Chapter 180: Making a Scene

Yan Ning finished attending the Court and prepared to go outside to check on the shops, and while at it, head to Wangjiang Tower to eat fish.

Who would have thought that before even reaching Liuli Pu, there was already a commotion starting over there.

The Eunuch driving the carriage, Wang Fuhai, said to Yan Ning, "There are many people ahead, this servant will go first to see what the situation is."

Wang Fuhai was somewhat plump, and it was only with great difficulty that he squeezed in through the back door to ask the Manager what was going on.

The shop was in chaos, and the Manager could only say to him, "Eunuch Fu, didn't we just start taking orders for custom Glass? Who knew that so many people would come over..."

After Wang Fuhai clarified the situation, he told Yan Ning.

Yan Ning could not squeeze in even if she got out of the carriage now, so she had Wang Fuhai go and summon people from the County Government Office.

It was only a moment's work before the people had already been brought over.

Several bailiffs shouted, "Disperse quickly! Either line up or leave, don't block the way here!"

There were quite a few voices of opposition:

"What kind of status do you have, to actually dare to shout at this young master?"

"Get aside, this isn't a place you can manage!"

But fortunately, most people listened to the bailiffs and consciously began to line up.

It was just that there were one or two troublemakers.

Many of those present had strong backgrounds, but they did not dare to act recklessly, lest they be seen and impeached.

The Emperor and the Crown Princess hated it most when people used their official positions to pressure the commoners.

When Yan Ning went down, everyone had consciously lined up, only this line was somewhat long.

Yan Ning walked straight in and asked, "Is it settled?"

The Manager hurriedly said, "It is already settled. We are doing it in the order of arrival and have already registered it in the ledger."

The Manager of Liuli Pu had always made Yan Ning feel at ease with how he handled things.

At this moment, Yan Ning saw a familiar face in the crowd.

Isn't this the Censor Zhou Qiming who points fingers at all the officials in the Court every day?

Tomorrow in the Court, there will likely be a show to watch.

Yan Ning took a look at the notes the Manager had made, which recorded the dimensions of the doors and windows, how many pieces were needed, and the estimated time for completion.

One sheet of paper was used for one customer's information, and this ledger was already a very thick stack.

The Manager whispered, "The cost of Glass Windows is high, and the failure rate is also high, so we have collected quite a bit more silver."

Yan Ning revealed a smile, "You and Lady Xie can discuss and set the price."

Afterwards, she thought for a moment, "The Imperial Palace also wants to replace them with this kind of transparent Glass. After I go back, I will have someone write down the dimensions and quantities."

The Manager said with a smile, "Very well, I will note it down right away."

Yan Ning glanced at the time; it looked like she would still have to wait another month.

After Yan Ning finished checking the other two shops, she bought a serving of shaved ice and returned to the Imperial Palace.

Early the next morning, just as the morning Court began, Zhou Qiming stood out.

"Your Majesty, this subject heard yesterday that the servants of the Dali Temple Vice Minister's household and the servants of the Ministry of Rites Left Vice Minister's household were both arrogant and overbearing, hindering the bailiffs from performing their duties."

The two men's eyelids twitched.

How did Zhou Qiming know about the servants from their households?

The Dali Temple Vice Minister could not help but ask, "How do you know about things I don't even know about? How can you be sure it was my household's servants?"

Zhou Qiming said directly, "They were the ones using both of your names, wanting to be at the very front of the line."

Dali Temple Vice Minister & Ministry of Rites Left Vice Minister:...

Truly unlucky.

The two knelt down and hurriedly said they would properly discipline the servants in their households in the future.

Yan Ze let them rise and also said, "It is just a matter of a few days earlier or later, there is no need to dispute it. The Imperial Palace is also in line waiting."

Everyone was surprised, and the Minister of Revenue even asked, "With so many doors and windows in the Imperial Palace to be replaced, how much silver will that cost?"

Yan Ning said, "We are not replacing that many. We are only replacing the windows in the study and hall frequently used in the Eastern Palace, as well as those in the Qianqing Palace and the Imperial Study. The others will not be replaced; no one lives in them anyway."

The Minister of Revenue breathed a sigh of relief.

Yan Ning had been waiting for the Hand Grenade that Yun Shu was making for these past two days.

Early the next morning, Yun Shu actually came to attend the Court.

People like Yun Shu and Qian Ruofang—one from the Medical Academy and one from the Research Institute—although they both held official positions, they did not need to attend the Court and generally only attended when they had matters to report.

After several ministers finished speaking about their matters, Yan Ning asked Yun Shu if the Hand Grenade was finished.

Yun Shu stepped out of line, "This subject has not finished it yet. I came to attend the Court today because I want to recruit two assistants; there are some things that are truly quite troublesome to calculate alone."

Yan Ning thought for a moment and said, "Which two people have you chosen?"

Yun Shu said, "Song Yu and Jiang Zhi."

Yan Ning looked at the exam results of the Science Class every time, and she had become familiar with these two names as well.

Song Yu had even made a pair of Glasses; although the frame was drawn by Yun Shu, the design from the lenses to the frames was completed by Song Yu alone.

Yan Ning then said, "That is fine. The lowest official rank in the Research Institute is an Eighth-Rank Intern Researcher."

At this moment, the hundred officials began to be dissatisfied.

"Your Highness, please think thrice. They have no inventions whatsoever and are still taking classes at the Imperial Academy; it is truly inappropriate to grant them official positions."

"Your Highness, these two only have relatively good grades; they really cannot be given official positions."

Just kidding, they had studied bitterly for over ten years and had only just managed to emerge from the thousands of competitors.

Why should an exception be made to give these two students an Eighth-Rank official position?

Yan Ning then said, "That is also fine. If they can make something practical, then they can become Intern Researchers."

Yun Shu understood; for future collaborative projects, she would record both their names, and if they invented a few more things, they should be able to enter the Research Institute.

Yun Shu had found Song Yu and Jiang Zhi easy to work with during this period, which was why she wanted to strive for them.

It was just that the hundred officials did not agree, so Yun Shu could only keep the two by her side for now as research students.

The other officials all breathed a sigh of relief, only the officials from the Jiang family felt some regret.

Jiang Zhi had been just a step away from being an Eighth-Rank Official.

However, seeing that Yun Shu was very satisfied with him, and that Yun Shu was so formidable, Jiang Zhi would still have opportunities in the future.

After the morning court session, the hundred officials were all discussing it.

"Isn't it just too simple to become an official through this Science Class?"

"Yun Shu is one thing, he is truly formidable, but those two students he brought out want to be Eighth-Rank Officials without having anything."

"It's not that they have nothing; Song Yu just invented Glasses."

"What use does this thing have?"

"Back in our day, we had to cross the single-plank bridge among thousands of troops and horses, passing five passes and slaying six generals, just to become officials."

The air was filled with a sour scent.

Some people also muttered in low voices:

"Don't you think Yun Shu's promotion is also very fast? The Crown Princess is always thinking about Hand Grenades and Cannons; if they are made, I fear he will be promoted again."

"Why do I feel that promotion in this Research Institute is even faster than for military generals?"

"Indeed."

Several officials exchanged glances, all with a tacit understanding.

Having walked some distance away, the Minister of Works asked the Minister of Personnel, "If, and I mean if, we could send our nephews to study in the Science Class, wouldn't promotion be even faster?"

The Minister of Personnel said, "The Research Institute holds no real power."

The Minister of Works, however, said, "It doesn't matter whether there is real power or not; just being able to become an official is good enough."