Wang Changsheng kowtowed vigorously. "This commoner would not dare! This commoner would not dare!"
Duoduo broke free from the Princess Consort of Pingyang's hands and rushed to the Prince of Pingyang's side.
"Grandpa Wang, didn't you make this sword?"
"But Erdan clearly said you forged it!"
"Grandpa Wang, you can't lie. Lying is wrong!"
Hearing Duoduo's words, Wang Changsheng suddenly understood.
This morning, Duoduo had gone to their house to say goodbye.
This sword must have been given to the Princess by his grandson.
Trembling, Wang Changsheng replied, "To answer the Princess, this sword was indeed forged by this commoner."
Duoduo let out a long sigh of relief and tugged at the Prince of Pingyang's sleeve.
"Father, please smile. You look so scary with a straight face!"
"Grandpa Wang is timid, and you're scaring him!"
The Prince of Pingyang's face darkened.
Seeing that the Prince of Pingyang's expression was off, the Princess Consort of Pingyang hurriedly pulled Duoduo away.
"Stand up and answer."
The Prince of Pingyang calmed himself down and softened his tone.
Wang Changsheng stood up trembling, his head bowed, looking at the ground.
"Making a sword is not difficult!"
"However, making a palm-sized small sword this well is very difficult!"
Wang Changsheng looked up in surprise and glanced at the Prince of Pingyang.
He saw a look of appreciation in the Prince of Pingyang's eyes.
He grew a bit bolder.
"It is an ancestral craft, but this commoner is far inferior to my ancestors."
The Prince of Pingyang toyed with the sword.
"I will tell you the truth. There is an iron mine on this estate."
"I need people to turn the iron ore into weapons."
"Therefore, I need a skilled blacksmith. Are you willing to bring your family and help me?"
With a thud, Wang Changsheng fell to his knees.
"This commoner... this commoner is willing!"
Even if he were unwilling, there was no other way.
Those who knew about the iron mine were all dead.
Now, the Prince of Pingyang had revealed the news to him.
If he did not agree, his entire family would face total annihilation.
For the sake of his descendants, Wang Changsheng had to agree, no matter how reluctant he was.
Even if it meant selling themselves into slavery, it was better than dying.
The Prince of Pingyang gave Ling Feng a look. "Help the old man up."
"Wang Changsheng, I am entrusting this estate to your management."
"From now on, you will be the estate manager of the Princess Consort's estate."
"You will receive ten percent of the estate's annual harvest as your share."
"Later, Ling Feng will bring people over to mine the iron."
"When the time comes, you will lead them to forge the iron ore into the weapons I need."
"Your son will be responsible for all affairs at the iron mine."
"Your family members will be responsible for cooking and cleaning for the workers at the mine."
"Ling Feng, go prepare a deed of indenture."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Ling Feng acknowledged the order and went to prepare.
"Get up. Rest assured, it will be three years at the shortest, and five years at most."
"At that time, I will return your family's deeds of indenture."
"If your descendants wish to participate in the imperial examinations, they will be able to do so."
Thinking of what Duoduo had said, the Prince of Pingyang rarely softened his tone to explain to Wang Changsheng.
Hearing this, Wang Changsheng was overjoyed.
Within three to five years, relying on the Prince of Pingyang, their family would be able to live a good life without worrying about food or clothing.
After five years, their family would be able to regain their commoner status. Where else could they find such a good deal?
Moreover, because they were the Prince's people, the locals within a few miles would definitely look up to them.
In the future, if his grandson wanted to take the imperial examination and become an official, they would have another connection.
How was this Prince of Pingyang a god of slaughter?
He was simply a merciful Bodhisattva saving them from suffering!
He prostrated himself and sincerely kowtowed to the Prince of Pingyang.
"Your Highness, rest assured, this commoner will definitely forge durable weapons!"
The Prince of Pingyang nodded in satisfaction.
Ling Feng brought over the drafted deed of indenture.
Wang Changsheng took it, wrote his name on it, and stamped his fingerprint.
"Go back and arrange your household well. In three days, Ling Feng will bring people over."
"At that time, just listen to his arrangements."
"Yes, Your Highness."
Wang Changsheng answered respectfully.
The matter settled, the Prince of Pingyang pushed his wheelchair into the carriage.
With the crack of a whip, the carriage started moving again.
Wang Changsheng did not straighten his back until he could no longer see the shadow of the carriage, and then he walked home.
He felt that what had happened today was like a dream.
It all started because he forged a sword for his grandson.
No, it all started because he picked up a piece of iron ore.
That didn't seem right either.
Wang Changsheng shook his head.
The beginning of it all should be when the Princess gave a brush to his grandson, and Erdan, in order to return the favor, gave the sword to the Princess.
Therefore, the sword was noticed by the Prince of Pingyang.
Which led to the series of events that followed.
The Princess was the true great benefactor of their Wang family!
From now on, their whole family would revere the Princess.
In the carriage, Duoduo quietly observed the Prince of Pingyang, and the Prince of Pingyang really couldn't stand her little movements.
"If you have something to ask, ask it, or else hide it well. Don't be sneaky and get caught."
Duoduo secretly stuck out her tongue.
She got caught!
"Father, if you want Grandpa Wang to help, why did you make him sign a deed of indenture?"
Duoduo still remembered how she felt when Magistrate Song sold her to the Prince of Pingyang.
The Prince of Pingyang stared at Duoduo for a while.
"Because only by keeping people under your control will you possess more initiative."
Duoduo seemed to understand but not fully.
"The iron mine is very important."
"If word gets out, Xianyang will immediately face a disaster."
Iron is the source for making iron tools.
Iron is extremely scarce.
No matter who found it, an iron mine was more valuable than a gold mine.
In troubled times, having weapons meant having the ability to defend oneself.
Therefore, no matter which prince learned the news, they would definitely want to seize Xianyang at all costs.
Furthermore, there was an Emperor above them.
All lands under heaven belong to the Emperor.
With just an imperial edict from the Emperor, the Prince of Pingyang would have to obediently surrender Xianyang.
"But that day, many people clearly knew about it."
Duoduo looked carefully at the Prince of Pingyang.
"Right, so tell me, what should be done?"
The Prince of Pingyang looked at Duoduo.
Duoduo subconsciously scratched her palm.
"Buy them over too?"
Hearing Duoduo's words, the Prince of Pingyang slowly shook his head.
"No. In this world, only dead men can best keep a secret!"
The Prince of Pingyang's words made Duoduo, who had been leaning against the Princess Consort of Pingyang, shudder.
The Princess Consort of Pingyang hurriedly hugged her.
"Good child, don't be afraid. Your father is not someone who kills the innocent indiscriminately."
Duoduo tilted her head and glanced at the Princess Consort of Pingyang.
She saw the Princess Consort of Pingyang nod at her affirmatively.
She turned her head to look at the Prince of Pingyang. "Father, is what Mother said true?"
The Prince of Pingyang stroked the mark on his finger.
Having taken off his jade archer's ring, he was very unaccustomed to it.
However, he had to force himself to adapt.
"Those who submit will prosper, and those who resist will perish!" he uttered softly.
