarded by the Emperor. As the county magistrate of Mengshan, Shen Yi felt honored and proud. This could also be considered a testament to his efforts in educating the people.
Now he treated Rong Xi and the others with kindness and consideration.
Lady Jiang prepared the meal. The imperial servants were extremely satisfied with the meal and praised her repeatedly. Shen Yi smiled very kindly.
After the banquet, Rong Xi returned home. All the gold cloth and silk were displayed in the courtyard, which blinded the eyes of Rong Xi and his servants.
“Young master, where should I put the gifts given by the Emperor?” Liu He asked tremblingly.
He was excited. Even the Rong Shangshu has never had such an honor!
The things given by the Emperor were generally regarded as honors and would not be used easily.
Rong Xi waved his sleeves and said, “Lock it into the warehouse.”
He was not afraid of thieves stealing. To steal something given by the Emperor was to risk your life. No one was that stupid.
“Brother, should we inform the family about this?”
Rong Lian greatly admired Rong Xi now, but he knew Rong Xi and the family were estranged and didn’t dare to decide on his own.
“No need. The Emperor’s rewards are already known in Shengjing.” Rong Xi and Liu Zishi carried the boxes into the warehouse together.
Rong Lian and his servant also helped carry them.
The warehouse had been neglected for years, with windows and doors infested with woodworms, some parts rotting. It was not an ideal place to store money and silk.
Rong Xi pondered. Wooden houses were prone to damage, and in case of a fire, there was a high chance of burning down. Compared to houses in later generations, they were less stable and safe.
It would be great if cement could be made.
After locking the warehouse, Rong Xi suddenly asked Liu He: “Grandpa Liu, do you know anyone selling land?”
A few days ago, he had asked Liu to pay attention to the buying and selling of land, but due to various matters, he hadn’t inquired yet. Now, he just remembered, hence this question.
“Young master, I haven’t seen any good farmland yet.” Liu He replied.
Rong Lian was confused, “Brother, do you want to buy land?” In the Wei Dynasty, agriculture is fundamental, and wealthy landlords hold vast farmland. It is normal for his brother to want to become a landlord.
In the past, the Rong family also owned land, but after Rong Weijing entered officialdom, the family relocated, selling the land to others, leaving only the old house ravaged by wind and rain.
Both Rong Xi’s birth mother and his current stepmother, Rong Zhou, came from wealthy families with numerous properties and shops as dowries. Therefore, the few acres of ancestral land were insignificant.
This was also the reason why Rong Xi had not had enough food to fill his stomach when he first came.
“Land is the foundation. I want to buy more fields and grow more food.” Rong Xi nodded and replied.
Of course, he isn’t growing crops for sustenance but for experimentation.
The test would take a long time, and it was not convenient to explain it to others.
It was getting late, and everyone went back to their rooms.
Rong Lian wrote a letter under the lamp, only talking about his academic progress and not mentioning anything about Rong Xi. And the next day, sent it to Rong Mansion in Shengjing.
A few days later, Rong Shangshu received the letter. After reading it, he sighed deeply.
Since that day at the court meeting, his colleagues seemed to be laughing at him behind his back. Although literati despised merchants and craftsmen, they despised people who did not care about their parents and children more.
Rong Xi was highly praised by the Emperor, and everyone dared not speak falsely. Moreover, if their own sons received this honor, they would definitely be honored, whether he was a businessman or a craftsman.
Unexpectedly, Rong Shangshu didn’t only know his legitimate son’s talent but actually despised him! Everyone was in mixed moods and didn’t know how to face Rong Weijing.
“Husband, is this a letter from little Lian?” Rong Zhou came over with a plate, and asked with a gentle smile.
In the lacquered tray was a bowl of bean curd, with some added ingredients, incredibly fragrant and savory, which Rong Weijing had recently favored.
He took a spoonful, swallowed it, and replied: “Yes, Rong Lian’s academic progress is good. He may pass the provincial examination next year.”
Rong Zhou said with a smile: “Rong Lian has always been talented and fond of studying; he will surely pass. It’s just a pity that Rong Xi is also clever and bright but cannot shine as brightly as Rong Lian”
“What’s a pity?” Rong Weijing glared, and the spoon collided with the wall of the bowl, making a crisp sound, “What’s wrong with learning? To learn the skills of a craftsman! It’s a disgrace to the family!”
