The Splendor of the Five Dynasties

Chapter 140 Telescope

Xiao Yi did not ride a horse, but strolled around to digest his food. By the time he arrived at the Li residence, it was already dusk.

A luxurious carriage was parked at the side gate, its shadow stretched long by the setting sun, and a young man in a brocade robe was pacing beside it.

There was still some distance between them, but the gatekeeper glanced over and greeted them warmly, saying, "Young Master Xiao has arrived, please come in."

"I planned to come the day before yesterday, but I was unavailable."

"Wait a minute."

Suddenly a shout came from behind. Xiao Yi turned around and saw the young man in brocade robes walking over and bowing.

"Your surname is Xiao?"

"Yes."

"Su Dexiang was from Wugong County, Jingzhao Prefecture, and was the son of a prominent family."

"What brings you here, Brother Su?"

"I've heard that you were taken in by the Li family at a young age and that you and the young lady of the Li family were childhood sweethearts?"

"We wouldn't call each other childhood sweethearts, but we've been through thick and thin together."

Su Dexiang looked worried and asked earnestly, "Do you also want to marry Miss Li?"

Xiao Yi felt somewhat offended; he didn't need to say these things to a stranger.

He could tell that Su Dexiang cared about Li Zhaoning, so he offered a reminder.

"If Brother Su wants to marry Miss Li, I'm afraid she won't like her surname."

"I have no relation to Su Fengji, my father..."

"It's unnecessary to discuss your father with someone you barely know."

"Then let's compare our literary talents."

"No, I'm here to see Lord Xinchen. Please excuse me."

Xiao Yi entered, and Li Tao and Li Fang were already there.

Upon meeting, they exchanged greetings. He first apologized for not coming to apologize on previous occasions, then congratulated Li Tao on his reinstatement as Minister of Justice, and congratulated Li Fang on his appointment as Left Remonstrance Official.

"When you arrived, Xiao Lang, you must have seen my disciple?"

"Yes."

"He is the son of Prime Minister Su Yugui. He is exceptionally talented in literature, but clumsy in interpersonal relationships. I hope you will forgive his shortcomings."

"Young people, it's understandable."

“Look at him, he speaks in such an old-fashioned way.” Li Tao said, “The current emperor is different. On the night of the first day of the first lunar month, he personally went to the homes of Dou Zhengu and Su Yugui to invite them to return to their positions as prime ministers. He has the intention to sweep away the long-standing abuses.”

“It is a good thing that Your Majesty is willing to use scholars,” Xiao Yi said. “However, I believe that to eliminate long-standing problems, we must first arrange personnel, appoint officials, and reform the military system before we can take decisive action.”

Li Fang said, "Hedong is not yet settled; it is too early to speak."

"Brother Mingyuan is just too cautious."

After discussing politics for a while, Xiao Yi learned that Guo Wei had recently been promoting civil officials. After Li Tao left, he asked Li Fang about the telescope.

"Oh, it should have been successfully tested by now."

"It's finished?"

Li Fang smiled faintly, took out a piece of paper from his sleeve, and said, "Let's talk about the money first. Ninety percent of the expenses were spent on the crystal and polishing. Any stone that is cloudy, has impurities, or cracks cannot be used. It needs to be polished with diamond powder, which is very easy to fail. Including the glasses, the two coppersmiths tried a total of twelve times. Your two hundred and twenty-two strings of cash are not enough. I will advance another sixty-seven thousand three hundred and eighty coins, making a total of seventy thousand and eighty coins. Seventy strings of cash will suffice."

"Okay, money is not a problem. Let me see the finished product."

"It's with Youniang. She's been asked to draw the diagrams and record all the measurements. By the way, the diagrams and measurements belong to my brother and me, so we'll have to pay for them separately."

"It's alright, Brother Mingyuan, just name a number."

"The materials cost three hundred strings of cash, so the resulting measurement system must be worth at least six hundred strings of cash. Do you think that makes sense?"

Xiao Yi was slightly taken aback, and surprisingly, he agreed with the statement.

He only had two thousand strings of cash on hand, one thousand of which he planned to use to buy cotton cloth in Xiangzhou. If he spent the rest of the money in this way, he would be very short of funds.

"What?" Li Fang laughed, "I've used my talents to manage your business affairs, and you can't even spare this little bit of money?"

