Ding Wuyi peered closer and saw hundreds of swordsmen emerging from the woods ahead.
Leading them was a man with a handsome face and a broad, sturdy build, who cupped his fists in greeting towards Ding Wuyi.
"Shao Ling, your eyesight has truly improved!" Ding Wuyi returned the salute.
This man was Chen Shaoling, a star disciple of Sword Sage, and a renowned swordsman himself.
Sword Sage Jian Nanfeng, a scholar of ancient and modern times, possessed unparalleled swordsmanship and was the first in the Great Gan Dynasty to be honored as a Sage through his sword skills.
Even after his falling out with Medical Sage Mu Xueqin, Jian Nanfeng still kept three thousand disciples to protect and manage Mount Tian.
Chen Shaoling quickly understood Ding Wuyi's purpose and could only manage a wry smile.
"Senior, since that Liang Xiao is the grandson of the General, my mistress will surely not treat him..."
Ding Wuyi stated seriously, "This young man is immensely talented and will undoubtedly bring great benefit to the people of Great Gan in the future!"
Chen Shaoling could only offer another wry smile and sighed, "Junior will take you to see Mistress. You can plead with her yourself."
Under the moonlight, Mount Tian was utterly silent, with snow falling all around.
Ding Wuyi followed Chen Shaoling, braving the wind and snow as they entered the mountain.
As they passed through a bamboo grove, Ding Wuyi faintly heard the melodious sound of a zither, ethereal and graceful.
"Her zither skills have improved again!" Ding Wuyi couldn't help but slap his chest and sigh.
Chen Shaoling smiled, his face filled with admiration. "My junior sister is a star disciple of Zither Sage, her talent goes without saying. Unfortunately, she is too aloof, and finding a kindred spirit is difficult."
Ding Wuyi chuckled silently and said no more.
The two passed through the bamboo grove and stopped outside a bamboo house, observing.
The house was brightly lit, but the door was shut tight. A faint aroma of medicine wafted from within.
"Mistress, Senior Ding Wuyi has an urgent matter to discuss!"
As soon as Chen Shaoling spoke, an old woman's voice from inside inquired, "Eunuch Ding, is His Majesty gravely ill?"
Ding Wuyi quickly explained his purpose.
"How many times must I say it? I will not treat royalties, nobles, or their offspring. Even if His Majesty himself came, I would not break this rule, even if it meant losing my head!"
"This child is a talent rarely seen in a century! I have brought his works, his wise counsel, and His Majesty's decree!" Ding Wuyi responded loudly.
"He may be a talent rarely seen in a millennium, his writings passed down through the ages, but it is of no concern to me. Chen Shaoling, show the guest out!" the reply was even sterner.
Ding Wuyi was about to explain when Chen Shaoling quickly stopped him and led Ding Wuyi far away.
"Senior, you should be aware of Mistress's temperament..."
Ding Wuyi sighed, "But His Majesty has commanded it, and I cannot but give my all!"
Chen Shaoling pointed towards a distant bamboo grove, "You can accompany Junior to see my junior sister. Perhaps she can find a way."
Ding Wuyi fell into thought and immediately asked Chen Shaoling to lead the way.
Deep within the bamboo grove, flames blazed, creating a warmth rarely found in the outside world.
Ding Wuyi gazed at the silhouette behind a screen, listening to the beautiful zither music, and couldn't help but nod slightly, thinking, "It seems she has truly inherited Zither Sage's true teachings."
Jian Qinwan, daughter of Sword Sage and Medical Sage, and a star disciple of Zither Sage!
After a long while, the zither music concluded, the lingering notes filling the air.
Jian Qinwan, on the other side of the screen, finally spoke, her voice cool and clear, "Eunuch Ding, for what reason have you come?"
Ding Wuyi quickly handed Liang Xiao's handwritten decree to a maid, who then passed it on.
Through the projection on the screen, Ding Wuyi saw Jian Qinwan unfold Xiao Qing's letter and, after reading it, turn to wash her hands.
Witnessing this, Ding Wuyi was filled with helplessness.
The legendary, extreme洁癖 (germaphobia)...
"My mother will not agree," Jian Qinwan finally said.
