Chapter 106 Staying Overnight at the Construction Site
"Take your fox-like eyes off the young master." Mu Xun simply blocked Yan Shu's view with his body.
Not wanting to create an awkward atmosphere, Mu Xi half-jokingly said, "Since Brother Yan thinks I look like a girl, I'll just take it as a compliment."
"Praise, praise, of course it's praise! If Your Highness were a woman, I wouldn't be able to get enough of looking at you." Yan Shu craned her neck, trying to get past Mu Xun, but ultimately failed and rolled her eyes at him. "Your Highness isn't angry, so why are you?"
"You..." Mu Xun was so angry he couldn't speak.
Just then, the sound of galloping hooves came from outside the work shed.
Jiang Meng didn't even dismount before calling out loudly from outside: "Is the Second Young Master here? Something urgent has happened at the Military Equipment Department."
Mu Xun rushed to the door, pushing Yan Shu out as well, and asked urgently, "What happened?"
Jiang Meng jumped off his horse and hurriedly reported: "General Li Yi sent an urgent letter saying that a batch of weapons that the Armed Forces Department sent to the western border was hijacked en route."
"What kind of weapon is it? Who stole it?" Mu Xun's face remained calm.
Jiang Meng replied, "They were spears and bows and arrows. It is reported that they were taken by pirates who looted the southern border."
Mu Xun remained skeptical: "How could the weapons of my western border be stolen and taken to the southern border? Besides, since the weapons are transported via inland waterways, how could they be stolen by sea pirates?"
Yan Shu, who had also worked at the Military Equipment Department, chimed in: "Could it be that the river pirates and sea raiders are colluding with each other?"
After thinking for a moment, Mu Xun speculated: "If the information is correct, then the convoy transporting the weapons probably took the river route at the southwestern border, where river bandits and sea pirates often appear."
Jiang Mengze said, "I don't know much, but His Majesty has urgently summoned the Second Prince to the palace for questioning."
In recent years, Jin Fangjun Muzhen has been recuperating in Moyang City due to health reasons, and the responsibility of guarding the western border should have fallen on the Jin Fang heir.
However, for reasons unknown to Zhou Suozhou, Mu Xi was also unable to go to the Western Territory, so Mu Zhen's former deputy generals Li Yi and Mu Xun continued to handle the daily affairs in the Western Territory.
Therefore, when nothing goes wrong, the Western Border naturally belongs to King Jin Fang and Crown Prince Jin Fang; but when something does go wrong, the actual commander of the troops must be questioned directly.
"You want me to go to the palace?" Mu Xun glanced at Mu Xi with concern, then looked at the Qifeng Terrace, which was still under construction.
Yan Shu patted Mu Xun on the shoulder: "You don't need to worry about things here. As for the weapons being stolen... that's not your fault. It was the responsibility of the escort."
Mu Xun's expression grew even more grave: "The theft of weapons is already a sensitive issue, especially since the lost territory is in the west, and the stolen weapons have gone to the south. It's hard for Your Majesty not to overthink this."
Mu Xi, who was listening from behind, couldn't tell what Mu Xun was worried about, but since the king had summoned him, there was no way to avoid it: "Don't worry, I'll stay here and keep an eye on things. As for the king, just answer him as you see fit. It's no big deal."
Mu Xun glanced at the sky again, still worried: "I'm not afraid of going to the palace, but if we go now, we might not be able to get back in time. The young master can't stay here; he should come back to the city with me."
"I'm not going back. I can't help with the military affairs anymore, but I can still keep watch here for one night." Mu Xi insisted, glancing at Yan Shu again, "Besides, Lord Yan is here, what do you have to worry about?"
Yan Shu immediately patted her chest and assured him, "Yes, Chengfeng, with me here, I guarantee I'll take good care of the young master."
As they were talking, the already gloomy sky picked up a gust of wind.
Mu Xun hesitated repeatedly, but Jiang Meng had already ordered someone to bring over the horse.
