Mythical Three Kingdoms

”It’s all approved, but if there’s anything special you need, report it all at once. It’s a waste to make just one set at a time. Hurry up and tell me, and in a few days, after I’ve asked the others, I’ll have one made for you collectively,” Chen Xi said decisively, taking liberties with the rules. Making a large mirror was no easy feat, and to this day, Chen Xi had no idea how the craftsmen had managed it.

”How did you know I went to Cai Zhaoji’s place?” Huang Yueying was puzzled.

”The round glass mirror is only available at Cai Zhaoji’s. If you hadn’t seen it there, how would you come to want such a thing?” Chen Xi waved his hand dismissively, indicating Huang Yueying to go away and stop bothering him.

”This humble woman thanks Marquis Chen for his understanding,” Huang Yueying said with a giggle, covering her mouth. She really didn’t know that thing was unique, and had she known, she wouldn’t have made such a request. However, Chen Xi’s words made Huang Yueying sense something else, and she graciously accepted the gesture.

”Duke Wen, do you have any business here?” Chen Xi asked, looking at Zheng Hun, who seemed a bit dazed.

”It’s like this, the waterwheel, the overturned plow, the Qu Yuan Plow, the turnwheel – the things the Administrator of Lu commissioned me to make have all successfully met the requirements,” Zheng Hun said, taking a deep breath and trying to remain composed.

”Oh, that’s great,” Chen Xi said, not understanding why Zheng Hun’s expression clearly lacked any sense of joy.

”It’s like this. After the Administrator of Lu left, he handed the tasks over to Document Assistant Wang Shuzuo,” Zheng Hun said with a bitter smile, ”Without the Administrator’s pressure, the tasks Wang Shuzuo delegated became much more burdensome. The main issue isn’t the manufacturing; it’s that many things need to be redesigned according to her requirements?”

”Wang Shuzuo? Wang Shuzhi? How could that be, wasn’t he in Yanzhou?” Chen Xi turned to inquire from Li Youu.

”He’s talking about Fa Zheng’s cousin, Wang Yi,” Li Youu signaled for Chen Xi to step aside and let him speak with Zheng Hun.

”Oh, oh.” Chen Xi nodded, then joined Jia Xu. As it happened, he had met Wang Yi, but he really had no idea that she had become an official.

”Surprised?” Jia Xu asked Chen Xi, who was deep in thought, with a smile.

”Not really, balancing Yin and Yang is the way of an official, and choosing the wise and capable doesn’t require consideration of gender. Besides, with you all overseeing, if she truly lacks the ability, she wouldn’t be tasked with important duties,” Chen Xi shook his head, unimpressed, as it wasn’t the first time he had seen such things.

”Indeed, she’s a very capable girl. When she first arrived, she would make mistakes, but now she has adapted to her job. When Zijing left, he entrusted her with full authority to handle the irrigation network. She’s a capable girl that really sets one’s mind at ease,” Jia Xu remarked with a look of admiration.

”Let’s wait and see how well she can perform,” Chen Xi said indifferently, suggesting that there might still be pleasant surprises awaiting them.

”She’s currently a Document Assistant, but if she does well this time, she might get promoted to Assistant Official,” Jia Xu said with the contentment of a parent watching a child grow up.

”I feel the same way. Xiao Zhi might even be ennobled this time, and if so, she could benefit from it too. Being as good as an ordinary person is enough,” Chen Xi nodded, signifying he was on the same page as Jia Xu.

”You underestimate her. Compared to you and Xiao Zhi’s innate-like intelligence, she may not stand out, but her diligence moves me. Apart from Kongming, I have not seen anyone more studious than her,” Jia Xu said, with a serious look replacing his previously teasing demeanor, clearly showing his high regard for Wang Yi.

”It seems you rate her even higher than Boyan and Zijia,” Chen Xi said discontentedly. Although Wang Yi was clever and fond of learning, she did not warrant such high praise.

”It’s not like that. It’s just a sigh. Although her intelligence may stand out, it’s ordinary by our standards; however, her perseverance and eagerness to learn have piqued my interest. She might just achieve something noteworthy,” Jia Xu remarked, looking in Li Youu’s direction with a touch of nostalgia on his face.

Twenty years ago, Li Youu was just someone with slightly better aptitude in Jia Xu’s eyes. But now, even Jia Xu could not claim to triumph over him lightly, as Li Youu had utilized his abilities to their fullest extent.

”I hope that’s the case. The opportunity that Wen Ru had years ago, plus the sweat he shed back then, is almost impossible to replicate,” Chen Xi said, shaking his head slightly, ”Just make sure you properly educate that chubby child of yours, who actually had the gall to deceive my disciple into making money in my name.”

”Heh, Lul Boyan also sees through it as clear as day. If he didn’t already have ambitions, he wouldn’t have gone along with it so easily,” Jia Xu shook his head with a chuckle. He did not take it seriously that Lu Yu was leading Lul Xun astray, as long as the foundation wasn’t corrupted.

Moreover, Jia Xu knew well that Lul Xun would not have cooperated so readily with Lu Yu without harboring such intentions himself; it involved a question of risk-sharing.

”Teaching him politics this early is about compromise, isn’t it? Isn’t it too soon? I feel that if you keep teaching him this way, Lu Zijia will end up spoiled,” Chen Xi frowned, feeling that Jia Xu’s way of teaching was a bit too hurried.

”He grasped it himself. Besides, although your disciple claims to be ready to compete with Zijia, in reality, there’s nothing to it. On the contrary, among their peers, the two of them actually have the best relationship,” Jia Xu stated, expressionless.

Jia Xu didn’t meddle too much in Lu Yu’s development; some part was his guidance, while the other relied on Lu Yu’s perception. The outcome goes without saying, Jia Xu was quite satisfied with Lu Yu’s insight, worthy of being the disciple Chen Xi recommended.

”That’s because compared to other people, those two matured too early. What’s called a friend, in plain terms, is either a kindred spirit or birds of a feather. Otherwise, it’s simply having common interests,” Chen Xi said with a sneer, ”Do you think any other children from Mount Tai could play with them?”

”That’s also true,” Jia Xu sighed and said nothing further. Their status predetermined that their successors would draw a lot of attention, and since they were so exceptional, they naturally became somewhat isolated.

”It’s good for them to be precocious. I’ll cut off their allowances and let them develop freely,” Chen Xi said proudly, ”How about I assign them some tasks as homework instead of them studying all the time?”

”As if you’ve taught them anything. I’ve spent more time teaching Boyan than you have,” Jia Xu said with a glance of displeasure at Chen Xi, ”But your idea isn’t bad. Casting them out, giving them tasks to handle, could save us some worry.”

”I’m already not bothering you about how gloomily you’ve taught my disciple; you’re lucky I haven’t been on your case,” Chen Xi muttered.

”What did you say?” Jia Xu glared at Chen Xi, discontented. Lul Xun was often seen with Lu Yu, and Jia Xu would always offer tips regularly, along with his timely instruction every evening, not excluding Lul Xun, which clearly bothered him.

”Let them take care of matters regarding the officials in Qing and Xu. They are little kids with big minds and won’t draw attention. Managing to deceive those two without getting caught requires some talent,” Chen Xi swiftly changed the subject without hesitation. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it at Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)