"My Lord, a distinguished guest from the Fourth Princess's mansion has arrived again. What do you say?"
"Please invite them in," Chu Chen sighed.
Ever since he bought the courtyard in the west of the city with the money rewarded by the system more than ten days ago, people had been visiting daily.
Besides Princess Xin Yue, envoys from the ministers and marquises of the court of the four princesses had all come.
Their purpose was none other than to invite him to come out of seclusion and assist them.
Chu Chen spent some time receiving and sending away the distinguished guest from the Fourth Princess.
Returning to his chair, he said helplessly, "In just a few days, I've met almost all the officials and their retinues. If this continues, I'll be driven mad."
Thinking this, Chu Chen ordered paper and brush to be brought. Relying on his divine craftsman talent, he wrote down and drew up improvement plans based on the current smelting technology of the Yun Yue Kingdom.
Three days later, at Qingming Palace.
"You're saying Xiao... Chu Chen didn't come?"
"Replying to Your Highness Fifth Prince, Young Master Chu only sent these things."
"Then leave the items, you may go now."
"Yes!"
Princess Xin Yue stared blankly at the stack of papers on the table, murmuring, "Chu Chen, why didn't you come in person? Are you resenting me?"
She silently picked up the blueprints and examined them carefully. It took her a long while to understand most of them.
"Is this stir-frying method truly as magical as Chu Chen said? And when did this fellow become so knowledgeable about smelting?"
"A new invention? Or a new technique?"
"If that's the case, Chu Chen isn't resenting me. If he were, he wouldn't have sent these."
Princess Xin Yue suddenly understood, and her heart was filled with joy.
Whether the contents above were truly that magical, Princess Xin Yue was not sure.
She ordered someone to take the blueprints and went to the imperial study, where the Empress usually handled state affairs.
"Mother!"
As soon as she entered, Princess Xin Yue called out.
"You girl, why are you here instead of studying properly?" the Empress asked, looking up.
Recently, Princess Xin Yue had been willing to patiently study and learn, which greatly pleased the Empress.
"Mother, Chu Chen sent someone to bring me some blueprints. They seem to be related to smelting. I don't understand them, so I'm asking Mother to see if they would be of great use to our Yun Yue Kingdom."
"Chu Chen? Smelting blueprints?"
The Empress frowned. She instinctively felt a bit angry, but she was also curious about Chu Chen's blueprints.
"Bring them here for me to see."
"These are them."
Princess Xin Yue handed the blueprints to the Empress, who took them and examined them carefully.
After a moment, the Empress frowned and said, "This smelting technique, by merely adding a so-called stir-frying method, stirring the molten iron and adding some powder, can significantly improve the quality of the iron?"
"Does Chu Chen treat smelting like stirring soup in a kitchen pot?"
"Mother, this was sent by Chu Chen. It must have been made by him personally. You know Chu Chen's capabilities, don't you?"
"The Yun Yue plow, the waterwheel, the hot air balloon, which one wasn't a wild idea, and which one wasn't of great use?"
Princess Xin Yue, unsure of the Empress's attitude, eagerly defended Chu Chen.
"I naturally understand. If these blueprints weren't drawn by Chu Chen, I would have already ordered someone to arrest this deceiver and serve him well in prison."
"Treating iron smelting like making soup is simply absurd! It's a wonder Chu Chen could come up with such a method."
The Empress said grumpily, carefully putting away the blueprints.
"Then Mother, do you agree to let the Ministry of Works try Chu Chen's blueprint plan?" Princess Xin Yue asked, her eyes shining with joy.
"No, such a brilliant idea must be carried out by Chu Chen himself. Others would likely dismiss it and not believe it at all." The Empress shook her head and smiled, "It's been more than ten days. I figured you, my girl, couldn't wait any longer and would find a way to bring Chu Chen back."
"Since that's the case, I will grant your wish. I will appoint Chu Chen as a seventh-rank official, Yuanwailang, in the Ministry of Works, to be responsible for managing a casting workshop. He will personally forge this so-called stir-fried steel for me."
"If he succeeds, I will promote him. If he fails, then don't blame me for not remembering our past affections and not considering Chu Chen's goodwill."
"No problem! Your daughter believes Chu Chen will handle it as usual!" Princess Xin Yue replied happily.
Leaving the imperial study, Princess Xin Yue quickened her pace back to Qingming Palace and dispatched an eunuch with an order to deliver the news to Chu Chen in advance.
In less than an hour, Chu Chen received the message from Princess Xin Yue, along with a letter.
"To Chu Chen: Little Chenzi, oh, you're not a eunuch anymore, you should be called Young Master Chu. However, this princess feels that 'Little Chenzi' is more natural, hehe."
"Just kidding, I'll just call you by your name."
"The imperial decree will probably arrive tomorrow, so be prepared."
"This princess has already handed over your blueprints to Mother. Mother is willing to give you a chance to return to court and serve the country."
"This time Mother will have you report to the Ministry of Works as a Yuanwailang of a casting workshop. Don't embarrass this princess, your guarantor, okay?"
"This princess will wait for your return at Qingming Palace!"
After reading the letter, Chu Chen smiled, feeling a warmth in his heart.
"This silly princess, even if I really become an official again, I'll only be an external official, not an internal one. How can I return to Qingming Palace and accompany you as usual?"
The next afternoon, the imperial decree indeed arrived.
After it was read out, Chu Chen gave several hundred taels of silver to the eunuch who read it. The latter happily handed over all the official robes and seals to Chu Chen.
The next day, Chu Chen, dressed neatly, headed to the Ministry of Works.
The Third Casting Workshop of the Sword and Saber Division of the Armaments Bureau of the Ministry of Works.
The officials and craftsmen who had arrived early in the morning had not yet started work, but were waiting at the entrance for the arrival of the new official.
They had received the news yesterday that a new superior would be taking over from their current superior today.
"All of you, perform well for me, and don't embarrass me," the former Yuanwailang of the Third Casting Workshop admonished sternly.
"Yes," everyone replied with a helpless bow.
Soon, Chu Chen arrived alone.
"Greetings, Lord Chu."
"You are too kind, everyone." Chu Chen returned the salute with a cupped fist.
"I didn't expect Lord Chu to be so accomplished. To take over from me at such a young age, your future is bound to be limitless," the Yuanwailang said with a smile.
"You flatter me," Chu Chen replied politely.
After some polite exchanges, Chu Chen completed the handover.
After the former Yuanwailang left, Chu Chen smiled and said, "I am Chu Chen, the new Yuanwailang of this casting workshop. I will need your support in the future."
"We wouldn't dare."
"Then let's start work as usual today. I will first familiarize myself with the process."
"After work this afternoon, I will host a good meal for all of you." Chu Chen said grandly with a wave of his hand.
Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes lit up, and they said with genuine joy, "Then we thank you in advance, Lord Chu."