What if the Emperor bestowed rewards? Craftsmen ate still from the common people. Didn’t his colleagues mock him?
In his heart, Rong Xi’s abilities were still not worthy of high esteem.
The smile in Rong Zhou’s eyes deepened, “Excessive anger is harmful to the body. The bean curd is almost cold, so eat it while it’s hot.”
Rong Weijing was so angry that his beard trembled. He lowered his head to look at the contents of the bowl. Thinking that the tofu was also made by Rong Xi, his feelings were truly complex and indistinguishable!
“That’s it! I won’t eat anymore!” He put the bowl on the table and stopped looking at it, his chest rising and falling.
Rong Xi was in Linxi, and he didn’t know that the cheap father was angry again. He was negotiating with the head of the Ying Iron Division.
Rong Xi’s name had spread throughout Qingzhou, and Qingzhou’s Ying Iron Division received instructions from his superiors to grant Rong Xi special privileges. When Rong Xi showed his identity, the officials immediately smiled and responded.
“I wonder how much iron ore Young Master Rong needs?”
Rong Xi reported the number, but saw that the official looked embarrassed.
“Is it impossible?” he asked curiously.
“That’s not the case,” the clerk sighed, and said. “Iron ore is not easy to mine and the quantity is limited. Can Young Master Rong reduce the quantity?”
Rong Xi furrowed his brow; he had been foolish. With the production capacity of the Wei Dynasty, mining was indeed difficult, as human and animal labor could not compare to mechanical power.
“I don’t know where the mining is. Can I go and see it?” Rong Xi asked politely.
The intensity of iron ore mining directly affected his plan. He wanted to go to the mine to see if the mining method could be improved.
The mining sites were under the control of the government, and unauthorized persons were not allowed to enter. However, with his special privileges, the office officials immediately agreed and personally escorted him to the mines.
Qingzhou had abundant mineral deposits, and the court had established mining sites here.
Upon arriving at the mining site, Rong Xi looked around and saw many miners wielding pickaxes, digging for ore in the shallow layers of the earth’s surface.
In the Wei Dynasty, most of the mining involved surface weathering residues, accumulated ores, or iron deposits along riverbanks, including shallow surface iron deposits.
Iron ore was mostly hidden within rocks, and miners often used fire to crack the stones to extract the ore.
This method resulted in very low efficiency in stone mining.
“What do you think, Young Master Rong?” The office official, noticing his furrowed brows and contemplative expression, couldn’t help but ask cautiously.
Everyone knew that Rong Xi was the son of Rong Shangshu and had received high praise from the Emperor. As a minor iron official, he couldn’t afford to offend him.
Steel is widely used in later generations and is a necessity. However, the Wei Dynasty uses very few iron tools. Except for military utensils and agricultural tools, the people have no iron to use. To mine more iron ore, more efficient methods must be used. Rong Xi thought carefully.
“No.” Rong Xi smiled politely, and said, “Just go back.”
Because Qingzhou’s Ying Iron Division’s iron ore storage was small, Rong Xi did not get much. After it was transported to the Jiang family, it was handed over to Jiang Weiping, and he returned to his home.
As soon as he entered the house, Liu He greeted him and said, “Young master, there is a good land to buy.”
Rong Xi was delighted, “Seriously?”
Liu He chuckled and said, “Can I still lie to you?”
“Grandpa Liu, I will leave the matter of buying the land to you, and the money and silk will be withdrawn from the account.”
After Rong Xi gave him instructions, he went to the study, spread paper on the table, and dipped his brush in ink, but hesitated for a long time before writing.
He intended to send a letter to the Prince’s Mansion, but considering Qin Ke’s high status and busy schedule, he doubted he would have the leisure to come to Mengshan.
However, merely describing it in a letter would lack persuasiveness without him seeing it in person.
After pondering for a long time, he slowly started writing.
The next day, he instructed Liu Zishi to take the letter to the Fengs’ residence and deliver it into Feng Shan’s hands, asking him to send it to the Prince’s Mansion in Shengjing.
Liu He successfully bought the land, which was not far from Rong’s house.
