Over the next few days, Wang Yu grew busy once more. He rarely showed his face in the prince's manor during the day, having assembled another crew of craftsmen to tinker away all day long in the manor workshops.
When Li Yunxiu sent people to inquire, all they learned was that Wang Yu had gathered a great deal of sand, along with alkali, lime, and similar materials, appearing to be firing something akin to porcelain.
"Doesn't porcelain require clay? Most of that comes from Jiangnan. Could the Northwest possibly have clay suitable for making porcelain?"
"No one knows. Word has it the prince failed several experiments, but all the defective pieces were smashed and buried. Aside from those craftsmen, nobody has any idea what His Highness is trying to make."
Wang Yu kept silent, and no one dared to ask.
Li Yunxiu ceased her inquiries as well, though she knew he was crafting something entirely novel. *If northwest earth could be used to produce porcelain rivaling the famous wares of Jiangnan...*
The Northwest was not devoid of pottery and porcelain, but its quality lagged leagues behind Jiangnan's celebrated wares.
If Wang Yu were merely making ordinary ceramics, there would be no need for him to conduct trials in the workshop in person. It had to be an innovation on par with floral essential oils or the blast furnaces to warrant his personal touch.
Recalling the perfume workshop's lucrative profits and the steady stream of sabers and armor rolling out from the ironworks, Li Yunxiu could not help but feel a stir of anticipation.
***
On this particular day, Li Yunxiu was awaiting good news when she saw Wang Yu lounging in a reclining chair in the back garden. Beside the chair stood a wooden bucket filled with blocks of ice hauled up from the cellar, atop which sat several watermelons.
"Did you succeed?" Li Yunxiu's eyes lit up.
"Nope. Failed too many times, so I'm taking a break," Wang Yu said lazily.
Her excitement had been for naught, yet she was not disappointed. Sitting down beside him, unable to suppress her curiosity, she asked, "Just what are you trying to make? Is it porcelain?"
"No," Wang Yu said with a shake of his head. "I'm not even sure it'll work. Once it's truly made, you'll see for yourself."
Li Yunxiu gave a faint smile. She was hardly an impatient woman. Reaching into the bucket herself, she selected a thoroughly chilled watermelon, set it on the table, and sliced it open with a knife.
*Schwick—thump, thump, thump—*
With a martial artist's deftness, Li Yunxiu's knife came down swiftly, cleaving the watermelon, twice the size of a human head, into palm-sized crescents before offering a slice to Wang Yu.
Wang Yu took it and took a bite.
Sitting back down to one side, Li Yunxiu held a crescent of her own and nibbled delicately. "The Northwest's watermelons truly are sweeter than those from the Central Plains."
"Not bad," Wang Yu agreed with a nod. Though these melons had been cultivated for centuries to be juicy, crisp, and sweet, they still fell short of modern varieties like the 8424 and Qilin.
Li Yunxiu chuckled at his reaction, thinking Wang Yu was carrying himself more and more like the Prince of Zhenxi with each passing day.
Soon, rustling footsteps drew near as Zhao Yingjie and Yuan Feifei walked over. Zhao Yingjie's eyes brightened when he spotted Wang Yu. "Brother Yu, how do you have free time today?"
Wang Yu casually tossed a slice of watermelon toward him. "So in your eyes, I'm only allowed to be busy?"
Catching it in hand, Zhao Yingjie gave a sheepish grin. "You spend all day holed up in the workshop without even visiting the pleasure houses. Naturally, I'm surprised to see you here today."
Zhao Yingjie stepped up to the pair, handed Yuan Feifei a slice of watermelon as well, and was about to take his leave, not wanting to intrude on Wang Yu and Li Yunxiu's private time.
Just then, Qianqian and Meng Zixiao strolled over side by side, chatting and laughing casually.
Zhao Yingjie's eyelid twitched. Taking Yuan Feifei by the hand, he hurried his steps. But after only two quick strides, Wang Yu called out to keep them. "It's sweltering today, and there's plenty of watermelon to go around. Sit down and rest, both of you. Have a few more slices."
Zhao Yingjie and Yuan Feifei exchanged a helpless glance before taking their seats nearby.
At the same time, Qianqian and Meng Zixiao drew near. "My, what a splendid day it is—everyone's gathered together!"
Meng Zixiao raised an eyebrow and smiled. "Brother Zhao certainly knows how to enjoy himself!"
