22 Picture Window
◎The leather belt embroidered with small silver flowers outlines the slender waist.◎
"Keep calm." Lu Jingru said with a sense of something.
Under the turquoise official uniform, a leather belt embroidered with small silver flowers outlines the slender waist.
Gu Ningxi's heart was beating fast from nervousness, and she trembled as she agreed, "Yes."
She tried to focus on the target, convincing herself that she was just practicing archery.
She felt his hand leave her waist and cover her right hand that held the bowstring. Following his strength, he led her to draw the bowstring to its full length.
"Concentrate, aim for the bull's eye," he instructed, step by step. "Release."
The arrow flew out and headed steadily towards the target, bringing up a gust of wind.
"Do you understand more?" Lu Jing turned around and asked.
His voice was almost beside her ear, and Gu Ningxi said stiffly, "Yeah."
With this kind of sight, Lu Jing could only see his delicate jade-like profile.
Lu Jing couldn't help but laugh when he noticed Yuan Le was a little nervous. So what if he couldn't practice it? He wouldn't do anything to him.
Lu Jing put away his bow and said casually, "It's okay, just comprehend it slowly."
He didn't expect Gu Yuanle to make rapid progress.
"Yes, thank you, Your Highness."
Gu Ningxi leaned aside to create some distance between herself and Prince Zhao, feeling as if she had been granted amnesty. After a while of enjoying the breeze, the tension in her heart finally relaxed slightly.
With Prince Zhao still supervising, Gu Ningxi tried to practice a few arrows on her own. Fearing Prince Zhao's instruction, she pondered each shot over and over again, her expression intensely focused, as if she were about to join the military.
Lu Jing instructed the essentials in an orderly manner, and Gu Ningxi gradually regained some of his previous foundation.
Fortunately, God helped her, and at least this time none of her arrows missed the target.
Lu Jing was already satisfied and praised: "Not bad."
Gu Ningxi breathed a sigh of relief, then suddenly beamed with joy when he spotted three spectators standing in the shade of a distant tree. Lord Wei Fan, Marquis of Wu'an Xie Qian, and Crown Prince Zhen Yuan of the Prince of Zhending—the three of them all gathered in perfect order, surely they were here to visit Prince Zhao on some business.
"Your Highness." Gu Ningxi pointed in the direction enthusiastically.
Lu Jing nodded: "Go and rest for a while."
Gu Ningxi was more than happy to do so, and Manager Sun was ordered to invite the three guests to come along.
As they walked down the hall, Xie Qian was still sighing softly, "Seeing is believing, seeing is believing."
Just now he saw His Highness instructing Lord Gu in archery, patiently and thoroughly. He had never seen such patience before.
With those targets and at that short distance, I'm afraid Your Highness could hit them with his eyes closed.
Wei Fan smiled but said nothing. His Highness was always protective of his subordinates. He had come to the parade grounds today to report on government affairs. Xie Qian and Zhen Yuan had arrived earlier and watched for a while longer than he did.
Refreshments were served in the hall, and Gu Ningxi was already seated when Xie Qian and the others arrived. After what had just happened, she didn't feel like talking much and pretended to concentrate on her snacks.
Fortunately, Marquis Wu'an was in the room, so there was no dull atmosphere at all.
She listened to Xie Qian sighing over and over again, "I've been a comrade with His Highness for so many years, and yet He's never been so kind as to teach me archery. Brother Zhen, have you ever done that?"
Zhen Yuan was a kind person and smiled and shook his head.
Gu Ningxi sipped the cooled sour plum soup. It seemed like she had taken advantage of what happened today, so she tactfully kept silent.
Lu Jing quickly read the document presented by Wei Fan and said to him casually, "Practice on your own."
Xie Qian sighed deeply. With Lord Gu's current archery skills, there was no need for His Highness to teach him personally.
Lu Jing threw a coin to him and said, "Didn't you say you wanted to play football?"
Gu Ningxi had some recollection of this; April and May were ideal weather for polo. Last month, Prince Huai had petitioned His Majesty, hoping to hold a polo tournament in Kyoto.
Polo was popular in the Jin Dynasty, and horseback riding and archery were similar in nature. Prince Zhao's prestige in the army was unrivaled, and the Prince of Huai's move was likely intended to recruit available talent from aristocratic families to rival Prince Zhao.
Gu Ningxi exchanged a piece of cake. His Royal Highness the Crown Prince focused on civil affairs, while Prince Huai focused on military preparations. The two of them, like brothers, were united, forming a subtle siege on Prince Zhao's mansion. As for His Majesty, as long as the three brothers didn't openly act out of line, His Majesty would remain neutral and not let one side suffer too much of a disadvantage.
