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Li Jiancheng listened and found the suggestion quite good. After thinking for a moment, he decided to send Niu Fu to probe Yuwen Shiji. Niu Fu was relatively clever, possessing a certain ability to read the room, and he was one of Li Jiancheng's trusted subordinates, making him a suitable choice for this task.
With this in mind, Li Jiancheng said, "Niu Fu, I entrust you with the task of probing General Yuwen's intentions. What do you think?"
Niu Fu was startled by Li Jiancheng's words but quickly regained his composure. He understood that this was an important mission and a test of his loyalty and abilities. Without hesitation, he knelt before Li Jiancheng and replied, "Your Highness, Niu Fu will do his utmost to uncover General Yuwen's true thoughts."
Seeing this, Li Jiancheng nodded in satisfaction. He knew that Niu Fu was a trustworthy person and felt assured to assign this task to him. He then helped Niu Fu to his feet and detailed how he should approach Yuwen Shiji, along with methods and precautions for the probing.
Niu Fu listened attentively to Li Jiancheng's instructions, nodding occasionally to show his understanding. He recognized the significance of this mission; it not only concerned Li Jiancheng's interests but also impacted his own future. Thus, he resolved to complete the task and provide accurate intelligence for Li Jiancheng.
After bidding farewell to Li Jiancheng, Niu Fu began preparing for the probing operation. He familiarized himself with Yuwen Shiji's daily routines and preferences, devising a detailed plan. He believed that as long as he followed the plan, he would successfully uncover Yuwen Shiji's true thoughts.
After Niu Fu left, Consort Li Zheng Guanyin slowly entered the living room with her belly showing. After greeting Li Jiancheng, she asked, "I heard that my husband intends to acquire a Blacksmith Shop. Is that true?"
"My dear consort is truly observant," Li Jiancheng replied gently as he held Zheng Guanyin's hand reassuringly. "But rest assured, my father understands my intentions. He knows that I am doing this solely to forge some good weapons and slightly enhance the combat effectiveness of the Eastern Palace Guards. I do not control other armies, so I pose no threat to him. Moreover, I will act cautiously to avoid unnecessary trouble."
Zheng Guanyin's eyes flashed with concern as she responded, "Husband, the position of Crown Prince is still not secure; there are many hidden dangers everywhere. If you reveal too much ambition, it may attract jealousy and attacks from others."
Li Jiancheng smiled slightly, his gaze firm. "My dear consort need not worry; I have my own measures. Over the years, I have accumulated enough experience in court struggles. I know how to conceal my strength while steadily advancing my plans. Acquiring the Blacksmith Shop is just the first step; I have more long-term plans."
Seeing Li Jiancheng so confident eased Zheng Guanyin's worries considerably. She knew her husband was a visionary strategist and decided to give him her full trust and support. Thus, she softly said, "Since you are determined, I will not say more! I only hope that everything goes smoothly for you and that you achieve your ambitions soon."
Li Jiancheng felt touched by her words. He knew Zheng Guanyin was a virtuous woman who had always supported him silently. He held her hand tightly and said sincerely, "My dear consort, thank you for your constant companionship and support. I will strive hard not to disappoint your expectations."
Due to his time travel experience, Li Jiancheng occasionally referred to himself as "I" without adopting the airs of a Crown Prince. Zheng Guanyin had grown accustomed to this by now and replied, "Then I shall not disturb you any longer!"
After saying this, Zheng Guanyin intended to leave the living room when Li Jiancheng quickly stood up and said, "My dear consort, it's fine; you can stay here! I need to take Jia Jian to the secret chamber!"
The secret chamber? Upon hearing this, Zheng Guanyin nodded and sat back down without saying anything further. She remembered that Li Jiancheng had mentioned before that going into the secret chamber was a very confidential matter that no one should inquire about—even her as Consort Li.
The Eastern Palace had built a secret chamber; this was indeed a significant change for Li Jiancheng! The chamber was quite mysterious; so far, he had only brought Niu Fu, Ma Qiang, and Jia Jian inside on three occasions—Jia Jian being taken in most frequently.
Jia Jian himself was also very enigmatic. He had been brought back by Niu Fu and Ma Qiang after nearly a month of searching for him. As for his background details, Li Jiancheng had not disclosed them to anyone nor allowed others to ask about them. Up until now, everyone in the Eastern Palace only knew Jia Jian's name.
Jia Jian was also very low-key; apart from Li Jiancheng, Niu Fu, and Ma Qiang, he rarely interacted with others.
What kind of secret matters could the Crown Prince be discussing with such a person? Apart from Niu Fu and Ma Qiang, no one else understood why Li Jiancheng forbade inquiries about him.
Zheng Guanyin had noticed changes in Li Jiancheng since his fall from the horse. After returning from Ren Zhi Palace, those changes became even more pronounced. That night after his return from Ren Zhi Palace, she even entertained doubts about whether this Li Jiancheng was genuine or an imposter. Although she suppressed those thoughts at the time, they did not entirely disappear.
Now that she was pregnant, in the following days, Li Jiancheng had been sharing a bed with Lu Lingling instead.
Both Zheng Guanyin and Lu Lingling found this behavior strange since it had rarely happened before.
Zheng Guanyin rationalized it by thinking that perhaps Li Jiancheng had sustained a head injury during his fall from the horse. Coupled with whatever dreams he experienced during those days in Ren Zhi Palace, it might have caused such significant changes in him.
Around noon, Ma Qiang and the others returned to report to Li Jiancheng about the acquisition of the Blacksmith Shop.
In the afternoon, Li Jiancheng, accompanied by Ma Qiang, Hua Ying, and Yu Minjie, headed to the Blacksmith Shop.
"Your Highness, why did you buy this Blacksmith Shop?" Hua Ying asked, puzzled.
Li Jiancheng smiled and replied, "I bought the Blacksmith Shop to forge iron, of course! I once dreamed of an old Taoist who told me a method for tempering high-strength steel. I want to see if I can make it work."
"Ah?" Hua Ying and the others were taken aback. The Crown Prince really bought the Blacksmith Shop just for forging iron!
Upon arriving at the Blacksmith Shop, Li Jiancheng directly explained the tempering method to several blacksmiths. He recalled that this method could produce Alloy Tool Steel. However, without modern machinery, he was unsure if the resulting Alloy Tool Steel would meet the required standards. At the very least, it should be harder and tougher than the steel available during the Tang Dynasty!
After explaining the method, Li Jiancheng instructed the blacksmiths to begin experimenting with Alloy Tool Steel. As a prince, he naturally could not work with his hands but could only guide from the side.
Without modern machinery, this process was indeed troublesome; they encountered difficulties at nearly every step. Li Jiancheng worked alongside them to find solutions. After toiling until nightfall, they finally managed to produce a block of steel that had fused together. However, there was still much work ahead.
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