"Here you go. But could you allow me to use the finished product to collect the deposit?"

How do you plan to get your deposit back?

Xiao Yi asked, "How much does it cost to build a telescope?"

"At least sixty strings of cash are needed to guarantee that a usable lens can be ground."

“I sell and demonstrate to His Majesty.”

Li Fang shook his head and said, "Do you really think the Emperor would give you a deposit?"

"How else?"

Xiao Yi quickly understood as soon as he asked the question.

Guo Wei must have treated him like one of his own again, making him reveal the production method and then bestowing upon him a useless honorary title.

Li Fang said, "How about I teach you a method?"

"Please enlighten me, Brother Mingyuan."

"Thirty strings of cash."

Why are you calculating money for everything today?

"Because all my savings have been spent on you, look."

Li Fang lifted his shirt, revealing a pair of tattered boots.

Xiao Yi could only reassure him, "I'll give Brother Mingyuan some money later, tell me."

"Find someone in the emperor's remorse to step forward."

"Who?"

"You are the emperor's closest advisor, why are you asking me?"

Xiao Yi thought to himself that among the surviving people, Guo Wei felt most guilty towards Wang Jun, as his entire family was executed because of him, but it was obviously impossible for him to ask Wang Jun to step forward.

In addition, there is another candidate.

Li Fang beckoned Lao Pan and Hua Nong forward to check the accounts and inquire about their recent experience with the glasses. In between, he casually tossed out a comment.

"Go to the flower hall and get the finished products and designs."

Although Xiao Yi wanted to avoid seeing Li Zhaoning, he couldn't be coy at this moment, so he headed towards the flower hall.

From under the eaves, you can see a beautiful silhouette reflected in the paper window.

As I approached the door, I saw Li Zhaoning standing at her desk, writing. She had lost some weight and appeared even taller. She wore a red cotton blouse with a cross-collar and a long skirt that reached the ground, her waist slender enough to be grasped in one hand.

Although she also wore a double-looped bun, she didn't look childish at all; instead, she appeared somewhat aloof.

Hearing the noise, she looked up, and in an instant, her eyes welled up with tears, inexplicably making one feel a sense of apology.

Xiao Yi sighed softly, feeling that he was about to be complained about by her, but she turned her head away, wiped her eyes, and then turned back, a slightly aggrieved yet happy smile appearing on her face.

"came back?"

"Yes, I made a trip to Xuzhou and Hedong."

"You've gotten much stronger. Aren't you cold wearing so little? Wait a minute."

"No need for that..."

"Try wearing it."

It was a red, double-breasted cloak with sleeves that slit under the armpits and a tie sewn under the collar. When draped over the body, the first thing you smelled was a faint fragrance, and then your neck was touched by the soft but cold back of Li Zhaoning's hand.

His gaze fell upon her, who was very close. Her skin was smooth and slightly flushed. As he looked at her, she lowered her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

The atmosphere was quite intense, and he almost wanted to get closer, but then he remembered that she was not someone to be trifled with.

"Quite good looking."

"It looks good."

"I mean, it looks pretty good on you."

Xiao Yi said, "I was referring to that too."

"Oh."

Li Zhaoning smiled slightly, turned her head, and said, "I was going to be angry with you." "Did I offend you?"

"You bullied my best friend."

"The An family? She was the former empress. I was just following orders to ask her to move to Taiping Palace."

"Then, you didn't do anything else to bully her?"

"That person... if you don't do what she wants, it's called bullying her."

"Oh? It seems you know her quite well."

This was a difficult question to answer. Xiao Yi walked to the table and looked at the drawing, where he saw the internal and external structure of the telescope.

Next to it were rows of tiny characters written in beautiful handwriting.

"The tube is 1 foot 2 inches long and 5 inches in circumference."

"The brass was welded in two sections and patched with tin, making the sheath two sections thick."

"The anterior diameter is four inches, and the convexity is three-tenths of an inch."

"The diameter of the rear mirror is two inches, the edge is one-tenth of an inch thin, and the center is two-tenths of an inch concave."

Even details like "carving a fine groove three inches from the eyepiece to prevent slipping" were not forgotten.

Knowing how hard it was to obtain these drawings and data, he couldn't help but say, "Thank you for your hard work."

"It was nothing, just a small favor. My cousin said he was going to rip you off, but that was just a joke. Don't take it to heart."

