Chapter 140.3: Jing Wan’s Big Move

The reason why she understood these things was because in her past life, someone had given her dad a crossbow. Out of a moment’s curiosity, she took it to play with for a period time, and even specially researched the manufacture method. However, it has been too long, more than twenty years ago in her memories, so she only hazily remembered a little. That’s why she’d spent that many days carefully studying it before fundamentally reconstructing the blueprints. However, it might still need improvements in some places, but she believed that the people of the military tools division will surely succeed in the end.

Because Jing Wan had sent Gong mama to the Rouge Pavilion, she naturally didn’t follow her to the front study. And the things Jing Wan did previously, because Jing Wan didn’t tell her, she didn’t know the purpose of it. Thus, the important conversation between the grandfather granddaughter pair in the study wasn’t reported to Li Hong Yuan first thing.

The next day, there wasn’t a morning court session. Luo Pei Shan directly went to the imperial study to meet Le Cheng Emperor.

Of course, at this time, there were still a few other important officials in the study. After taking care of governmental affairs, Luo Pei Shan stayed until the end before finally having the things presented up. Because he’d separately written a memorandum, there rather wasn’t the need to explain anything.

Le Cheng Emperor for better or worse was still an Emperor. The vision an Emperor ought to have, he still had. Seeing the things Luo Pei Shan presented, his heart also instinctively stirred. These were indeed good things. “Someone come, summon the Head Minister of Works as well as the Left Commander-in-Chief.” And during this time, “These things are very good, who made them, such cleverness?”

“Replying to your Majesty, it was this subject’s third granddaughter.”

Le Cheng Emperor’s pupils moved. Towards Jing Wan, he had a very deep impression of. “Great virtue. Last time when that girl sought out great talents for this Emperor and for Qi Yuan, this emperor didn’t get to reward her, so this time, will have to reward her altogether. Beloved Minister, what do you want, just say it.”

“That granddaughter of this subject’s, is it possible for her to become your Majesty’s daughter-in-law?” Luo Pei Shan didn’t hesitate either, directly stating.

Le Cheng Emperor’s brows twitched, “Oh, beloved minister has taken a fancy to this emperor’s eleventh imperial son?”

(T/N: Princes under the age of sixteen don’t have a wang title because they have yet to be bestowed one, iirc the eleventh prince is around 13 at this point of the story.)

Luo Pei Shan was also helpless. He was already this sincere, so why can’t his Majesty just talk properly, must he insist on pretending to not understand, what’s the meaning of this? “The eleventh prince is still young.” Not even fourteen yet, that was just a true child. Even if they wait another two years before marrying, his precious granddaughter marrying him would still be like going over to babysit. Heavens, he just wanted to find a grandson-in-law that can pamper, cherish, and protect his dear granddaughter, and not let his dear granddaughter marry over to be a mother. “Your Majesty, this subject doesn’t ask for that girl to have great glory and wealth, brocade garments and jade meals, just wishing for her to be safe, healthy and happy all her life. But right now, people are like the butchering knife, and she the fish, this subject heartaches just from looking, and further no need to mention this subject’s old wife. If not truly left with no other options, this subject definitely wouldn’t have dared to have delusions about a qin-wangfei’s position.”

Le Cheng Emperor can be considered to have understood. Luo Pei Shan was for real this time, “Old six’s temper, and also that reputation of his……….” Although Le Cheng Emperor may not necessarily know every little movement in the capital, the Luo family’s current circumstances, he was still aware of. In reality, towards Luo Pei Shan, he was very satisfied.

Luo Pei Shan helplessly laughed, “This subject’s granddaughter also has been rumored to curse husbands. As for the rest, if Jin Qinwang is unwilling, this subject won’t insist either.” Unwilling? More like insanely willing!

“Allow this emperor to think about it.”

The Head Minister of Works as well as the Left Commander-in-Chief arrived at the imperial study very soon, one after the other.

The finished product of the thousand mile eye was directly given to Qin Tian Ming. Currently among the military generals, he had the most experience in leading troops into battle, and also considered to be the general who frequently emerged victorious. Towards items for military use, he had the most authority to speak.

After learning this object’s usage and subtly trying it out, his two eyes immediately lit up. It was very clear, without needing to ask, just based on his expression, the thousand mile eye’s impact was no small matter.

And as for the Head Minister of Works who received the blueprints, he similarly was excited to the point of speechlessness.

“Beloved Minister Zhong, this blueprint, what do you think of it?”

