It’s just that Princess Consort Yin wasn’t seated here.
Princess Consort Yin didn’t co at all. It was solely the maid who volunteered to gather information. She rely consented to it and offered a carriage.
In fact, Princess Consort Yin didn’t hold much hope for Li Yuan’s success, because no one knew better than her how difficult her father’s Weapon Casting Skill was to learn. If it weren’t for her father’s countless unknown fortunate coincidences, the legacy he inherited over generations, and the painful madness brought by his experiences, he would never have reached his current level.
Yet even so, she ultimately made a promise: "If Li Yuan can inherit his father’s Weapon Casting Skill, I’ll entrust him with the rest of my life." Therefore... she supported Yaojue’s secret observations.
...
Yaojue observed for a long ti, then returned by Imperial Carriage, recounting everything she saw and heard to Princess Consort Yin.
Princess Consort Yin was silent for a long ti, finally speaking in an emotionless voice, saying coldly, "So he is a good man after all."
"Yes!" Yaojue said, hands on hips, "He’s already at Sixth Grade. If he’s learning craftsmanship, he might as well learn it, but he’s so amiable with those ordinary people in the Social World. He forges weapons for anyone who seeks him. I don’t know what he’s thinking about, it’s as if he doesn’t care about the dignity of a Sixth Grader at all! There’s no prestige!"
Princess Consort Yin didn’t respond.
Yaojue’s eyes sparkled with mischief as she continued, "But he’s so amiable with those ordinary people, he surely wouldn’t treat and Her Highness any worse."
Princess Consort Yin shook her head gently and walked to the window, where there was a piece of paper upon which Li Yuan’s first arrival’s poem, "As if in a Dream," was written.
"Do you know, do you know? It should be green but the petals are fading...
How did a man like him co up with such delicate poetry?"
Yaojue replied, "It definitely wasn’t bought. Your Highness, I went around outside these past couple of days and looked into the market for selling and buying articles. I even spent money to buy a few poems from the most talented person in that market. But upon looking at them, oh~~~"
The long-legged maid held her stomach and pretended to retch.
An ordinary person witnessing this act of the maid would have laughed imdiately.
However, Princess Consort Yin did not laugh.
She was like an uncanny jade sculpture.
Jade sculptures don’t laugh, and neither did Princess Consort Yin.
"I don’t like good people, but I do like his talent, if it’s truly his..."
"It should... be, I think..."
"Yaojue, over the past few days, I looked through the poetry book from the Imperial Palace, yet among thirty works, I found none that could outshine his.
Such talent doesn’t seem like sothing he should possess."
Princess Consort Yin paused and said mildly, "In a few days, the lotus in the lake will bloom, have him co over for a bowl of sour plum soup."
...
A month later...
Li Yuan checked his own information: [Weapon Casting Skill (Ninth Grade)] (80/80)...
He was neither rushed nor slow, with every point he added through his own effort, he would seamlessly add another "10".
He believed that the Heavenly Dao rewarded the diligent, and that hard work would lead to harvest.
The reason he didn’t add another "1" to break through to Grandmaster Level was because he had perfect timing.
On this day, at dusk, Cui Santong ca running, respectfully asked, "Mr. Li, do you want this month’s recomndation?"
Master Zhu had said, "Our Cui Family recomnds an excellent blacksmith every month," and also ntioned that Li Yuan should start from scratch.
However, the Cui Family certainly wasn’t foolish enough to implent a "selection" system for Li Yuan; they simply handed him the "quota".
In other words, whenever Li Yuan wanted to et Master Zhu, he could go directly.
"Yes."
Li Yuan nodded.
Cui Santong hesitated for a mont but still said, "Mr. Li, shouldn’t we wait a bit longer?"
"Why?"
"Because other blacksmiths, even if they have talent, need to work diligently for about a year and a half before they first visit Master Zhu. Master Li, I an no offense, I’m just concerned..."
"Thank you, Old Cui, but I still want to go."
"Yes, yes yes yes..."
The next day, Li Yuan climbed the high mountain outside the city with the blacksmiths of the month.
By the mountain’s stream, the blacksmiths were busy.
Li Yuan glanced around, among them, there should be those of the "Ninth Grade, Eighth Grade, Seventh Grade", and he roughly guessed the reason for their presence.
In his mory, whenever skills advanced from "Expert Level" to "Grandmaster Level", the fastest way was with "Guidance from a Master".
Master Zhu was that master.
And the blacksmiths who could co here were all stuck at "Expert Level (80/80)".
To them, Master Zhu was undoubtedly a "master" who could guide them through their breakthrough.
The blacksmiths went one by one to Master Zhu for guidance.
They went with hope and nervousness, but returned with joy, so shouting "I understand", while others were so moved as to kneel down and pay great respect to Master Zhu...
And finally, it was Li Yuan’s turn.
Master Zhu didn’t frown, simply saying calmly, "You ca so early?"
Li Yuan saluted, smiling, "Hello, father-in-law."
Master Zhu said, "There’s no father-in-law here," then pointed at the arrangents nearby, where everything needed was available: wind box, furnace, water tank, tongs, anvil, hamr, and plenty of tal.
"Go and give it a try."
Without saying a word, Li Yuan walked over, scrutinized the iron blocks, chose an iron embryo, then picked up so delicate borax, and began heating and forging...
Once in the state, he beca incredibly focused, raising the hamr which fell precisely, then shaping, quenching, and cutting all in one breath.
In the blink of an eye, an excellent Ninth Grade Blade without a handle was completed.
Master Zhu did not take the blade, rely giving Li Yuan a deep look.
He said nothing, though nearby so blacksmiths seed to whisper among themselves.
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