The Prime Minister's Darling novel Chapter 390

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.