Chapter 390: 200 Admit (One More Change)_2
Upon hearing this, Lord Gu understood what was going on. So, the court had traced that young girl’s invention.
But… Gu Yan had never mentioned it!
Lord Gu was not the type to take credit for others’ work or achievements hastily. He decided to go back to his residence and talk to Gu Jinyu first.
The spread of this news was much faster than what Gu Jinyu had imagined. She was too absorbed in studying the saintly books without a care in the world. She didn’t realize what the invention of the bellows technology meant to the Zhan Country.
The emperor seemed composed, but deep inside he was overwhelmed with joy.
The Liang Country, those good-for-nothing scoundrels, had stolen the mines of Zhan Country using a simple and inferior water diversion technique. Though there was no war, this feeling was worse than losing one and was hard to swallow.
...
Now, with this technology in hand, they could show their might proudly!
All six departments were captivated by this technology. Not only could it be used for iron smelting, it could also improve the quality of metallurgical techniques. What was abundant in Zhan Country? Gold mines!
However, among the six countries, Zhan Country had the lowest level of productivity. Therefore, despite having numerous mines, it was still considered a poor country.
It seemed like the common people were living a good life. That was because the current and previous emperors were conscientious. They didn’t exploit them excessively and even reduced their taxes. The state treasury was actually empty, otherwise, why would they have sold the academical seat of Guozijian to Lin Chengye?
The building that the Lin family donated to Guozijian, half of it was taken by the emperor to fill the national treasury.
However, even though Gu Jinyu was oblivious to the court and the movements of the six departments, she had experienced the changes in the people around her.
When she returned from the palace, her personal maid informed her that the instructor from the female academy had visited to ask about her health and to find out when she would return to school.
Gu Jinyu had been recuperating at home for so long. Why would the female officer visit her now? Could it not be at the behest of the crown princess?
Had the crown princess also heard about the bellows?
It was not surprising. If the virtuous concubines and the distinguished concubines knew about it, how could the crown princess not know?
Afterward, those rich young ladies who had distanced themselves from her due to her background came visiting her again. They chatted and laughed with her as if the previous grievances never happened.
Why was that?
Certainly, it was because their fathers, the court officials, had sent them to probe her.
If she was indeed the inventor of the bellows, no matter how humble her background was, nobody could look down upon her. She had made a significant contribution to the nation and the public. Even the emperor would appreciate her.
But, what if the real inventor showed up one day?
Gu Jinyu was tangled.
When Lord Gu arrived at the Marquis Residence, Gu Jinyu was sorting out her large box.
The box contained all the drawings and handmade items she had created. Yao Family had not discarded them, but had kept them all for her.
After returning to her own courtyard, she took out all the draft papers. She wanted to see if she had indeed had the inspiration for the bellows.
“Jinyu, what are you doing?” Lord Gu walked into the room and saw the sheets of papers strewn around. He asked perplexedly.
Gu Jinyu lifted her slightly embarrassed face and said, “I am looking for something.”
“What is it?” Lord Gu moved further into the room, “Let me help you.”
“A sketch.” Gu Jinyu said. “Something similar to the bellows.”
“You mean this?” Lord Gu bent down and picked up a blueprint that was tucked between book pages. The blueprint had a clumsy sketch of a misaligned box with something that looked like a handle or lever. It bore a slight resemblance to the bellows at first glance.
Gu Jinyu couldn’t even remember what she herself had drawn.
But she was certain that it wasn’t the bellows.
However… with a little stretch of the imagination, it did look a bit like the prototype of a bellows.
“Jinyu, did you really invent the bellows?” Lord Gu asked.
Instead of answering, Gu Jinyu asked, “Father, what did the people from the Six Departments say? Have they found any clues?”
Lord Gu said, “They mentioned that it was a girl with the surname Gu who had some connection to the Marquis of Ding’an’s Residence. She should be the daughter of a Marquis. Ah, yes, she would be around fourteen or fifteen years old.”