Previously, the Zhang family’s fields were being fertilized, but Rong Xi didn’t want to use them, so he bought new land for sowing potatoes.
Potatoes in the cellar had already sprouted. The climate conditions in Qingzhou were suitable for planting potatoes in autumn and winter, with a harvest expected in early spring of the following year.
Potatoes could satisfy hunger and make delicious dishes, something Rong Xi had always enjoyed.
He called Zhang Zhi and taught him to cut the potatoes into pieces with sprouts before planting them in the ground.
The Zhang family were good at manual labor, and in just a few days, they had completed the task.
They didn’t know what potatoes were, and they didn’t know why Rong Xi did this, but as tenants, they naturally obeyed the master’s orders.
When Hu Yulin helped Rong Xi buy potatoes and corn, some wealthy businessmen also copied them, but they didn’t know what to do with them.
Now they found out that Rong Xi used this method to bury potatoes in the ground, so they also asked people to learn to plant them, but they did not dare to plant too many for fear of occupying too much land and reducing the next autumn harvest.
Rong Xi entrusted Zhang Zhi with managing the fields, while he acted as a hands-off shopkeeper.
On that day, the north wind swept the land, and the sky alternated between bright and dark.
Rong Xi was invited to Jin Shi Xuan and gathered with his three friends, Hu Yulin, Jiang Weipingand Duan Changjin.
“Brother Rong, nowadays, the kiln craftsmanship is becoming more and more sophisticated, and the output of glass is increasing. Rich households in Qingzhou are using it more, and glass mirrors are also in high demand. Who doesn’t praise your talent?”
Hu Yulin raised his glass in admiration, deeply impressed, and then drained it in one gulp.
Jiang Weiping and Duan Changjin also toasted Rong Xi.
Rong Xi drank three cups in succession. At just sixteen, he couldn’t drink much, and he wasn’t good with alcohol, so he apologized, “I can’t compare to you in drinking capacity. Three cups are my limit.”
Being the youngest, he had lost a lot of weight and his cheeks had sunken in, hidden by his fur collar. He looked even more young and unpolished, with rosy lips and white teeth.
Like a young disciple of Guanyin, handsome and extraordinary.
The three of them naturally paid attention to him and drank two more cups each to show their hospitality.
“You don’t need to drink anymore, brother. This banquet is specially prepared for you by the three of us.” Hu Yulin took three cups into his stomach. The ends of his eyes were red and his eyes were slightly misty, “I am grateful to you, brother.” The praise he received was all due to this friend.
“Brother Hu’s words are serious,” Rong Xi said helplessly, shaking his head, “As a good brother, please don’t say these things again in the future.”
Hu Yulin smiled, a departure from his usual shrewdness. He swayed over to Rong Xi, knelt down beside him, took his wrist, and looked at him with deep sincerity.
“This is what I say from the bottom of my heart. Don’t take it personally.” He chuckled softly and laid himself on Rong Xi’s shoulder due to his drunkenness.
Rong Xi laughed, and said, “It turns out that brother Hu is not a good drinking person either.”
As he smiled, his lips curled, revealing his white teeth.
When Hu Yulin saw this, the strength in his hand increased unconsciously. Rong Xi’s wrist hurt slightly, and he said helplessly: “Brother Hu, you are drunk.”
He broke free without leaving a trace, and was about to help Hu Yulin back to his original seat when he heard the sound of Zishi outside the door.
“Young master, we have a visitor at home.”
His voice trembled slightly. Rong Xi had been with him for several months and knew it was due to excitement. Who can make him so excited other than the war god, King Qin?
Previously, when Liu Zishi learned that “Chen Dalang” was the God of War in the Wei Dynasty, he was so excited that he couldn’t sleep for several days and nights.
Rong Xi came to his senses, stood up apologetically, and said, “Brother Jiang, Brother Duan, Brother Hu, I have guests at home so I will take my leave first.”
Jiang Weiping and Duan Changjin helped Hu Yulin back to his seat and said, “Brother Rong, be careful on the road.”
After leaving Jin Shi Xuan, a cool breeze swept over, dissipating some of the alcohol-induced haze.
Rong Xi shook his head, attempting to clear his mind a bit, but found his head becoming even more muddled.
