Jin Feng caught the hesitation on the Ninth Princess’s face and his heart instantly tightened.
Even if he were a fool, he could guess what that expression meant.
In feudal times, the imperial family was heaven itself. If the Ninth Princess insisted on taking the cement formula, Jin Feng would have no choice but to hand it over.
Fortunately, after thinking for a moment, she shook her head and said, “This palace merely finds it marvellous. I have no intention of purchasing it.”
The Ninth Princess probably understood the overall state of Da Kang better than Emperor Chen Ji himself.
Because of war and heavy taxes, the population had been falling for years.
Many existing cities already had rows of empty houses; there was no need to build new ones.
Moreover, the state treasury could not support the construction of another city.
So even if Jin Feng agreed to give her the method, the Ninth Princess would have no immediate use for it.
Offending a man of boundless potential for something she could not yet use would simply not be worth it.
Hearing her say that, Jin Feng finally relaxed. He quickly rinsed his mouth and slipped back inside.
This incident made him slightly wary of the Ninth Princess.
She cared for the realm, yet precisely because of that, she was more ambitious than the average prince or princess.
It would be best to keep some distance from someone like her in future.
Thus, on the journey from Cat Cat Mountain to West River Bay, Jin Feng rode at the front and did his best to avoid the princess.
Even when avoidance was impossible, he no longer spoke as freely as before; he thought carefully each time before opening his mouth.
Along the way, the Ninth Princess secretly glanced at his back more than once, feeling waves of helplessness.
From childhood, everyone around her had been deadly serious. Even Qin’er, who had grown up with her, never dared speak out of turn in her presence.
Only Jin Feng seemed completely unconcerned with her princess status and treated her with casual ease in both word and deed.
At dinner the previous night, he had teased her the same way he teased Qing Muluan.
That feeling of being treated as an equal was extremely comfortable for the Ninth Princess.
It made Jin Feng far more interesting than those stern, calculating old foxes at court.
It also helped her understand why Qing Muluan was unwilling to leave West River Bay.
Women from noble houses like theirs were, in truth, very lonely.
Meeting someone like Jin Feng, who genuinely saw them as friends, was incredibly rare.
If she were in Qing Muluan’s place, she would not leave either.
Yet from that very morning, the Ninth Princess could sense that Jin Feng’s attitude toward her had changed.
This was the last thing she wanted, and the whole journey she racked her brains for a way to repair their relationship.
Cat Cat Mountain was not far from West River Bay. Around three in the afternoon, the Ninth Princess spotted a white fortress in the distance.
Built on open ground beside the official road, the fortress, like the small tower on Cat Cat Mountain, was made entirely of poured concrete.
On the platform at the top stood six escorts armed with crossbows.
Beside them, heavy crossbows and trebuchets lay covered with coarse cloth.
Many such fortresses surrounded West River Bay.
They formed the first defensive line that Zhang Liang had built for the settlement.
If anyone tried to attack West River Bay, the escorts could use the trebuchets and heavy crossbows atop the fortress to seal the road with ease.
Once past the fortress, they entered West River Bay territory.
The Ninth Princess lifted the carriage curtain and looked around curiously.
Far off in a mountain ravine, several columns of smoke rose into the sky.
“That is Long Snake Gully. The cement works, lime kilns, brickworks, and coal storehouses are all there,” Qing Muluan explained, acting as guide and pointing at the smoke. “Those columns come from the brick and cement kilns.”
“What are those buildings for? Brick-and-tile houses?” the Ninth Princess asked, pointing at rows of three-storey small buildings in the distance.
“Yes, all brick and tile.”
Qing Muluan continued, “After the master built the textile mill, many women from other villages came looking for work. Those buildings are dormitories to house them.
A few months ago that area was still empty. Now it is full of houses. In another few months, West River Bay and Guanjia Village will probably merge into one big settlement.”
“The master built brick-and-tile houses just to house women from outside?”
The Ninth Princess asked in surprise, “Then what do the original West River Bay villagers live in?”
Although she had left the capital only a handful of times in her life, she knew perfectly well that ordinary people could not afford brick-and-tile homes.
In fact, on the journey from the capital, almost every village she passed consisted of thatched cottages. The rare brick house belonged to local gentry.
Yet here in West River Bay, brick-and-tile houses seemed to have lost all value, used by Jin Feng simply to accommodate refugee women.
“West River Bay only started prospering a few months ago when the master opened the textile mill. Mostily, so most villagers still live in thatched cottages,” Qing Muluan said. “But wages here are high now, and many families plan to build new brick houses. The problem is that the kilns cannot produce enough bricks even for the factories, so villagers cannot buy any.
When I was last back, I heard they were preparing to open several new kilns. Probably next year the village will be full of brick-and-tile houses.”
“I see.”
The Ninth Princess nodded slightly.
As they spoke, the convoy entered the village.
Qin’er, riding beside the carriage, suddenly sniffed and frowned.
Beside her, Zhu’er gripped her sword hilt, ready to draw at any moment.
Noticing their reaction, the Ninth Princess asked, “What is it?”
“Your Highness, there is a smell of blood,” Qin’er said warily, scanning the surroundings. “Your Highness, please close the window.”
“No need to be nervous. The blood smell is coming from the ground,” Qing Muluan said with a laugh. “Wuyang, do you remember what I wrote to you about my first kill? It happened right here.”
“So this is the threshing ground where you and the master wiped out the Iron Can Mountain bandits?”
The Ninth Princess recalled at once. “No wonder there is still a bloody smell. So many bandits died here that day.”
“The master had the ground dug up and turned over once, so it is much better now. In summer the stench was far worse. Many timid people would not walk here even in broad daylight.”
Qing Muluan turned to look at a corner, her expression nostalgic.
Her first kill had taken place in that very spot.
It was also the first lesson Jin Feng had ever taught her.
Once inside the village, the streets grew busy with people.
“The master is back!”
“Da Liu, I heard you went to rescue Miss Muluan. Did you save her?”
“When the master takes action, of course he saved her. Look, isn’t Miss Muluan sitting in the carriage?”
“These days there are still bandits who dare oppose West River Bay. They must be tired of living.”
“Eh, who is the girl sitting beside Miss Muluan? She looks so pretty.”
“Anyone who can ride in the same carriage as Miss Muluan must be the master’s honoured guest. You can look, but don’t point. Careful or A-Mei will snap your finger off!”
…
The villagers greeted Jin Feng, asked about the battle, or curiously guessed the princess’s identity.
The Ninth Princess found it all very amusing and did not lower the curtain.
She was enjoying the scene when a sudden scream came from an alley on the right.
A teenage girl dressed in ragged hemp clothing burst out of the alley and nearly crashed into Jin Feng’s warhorse.