No mistake about it, the Ministry of War had actually investigated thoroughly and found another useful lead regarding her age.
This essentially matched with Gu Jinyu’s age.
A bold guess formed in Gu Jinyu’s mind, but she did not voice it. Instead, she headed to the courtyard of the Yao Family.
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Yao Family matriarch was making clothes for Gu Jiao.
“Mother.” Gu Jinyu walked over, so excited that she ignored the clothing in Yao’s hands, knelt down, eagerly taking Yao’s hand and asked, “Has sister visited recently?”
“What’s the matter? Do you need her for something?” Yao asked.
Gu Jinyu shook her head: “Not really, I haven’t been to the girl’s school for a while, I didn’t see sister there, so I just wanted to ask how she is doing.”
The girl’s school was next to the Medical Hall, Gu Jinyu often saw Gu Jiao while attending school, though they rarely interacted. Besides the sisters at the Medical Hall, no one else knew Gu Jinyu and a medicinal apprentice were sisters.
Mentioning her daughter, Yao’s face filled with affection: “Your sister is doing well, but her husband just finished his spring examinations, so she’s been a bit busy.”
Gu Jinyu didn’t take this seriously, what could an impoverished country boy possibly achieve academically? He was nothing compared to the Marquis, who was destined to take first place.
Once the Marquis gets his first place, he will gift her the graduation flower.
“You’re feeling better now, aren’t you? I heard that you went to the palace today.” Yao said.
“I’m alright now, I should have come to see you first, but Aunt Qi urged me to go see my aunt. Don’t be upset with me, mother.”
“That’s fine.” Yao said.
“By the way, mother, you didn’t throw away my old draft papers, right?” Gu Jinyu took out some papers from her bag, those that she used to doodle on when she was young, “Like these.”
Yao asked: “Didn’t you take them all already?”
Gu Jinyu said: “I meant the ones in the Villa.”
Yao Family matriarch explained: “Those were brought over from the Villa.”
Gu Jinyu lowered her gaze: “Then…..has sister ever looked at these things?”
Yao shook her head: “I never showed them to her.”
Gu Jinyu lifted her head to look at Yao: “Did she ever flip through them herself?”
Yao asked in confusion: “Why would she look through your things?”
She’s not a child anymore.
Even a child wouldn’t do that and Gu Yan, when he was little, never invaded Gu Jinyu’s privacy.
Gu Jinyu smiled:” I didn’t mean it that way, she’s my sister, even though she’s cold on the outside, I know she cares about me.”
Yao said: “Even if she cared for you, she wouldn’t invade your privacy.” Jiaojiao was a polite and well-behaved kid.
Gu Jinyu doesn’t argue with her mother anymore, she changed the topic, after a while, Yao started yawning.
Lately, Yao had been really sleepy.
Gu Jinyu urged her mother to rest well.
After stepping out of the courtyard, Gu Jinyu suddenly murmured: “Whoever it was, they must have sneaked a peek at my blueprints and got inspired!”
The little maid: “Miss, what are you saying?”
Gu Jinyu ignored her, absolutely convinced of her own conclusion, no longer worried about anyone finding it out.
That’s right, she was the prodigy of the Zhan Country, others merely stole her inspiration!
She was the true owner!
The following day, Gu Jinyu returned to school.
As expected, those young ladies who once distanced themselves from her are now fawning all over her again.
“Miss Gu, we heard that the bellows of the court was your invention, is that true?”
“Yes, yes, is it really true?”
“Say something!”
At the entrance of the girl’s school, Gu Jinyu was surrounded by the girls, their questions were filled with curiosity, yet their eyes were mostly already certain.
Otherwise, why would Gu Jinyu, who had been sick at home for so long, suddenly reappear at school if not to turn her fortunes around?
Gu Jinyu modestly smiled and said: “The Emperor hasn’t announced it to the public yet, so everyone please do not spread it around.”