Chapter 43: As long as my wife is willing to talk, I want to listen to everything As long as my wife is willing...
Ye Jindian thought it was unnecessary.
The component collapsed when the eleventh arrow was fired, but it was only slightly deformed and could still hold on; it was completely broken after the fourteenth arrow was fired, but it did not explode into pieces, it was just that the component could no longer be used.
If nothing else, these changes will make crossbow users much safer.
Zhang Min touched the damaged component in amazement and looked at his wife. "Mrs. Ye, overnight, came up with some ingenious method to increase the number of arrows from six to thirteen, doubling it."
"It's not a special method. I just tried to make a flexible sword for a friend before, and I thought maybe it's because it's 'too hard' that it's 'easy to break'." Ye Jindian lowered his head and replied seriously, "If it could be like a bamboo joint, with a certain degree of bending and straightness, maybe it would work."
Zhang Min touched his waist and felt a surge of heat in his ears.
So this is the toughness...
"Hmm," he mumbled, then praised, "You've made a tremendous contribution to this matter. If you want any reward, just let me know."
Even if it was a thousand taels of gold, he would have taken the opportunity to give it.
However, Ye Jindian loved money but was not greedy for it, so she politely declined his reward: "It is my duty, and the court has already given me a reward, so there is no need for the Right Prime Minister to spend money."
Zhang Min looked at her respectful and reserved face, and his heart began to sour again. He suspected that if he continued to stay, he would not be able to handle government affairs for the next half day.
He pursed his lips, turned around and walked away sullenly.
After walking three or five steps, he remembered that the Armoury Supervisor had been unable to eat for a while, so he turned back and said in the tone that the Right Prime Minister used to say, "Your skills are quite good. How about coming back to the Prime Minister's residence with me? There are some weapons in the residence that need repairing."
Ye Jindian hesitated and looked at the supervisor beside him.
The Military Equipment Inspectorate was actually under independent control, but nominally it was under the jurisdiction of the Right Prime Minister's Office. The Prime Minister's Office did have the right to dispatch one or two people to repair weapons.
Furthermore, Your Majesty has made it clear that recently, whenever the Right Prime Minister has any request, the Military Equipment Supervisor must do his utmost to help.
Therefore, he could only nod and say, "Just go ahead."
The boss frowned, feeling that the right prime minister's treatment of Ye Jindian seemed a little unusual.
He glanced at the two of them calmly.
Shangguan had said so, so Ye Jindian had no choice but to agree: "I'll go back and pack some stuff and come right back."
She apologized in a serious tone, took two steps back, and then turned and left.
When I turned around, I couldn't help but touch my empty stomach sadly.
Blacksmithing is strenuous work, and she usually eats a lot, having long since devoured the two pancakes she had in the morning. Now, she's so hungry her legs and feet are weak, yet she has to keep working without even a break. What a miserable life!
Zhang Min stood sideways, watching his wife go away with his eyes behind the mask.
He didn't know if it was an illusion created by a rush, but he always felt that the two hairbands on the back of his wife's head should have fluttered in the wind, unrestrained and free.
But now they are a little dull.
The boss wanted to say something to Ye Jindian, but was left behind by the supervisor to pack up the crossbow and take the things back to the house and put them away.
When she returned, she was carrying a large cloth bag and was about to leave.
The situation was too urgent to ask about the blacksmithing, but he couldn't help but remind him, "You...be careful of the Right Prime Minister. He seems to have ulterior motives."
After saying this, he remembered that the Right Prime Minister had always been domineering and overbearing. What was the point of reminding him? It would probably only increase the young lady's anxiety.
Thinking of his recent cold and arrogant attitude towards her, and the other party's unconcealed behavior when hammering iron today, the boss turned his head away in embarrassment.
Ye Jindian was stunned for a moment, then smiled and said, "Thank you for the reminder. I will be careful."
She picked up the big cloth bag again and walked out the door.
Zhang Min waited quietly in front of the door with his hands behind his back. Luo Ying and a group of Ming guards stood in line on both sides, their hands always on the hilts of their swords.
