Chapter 199 Fame (Second Update)
It turned out that the imperial court had found out about the young girl and confirmed that her surname was Gu, not Lu. By chance, they also learned that she was the daughter of a marquis.
As for which noble family it was, that's unclear.
But how many noble families in the world are surnamed Gu? And how come they happened to appear in that county town between March and June of last year?
Even a fool could guess that it was Gu Jinyu.
Consort Shu tapped her forehead gently: "You silly child! This is a good thing, not a bad thing, why didn't you say so? If you had said so earlier, your father wouldn't have made such a big blunder! Letting the Ministry of War ride roughshod over him!"
Gu Jinyu opened her mouth.
Consort Shu smiled and said, "When you were little, you liked to doodle on paper, and the Fifth Prince would draw along with you. At that time, I thought you were all thinking about useless things, but now it seems that I was wrong about you."
Granny Qi, who was standing nearby, smiled and said, "Your Highness, do you still remember when the County Princess asked someone to improve the food box when she was a child?"
Consort Shu rubbed her temples, then smiled with sudden realization: "Ah, I almost forgot! Right! Is that food box still there?"
Granny Qi smiled and said, "Yes! This servant will accept them all!"
Consort Shu ordered, "Bring it here quickly!"
Granny Qi went to the storeroom and took out an old food box that Gu Jinyu had tidied up when she was a child.
The food boxes in the palace were layered, like a portable steamer. Gu Jinyu found these food boxes inconvenient, saying that to get something from the bottom layer, you had to lift up the top layer as well, and it would be better if each layer could be separated.
She disassembled Consort Shu's pastry box, made a frame to hold it in place, and created a food box with several small drawers that could be pulled open from the side.
The eight-year-old child wasn't very skillful with her hands; she just talked about it, and the eunuchs did the work according to her ideas.
He even received a few words of praise from His Majesty at the time.
Such food boxes also existed among ordinary people at the time, but because they were not good at keeping food warm, they were generally only used to hold snacks.
Gu Jinyu had never seen it; she had come up with it herself. His Majesty found it remarkable that an eight-year-old girl could be so intelligent.
It was from that time that Consort Shu discovered Gu Jinyu's talent and frequently summoned Gu Jinyu to the palace to accompany the Fifth Prince in his studies.
Consort Shu whispered, "Tell your aunt the truth, were you doing this on purpose?"
"Huh?" Gu Jinyu stared at her blankly.
Consort Shu smiled with delight: "Indeed, this approach is much more effective than revealing your identity from the beginning. You have successfully caused a sensation in the court and caught His Majesty's attention. The more indifferent you are to fame and fortune, the more His Majesty will appreciate you."
Gu Jinyu hesitated, as if she wanted to say something but then stopped herself.
Where did she make any bellows?
She had never even heard of it.
"Your Majesty, the things you requested have been brought. Where should I put them?" A young eunuch approached carrying a piston bellows.
Gu Jinyu looked at Consort Shu with a puzzled expression.
Consort Shu said to Gu Jinyu, "Come, tell your aunt how to use this thing! If His Majesty and I start chatting later, I'll have something in common to talk about!"
This bellows was brought from the Ministry of War; there are many bellows like this nowadays.
Gu Jinyu had never seen it before, but she was indeed very clever. She had someone bring her tools, and she personally disassembled the bellows and put it back together exactly as it was. Then she understood the principle of this blowing technology.
The bellows has three layers. The first layer is where the lever is located, with an air vent at each end and a movable valve on the air vent.
When the lever is pushed, valve number one at the rear opens, and air flows in from here. Valve number two closes automatically, and air is forced from the vent under valve number two into the second small air box on the second layer.
Below the small bellows is an air outlet, which is connected to the boiler.
When the lever is pulled back forcefully, the second valve at the front end is opened, and air flows in through the second valve. The first valve is closed, and air flows into the first small bellows on the second layer through the air vent below the first valve.
The No. 1 small bellows also has an air outlet, which is also connected to the boiler.
The two small bellows are independent and do not affect each other. The only thing they have in common is that they are both connected to the boiler and can deliver air to the boiler.
This double-acting piston bellows produces airflow whether pushed or pulled, without wasting any energy or effort.
This design is so ingenious that Gu Jinyu was amazed!
Compared to it, my food box was nothing, no, my food box wasn't even that small.
But, did His Majesty and the people from the Ministry of War make a mistake?
She didn't do it.
"How did you come up with this idea?" Consort Shu asked.
Gu Jinyu thought Consort Shu was referring to the bellows and was about to confess when Consort Shu interrupted her: "You don't reveal who you are, you just leave behind a blueprint, leaving clues for others afterward. Your surname is Gu, and you have a connection with the Marquis of Ding'an's mansion. It doesn't feel deliberate at all! You truly are someone I trained!"
The priorities of imperial concubines are always quite different from those of ordinary people.
Gu Jinyu was puzzled. Had something gone wrong? There were only two girls in the Ding'an Marquis's mansion, one of whom was her, but she had never drawn any blueprints.
