Chapter 24

Chen Chuangu was extremely curious. Who could possibly be writing a letter to Qin Yama?

He tried to crane his neck to take a peek, but Qin Ke waved him aside. Yet the handwriting that flashed past on the letter made him blurt out, "It's a letter from Rong Dalang! What did he write?"

Qin Ke's expression had originally been indifferent, but after reading the letter, his brows and eyes brimmed with joy, and his features grew increasingly handsome and vivid.

"What on earth did he write to make you so delighted?" Chen Chuangu was burning with impatience.

Qin Ke suddenly stood up and handed the letter to him, wearing a rare, genial expression. "Such a marvelous method—it should be the blessing of Great Wei! I am going into the palace right now to report this to His Majesty."

His pace was extremely fast. Before Chen Chuangu could recover his wits, his figure had already vanished outside the door.

Chen Chuangu held the letter and examined it closely for a long time before slapping his thigh and laughing aloud. "It truly is utterly marvelous!"

No wonder that fellow Qin had been in such an absolute rush.

Author has something to say:

Little Xi: Thank you for the thunder and nutrient fluids from all the cuties~ (〃'▽'〃) I'll get sweeter and sweeter!

Chapter 24

After entering the palace, Qin Ke was granted an audience with the new emperor and recounted everything regarding Rong Xi.

Upon hearing this, the new emperor first bitterly denounced the Mengshan County magistrate for secretly subverting the art of iron smelting, and then heaped praise upon Rong Xi's abilities.

If Rong Xi had been present, he undoubtedly would have recognized this new emperor as Chen Erlang.

"If the horseshoe is truly wondrous and divine, what worry has our Great Wei of failing to subjugate the northern barbarians?" He stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression and bearing entirely that of a youthful Son of Heaven. "I summon Yang Qianmu into the palace immediately."

Yang Qianmu was the Minister of Works. Upon receiving the sovereign's decree, he quickly prepared himself and entered the palace.

The three men discussed matters for a long time, only resting when the you hour arrived.

Rong Xi had no way of knowing about affairs in Shengjing; he was busy firing new implements.

Seeing that Rong Xi was out all day without knowing what he was busy with, Rong Lian questioned him about it in conversation, only to be fobbed off by Rong Xi.

"Second Brother, study in peace. When you pass the provincial examination next year, you will bring glory to our ancestors' gate and lintel."

Rong Lian let out a secret sigh. His expression was serious and proper, like a teaching scholar. Following a succession of moral principles laid down by him, Rong Xi felt rather a headache coming on.

"Your elder brother is not good at studying. Second Brother, do not try to persuade me further."

Just in time, Liu Zishi came over to report, "Master, the carriage is already prepared. When shall we depart?"

Faced with Rong Lian's "hoping his elder brother would become a dragon" gaze, Rong Xi could only cruelly refuse. "I have an appointment with Brother Hu. You stay quietly at home and study, Second Brother, and I shall return by the shen hour."

With that, he fled in a panic.

Arriving at the kiln in the suburban outskirts, Hu Yulin had already been waiting for half a quarter of an hour. Seeing his carriage pull up, he strode forward to welcome him, saying, "Dalang, shall we fire the kiln today?"

Over the past few days, Rong Xi had taught the kiln workers how to turn coal into coke. Because the temperature reached by coke was much higher than that of coal, and firing Glass required high heat, coke was indispensable.

Furthermore, compared to kilns for firing bricks, stones, and ceramics, the volume of a glass kiln needed to be smaller so as to concentrate the temperature.

After several days of modification and fuel preparation, Hu Yulin had been burning with anxiety.

"Today we can indeed make a trial." Influenced by him, Rong Xi's mood also grew excited.

Glass could not only be used for windows; its uses pervaded every aspect of daily life. If it truly could be fired successfully, life would become much more convenient.

The kiln workers were all skilled artisans. Rong Xi divided the labor, assigning groups to handle each separate process.