Hearing the "clang clang" sound, he turned around and subconsciously reached out to help carry the cloth bag, but remembering his current identity, he had to lower his head and straighten his loose clothes.
Ye Jindian stopped about ten feet away from him and said, "Right Prime Minister, I'm fine now."
Zhang Min: “…”
Is he a plague? Why should my wife stay so far away from him?
"Now that we're done, let's get going." He took a few steps before pretending to be impatient and saying, "These things are too noisy. Luoying, find someone to carry these things back to the Prime Minister's Mansion first."
Luoying: "...Yes."
Go ahead and pretend.
He gestured to the Mingwei at the end, trotted a few steps, and reached out to take the cloth bag from Ye Jindian's hand with a smile: "Sister-in-law, just give me the things."
Ye Jindian couldn't figure out the Right Prime Minister's temperament, and didn't want to offend him, so she let go and handed the thing over: "Thank you for your help."
"It's not a bother, it's not a bother." Luo Ying said this sincerely, "The buns made by my sister-in-law are the best we have ever eaten."
Think about the dry biscuits mixed with sand and grass debris during the march, think about their prime minister's amazing cooking skills, what's the difference between the sister-in-law feeding them every now and then and the Bodhisattva who saves people from suffering!
Ye Jindian felt a little ashamed.
Those were all "bribes" from her, asking these people to take better care of her husband. Moreover, there was not much meat at home, so the gifts were all vegetarian buns. The best were wild delicacy buns stuffed with mushrooms and tofu, and she could only give one to each person to taste.
The two of them were talking and laughing, and Zhang Min couldn't help but raise his voice, "Luoying, what are you dithering for?"
Luoying quickly straightened her expression and said goodbye while carrying the cloth bag.
Ye Jindianzhu followed at the end of the Mingwei, at least three meters away from Zhang Min.
Zhang Min: “…”
He was so angry that he almost forgot that he was "seriously injured" and had to act tough and fast.
Being away from the Right Prime Minister, Ye Jindian felt less reserved and spoke to the young man carrying the cloth bag, "Your Right Prime Minister, are you feeling unwell?"
"Hush." Ming Wei looked nervous, looking around and said solemnly, "This matter cannot be discussed casually."
Ye Jindian nodded doubtfully.
Isn't it common knowledge that the Right Prime Minister was injured? Why are you suddenly concerned about it?
They talked in silence all the way to the side hall of the prime minister's residence. Ming Wei put the things on a stool and motioned for her to sit down first.
After a while, he came over with a large bowl. "I heard that my sister-in-law is from the south and is used to eating rice. But most of us in the Xiangfu are from the north, and the kitchen in the mansion mostly serves noodles. You have to make do with this."
Ye Jindian didn't expect that the prime minister's residence would provide meals. Her impression of the right prime minister immediately changed a bit, and she felt that he still had some humanity.
"Thank you very much."
She took it with both hands and saw that there was a big chicken leg on the surface, as well as some finely chopped臊子, green shepherd's purse and lettuce, and white and smooth tofu.
The noodles were buried at the bottom and could not be seen at all.
After everyone left, she couldn't wait to take a big bite of the tender and chewy noodles covered with sauce. After chewing a few times, the noodles slid down her stomach, instantly relieving her fatigue and hunger.
Zhang Min watched from the dark: "Look at how hungry my wife is. Only three or two noodles, isn't that too little?"
In someone else's house, his wife would definitely feel embarrassed to add another bowl, with just three or two servings. Don't let his wife go hungry.
Luo Ying: “…”
It seems that the Prime Minister can't see the abundant meat and vegetables.
Zhang Min asked Ming Wei to ask the kitchen to stew chicken soup and send it to his wife later.
Luo Ying quickly stopped him: "Hey, Master Xiang, what are you doing? You'll scare my sister-in-law."
To their sisters-in-law, the Prime Minister is not their husband, but a powerful official who is rumored to be able to control the wind and clouds, exhale yang and breathe out yin, and make clouds with a flip of his hand and rain with a flip of his hand.
To put it bluntly, the Prime Minister's frequent attempts to please his wife are no different from trying to steal someone's girlfriend or seduce a married woman in her sister-in-law's eyes.