Wang Yu gestured toward the bucket, where three or four large watermelons still rested. "These were all picked out by the most seasoned melon farmers. It's blistering hot today, so let's all have some melon to beat the heat."
"Then we won't stand on ceremony." Meng Zixiao took a seat not far from Wang Yu, her long, slender legs stretched out comfortably as she picked up a slice and bit into it.
Li Yunxiu glanced at Qianqian, who offered a radiant smile in return. "I never realized Sister's knife skills were so remarkable. Every single one of these slices is cut to the exact same size."
Li Yunxiu smiled just as pleasantly. "It is only thanks to Sister's wonderful disposition in looking after Miss Meng on the prince's behalf that our guest has not been neglected."
Though the watermelon slices on the table were roughly uniform, they were far from identical. Qianqian was subtly mocking Li Yunxiu's martial precision, while Li Yunxiu, suspecting Meng Zixiao of harboring ulterior motives, saw Qianqian chatting amicably with her and was mocking Qianqian's lack of discernment.
Strictly speaking, Li Yunxiu had the weaker hand in this verbal spar, for she was unaware of Qianqian's true identity and acting prowess—a failure not of skill, but of circumstance.
"How has Miss Meng's recovery been progressing?" Li Yunxiu asked.
"Thank you for your concern, Princess Consort. I have largely recovered; my injuries won't hinder me in combat anymore." Meng Zixiao finished her slice of watermelon and looked toward Wang Yu with eager anticipation. "I hear Brother Zhao slew the Skanda with a single sword stroke and that your swordsmanship carries the old prince's true mantle. I would love to test my skills against yours."
Over the past few days, though Wang Yu spent his time experimenting in the workshops, he was present mornings and evenings. Meeting Meng Zixiao daily for brief chats had naturally eased their forms of address as they grew familiar.
Wang Yu laughed. "My father practiced saber techniques."
"Ah? Is that so?" Meng Zixiao paused in surprise, but showed no awkwardness as she chuckled. "Then Brother Zhao is all the more impressive."
A smile hovered on Li Yunxiu's lips, her gaze deepening, while Qianqian beamed like a blossoming flower, her eyes rippling like autumn waters.
"With praise like that, how can I refuse? Let's have a bout, then. Breaking a sweat makes chilled watermelon taste all the sweeter!" Wang Yu rose to his feet and gave a casual wave of his hand. "Bring two swords!"
The next instant, two sheathed longswords whistled through the air from nearby.
Zhao Yingjie vaulted into the air, caught them cleanly, and landed before handing the swords to Wang Yu and Meng Zixiao.
Qianqian pumped a small fist. "Be careful, Brother Yu! Don't hurt Sister Xiao!"
Li Yunxiu clapped lightly. "A fine chance to witness the exquisite arts of a Shu swordswoman."
Seeing Wang Yu draw his blade, Meng Zixiao said, "Pardon my clumsy technique," and drew her own sword. Flourishing a dazzling bloom of steel, her blade quivered continuously, darting straight for Wang Yu's shoulder.
With a flick of his blade tip, Wang Yu angled his edge upward to parry. When the two swords met, they produced no sound at all.
Meng Zixiao and Wang Yu locked eyes, she breaking into a bright smile before her sword struck like the wind. She spun the longsword into a swirling blur of shadows, its chilling wind sharp and piercing, like a white dragon surging from the sea, baring its fangs.
Wang Yu executed the Seven Forms of the Setting Sun, concealing defense within attack and attack within defense, trading blows evenly with Meng Zixiao.
Qianqian watched the duel with wide, lucid eyes, looking both thrilled and worried.
Li Yunxiu narrowed her eyes slightly and offered a quiet critique. "It indeed bears the shadow of the Qingyang Sect's White Dragon Sword Technique, yet it isn't quite the same. Though somewhat more intricate, it lacks its predecessor's seamless fluidity."
Standing nearby, Zhao Yingjie asked, "Have you seen the White Dragon Sword Technique before, Princess Consort?"
Li Yunxiu nodded. "Many disciples of various sects travel through the capital region. I have seen both the White Dragon Sword Technique and the Azure Dragon Sword Technique of the Qingyang Sect. One is sharp and fierce, while the other is light and elegant."
"Sharp and fierce?" Zhao Yingjie asked. "How does it compare to the swordsmanship of the Taihua Sect?"
