Chapter 21: Your Highness, how can you still be thinking about money at a time like this
Inside Zhaoyang Hall, sunlight streamed through the carved window lattices and spilled across the golden-thread nanmu desk.
Su Yaoyao was sprawled over the desk, clutching a charred willow twig that she used as a charcoal pencil.
On the finest xuan paper, she was scribbling and sketching a complicated blueprint that no one in this era could possibly understand.
“The Gatling gun’s rotating barrel mechanism needs more optimization.”
“The Great Abyss Kingdom’s smelting technology is far too backward. To meet the barrel’s requirements for high strength and heat resistance, I’ll have to add Black Ice Stone.”
“The gunpowder purification ratio needs to be adjusted too, or the barrel could easily explode.”
Su Yaoyao gnawed on the end of her charcoal stick as she rapidly calculated every figure on the paper.
But the more she calculated, the more her delicate, doll-like face fell.
She was out of money!
Although she had just received a commission of seventy-five thousand taels from the property confiscated from the Left Censor’s family by her Tyrant Dad,
and although the basic materials she had acquired during her free raid on Blackwind Stronghold had helped ease the immediate crisis,
this was a project to manufacture heavy-firepower weapons!
Seventy-five thousand taels might sound like a great deal, but if she really wanted to set up an entire production line, it would not even be enough to fill a tooth!
Not to mention that just placing bounties on rare ores and components through the black market would cost a fortune.
No, she had to find a way to raise more funding.
Su Yaoyao stroked her chubby little chin, the abacus in her mind clacking away.
Just as she was racking her brains and calculating which corrupt official in the capital she could visit next—
“Your Highness! Your Highness!”
Her personal maid, Cui’er, came hurrying into the hall, her face brimming with indignation.
“What is it? Don’t tell me someone has come to give me money again?”
Su Yaoyao’s eyes lit up as she tossed aside her charcoal stick.
“Your Highness, how can you still be thinking about money at a time like this?” Cui’er stamped her feet anxiously. “Someone from the Grand General’s residence has entered the palace!”
The Grand General, Lin Zhenxiong?
Su Yaoyao raised an eyebrow.
Only last night, she had taken her bargain-bin older brother to empty the armory in the Grand General’s outer compound.
And today, the old man had already sent someone into the palace?
He certainly moved fast.
“The person who entered the palace is the Grand General’s distant grandniece. Her name is Lin Wan’er,” Cui’er hurriedly reported. “I hear Miss Lin is known as the capital’s foremost talented lady. She’s accomplished in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.”
“The Grand General deliberately sent her into the palace to study alongside you. He’s clearly trying to give you a warning!”
After hearing this, Su Yaoyao did not get angry. Instead, she laughed, the corners of her mouth curving into an amused smile.
“Oh? The capital’s foremost talented lady?”
“Where is she now?”
“She’s in the Imperial Garden!” Cui’er bit her lip, looking deeply indignant.
“Miss Lin has set up some sort of Chrysanthemum Appreciation Charity Banquet and invited all the empresses, consorts, and noble ladies in the palace.”
“She claims it’s to raise money for winter clothing for the soldiers guarding the frontier, but isn’t she just insulting you in a roundabout way?”
The moment Su Yaoyao heard the words “charity banquet,” her radar started blaring.
A charity banquet? Isn’t that just an ancient version of a fundraiser?
A group of wealthy ladies and noblewomen gathered together, competing to show off their riches while scattering silver by the handful.
It was a massive fresh-leek harvesting operation—and it was about to begin!
Su Yaoyao immediately perked up. Just moments ago, she had been worrying about how to fund her military research and development.
And now, the Grand General had not only delivered gunpowder to her doorstep, but had even sent a relative to deliver her research funds!
What a wonderful man!
“Come on, Cui’er. Let’s go take a stroll around the Imperial Garden.”
Su Yaoyao hopped down from her chair and dusted the charcoal ash from her hands.
“If we’re late, the big fat sheep might get plucked bald by someone else!”
The Imperial Garden was in full bloom, with a subtle fragrance drifting through the air.
Inside a pavilion, consorts from the various palaces and noble ladies from the capital sat in a circle, chatting and laughing.
Seated at the very center of them all was none other than Lin Wan’er, the capital’s foremost talented lady.
