lcionline Chapter 468 Ying Wuyou Invites Lü Zhi to a Palace Banquet
Chapter 468 Ying Wuyou Invites Lü Zhi to a Palace Banquet
Just as everyone was looking at each other in bewilderment, Ying Wuyou stepped forward. Her voice was clear and firm: "Father, I am willing to stake my life on this ship, which will surely sail across the four seas!" Before she finished speaking, she quickly stepped forward, unfolded the blueprints in her hand, and presented them to everyone.
Ying Wuyou explained the new ship's performance and uses in detail, from long-distance trade to military defense; every point she made was incisive and irrefutable. Her words were sharp and her logic rigorous.
Ying Zheng gazed at his daughter, a hint of admiration flashing in his eyes. He saw her determination and confidence, as well as her deep understanding of the new ship. After a moment of silence, Ying Zheng asked, "Give me six months, can you build a ship like this?"
Ying Wuyou knew all too well how difficult it would be to build such a complex ship in six months, but she had no other choice. With the officials in the court suddenly launching an attack, the King of Qin couldn't continue to protect her. She had to get this done, and do it beautifully.
Ying Wuyou took a deep breath, nodded without hesitation, and said, "Your subject can." Her voice was not loud, but it was full of strength and determination.
Seeing this, the King of Qin nodded in satisfaction. He believed that his daughter would be able to overcome the difficulties and complete this arduous task.
As the New Year draws ever closer, Xianyang City is exceptionally lively. Unlike the solemn gray of the peach wood charms in previous years, this year every household's door is adorned with festive vermilion. Newly pasted couplets flutter slightly in the cold wind, and the still-wet ink of the words "Spring fills the universe, blessings fill the door" subtly reveals the Qin people's fervent hopes for the New Year.
Ying Zheng put down his wolf-hair brush, his knuckles white from excessive force. Stacks of Xuan paper on his desk were covered with auspicious blessings, and the jade thumb ring on his wrist gleamed coldly in the candlelight.
Since yesterday, members of the imperial family, nobles, and officials of all ranks have been flocking to him seeking his calligraphy. Even the usually aloof scholars have come with blank scrolls. Now, with the ink still wet on the last scroll, he stared at the newly added plain silk on his desk, then suddenly slammed his brush into the inkstone, the splashing ink spreading across the imperial edict: "Issue the decree! From this day forward, I will no longer compose couplets for New Year's Eve. Order the Hanlin Academy to prepare one hundred excellent couplets to be distributed to the various prefectures!"
Meanwhile, at the Princess's residence in the south of the city, a gilded charcoal brazier adorned with animal heads burned brightly, its smoke carrying the fragrance of cypress wood that lingered between the carved wooden window frames. Ying Wuyou pushed a newly made celadon teacup across the table; the tender green tea leaves unfurling in the tea were tea leaves that Ying Wuyou had asked Fusu to find in the Baiyue region. "This tea is processed using a steam-based fixative method. Sister Lü, please try some."
Lü Zhi took the teacup; the celadon felt cool against her skin. She took a small sip, the sweetness of the tea mingling with the warmth of the charcoal fire washing over her tongue, and her brow unconsciously relaxed: "It's three times fresher than the previous teas; it's like the tender buds have been steeped in water."
She slowly placed the teacup on the table, then stretched out her slender fingers and gently stroked the exquisite lotus scroll pattern on the rim of the teacup. The delicate touch seemed to allow her to feel the history and cultural heritage contained in this ancient porcelain.
“The three hillsides in Bashu have been cleared and the tea seedlings have been successfully transplanted.” Her voice was soft but firm. “Next, we need to arrange for someone to watch over these tea seedlings day and night. From loosening the soil and fertilizing to pest control, every step is crucial. I have already arranged for people to go and keep an eye on them, and there can be no mistakes whatsoever.”
She paused slightly, her gaze involuntarily drifting to the window. Outside, fine snowflakes were falling gently, like silver butterflies dancing in the air. The pure white snowflakes contrasted sharply with the warmth inside, making one marvel at the wonder and beauty of nature.
“But when the tea-picking season arrives, we’ll need to hire thousands of female workers, which is a huge undertaking,” she continued. “Furthermore, the tea-frying workshops will need to acquire some special iron woks to ensure the quality of the tea. In addition, there’s the expansion of tea merchant channels, all of which require a lot of capital investment.”
"Although the initial investment was huge, the returns were also quite considerable," Ying Wuyou said with a smile, then picked up his teacup and took a sip.
“Once the tea trees grow tall and provide ample shade, we can start harvesting the tea leaves. The profits from selling tea to Chu, Qi, Wei, as well as the Xiongnu and the Western Regions, will be enough to build us several ships.” A hint of anticipation flashed in her eyes. “And this is just the beginning.”
As he spoke, Ying Wuyou took another sip of tea and continued, "I have trained a group of professional tea masters who are proficient in tea art and can provide customers with the best service. I believe that in the near future, many teahouses will emerge in Chang'an City, and we can seize this opportunity to make a name for ourselves."
"Then, we'll have the newspapers promote our teahouse and tea. Those talented scholars will definitely flock to it, eager to show off their refined tastes." Ying Wuyou's lips curled up slightly, revealing a confident smile. "In this way, our teahouse business will surely flourish and become a beautiful sight in Chang'an City."
Several servants carrying the character "福" (fortune/blessing) ran past the window along the corridor. Looking at this lively scene, Lü Zhi sighed, "Since I insisted on staying in Xianyang to help the princess manage affairs, my father's letters have stopped."
Her voice was like the dissipating morning mist of winter, “Last year on my birthday, my brother secretly sent me a message saying that Father was looking for a magistrate in Pei County to be my husband—that magistrate is twenty years older than me and already has three wives and concubines.”
Ying Wuyou gazed at the woman before her, who had shed her girlish innocence. The historical Lü Zhi was ruthless and wielded immense power, but the desolation in her eyes at this moment was colder than the winter snow outside the window.
“We’ll stay at the Princess’s residence for the New Year this year.” Ying Wuyou placed a sweet osmanthus cake into Lü Zhi’s bowl. “We’ll write our own couplets, using squid ink brought back from Baga Island. I guarantee they’ll be even brighter than the imperial ink from the palace. We’ll also prepare a whole table of New Year’s dishes.”
Empress Lü shook her head gently, her hair swaying slightly with the movement. Her gaze fell on the princess, and she said softly but firmly, "Princess, how could you forget? You are going to the palace to celebrate the New Year."
Ying Wuyou smiled sheepishly, having almost forgotten about it. However, seeing Lü Zhi's dejected appearance, an idea struck her. "Sister Lü, you can come to the palace with me for the New Year. Father is always understanding and won't blame you."
“Princess, please don’t tease me.” She forced a smile. “This palace banquet is a grand event in the Great Qin Dynasty. Those attending are either royalty or high-ranking officials. I am but a commoner woman…”
"A commoner woman?" Ying Wuyou suddenly stood up, her skirt sweeping across the low table, making the bamboo slips on the table rustle. "In Xianyang City, which daughter doesn't say 'I want to learn from Lady Lü Zhi'? You knock on the doors of peasant women from house to house, and you are cursed as a 'bewitching witch'."
You escorted the girl to school in the torrential rain, and your high fever persisted for three days;
The "Regulations for Women's Education" that you personally drafted are now being copied and circulated! How could I not know how much effort you've put into the three academies of Great Qin?