Mount Taihua was vast, magnificent, and renowned throughout the realm for its perilous heights, and the Taihua Sect's swordsmanship was equally famous for its perilous, razor-sharp aggression.
Li Yunxiu pondered for a moment. "The Qingyang Sect is famous for its Five Elements Sword Techniques, while the Taihua Sect is renowned for its perilous danger. Presumably, the Taihua Sect's swordsmanship is somewhat fiercer."
Beside them, Qianqian curled her lip, seeming on the verge of speaking, but held herself back.
Meanwhile, Meng Zixiao and Wang Yu sparred with ever-growing synergy.
This was merely a friendly match rather than a life-or-death duel, so neither channeled inner strength, relying solely on sword craft. Wang Yu's Seven Forms of the Setting Sun were undeniably extraordinary, but Meng Zixiao's White Dragon Sword Technique was also celebrated across the land. Relying purely on technique, neither could gain the upper hand.
After each ran through their respective routines once, their eyes met mid-clash, each instantly anticipating the other's next maneuver. As their figures intertwined amid the dancing blades, an almost dance-like grace emerged, as though they had rehearsed the sequence countless times, perfectly attuned to one another.
The longer Meng Zixiao fought, the more exhilarating it felt, and Wang Yu was in high spirits as well.
Li Yunxiu's smile began to fade, and Qianqian's expression stiffened slightly.
*Clang!*
With a crisp ring, Meng Zixiao sprang out of the fighting circle. She fanned herself with a hand, brushing away the beads of sweat and rising heat along her temples. "I can't go on, or I'll agitate my wound."
Wang Yu sheathed his sword, picked up another slice of watermelon, and sank back into his reclining chair. "Ah, having watermelon at a moment like this truly hits the spot!"
Meng Zixiao also took a slice and praised him warmly. "Brother Zhao's swordsmanship far outstrips mine. Just sparring with you for a short while feels like it's sharpened my skill!"
"You're too kind!" Wang Yu laughed heartily. "It's been a long time since I've met a master of the sword I could spar and practice with. We should spar much more often from now on!"
"Gladly!" Meng Zixiao agreed readily.
Li Yunxiu's smile grew increasingly gentle, and Qianqian's laughter rang out all the more brightly.
Yet Zhao Yingjie could not shake the feeling that the atmosphere had turned subtly treacherous. Seeing that the sliced melon was nearly gone, he hastily fished another one from the bucket and began chopping away with the melon knife, a flurry of thumps echoing across the courtyard.
"Fine blade work!" Meng Zixiao praised.
Zhao Yingjie managed an awkward grin. Just then, Yuan Feifei spoke up softly. "Allow me to play a piece for everyone."
Qianqian clapped and laughed. "Listening to ice on a summer day—how delightful!"
Neither Wang Yu nor Li Yunxiu had any objection. Before long, a servant brought forth Bingquan Ming and presented the zither to Yuan Feifei.
*Twang—twang—*
The zither notes rang out, evoking flowing springs from icy mountains, as though a glacier had suddenly arisen beneath the scorching summer sun. Everyone closed their eyes to listen, the music paired with chilled watermelon on their tongues, genuinely evoking the sensation of drinking ice in the summer.
When the piece concluded, its lingering melody seemed to coil through the beams.
Li Yunxiu smiled in admiration. "Feifei's zither skill has grown even more refined."
Yuan Feifei offered a faint, graceful smile. "With my great vengeance avenged and the prince offering me counsel, my mind has eased, so I have indeed made modest progress."
Wang Yu rubbed his hands together and suddenly stood up. "I've recently started learning the zither myself. Allow me to play a piece as well."
Everyone stared in surprise.
Only Qianqian's eyes flickered, recalling the day they had set out to inspect the pass, when Wang Yu had been reading the Introductory Zither Manual and Flowing Springs of the Icy Mountain.
Li Yunxiu was intrigued as well. To her mind, Wang Yu never acted without assurance. For him to volunteer a performance out of nowhere, could he have been practicing in secret for ages, waiting for today to astonish everyone with a single stroke of brilliance?
Yuan Feifei yielded her seat without hesitation. Wang Yu sat down before the low table, resting his hands upon this peerless, renowned zither. His posture was dignified and deliberate, appearing every bit the seasoned master.
Under everyone's expectant and curious gazes, a series of discordant *plink-plonks*—resembling the squeals of a slaughtered pig—suddenly erupted across the courtyard...
Chapter 44