Shen Wan couldn't imagine Xie Jingyan asking the Emperor to recommend the Fourth Master. It was impossible. In fact, it was the Emperor who first suggested Xie Jingyan recommend the Fourth Master.
This is a long story, and it all started a month ago when Xie Jingyan went to the palace library to find a book.
The book was divided into two volumes. Xie Jingyan only found the first volume and asked the eunuch in charge of the library to find the second volume for him when he took it. However, it had not been delivered for many days. Xie Jingyan went to the palace to look for it today, only to be told that the second volume was in the Emperor's hands.
The eunuch in charge dared not ask the Emperor for it, so Xie Jingyan had to go by himself. Coincidentally, Prince Cheng was also there. Prince Cheng heard that the Ordnance Bureau had been in some chaos these past few days and asked the Emperor to decide as soon as possible who would supervise the Ordnance Bureau.
The eldest prince recommended the fourth-rank Mingwei General for the position of Military Equipment Supervisor, while Xie Jingyin recommended the second master.
With both sides expressing similar sentiments, it's unclear what the Emperor's considerations are, as a decision has yet to be made.
The Emperor asked Prince Cheng which of the two was more suitable, and Prince Cheng leaned towards the Second Prince.
Xie Jingyan was already getting impatient when the Emperor suddenly looked at him and asked, "What do you think, Yan'er?"
Xie Jingyan hadn't expected the Emperor to ask for his opinion. He had only come to the Emperor to get the book; the Emperor's appointment of someone as the Director of the Arsenal was none of his business.
But since the Emperor had asked, Xie Jingyan replied, "The fourth master of the Pingyang Marquis's mansion is competent to serve as the director of the Military Equipment Bureau."
If you ask him to recommend someone, he will definitely recommend his own people.
In Shen Wan's dream, Fourth Master Shen had pledged allegiance to him and followed him through thick and thin. To gain such trust, he must have extraordinary abilities. Moreover, among the three masters of the Pingyang Marquis's mansion, Fourth Master Shen was the one most trusted by the Marquis. Even if he didn't understand Fourth Master Shen, he should still trust his father-in-law's judgment of people.
Xie Jingyan only replied casually when the Emperor asked him. He didn't think the Emperor would consider the Fourth Master, since the Fourth Master's official position was two ranks below the Director of the Military Equipment Bureau. It was difficult to even rise one rank in the court, let alone two ranks at once.
After recommending the Fourth Master, Xie Jingyan went to the Emperor to get the book, and then left.
Before he even left the palace, he received news that the Emperor had promoted Master Shen to the position of Director of the Arsenal.
Not to mention Shen Wan was surprised and couldn't believe it, even Xie Jingyan himself had some indescribable feelings.
After her initial surprise, Shen Wan was delighted and said, "Then I thank you on behalf of Fourth Uncle."
Xie Jingyan raised an eyebrow, something flashing in his eyes. He smiled and said, "So, how are you going to thank me?"
Shen Wan, "..."
I wish I could bite my tongue off.
Why should she thank him on behalf of her fourth uncle?
Fourth Uncle will thank him himself; she doesn't need to do it on his behalf.
But now that she had spoken, she knew he wouldn't listen if she pretended she hadn't said anything. Looking at Xie Jingyan's stunningly beautiful face, which was flawless, Shen Wan's heart stirred. She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek.
She was finally getting the hang of it, but not much. After kissing him, Shen Wan was about to leave when Xie Jingyan grabbed her waist, pulled her into his arms, and showered her with a tender, lingering kiss.
Just as the man was lost in the passionate kiss, Shen Wan suddenly resisted violently. Xie Jingyan released her and asked in a low, husky voice, "What's wrong?"
Shen Wan said, "I suddenly remembered something I forgot to tell you: there are iron mines in Wangzhou, the fiefdom of Prince Cheng..."
A wave of intense frustration washed over Xie Jingyan, his face turning as black as the bottom of a pot. He desperately wanted to strangle Shen Wan. He gritted his teeth and said, "When I was kissing you, you were still thinking about these things?!"