Now that the world is at peace, the palace is willing to hold a few grand events in Kyoto to share the joy with the people. Your Majesty gladly approved the Prince of Huai's request.
Xie Qian's eyes lit up. He had heard about the grand occasion of Kyoto Polo before. "That's great."
Gu Ningxi smiled. Marquis Wu'an was skilled in archery and horse riding, so it was understandable that he wanted to participate.
I’m afraid that this polo match will be another one where Prince Zhao’s Palace shines.
Even His Royal Highness Prince Huai might be unhappy.
…
After only practicing archery for half a day in the afternoon, Gu Ningxi felt very tired before finishing his shift in the evening.
She postponed all unimportant matters until tomorrow and wanted to go to bed early. However, her dream did not go as she wished, and she could not rest in peace after falling asleep.
The moonlight was very faint. In the dream, she was wearing a jade-white Wangxian brocade dress that trailed on the ground, and a goose yellow shawl was loosely draped between her elbows.
She was carried horizontally in one hand to the window.
The person behind him opened the window, which faced a flowerbed filled with rare flowers. There were hot springs, warm ground, and a profusion of beautiful flowers.
Her dress was half-pulled down at her arms, revealing her delicate and fair skin under the moonlight.
He casually pinned a peony in her hair and walked away.
There are two or three stars twinkling in the night sky. In order to facilitate the viewing of the scenery, the height of the window is just right.
The flower garden was surrounded by high walls and was deserted in the dead of night.
The stamens are there for you to pick, they tremble in the wind, full of crystal dewdrops.
As the night faded, the sky turned pale.
Gu Ningxi went to bed early yesterday, and when he woke up naturally at dawn, he didn't like the windows in his room.
Her calves seemed to be still weak and trembling, and she relied entirely on the person behind her holding her waist to keep her steady.
Of course she knew where the scene in her dream was. It was the Changqing Garden that His Majesty had personally bestowed upon King Zhao, and it was the hot spring villa that she was currently drawing and preparing to renovate.
Even the picture window that opens onto the flower garden is her proudest masterpiece in recent days.
Just in front of that window...
Gu Ningxi closed her eyes in dismay.
…
Today is not a day off, but it would not be a big deal for Gu Ningxi to sneak out of Prince Zhao's Mansion for a while during the leisure time at noon.
Her cousin was already waiting for her in the teahouse. He had just returned from his shift at the Xishan Barracks and had been resting at home for the past few days.
After looking at houses for two months, they have chosen a courtyard in Xingqingfang.
Originally, they had pooled three hundred strings of cash, but Gu Ningxi hadn't been able to find a house that satisfied him at that price. He'd originally considered just buying one, but someone from the trading company recently showed Gu Ningxi this new house. The owner had gone south on business and was struggling, so he was eager to cash out. The three-story house was only priced at four hundred strings of cash.
Gu Ningxi carefully inspected the house twice, finding no fault with either its location or layout. Not only was it spacious and bright from north to south, it even had a small flower garden on the west side. Gu Ningxi especially examined the beams and pillars; they were made of solid wood, with no shoddy workmanship. Furthermore, the house was rarely occupied, so it showed little wear and tear.
Gu Ningxi came from the Ministry of Industry and was an expert in real estate, so Meng Ting trusted her judgment. Even the people at the business knew this young man was not easy to fool, so they didn't dare to play tricks in front of her. The houses they recommended were all good.
"Instead of spending 300 guan on a two-story house, I'd rather spend 400 guan on this three-story house. What do you think, cousin?"
Gu Ningxi was using the abacus and felt that the latter option was more cost-effective.
Meng Ting's eyes were gentle. "As you wish." The other party had offered four hundred guan (approximately 100 strings of cash). They had been negotiating with the landlord for several days, with the merchant company also mediating. Finally, they agreed to a compromise of three hundred and seventy guan (approximately 100 strings of cash).
Gu Ningxi and Meng Ting each added some extra money, and they could come up with a total of 350 strings of cash.
The other party wants all the money in cash and won't give up even a penny.
Gu Ningxi also knew that the price was too good to miss. If he missed this opportunity, he would miss this store.
The land price in the imperial capital is already on the rise. If the deal cannot be settled this month, the price of the house may skyrocket next month.
Gu Ningxi acted decisively: "I've already told the company that they can arrange for the landlord to sign the contract soon."
As for the missing twenty strings of cash, she said, "I have a way." She looked so confident that Meng Ting subconsciously believed her.
It was her idea to buy the house, and her cousin gave her two hundred strings of cash without hesitation, which Gu Ningxi was very grateful for.
This matter was a secret, and they kept it a secret from their families, not wanting the elders of both families to live frugally because of it.
