jdhmnovel Chapter 648 The Heir Apparent of Xuan Nan Enters the Capital
Chapter 648 The Heir Apparent of Xuan Nan Enters the Capital
By the time the first group of craftsmen who arrived at Tongzhou Wharf were settled, it was nearly midnight.
Both those responsible for arranging the work sheds and those responsible for registration felt as if their energy and strength had been drained.
These sheds were recently built by the previous craftsmen. Since the staff hasn't arrived yet, everyone's main task now is to build sheds large enough to accommodate ten construction teams.
A batch has already been built, just enough to house the first batch of craftsmen.
Tomorrow, the newly arrived craftsmen will also begin to join the team building the workshop, since more new people will be arriving later.
As for building a new batch of ocean-going vessels, we'll have to wait until the team is fully staffed before we can proceed.
After finalizing their plans in the office, Jiang Xiaoqi and Qiu Cheng both yawned and fell asleep fully clothed in the office.
It's so late, there's no hope of going back. Luckily, tomorrow is a day off, otherwise I wouldn't have time to ask for leave.
Li Mo and Eleven also found a corner to spend the night in, and before leaving, they thoughtfully covered Jiang Xiaoqi with a cloak.
She could have gone back to her space to sleep during the National Day holiday, but to avoid arousing suspicion from those around her, she could only spend the night with Li Mo on a bench outside the office.
Fortunately, not many people arrived at Tongzhou Wharf the next day, and the group helped out for half a day before heading back home.
Back at the manor, Jiang Xiaoqi collapsed into a chair, utterly exhausted, and casually pulled out a pill from her spatial storage to replenish her strength.
Actually, I'm not physically exhausted, but the pressure on my voice and mind is really quite great.
He has said more in the last two days than he has in the previous months combined, and he has repeated most of what he said.
He wished he could buy a megaphone and a repeater, but bringing out such a thing would scare the craftsmen.
I could only shout at the top of my lungs for a long time, sigh~
The next day, Jiang Xiaoqi, having regained his spirits, entered the palace to give a lecture as usual, and the Second Prince could tell that he had been waiting for a long time.
Jiang Xiaoqi knew what the Second Prince was most concerned about at this moment, so without asking, she recounted the bustling scene at Tongzhou Wharf over the past two days.
"Your Highness, I believe that in a few more days, we will have enough manpower. At that time, we will be divided into ten groups, and the construction of ten ships will begin at the same time. The efficiency will only be higher than before, not lower."
"Next spring, you can lead a new fleet to Japan and bring back all our silver mines."
"Hahaha, well said. It is our silver mine. Japan is only temporarily holding it. We will have to bring our silver mine back one day."
The two, master and servant, exchanged starry-eyed glances, revealing no trace of treachery, only the endearing cunning of youth.
Just then, Chen Lin came in from outside.
"Your Highness, the Fifth Prince has come again with his entourage, with the same excuse: he wants to visit you."
The second prince frowned, a hint of displeasure flashing in his eyes: "What's he doing here again? Why is he like a leech?"
The Fifth Prince has come to visit again; this isn't the first or second time.
Jiang Xiaoqi became secretly alert. Could it be that the Fifth Prince had discovered some clues?
Otherwise, they wouldn't be fixated on the Second Prince, insisting on seeing him.
"Your Highness, how many times has the Fifth Prince come to visit us now?"
"This is the third time. The first two times I really hadn't fully recovered, but now, he won't believe me if I say I haven't recovered."
After all, the imperial physicians had already reported to Father Emperor that I had basically recovered. Fifth Prince, with his excellent information network, couldn't possibly have missed it.
"Well then, let's meet them. I heard that the Fifth Prince's men who went out to search for the treasure haven't returned yet, so they probably haven't found anything for now."
The Fifth Prince was still hoping to get in touch with the Ouyang family and the Empress to strengthen his chances of winning the throne.
In fact, as long as the Fifth Prince does not know the Second Prince's true situation, the Second Prince can be said to be temporarily safe.
"Let's go see what he's up to."
The two exchanged a glance and understood each other's meaning. Without further ado, they instructed Chen Lin to lead the person to the side hall.
As for the main hall, the fifth prince is not worthy to be there.
Jiang Xiaoqi and the Second Prince arrived at the side hall, only to find that the Fifth Prince had brought Song Jinyang into the palace. It seemed that Song Jinyang was gradually making a name for himself in the Fifth Prince's court.
Even the imperial palace could bring him, a commoner, in; it seems he has truly gained a foothold with the Fifth Prince.
Jiang Xiaoqi wondered how his younger sister, Song Qingyu, was doing now. He roughly calculated that Song Qingyu should be around twenty years old by now.
A woman who doesn't marry at this age will probably end up becoming a nun.
She should be in college in her future life, but in this Great Zhou, she's already considered an old maid.
Jiang Xiaoqi lingered for a short while, but it didn't prevent him from entering the hall to pay his respects to the Fifth Prince. No one noticed that he had been thinking about something else.
"Greetings, Your Highness, Fifth Prince."
"No need for such formalities, Lord Jiang. I haven't even had a chance to congratulate you on your promotion yet."
"Why are you here again!"
The second prince feigned impatience and didn't even have tea served; it was Chen Lin who had it brought.
After all, His Highness is childlike and it's normal that he doesn't understand these social niceties.
"Second brother, of course I'm worried about you. I can't put my mind at ease until I see you recover with my own eyes."
"Really?"
"of course it's true."
"Hmph, I thought you were here to make fun of me too."
The Fifth Prince was puzzled. Had one of his dim-witted younger brothers come over and made sarcastic remarks to the Second Prince before he arrived? That shouldn't be the case.
"Second brother, what makes you say that?"
Jiang Xiaoqi's brain was working at lightning speed, after all, she hadn't rehearsed her lines with the Second Prince before.
However, the Second Prince wouldn't say that for no reason. Who has His Highness seen these past few days?
Who did you meet? Oh, right! The Crown Prince of Xuan Nan arrived in the capital yesterday.
Could it be that when the Crown Prince of Xuan Nan entered the palace to pay his respects to His Majesty and the Empress, he saw the Second Prince standing nearby?
But openly mocking a prince, is the Crown Prince of Xuan Nan tired of living?
No, that's not right.
Since the Prince of Xuannan and his wife were on the same side as the Empress, their children naturally had no choice.
Before the Crown Prince of Xuan Nan set off, it was impossible for the Prince and Princess to let their son enter the capital in complete ignorance without any explanation.
Therefore, the only possibility is that the Crown Prince of Xuan Nan is deliberately pretending to be at odds with the Second Prince!
Having figured this out, Jiang Xiaoqi could easily chime in.
"Alas~ Your Highness, you may not know this, but not everyone cares about their brothers as sincerely as you do. There are always some people who harbor ill intentions towards Your Highness."