Ou Shinian looked at Song Jinzhao with eyes full of amazement after hearing her words. This was what she called "not dabbling too much"? The entire Ministry of Works combined didn't have as many ideas as she had proposed alone.
"The County Princess possesses world-shocking talent. I am truly ashamed of my own inferiority."
"Do you have paper and pen? I want to write all of this down, lest I forget and miss something after I go back."
Song Jinzhao instructed Qingshuang to fetch a brush and ink.
"The Ministry of Works has many capable people. Building an ocean-going sailing ship is only a matter of time. You do not need to be too anxious, My Lord."
Tears shimmered in Ou Shinian's eyes. "I may not be anxious, but the Emperor is. Fortunately, the County Princess is here; otherwise, I really wouldn't know what to do."
His brush flew across the paper, writing down everything Song Jinzhao had just said. "County Princess, please take a look. Is there anything missing?"
Song Jinzhao took the paper, read it, and handed it back. "Not a single word is missing. That is all of it."
"You can make a model of the ship first, and then build a pool that simulates the ocean environment. After successful testing in it, you can build the ship to scale, to avoid wasting too much time and cost in case of failure."
Ou Shinian's hand paused as he took the paper. He looked at Song Jinzhao blankly. "What model? How do we simulate the ocean environment?"
Song Jinzhao hesitated for a moment before asking in return, "How did you originally plan to ensure that the ship would have no problems after going to sea, and could sail in the deep ocean and withstand wind and waves?"
"Of course, by transporting it to the sea to test it after it is built."
Song Jinzhao: "Then the cost of trial and error would be so high! Just building such a big ship takes several months."
Ou Shinian pressed, "So what are the model and simulated ocean environment that the County Princess just mentioned?"
Song Jinzhao stretched out her hands to gesture the size.
"Make an identical ocean-going sailing ship to scale, and specially make a large wooden barrel to act as the ocean. Artificially create waves, wind, and rain to simulate a real ocean environment. You can also add salt to the water to determine the degree of corrosion of the seawater on various parts of the hull. Wait until there are no problems before building the ship for sea trials. This can effectively save time and trial-and-error costs."
Ou Shinian blinked and froze in place like a mummy.
How exactly did Song Jinzhao's brain grow! Why couldn't he think of such a good idea?
Ou Shinian stepped back and solemnly bowed to Song Jinzhao. "The County Princess is brilliant. I am in complete awe."
"You overpraise me, My Lord. It is my honor to be able to help the Ministry of Works."
Ou Shinian smiled brightly, his admiration for Song Jinzhao growing. An idea sprouted in his mind.
Once Song Qiming passed the imperial examination and became a Jinshi, he had to poach him to the Ministry of Works. With him there, County Princess Linghui would be there, and he wouldn't have to worry about anything in the future.
When Ou Shinian arrived, his face had been full of sorrow; when he left, he looked as if he were walking on auspicious clouds, his whole person feeling light and brisk.
At the same time, in the western suburbs military camp, Chu Liuyun angrily flipped his table over with a slap after receiving a letter from the capital.
"Boasting, faking, shameless, and fishing for compliments!"
He spent two and a half out of three days enjoying himself in his tent and carriage. The charcoal fire burned so hot that even the servants standing outside could feel the heat.
Supervising the army day and night, eating and living with the soldiers? Bullshit! He tells lies as easily as breathing. So shameless.
Duke Zhenguo came in and saw Chu Liuyun cursing with a livid face. He frowned and scolded, "I have taught you to be steady since childhood, yet your mind is still so unsettled. Prince Ying is right here in the military camp. Endure it for a year and it will pass."
Chu Liuyun turned around expressionlessly and handed the letter to Duke Zhenguo. "Father, please take a look."
Duke Zhenguo took the letter in confusion. When he read the third sentence, his fingers gripped so hard that the letter paper was torn in half.
"Shameless. To think that such a fraud who deceives the world for fame is actually a prince."
Whenever he thought that Prince Qi was just like Xiao Rongyan, Duke Zhenguo felt his spine weaken.