Twenty strings of cash was neither too much nor too little. Gu Ningxi ran over the number in his mind, but couldn't come up with it for a while.
All her savings, including her salary, the money she earned from selling calligraphy and paintings in the past few months, and the gold and silver ingots she won at her grandmother's birthday banquet, were put into the 350 strings of cash.
The reason she said this in front of her cousin was that she had already made up her mind to borrow the twenty strings of cash from someone else.
My cousin was the backbone of the Meng family, supporting them. He had to bear more expenses each month. She was just a junior member of the Gu family, so she just had to take care of herself. If she borrowed the money, the burden would definitely be lighter.
Gu Ningxi calculated everything clearly, and when he returned to Prince Zhao's Mansion, it was time for him to be on duty.
The revised drawings of Changqing Garden were neatly placed on her desk. Gu Ningxi rested for a while, then went to see His Royal Highness Prince Zhao with the drawings.
Somehow, he was very concerned about the renovation of this hot spring villa, and every few days he asked her to send the blueprints for her to review. Gu Ningxi saw that even during the recent renovation of Prince Zhao's mansion, His Royal Highness had not paid any attention to this.
In the study, Lu Jing still had some government affairs to deal with.
Normally Sun Jing would not disturb them, but at this moment he said, "Your Highness, Lord Gu is waiting outside."
"Let him in." Lu Jing put aside the half-read document in his hand without thinking.
Sun Jing went to pass on the message with a smile and welcomed Lord Gu into the hall.
"I pay my respects to Your Highness."
Gu Ningxi performed the formalities and sat down in his seat, already familiar with the place, waiting for His Royal Highness Prince Zhao to review the drawings.
Changqing Garden covers a large area, so Gu Ningxi divided it into four parts and completed the drawings one by one.
Lu Jing didn't say anything about the newly painted part, but he asked, "Why did you delete this window?"
Gu Ningxi knew the place he pointed to without even looking. She never expected that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao actually paid attention to the details of this part.
"Your Majesty... Your Majesty just thinks that window is flashy but not practical." Gu Ningxi evaded the question.
After the dream that night, the first thing she did when she woke up was to change the window and instead open a magnificent archway on the opposite side of the flower garden, destroying the privacy of the flower garden.
Lu Jing didn't think so. Seeing that His Royal Highness Prince Zhao had singled out this point, Gu Ningxi had no choice but to compromise: "If Your Highness likes it, I will exchange it back to the original manuscript."
Lu Jing nodded: "Change it back."
Gu Ningxi sighed silently. He really liked that window. No wonder he gave up his bed in his dream, endlessly.
Gu Ningxi: "Yes."
Lu Jing continued, "There's no need to keep this archway." People coming and going outside the stone gate would only ruin the atmosphere of the flower garden. Just as in the original manuscript, a hidden corner door could be opened in the northwest, allowing the gardener to enter and exit through it. Normally, the wooden door would be closed, covered by vines, blending seamlessly into the flower garden.
Enjoy the flowers under the moon without worrying about being disturbed.
"yes."
Seeing some resentment in the man's eyes, Lu Jing smiled and said, "Why, do you like this archway very much? If you like it, you can keep it."
"Your Highness..." Gu Ningxi knew the stone door was superfluous. She had tried several different designs, but none of them suited her. "Your Highness, I just wanted to make it easier to enter and exit. Your Highness is right."
She thought again, this is the villa of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao, why should she care whether she likes it or not?
Other than that, the blueprints didn't need any other changes. Gu Ningxi resigned himself to his fate: "I understand."
…
As the sky gradually darkened, the kitchen in the Xuanping Marquis's mansion was already preparing dinner.
In such a large mansion, most of the female members of the family lived in the west courtyard.
In Yuehua Courtyard, after hearing the maid's report, Gu Ningwan temporarily stopped copying Buddhist scriptures with the pen in her hand.
She said to the visitor, "Master Gu is so busy with government affairs, how come you have the time to come to my door today?"
Two maids went back to make tea, and Gu Ningxi called her affectionately, "Sister."
"Um."
No one comes to the temple for no reason. After Gu Ningxi sat down, Gu Ningwan said, "Tell me, what's the matter?"
There was no one else in the room, so Gu Ningxi got straight to the point: "Sister, can you lend me twenty strings of cash?"
Twenty strings of cash was a considerable sum, but Gu Ningwan could certainly afford it. Her daily food and clothing were provided by the Marquis's mansion, so she didn't have to spend much money. Her mother had begun preparing her dowry since she came of age. She left most of her dowry to her third brother, but she also gave her two shops to learn how to manage.
Gu Ningwan paused, then glanced at her personal maid Qingwu. Qingwu understood and went to the inner room to get the key.