It can't be that wild girl who grew up in the countryside.
She can't read a single word!
How could she possibly have made such an ingenious tool?
Just as Gu Jinyu was puzzled, Consort Shu suddenly patted her hand: "The osmanthus flowers in the Imperial Garden are in bloom. Come on, let's pick some and have the Imperial Kitchen make osmanthus cakes for your father as well."
Gu Jinyu sighed and was pulled by Consort Shu to the Imperial Garden.
The flowers in the Imperial Garden were in full bloom, a riot of colors, each vying for attention.
Coincidentally, they weren't the only ones here to admire the flowers; Consort Zhuang was also there.
Consort Zhuang was a few years older than Consort Shu and not as beautiful as Consort Shu, but she was dignified and elegant, possessing a beauty that could rival that of a queen.
"Noble Consort, what a coincidence!" Consort Shu greeted her with a smile, curtsying slightly.
Consort Zhuang returned her half-bow.
Both were first-rank imperial consorts, but the Noble Consort was the head of the four consorts, so her status was naturally above that of the Virtuous Consort.
Gu Jinyu also bowed to Consort Zhuang: "Greetings, Your Highness."
Consort Zhuang smiled gracefully: "So it is Princess Hui. Princess Hui, there is no need for such formalities."
"Thank you, Your Highness." Gu Jinyu rose.
Gu Jinyu frequently visited the palace and had met Consort Zhuang several times before, but for some reason, she felt that Consort Zhuang was exceptionally gentle this time.
Consort Zhuang's gentle gaze fell on Gu Jinyu's face: "Princess Hui has come of age, but you haven't been betrothed yet, have you?"
"aunt!"
Zhuang Yuexi came over carrying a basket of freshly picked flowers.
She saw Consort Shu and Gu Jinyu, and bowed in greeting.
Gu Jinyu was indeed a county princess, but she dared not accept Zhuang Yuexi's greeting in front of Consort Zhuang. She gave a slight curtsy in return.
"What were you talking about just now, Auntie?" Zhuang Yuexi asked.
Consort Zhuang smiled and said, "We were talking about Princess Hui's marriage. You are a year older than Princess Hui, and you haven't even started a marriage proposal yet."
In the Zhao Kingdom, girls reached the age of fifteen when they came of age to marry, and only then did they consider marriage. Wealthy families were generally not in a hurry, and it was not uncommon for them to marry at the age of eighteen or nineteen.
As for men, they usually meet and get married after they reach adulthood at the age of twenty.
Why Consort Zhuang suddenly asked about Gu Jinyu's marriage is quite intriguing.
Consort Shu smiled and said, "Not yet."
Consort Zhuang said, "I heard that she has an older sister who is already married."
Gu Jinyu's smile froze.
Consort Shu remained calm: "My sister grew up in the countryside and married young."
Since the Imperial Concubine already knows, there's no point in hiding it anymore; she might as well just tell everyone openly.
Consort Zhuang smiled and sighed, "Consort Shu should be careful. Such a good niece, I wonder which scoundrel will get the better of her."
Consort Shu was amused by Consort Zhuang, and the two teased Gu Jinyu for a while before returning to their respective palaces.
The conversation between Consort Zhuang and Consort Shu revolved entirely around Gu Jinyu, while Zhuang Yuexi seemed to be neglected. This was the first time Gu Jinyu had taken center stage in front of the favored concubines.
On the way back to Changchun Palace, Consort Shu adjusted the hair ornament in her hair and said with a hint of smugness, "It seems that Consort Zhuang also knows about your invention of the bellows. Her information travels fast! I overheard it by chance when I was delivering some refreshments to His Majesty, but I don't know how she found out. Humph, it must be someone close to His Majesty who spoke to her!"
Gu Jinyu suddenly realized that this was the reason why Consort Zhuang's attitude towards her was so unusual.
Is a bellows really that powerful?
Gu Jinyu suddenly lacked the courage to confess to Consort Shu: "Why did Your Highness suddenly ask about my marriage?"
Could it be that they want to match her up with Prince An?
Consort Shu said casually, "She probably wants to win you over. The Crown Prince is even more powerful after getting Wen Linlang. She probably wants to follow Empress Xiao's example and find a virtuous wife for her son."
But Prince Ning already has a principal wife, so if I marry him, wouldn't I only be able to become a concubine?
Princess Ning is no pushover; it's rare for her concubines to survive.
Moreover, Gu Jinyu did not have feelings for Prince Ning; she preferred Prince An.
Gu Jinyu pulled on Consort Shu's arm and pleaded, "Aunt, I don't want to marry Prince Ning."
Consort Shu waved her hand: "It may not necessarily be Prince Ning."
Gu Jinyu said, "She only has one son."
Consort Shu said, "Isn't there a nephew?"
Gu Jinyu's eyes lit up: "Auntie, you mean...Prince An?"
(End of this chapter)
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