Lin Wan’er wore a plain, elegant moon-white gauze dress. The only ornament in her hair was a simple silver hairpin.
She looked pure and otherworldly, as delicate as a willow in the wind—as though the slightest breeze might blow her away.
Among the extravagantly dressed women of the inner palace, her appearance seemed especially pitiful and distinctive.
“Miss Lin, your poem praising the chrysanthemums is truly refined and exceptional. It’s enough to make anyone slap the table in admiration.”
A consort who usually depended on the Grand General’s influence held a silk handkerchief and showered her with praise.
“That’s right, that’s right. She truly is worthy of being the capital’s foremost talented lady.”
“Compared with certain uncouth people who were just brought back from the black market, they’re worlds apart.”
“If you ask me, only a well-bred young lady like Miss Lin—one who is knowledgeable and sensible—is worthy of the dignity of the imperial palace.”
The noblewomen chimed in one after another, every word carrying a veiled jab at Su Yaoyao.
As Lin Wan’er listened to their flattery, a flash of triumph crossed her eyes.
On the surface, however, she put on a frightened and helpless expression.
“Ladies, please don’t say such things. Although Your Highness spent years wandering among the common people and never had the opportunity to study the sages’ classics...”
“She is still His Majesty’s bloodline. We ought to be more understanding.”
Lin Wan’er lightly dabbed at the corners of her eyes with her handkerchief and sighed.
“I did not arrange today’s banquet to compete in talent. I was merely thinking that autumn winds are beginning to blow, while the soldiers at the frontier are still suffering in the cold.”
“The Grand General often says that the rise and fall of the nation is everyone’s responsibility.”
“Although I am only a woman, I still wish to contribute in whatever small way I can. That is why I took the liberty of inviting all my sisters here, so that together we might raise some funds to provide the soldiers with winter clothing.”
Her words were so righteous and compassionate that they immediately drew a wave of praise from the surrounding women, who began generously opening their purses.
“I’ll donate fifty taels!”
“I’ll contribute a pair of Hotan jade bracelets!”
Lin Wan’er smiled as she had her maid record each donation. Then, as if unintentionally, she let out another sigh.
“I only regret that I’ve heard Your Highness has amassed a tremendous fortune through the black market, yet is notoriously stingy.”
“If Your Highness were willing to contribute even the tiniest portion of that ill-gotten wealth, the soldiers at the frontier would no longer have to worry about surviving the winter.”
“Alas, I fear that in Your Highness’s eyes, there is only money. She probably doesn’t understand what national duty means.”
The moment these words were spoken, everyone’s disdain for the Imperial Crown Princess grew even stronger.
Just as they were preparing to continue condemning the Imperial Crown Princess as a miser, a crisp, teasing voice drifted in from outside the pavilion.
“Well, well, what’s all the excitement about?”
“I could smell the strong scent of green tea from a mile away. So it turns out my cousin is brewing tea here?”
Everyone turned toward the voice in unison.
They saw Su Yaoyao approaching in a fiery-red brocade vest, both hands clasped behind her back as she swaggered toward them.
Her large, black eyes, round as grapes, were filled with mocking amusement.
Tsk, tsk, tsk. Today I’ve actually encountered a genuine, top-tier green-tea schemer.
Her talent for speaking in fake-sweet, self-righteous platitudes is only enough to fool this bunch of embittered women from the inner palace.
On the surface, this is a fundraiser for winter clothing. In reality, isn’t she helping the Grand General launder money while building her own reputation and stepping on me in the process?
You want to use my head as a stepping stone to rise higher? Fine. Today, this Crown Princess will teach you exactly what a weed whacker can do!
When Lin Wan’er saw Su Yaoyao appear, she froze.
Soon, an expression of panic and grievance surfaced on her delicate face.
Like a startled little rabbit, she hurriedly rose from the stone stool.
“Your Highness... Lin Wan’er pays her respects to Your Highness.”
Lin Wan’er bent gracefully at the waist, her body appearing fragile and delicate.
“Just now, I was merely chatting with the ladies. I absolutely did not mean to speak ill of Your Highness behind your back.”
“If Your Highness heard anything unpleasant, Wan’er apologizes on their behalf. Please, Your Highness, don’t be angry.”