It would be better to choose a capable member of the imperial clan to adopt. If they were really allowed to become the emperor, our Dongzhao Kingdom would probably be eaten clean by the Beishuo Kingdom, not even leaving any crumbs.
Chu Liuyun rubbed his forehead in frustration. "Prince Ying not only enjoys himself in the military camp, but he also buys people's hearts. He asks the cooks to make dozens of dishes every day, claiming it is for himself, but actually rewarding most of it to other generals. It is causing unrest among the men. We must drive him away as soon as possible."
Duke Zhenguo tossed the letter into the fire. "After the snow stops in a few days, I will return to the capital, and I will take Prince Ying with me."
Chu Liuyun frowned. "What if he refuses to leave?"
Duke Zhenguo sneered. "He probably wanted to leave a long time ago. Even if he doesn't lack food and drink, it cannot compare to the luxury and comfort of Prince Ying's mansion. Now that the Emperor already knows his good reputation for sympathizing with the soldiers, there is no point in enduring it any longer. With this stepping stone, he will definitely scram."
The thought that Xiao Rongyan would come again after the new year made Chu Liuyun feel annoyed all over.
...
Ou Shinian took the suggestions proposed by Song Jinzhao back to the Ministry of Works office and held a meeting for a full eight hours. Officials and craftsmen squeezed together, arguing up a storm. By the time the office doors opened again, the sky outside was already dark.
Unlike last time, everyone left with a smile on their face this time.
Ou Shinian collapsed into his chair. A wave of sleepiness hit him. Just as he closed his eyes, he saw a bottomless abyss beneath his feet, scaring him so much that he shuddered and almost fell off the chair.
Why the office again?
He touched his crooked hat. He couldn't sleep here; he had to go back. If he got burned again, he really wouldn't have any hair left!
A few days later, Xiao Chengjing summoned Ou Shinian to the Imperial Study and asked, "How far along is the Ministry of Works with the construction of the ocean-going sailing ship?"
Ou Shinian, who was well prepared, took out the design blueprints from his sleeve and presented them. "To reply to Your Majesty, the framework design blueprints have basically been finalized."
Xiao Chengjing stared at the blueprints on the paper and asked suspiciously, "Why does this ship look a bit different from the ones I have seen before?"
Both the front and back were curved like a crescent moon. Wouldn't it capsize?
Ou Shinian completely copied Song Jinzhao's words, also adding many ideas that the Ministry of Works officials had discussed together over the past few days.
Xiao Chengjing nodded from time to time as he listened, very satisfied with these novel ideas.
"Your Ministry of Works did a good job this time. You finally used your brains."
A heavy hammer seemed to smash into the top of Ou Shinian's head. He froze for two seconds and then silently lowered his head.
"I dare not deceive Your Majesty. In truth, everyone in the Ministry of Works brainstormed for three days and three nights but couldn't figure out what kind of ship could sail in the deep sea and withstand fierce winds and giant waves. Later, having no other choice, I remembered Your Majesty saying that we could seek advice from County Princess Linghui, so I went to ask her."
The smile on Xiao Chengjing's face vanished. "So your hair was also burned at that time?"
Ou Shinian immediately lifted the hem of his robe and knelt down. "I am guilty. I was too sleepy at the time and fell asleep in the office. As a result, I was too close to the charcoal brazier and almost caused a major fire. I beg Your Majesty for forgiveness."
Xiao Chengjing looked at the singed ends of his hair. "Which ones did County Princess Linghui come up with?"
"...All of them."
"..."
Xiao Chengjing closed his eyes forcefully in exasperation and opened them again.
"I think you might as well let County Princess Linghui be the Minister of Works."
Ou Shinian kept his head bowed to the ground, not daring to look up. "I am truly ashamed. Compared to County Princess Linghui, I acknowledge my inferiority."
Xiao Chengjing pressed his lips tightly together and rolled his eyes at the ceiling speechlessly.
At least he had some self-awareness.
The fact that the entire Ministry of Works combined was no match for a seventeen-year-old girl made even Xiao Chengjing, the Emperor himself, feel a bit embarrassed.
Although he had given Ou Shinian permission to seek advice from Song Jinzhao, the word "entire" was simply too demoralizing.
