Chapter 36 She escaped from the fox den...
As the sun rose to the zenith and began to turn westward, a convoy of carriages escorted by cavalry entered Ying County through the north gate.
Amidst the clatter of hooves, the unassuming carriage moved smoothly and finally came to a stop in front of the luxurious mansion with its main gate wide open.
The carriage door opened, and a figure dressed in a blue robe stepped out. Mo Yanyun, Feng Feng, and the others who were waiting in front of the mansion gate smiled.
"It has been more than a month since we last met. Mr. Nalan looks much better than before. I suppose you have recovered completely."
"Congratulations!"
The figure in blue raised his head. He was a man around fifty years old, with a fair complexion, long ears, and a long beard, exuding a scholarly air. However, what clashed with his gentle demeanor was a black mark on his right cheek.
It was not a birthmark, but a black mark with sharp edges and a clear pattern inside.
This is a man who was once branded.
Nalan Zhi laughed and said, "I wouldn't say I'm completely recovered; I can barely travel a long distance. The news of the lord's encirclement strategy has truly boosted my spirits, and seven out of nine parts of my illness have vanished instantly."
Feng Feng said cheerfully, "Then when Mr. Nalan sees the dragon bone waterwheel later, won't his remaining discomfort turn into nothingness and disappear with a gust of wind?"
"What is a dragon bone waterwheel? It's enough to excite you, a well-informed commander of the Xuanxiao Cavalry, so much," Nalan Zhi asked curiously.
Dragon Bone Waterwheel, what a clever name.
Feng Feng gestured with his palm, indicating that Nalan Zhi should enter the mansion first. The latter smiled and stroked his long beard before following him inside.
As they walked, the two vividly recounted yesterday to Nalan Zhi.
Mo Yanyun began by recounting his experience of going to report on his duties, mentioning that Dai Li used tree branches as brushes to paint in the courtyard, and that Qin Shaozong ordered a dozen carpenters to work together overnight to build a dragon-bone waterwheel.
Feng Feng continued, "The dragon bone waterwheel was delivered to the back garden of the manor half an hour ago. Lord Jun is there now. Would Mr. Nalan like to go and take a look?"
Nalan Zhi naturally nodded.
Upon arriving at the manor, it is only proper and logical for him to pay his respects to the lord first. Moreover, without personally verifying the truth, it would be difficult to satisfy his eagerness.
The afternoon sun was shining brightly, and the mansion's back garden was spacious, with artificial hills and strange rocks as scenery, and pavilions and waterside terraces rising from the ground.
A breeze wafted by, carrying the delicate fragrance of flowers throughout the garden. Amidst the refreshing aroma, the sound of water stood out. It wasn't the gentle murmur of a stream drawn from a spring, but a loud, rushing sound, like water being released from a sluice gate.
Mo Yanyun accidentally stepped into a small puddle. "Strange, there's water here. Could it be that the water in the pool has leaked out?"
"You blockhead, it must be Lord Jun testing the dragon bone waterwheel," Feng Feng said irritably.
Nalan Zhi quickly followed the sound, and after turning a corner past a rockery adorned with flowering vines, his view suddenly opened up.
The pond, as large as a lake, was exceptionally wide, with a pavilion-style waterside terrace on it. A winding boardwalk connected the terrace to the shore, and one could even see snow-white cranes flapping their wings by the lake. But none of this could attract Nalan Zhi's attention.
He stared intently at the wooden dragon by the pool.
The wooden dragon is about two zhang long, with its tail dipping into the pool, and its body, made of wooden planks strung together, meanders upwards. As a strong man on top shakes the dragon's horn at one end of its head, the dragon's head continuously spouts water.
The loud whooshing sound just now came from here.
A captivating light appeared in Nalan Zhi's eyes, like a shooting star streaking across the night. He didn't even bother to exchange a few pleasantries with Qin Shaozong, whom he hadn't seen for over a month. He simply bowed to the other man and asked, "My lord, where is the creator of this dragon bone waterwheel? May I see her?"
Even though Mo Feng and the other man did not explain the "water capacity" of the dragon bone waterwheel, or that animal power could be used instead of human power, Nalan Zhi saw through it at a glance.
More water, more land, and consequently, increased grain production. The grain reserves in the north, the surplus grain in the homes of the northern people—the lord's prestige will greatly increase.
And even further, all the people of the world who will benefit from this.
This is definitely an object that will leave its mark on the history of Qing Dynasty, and in turn, its inventor also deserves a place in the history of Qing Dynasty.
"When the dragon bone waterwheel arrived, I sent someone to inform the lady that she would be arriving shortly." Qin Shaozong called out Nalan Zhi's courtesy name with a smile, "Wugong, you just wait."