The shop servant led Xue Ni out and said respectfully: “Young Master Rong, here is your horse.”
Liu Zishi took the reins and was about to ask whether Rong Xi would ride or take a carriage when he heard the sound of hoofbeats, and the hooves stopped right in front of him.
He looked up and opened his mouth.
Isn’t King Qin waiting at Rong’s mansion? Why are you here?
Although Rong Xi’s mind was confused, he still recognized the person. He raised his head and met Qin Ke’s eyes, and gave a silly smile, and said “Good evening.”
On horseback, the man looked down at the young man in front of him with a gentle expression.
The young man was extremely fair-skinned, with a dewy complexion. He was slightly intoxicated, his cheeks flushed, his eyes hazy, and his smile, though silly, added a hint of charm.
“Come up.” He stretched out his hand and whispered.
Qin Ke’s hand was slender and strong. Rong Xi was extremely obedient and handed over his hand.
As their hands clasped, Qin Ke exerted a gentle force, pulling Rong Xi behind him. “Hold on tight.”
Rong Xi put his arms around him, and his face, heated by alcohol, rested on the man’s back without any burden.
This wasn’t the first time, he was already familiar with it.
They swiftly departed, leaving Liu Zishi standing there dumbfounded.
But Rong Xi was already drunk and couldn’t care less about anything else. Although he held onto Qin Ke’s sturdy waist, he was on the verge of falling asleep, and his arms lacked strength. If it weren’t for Qin Ke’s alertness, he would have fallen off the horse long ago.
“Brother Rong, hold me tight.” The man’s voice seemed to carry a cold wind, inexplicably chilly.
The young man behind him seemed not to hear, his breathing gradually becoming steady.
After a moment of silence, Qin Ke chuckled helplessly. He reached out and pulled Rong Xi in front of him, letting him lean against his chest, his arms tightening around him, and they galloped swiftly towards the Rong residence.
The contents of the young man’s letter had shocked him to the core. If that thing could really be made, it would be more terrifying than any divine weapon, striking fear into the hearts of enemies.
He couldn’t let Rong Xi have anything dangerous.
After a while, Chi Yan stopped in front of the house.
Rong Lian had already been waiting outside the door. When he saw the two people arriving, he hurriedly stepped forward to catch Rong Xi who was sleeping.
The faint smell of wine hit his nose, Rong Lian frowned slightly, brother, are you drunk?
Qin Ke dismounted gracefully, intending to help Rong Xi into the house. But Rong Xi’s legs were completely weak; he couldn’t walk at all.
Unable to do anything else, Qin Ke had to carry Rong Xi around his waist and head straight for Rong Xi’s bedroom.
Xi Yan looked at his tall figure and exclaimed, “The Prince has great arm strength!”
Rong Lian followed Qin Ke to the bedroom. Seeing Rong Xi sleeping soundly, he couldn’t bear to wake him up, so he said, “Your Highness, my brother has been busy with various matters lately and is exhausted.”
Rong Lian only hoped that Qin Ke would be considerate and not wake his brother up.
Qin Ke covered the boy with his coat and whispered: “Wait until he wakes up tomorrow.”
Rong Lian breathed a sigh of relief.
In the morning of the next day, the rain fell into a curtain, dripping and ticking, disturbing people’s dreams.
The young man on the bed suddenly opened his eyes and was confused for a moment before he remembered what happened yesterday. He jerked upright, sat up from the bed, and hit his head hard.
“Young master, are you up?” Liu Zishi asked outside the house.
Rong Xi called him into the house and asked in a low voice: “How did I get back to the house yesterday?”
“The Prince brought you back.” Liu Zishi told the truth.
Rong Xi had a vague impression of this incident, but he couldn’t remember anything later.
“How did I get to the bedroom?”
It couldn’t be that he was carried in by the second brother, right? That was too embarrassing.
Liu Zishi shook his head and said: “The Prince took you back to the house first. I don’t know how you entered the bedroom.”
“Can you ask Xi Yan later?” Rong Xi whispered.
Liu Zishi nodded fiercely, and said “I understand.”
His head hurt a little. Thinking of Qin Ke staying at home, Rong Xi still struggled to go out. After washing, he went to the main hall.
