Chapter 411 Water Department Director
The Su family received imperial edicts for two consecutive days.
Su Hanhai, the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works, was beaming with pride.
Su Yue'e went to the palace to explain the shipbuilding plans, which pleased the emperor and empress.
Surprisingly, Su Yue'e was promoted to the position of Director of the Water Department, specifically in charge of shipbuilding.
This marks the first female official to appear in the court, aside from the Chidori Division which is directly under His Majesty's command.
Despite mixed reviews, Su Yue'e's name became famous throughout the capital for a time.
In the front hall of the Prince of Zhenbei's mansion, Su Yue'e sat somewhat nervously.
This was the first time she had met Qin Jinzhi alone.
Hearing a noise in the courtyard, Su Yue'e quickly got up.
Then Qin Jinzhi, dressed in a purple dress with gold iris trim, walked in.
Su Yue'e quickly bowed, "This commoner, Su Yue'e, greets Your Highness."
Qin Jinzhi walked to the main seat and said, "Now that you hold an official position, you should refer to yourself as 'your subordinate.'"
Although Su Yue'e was nervous, she still smiled because of Qin Jinzhi's words.
"Your humble servant, Su Yue'e, greets Your Highness."
Qin Jinzhi nodded. "Please sit down. What brings you here with this visiting card?"
Su Yue'e's expression was respectful. "Yue'e has come to express her gratitude to the princess."
Qin Jinzhi took a sip of tea. "You drew the shipbuilding plans, and the skill is your own. There's no need for me to thank you."
Su Yue'e shook her head. "If it weren't for the princess's appreciation, even if this blueprint had reached His Majesty and the Empress, it wouldn't have been signed with my name, Su Yue'e. Yue'e wouldn't have gained an official position because of this shipbuilding blueprint. Yue'e will remember this kindness in her heart."
Qin Jinzhi smiled and said, "I thought you would hold a grudge against me for not letting you join the Thousand Birds Bureau."
Su Yue'e quickly said, "Your Highness is wise and resourceful, and I admire you greatly. Your Highness has your reasons for not allowing me to join the Thousand Birds Bureau. Now that I think about it, it turns out that Your Highness had already thought of this day back then."
Qin Jinzhi looked at her and said, “The Thousand Birds Bureau is directly under His Majesty and is mainly used in the capital to supervise officials. If you join the Thousand Birds Bureau, your talents will be useless. Although the river bandits are not as rampant as they were during the war, they are still a major threat to the Jin Kingdom. Since you have such talents, you should go to a bigger place to use them.”
Su Yue'e said respectfully again, "This humble official thanks Your Highness for your good intentions. Besides this matter, there is another matter for which I would like to thank Your Highness."
She stood up and came to Qin Jinzhi, giving a very proper bow.
"Thank you, Princess, for saving Yue'e from this hell. If Yue'e had really married the Twelfth Prince, her life would have been ruined."
Qin Jinzhi took a sip of tea. "Back then, I just wanted to cause Xiao Ce some trouble. You should thank yourself."
Who would have thought that the woman betrothed to the twelfth prince was Su Yue'e, the daughter of the Vice Minister of Works?
Not everyone dares to make a big deal out of the fact that the prince is gay.
Qin Jinzhi sent Xue Huaiyi to lead Su Yue'e to witness Xiao Ce's affair, and Su Yue'e immediately found a way out for herself.
Not only did they manage to cancel the wedding unscathed, but they also secured the greatest possible benefit for themselves.
When Xiao Ce's jade pendant was returned, Qin Jinzhi thought it was Su Yue'e's provocation.
Not long after, Su Yue'e arrived at the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion through Li Leyao's introduction.
After the chrysanthemum appreciation banquet, Li Leyao and Su Yue'e unexpectedly became friends.
Upon learning of the news that Chidori-sai was recruiting talented individuals, Su Yue'e finally had an idea.
Returning the jade pendant was meant to let Qin Jinzhi know about her abilities.
However, to her surprise, although Qin Jinzhi praised the drawings she made, she refused her request to join Chidori-tsuba.
All that's left is the comment, "The timing was wrong."
Su Yue'e wanted to ask for clarification, but Li Leyao stopped her.
She still remembered Li Leyao saying meaningfully at the time, "The princess's thoughts are beyond our understanding, and she will not change her mind once she has made a decision. However, if you trust me, wait for the time the princess speaks, and she will give you the way you want."
Su Yue'e thought about what Qin Jinzhi had done in the capital. Given her status, she didn't need to say anything to her.
So when her father started associating with Cui Ying, the deputy envoy of the Thousand Birds Bureau and now the head of the Cui family, she had a premonition.
The time the princess spoke of may be approaching.
Qin Jinzhi looked at Su Yue'e and said, "Your talent is unparalleled. I hope that after you take office, you can bring benefits to the Jin Kingdom and its people. I am waiting for the soldiers of the Jin Kingdom to ride the ships you build and wipe out all the river bandits."
Su Yue'e was almost moved to tears.
From a young age, she was influenced by her father and developed a great interest in shipbuilding.
But the young ladies in the capital were not interested in this.
She had no one to share her story with, and no one to confide in.
She never imagined that one day she would gain an official position because of her persistence since childhood.
She never expected that someone would have such high expectations of her.
Su Yue'e said with a choked voice, "This humble official will certainly keep the princess's teachings in mind."
She walked out of the Zhenbei Prince's Mansion with great pride and confidence.
The carriage at the Su residence was rather strange.
She kept making soft whimpering sounds along the way.
Qin Jinzhi was fiddling with the Luban lock that Su Yue'e had made herself in the courtyard.
Qin Jinzhi quite liked this thank-you gift.
Just then, two figures ran into the courtyard.
They cheered and shouted, "Boss!"
Qin Jinzhi looked up at the doorway.
Ah Chun and Ah He ran up to Qin Jinzhi with smiles on their faces.
Their hair had grown a bit longer.
Qin Jinzhi patted their heads; they were fluffy and a little prickly.
Ah Chun asked with a smile, "Boss, did you call us here for a new mission?"
Qin Jinzhi said with a smile, "You've all been cooped up these past few days. From today onwards, you will protect one person. If anyone lays a hand on her, regardless of life or death, you must ensure her safety."
Ah Chun and Ah He's eyes lit up when they heard that life and death didn't matter.
The two gestured a few times in the air, saying, "Let them come at us."
That night, Su Yue'e screamed in terror as she saw the dagger only three inches from her forehead.
Ah Chun and Ah He were locked in combat with the assassins.
The two only killed without pursuing.
When the Su family heard the noise and came to Su Yue'e's courtyard, they found a pile of corpses.
The two men stepped forward and said to Su Yue'e, "Lord Su, we are here on the princess's orders to protect you. Rest assured, as long as we are here, we will never let you get hurt."
Su Yue'e was deathly pale and unable to speak.
Mrs. Su quickly stepped forward and hugged her daughter.
After looking at Su Yue'e, Su Hanhai walked up to A Chun and A He and said, "Thank you both for saving my life."
Madam Su cried and said, "Yue'e, we're not going to take this official position anymore!"
Even Madam Su, who was in the inner quarters, knew that all the trouble stemmed from the blueprint drawn by Su Yue'e.
Otherwise, how could a lady from a prominent family have hired so many assassins to kill her?
If it weren't for the princess's concern for Su Yue'e's safety...
What they saw now was Su Yue'e's corpse.
It took Su Yue'e a long time to find her voice again.
"No, I must become a physician in the Ministry of Water Resources!"
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