Chapter 487: Krypton Gold Palace Intrigue System (22)

While Xie Yang was savoring the gossip of the manor, the Eldest Madam, seeing that Xie Jing had not shown any initiative to visit the Third Branch after his marriage, could no longer sit still.

She came to the Xi Kuayuan in person, putting on airs and declaring that she wanted to keep the young couple, Xie Jing and his wife, by her side to groom them.

After saying this, she lifted her chin, waiting for the couple from the Third Branch to be endlessly grateful to her.

Unexpectedly, Third Master Xie rubbed his hands together: "Eldest Sister-in-law, I would certainly hope for Jing to learn some household management skills from you, but the Holy Aunt has given instructions for our family to help procure a seagoing vessel. As this is a matter of great importance, I have sent Jing to take charge of it."

"……"

At this moment, the Eldest Madam truly felt the frustration of a "duck that had reached her mouth only to fly away."

She took a deep breath, trying her best to suppress her anger as she said, "Third Brother, if you need a seagoing vessel, wouldn't it suffice to order one from a craftsman? Jing doesn't understand such things; what use is it to send him? I was thinking of helping out my nephew for your sake, Third Brother, but you—you actually send Jing to do work that even a servant could handle. Aren't you afraid of being laughed at if word gets out?"

Third Master Xie did not like the sound of that.

The Third Branch's current confidence all relied on his daughter's master.

Now that the old lady merely wanted a seagoing vessel, it was only natural to handle it with care.

Besides, what important business could the First Branch possibly have? Wasn't it just procurement?

A menial errand-running job, yet she boasted about it as if she were handing over the power of household management.

In the past, when Jing had nothing to do and spent all day playing polo and mahjong, he naturally hoped he could learn some management skills from the First Branch.

But now that he was busy, running errands for the Holy Aunt was far more important than running errands for the First Branch.

"Eldest Sister-in-law, no need to say more. The Holy Aunt has been kind to our Third Branch; since she has rarely made a request, I must naturally do my utmost to fulfill it. Jing will not be free for some time. If you are truly short-handed, Eldest Sister-in-law, you can simply hire another steward."

"……"

What else could the Eldest Madam say?

Should she admit that what she lacked wasn't a steward, but a scapegoat to take the blame?

She had no choice but to leave in a huff.

Xie Yang was happy to see the Eldest Madam get snubbed, and in high spirits, she stuffed a lotus pastry into her mouth.

"Daddy is the best!"

Sitting in a cushioned armchair, she swung her short legs contentedly and gave Third Master Xie a thumbs-up without hesitation.

Third Master Xie did not understand the meaning of the gesture, but he could tell his daughter was praising him, so he happily twitched his two goat-horn mustaches.

"Don't worry, daughter. The task your master entrusted to me, Daddy will certainly see it done for the old lady. Besides, what important business could your Eldest Aunt have? It's just her being lazy, wanting to find your Fourth Brother to run errands. That would have been fine in the past, but now that your master has given instructions, our own affairs are naturally more important."

Xie Yang nodded: "Daddy, have Fourth Brother learn more about seagoing vessel technology. Master wants to find someone reliable to help lead the ship out to sea, and Yang Er wants Fourth Brother to go."

"Ah?"

Going from supervising the construction of a seagoing vessel to leading the ship out to sea—the leap was truly a bit too large, and Third Master Xie was stunned.

The Daye Dynasty had never implemented a maritime ban.

But very few merchant houses dared to send ships that far.

For one, there was no direction at sea, making it easy to go off course; for another, the weather at sea was unpredictable, and pirates often haunted the outer waters—running into them meant nine deaths for one life.

Therefore, even if merchant houses of the Daye Dynasty had maritime shipping, it was mostly between a few coastal Fucheng, and they rarely went to Qiongya or even further to Nanyang.

It was no wonder her cheapskate father was so surprised.

However, she had already thought of countermeasures for the two obstacles mentioned above.