Ding Wuyi took out the poems and famous quotes related to Liang Xiao from his embrace and handed them to the maid.
This time, it was not an imperial decree, so Jian Qinwan did not touch them but had the maid unfold them.
"Hmm, not bad! How is this person's martial arts?"
After a long pause, Ding Wuyi finally heard Jian Qinwan's praise.
Ding Wuyi replied, "I have never seen him wield a spear or a saber."
"Miss, with such literary talent, he must have been immersed in books since childhood. Where would he find the time to practice martial arts?" the maid reminded her.
Jian Qinwan nodded slightly and said, "His literary talent is indeed extraordinary, but he is still just someone who wields a brush."
With that, Jian Qinwan waved her hand to the maid. After the maid put away the calligraphy, she turned away distastefully to wash her hands.
Ding Wuyi was on the verge of collapse.
These mother and daughter were as peculiar as ever...
The Great Gan Dynasty had always valued civil arts over martial arts, yet here, disciples studied the Four Books and Five Classics but did not hold scholars in high regard.
This was because they had the capital. This place gathered the elites of the world, many of whom had even served as imperial guards!
Jian Qinwan then said, "Eunuch Ding, junior will speak a few good words to my mother for you. But you must return and have that Liang Xiao come here himself. Whether my mother will make an exception depends on his wisdom and fortune."
Finally seeing a glimmer of hope, Ding Wuyi was overjoyed. "Thank you!"
Ding Wuyi then rose to take his leave, following another maid. He heard Jian Qinwan's urging from behind.
"Diao'er, quickly find someone to clean the seats and the surrounding floor. It's contaminated again. Remember to boil it twenty times first."
Hearing this, Ding Wuyi nearly stumbled.
I haven't even left yet, and she's already treating me this disrespectfully?
Returning to the foot of Mount Tian, Ding Wuyi found Chen Shaoling waiting and took out a silver note as a token of gratitude.
Chen Shaoling politely refused, "If my master and mistress find out, I will be thrown out!"
Ding Wuyi was taken aback and could only thank him.
Chen Shaoling then arranged a room for Ding Wuyi. Ding Wuyi rested until morning and then rushed back to the capital.
The Capital, Liang Residence.
The next day, Zhang Yang, accompanied by a group of craftsmen, came to find Liang Xiao, introducing them with excitement.
The elder leading the group was Huang Xing, the Vice Minister of Works.
Huang Xing said respectfully, "Young Master Liang, please do not hesitate to command. I and these artisans have been ordered to come and await your instructions."
"Liang Xiao, with these skilled craftsmen assigned by His Majesty, the manufacturing and testing process of the curved-shaft plow will undoubtedly be greatly accelerated."
Saying this, Zhang Yang handed four drawings he had sketched to Liang Xiao.
Liang Xiao opened them and his eyes lit up.
After a day of research, Zhang Yang had designed four improved schemes.
One of them, in terms of proportion and dimensions, was already very close to the curved-shaft plow Liang Xiao remembered.
Although Liang Xiao knew the general appearance of the curved-shaft plow, his memory of its structural proportions was limited, so he had only drawn a rough sketch.
Liang Xiao took out the last drawing and gave it to Zhang Yang, saying, "Test this one first. It should be fine. If it is successful, it will be credited to your name."
Zhang Yang repeatedly shook his head, "No! This curved-shaft plow was designed by you. I only made minor modifications. How can I claim credit?"
"This is a creation that will be remembered for generations," Liang Xiao reminded him.
Zhang Yang dismissed it, "Without you, my wife and I would probably still be huddled for warmth in a broken house. A true man dedicates himself to the country and its people, fortunate to display his talents to the fullest! What does posthumous fame matter?"
"Well said," Liang Xiao praised involuntarily.
Zhang Yang excitedly left with the craftsmen and the drawings, leaving only Vice Minister of Works Huang Xing behind.
Seeing Zhang Yang depart, Liang Xiao then reminded him, "Vice Minister Huang, when you report back, say that this curved-shaft plow was created through the joint efforts of myself and Zhang Yang."
Huang Xing looked at Liang Xiao with shock and disbelief.
He had seen the design drawings.
This curved-shaft plow would undoubtedly bring about a revolution in the productivity of the common people!