After the mixed raw materials entered the furnace, they were melted at high temperatures and then taken to molds for pressing.

Rong Xi only understood the theory, and it was the kiln workers' first time firing, so the finished products were not quite satisfactory. Yet even though they failed to meet standards, Hu Yulin and the crowd of kiln workers gasped in repeated amazement.

Although bubbles and water streaks appeared upon it, anyone with a discerning eye could see that simply by virtue of glass's transparent property, it was bound to sweep the entire realm.

Hu Yulin's heart surged violently, the corners of his eyes staining red. "If the firing succeeds, your wages will double!"

The kiln workers were overjoyed and successively threw themselves back into trying.

Rong Xi and Hu Yulin were wealthy and bold. Though numerous firings resulted only in waste material, neither of them showed the slightest look of distress, keeping their eyes glued strictly to the kiln.

The first day did not yield a successful firing, and the kiln workers all felt ashamed and guilty.

Rong Xi, however, maintained a relaxed expression. Upon returning home, he wrote down all the experience he had gained that day onto paper, so that if the opportunity ever arose, it might serve as reference for later generations.

Autumn departed and winter arrived, the cold wind growing ever more ferocious.

Rong Lian was bent over his desk studying, the lamp wick flickering restlessly. Suddenly, a violent gale arose, desperately drilling in through the window lattice and nearly extinguishing the candle.

The window paper had come loose again.

Rong Lian wore a calm expression, but inwardly he let out a quiet sigh. Compared to Shengjing, the food at the ancestral residence went without saying; every single meal was like partaking of immortal flavors. Moreover, it was tranquil and peaceful, with no one to disturb one—truly an excellent place for studying.

Only this window paper was truly too thin. If the winter cold entered, it would be detrimental to his studies.

Tomorrow he would order Xi Yan to go buy some more paper and paste it up securely.

Early the next morning, Rong Lian arose and finished washing up. Just as he was about to go partake of a meal, he heard a commotion outside the residence.

He strode to the front courtyard and saw carriages and horses halted outside the door, with quite a few artisans carefully unloading goods.

What had Elder Brother bought?

Right at that moment, Rong Xi walked around from the other side of a horse, standing shoulder to shoulder with Hu Yulin, exchanging soft smiles and words.

The glow of dawn was brilliant, and the man was like a green bamboo.

Elder Brother had actually grown somewhat thinner again. The flesh on his cheeks had receded, revealing refined and handsome contours; his brows were shaped like mountain peaks, his eyes were like stars, and his nose and lips were all worthy of being painted.

He bore not the slightest resemblance any longer to the Rong Clan's Eldest Brother of whom others spoke.

"Elder Brother," he could not help calling out.

Rong Xi turned around, his expression leisurely. "Second Brother is up? I was just about to look for you. Today craftsmen are coming to repair the doors and windows, which will surely disturb your studying. Might you go to Teacher Gao's home and spend the day there?"

He had only pondered the matter of the doors and windows last night, yet Elder Brother had hired people to repair them this very morning. Inwardly, Rong Lian felt both ashamed and full of admiration, and he said, "I won't study today. Elder Brother, might I be of any help?"

"No need, just rest." With those words, Rong Xi invited Hu Yulin to enter the residence together.

Having weathered numerous failures, the glass had finally been successfully manufactured. After pressing, edge-firing, and annealing, the glass window was finally presented before Rong Xi's eyes.

Once they gained rich experience, the kiln workers fired them day and night, and by now the quantity was sufficient.

Hu Yulin had come today specifically to witness the effect of the glass doors and windows firsthand.

After breakfast, the craftsmen began their work, and even Feng Shan and his son were invited over. After all, installing glass into wooden doors and windows required the assistance of carpenters.

The Rong Residence had been tranquil for a long time, but today it grew bustling. The craftsmen hammered and knocked, and the courtyard was filled with the figures of artisans.