Chapter 215

First Volume, Chapter 215: Liu Li Window

Since Shedynasty knew nothing of the Liu Li manufacturing method.

Moreover, the annual tribute of Liu Li amounted to only a few pieces.

The extreme scarcity made Liu Li exceedingly precious, ranking as the top-tier category of jewels.

Under Lu Ming's own eyes, Qin Feng didn't just "create" Liu Li from nothing—he shaped it into thin Liu Li Sheets.

But that wasn't the most astonishing part!

Qin Feng actually intended to turn such precious Liu Li into Windows?!

It was outright waste, utterly outrageous!

Lu Ming stared at the crystal-clear Liu Li Sheets, couldn't help swallowing several times, and said with a complex expression: "Turning these Liu Li Sheets into Windows isn't hard—though it's a bit wasteful, since Young Master has mastered the Liu Li Manufacturing Method, he can make as much as he wants in the future…"

Before he finished speaking, Qin Feng waved his hand to cut him off, speaking with solemn sincerity: "Remember, there is only one Liu Li Window in Heaven and Earth—no second one will ever be made."

Before Qin Feng could explain, Lu Ming suddenly understood, and inwardly felt deep admiration: "Young Master means the Liu Li Window is priceless precisely because it is one-of-a-kind in Heaven and Earth."

Qin Feng bent down, grabbed the Wood Charcoal basket, dumped some into the Cave Furnace to prevent it from going out and cooling, then said with grave emphasis: "Only the finest thing in Heaven and Earth can catch the Sage's eye. If the Sage knows this Liu Li Window is irreplaceable, he will cherish it all the more. In other words, the Sage will never forget the maker of this Liu Li Window."

Lu Ming was awestruck by Qin Feng's ingenious craftsmanship, yet utterly baffled by his deeper scheming: "They say serving the Sovereign is like serving a tiger—being remembered by the Sage isn't necessarily a good thing, is it?"

Lu Ming was in awe of Qin Feng's ingenious craftsmanship, yet seemed baffled by his inner machinations: "Isn't it said that serving a ruler is like serving a tiger? Being remembered by the Sage isn't necessarily a good thing, is it?"

Even if he explained, Lu Ming likely wouldn't understand.

Since Qin Feng was assassinated by Golden Elder Fourth, he had long known he had become the target of many, for he had disrupted too many people's interests by instigating the Northern Di war.

Aside from the Ministry of Revenue, Grand Commandant Gao, and the Lin Family, there were countless others in Heaven and Earth who wanted Qin Feng dead.

The saying "serving the Sovereign is like serving a tiger" was no lie.

But there's another old saying: "A fox borrows the tiger's might."

As long as the Sage remembers Qin Feng and remains intrigued by him, he couldn't promise more—but at least within Jingdu City, Qin Feng would be safe.

Qin Feng ordered Lu Ming to smash the set of molds, then stared at the Tin Trough filled with hard-won failure lessons and said gravely: "Make me an Iron Tin Trough identical to this Wooden Tin Trough. Also, from now on, collect Tin—it will surely be useful later."

The Glass made with the set of molds was rough-surfaced and contaminated with impurities—at least in Qin Feng's eyes, far from "crystal-clear."

Only by pouring Tin Liquid into a Tin Trough, then pouring Glass Liquid atop it, could true Glass be made.

Using the density of the Tin Liquid, the Glass Liquid would float above it, and surface tension would smooth it into perfect flatness.

Unfortunately, mineral resources in this era were still scarce, so metal varieties were few and poor.

Tin was produced in small quantities in Jiangnan; almost none existed in Jingdu, so collecting Tin would be a long process.

Lu Ming carefully stored the Tin Trough blueprint, then destroyed the Tin Trough, turned to the blazing Cave Furnace, and asked in confusion: "Young Master, why keep the furnace burning? Are you planning to make more Liu Li?"

Qin Feng had long stripped off his upper garment, crouched opposite the Cave Furnace, watching its glowing red interior—he looked nothing like Jingdu's First Young Master, more like a laboring craftsman.

In response to Lu Ming's question, Qin Feng snapped: "Of course! After all the effort to figure out the Liu Li Manufacturing Method, we only need to tweak the raw material ratios to make decent Liu Li. Not making Liu Li Sheets doesn't mean we won't make other Liu Li vessels—go find me an Iron Pipe, about this thick, this long."

Facing Lu Ming's question, Qin Feng snapped, "Of course! After all that effort to figure out the Liu Li Manufacturing Method, all we need to do is tweak the raw material ratios to make decent Liu Li. Not making Liu Li Sheets doesn't mean we won't make other Liu Li objects—go find me an Iron Pipe, about this thick and this long."

Soon, Lu Ming brought the Iron Pipe.

Qin Feng poured the remaining Glass Solution into a vessel; once cooled slightly, it thickened into syrup-like consistency, its bright red glow filling Qin Feng with longing—he almost wanted to stick out his tongue and lick it.

He inserted the Iron Pipe into the viscous Glass Solution, then placed the Glass Liquid into a pre-prepared oval Iron Mold, and blew hard.

Lu Ming was stunned again, mouth agape: "This Glass Vessel was blown out by mouth?!"

"Young Master, what's inside your head? How do you always come up with these astonishingly brilliant ideas?"

Flattery's good, but don't get drunk on it.

Qin Feng ignored Lu Ming's praise, blew the Glass into shape in one breath, removed it, placed the Blowpipe on the table, and watched the Glass Liquid, now roughly shaped, hang suspended—he then used thick CottonCloth and Iron Tongs to perform final shaping.

Finally, a crystal-clear Wine Vessel emerged, resembling Qin Feng's memory of a "Baijiu Bottle."

Looking at the crystal-clear Wine Vessel, Lu Ming's eyes sparkled with awe: "Young Master, is there anything you can't do?"

"This Wine Vessel… is truly divine craftsmanship!"

Qin Feng beamed, placed the Wine Vessel aside, handed the Blowpipe to Lu Ming, wiped sweat from his brow, and smiled: "Learned it?"

Lu Ming gripped the Blowpipe, trembling with excitement.

The Liu Li Manufacturing Method was so precious that whoever mastered it could become richer than a kingdom—and Qin Feng had handed it over to him, whole and complete. This trust moved Lu Ming deeply.

"Young Master, being by your side this lifetime, this humble servant…"

Before Lu Ming finished, Qin Feng waved him off: "Enough. Don't flatter me—I've heard enough of that from Qin Xiaofu every day; my ears are calloused. I'll write down the exact steps—you make six Liu Li Cups. That completes a set of Wine Vessels."

"When all are done, hand them to my Elder Sister Shen Qingci—she will deliver the Liu Li Window to the Imperial Study and the Wine Vessels to Chang Princess, who will pass them on to Qi Yang. Above all, Chang Princess must deliver them—do not give them directly to Qi Yang!"

Lu Ming didn't understand the deeper intent behind Qin Feng's arrangement, but nodded vigorously.

Making Liu Li Cups was simple.

First, blow a Glass Tube, then cut it into six short segments with scissors, rotate and polish the bottoms, and lightly reshape them.

Lu Ming was a master craftsman; once he grasped the essence, this small task posed no challenge.

By the time Qin Feng stepped out of the Liuli Workshop, the sky was full of stars.

He had just stretched his arms when Qin Xiaofu arrived, panting heavily.

He had just stretched out his arms when Qin Xiaofu arrived, panting heavily.