Chapter 129: Bicycle

Over the past two days, Yan Ning thought of another good idea.

She wanted to make a Bicycle.

Yan Ning watched videos on how to make a Bicycle over a dozen times, drew up the general blueprints, and then the craftsmen began to attempt various fine-tunings of the data.

For this, Yan Ning specifically invited people into the palace to conduct experiments for her.

Her requirements were very strict; if not for the fact that she paid so much, the craftsmen would have wanted to throw down their tools and leave.

Several days had already passed, and there was finally progress.

Early this morning, a craftsman told her that one had been made yesterday and could be ridden.

The craftsman had dark circles under his eyes from staying up, yet he was very excited.

Something this difficult had been made, so how could he not be excited?

Yan Ning was somewhat impatient, but it was time for her to attend the morning court.

Yan Ning said she would come back to take a look later.

While attending court, she was still calculating that this Bicycle should have a huge market; for instance, those ministers who were relatively poor and lived far away would certainly be willing to ride a bike to court.

Otherwise, relying on their own two legs to walk over, there would simply be no time to sleep.

Yan Ning looked at those poorer officials; they couldn't afford a carriage worth over a hundred taels of silver, but they should be able to afford a Bicycle for five taels of silver, right?

Yan Ning felt five taels of silver was a bit expensive; perhaps three taels of silver would be better.

However, relying on this to make money wouldn't really work, as the craftsmen's costs were relatively high; Yan Ning felt she could sell more copies of the Bicycle blueprints.

Although this Bicycle wouldn't make money, it could save quite a bit of trouble.

It was a good thing that would benefit the country and the people.

Yan Ning felt it would be best to let the carpenters come to buy the blueprints themselves; otherwise, if she rushed to give them away, they might not necessarily be happy to look at them.

Thinking this way the whole journey, she arrived very soon.

Yan Ze had woken up late today; he didn't rush to sit down, but instead ate a steamed bun while waiting for Yan Ning.

Yan Ning was wearing a red-based robe with a Dragon Pattern today; Yan Ze patted her shoulder, "This outfit looks better."

As he spoke, he shoved a paper bag made of oil-paper onto Yan Ning.

Inside were two meat buns.

Yan Ning hurriedly took a few bites.

Yue Linfeng was originally the Prefect of Qingzhou and had been transferred back to serve as Vice Minister of Works; as a third-rank official, he stood relatively near the front.

He saw the Dragon Robe on Yan Ning, and then saw the Emperor pat her shoulder and hand her breakfast...

Yue Linfeng felt conflicted.

Yan Ning was currently only the Crown Princess, why wear a Dragon Robe?

Was he not afraid she would usurp the throne?

Even a Crown Prince who has held the position for a long time can't help but have crooked thoughts, let alone a Crown Princess.

What exactly was Yan Ning's reliance?

Was she not afraid her father would give birth to a son and snatch her position as Crown Princess?

Yue Linfeng was in a complete state of disarray.

After finally enduring until the court was dismissed, Yan Ning immediately ran toward her father, and the two were talking and laughing, though it was unknown what they were saying.

Upon arriving at the Ministry of Works, Yue Linfeng was still in a daze.

The Minister of Works tapped the table, "What are you thinking about?"

Yue Linfeng had a good relationship with the Minister of Works, so he asked, "Why is the Imperial Crown Princess allowed to wear a Dragon Robe?"

The Minister of Works was silent.

After a good while, he said, "You'll get used to it. Originally, the Crown Princess's attire was prepared with phoenix or python embroidery, but His Majesty disagreed, saying something about wearing matching parent-child outfits, and that father and daughter should look uniform."

Yue Linfeng: "Is he not afraid of His Majesty's suspicion?"

The Minister of Works: "Sigh, suspicion of what? His Majesty only has this one daughter, and he has also said that he won't hold a selection, won't take concubines, and won't have sons, so this throne is definitely the Crown Princess's."

Yue Linfeng took a deep breath, "I was unaware of the changes in the imperial court."

The Minister of Works added another remark: "Do you have a grudge against the Crown Princess? But I advise you not to clash with the Crown Princess head-on, otherwise you'll suffer for it."

Yue Linfeng felt some lingering fear.

No wonder when he reported to the Censorate, and others reported too, he never saw anyone impeach Yan Ning.

So it was because of His Majesty's doting.

Yue Linfeng sighed, hoping Yan Ning wouldn't keep him in mind, and ideally, would forget him.

He was truly worried now that his official hat wouldn't be secure.

He also sincerely hoped His Majesty could live a few more years, until the Crown Princess forgot about his existence before he died.

Pfft, pfft, pfft, what was he saying about dying or not dying.

One cannot be so treasonous.

Yue Linfeng returned to his workstation and obediently finished his work.

Yan Ning had long since forgotten about a person like Yue Linfeng; she had been keeping an eye on the Cement Road for a while, but since she didn't have time to watch it constantly, she had her father throw another Vice Minister of Works over to guard the road, lest some blind person try to ruin her cement ground.

These past two days she hadn't been watching the Cement Road, but had been watching the Bicycle.

The craftsman said one had been finished, so Yan Ning impatiently went to where the craftsmen were.

In a courtyard, five carpenters were busy at work.

Yan Ning saw the Bicycle to the side and was pleasantly surprised: "Have you already finished this?"

Wang Mu said hesitantly: "This, this counts, but... we feel it's still missing something."

Yan Ning looked at the Bicycle; it was similar to a modern one, only it was made entirely of wood, except for the chain, which was made of steel.

She had gone to great lengths to attempt steel-making, and that tiny lump was all used on this Bicycle.

She tested the handlebars, then looked at the wheels and the chain.

Seeing that it looked about right, Yan Ning got on to give it a try.

Several carpenters gathered around, afraid that she might fall off the Bicycle.

As for how they knew, the scrapes on Wang Mu's face had not yet healed.

Yan Ning tried riding it, and it shot off instantly; apart from a slight stiffness, everything else was fine.

Even the brakes were made quite well.

Yan Ning rode a lap and returned, saying to them, "It's done; it will be even better after a little more polishing."

Wang Mu and the others were dumbfounded.

"Hiss..."

Wang Mu's wound was still hurting.

But he suspected that by the time they tried using it the previous few times, it had already been perfected.

As for why they kept failing, it was because none of them knew how to ride a Bicycle, so they thought they had failed to build it.

Yan Ning smiled and said, "Did you modify the blueprints?"

The craftsman hurriedly handed a set of blueprints to Yan Ning, "These are the modified blueprints; the adjustments to the data are not significant."

Yan Ning nodded and took the blueprints and the list of precautions.

Yan Ning said to them, "Make some more now; I am going to take them to sell in two days."

The five carpenters immediately got to work.

With the Bicycle, and the roads in the palace being flat, she rode a lap to go find her father.

At this moment, Yan Ze was followed by several old men, presumably to discuss some matter.

Seeing Yan Ning riding the Bicycle over, Yan Ze's eyes lit up.

Yan Ning said with a grin, "Father, I had someone finish making the Bicycle; we can ride it to court in the future, and we'll be able to sleep an extra half hour."

Yan Ze's eyes shone: "It is completely finished?"

Yan Ning stopped the vehicle, "Father, you try it."

After Yan Ze got on, he was also able to cruise around a lap, feeling that apart from some minor issues with turning, this Bicycle was perfectly usable.

This vehicle was indeed convenient.

Who would have known, the several old men behind Yan Ze also had eyes shining with interest.

Prime Minister Ji asked, "May I have a try?"