Chapter 990: Chapter 988: Easy for You to Say
Ye Xinyan pursed her lips at Shi Yin’s back. This old man, always so arrogant, pulling rank whenever he can. But now when it’s serious, he can’t step up?
Really!
She turned to Wong Qiao and said, “Ah Qiao, just go by yourself, take an assistant with you. If something goes wrong, you’ll have help handling it promptly. Also, take along the user manual you guys made.”
User manual? Wong Qiao was stunned and said, “No need to bring a user manual, right? The workshop masters all know the operating methods and steps of the steam engine. That thing was just written to popularize the usage among craftspeople to avoid accidents during the initial trial.”
Ye Xinyan shook her head and explained, “I suspect once it gets into the palace, there’s no return; you won’t get it back. If the Emperor wants to keep the model, you must remember to detail the precautions of using the model to them, especially that it shouldn’t run dry, make sure to mention that several times.”
At this point, Hongzhi had several moments of wanting to speak but held back, finally managing a chance to cut in, “Grandma Jiang, my Lord said…”
What now? Ye Xinyan frowned.
Hongzhi chuckled bitterly but could only continue, “My Lord said, he hopes you would also go and wait outside the palace gates. If His Majesty summons you, you won’t be in a rush heading to the palace.”
Ye Xinyan glared with displeasure, “Didn’t the Emperor say he wants to see the model operating? Why am I waiting? I’m pregnant, you know?”
Pregnant? Listening to Ye Xinyan’s series of questions made Hongzhi sweat a bit. Okay, Grandma Jiang said those with child; the term is quite concise.
“The Emperor only said he wanted to see the model… However, my Lord is considering Grandma’s position, suggesting you wait outside the palace ahead of time. If His Majesty summons you, you won’t have to rush so much.”
Hongzhi looked pitiable at Ye Xinyan. Grandma Jiang is pregnant; Lord Jiang is near thirty, finally having the chance to become a father, which is all true.
Using this as an excuse is indeed a way to evade; one might not go to see the Emperor.
However, the opportunity is rare.
The Emperor summoning Grandma Jiang, allowing her to make a presence before him and gain his favor, would be advantageous for the mechanical workshop’s future and industrial development in the city.
“Perhaps His Majesty won’t summon, and if not, Grandma can consider it as early spring for sightseeing.” Hongzhi smiled apologetically.
Ye Xinyan gave him another glance but had no other choice, “Fine, you guys head out first, I’ll follow a little later.”
It’s not that Ye Xinyan is pretentious; the Emperor stands too high. In this world, there are barely any forces that can restrain him, making dealings with the Emperor difficult, and Ye Xinyan usually suffers more losses.
…
She didn’t wait long outside the palace before a young eunuch emerged, looking around to find someone. Spotting Ye Xinyan’s carriage, he briskly approached to inquire.
This was Ye Xinyan’s second time seeing the Emperor, presumably due to her special current condition, and there was a middle-aged female official accompanying the young eunuch. After performing her salutation to Ye Xinyan, the female official followed beside her, along with the eunuch, heading towards the Imperial Study Room.
Ye Xinyan stepped inside and quickly scanned the people in the room.
It seemed the steam engine model had already been demonstrated, and the results looked promising.
In one corner of the Imperial Study Room, there was a desk, seemingly temporarily set up. The four-sided iron box was spread out on the desk, the steam engine model had stopped running and was cooling down.
The Emperor sat on the dragon throne, beaming with joy, appearing very pleased.
Zhang Cunhai was still serving diligently at the side.
Jinrong sat on a chair next to the dragon throne, smiling as he conversed with the Emperor.
Wong Qiao and the assistant he brought surprisingly had a place as well. They sat timidly, barely on the edge of the seats, on two brocade stools at a lower position than Jinrong.
What surprised Ye Xinyan was that there were no other ministers in the room, only the Director of Imperial Workshops Cheng Dahui, whom she had seen before, was sitting on another chair on the other side.
This Lord Cheng likely was astonished by the operation of the steam engine, looking very excited. Even when the steam engine’s water tank had cooled down, he would occasionally glance at Wong Qiao and the model.
Ye Xinyan was still in early pregnancy, not yet visibly showing. She entered the room and, following protocol, first performed the bowing ceremony to the Emperor.
The Emperor was in a great mood, exceptionally granting her a brocade stool. However, being a woman, her position was quite distant from others, even further down than Cheng Dahui.
The Emperor looked at Ye Xinyan with a beaming smile and said, “I heard from Wong Qiao that the operational principle and basic structure of the steam engine were proposed by you. So, I specifically summoned you to talk about what should be done next.”
This… Ye Xinyan glanced ruefully at Wong Qiao. Turns out when working with people who are too honest and sincere, it can also bring trouble!
Ye Xinyan bent slightly and replied, “To His Majesty, Steward Wong is too humble. I merely expressed a nebulous idea; the ones actually doing the work are the craftsmen at the mechanical workshop, truly unrelated to me.”
Using steam for power was her suggestion. But as for the basic structure, she had taken many detours, only briefly and subtly hinted at the direction. The actual structure used was all figured out step by step by Wong Qiao, wasn’t it?
To her surprise, she thought the Emperor might ask about steam engine promotion and patent issues. Unexpectedly, he talked about specific research matters; she’s a woman, isn’t it? Women in this era aren’t supposed to stand out in front, right?
Upon hearing Ye Xinyan’s response, the Emperor’s smile grew even gentler, nodding slightly in satisfaction.
Ordinary people, when encountering merit, would rush up, desperate to seize all the credit for themselves.
Yet, the people in this mechanical workshop were the exception. Jinrong spoke of the steam engine’s inventors, Ye Xinyan, Shi Yin, and Wong Qiao, none claimed credits. Shi Yin even let the opportunity to showcase his skills before the throne pass to the younger generation—a rarity in character.
“I know you worry about the Qi family’s grandfather and grandson being elderly, so I wish to support a little. However, the construction industry is ultimately a minor profit path, unlike the steam engine, which concerns national livelihood and strength. I think you should focus more on the mechanical workshop, and improve iron smelting efficiency as soon as possible, as this is serious business.”
Ye Xinyan immediately rolled her eyes.
This talk, speaking while standing doesn’t make your back ache, does it? So the nation and strength are all the royal’s, and we should earn your money, help you strengthen national power, and set aside our own business?
On ordinary days, this Emperor seemed reasonable, but such words were spoken too frivolously, weren’t they?
Ye Xinyan felt indignant inside, and swiftly shot out a rolling eye. In a split second, she realized the occasion was improper, and more so that the target was wrong… she quickly lowered her gaze and reclaimed half-flipped eyes.
Dammit, this was quite a challenge.
With the Emperor in a fine mood, and knowing Duke An’s granddaughter was notorious in the capital for being unruly and reckless. Being a girl, having no understanding, one must tolerate once or twice.