Even between brothers, accounts should be settled clearly; what is due should be given.

"Afraid of owing favors?"

"It's not time to owe anyone a favor yet."

Li Zhaoning said jokingly, "You don't have to sell yourself to pay for it."

Xiao Yi seemed not to understand and said casually, "I'm tired of being a servant, I'd rather show off."

"Then give it to me."

Li Zhaoning held out his palm in front of him and said, "Cash on delivery."

Her hands were delicate and beautiful, and her expression was lively and expressive.

As if struck by a sudden inspiration, Xiao Yi casually took out a house deed from his pocket and placed it in her palm.

Their fingertips touched, and for the second time he noticed how cold her hands were, but he didn't show any concern.

What is this?

"Su Fengji's mansion is mine now."

"Ok?"

“I have seen the blueprints. After Su Fengji seized the Li residence, he successively occupied three neighboring houses, connecting the four residences into one. I plan to cut off the Li residence and return it to you... to your brother.”

"Why?"

“I live in such a large house that I am a target for the wind. This way, I can preserve my reputation and benefit my name.”

"I can't take it."

“I said, it’s for your brother, you don’t have to make decisions for him.”

As he spoke, Xiao Yi picked up the hand warmer on the table and warmed it with his hands; it was still warm.

Li Zhaoning approached and stuffed the blueprints back into his arms, somewhat displeased, and said, "Then you can tell him when my brother returns."

"it is good."

Xiao Yi didn't force her. He casually handed her the hand warmer and picked up the binoculars on the table to play with.

Li Zhaoning smiled faintly.

"By the way, Wang Jun is on good terms with your father. Has he met me before?"

"Perhaps it happened once or twice, but you used to always keep your head down when you met people, so they are unlikely to remember you... Don't look at me, it's ugly to look at people with that."

Xiao Yi looked through the binoculars, but his vision was blurry.

Crystal stones are still not suitable; no matter how clear they are polished, they will still be cloudy inside.

But it did bring the distant rooftops closer.

Li Zhaoning asked softly, "Is this what you wanted?"

"The place is too small. I'll go outside the mansion and take a look."

"I'll show you the way; I know the area well."

"Isn't the Shi residence nearby?"

"We'll go through the back door."

"Because of Su Dexiang?"

"He came to propose marriage out of nowhere, and even though I said I wouldn't see him, he still blocked the door."

Can you see that cat?

Xiao Yi genuinely didn't care; he felt that if any woman accidentally fell for him, he would only have more rivals. He glanced around; through the binoculars, he could see a cat walking across the rooftops in the distance.

"Where's the cat?"

"There."

"I can't see, meow...meow..."

Li Zhaoning called out twice towards the roof ridge, waited for a while, but didn't see the cat come looking for it.

"You didn't lie to me, did you?"

"That's what makes telescopes so amazing."

"It turns out it was used to spread false military information."

Xiao Yi smiled, went out through the side gate, and outside was Sweetwater Lane.

Li Zhaoning pointed and said, "Look there."

Xiao Yi knew she was referring to the wall where the two of them had escaped together, and deliberately said, "The wall is too close; it's not suitable to use binoculars."

"Play dumb."

"Su Dexiang is catching up."

Through his binoculars, Xiao Yi saw a servant running towards the carriage, pointing in his direction.

Li Zhaoning suddenly pulled him along into Sweetwater Alley.

"If you don't want to see him, let's go this way."

"They even had to hide."

"Aren't you avoiding me too?"

Xiao Yi felt the pressure from those words and replied, "No, it's not that. I've been quite busy lately, with both business and personal matters."

"What private matter do you have to discuss?"

"A concubine was added."

"Hmm? Is it... beautiful?"

Xiao Yi thought the binoculars were a really good thing; when he was in an awkward situation, he could just look at them and feel much better.

In the distance, a staggering figure was sneaking over and peeking into the back gate of the Shi residence.

As the gaze zoomed in, a face appeared through the slightly blurry crystal lens, looking dejected and fearful. He was just a vagrant... no, he was someone I knew.

"Ok?"

"What a clever way to change the subject."

"Look who's there."

Xiao Yi handed over the binoculars.

He knew who could take advantage of Guo Wei's guilt to get the deposit for building telescopes for the army.

(End of this chapter)