She looked pitiful enough to seem as though she had already been bullied, even though no one had touched her.
The sight immediately stirred the protective instincts of the women around them.
Several of the bolder consorts stepped forward and shielded Lin Wan’er behind them.
“Your Highness, Miss Lin kindly organized this charity drive for everyone. Not only are you refusing to help, but you’ve come here to throw your weight around?”
“You’ve been running wild in the black market for so long. Don’t tell me you intend to cause a scene here in the Imperial Garden?”
Watching this group of indignant noblewomen, Su Yaoyao couldn’t even be bothered to roll her eyes. She walked straight to the stone table, picked up a delicate osmanthus cake, and stuffed it into her mouth.
“Relax. It’s not like I’m here to eat people.”
Su Yaoyao mumbled around the pastry as she chewed.
“I heard from Cui’er that my cousin was hosting a charity banquet here, so I came over to see if there was anything fun going on.”
Lin Wan’er hadn’t expected Su Yaoyao not to play along. Instead of flying into a rage and arguing with them, she had simply ignored their insults.
Lin Wan’er couldn’t help letting out a cold laugh inwardly.
As expected, she really was a brainless fool. She couldn’t even tell when people were insulting her.
Since you’ve delivered yourself into my hands, don’t blame me for humiliating you in front of everyone!
Lin Wan’er took a deep breath, then put her holy, aggrieved smile back on her face.
“We’re truly honored that Your Highness could come.”
“Since Your Highness has also come for the soldiers stationed at the frontier, I assume you’ve brought a generous donation as well?”
Lin Wan’er deliberately raised her voice so that everyone could hear her clearly.
“Wan’er knows that Your Highness has operated in the black market for many years and must have an impressive fortune—certainly beyond what weak women like us could ever compare with.”
“However, relying solely on gold and silver does seem rather vulgar.”
Her tone shifted, and a proud look appeared between her brows.
“For this charity drive, I specially asked my father to purchase a peerless mechanical treasure from a neighboring kingdom at great expense.”
“Wan’er intends to display it before everyone and auction it off to raise funds.”
“If Your Highness could also produce a suitably elegant treasure, the two of us sisters could offer our prayers for the soldiers together. Wouldn’t that make a beautiful story?”
The noblewomen around them immediately began whispering among themselves.
“Miss Lin is challenging Your Highness to a contest of family wealth!”
“That country girl knows nothing except gold and silver. How could she understand mechanical treasures or anything truly refined?”
“This time, the Crown Princess is going to make a fool of herself!”
Listening to the surrounding gossip, the little flame in Su Yaoyao’s heart didn’t die down. Instead, it burned even more fiercely.
[Oh, please. You want to compete with me in mechanics? In high technology?]
[I’m the finest engineer in the entire interstellar era! Even the parts I can cobble together with my eyes closed would be superior to your national treasure!]
[Fine. I’d love to see what pile of scrap metal the Grand General’s residence can produce.]
Su Yaoyao dusted the crumbs from her hands and raised her brows with keen interest.
“Sure. Bring it out and let me broaden my horizons.”
Seeing that the fish had taken the bait, Lin Wan’er was ecstatic.
She turned gracefully and gave a slight nod to the maidservant standing behind her.
The maid respectfully presented an exquisite rosewood box.
“This object was crafted by a master artisan from a neighboring kingdom after ten years of painstaking work. It is called the Ruyi Musical Box.”
Lin Wan’er’s voice was brimming with undisguised pride.
Under the expectant gazes of all the women present, she reached out and slowly opened the rosewood box.
“Wow!”
The moment the box opened, the consorts and noblewomen surrounding them let out a collective gasp.
One by one, they craned their necks forward, their eyes filled with amazement and admiration.
“How exquisite! It’s practically the work of Heaven itself!”
“Such a rare treasure—I’ve never heard of or seen anything like it!”
Amid the exaggerated praise, Su Yaoyao also rose onto her toes and stretched her neck to take a look.
But the moment she got a clear view of the peerless treasure inside the box, the curiosity on her face froze.
Her peach blossom eyes widened as she stared at the object within.
A powerful urge to burst into laughter shot straight to her head.
She clenched her back teeth so hard that she barely managed not to let out a sound like a squealing pig right there on the spot.
They actually dared to show off this thing?