Tian Kangtai nodded with a warm smile, "Besides glass lamps, there are also glass mirrors."
Xu Shuo was very curious upon hearing this, "Isn't glass transparent? How can it be made into a mirror?"
Xu Shuo was merely curious and had no intention of prying further, so he didn't press Tian Kangtai to elaborate.
"I imagine it won't be long before they can be seen in the capital."
No matter whose family possessed such a lucrative technology, they would have to guard it fiercely. They naturally had no desire to covet it.
Tian Kangtai had initially intended to casually explain the principles, but seeing their caution, he decided to stop there.
With the advantage already secured, what was the point of hoarding it all?
The mere glass factory and its money-making techniques were merely a facade, a smokescreen. The young master and his associates didn't place much importance on them.
Those who eagerly sought to become shareholders and patronize the young master when the glass factory was first established not only failed to reap any benefits but were also severely rebuffed. Since then, no one dared to brazenly offer their "love" to the young master.
However, with such a tempting piece of "fat meat" readily available, how could anyone not want a bite? It was true that they dared not be so blatant; Zhu family's third son still lost control of himself whenever he heard the young master's name.
The pursuit of profit was human nature. If a direct confrontation was not feasible, one could always find a more circuitous route.
In recent months, many unfamiliar faces had appeared in Ninghe, and they were well aware of their furtive activities.
There was no such thing as a leak-proof wall. The technology for glass manufacturing would eventually spread, and it wasn't a particularly earth-shattering matter.
Tian Kangtai escorted Xu Shuo and Yue Lin to the outskirts of the mansion.
The next day, the two arrived as scheduled. However, as soon as they stepped into Yilan Pavilion and before they could even sit down, they heard that Xie Jiang was planning to leave.
The two exchanged glances and, with a tacit understanding, bolted. Even if they couldn't stop Xie Jiang, they had to follow.
"Is Marquis Xie going out?" The two had arrived in good time; Xie Jiang had just mounted his horse.
Xie Jiang, astride his horse and clad in a heroic and neat riding outfit, looked at the two who had rushed over. "Want to go play together?"
"Is Marquis Xie going hunting?" Seeing the bow and arrows hanging from Xie Jiang's saddle, and the equipment of Su Yang and his entourage behind Xie Jiang, Xu Shuo quickly realized.
Yue Lin quickly reminded him, "Marquis Xie, today is the eighth day."
The first eight days had been endured. With just two more days, their merit would be complete. To go out now would be to fail at the last hurdle.
Xie Jiang looked puzzled, "What eighth day?"
Su Yang rolled his eyes with a mocking expression, "Young Master Yue means that Prime Minister Xun ordered the young master to reflect in the mansion for ten days."
Xie Jiang sat on his horse and pondered for a while before remembering that there was indeed such a matter.
So, Marquis Xie had forgotten. Since he remembered now, did that mean…
Before Yue Lin could even exhale in relief, he heard Xie Jiang say dismissively, "Isn't it already the eighth day? That's giving Prime Minister Xun enough face, isn't it?"
With that, he flicked the reins and urged his horse out through the side gate.
Yue Lin gazed at Xie Jiang's retreating figure, "She…"
If even Prime Minister Xun couldn't restrain her, perhaps she had genuinely just been too lazy to go out in the previous few days?
At that moment, their mounts were led over.
"Isn't it a good thing that Marquis Xie is going hunting?" Xu Shuo patted his shoulder and was the first to mount his horse.
"That's true. Reading in Yilan Pavilion every day is quite boring. Today, thanks to Marquis Xie, we can also stretch our muscles and go out," Yue Lin urged his horse to catch up.
As long as Xie Jiang didn't go to the Third Prince's mansion, the elders had no cause for concern, especially since hunting was a physically demanding activity.
As for whether it was ten days or eight days of reflection, even Prime Minister Xun himself probably wouldn't care too much.
Xu Shuo, chasing after them, learned the hunting location from Nie Tong and instructed his attendants to notify Lu Yuqing and Xu Hengyi.