He kissed her until her whole body went weak. She couldn't stop thinking about these things; instead, she started thinking about random things and couldn't control herself.
But Shen Wan definitely wouldn't tell Xie Jingyan this. Not daring to look into Xie Jingyan's eyes, which were blazing with fire, Shen Wan shrank back and said, "...the important matter is more important..."
Xie Jingyan was caught in a dilemma: he couldn't be angry, and he couldn't be calm.
The fact that there is an iron mine in the fiefdom of the King of Cheng is of utmost importance; it is a matter of paramount importance. But even the most important matter cannot be delayed by a moment.
Xie Jingyan sat down, poured himself a cup of tea, and, whether to calm his desire or his anger, he looked at Shen Wan and said, "Continue!"
"...That's all."
Xie Jingyan was completely speechless, feeling as if someone was torturing him with a feather, no, a feather duster, deep inside his heart.
He just stared at Shen Wan and asked, "Are you sure the King's fiefdom has iron mines?"
Shen Wan was certain of this.
In his previous life, Xie Jingyin ascended the throne less than a month before King Cheng informed him in court that an iron mine had been discovered in his fiefdom of Wangzhou. Generally, places with mines would not be used as fiefdoms, and if one was discovered, the location would be changed. However, to show his trust and regard for King Cheng, Xie Jingyin still gave Wangzhou to King Cheng as his fiefdom and even put King Cheng's people in charge of mining the iron mine.
Because it was Prince Cheng who took the initiative to report Xie Jingyin about the iron mine, it didn't cause much of a stir. Therefore, although Shen Wan knew about it, she didn't have a deep impression of it. Just now, when Xie Jingyan mentioned Prince Cheng, Shen Wan felt that Prince Cheng was secretly helping Xie Jingyin. So she thought about it for a while and then remembered this matter related to Prince Cheng.
Afraid that she would forget again later, she quickly told Xie Jingyan that she knew, which angered him.
This person is easy to appease, but also gets angry very easily.
Xie Jingyan was thinking about the iron mine. If the imperial court could add an iron mine to forge weapons, it would greatly increase the army's strength. However, Wangzhou was the fiefdom of Prince Cheng, a vast and mountainous region. If he sent people to search for iron mines, it would probably take half a year to find one. If they could find it through Prince Cheng, it would be much easier, but finding Prince Cheng...
The thought of recommending the Fourth Master today, and the cold glint in Prince Cheng's eyes, made him abandon the idea.
King Cheng was not as simple as he thought.
If King Cheng were truly as carefree as he appeared, he wouldn't have been able to gain such favor and become second only to the emperor after Xie Jingyin ascended the throne, as Shen Wan dreamed.
The search for iron ore needs to be planned carefully.
Xie Jingyan went to the study. Shen Wan couldn't contain her joy at the thought of the Fourth Master's promotion of two ranks. She immediately instructed Yin Shuang, "Prepare congratulatory gifts. We'll go back to the Marquis's residence to offer our congratulations tomorrow."
Yinshuang was also happy. She hoped that everyone who loved and cared for the Princess would be well. However, she thought, "I'm afraid the Old Madam and the Second Madam won't be happy..."
It's certain they're unhappy.
Should she not even send a congratulatory gift just to avoid upsetting them?
They never considered whether she was happy or not when they did things, so why should she care about them? The fact that she didn't go back to upset them every now and then was already a sign of her kindness.
Among so many civil and military officials, those who are promoted two ranks at once can be counted on one hand. This is a great joy for the Marquis's family. All the civil and military officials will send a congratulatory gift. After receiving the gift, a promotion banquet will usually be held. However, since Shen Li has just passed away and the Marquis's family has just held a funeral, the old lady will definitely suppress the banquet and not allow it.
Shen Wan utterly detested this practice of expecting everyone to revolve around her, the old lady, and the second wife.
"Just prepare the congratulatory gifts, and make sure they're generous."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