With the task halfway accomplished, Gu Ningxi felt relieved. Seeing her sister copying Buddhist scriptures, she watched for a moment and then smiled and praised, "Sister's handwriting is improving."
Seeing her attentiveness, Gu Ningwan tapped her forehead. In front of outsiders, these half-sisters and half-brothers never spoke. The two ladies in the rear quarters of the Xuanping Marquis's mansion had been a topic of conversation in Kyoto for years.
My mother disliked Qinlan Courtyard, simply because Madam Meng, despite her commoner background, treated her as her equal. For years, my mother had firmly clung to the reins of the household, constantly boasting of her position as mistress. But honestly, this past incident was clearly my father's fault; how could she simply blame Madam Meng?
Gu Ningwan had her own judgment in her heart, but she still stood on her mother's side, and openly had no connection with Qinlanyuan. Otherwise, she would hurt her mother's heart; she couldn't do that.
Gu Ningxi's praise came from the heart. The calligraphy on the scroll was beautiful and elegant. This was a Buddhist scripture copied by my sister for my grandmother. Even my grandmother, who was so picky, had no problem with the handwriting.
Gu Ningwan curled her lips, but the smile didn't reach her eyes. Confined to the inner chambers, her so-called fine calligraphy had only these uses left. Her mother, noting her grandmother's fondness for Buddhism, urged her to copy more Buddhist scriptures to please her and help her third brother ascend to the throne as Crown Prince.
While the two sisters were talking, Qingwu had already taken out two silver notes from the cash box. The two notes had a total face value of twenty-three strings of cash. Gu Ningwan said, "Keep the extra three strings of cash for emergencies, so you have more money."
She knew her sister's personality and would not ask her this unless necessary.
Before handing the banknote to Gu Ningxi, Gu Ningwan gave a final warning: "Don't do anything that violates the family rules."
Other than that, she didn't ask any more questions.
Gu Ningxi assured her, "Don't worry, sister. I will definitely return it before the New Year. Shall I write you a promissory note?"
Gu Ningwan was annoyed: "Am I afraid that you will run away?"
After carefully putting the banknote into her sleeve, Gu Ningxi smiled brightly and bowed, saying, "Thank you, sister."
"Okay, go do your thing. Remember to bring me the new books that arrive at the bookstore next month."
"That's natural, I remember that."
Gu Ningxi did not stay long. It would not be good if outsiders saw them interacting.
Gu Ningwan didn't see her off and watched her sister leave.
It was just like when she was a child, she watched her brothers go to the Imperial College to study.
Your Majesty has established the Imperial Academy, and in addition to the princes, he has also granted permission for children of appropriate age from aristocratic families to attend the academy.
The Xuanping Marquis's Mansion enjoyed the emperor's favor and was able to select three outstanding sons from the side branches and send them to the Imperial Academy.
As for her, no matter how the maids in the family said that she was a precious legitimate daughter and the eldest daughter of the Xuanping Marquis's family, she could hardly step out of the hanging flower gate on ordinary days.
Her third brother had been studying at the Imperial College for over a month. She wanted to borrow some of his books, but he flatly refused.
"Sister, please don't damage my book. What's the point of a woman like you reading these political figures?"
His mother had always been on his side, so upon hearing this she just smiled and told her third brother to study hard and to surpass the girl in Qinlan Courtyard to bring honor to her.
Gu Ningwan resumed her writing. Of course, her mother loved her, but her expectations of her were different. She still remembered how her mother had complained to her before her third brother was born. She blamed her for not being a boy, for not helping her secure her position as mistress.
She came at the wrong time and was not the precious son her mother wanted.
Later, she still went to school, but the books were lent to her by Xier from Qinlanyuan.
This has been their secret since they were young. They read the same book together and dared not delay either of them for too long.
There was a copy of "Tian Yuan Zheng Yao" that she really liked. Although she only had a limited understanding of it, she read it over and over again three times, and it still sits on her desk. This book was rarely printed, and it was hard to find even in the Imperial College, let alone outside. Xi'er simply gave it to her, but she worried about what she would do if she needed it in class later.
Xi'er waved her hand and said, "I can just ask the Fifth Prince." She smiled slyly, "As long as he says he lost it, the princess will find him another one. No one will blame him."
She heard that the Fifth Prince was the princess's only son and the most favored in the Prince of Jin's Mansion.
She also gradually discovered Xier's unusualness, but she tacitly agreed to keep it secret for her.
The reason is simple. Although they are not from the same mother, they all have the surname Gu, and they are of the same blood. If one suffers, they will suffer together.
As the sun set, Qing Wu escorted Er Lang back home. She ground ink for Gu Ningwan and said with a smile, "Young lady, you're so kind to Er Lang. If it was San Lang who asked you this today, you definitely wouldn't agree."