*
After throwing down her pen, Dai Li stared at the books on the table for a long time. Recalling everything that happened last night, she finally took a deep breath and picked up the wolf-hair brush again.
However, after copying just one character, Bibo came into the room from outside. "Madam, a captain has come to the courtyard. He said that the dragon bone waterwheel has been delivered to the back garden of the mansion. Lord, please come and take a look."
Dai Li's eyes widened involuntarily, "So fast?"
The dragon-bone waterwheel she drew yesterday noon was actually built in just twelve hours in a single day.
How many craftsmen did he employ at the same time?
“Okay, I’ll go there now.” Dai Li put down the wolf-hair brush that was starting to feel heavy.
"lady……"
Dai Li turned to look at Nian Xia, "What's wrong?"
Nianxia whispered, "Many beautiful clothes were just delivered. Would you like me to help you change into them?"
Dai Li is still wearing that simple gray dress. If you look at this outfit alone, eight out of ten ordinary women in the bustling city would wear the same thing.
In ordinary households, it wouldn't matter much, but within this grand mansion, especially in the most prestigious residence in Ying County, even the lowest-ranking dancer would likely surpass her.
Nianxia knew that apart from the principal wife, all the women in the harem depended on the master's favor for survival. She had seen concubines in wealthy families fall from grace, from delicate flowers cherished by everyone to scattered mud.
Those who gain favor rise to prominence, while those who lose favor decline.
She is now Lady Dai's servant, and as the mistress prospers, the servant is honored; she sincerely hopes that the lady's prosperity will last forever.
Dai Li replied, "No need, this is fine."
Nianxia and Bibo wanted to persuade her again, but Daili stepped out the door.
We took a shortcut; the journey wasn't far.
When they reached the entrance to the back garden, Dai Li heard Qin Shaozong talking to someone else.
The voice was unfamiliar; she had never heard it before. But judging from Qin Shaozong's tone, which sounded like he was chatting with a friend, this person was definitely an important minister under his command.
Dai Li thought of Mr. Nalan; it seemed that this important strategist had finally arrived.
She smiled and her steps suddenly became much lighter.
...
Nalan Zhi learned from his lord that Lady Dai was the messenger. She said that the inventor of the dragon bone waterwheel was someone else, and his lord asked him if he knew Ma Jun.
But he searched through all the famous figures he had ever heard of, big and small, and still couldn't find this "Ma Jun" in the most obscure corner of his mind.
There is no such person; no, he should be said to be unaware of such a person.
Thus, this Lady Dai became the key.
Aside from his arrival at the manor, Nalan Zhi had heard nothing more from Dai Li. In his imagination, this Lady Dai should be a simple peasant woman.
The woman was probably in her forties or fifties, with dark skin from years of hard work. She lived in Ma Jun's secluded village. One day, the great hermit invented this amazing invention. Since he was busy and couldn't leave, he entrusted this Lady Dai to take the blueprints out of the village and deliver them to his lord, who happened to be nearby.
However, when that grayish-black color came into view, Nalan Zhi was stunned for a long time, which was rare for him.
Some people's beauty cannot be hidden by clothing. Even if they are dressed in old and simple clothes, it is as if the aura of their temperament will shine on them, and then illuminate their already outstanding features.
The vibrant spring colors of the garden seemed to have dimmed considerably with her arrival.
Dai Li saw the ink mark on Nalan Zhi's face. The ink mark was ferocious, and at first glance it looked like a black worm was crawling on his face.
Putting aside the fact that modern tattoos come in all sorts of bizarre styles, this is nothing compared to this. Just considering that she will need this Mr. Nalan to restrain Qin Shaozong in the future, she absolutely cannot have any rejection or disdain for him.
Dai Li smiled politely, as if the ink mark had never existed. "I overheard Commandant Mo and the others talking about how a learned and unparalleled talent is coming to our manor today. I suppose that must be you, Mr. Nalan. I have long admired your name."
From the moment Dai Li entered the back garden, Qin Shaozong's gaze remained fixed on her.
He watched as she glanced at everyone, including him, with a slight upturn of her lips, as if to say hello, before turning to talk to Nalan Zhi.
She started by showering us with compliments, saying she'd heard so much about us. If she hadn't previously mentioned living in a secluded paradise, what she was saying now would have sounded quite convincing.
Ah, she must have another ulterior motive.
Qin Shaozong turned his jade thumb ring, coldly observing Dai Li exchanging pleasantries with Nalan Zhi, his eyes dark and unfathomable.