Zhang Min naturally knew this truth, but this matter was really unbearable.
"Prime Minister, please be patient." Luo Ying had never imagined that she would have to advise the Prime Minister one day. "I've scared my sister-in-law a little today. If I want her to fall deeply in love with you, rather than just being obsessed with the appearance of a 'weak scholar,' wouldn't it be safer to take it slow and gradually peel off your true face layer by layer?"
He said this while making skinning motions.
Zhang Min squinted at him and said, "...that's not how you use your true identity. You should read more books."
"It's not important, Lord Prime Minister, you understand what I mean—"
Zhang Min raised his hand to push away the face that was leaning in front of him, and clapped his fingers: "Ask the kitchen to make two pots of chicken soup. Everyone can have a share. It will be deducted from my salary."
Luo Ying immediately changed his tone and said solemnly, "Prime Minister, this is a brilliant plan."
Zhang Min glanced at him unhappily, took two pancakes from the kitchen, and went back to the study to deal with the pile of paperwork.
Besides some selfish motives, I also had a public interest in asking my wife to come and repair the weapons.
The Shi family army will be able to arrive outside the capital at the beginning of next month. Before that, they must also take inventory of the weapons they use and pick up the damaged ones for repair.
All Ye Jindian needed to do was to inspect the weapons in the courtyard, find out the problems, and have the soldiers sharpen the ones that needed sharpening and replace the parts that needed replacing.
Only when the palace guards really couldn't handle it would she do it herself and readjust it with the tools she brought with her.
The bow was the most damaged.
Many bowstrings had to be replaced, which was a bit laborious, but she could touch many bows of fine craftsmanship, which she enjoyed to her heart's content.
Ye Jindian was enjoying herself so much that she almost forgot what day it was.
This good mood lasted until I returned home and sat with my beautiful husband to admire the stars and the moon, and it had not yet dissipated.
Zhang Min saw the corners of her lips curled up, and he smiled unconsciously: "My lady seems to be particularly cheerful today, I wonder what happy things have happened to you?"
"Today I found many mulberry wood bows. They were jet black, and even the horns were particularly thick. You could tell at a glance that they were from the horns of old cows slaughtered in the fall. They were bluish-white and plump, yet the bases were soft and curved..."
When Ye Jindian said these words, her eyes sparkled like stars and her eyebrows were dotted with light.
After talking for a long time, she finally realized that her husband might not be familiar with these things, so she stopped talking a little.
Zhang Min withdrew his gaze from the starry sky and stopped secretly glancing at her from the corner of his eye: "Madam, why are you not talking?"
"What I'm talking about is too boring for you." Ye Jindian shook her head slightly, "Let's talk about something else."
Zhang Minyi shook his head slightly, poured her a glass of warm water, and handed it to her: "Moisten your throat. Every word you say is very interesting, and it's something new to me."
He reached out and gently pinched the strands of hair that had fallen from her face and into the cup, looking into her eyes. "I want to hear everything about your sorrows and joys, your loves and worries, as long as you're willing to tell me."
Even if what she wanted to talk about was just a drop of rain dripping into a water tank under the eaves in summer.
Ye Jindian's eyelashes twitched slightly, and for some reason her heart suddenly trembled, as if being timidly touched by a soft fingertip and then retracted.
She was inexplicably nervous, and unconsciously pinched the loose hem of her skirt around her knees, twisting it into wrinkles, and stared at him blankly.
Moonlight leaks from under the eaves, sprinkling on half of the beautiful husband's shoulder.
The frosty white moonlight and the warm yellow candlelight intertwined, and his eyes flashed with a piece of fine light and shadow.
He pursed his lips slightly, his jaw tensed, and seemed even more nervous than she was.
Obviously——
How could it be more tense than just sitting and talking, than touching each other's tongues while kissing?
"My wife..." A gust of wind blew through the courtyard, rippling the green waves beneath the peach and apricot trees. Zhang Min half-closed his eyes, hiding his disappointment, and said with a gentle smile, "...If you still don't want to say it, then-"
Apricot leaves fell into the jar, splashing green waves.
Ye Jindian hooked her fingers around his: "Then, let's start from when I was a child?"
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