Chapter 23: Gongzi Bian Arrives Early the next morning,...
The next morning, an eunuch came, holding a lacquer tray in his hand. On the tray was a newly engraved "Ci Zheng" seal with a brand new ribbon tied on it.
Fu Li treated the eunuch to two scallion pancakes freshly made that morning, and politely but firmly asked him to take all the seals back, saying that he was not cut out to be an official and did not like to be restricted.
These days are not like the Ming and Qing dynasties. When the king wanted to confer an official title, many people refused to take it. In the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was called disobeying the emperor's order, but now it is called high moral character.
Therefore, when the eunuch saw that she was determined not to accept it, he did not make things difficult for her and directly took the seal back to report.
Fu Li and Ling Zhuzi finished their breakfast together, and went straight to the fiefdom without Fu Yue and Fu Shuang.
Ling Zhuzi said, "Don't ask them to harness the carriage. Don't you want to learn magic? I'll teach you the Five Elements Escape Technique today."
As he spoke, he squatted down and rolled a handful of yellow soil, and motioned Fu Li to follow him.
When Fu Li heard that he was going to teach her magic, she was very excited. She immediately bent down and scooped up a handful of dirt, imitating him. She asked excitedly, "And then, what then?"
"Then? Then chant the spell." Lingzhuzi smiled at her, muttered something, and disappeared in a flash, leaving Fu Li stomping her feet in the spot.
"Tell me what spell you're chanting!"
Fu Yue and Fu Shuang looked at each other, suppressed their laughter and asked, "Senior Sister, are you still asking someone to harness the carriage?"
"No!" Fu Li said angrily, "If he has the guts, then he shouldn't come back today."
The three of them waited in the yard for a long time, but Ling Zhuzi still didn't show up. Fu Li was so angry that she kicked a stone, making it spin around. She gritted her teeth and said, "You damn Ling Zhuzi, you stinky Ling Zhuzi, you really aren't coming back?"
She suddenly cried out "Ouch" and covered her head, but something unknown flew from the right and hit her head directly.
Fu Li turned her head angrily and saw Ling Zhuzi sitting on a branch of the pear tree with his legs dangling. He sneered at her and said, "Didn't you say you wouldn't let me come back?"
It turned out that he was very skilled in the art of escape, and he had fought back and forth in an instant. He then used the invisibility technique to hide his figure, and wanted to tease Fu Li, but heard the words "If you have the guts, don't come back."
He is young and full of energy, how could he listen to this?
He didn't even use his invisibility spell anymore. He found a big branch on the pear tree and sat down quietly, looking angrily at Fu Li who was worrying below.
Until Fu Li cursed out loud in anxiety, he realized that he had gone too far, but he couldn't bring himself to lower his head. He had to pluck a pear blossom, twist it in his hand, and gather a little spiritual energy to throw at her to remind her that he was there.
Lingzhuzi took the initiative and thought: You were the one who spoke first, so it’s not too much to bow your head and coax me first, right?
But who would have thought that Fu Li, who was usually good-tempered, suddenly turned wild, glared at him with a flat mouth, sneered, and shouted, "Hitch the cart, hitch the cart quickly, don't you know I'm going out today?"
Oh, no, why don’t you follow the script?
Lingzhuzi was stunned.
Seeing that Fu Li really ignored him and just kept urging Fu Yue to harness the carriage, Ling Zhuzi suddenly realized: It seems that he has messed up!
——Is today really too much?
——You just found out about this?
—But isn't she being too stingy? I was just joking.
—You sound so generous. It’s always people coaxing you.
…………
Lingzhuzi was extremely conflicted. There were two little people arguing fiercely in his mind. As one of them became more and more arrogant, the other one naturally became more and more arrogant.
Seeing that Fu Yue was no match for Fu Li and was about to go out to ask someone to harness the carriage with a helpless look on her face, Ling Zhuzi stomped her feet and said: Forget it, for me, who has practiced for many years, why should I bother with a teenage girl like her?
After successfully convincing himself, Lingzhuzi mustered up his courage and was about to lower his head when he saw the family elder hurried in and bumped into Fu Yue head-on.
The family elder saw her and hurriedly asked, "Where is the young lady? Young Master Bian has arrived and is sitting in the front hall."
Fu Yue breathed a sigh of relief, grabbed the family elder and said, "You've come just in time. If you had been a little later, Senior Sister would have gone out. Come on, come on, Young Master Bian has come to visit us personally, so we must not neglect him."
——The two of them were having a quarrel, and she and Fu Shuang were getting anxious watching from the side.
But Lingzhuzi and the others didn't dare to persuade her, and Fu Li, who dared to persuade her, was determined as if she had been weighed down by a weight, and she refused to give in this time.
Although they both had the responsibility to give advice, they could not make the decision for Fu Li, so they had to listen to her first and think of other solutions later.
Fortunately, the old man... no, it was Gongzi Bian who arrived in time, giving the situation room to ease.
——There are guests at home. No matter what, you two have to work together to deal with this matter, right?
Their ideas are completely opposite to Lingzhuzi's.
Upon learning that the prince was coming to visit, given Fu Li's personality, he would definitely go to see Gongzi Bian first, and he didn't have time to wait for him to apologize.
The courage that I had finally mustered up was like a ball pricked by a needle, and it scattered all over with a "puff".
Ling Zhuzi gnashed his teeth and said, "You are so good, Young Master Bian. Why did you come at this time instead of earlier? I want to see what important matter you have that you have to come at this moment?"
