Chapter 37: Making Glass

In modern times, Er Gouzi would be a construction foreman.

Seeing that he handled matters efficiently, Yan Ning had him arrange for people to farm, plant fruit trees, and clear wasteland.

After handing everything over to Er Gouzi, Yan Ning felt much more relaxed and no longer needed to go over there to check on things every day.

However, during this period, Yan Ning always had a bad premonition.

It was understandable; the forces of both the Second Prince and the Third Prince were eager for Yan Ze to die early. According to Steward Chen, people had been watching their mine from time to time recently.

For the past two days, Yan Ning had not been sleeping very soundly. Sometimes she would wake up to see arrows shot into the wall, and sometimes she would feel like there was someone in the room, scaring Yan Ning into sleeping with her parents.

But things were no better on her parents' side. Someone smashed a window to get in, and her father, catching them off guard, ran the person through with a single sword strike. The person wasn't dead yet, but the thief, fearing Yan Ze's torture, bit into a poison packet in their mouth and died on the spot.

Yan Ze only felt it was bad luck.

After a good while, the hundred garrison soldiers finally arrived. They knelt down in unison: "Your Highness, it was our lack of vigilance; we are willing to accept punishment."

Yan Ze waved his hand: "It is not your fault; the thieves were just too cunning."

Yan Ning was also scared out of her wits; if her father had been a second slower, he might have been injured.

They had to move into the new house quickly. There were three watchtowers there, and once the street lamps were installed, no one would be able to get through.

At this moment, General Xie also brought over a man in black, "Your Highness, it is likely no longer safe to live here. Why don't we go to Haicheng?"

Yan Ning whispered: "Xie, we have a place to go, it is very safe. Would you like to come along?"

Come to think of it, Xie Luyan was also implicated by their family.

Xie Luyan nodded quickly. His wife and daughter were still shaken, and his wife was having an even harder time, as the injuries she had sustained earlier had not yet fully healed.

Xie Luyan asked her: "Where are you planning to go?"

Yan Ning said: "To a piece of land near Taohua Village. We had people start building a house there a few days ago. I don't know if it's habitable yet, but if it comes to it, we'll just make do with tents for a few nights to avoid living in constant fear and not being able to sleep soundly at night."

Early the next morning, Yan Ning got up unusually early. She had to go with her parents to check the situation there and see what needed to be brought.

Fortunately, the two places were close and there was a small river for boats, so it would only take half an hour to get there.

When Yan Ning arrived, the house was already half-built. Inside the finished parts, there were no beds or furniture, and the doors and windows hadn't been installed yet, so they could only make do by sleeping on the floor.

Er Gouzi had brought five skilled carpenters. Three of them went to work on the watchtowers, and Er Gouzi arranged for the other two to make furniture.

Unlike the village carpenters they had found before, these men could make more exquisite items, such as carved beds, Eight Immortals Tables, table desks, folding screens...

Yan Ning had drawn the blueprints beforehand, and they just needed to follow them.

It was just that these beds were all semi-finished products.

Looking at the watchtowers, the three masters were working together, and the watchtowers were already half done.

Yan Ning looked at these semi-finished products; they should be done in a few more days. This time, they would have to sleep on the floor.

Seeing that things were about ready, Yan Ning went back to pick up General Xie and his family.

Come to think of it, she had also wanted to pick up Grand Tutor Chen, but Yan Ning had been there a few times and saw that Grand Tutor Chen was quite comfortable, so she didn't call him to come along.

After returning, Yan Ning said to General Xie: "The house over there is already built, but there are no beds inside, so we have to sleep on the floor. I plan to make carved doors, but that will have to wait."

General Xie said: "What of it? We've endured wind and dew on our journey here, haven't we?"

Yan Ning then had them pack their things and took twenty garrison soldiers to Yan Ning's new home. For this, Yan Ning specifically bought a medium-sized boat that could seat twenty or thirty people and could also transport supplies.

Laifu looked at Yan Ning with reddened eyes. The little Princess had been forced into a dead end and still had to sleep on the floor!

Those goddamn bastards, knowing only how to come and cause trouble for His Highness every single day.

He must write a letter back to report this to the Empress Dowager!

Laifu did not go along, saying that the Empress Dowager had him buy some shops and other properties for Yan Ning in Shawan County and Haicheng, so Laifu had to stay in Shawan County.

Yan Ning also felt a bitter taste in her heart.

She wondered how the Empress Dowager was doing after she had emptied the Imperial Palace.

After boarding the boat, Yan Ning took a few deep breaths to calm her mood.

Half an hour passed quickly, and Yan Ning took General Xie to see her new home.

When General Xie saw the watchtowers and saw that they had bought so much land to grow food, he realized the location was well-chosen—easy to defend and hard to attack.

What surprised him most of all was that there were watchtowers here.

If this wasn't preparing for rebellion, what was it?!

General Xie looked around the whole way, his eyes shining.

Yan Ning brought him into the courtyard. The bricks in the back hadn't been laid flat yet, so they could only live in the front courtyard for now. There were exactly two rooms, one for each family, and a large empty room where thirty guards could squeeze in to sleep.

General Xie was somewhat surprised: "You fenced off a piece of land here and started working; is that stubborn donkey, County Magistrate Lin, willing to let you off?"

Yan Ning said with a smile: "The current County Magistrate Lin is not rigid at all. We paid the money, and we also bought that whole stretch of land over there, five hundred mu."

General Xie widened his eyes.

How rich must they be!

He sighed, "You all are truly impressive. I didn't bring much money on this exile journey, and it was all used up on the road. If I had known, I would have brought more Silver Notes."

Yan Ning said with a smile: "I have a way to make money; shall we do it together?"

General Xie did not dismiss it just because Yan Ning was a child; Yan Ning had a quick mind, and perhaps she really did have a way to make a fortune.

Xie Luyan couldn't help but ask: "What is this good method, exactly?"

Yan Ning pondered for a moment: "I can't say right now. I have to test if it's feasible first. If it's not, I'll have to think of another way."

Hearing that her daughter wanted to make money, Ji Lan took advantage of the time when others were busy, pulled her aside, and asked: "We are building this house in secret, and you want to go into business—will that expose our location? We have so much money, there's no need to be in a rush to earn more."

Yan Ning shook her head: "No, just let the subordinates handle these things. Find a few we can trust."

"Besides, I feel our family is being far too high-profile. I've been scattering Gold Melon Seeds and Silver Melon Seeds along the way, and I bought eight hundred mu of land in one go. We've spent too much money. If someone with ulterior motives investigates the silver we've spent, the accounts will never add up. We have a lot of money, but it's all 'black money'; we have to find a way to launder it."

"For example, if we set the price of the shop higher, and we disguise ourselves or have others buy the Glass, the money earned will be legitimate, and others won't be too suspicious."

Ji Lan suddenly understood, "Right, we have enough money, and I don't feel the pinch when I spend it, which might indeed arouse suspicion from many people."

Yan Ning pondered for a moment: "I will first go find the materials for Glass and try to make it. If I succeed, I will go to Haicheng to rent a shop."