Chapter 38: Granted the Fief of Lady Qingping County, Equal in Status to a Princess

Everyone felt a chill rise up their spine, their gazes fixed straight on the figure not far ahead.

Quan Quan Aoyu stood there quietly; even the sunlight falling on him failed to dispel the cold aura emanating from his body. That face, originally extraordinarily handsome, was now covered in frost, expressionless, its majesty and domineering air making people shrink back in fear.

He slightly narrowed his eyes, his gaze sharp as a hawk's, sweeping over the two pairs of mothers and daughters, frightening them into immediately lowering their heads, daring not to make a sound.

"Do you want me to invite you out? Get lost!" Before the two pairs of mothers and daughters could recover, Quan Quan Aoyu's cold voice rang out again.

Frightened into a shiver, the First Lady hurriedly retreated; Jun Jun Yiyi and Jun Jun Zhidie were reluctant to leave just like that, but seeing the Crown Prince truly angered, after a moment of calculation, they lifted their skirts and ran. Li Shi was so frightened she stood stunned for a long while; when she came to her senses, she ran on hands and knees. Where was even a shred of their usual dignity in these people?

The medicine Quan Quan Aoyu brought back to the palace had caught Bai Yu's eye; these pills were far superior to those bowls of bitter medicine soup. As for the efficacy, whatever the Crown Prince had must be the best, so the boy, risking a beating, stubbornly snatched a few pills. Quan Quan Aoyu cursed "brat" under his breath, his heart aching terribly, thinking he would come earlier today to change the dressing and ask that girl for some more pills to take back.

The Old Lady was still asleep. Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had finished tidying up, he instructed Xiao He to take good care of the Old Lady. Today, seeing the crowd cause trouble, Xiao He was initially flustered but quickly calmed down; overall, she performed very well.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin cast an appreciative glance at Xiao He, then went on his own to change Quan Quan Aoyu's dressing.

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin gently unwrapped the gauze at Quan Quan Aoyu's wound, her movements soft and skilled; her slightly furrowed brows smoothed out:

"Your Highness's wound is healing faster than I imagined," Seeing Jun Jun Zijin said softly.

Quan Quan Aoyu let out a light chuckle and asked:

"Aren't you curious how I got this wound?"

"Then how did Your Highness get this wound?" Seeing Jun Jun Zijin asked with a smile too.

"Speaking of it, this wound of mine is actually related to you."

"Your Highness, please tell me," Seeing Jun Jun Zijin said, her hands not stopping their work.

"I followed the formula you provided; after craftsmen tried and refined it many times, our Emperor Tianqi finally successfully produced the first batch of stainless steel! When this batch of stainless steel was presented before our eyes, the luster and texture it radiated truly made one unable to help but marvel. After testing, as expected, even if soaked in water all day, it remained as bright as new, not a single trace of rust ever appearing."

Quan Quan Aoyu's face was filled with delight; he spared no praise. Such excellent material would inevitably have wide and important uses in the future. Whether used for manufacturing military equipment or various utensils in daily life, it would bring great benefits. And if made into pots, bowls, and other daily utensils, they would surely be durable, adding much convenience to the people's lives.

"That day, I went to the palace to report the results to my father the Emperor, and a master infiltrated the workshop. Fortunately, I discovered it in time; the formula was not stolen, but two craftsmen in the workshop were killed. I followed the tracks and chased after them, only to be ambushed at a residence." Quan Quan Aoyu's brows furrowed slightly.

"It really is related to me," Seeing Jun Jun Zijin laughed.

After Quan Quan Aoyu finished speaking, Seeing Jun Jun Zijin had already finished changing the dressing:

"Your Highness, your wound is healing extremely well; after one more dressing change, you won't need to come again."

A sense of loss washed over Quan Quan Aoyu's heart; then he remembered he still had official business today:

"I came today with another request."

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin turned around in confusion, "What is it, Your Highness?"

"Those pills are very effective; I wonder if you could give me a few more?"

Seeing Jun Jun Zijin rolled her eyes at him, "Those pills are not easy to make; Your Highness, use them sparingly. I still have some here; I will bring them for you in a moment."

"Once Grandmother recovers and I have my hands free, I will open a workshop for finished medicines; at that time, I will sell them in the pharmacy."

Quan Quan Aoyu rubbed his nose; however, since his purpose was achieved, he disregarded the awkwardness, hurriedly thanked her, and left, completely satisfied.

In the magnificent and grand palace, upon the golden and brilliant main hall, the Emperor, clad in a bright yellow dragon robe, sat upright on the dragon throne carved with exquisite patterns. His posture was straight, his face serious and solemn, commanding awe without anger, radiating a powerful aura that made people dare not look directly at him.

At this moment, the vast hall was already filled with high-ranking imperial officials; each wore official robes, held a tablet, and wore a solemn expression; the entire hall was permeated with a tense atmosphere; everyone held their breath, waiting for the Emperor to speak.