He quickly found another excuse, and when Fu Li came out after changing her clothes, Lingzhuzi followed her with peace of mind.
Fu Li glanced at him and ignored him, and of course did not ask him to leave.
Lingzhuzi breathed a sigh of relief, moved closer to her, and walked out side by side with her, looking even more arrogant than usual.
——Typical tsundere and guilty conscience.
Fu Li found it funny but held back her feelings, putting on an expression that said, "Although I don't want to bother with you, I'll give you some face in front of outsiders." She followed Ling Zhuzi's footsteps and went to the front hall together.
Prince Bian was also the son of Taijia, and had the same mother as the current King of Shang, Wo Ding.
According to the rules of the Shang Dynasty, if Wo Ding died early, his son would be too young to be appointed as the heir, and Prince Bian would be the first in line to the throne.
Now that Wo Ding had no son, it could be said that although Prince Bian was not the crown prince in name, he was the crown prince in reality. Although Fu Li had given up the idea of serving as an official in Boyi, she could not neglect Prince Bian even for the sake of Grand Tutor Wen Zhong.
"I didn't know you were coming, and I apologize for not welcoming you. I hope you will forgive me."
As soon as they met, Fu Li showed her attitude, saying that although you are an uninvited guest, you still receive her out of courtesy.
Yesterday, she went to the palace to make a suggestion, but she left with high hopes but returned disappointed. This was a common occurrence, generally circulating only within a small circle, and within a few days, it would be replaced by new gossip.
But when Gongzi Bian came in person, the nature of the matter changed.
The ancient nobles were merely ancient, not foolish. Based on Prince Bian's actions, they could naturally infer that Fu Li must have offered a good plan. Although the king didn't adopt it, Prince Bian, who accompanied him, had already been persuaded.
Even for the sake of peace and quiet, Fu Li will have to close the door and refuse visitors for a long time, and will not be able to go to the fiefdom.
Gongzi Bian knew that all talented people were prone to arrogance. Yesterday, Fu Ligang had gone to the king's place, not only had his advice been unsuccessful but he had also been furious. It was understandable that he disliked him.
Compared to the arrogant Wo Ding, Young Master Bian was clearly much more humble and kind. He was unfazed by Fu Li's venomous words, saying good-naturedly, "I have been so rude as to disturb your peace and quiet. I beg your forgiveness."
Fu Li is quite similar to Ling Zhuzi in some aspects, that is, he is soft-hearted and does not tolerate toughness.
If Gongzi Bian acted superior, she would have a car waiting for her. But he was so soft and humble, which made it difficult for her to make trouble.
She choked and turned to the slave girl, "Young Master, you've had a hard time on the journey. Go get some honey water to moisten your throat and get rid of the dust."
The slave girl took the order and left. Gongzi Bian realized the change in her attitude and the smile on his face became more genuine.
Soon, the female slave brought up three bowls of honey water, using the same slightly bluish porcelain that had been fired earlier.
Although Gongzi Bian had seen the set of white porcelain in the palace, Fu Li only sent one set in, which was not enough for Wo Ding himself, so he naturally would not think of sharing it with others.
Today, he saw this set again, which was slightly different from the white porcelain, but equally elegant. He couldn't help but caress it and exclaimed in admiration, "It's truly a beautiful piece. The young lady has such ingenuity, which is truly a gift from heaven."
Fu Li smiled and said nonchalantly, "If you like it, just ask the craftsmen in the palace to make another set. I've already taught them how to make it."
Young Master Bian said sternly, "Young Master, you are wrong. Porcelain making is your family business. Even if the royal family is of poor character, how dare they seize someone else's legacy? I came here today on the orders of my brother the king to send a few people to you."
After he finished speaking, he clapped his hands, and more than twenty familiar faces walked in. Fu Li took a closer look and found that they were the potters who had learned to make porcelain from her.
The young master argued, "Come and meet the young lady. From now on, you will be her family craftsmen."
Twenty craftsmen bowed together. Fu Li suddenly came to his senses and declined, saying, "These craftsmen were carefully trained by the royal family. They are too valuable. Fu Li is ashamed to accept them."
Technical talent is always a scarce resource. Gongzi Bian's gift was too generous and heavy, and Fu Li did not want to accept it.
As the saying goes: When you give someone a gift, you must have something in mind.
Gongzi Bian gave Fu Li such a generous gift. No matter what request he made of her, as long as she accepted it, it would be equivalent to agreeing to it.
Firstly, she didn't think her advice was worth these twenty craftsmen, and secondly, she didn't think her value was only worth these twenty craftsmen.
If you put these twenty craftsmen on a scale, no matter what you put on the other end, it will not be balanced. Even the most skilled craftsmen will become a nuisance in this situation.
Young Master Bian said with a smile: "Young Master, please don't worry. I just think that these craftsmen have learned the skills of porcelain making from you, and they should be loyal to you in the future.
Furthermore, Bian Neng had obtained the king's consent beforehand to bring these people out. I believe the young lady also understands the king's character. If the young lady is unwilling to accept them, I am afraid they will not live long.
Fu Li's expression changed.
She suddenly turned around and looked at the twenty craftsmen, only to see that they all lowered their heads and knelt there in an orderly manner. None of them begged for mercy, as if they were ready to die for her.
This was moral kidnapping, but Fu Li was not cruel enough. She took a deep breath and said, "Since the young master is so kind, it would be ungrateful for Fu Li to refuse."
She stood up, bowed deeply to Gongzi Bian, and said solemnly, "Thank you for your generous gift, sir."
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