Wu Caiwei's heart felt warm. Although this man couldn't speak affectionate words, his actions told her he would shield her from the wind and rain.
Afterward, their relationship deepened. After numerous experiments, the Shenbi crossbow and hand grenades finally took shape. Good news also arrived from the south: they had paid a high price for merchant ships sailing to Nanyang to help bring back sweet potato seeds, which had now been retrieved and were being transported to the capital.
Wu Caiwei wanted to present these items to the Crown Prince. Naturally, she sought information through various channels. Prince Wu, who had harmed the Crown Prince, had emerged from his confinement. She had expected him to be imprisoned for a much longer time; it had only been a few months. It seemed the Emperor's feelings for Prince Wu were not ordinary.
Since Prince Wu's release, the Crown Prince had barely slept for many nights, summoning his advisors daily to discuss countermeasures.
Although Prince Wu had taken no action after his release, appearing repentant and ready to live as a mere idle prince, the Crown Prince, knowing him well, believed this was all a façade to deceive the Emperor. He suspected Prince Wu was plotting something significant in secret.
Initially, the Emperor had passed the throne to the Crown Prince in a fit of anger upon hearing of his sons' conflict. However, with Prince Wu's compliant behavior upon his return, the Crown Prince could clearly sense the Emperor's wavering. After all, Prince Wu's birth mother had enjoyed the Emperor's favor for over twenty years, and Prince Wu himself had been doted on for so long. Moreover, his maternal uncle commanded a force of two hundred thousand troops on the frontier.
The Crown Prince felt that this battle would be incredibly difficult, yet unavoidable. History had shown that those who failed in their bid for power met grim fates—either ascending to the dragon throne or facing utter destruction for their entire family.
The day after the sweet potato seeds arrived in the capital, Wu Caiwei quietly contacted Qiushuang and Dongzhi, expressing her desire to meet the Crown Prince. She claimed to have important news that might aid him in the succession struggle.
That evening, the Crown Prince, impatient, disguised himself and secretly went to Wu Caiwei's current residence. He couldn't afford to delay; the situation was dire. The Emperor had reprimanded him earlier that day, and if he didn't find a solution soon, the Emperor might quickly find an excuse to strip him of his title.
Seeing the Crown Prince leisurely sipping tea, showing no urgency, Wu Caiwei, despite knowing it was an act, couldn't be bothered with pleasantries. She decided to be direct.
After all, members of the royal family were inherently cunning, having grown up amidst schemes and intrigues. Wu Caiwei, having been raised in a socialist era, was no match for them.
"I won't beat around the bush with you, Your Highness. Please follow me." As she spoke, Wu Caiwei pressed an inconspicuous small indentation on the floor. A small door appeared on the wall. The Crown Prince's hand, holding his teacup, paused for a moment before he nonchalantly continued drinking.
Ignoring his reaction, Wu Caiwei retrieved the Shenbi crossbow, hand grenades, and sweet potato seeds from within.
He looked at these peculiar items, unsure of Wu Caiwei's intentions, and furrowed his brow almost imperceptibly.
"Your Highness, do not underestimate these three items. Any one of them, when revealed, would cause a stir throughout the court." Seeing the Crown Prince's indifference, Wu Caiwei knew he didn't understand. If he knew their potential, he wouldn't be able to sit still.
"Oh? I am all ears." Although he had limited contact with Wu Caiwei, he knew she wasn't one to speak carelessly. Hearing her describe them so miraculously piqued his interest.
As Wu Caiwei introduced each item one by one, the Crown Prince involuntarily moved closer, examining them meticulously.
When he reached out to touch them, Wu Caiwei quickly intervened, "Your Highness may touch the sweet potato freely; it is food and poses no danger. As for the Shenbi crossbow, Your Highness can not only touch it but even try it out. However, regarding the hand grenade, I must first explain its use. Its power is immense, and should there be any mishandling, I would take full responsibility for any harm that befalls you."
Hearing her words, the Crown Prince withdrew his hand. He valued his life.
"Miss Liu, you must have a request in giving these items to me. What is it that you seek?" After his initial excitement, and having resolved in his heart to satisfy any request Wu Caiwei might make, he was still curious about what a merchant's daughter might want.
Looking at his expression, Wu Caiwei knew she had chosen the right person. Frankly speaking, she was merely a merchant now. If the Crown Prince were more ruthless, he could have her seized, threaten her life, or use her parents' lives as leverage, and she would have no choice but to comply. The fact that they could discuss this matter calmly indicated that he would likely be a good ruler.
"If Your Highness succeeds in ascending the throne, I wish for Princess Anhe's life."
"Agreed. However, I too have conditions. I want ownership of these items, and it must be publicly stated that I invented and discovered them."
"Agreed. If I, a woman, were to claim these as my own publicly, I would likely face not fame, but danger."
Having reached an agreement, Wu Caiwei handed over the meticulously written blueprints for the hand grenade and Shenbi crossbow, along with their usage instructions, to the Crown Prince. She also explained in detail the cultivation methods for sweet potatoes and their preferred environment.
After seeing the Crown Prince off, Wu Caiwei stretched, feeling that she could finally get a good night's sleep.
Upon receiving the items from Wu Caiwei, the Crown Prince summoned his advisors and personal guards. They conducted experiments, and he looked with satisfaction at their astonished expressions. The next day, at the court assembly, he presented the Shenbi crossbow, astonishing the entire court and earning significant acclaim for himself.
Watching the praise lavished upon the Crown Prince, the Emperor felt a twinge of displeasure. However, considering the strategic advantage of possessing such a formidable weapon, which would further bolster the nation's military strength and demonstrate the might of the Celestial Dynasty to surrounding ambitious nations, his heart swelled with pride.
As for the hand grenades and sweet potato seeds, the Crown Prince had his own plans. The cultivation of sweet potatoes had yet to be fully tested. Furthermore, he intended to achieve an astonishing yield from sweet potatoes and then promote their cultivation widely among the populace, thereby enhancing his reputation—a legacy for generations to come. The hand grenades, however, he intended to keep as a final trump card, not forgetting his uncle, Prince Wu, and his two hundred thousand troops.
Lin Shuisheng was thriving in the capital, his talents truly wasted in that small mountain village.
Although he couldn't speak sweet nothings, he made his presence felt before Wu Caiwei through practical actions. Whatever Wu Caiwei desired, he meticulously considered and arranged. At times, he would blush and suggest outings to temples and mountains outside the city. Wu Caiwei, of course, wouldn't miss the opportunity to deepen their bond.
Although neither had explicitly declared their feelings, they were often seen together.
One day, after returning from an outing in the countryside, they were met at the entrance by the manager, who was pacing anxiously. Upon seeing them, he rushed forward, "Mistress, bad news! Something terrible has happened. Someone used our rouge and claimed it caused disfigurement. They came here today to cause trouble. No matter how I tried to stop them, they wouldn't listen and smashed our shop to pieces."
"Oh? Get in the carriage. We'll go take a look together." The manager quickly got into the carriage and sat beside the driver as they headed towards the rouge shop.