The Emperor slightly narrowed his eyes, his sharp gaze slowly sweeping over every person present. After a moment, the Emperor finally spoke:

"Regarding the steel workshop and the Crown Prince's ambush, this matter has major implications; it concerns not only the court's face but also the safety of our dynasty and state secrets. Do any of you, my dear ministers, have the latest progress or clues to report?"

The Minister of Justice stepped forward and said respectfully:

"Your Majesty, I sent people to carefully investigate the place where the Crown Prince was ambushed; that civilian residence seemed deliberately arranged and must have been premeditated. As for the steel workshop, after investigation, it appears a mysterious force is manipulating it behind the scenes."

The Emperor nodded slightly, but his gaze fell on Prime Minister Gao, who had been silent. The Emperor suddenly asked:

"Minister Gao, what do you think?"

Prime Minister Gao hurriedly stepped forward one pace:

"Your Majesty, this old minister believes this matter might be connected to certain forces within the court."

Hearing this, the Emperor's face grew even darker: "Hmph! Such things happen right under my nose! Regarding the steel workshop matter, order the Ministry of Revenue to jointly investigate with the Dali Temple to quickly uncover the person behind it and punish them severely without mercy. The Crown Prince's ambush is the Top priority; the Ministry of Justice must arrest the mastermind as soon as possible."

All the ministers shouted in unison: "We obey the decree."

The Emperor nodded slightly, his face easing a bit, then played a little trick:

"I believe some of you, my dear ministers, have already heard that our dynasty has produced stainless steel. So-called stainless steel, as the name suggests, is steel that does not rust. I imagine you all have long been curious and can't wait to see it?"

Inside the spacious and grand hall, suddenly silence fell. Everyone's gazes focused squarely on the Emperor sitting high above; everyone held their breath, waiting for what the Emperor would say next.

Although there had been rumors that Emperor Tianqi had produced stainless steel, no one had ever seen this miraculous object with their own eyes. Now, learning they would have the honor of seeing its true form today, their hearts were filled with curiosity, expectation, nervousness, and excitement.

The Emperor was very satisfied with everyone's reaction; he no longer played tricks, clapped his hands, and servants brought in several exquisite boxes. After opening the boxes, inside were placed some finely crafted utensils, all radiating the unique luster of metal.

"These are objects made of stainless steel. I summoned you, my dear ministers, today for two reasons: first, to inform you of this matter; second, to see whether promoting this thing would benefit or harm our dynasty."

The Vice Minister of Works stepped forward to inspect it and said, "Your Majesty, this object is incredibly smooth; if used for weapon manufacturing, it will surely make our dynasty's weapons more durable and sharp, greatly benefiting the military."

Prime Minister Gao shook his head in opposition: "Your Majesty, although this stainless steel is good, its cost must be high; currently, the national treasury is not full. If we promote it vigorously, we might exhaust the people and waste money."

Xiang Xiang Junzheng carefully held up a bowl, his gaze focused, as if holding a rare treasure, examining it inside and out, carefully and repeatedly. He scrutinized the bowl in his hand, lost in thought; after a long while, Xiang Xiang Junzheng finally came to his senses and said respectfully:

"Your Majesty! If we can use that miraculous stainless steel to make tableware, that would be wonderful! This material is incredibly hard; even if accidentally dropped on the ground, it won't easily break. Moreover, it doesn't rust; used for several years, it will still remain intact! In this way, not only will the people of our Emperor Tianqi nation benefit infinitely, but selling these stainless steel tableware to other countries will also greatly enrich our national treasury!"

Speaking to this point, Xiang Xiang Junzheng's eyes sparkled with excitement and expectation, as if he already saw a scene of prosperity and flourishing unfolding before him.

After hearing this, the Emperor pondered for a moment; this time Xiang Xiang Junzheng's mind was indeed agile. He nodded and said:

"Minister Gao's words make sense. Let it be done this way: the Ministry of Works will be responsible for crafting the tableware, first testing it in the rear palace, then mass-producing it for sale to various countries. This matter is thus decided."

The crowd discussed loudly; most faces were filled with praise and admiration, while those holding opposing opinions were few. The Emperor, looking at the crowd with differing opinions, his gaze fell again on Xiang Xiang Junzheng, who had picked up another plate to examine carefully. His playful spirit arose; suddenly, he spoke coldly:

"Minister Jun, you have raised a good daughter!"

Xiang Xiang Junzheng suddenly heard the Emperor call his name; his heart jumped; he hurriedly put down the plate in his hand and said in a trembling voice:

"Your Majesty is wise; this minister does not know what Your Majesty refers to."

"You, my dear ministers, have just seen objects made of stainless steel, but do you know that the stainless steel formula and the refining method actually come from the hand of a woman?"