"Why lend it to him? Let him keep a mistress?"
Yuehua Courtyard is well-organized and everyone only obeys Gu Ningwan, and there are no nosy maids.
Gu Ning moistened the ink and looked at the upright Buddhist scripture in front of her.
In fact, she really envied Xier.
…
In May, the newly arrived tribute fruits from the south were delivered to Prince Zhao's palace.
The first crop of bayberries was plump and juicy, with a perfect balance of sweet and sour. Their shimmering purple-red color, round and plump, served on a jasper plate, was incredibly fresh and delicious. Pomegranates were also excellent, their seeds each as bright as a ruby. Then there were the newly-tributed loquats, the most prized fruits of May. They were so rare even in the imperial harem that they were first sent to the Empress's palace.
Lu Jing finished the memorial, but before he could ask any more questions, Sun Jing understood and said, "Your Highness, Lord Gu took half a day off this afternoon and is not currently at the palace."
"Ask for leave?" Lu Jing frowned slightly. "Are you sick?"
Sun Jing smiled and said, "Master Gu said he had some private matters to attend to and will be back at the palace to report in the afternoon."
His Highness has always been reasonable, and it is a rare occasion for Lord Gu to ask for leave, so Lord Lin, who is in charge of this matter in Prince Zhao's mansion, certainly has no reason to refuse.
Whether the adults in the palace were on duty or not had nothing to do with Sun Jing, but since it was Lord Gu, he couldn't help but pay more attention.
"good."
As expected, His Highness didn't say much. Sun Jing ordered the maid to bring fresh fruit. He saw that Lord Gu and His Highness had been childhood friends, and that growing up would inevitably lead to some estrangement. Unexpectedly, upon His Highness's return from the battlefield, they had become even closer.
Sun Jing smiled and sighed, saying that His Highness had been summoning Lord Gu to see him frequently recently.
A red sun hangs in the sky, and the weather at this time is not too hot.
After signing the house deed and sending the landlord and the middleman away, Gu Ningxi still had some free time.
She drank tea with her cousin. To avoid any further complications, she asked an intermediary to invite the landlord on the third day after she had collected enough money. She quickly wrote the paperwork and completed the payment.
Fortunately, I am on duty in the palace today, otherwise I would have a lot of trouble in the Ministry of Works.
With such a major matter now settled, Gu Ningxi collected the keys with great satisfaction. He had originally wanted to give the deed to his cousin, but Meng Ting smiled and said, "You can keep it with me. I'm usually in the barracks and can't take care of this."
The price of this house is really high. Seeing that his cousin trusts him so much, Gu Ningxi felt warm in his heart.
After buying this three-story house, she had little money left. She would have to live very frugally until her salary came at the end of the month. Fortunately, she had moved back to the Marquis's residence, so at least food and shelter were not a problem.
Meng Ting was a little worried. The Meng family kept to simple social interactions in Kyoto, and on weekdays, their doors were closed and quiet. But Ning Xi, born into a marquisate, was likely to have a lot of social interactions.
Based on past years' examples, May and June will be generally smooth, but I don't know if there will be any areas where I will need to spend extra money.
"Yes." Gu Ningxi remembered it clearly, "May 27th is His Royal Highness Prince Zhao's birthday."
"Then..." Meng Ting was a little worried.
Gu Ningxi spread his hands. "His Zhaowang Mansion is filled with all kinds of rare treasures. It would be useless for me to leave a few dozen strings of cash." Gu Ningxi thought very clearly. "Buying a house first is definitely the most important thing."
"That's true, but you're currently serving in Prince Zhao's palace. You should prepare a decent gift for His Highness Prince Zhao's birthday."
Otherwise, I'm afraid King Zhao will be displeased.
Meng Ting wanted to find a solution for her, but seeing that his cousin was really worried about her, Gu Ningxi hurriedly said with a smile, "I already have an idea. Am I the type to only think about the beginning and not the end?"
She blinked and smiled, as bright as the sunlight outside the window.
Meng Ting was frightened by her, and shook his head with a doting look in his eyes.
…
As soon as he stepped into the duty room of Prince Zhao's Mansion, Gu Ningxi saw a bayberry lamp on the desk.
Bayberries are extremely rare at this time of year. The round flesh is plump and when served with ice, they are extremely fresh.
Gu Ningxi guessed that this year's bayberry harvest was a bountiful one, and the tributes from the south were plentiful. His Majesty always prioritized the Zhao Palace over any tributes from the palace, so even they shared in the benefits.
Among the fruits in May and June, Gu Ningxi likes bayberry the most. The bayberry is juicy and has a refreshing, sour and sweet taste.