Unexpectedly, there were two people in the hall. One was Rong Lian, with a reserved expression; the other was Qin Ke, with a stern face.
Seeing him arrive, they both looked up.
“Brother, you’re awake.” Rong Lian asked with concern, “Does your head hurt?”
Rong Xi shook his head and said with a smile: “No problem.”
Then he bowed his hands and saluted: “Brother Si.”
Qin Ke glanced at him briefly, nodded slightly, and said, “It’s raining today, so you can rest for a day.”
“Thank you for your concern, brother Si.” Rong Xi finished speaking and ordered Liu He to set the table and prepare the meal.
Actually, with the rain today, he couldn’t carry out the experiment he wanted.
After breakfast, Rong Xi led Qin Ke to the study, while Rong Lian went to study on his own.
“Thank you so much for bringing me back yesterday, brother Si,” Rong Xi said with a look of embarrassment on his face, “I was drunk and in a bad state. I hope brother Si can forgive me.”
Qin Ke looked at him intently for a long time with deep eyes, and then said: “Siwen is the same age as you, and I never let him drink.”
Rong Xi: “…” So?
Did that mean he shouldn’t drink too?
“I couldn’t refuse the kindness of everyone yesterday.” Rong Xi smiled brightly and said, “I will never get drunk and cause trouble in the future.”
“Um.”
After the topic was over, the two of them didn’t know what to talk about. The room was dull and they could only hear the sound of rain hitting the window frames.
“Are you good at chess?” Qin Ke suddenly asked. He thought that Rong Xi was not as uneducated as the rumors, and his handwriting was good, so he should also dabble in chess skills.
Unexpectedly, Rong Xi shook his head in shame, and answered, “No.”
Qin Ke looked slightly surprised, then disappeared immediately and said, “I’ll teach you.”
There was nothing to do at home to treat guest, Rong Xi happily agreed. There were chess sets at Rong’s house. Although they were old, they could still be used. He ordered Liu Zishi to fetch one, and the two sat opposite each other.
“When I entered your room last night, I saw something I had never seen before. It was as high as a desk, but it was narrow and had high walls on its sides. Can you help me clarify my doubts?”
Rong Xi was shocked. Did Qin Ke enter his bedroom last night?
With a calm expression on his face, he said, “Brother Si, I am making you laugh. I just get tired of sitting cross-legged, so I put a chair in my bedroom. I wouldn’t dare let outsiders see it.”
“It’s human nature.” Qin Ke stopped asking, and taught Rong Xi the rules of Go.
King Qin was really not a good teacher. If it weren’t for Rong Xi’s decent understanding, he would have been completely confused by now.
“Do you understand?”
Rong Xi nodded and smiled, “Well, it’s understandable in theory, but I’m afraid it will be clumsy in actual combat.”
“It doesn’t matter.” Qin Ke asked him to make his move first.
There was a lingering sound of rain outside the window, and the only sound left in the room was the sound of Go.
The two fought for a while, and finally Rong Xi lost. He smiled freely: “Brother Si has superb chess skills, I admire you.”
“You’re doing well for a beginner,” Qin Ke praised him sparingly.
This was a heartfelt compliment, not just encouragement. If Rong Xi truly hadn’t dabbled in chess, as he claimed, then being able to hold out against Qin Ke for so long based solely on what he had heard earlier showed remarkable intelligence.
But Rong Xi thought Qin Ke was sparing his feelings and just smiled without saying anything.
The two continued their conquest on the chessboard. After all, Qin Ke was the God of War, and he kept changing his moves, killing Rong Xi until nothing was left of him.
Although he was constantly being breached, Rong Xi’s expression remained calm and showed no signs of anxiety. When Qin Ke saw this, his eyes darkened, and his attacks became more fierce.
After repeating this, Rong Xi finally felt sleepy. He put his chin on his hands and joked: “My army is in a state of disarray and there is a shortage of food and grass. If brother Si attack again, the city will be destroyed and people will be killed. Why don’t you let me go?”
“What’s in it for me?” Qin Ke held the chess piece in his hand and had not yet dropped it.
Rong Xi pretended to be deep in thought, and then said shamelessly: “If my army doesn’t perish, I can help you restrain the other enemy forces.”
His words were unintentional, but Qin Ke was slightly startled.