Seeing the Emperor's originally kind expression suddenly turn cold, some were confused, secretly guessing what had provoked the Dragon's anger; others were schadenfreude. But what did that extraordinary stainless steel formula have to do with the Young Lady of Minister Jun's household? Could it be that the formula actually came from the hand of the Jun family's eldest daughter, who had been exceptionally intelligent since childhood, proficient in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting, famous throughout Jingcheng, and praised by everyone?

For a moment, opinions varied, and various guesses filled the air.

Xiang Xiang Junzheng secretly glanced at the Emperor, whose face was stern, and was so frightened his legs trembled; this time his mind failed him, and the first thing he thought was: which of the household's wicked daughters had caused trouble again?

The Emperor took in the expressions of everyone in the great hall; when his gaze fell upon Xiang Xiang Junzheng, the Emperor frowned slightly. He saw Xiang Xiang Junzheng standing there, his body hunched, his expression panicked. The Emperor sighed inwardly: Xiang Xiang Junzheng is not much, possessing not a shred of the backbone his father had in his day, yet he could sire such a daughter—it is truly puzzling... Seeing Xiang Xiang Junzheng thoroughly frightened, the Emperor put aside his playful mood and spoke:

"Minister Jun, there is no need to panic." His voice was not loud, yet it clearly reached everyone's ears, carrying an authority that brooked no dissent.

"Your daughter is not the one who caused trouble, but has rendered an achievement to the state." The Emperor said slowly.

Everyone nodded inwardly; it seemed the formula undoubtedly came from the Jun family's eldest young lady. Immediately, the sound of people envying Xiang Xiang Junzheng's good fortune reached his ears, and only then did his suspended heart relax slightly, and he hurriedly thanked His Majesty for the grace.

Everyone's thoughts twisted and turned a thousand times, which naturally did not escape the Emperor's eyes; the Emperor coughed lightly, cleared his throat, and spoke again:

"Our Emperor Tianqi's stainless steel formula and smelting method indeed come from the hand of Minister Jun's second young lady. This is a great achievement; I must bestow a heavy reward. Minister Jun having such a remarkable woman in his household is truly a fortunate matter. At the palace banquet in two days, I must see this remarkable woman."

The Emperor praised.

Everyone was once again in an uproar; when had the waste known to all in the Jun household transformed into the remarkable woman in the Emperor's words! But who dares question the current Emperor's words? Among the crowd there was jealousy, and there was envy. At this moment, Xiang Xiang Junzheng's face was one of utter disbelief.

At this moment, a trace of gloom not easily noticed flashed in High Chancellor Gao's eyes. Although Xiang Xiang Junzheng was insignificant and his only son was useless, posing no threat to him, the Jun family had the Emperor's protection, which he already feared somewhat; now that the Jun family had produced such a woman favored by the Emperor, it would be even harder to balance them in the future. If it were the Jun family's eldest young lady, it would be one thing, for she was his Gao family's betrothed daughter-in-law, but this was the second daughter whose engagement his Gao family had previously broken. His heart was both angry and unwilling, and he literally swallowed the old blood that had surged to his throat.

In a brief instant, everyone's thoughts twisted and turned a thousand times; Xiang Xiang Junzheng came to his senses and hurriedly replied:

"Your Majesty is wise and enlightened. That my daughter gains Your Majesty's appreciation is truly a glory for our family. It is just that my daughter was originally raised in the countryside, and I fear she may lose propriety before the various ministers."

The Emperor laughed heartily: "It matters not."

The Emperor waved his large hand:

"Proclaim my decree: The Jun family's second young lady, Jun Jun Zijin, possesses noble virtue and a heart like orchid and chrysanthemum; she has rendered an achievement to the state and is truly a model for women. I hereby confer upon the Jun family's second young lady, Jun Jun Zijin, the title of Lady Lady Qingping, grant her the fief of Lady Qingping County, bestow a mansion, a carriage, and various treasures. Her rank shall be equal to that of a ruler."

The Crown Prince had reached the age for betrothal; how could the Emperor not know his son's thoughts? Never before had a woman caught his son's eye, yet recently the Crown Prince had gained vitality and smiles because of the Jun family's girl. Speaking of it, this son resolving a heart knot of many years for his father also had a bit to do with that girl from the Jun family. That girl possessed the backbone of her grandfather in his day, was wise and decisive, and her medical skills were outstanding; such a woman matched to his most beloved son would naturally be an asset to his son in the future. He had promised the Empress to surely protect their son. However, that girl had no support, and because someone had deliberately acted, she was now infamous; given the current situation, assigning her to the Crown Prince was not suitable. The palace seemed calm on the surface, but in reality, undercurrents surged; various palaces watched the Crown Prince's position openly and secretly, and the Empress had not yet found a suitable match; the Crown Prince's consort must have a backing. It would be better to create this momentum for that girl. Moreover, that girl's achievement to the state indeed deserved the dignity of a County Lady.

Once the Emperor spoke these words, everyone was shocked. The Jun family's young lady being conferred the title of County Lady—what an immense honor this was.