Chapter 142: The Steam Train is a Success

Yan Ning refused directly: "I don't like someone like you."

Cao Yu was unwilling to give up: "I..."

Yan Ning interrupted: "Don't say any more; do not bring this matter up again in the future."

Cao Yu did not dare to follow, and could only watch from far away as Xiao Huaijin teased Yan Ning to make her happy.

Yan Qing stared at Cao Yu from not far away and frowned.

Fortunately, Yan Ning was not alone, so Cao Yu did not dare to act rashly.

But the next day, Cao Yu came again.

This time he had changed into the robes that scholars loved to wear and prepared to go find Yan Ning again.

"Ah—"

Everyone looked over.

They saw Yan Qing in a tree, pouring grass clippings down below.

Cao Yu had dressed up meticulously, only for it to be ruined by that bucket of grass clippings.

Yan Ze's expression changed, and he called out by full name: "Yan Qing, what are you doing?"

Yan Qing shrank his neck; it was the first time he had seen Yan Ze lose his temper at him.

Yan Qing immediately climbed down from the tree and walked to Yan Ze's side, looking aggrieved.

Seeing Yan Qing's aggrieved expression, Yan Ze's anger had already dissipated by half, but a brat still needed to be disciplined.

Yan Qing looked at Cao Yu with displeasure.

He then turned his head and said to Yan Ze: "Father, you misunderstood me. Yesterday, Cao Yu took advantage of everyone being away to ask Elder Sister out alone to talk, saying something about admiring Elder Sister."

"After Elder Sister refused, he still wanted to come over today, so I gave him a small lesson."

Yan Ze frowned and asked Yan Ning: "Is this true?"

Yan Ning nodded, "I have already clearly refused him."

Seeing that both of them said so, Yan Ze stopped pursuing Yan Qing's prank.

If it weren't for the fact that their statuses were mismatched, he would have wanted to give Cao Yu a good lesson; he had already been refused, so why did he still insist on crowding around?

The crowd looked at Cao Yu, then looked at the First Prince.

Just where exactly did he offend them?

Moreover, Yan Ze did not take action to discipline him, only scolded him once.

It seems the Emperor not only dotes on his daughter but also dotes on this foster son.

Only Cao Yu, who was closest, heard what Yan Qing said, and his face turned deathly pale.

Who doesn't know that the Emperor dotes on his daughter...

Cao Yu could only turn and leave; he would not dare to approach Yan Ning in the future.

On the other side, at the Imperial Academy.

Yun Shu was frantically researching the Steam Engine.

He knew the principles of the Steam Engine, and Yan Ning had later drawn several sketches for him, but after trying many times, he could not make the Train move.

Yun Shu had no choice but to find a blacksmith.

Fortunately, the blacksmith did not look down on Yun Shu for being just a Ninth-Rank Minor Official; whatever requirements he proposed, the blacksmith made them for him on the spot.

For over ten days in a row, Yun Shu had not slept well; when hungry, he grabbed a steamed bun to make do, and when sleepy, he slept for a while in a chair.

After working like this for half a month, he finally finished the Steam Train.

Yun Shu packed up the Steam Train and brought it back home.

The people at the Imperial Academy did not think much of him, and he was also wary of them causing sabotage.

Yun Shu's hair was disheveled, his clothes had become like dried mustard greens, his under-eyes were dark, and his gaze was unfocused.

When he returned to the Yun Mansion, the doorman did not recognize him and almost did not let him come home.

Yun Shu did not even have time to wash up; he put the box aside and slept for a full day and night.

By the time he woke up, it was already the afternoon of the next day.

Counting the days, today was the day Yan Ning and the others were returning; Yun Shu was a bit excited and went straight to the Eastern Palace to find the Crown Princess while carrying a large box.

As a result, as soon as he went out, he was stopped by his mother: "You should go wash up before seeing the Crown Princess; you really can't go out looking like this."

In the palace.

Yan Ze had people brought directly to the Court.

At this time, the palace attendants had already brought out all three prizes.

The first was a Coral Tree, but this Coral Tree was a bit different from ordinary ones; the branches were blood-red, the color began to fade toward the ends of the branches, and the very tips of the branches were actually white, as if they had bloomed.

This coral was no ordinary item!

Next was a pair of Jade Ruyi; the jade quality felt warm and moist, and the carving was also very meticulous.

This jade could also be considered precious.

As for the final Glazed Glass, when the Eunuchs brought it up, everyone's eyes lit up.

This tableware was actually four bowls, two plates, and four pairs of Glazed Glass chopsticks.

It was gaudy, and after people sent it into the palace, it had just been sitting in the storehouse gathering dust.

Yan Ze bestowed all the treasures upon the second and third place winners.

Originally, the coral he wanted to give away was a different red coral, which also looked good, but it was far from as beautiful as this one.

This coral was one he had specifically kept for Yan Ning.

However, now that Xiao Huaijin had won, this beautiful coral was also not bad for him.

As for Yan Ning's coral, he could have people look for one slowly.

No one expected Xiao Huaijin to stroke the end of the Coral and say directly, "Ningning, I am giving this Coral to you."

Yan Ning felt a bit embarrassed, "Ah, no need, I..."

At this moment, Xiao Huaijin had already ordered the Eunuchs to move this Coral into the Eastern Palace.

Yan Ning's eyes had lit up the moment she saw this Coral earlier; since she liked it, Xiao Huaijin simply gave it to her.

Cao Yu, standing to the side, sneered and whispered, "Vixen."

Seeing that they were about to disperse, Yan Ning headed toward the Eastern Palace, when a slender figure walked over.

Yan Ning saw that Yun Shu had dark circles under his eyes and seemed to have lost quite a bit of weight compared to before.

At first glance, Yan Ning thought he had been using drugs.

Yun Shu's eyes lit up when he saw her: "Your Highness, I have made it!"

Yan Ning could no longer care about the Coral and hurried over to ask, "Is this everything?"

Yun Shu nodded: "I can demonstrate it for Your Highness right now."

As he spoke, Yun Shu began to assemble the tracks, forming a circular track, then he began to boil water with charcoal fire, and he even hooked several Carriages onto the back.

One second, two seconds, three seconds...

As the Train engine began to emit smoke, the Train slowly started to move, and its speed began to increase.

Yan Ning and Yun Shu's reactions were relatively calm, but Xiao Huaijin, who had never seen a Train before, had his eyes light up instantly.

This was truly miraculous; no one was pushing it, and no one was pulling it, yet it started moving all on its own.

Yun Shu said with a smile: "If the Heir likes it, I will give this Train to you once I am finished with it."

Xiao Huaijin was overjoyed, "Many thanks."

Yan Ning thought it over and said to him: "Bring this thing with you to the morning Court tomorrow."

Yan Ning immediately corrected herself: "Oh no, that's wrong, it's the afternoon Court session."

The next day, Yan Ning didn't stroll over to the Court until after she had finished lunch.

From afar, she could see Yun Shu holding a large box, standing at the very back.

Before long, all the officials were standing in neat rows.

It was the Minister of Personnel.

"Your Majesty, there are many refugees in the south heading toward the Capital; we need to send troops to capture the bandits and also arrange food and clothing for the refugees."

"Your subject believes that given the urgency of the situation, the Crown Princess should prioritize what is important and urgent, and stop researching those so-called automatic Trains and Textile Machines. These are clearly unfeasible."

The Glass Workshop earns a lot of money; the Crown Princess should first use the silver for proper purposes.

Yan Ning said with a smile: "I have already finished researching it."

As she spoke, she shouted loudly: "Yun Shu, come here quickly!"