In Nianxia and Bipo's eyes, everything was incredibly unbelievable, like a thousand-foot-high wave crashing against the shore, destroying all their previous understanding.
In their limited experience, even the principal wife of a bureaucrat was expected to show great respect to her husband's subordinates and other officials of the same rank.
If even the principal wife is treated like this, one can only imagine what happens to the concubines and mistresses...
But now, they stared in disbelief as Dai Li, dressed in old clothes, talked to the gentleman in the blue robe as if no one else was around.
Everyone in the back garden watched them. Neither the lord who supposedly ruled the entire north, nor the captains, lieutenants, or sergeants beside him, dared to interrupt. The vast back garden, centered around the two of them, remained silent as everyone waited.
Despite lacking elaborate clothing and gold hairpins, she shone like a pearl, still dazzlingly bright.
Nianxia felt somewhat dazed, as if she might still be in a dream, otherwise she would never have witnessed such a bizarre scene.
For Dai Li, it wasn't difficult to hit it off with someone like Nalan Zhi at first sight.
Such a renowned scholar, who could serve as an advisor to powerful figures and occupy an important position, needed at least extensive knowledge, followed by strategic thinking and keen insight into human nature.
Based on Qin Shaozong's high standards and the respectful attitude of those around him, Dai Li guessed that in addition to all of the above, this Mr. Nalan might also possess pride and compassion.
They care about the people of the world and take it as their responsibility to bring peace to the world.
Dai Li is someone who stands at the end of the long river of history, especially since she works at a publishing house with the word "national" in its name, and most of the books she edits and reviews are about history and agriculture, which is exactly what she is interested in. It is not difficult for her to impress the famous scholars of a thousand years ago.
After all, information asymmetry is the obstacle in the middle.
Feng Feng stood beside Qin Shaozong. As time slowly passed, he felt a strange chill, whether it was his imagination or not.
He looked around and saw that the dragon bone waterwheel, which had been tested, had stopped working. The wind that had just stirred up had stopped, so there was no wind blowing the water vapor. Moreover, the golden sun in the sky was perfectly fine and was not blocked by the clouds.
Feng Feng's rise from a commoner to his current position is largely due to his sharper and more astute mind than most. He looked around, keeping his head still, but his eyes quickly shifted to the side, glancing at his superior, and then following the superior's gaze to the woman not far away.
Suddenly, Feng Feng seemed to understand something.
Starting with the dragon bone waterwheel, Dai Li chatted with Nalan Zhi about crops.
Millet was the main crop of this era. Due to its short growing season and tolerance to poor soil and drought, millet always held a central position in agriculture, even with relatively low yields. In any case, it could survive even when planted in newly reclaimed wasteland.
Subsequently, with the large-scale construction of water conservancy projects in various regions, wheat, which has a high demand for water, gradually spread to the north. Winter wheat is sown in autumn and harvested in summer, and can be rotated with other crops. Moreover, compared with millet, wheat yields are much higher.
Dai Li carefully measured her words, not chatting with Nalan Zhi for too long. Only when he was clearly intrigued did she seem to suddenly realize that she wasn't the only one in the back garden. She quickly turned to Qin Shaozong, who was a few steps away, "My Lord..."
The words she was about to say stuck in her throat, because his ambiguous, knowing expression made Dai Li suspect that he knew about her plan.
He probably guessed that she wanted to use Nalan Zhi to keep him in check.
"If I remember correctly, the last time Madam was so enthusiastic about meeting someone, she immediately set a trap for that 'old friend' not long afterward, almost causing him to lose everything," Qin Shaozong said meaningfully.
Dai Li: "..."
How could a perfectly normal person have such a mouth?
It seems he really guessed it.
It doesn't matter. Even if she's guessed, she can use it as a legitimate strategy. In any case, she has to do this!
Nalan Zhi looked surprised, his gaze shifting between the two of them, as if deep in thought.
"Mr. Nalan has just arrived at your residence today, and I imagine he has many important matters to discuss with you. I will not disturb you any longer." Dai Li decided to retreat first, avoid their sharp edge, and wait for a suitable opportunity to strike again.
She looked at Nalan Zhi, still smiling politely, "Mr. Nalan, goodbye."
After Dai Li left, the garden was quiet for a moment, the atmosphere strangely awkward. Finally, Nalan Zhi coughed lightly, "My lord, this dragon bone waterwheel is far superior to the well sweep and the hoe. Now is the spring planting season, why not gather all the carpenters and have them make a small batch first, then distribute these dragon bone waterwheels to the various counties of the north, and then post notices in the city to widely publicize its production method. I think that within a year, this thing will surely be known throughout the entire north."
