roccoschili Chapter 382 The Old Beng Family's Traditional Craftsmanship
Chapter 382 The Old Beng Family's Traditional Craftsmanship
He spent a lot of money to buy this secluded house in the west of the city to settle Mi Yueyao, intending to give her a stable place to stay and have her help him with some intelligence work.
Who knew that this woman had been acting strangely these past few days, not only staying indoors but also avoiding going out altogether.
I came here today with good intentions to visit, but as soon as I entered the front yard, before I could even have a cup of tea, these two female assassins practically kicked me out!
"I bought this yard with my own money, and now I can't even get in? That's outrageous!"
Zhang Fan rolled up his sleeves, ready to charge forward. "I'm going to go in and see what this woman is up to in the house! Get out of the way!"
Upon seeing this, the two female assassins' eyes narrowed, though they dared not actually draw their swords against Zhang Fan.
But the two of them tacitly stepped to the side, using their bodies to block the door.
They had an attitude of "If you want to get in, you'll have to step over us first."
Seeing this, Luo Ying quickly grabbed Zhang Fan's sleeve and gently persuaded him, "Young Master, please calm down. Sister Yueyao is aloof by nature, and perhaps she has been feeling unwell these past few days."
Women often have a few days each month when they are feeling uneasy, so please be understanding and don't take it to heart!
Luo Li nodded repeatedly, "Yes, young master, it wouldn't be good if we forced our way in and damaged the harmony. Why don't we come back in a few days?"
Zhang Fan listened and felt that the argument made sense, but he still couldn't shake off his anger.
He stared at the tightly closed courtyard gate, a question suddenly flashing through his mind.
Although Mi Yueyao is usually aloof, she knows her limits and would never ask her to leave without a reason.
Considering that Fengyu Pavilion seemed to be frequently mobilizing manpower in the city these past two days, Zhang Fan keenly sensed something was amiss.
Could something have happened?
Just as Zhang Fan was about to force open the gate and go in to find out what was going on, the sound of horses' hooves suddenly came from the other end of the street.
"Immortal Master! Immortal Master, please wait!"
The silence was shattered by the sudden neighing of the carriage as it came to an abrupt halt.
Zhang Fan turned his head and saw a palace-style carriage stopped at the alley entrance. Eunuch Li scrambled down from the carriage, still clutching his whisk tightly in his hand.
He was panting heavily, covered in sweat, and even the eunuch's hat on his head was askew.
"Eunuch Li? What are you doing here?" Zhang Fan raised an eyebrow and stopped what he was doing.
Eunuch Li rushed to Zhang Fan in three strides, not even having time to catch his breath, and said in a low voice, "Oh my Immortal Master!"
How dare you still have the leisure to stroll around this mansion! Quick... quick, come back to the Imperial Academy with this old servant!
Zhang Fan was completely confused: "Why go back to the Institute of Physics? Aren't we off duty today? I'm on vacation."
"Why take a vacation?!"
Eunuch Li was so anxious that he kept slapping his thigh, his voice almost trembling with tears. "This morning at court, the Xiongnu envoy came to pay his respects, which enraged His Majesty. Minister Zong Yu, the Minister of Agriculture, challenged you in court, impeaching you for delaying military affairs!"
The plan you promised to transport supplies a month ago is still nowhere to be seen!
Hearing this, Zhang Fan was stunned for a moment.
Eunuch Li swallowed hard and continued his urgent report: "His Majesty has just dismissed the court and is currently driving towards the Academy of Natural Sciences with Prime Minister Li and Lord Zongyu!"
They said they wanted to specifically check on the progress of that 'steam train'!
"Immortal Master, you'd better hurry back and prepare to receive the Emperor! If you can't produce anything, those civil officials will tear you apart alive!"
Holy crap!
Zhang Fan gasped sharply and slapped his forehead.
"hiss……"
The slap was quite forceful, and Zhang Fan winced in pain, but his mind instantly cleared.
A month?
A month has already passed?
Zhang Fan's expression froze instantly, and he stood there, his mind replaying the events of the past thirty days.
On the first day, the drawings were completed and handed over to the Mo family craftsmen...
The next day, I went to a brothel to listen to music and incidentally rewarded the top courtesan with ten taels of gold...
On the third day, I took Luo Ying and Luo Li to the outskirts of the city for a spring outing and barbecue...
On the fourth day, I went to a brothel to listen to music...
On the fifth day, I went to a brothel to listen to music...
On the tenth day, we went to the Jiaofangsi (a government-run entertainment venue) to watch the Western Region women dance...
……
On the twenty-ninth day, I slept until the sun was high in the sky, then went to a teahouse to listen to storytelling...
Done!
It felt as if ten thousand mythical beasts were stampeding through Zhang Fan's mind.
For the past month, with the Qin Dynasty covering the expenses and the Mohists working day and night, I've practically become a hands-off manager.
Aside from occasionally strolling around the Gewu Institute to point out a few key technical parameters, the rest of the time was spent purely indulging in a life of decadence.
He spent his days in brothels, enjoying fine wine and delicacies, living such a comfortable life that he completely forgot about his "one-month period"!
"Are those guys... all ready yet?"
Zhang Fan was also uncertain at this moment.
The blueprints he provided were indeed detailed, but he didn't personally oversee them.
If things go wrong today, that would be a real disaster.
"Let's go! Back to the Institute of Physics immediately!"
Zhang Fan could no longer hold a grudge against Mi Yueyao. He turned around, grabbed the reins of the carriage brought by Eunuch Li, and said, "Luo Ying and Luo Li, you two hire a carriage to go back yourselves!"
Before he finished speaking, Zhang Fan had already leaped onto his horse, cracked his whip, and sped away, leaving only a trail of dust and a disheveled Li Gonggong in the wind.
Eunuch Li stood there, watching Zhang Fan's fleeing figure, wiping the cold sweat from his forehead: "The Immortal Master's speed... I can only hope everything goes smoothly at the Academy of Natural Sciences, otherwise His Majesty will likely be furious today!"
……
at the same time.
On the road leading from Xianyang City to the Gewu Academy in the southern suburbs, a tall carriage is approaching.
Around the carriage, hundreds of fully armed Black Armored Iron Eagle warriors rode warhorses to guard the carriage in the center, their menacing aura causing pedestrians along the way to give way.
The atmosphere inside the spacious carriage was somewhat somber.
The First Emperor, Ying Zheng, sat upright in the main seat with his eyes slightly closed.
To his left sat Li Si, the current Left Chancellor, his brows slightly furrowed, his eyes filled with worry.
Sitting on the right is Shaofu Zongyu.
Unlike Li Si's worries, Zong Yu, though trying to appear calm, couldn't hide his smugness and anticipation in his eyes.
"His Majesty."
Zong Yu bowed slightly, breaking the silence in the carriage. "I have heard that since Lord Zhang Fan made his pledge, he has rarely stayed in the Academy of Natural Sciences this past month."
He could often be seen at several brothels and entertainment venues in Xianyang.
"Such laziness and neglect of state affairs truly worry me; he is deceiving Your Majesty!"
Upon hearing this, Li Si immediately retorted, "Lord Zong, you are mistaken! Lord Zhang is a disciple of an immortal, and his actions cannot be judged by ordinary standards."
Perhaps he was conceiving the drawings in a unique way?
Do not jump to conclusions before seeing the outcome of a matter.
After saying that, even Li Si himself couldn't keep a straight face!
But the traditional craftsmanship of the Lao Beng family must not be lost!