Whether they came or not was up to them.
This way, if they heard about them hunting outside the city today, they wouldn't be able to complain that they weren't informed.
After exiting the city gates and meeting up with Ruan Zijie's group, Xu Shuo and Yue Lin discovered that Xie Jiang had already made plans with them.
"After we left the Marquis of Nanhai's mansion yesterday, did Ruan Zijie and the others come to find Marquis Xie?" Yue Lin flicked his horsewhip and rode a few steps forward to ask Nie Tong.
Nie Tong replied, "Last night, Young Master Ruan invited the young master to Qunfang Pavilion, but the young master was not interested. Later, Young Master Ruan suggested going hunting outside the city today. Da Chui said he wanted to eat bear paws, so the young master agreed to Young Master Ruan's invitation for today."
Yue Lin glanced at Xu Shuo, who was half a horse's length behind.
Qunfang Pavilion versus hunting, Marquis Xie chose the latter.
He knew that Marquis Xie was not the type of person to indulge in excess.
It was merely a bit of youthful impetuosity. Occasional visits to pleasure houses were not a major issue. The elders were perhaps making too much of a fuss.
Xu Shuo nodded slightly.
The last time they invited Marquis Xie to Chunse Manyuan, it was probably just a matter of convenience for Marquis Xie.
Rumors were often misleading.
Having stayed in the Marquis of Nanhai's mansion for so long, they found Xie Jiang to be quite self-disciplined. He had no concubines in his inner chambers, and the only two maids serving him in Fuyun Pavilion were still young and childish.
As Xu Shuo galloped along, he wondered how much the elders truly liked Xie Jiang to worry about such trivial matters all day long.
Su Yang, riding ahead, heard Nie Tong and Yue Lin and shot Da Chui a jealous glance.
The big傻大个 (big傻大个 - roughly translates to big lunkhead or simpleton) must have accumulated immense virtue in his past life! Just because he wanted to eat bear paws, the young master would take them hunting!
Looking at Ruan Zijie and the others who were practically clinging to the young master, Su Yang gritted his teeth, and a cruel, bloodthirsty arc slowly formed on his lips.
The hunting grounds were inherently dangerous. They hadn't consulted the almanac before leaving today. What if a ferocious beast suddenly went mad? Would it recognize who Young Master Ruan was?
When Xu Hengyi, Xia Zeshi, and Lu Yuqing arrived in a hurry, they only saw Nie Tong with two people by the river, preparing wild game. The barbecue grill seemed to have just been lit, still emitting wisps of smoke.
"Where is Xie Jiang? Which way did he go?"
Nie Tong raised his hand and pointed in all directions – east, west, south, and north. "Who knows where he is right now."
His words were as good as saying nothing.
Xu Hengyi shot him an annoyed glance.
Lu Yuqing looked at a deer they were dismembering. "Next time there's something like this, Brother Nie, remember to inform us earlier."
Nie Tong replied, "Didn't the three of you agree to get sick together? The young master was worried you wouldn't be able to get out of bed today, so he didn't call you."
Xu Hengyi gritted his teeth. None of the people in Xie Jiang's mansion were good people!
What was this about them agreeing to get sick together? "It's not surprising that we couldn't take it after soaking in such cold river water for a whole morning. However, our bodies aren't that weak; we recovered after taking a dose or two of medicine. We were just about to ask Xie Jiang to play horse polo tomorrow."
After speaking, the three of them galloped into the hunting grounds. They didn't deliberately search for Xie Jiang and his group. Their main purpose was to hunt and enjoy themselves, not to be Xie Jiang's followers.
The three of them were already late. The priority was to hunt a few substantial prey, so as not to be outdone when they met up later.
However, after half an hour, apart from Xu Hengyi shooting a fleeing rabbit, the three had no other gains.
Lu Yuqing said dejectedly, "Are they locusts that have become spirits? They leave nothing behind wherever they go. This rabbit..."
Xia Zeshi suddenly raised his hand to interrupt him, making a shushing gesture. Then, they heard a scream.