“Your Majesty, very good. Before this, the military tools division has always been wanting to improve the crossbow, but unfortunately, didn’t make much progress. Then looking again at this diagram, this subject is at least eighty percent sure of its success. More importantly, it actually is able to achieve five consecutive shots. This greatly improves the speed, and perhaps can completely replace the bow and arrow allocation for cavalry. The cavalry’s destructive power can at least double.”

“Good.” Le Cheng Emperor also couldn’t help but slam the desk. He wasn’t an Emperor that had the ambition to conqueror new territories and expand the land, but as a ruler, he naturally also hoped for one’s own country to have a strong army.

The Left Commander-in-Chief also couldn’t help going forward, moving closer to the Head Minister of Works, his heartbeat increasing, “Good.”

Everyone all knew that the crossbow’s power far surpassed the bow and arrow, and its firing range also was farther, but the reload speed was slow, and it didn’t hold an advantage in the battlefield. But, if it can shoot consecutively, making up for its deficiency…………

Because of the two’s reaction, Le Cheng Emperor was also increasingly excited, finally calming down after a while.

The Head Minister of Works impatiently wanted to go back and study the blueprints together with the people from the military tools division, while the Left Commander-in-Chief also wanted to further test out the thousand mile eye’s function more directly, both successively asking to be excused. Le Cheng Emperor naturally permitted, just these two things were both of great importance and can’t be leaked out in the slightest, thus the Left Commander-in-Chief’s plans fell through. The finished thousand mile eye was confiscated by Le Cheng Emperor. The Left Commander-in-Chief was very depressed inside, and thus shamelessly followed the Head Minister of Works to the military tools division.

Afterwards, in the imperial study, aside from a personal attendant by Le Cheng Emperor’s side, only this pair of subject and ruler remained.

“Beloved Minister Luo, why don’t you withdraw first.”

“This subject will take one’s leave.”

Le Cheng Emperor temporarily fell silent. The marriage arrangements for that bastard son of his made one headache. Originally, he already had the intention of ‘smashing an already broken jar’[1], just watching to see if there was that fate in the future. Luo Pei Shan wanting that bastard as a grandson-in-law truly was beyond his expectations. But after carefully contemplating, it seemingly was also within reason. The Luo family’s third miss was indeed a good one, regardless whether it was in character or bearing, it was all enough to hold up the status of a qin-wangfei.

“Summon Jin Qinwang into the palace.”

When Li Hong Yuan heard Le Cheng Emperor summoning him, he became suspicious inside. Lately, he seemingly hasn’t done anything yet. The court sessions held once every three days, out of ten, for him to be able to go once was already not bad. And since he didn’t have any tasks at hand either, he would at most just occasionally enter the palace to pay respect to Noble Consort Su and perhaps Le Cheng Emperor in passing. They’d just met the day before yesterday, so his old man definitely wasn’t suddenly ‘missing’ his son.

There was no point in thinking too much. He will know once he meets Le Cheng Emperor.

Le Cheng Emperor also didn’t beat around the bush with him, “Beloved Minister Luo wants to let you be his grandson-in-law, what do you think?”

Li Hong Yuan’s heart violently beat, but on the surface, there wasn’t the slightest ripple. “The reason?”

“The Luo family right now can be considered to be facing enemies on all sides. You are the best candidate to help them stabilize the situation.” Just having the engagement between the Luo family third miss and this bastard was enough, everything else all didn’t need to be done, how simple.

For the Luo family to have sunk into this situation, Le Cheng Emperor held half the responsibility.

“This son is asking imperial father’s reason for agreeing.”

“Beloved Minister Luo submitted two things up.” Thus, this old man had you sold.

“Since imperial father already agreed, what are you asking this son for?”

Isn’t it because this old man is scared that you might cause trouble again! “Since that’s the case, then this matter is settled, you can get lost now.”

Li Hong Yuan got lost without the slightest hesitation, but no one knew just how stirred up he was right now. However, something that he has strived towards for that long was taken care of by his wife with ease, really did make one feel that tiny bit defeated. But, with his wife this incredible, he needed to quickly have Ruan Fang Fei disposed of. Was it to directly put to death? Or crippled? Or ruined?

The next day, someone from the Grand Elder Princess Manor came to deliver a message, saying that pot of eighteenth scholar seemingly had a little problem, letting Jing Wan go have a look.

Thus Jing Wan stayed at the Grand Elder Princess Manor for more than half a day. Afterwards, there were rumors that the Grand Elder Princess was very fond of Jing Wan, desiring to take her as an adopted daughter.

Jing Wan and Luo Pei Shan both knew, this marriage was set.

[1] See historical notes miscellaneous idioms section

T/N: You know, I just realized, the Grand Elder Princess adopting Jing Wan just made her Li Hong Yuan’s cousin in name.