The Prime Minister's Darling

Chapter 397: 202 Unveiled (Two updates combined into one) _4

With a sullen face, he went to the study of Zhan Country’s most talented young man for a comforting game of Gomoku with his brother-in-law, only to lose five rounds in a row.

Heartbroken, Yan Baobao went to the Elder Madame’s room and played leaf cards with her and her two card-playing friends. After being inspected by the old sacrificial master for her studies, she completed her satisfying (frustrating) yet substantial (improvising) day.

The first batch of golden sore medicine for the military was well received, and the military soon placed a second batch order.

Gu Jiao was busy making a fortune every day.

Gu Jinyu wasn’t idle, either.

The invention of the bellows significantly stimulated her. She was exceptionally clever from a young age, and she didn’t believe that there was something she couldn’t think of if someone else could.

After all, the bellows was just that.

The principle was indeed ingenious, but it was very simple.

Wasn’t it just about increasing the wind force to make the flames burn brighter?

What was so difficult about that?

Gu Jinyu had a sudden idea and started to sketch out on paper a revised version of the ratio between the furnace and the bellows.

She doubled the size of the bellows, which would make the fire stronger and thus improve the effectiveness of iron smelting.

Gu Jinyu took her blueprint to the palace and shared her idea with the Noble Consort Concubine: “…what took a month to complete before, can now be done in half a month after the modification!”

“Oh my goodness, is it that much faster?” Noble consort was astonished.

“Yes!” Gu Jinyu affirmed, nodding her head, “It’s like the water drainage system that the court once used, but because the wind force wasn’t great enough, the effects were not high.”

The Noble Consort didn’t understand this, but hearing that it was more effective than the current furnace, it was a great achievement.

Without another word, the Noble Consort took Gu Jinyu to the Emperor’s study room to meet with the Emperor.

The border pass had been in unrest recently. The Emperor was currently discussing important matters with his military ministers. If it had been an ordinary person, the eunuch would not have simply announced it. However, who besides Gu Jinyu, the current favorite of the Emperor, could claim this privilege?

Eunuch Wei, laughing, said: “Empress, and Princess Hui, please wait a moment. I will go and announce you.”

A slave? Eunuch Wei has always called himself “we” in front of Gu Jinyu.

“Eunuch, you are too kind.” said the Noble Consort.

Gu Jinyu also nodded her head.

Eunuch Wei entered the room with small steps and whispered a few words in the Emperor’s ear.

The problem at the border pass was beginning to annoy the Emperor. He needed some good news, so he dismissed the military ministers for the time being and invited Gu Jinyu and the Noble Consort in.

Gu Jinyu did indeed not disappoint him.

Even though the Emperor was a layman in this, he trusted Gu Jinyu and immediately had her blueprint sent to the Ministry of Works.

The supervisor of the Ministry of Works, looking at Gu Jinyu’s blueprint, showed a doubtful face: “So many bellows, is that alright?”

One of his colleagues replied: “It’s Miss Gu’s blueprint, what could be wrong? The Emperor himself sent it, hurry up!”

There was no way around the Emperor’s decree.

The supervisor immediately ordered his men to follow Gu Jinyu’s blueprint and improve the ratio between the furnace and the bellows.

The results showed that the efficiency indeed improved. The production of two days could now be achieved in one day.

Seeing this, the Emperor was pleased and rewarded Gu Jinyu, Lord Gu, and the Ministry of Works.

Gu Jinyu suddenly shot to fame in the capital city.

Everyone praised her as a remarkable woman, just like the Crown Princess, and even suggested that she might equal the Crown Princess.

In the East Palace, a little palace maid protested on behalf of the Crown Princess: “Your Highness, how can a country girl who has just arrived from the countryside be compared to you?”

Gu Jinyu’s humble origin could not be hidden from the East Palace. Now that she was a country princess, there was no need to hide it from the public.

The common people did not despise her for this, but rather paid more attention to her. They saw her as a princess from the common people who was not arrogant and showed everyone a truth: that a ground bird could become a phoenix if it flitted onto a branch.

The Crown Princess sat on the cushion, calmly practicing her calligraphy, as if she remained untouched by any disturbances around her, as tranquil as a chrysanthemum.

“Temporary fame doesn’t mean anything. If she can maintain it for a lifetime, then she truly has ability.”

Hidden in her words, there was not the slightest dissatisfaction with Gu Jinyu’s ascent.

The Crown Princess had seen too many people who had experienced temporary fame, like meteors that disappeared in the blink of an eye. How many people had constantly been favored by the Emperor?

She never envied women who stole her limelight because she knew it was only temporary.

One sunny afternoon, the old blacksmith and the carpenter, who had endured a long journey of more than a month, finally arrived in the capital city.

Protected by government officials along the way, it wasn’t too unbearable. It’s just that the old blacksmith, due to his years, was somewhat overwhelmed.