She wiped her hands and took out the blueprint from a book she often read.
The drawing on the paper was a waterwheel. She had spent three or four days and nights on it, but she didn't know whether His Royal Highness Prince Zhao would like it.
She had carefully selected the wood, and fortunately she had saved a lot of treasures that could come in handy at the critical moment.
The structure of the pattern was based on the drum wheel they saw in the suburbs, but Gu Ningxi's drawing was several times more refined.
Since it was a birthday gift, he couldn't ask Prince Zhao if he was satisfied with the blueprint first. Gu Ningxi calculated the construction time and decided to work on it himself, adjusting it later if there were any inadequacies.
She untied the cloth bag and carefully took out a piece of rosewood.
This piece of log is her favorite. The color and texture are impeccable. It will definitely look beautiful if it is made into an ornament and placed in the house.
Using it as a birthday gift for His Royal Highness Prince Zhao would not be considered an insult to it.
Gu Ningxi had brought two simple tools with her today. As the head of the Ministry of Works, she always kept an ink fountain and a carving knife in her treasure chest. Some larger tools were too inconvenient to carry to Prince Zhao's mansion, so Gu Ningxi divided the processes into sections. Some could be completed in Prince Zhao's duty room, while the rest could be done at home. Two or three more processes still required the use of the Ministry of Works' space. Gu Ningxi was familiar with the craftsmen there, so borrowing a few would be no problem. If anyone asked, she would say they were ornaments from Prince Zhao's mansion. No one would ask about such trivial matters before Prince Zhao's palace.
The wood was precious, so Gu Ningxi first used a copper ruler and a lead tablet to mark the lines. An ink fountain wasn't necessary for such a delicate ornament.
The initial form must be well-formed, and you will get twice the result with half the effort later on.
Her duty room was quiet and seldom visited. Gu Ningxi was very glad that her job in Prince Zhao's mansion was easy.
Outside the window, a sycamore tree stands lush and leafy. In midsummer, its leaves are lush and green, casting a cool shade.
Occasionally the wind blows and the leaves rustle.
The window was half-closed, and the girl behind the desk looked focused, not disturbed by the outside noise at all.
…
As the night got darker, the candles in the study of Leyouyuan often stayed lit until late at night.
Before sending Gu Ningxi out in the morning, Mrs. Meng packed afternoon snacks for her.
"I specifically asked the kitchen to use less sugar for this mung bean cake. Mung beans are perfect for summer because they clear away heat and replenish qi."
Originally, Mrs. Meng wanted to pack some more sweet soup, but it would be inconvenient for her daughter to take it to work.
Xier was afraid of heat. Although she changed into summer official uniform, she still felt stuffy in the wide-sleeved robe, especially since Xier had an extra chest binder than others.
In summer, people wear less clothes, so it is inevitable to bind their chests. Mrs. Meng can only try her best to choose lighter and more transparent fabrics for her.
Seeing her daughter yawning sleepily during breakfast, Mrs. Meng couldn't help but ask, "What have you been busy with lately? Why are you staying in the study all day?"
Gu Ningxi said vaguely, "His Royal Highness Prince Zhao wants to renovate a hot spring villa, and I'm working on the blueprints."
Although she had finished the blueprint long ago, it remained in her bookcase, and she would only turn in a portion every once in a while. With the exception of the window painting, Prince Zhao rarely offered any comments after reviewing it, which had helped Gu Ningxi, who had initially been cautious and ready to make changes, become calm and relaxed now, no longer needing to worry.
Gu Ningxi also happily decided to put the effort she had saved into his birthday gift.
Since it was a business matter, Mrs. Meng didn't say much, she just felt sorry for her daughter.
She ordered her maid to add more porridge to her daughter's bowl. "They've renovated Prince Zhao's mansion, and added a new hot spring villa. I heard people say that the palace is pouring in gifts to Prince Zhao's mansion."
Gu Ningxi was in the palace, so he could see it more clearly. "After all, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao conquered most of the country, so any reward would be justifiable."
Madam Meng also thought so. Gu Ningxi sipped her porridge. She didn't even dare to calculate how much wealth Prince Zhao had now. Perhaps it could buy half of the imperial capital.
…
The summer days were long and peaceful. The four windows in the duty room were open, letting in gusts of fresh breeze.
There were a lot of things piled on the originally spacious desk, and Gu Ningxi was concentrating on the work in his hands.
She had already carved twelve bamboo tubes, the kind used to draw water from the waterwheel, and arranged them neatly on one side. The carving tools were scattered across half the table, but thankfully, it was hers alone; otherwise, cleaning up would have been a hassle.