Remembering what Dai Li had just said about wheat, Nalan Zhi stroked his long beard. "If fetching water becomes much easier, the wheat harvest will be as abundant as the spring breeze, blowing into every household."
When the people are doing well and have plenty of surplus grain, it is easier for them to collect grain taxes.
Qin Shaozong nodded, "That's exactly what I was thinking too."
The implementation of the keel-type waterwheel is imperative. The money and manpower spent in the initial stage, no matter how much or how little, will become insignificant compared to the later results.
Nalan couldn't help but ask, "My lord, this Lady Dai is no ordinary person. Just who is she from?"
Qin Shaozong chuckled softly, "She ran out of the fox den."
Nalan Zhi's hand trembled, and he almost plucked out a beard. Even though he knew that his lord could be quite sharp-tongued at times, he was still astonished.
The lord rarely commented on women in the past, and such unusual and subjective words were the first time he knew of them.
He glanced at Mo Yanyun, whose face was full of complex emotions. Judging from his expression, the background and deeds of that Madam Dai could not be explained in just a few words.
*
Dai Li returned to her room, planning to take a nap before running into Nalan Zhi. She figured they would have finished their business by then and Mr. Nalan would be free.
As she turned and sat on the couch, Dai Li looked up and met two pairs of eyes. One pair was round like a cat's, and the other was longer and narrower. The shapes of the eyes were different, but the gazes were equally fiery.
Dai Li asked in surprise, "What's wrong with you?"
"Madam, you..." Nianxia's face flushed red, and she could only manage to utter three words in the end, "So amazing!"
Bibo, standing to the side, nodded repeatedly, "I have never seen anyone as majestic as you before."
Although their words were vague, Dai Li understood. They had never seen such an unconventional woman before, which was why they found her so fascinating.
Dai Li sighed and said something they didn't understand: "Things will get better from now on."
Ultimately, it was the limitations of the times. This cannibalistic feudal era cut off their path to education and officialdom, binding countless women and confining them to their backyards, leaving them only able to depend on the whims of others.
If possible...
Some signs only appeared briefly before Dai Li nipped them in the bud.
Impossible, unrealistic.
The dust of the times settles on everyone like a mountain. How can she, alone, fight against the entire era? She's like a clay Bodhisattva crossing a river, barely able to save herself, let alone others.
Nianxia and Bibo didn't understand, but that didn't stop them from nodding in agreement with whatever Daili said: "What Madam says is true."
"I'm going to take a nap. Please wake me up in half an hour." Dai Li lay on the couch and pulled the blanket over herself.
The two women should be.
Listening to the chirping of insects outside the window, Dai Li's mind gradually calmed down, and she soon fell into a deep sleep.
Nianxia timed it precisely, half an hour, down to the last cup of tea. Half an hour later, Dai Li was awakened. After a short nap, she felt much better and decided to go out to bump into Nalan Zhi.
Perhaps she was lucky today, but not long after she left the main courtyard, Dai Li saw people going in and out of a pavilion not far away, and she had a feeling that someone might have moved in there.
She went over to take a look and found that she was right. Not only was she right, but she had also guessed exactly who she was looking for.
Dai Li smiled and immediately came uninvited.
The idlers in the courtyard had mostly left, except for a young man in his early twenties dressed as a servant, who was tidying up boxes.
Hearing footsteps, he turned around, stunned for a moment before his face flushed red. "Who...who are you?"
"Is Mr. Nalan here? I need to speak with him," Dai Li said.
Nalan Zhi, who was inside, came out upon hearing the commotion and personally invited Dai Li in, saying, "Madam Dai, please come inside to talk. Mu Sen, stop tidying up for now and go boil some water to make tea for Madam."
Dai Li followed him into the house.
The house in Nalanzhi has excellent natural light, and its interior furnishings are not luxurious or extravagant, but rather quiet and elegant, showing that the arrangement was done with care.
After taking her seat, Dai Li didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point, "Mr. Nalan, I would like to ask you to act as my advocate and persuade the Marquis to allow me to join his advisory group."
Author's Note: Nalan Zhi, courtesy name "Wugong," is a very humble courtesy name. [Orange Heart]
Today marks the end of one small phase, and the next main storyline will focus on family relationships. [heart emoji]
The reason yesterday's chapter was investigated was mainly because I received a private message at 12:30 AM from a passenger who had proactively contacted the Ministry of Transport to pinpoint my bus...
This is terrifying! It's been about a month and a half since I started writing, and I've already been reported twice. The second report came even faster than many readers who are following my updates—it was like I was turning on my phone the moment I finished reading! Including my previous book, I've received almost ten reports via private message. Could some shady industry peer be watching me? [crying emoji]
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