So she continued to brainwash her cheapskate father:

"Are the treasures Master gave Daddy and Mommy useful? Is the Golden Silk Blood Bird's Nest delicious? Are the spices easy to use? Are the pearls and corals beautiful? Is the pewterware precious? There are plenty of those on the islands in Nanyang!

My master hired a fishing boat in Jiaozhou Fu, loaded it with some tea, porcelain, and brocade bought in town, and exchanged them for so many good things. If we filled a large seagoing vessel with things that can be bought anywhere here and sailed to Nanyang to exchange them for things that can be bought anywhere there, wouldn't we be able to earn even more Silver?"

"!!!"

Upon hearing the first sentence, Third Master Xie's old face immediately flushed red. He wanted to properly lecture his daughter that she shouldn't casually inquire about the private affairs of her parents; if word got out, he would truly be laughed at for having no upbringing.

However, the words that followed made him completely forget about lecturing his daughter; he was enlightened.

That's right!

These treasures that could cause a sensation in Peking University all came from Nanyang.

And over in Nanyang, such treasures were just like the tea, porcelain, and silk fabrics of the Daye Dynasty—though not cheap, they could be bought as long as one had Silver.

If he brought back a whole ship full of Nanyang treasures, wouldn't that be...

Third Master Xie rubbed his hands in excitement, then patted Xie Yang's head: "Daughter! You really are Daddy's little lucky star! Daddy will go discuss this with your Fourth Brother right now."

If Jing were willing to go out to sea for Trading, he would indeed need to learn some necessary ship-repairing skills from the craftsmen.

"Fourth Brother's swimming skills also need to be practiced well." Xie Yang walked on her short legs, chasing after him to urge, "Just knowing how to swim isn't enough. The ocean is huge, and you can't see the edge at a glance. When the wind picks up, the waves are huge. Have Fourth Brother learn more measures to deal with unexpected situations."

Third Master Xie slowed his pace upon hearing this, feeling somewhat hesitant: "Is it that dangerous? Then perhaps..."

"Daddy, wealth is sought in danger. Besides, there's still my master! She won't let anything happen to Fourth Brother."

She had already scouted out a stabilizer; once installed on the seagoing vessel, it could automatically stabilize the ship when encountering wind and waves, keeping the ship balanced even in rough seas.

As for pirates, she also had countermeasures.

Before returning to Peking University, she had discovered a fairly large Niter mine near an area where nomadic tribes migrated.

Over the years, cattle and sheep manure had accumulated there, eventually forming a Niter mine.

She planned to wait until the seagoing vessel was mostly built, then take a flight at night, have the Mining Robot dig it out, and then hire an escort agency in the name of the Thousand-Faced Holy Aunt to transport it back and manufacture Gunpowder.

Third Master Xie heard his daughter's comfort and assumed the Thousand-Faced Holy Aunt would personally lead the ship out to sea, so what was there to worry about? He said no more and went to discuss the matter with his son.

Once Xie Jing heard, how could he not be delighted?

He was bold by nature and yearned for freedom; otherwise, he wouldn't have been unable to stay in the manor and spent all day running to the Farm to play polo.

Now that he could go out to sea with the Thousand-Faced Holy Aunt to trade for Nanyang treasures, he was too excited to contain himself.

He became even more dedicated to supervising the construction of the seagoing vessel.

He also followed his father's words, brought many gifts to the craftsmen's homes, and began learning ship-repairing skills.

After his marriage, Xie Jing was busy creating life at night and building ships by day, occupied beyond measure.

Never mind going to the first branch to help, she couldn't even manage to cross paths with them.

The First Madam felt anxious inside, yet she had no way to deal with the situation.

With the Thousand-Faced Holy Maiden suppressing things, even if she sought the Old Matriarch's intervention, she would likely still be unable to do anything about the third branch.

As it happened, Xie Ping sent word again, saying she needed Silver to grease palms in the inner palace.

This time she wanted even more, asking for Wanyi taels outright.

How could the public treasury have that much Silver in savings!

The monthly allowances that had been sent out were not yet due to be returned either.

Where was she supposed to get Wanyi taels?