This cylinder is carved with two goldfish, which means "a house full of gold and jade".
Gu Ningxi polished each bamboo tube individually, making them small and exquisite. Each tube was then decorated with different patterns, making it even more exquisite and distinguished.
It was indeed a lot of work, though. Gu Ningxi rubbed her sore shoulders, unable to understand why she had given herself such a difficult task. She ate a chilled bayberry on a silver skewer and prepared to rest for half an hour before carving the next tube.
The sky was high and the clouds were light, and the sun gradually began to move westward.
With no more space on hand, Gu Ningxi stored the dozen or so bamboo tubes she had carved into a box. She looked over the blueprints and calculated the next steps.
She was used to the quietness of the duty room, so when someone knocked on the door, she was busy polishing a new bamboo tube and thought it was a maid bringing tea.
Unexpectedly, when he looked up, he saw the smiling eyes of Sun Zongguan after he pushed open the door. He stepped aside slightly and invited His Royal Highness Prince Zhao into the house.
"Your Highness."
Gu Ningxi looked at her messy desk and instinctively wanted to hide the object in her hands, but she felt disrespectful. She had no choice but to bear the gaze of His Royal Highness Zhao and leave the half-finished object there.
Lu Jing glanced at it casually, not taking it seriously. Yuan Le loved fiddling with these interesting gadgets, but this time, he had no idea what he was doing.
He said, "Didn't we agree to taste wine in the bamboo pavilion at noon?"
The hottest part of the day had passed. Gu Ningxi glanced at the sky outside, feeling annoyed. If His Royal Highness Prince Zhao hadn't reminded her, she would have forgotten the time.
She couldn't arrive at the small banquet at Prince Zhao's mansion later than His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.
Gu Ningxi gathered the things on the table and asked politely, "Then shall I go with Your Highness?"
Lu Jing nodded slightly: "Let's go."
The bamboo pavilion is built beside the water, with the words "Yin Feng" inscribed on a plaque.
The water gurgles, and the breeze comes from the lake, passing through the emerald green bamboo leaves and creating green waves. Just looking at it gives you a cool feeling.
Xie Qian, Wei Fan and Zhen Yuan arrived early. Since it was an afternoon gathering, the seating arrangement was casual.
The main seat facing south was reserved for His Royal Highness Prince Zhao. Gu Ningxi looked around and found that the only seat on the right side of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao was reserved for her.
The pavilion was filled with fresh fruits and flowers, as well as some snacks that everyone liked, and a few glasses of fine wine that had just been taken out of the cellar.
Gu Ningxi took a sip of the glass and chatted with the others. She heard Marquis Wu'an talk about the polo match with great interest.
Many children from the aristocratic families in Kyoto have signed up this time, and I heard that His Royal Highness Prince Huai will also participate in person.
Polo teams vary in size, sometimes consisting of four, sometimes eight. This time, for the grand occasion, each team consisted of ten players.
May is a good time to play polo with warm breeze and sunshine.
Xie Qian naturally had to go into battle, as his team was still short of two people.
Seeing Gu Ningxi, he smiled and asked, "How is your skill at playing qiu, Master Gu? Are you interested in playing with me?"
Besides him, Zhen Yuan and the others in the team were also military commanders. Xie Qian was worried about bullying the other teams, so adding a civil official was a good option. With them around, Lord Gu wouldn't have to exert too much effort.
Xie Qian meant well, Gu Ningxi thought for a moment and politely declined.
She was very busy in the next half month and had no time to participate in such events.
Xie Qian didn't force it, and said jokingly, "That's a pity. I won't have the chance to see Master Gu's polo skills."
Gu Ningxi raised an eyebrow: "Me? I've never lost a game before."
Xie Qian was immediately surprised: "Is Master Gu so powerful?"
"Of course."
Seeing the other person showing off, Lu Jing smiled without saying a word, his eyes never leaving her.
Xie Qian fell into deep thought. He knew that Lord Gu was a good rider, but he didn't expect that he was also an expert in playing polo.
Gu Ningxi was fearless: "If you don't believe me, you can ask His Highness."
The people in the pavilion looked over for confirmation. Lu Jing said, "...Yeah."
Gu Ningxi smiled with satisfaction: "I'll tell you what I'm saying."
Seeing Prince Zhao's reaction, Xie Qian was already somewhat convinced. While he was still admiring the situation, Wei Fan quietly approached and said, "Lord Gu played polo with His Highness for over a dozen matches."
Xie Qian: “…”
How can this not be considered a complete victory?
Gu Ningxi smiled and said, "I'll come and watch the last game." She paused and said, "You should be able to make it to the last game, right?"
Xie Qian said this with confidence: "Don't worry."