With formidable enemies surrounding the Wei Dynasty and various barbarian tribes in the west and north harboring ambitions to plunder the fertile lands of the Central Plains, defeating them one by one would be extremely difficult. But if they could make them fight each other and exhaust their strength internally, the Wei Dynasty could recuperate for a longer period.
It was not that he hadn’t thought about it before, it was just that he became more determined after hearing Rong Xi’s words.
Qin Ke played with the chess pieces and said casually: “If you conspire with the other side, won’t I be facing enemies on both fronts? This is not appropriate; I cannot spare you.”
He pretended to make a move.
Rong Xi quickly reached out, caught the stone in his palm, and gave a cunning smile as he held onto it. “Collusion or internal strife, only when there’s a benefit to be gained. If there’s a benefit to be had, why would I waste my soldiers and horses?”
“Although benefits can tempt, if one’s heart is greedy, swallowing the benefits and then committing betrayal, how is that?”
“Coax him with sugar and beat him with a stick.” Rong Xi returned the chess pieces to his chessboard and said with a smile, “Brother Si uses military strategies like a god, with well-equipped troops, why fear my barbarian enemies?”
Qin Ke stared at him for a long time, then the corners of his lips lifted, a smile filling his eyes as he said, “Very well, I’ll spare you this time.”
“Brother Si is so generous, tonight I plan to repay your kindness with spare ribs, how about that?” With these words, he noticed Qin Ke’s eyes brightening slightly, knowing he had hit a nerve.
When it was almost time to eat, Rong Xi came out of the study, and went to the kitchen.
Liu Zishi came back from Feng’s martial arts training and went straight to the kitchen. When he saw Rong Xi, he said, “Young master, I asked about it. The Prince brought you into the room last night.”
“Huh?” Rong Xi almost cut his finger, and couldn’t laugh or cry.
The scene must have been quite comical. He resolved not to drink again in the future to avoid such mishaps.
At dinner, the winter rain ceased, but the cold became even more intense.
Rong Xi tightened his fur collar and hid half of his jade face, looking rather childish and youthful.
It seemed different from the usual quiet and gentle style.
Qin Ke’s gaze lingered on his face, and Rong Xi suddenly felt something, lifting his head to meet his amber eyes with a faint smile, hiding his inner embarrassment.
Knowing what happened last night, he felt ashamed when he saw Qin Ke again.
He quickly looked away and buried his head in his food without saying a word.
After finishing the meal, he hurried back to his room to avoid any interaction with Qin Ke.
The next day, the sky cleared up, with the sun hanging high in the sky.
Rong Xi prepared the raw materials and placed them in the courtyard, attracting Qin Ke and Rong Lian to watch.
“Young master, what do you want to do?” Liu Zishi asked excitedly when he saw something new.
Every time his young master came out with a new thing, it could cause a stir in the whole city.
Rong Xi smiled and replied: “You will know later.”
He wasn’t trying to tease them, but gunpowder was something that couldn’t be described in words; one had to witness its power to understand its effectiveness.
He had asked Hu Yulin to purchase saltpeter, sulfur, charcoal and other items, and was now distributing them in proportion.
Seeing him engrossed in his work, the others refrained from disturbing him. Rong Lian even studied in the courtyard with a book in his hand, occasionally glancing at him.
Qin Ke carefully wrote down Rong Xi’s steps.
The gunpowder powder was piled up in the courtyard, and the iron shells were already prepared. However, due to the urgency and limited conditions, he only asked Jiang Weiping to make ten iron shells to contain the gunpowder.
As for the fuses, the gunpowder was wrapped in tung oil paper and rolled into thin strands.
“Now we can give it a try.”
Rong Xi stood up and asked, “Second brother, would you like to come and watch
Rong Lian eagerly agreed, “Of course.” He was incredibly curious.
Liu He was left alone to look after the house, while several people rode in carriages and horses to the wilderness.
This was a wasteland, with no one around for miles. Rong Xi dismounted and everyone stopped.
“Brother Si has extraordinary arm strength, please help me later.” Rong Xi curled his eyes, took a bomb out of the carriage, and handed it to Qin Ke.
Qin Ke took it, looking confused.
“Second brother, please stay away a little.” Rong Xi asked.
