He stopped staying in the study and the military camp, and even planned to go to the city with Su Wanyan on the Mid-Autumn Festival.
Su Wanyan, who had become obsessed with making weapons during this time, declined Yu Nanqing's invitation.
On the fifteenth of August, the Prince's Mansion made mooncakes, and all the servants and maids in the mansion received Mid-Autumn Festival benefits.
In the main courtyard, in a side room, Su Wanyan was drawing a blueprint for a weapon. She had already revised the blueprint several times, and today she was adding the final details, which would complete the last step of the drawing.
On the other hand, she had already asked Qiuye to find a craftsman in the city. They would discuss in detail what functions needed to be added or what couldn't be done once the craftsman arrived.
"Yan'er, are you really not going?" Yu Nanqing asked, watching her look at the blueprints again and again and write more and more. He tempted her, "There is a lantern festival in the city today, and a moon-worship ceremony is also being held. The report that the prefect sent just now said that this year's float parade is particularly grand. Yan'er doesn't want to go and see it."
Su Wanyan didn't even look up, and said with a smile, "Look at what you're saying, I think it's you who wants to go more."
"It's rare to have some free time..."
Su Wanyan held the charcoal pencil in her small hand and finished writing the last line of small characters before looking up: "Don't lie to me. A few days ago, General Lü frequently sent messages, and every time you saw them, your brows would involuntarily furrow. It seemed like the calm before the storm."
"..." Yu Nanqing pursed his lips, and without arguing, changed the subject: "Then what does Yan'er want to do? I'll accompany Yan'er."
"You can see it, can't you?" Su Wanyan continued to write and draw with her head down.
Yu Nanqing had seen her drawing a few days ago. It was because Su Wanyan had become fascinated with making this weapon that he wanted to take her out for a walk.
"What kind of weapon does Yan'er want? Just tell me. What kind of weapon doesn't the army have?"
"You know perfectly well what I'm talking about. Which of those swords, spears, or clubs could I possibly lift? Stop being so glib."
Speaking of which, Su Wanyan raised her eyes again: "Do you have some kind of plan? Why do you insist that I leave the manor? You're not usually this talkative."
"..." Yu Nanqing fell silent for a moment.
Su Wanyan didn't mind: "It's a pity, I don't need ink either, otherwise I could ask you for help."
"Yan'er's charcoal writing is beautiful." It's fine cursive writing, not the handwriting of a master, but it's very light and powerful, with smooth strokes, and each character is clear in form and spirit.
"This is an imitation. I saw a book of folk calligraphy and thought the characters were beautiful and suitable for charcoal, so I copied it." Of course, it's not a complete imitation; I added some of my own habits to it, but Su Wanyan likes it very much.
Yu Nanqing suddenly realized: "No wonder, her handwriting is different from Yan'er's usual handwriting."
He sat down next to Su Wanyan, resting his chin on his hand. His gaze, which had been on the drawing paper, drifted to Su Wanyan's face.
She thought back to a long time ago when Su Wanyan was always exceptionally focused when doing things, so focused that she was oblivious to her surroundings. But now, Su Wanyan could still spare the time to chat with him.
This made Yu Nanqing feel that her position in Su Wanyan's heart had become even more important. With this thought, her urgency and anticipation of going to the city for sightseeing suddenly seemed less important.
The side room fell silent, except for the sound of Su Wanyan writing on paper.
In the afternoon, craftsmen from the city came to the Prince's Mansion to discuss the forging of weapons with Su Wanyan.
When the craftsman took the blueprints, a look of amazement flashed in his eyes. Su Wanyan, an amateur, had actually drawn the blueprints in such detail, with all the necessary annotations.
The intricate details left the craftsman speechless. All the procedures were correct and feasible, but what he needed to consider were the materials and the workmanship.
Although it was called a discussion of details, we were actually listening to Su Wanyan talk the whole time. Su Wanyan had written down everything she could think of, including marking questions about some of the more difficult parts.
He just needs to start solving these problems.
Because of the need for efficiency, the craftsman did not stay in the mansion for long. Before leaving, he couldn't help but ask, "May I ask, Your Highness, have you studied any crafts?"
Su Wanyan was taken aback: "I haven't learned it."
She asked curiously, "What's wrong? Is there something amiss?"
The craftsman wiped the sweat from his brow: "No, no, it was just me being nosy."
It was precisely because there was nothing wrong with it that he was shocked. After all, it had taken him several years just to get started with this craft, and it had taken him another ten to several decades to reach his current level of expertise.
Now that I'm old, I'm finally being addressed as "Master".
Su Wanyan could draw such detailed blueprints without any formal training. If she were to learn, becoming a skilled artist would be a piece of cake.
He naturally dared not say these words aloud, for the person in front of him was Princess Gong, and he did not know whether to praise her for having the talent of a craftswoman.
Su Wanyan asked Qiuye to see the craftsman off. Seeing that it was getting close to dusk, she stretched her arms wide and said, "Let's go."
Yu Nanqing paused, then asked, "Where is Yan'er going?"
Didn't you invite me to go to town for a stroll?
Upon hearing this, Yu Nanqing's eyes lit up immediately: "Yan'er agreed to go to the lantern festival?"
"Are you going or not? If not, forget it." Su Wanyan teased deliberately.
"go!"
Tanaka was very perceptive and immediately stepped back from the prepared carriage.
Yu Nanqing and Su Wanyan found a restaurant. After they finished their meal, it was just getting dark. Every household in the city lit candles, and the candles lit up one by one, shining like stars.
The people in the city set out offerings to worship the moon, and children carried lanterns early in the morning, obediently following their parents.
The lantern festival is held frequently, but every time Su Wanyan goes, she feels refreshed and amazed by the variety of lanterns.
When visiting a Mid-Autumn Festival store, you absolutely must first pick out a lantern. There are lanterns shaped like rabbits, clouds, and three-story ships. The lanterns are exquisite. Su Wanyan spent a long time choosing before finally deciding on a sky-blue butterfly lantern.
When the lights are turned on, the whole butterfly seems to glow, its wings fluttering as it flies.
Just after finishing dinner, Su Wanyan was attracted by the street food. Yu Nanqing gave her some money and ordered a pancake. When they passed a sugar painting stall, she bought two strings of sugar paintings.
Yu Nanqing looked at the sugar painting in his hand and smiled: "I remember when Yan'er went out of the manor before, she brought me back a bag of sugar cubes."
Su Wanyan, with a pancake in her mouth, brightened up after hearing this: "Those candies were quite delicious, weren't they? Now that you mention it, I'm starting to miss that taste."
"I'll bring some back for Yan'er when I have the chance."
Su Wanyan waved her hand: "We'll talk about it later."
"Yan'er." Su Wanyan was walking forward when Yu Nanqing's voice called out to her again: "There are people hanging colorful decorations and praying for blessings at the temples in the city. Would you like to go?"
"You specifically mentioned it, how could I not go?" Su Wanyan smiled knowingly, as if she could see right through him.
"Hmm." Yu Nanqing smiled upon hearing this, his voice soft and pleasant: "Please, my lady, act as if you are pleasantly surprised later."
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