There were too many teams competing in the competition, and their levels were so uneven that there was really nothing to watch.
Gu Ningxi ate a piece of fruit and casually asked, "When was the last polo match?"
"Originally scheduled for May 26th," Xie Qian replied, "but His Majesty reviewed the arrangements and changed it to May 30th."
The reason for the change was simple. Xie Qian looked at His Royal Highness Prince Zhao while speaking.
Gu Ningxi understood that May 27th was Prince Zhao's birthday, and His Majesty was afraid that the polo match would steal the limelight from Prince Zhao's birthday banquet.
…
Fortunately, the weather was nice and it was sunny for more than half a month.
At Kyoto's largest polo field, the sound of drums and gongs blared as the competition was in full swing. Two matches a day, two teams competed, with the winner advancing to the next round. The winning team, it was said, would receive a reward from the imperial court.
The excitement of the May polo tournament had nothing to do with Gu Ningxi. She just stayed in her study all day, busy making her wooden cart.
She saw that her colleagues in the six ministries were more or less slacking off, and some even took leave to watch polo matches. As long as it did not affect their duties, the leaders of the six ministries turned a blind eye to it.
In addition, His Royal Highness Prince Zhao’s birthday is approaching, and the palaces that have been fortunate enough to receive invitations from Prince Zhao’s Palace are making careful preparations, fearing that they will fall behind.
The birthday banquet at Prince Zhao's palace lasted two days. The first day was for the royal family, and the second day was for the court officials. Both banquets began at noon. On the third day, May 27th, His Majesty would host a family banquet for Prince Zhao in the palace.
Gu Ningxi breathed a sigh of relief that he wouldn't meet the Crown Prince and Prince Huai at the banquet, thus avoiding being dragged into unnecessary trouble.
Under the bright moonlight, Gu Ningxi leaned over the desk, gazing at the small waterwheel that had finally been completed.
After much haste, she finally made it to Prince Zhao's birthday. The banquet wouldn't start until noon tomorrow, so there was no need to go too early. She gently turned the wheel, wondering if Prince Zhao would appreciate it when she presented it at the banquet.
The wooden box containing the waterwheel was carefully selected by Gu Ningxi and cost her a full string of coins.
The waterwheel has an ingenious structure and is closely related to water conservancy and people's livelihood.
Now that the war has ended and the world has been united, the people are eager to meet a wise leader and rest and recuperate.
Agriculture is the foundation of the people, and a solid foundation brings peace to the country.
The waterwheel was a major advancement in farmland irrigation, but many areas lacked water power. Especially in areas with high banks and shallow water, the waterwheel was of little use, and irrigation still relied on human and animal power, which was time-consuming and laborious.
The moonlight lightly enveloped the wheelbarrow, and Gu Ningxi suddenly sat up straight as if a blessing had come to his mind.
One drum cart is not enough, what if two drum carts are connected together?
She gestured with her hands, one frame standing in the water and the other standing on the shore, connected by a chain in the middle.
The waterwheels in the water were powered by water, while those on land could be driven by animals. As the chains rotated, the bamboo tubes hanging from them drew water from the lower reaches and continuously sent it to the higher reaches, repeating the cycle.
The idea came to her mind, and Gu Ningxi immediately lit the candle. By this hour, the maids in Leyou Courtyard had all gone to bed, so Gu Ningxi didn't call anyone. She spread out the paper and ground the ink, fearing that the inspiration in her mind would be fleeting.
She knew it would work, and had the outline down, but she still needed to think carefully about the details.
The night was long and the candles were replaced one after another.
Gu Ningxi didn't know when she fell asleep.
…
The sky was bright, so bright that Gu Ningxi opened his eyes.
She rubbed her sleepy eyes, slept on the desk for half the night, and when she woke up she felt sore in her back.
The drawings on the desk were still there, so it seemed like it wasn't just a dream she had last night.
Gu Ningxi patted his waist and thought with some pride that it was indeed easier to have thoughts in the middle of the night.
There were some ink stains on his cheek. Gu Ningxi looked at the small cart for a while, smiled, and remembered that today was the birthday banquet of His Royal Highness Prince Zhao.
She got up and slept sitting up all night, and her clothes were very wrinkled.
Gu Ningxi pushed open the study door and closed her eyes because of the dazzle of sunlight.
She asked the maid sweeping the courtyard, "What time is it?"
The little maid was surprised when she saw her: "Sir? Didn't you go to the banquet with Mr. Sanlang?"
Gu Ningxi felt a sense of unease, and the little girl quickly explained everything: "My Lord, it's already five minutes past noon."
Gu Ningxi's mind exploded with a bang. He put his hands in front of his forehead and looked at the sun hanging high in the sky.
【Author’s words】
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