Rong Lian and the other three retreated tens of meters away. Seeing Rong Xi approaching Qin Ke and teaching him the method, they couldn’t help but feel anxious.
What does that thing do?
After a moment, Rong Xi also retreated.
Qin Ke stood tall, holding a bomb in his right hand, and used his left hand to lift the fire and light the fuse.
When the flames started to burn, he followed Rong Xi’s instructions and threw the object in his hand far away.
Rong Xi looked at it and secretly praised him for his good arm strength.
After throwing the fire bomb, Qin Ke turned around and walked towards Rong Xi. Before he took a few steps, he heard a loud “bang” behind him, which seemed to burst into the sky.
A wave of heat swept over, and he hurriedly picked up Rong Xi, held him in his arms, and leaped dozens of meters away.
Rong Lian and the other three were all frightened and speechless.
When the heat wave dissipated, Qin Ke looked extremely solemn. He put down Rong Xi, and stood there blankly.
Being carried away by him again, Rong Xi felt quite uncomfortable. Seeing that several people were silent, he coughed lightly and said, “This power is not that great.
Compared with later generations of precision explosives, this was completely child’s play.
Rong Lian came back to his senses and saw Rong Xi, with a look of fanaticism in his eyes, “Brother, if we have this magical weapon, we, the Wei Dynasty, will definitely destroy the Northern Barbarians!”
With his youthful spirit, he was inevitably immersed in the enthusiasm of protecting his family and country.
Liu Zishi and Xi Yan raised their chins and looked at Rong Xi with expressions like those of fanatical believers.
The young master is so awesome!
“Can we get closer to investigate?” Qin Ke suddenly asked.
Rong Xi nodded, “Okay, I’ll go with you.”
He also wanted to record the results of the explosion.
The two walked side by side to the pit on the ground, stopping to observe.
Rong Xi wrote down the data and saw that Qin Ke was still stunned, so he said: “Brother Si, this kind of weapon must be controlled by the court. I made this thing for mining. However, it can be used on the battlefield. Win by surprise.”
“Brother Rong,” Qin Ke said with excitement in his eyes, staring at Rong Xi, “You always surprise me. Although you love the pastoral scenery, your talents must not be buried.”
Qin Ke was extremely serious, “If you are willing, I can ask the Emperor to station troops here to protect you in developing these weapons.”
This was to protect Rongxi and prevent malicious intentions.
“Brother Si…” Rong Xi was so frightened by his momentum that he suddenly lost his words.
As a researcher in his previous life, although he was respected by others, he was not protected by the state.
Now, he heard Qin Ke himself say that troops would be stationed for protection.
“Brother Rong, don’t underestimate yourself.” Qin Ke’s eyes were very dark, “Your talents may lead to death, and I need to be responsible for you.”
Rong Xi looked at him for a long time, then smiled and said, “Okay.”
The author has something to say:
Cheng Hao: (angry) You have the ability to despise me, but if you have the ability, don’t eat the beans!
Rong Shangshu: …I choose the real fragrance~
The people in the Rong Mansion are really just minor characters, so don’t be anxious, little cuties, they are just grasshoppers after the fall, and they can’t hurt Rong Xiaoxi! Moreover, there are still good people in the Rong family, and they are going to be Rong Xiaoxi’s backing! Now the main focus is to promote the career line and the emotional line. As for slaps in the face, Rong Xiaoxi does not need to do it himself.
Thanks!😀😀
😆He’s gonna be the einstein of this era
Thanks for the chapter!
Thanks for the chapter! If I remember correctly, dynamite followed the same trajectory. Meant for mining, used for war. This is truly dangerous knowledge & a pandora’s box…
No wonder the guy needs protection.
I was not uneasy with the telescope, it is still at human scale, but dynamite can bring destruction & death at exponential rates…
Too much power
Thank you for your translation 💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙💙
I am not afraid of Rong family after all Minister Rong is stupid and look down on Rong Xi’s chosen path so he definitely won’t do anything while Rong Zhou.. after they said both Minister Rong’s wives hailed from wealthy merchants family, I know she can’t do much. The intensity is different if she hailed from noble or prestigious family. That is why I actually more afraid of that enemy… the one trying to kill Dalang and Erlang before.