“It’s going to rain soon, you need to get back, so hurry up.” Mu Xi urged him back, “If you want me to go back, I can’t ride a horse, I can only take a carriage, wouldn’t that waste time?”
“This…” Mu Xun still hesitated.
Yan Shu gave her a push: "I've never seen you so hesitant. Is it because you can't bear to part with me or your brother?"
Jiang Meng was also anxiously saying, "Second Young Master, the King has summoned us urgently, we cannot delay!"
Mu Xun looked at Mu Xi.
"Don't try to persuade me. I've brought everything, and I'm definitely not going back to the manor today." Mu Xi's trip wasn't for nothing; she still had many things to do, but she couldn't tell Mu Xun the truth.
Mu Xun gritted his teeth and looked at Yan Shu again: "You must take good care of the young master and send more people to protect his safety."
Yan Shu readily nodded: "Don't worry, with me, Yan Sheyu, here, I'll make sure your elder brother, the Crown Prince, doesn't suffer a single hair."
Mu Xun hesitated for a moment, then summoned most of his entourage to stay behind. Only then did he turn back every few steps, taking Jiang Meng and the other two with him, and ride back to Moyang City to see the Emperor.
Mu Xi watched Mu Xun leave, then turned back to gaze at the construction site of Qifengtai.
The chants of workers ramming the earth rose and fell on the south bank of the Bin River, with the backdrop of the mountains shaped like a tortoise shell where the Cui River and the Bin River meet.
Hundreds of shirtless convicts were dragging stone rollers back and forth, compacting the newly laid yellow earth. The tattoos on their backs gleamed dark blue under the thick clouds. The ruts left deep furrows in the scorched earth, which were then quickly filled in by slaves wielding pestles. A rammed earth platform, about twenty feet square, was beginning to take shape on the foundation of the former Zhilan Platform.
In the blink of an eye, a light drizzle began to fall.
The moisture from the Bin River, carrying the earthy smell, wafted up, and Yan Shu quickly protected Mu Xi as they returned to the work shed.
Mu Xi stood under the eaves and gazed for a while longer.
The rain was light, and there was no indication that construction workers would stop working to avoid the rain.
Water droplets condensed on the iron helmets of the overseers, the backs of the slaves and craftsmen began to shine from the rain, and their steps as they dragged the stone rollers through the mud became even more difficult.
"These craftsmen are working for the people and for my Jin Fangjun Mansion. As long as the project is completed smoothly and on schedule, I will not treat them unfairly. You must also ensure their safety and food and clothing, that they are well-fed and clothed, and that they have medicine when they are sick." Mu Xi instructed Yan Shu, not knowing what else to say for a moment. "If there are any deaths or injuries, they can receive subsidies. If the money is not enough, just tell me, and I will pay their pensions."
Yan Shu and Mu Xi stood side by side under the eaves: "Alas, Your Highness, you are really short of money. I originally thought that since the Sikong Mansion is so stingy, I would just make do with what they have. The framework of Zhilan Terrace could still be used, but who would have thought that a fire would leave only the foundation. The best timber was also stolen and moved by that old bastard Tao Jin long ago, so there is nothing left to use."
"What about the newly arrived timber? Was it also burned?" Mu Xi's understanding of the situation was very limited when she was in the mansion.
Yan Shu curled her lip: "That's right, the newly arrived timber was burned to ashes, and we have to order more. Not only that, in order to catch up on the delayed construction schedule, I just found another hundred novice craftsmen yesterday. Let alone how much work these people can do, their appetites are also limited, and in the end, we still have to pay their wages. These are all expenses."
"Lord Yan, just supervise the progress and make sure the quality and quantity are guaranteed. Leave the money to me." Mu Xi had already made up her mind as she spoke.
Yan Shu had no doubt about the weight of Jin Fang's words: "Don't worry, Your Highness, as long as the money is in place, the project will be completed on time."
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