Chapter 50: Six Mortal-Level Divine Items, the Emperor's Personal Expedition
Therefore, now that His Majesty had suddenly bestowed such a large amount of materials, the court officials dared not utter a single complaint. Even if they had objections, they had to suppress them.
Why did His Majesty trust the Prime Minister so completely? It wasn't just because the Prime Minister was the greatest contributor to the founding of the dynasty. It was also because the Prime Minister didn't form factions, was unmarried, and had no offspring. He posed no threat to the royal family. He had no ambition beyond his role.
After the morning court session, Xu Ning leisurely rode his iron ox to the Princess's residence.
After announcing his arrival, Xu Ning rode the iron ox directly inside, as was his privilege.
It could be said that in the entire Da Xuan, apart from Xu Ning and the current Emperor, no one dared to ride their mount directly into the Princess's residence like this. It was a mark of their unique relationship.
Arriving at the backyard of the Princess's residence, Xu Ning saw Princess Xia Li handling various letters and intelligence reports, as was her custom.
"You've arrived," Xia Li said without turning her head, seemingly sensing Xu Ning's presence.
Xu Ning climbed down from Tie Dan and slowly walked to Xia Li's side, bowing respectfully. "Your subject greets Your Highness. I hope you are well."
Xia Li turned around abruptly and looked at Xu Ning with sharp eyes. "Xu Ning, do you have to be so distant with me? After all these years, you still treat me like a stranger?"
Xu Ning kept his voice neutral. "This humble subject dares not be presumptuous. I am following protocol."
Xia Li glared at Xu Ning for a long time, her expression unreadable.
Xu Ning remained outwardly calm, his face a mask. "Your Highness, His Majesty sent me to see the Princess. He asked me to visit."
Xia Li then looked away, speaking indifferently, her voice tinged with hurt. "If my brother hadn't told you to come, you wouldn't have come, would you? I never see you otherwise."
Xu Ning made an excuse. "This humble subject also has many matters to attend to and hasn't had time to come. The affairs of state keep me busy."
Xia Li stopped what she was doing, looking up at the sky, her voice quiet. "I don't understand. You're unmarried, and I'm unmarried. You know my feelings perfectly well. So why have you been avoiding me all these years? What are you afraid of?"
Xu Ning could only steel himself and say the harsh truth. "Your Highness, a consort is not allowed to participate in politics. If I were to marry you, I would have to give up my position. That is not something I am willing to do."
Xia Li froze, her mouth agape in surprise. "Just for that? You would refuse me for power?"
Xu Ning wanted to say, Of course you don't understand. Women were full of love and romance, willing to give up everything for love. So, in your eyes, politics could certainly be abandoned without hesitation.
But men thought completely differently. They wanted to focus on their careers, on their ambitions. Women and romance were merely secondary considerations. If they could obtain them along the way, that was best, but if not, it didn't matter.
Xu Ning's determination to participate in the imperial examination and rise to power stemmed from his desire to experience the life of someone wielding immense influence. It was a unique experience.
To sacrifice his hard-earned career, his position as Prime Minister, for a princess would be utterly insane. He would be reduced to a figurehead.
"Your Highness," Xu Ning said, bowing again, his voice firm. "If I were to spend my life as a lazy, good-for-nothing prince consort with no real power or purpose, I would surely die a miserable death. That is not the life I want."
Xia Li understood Xu Ning's resolve, her eyes filled with disappointment. But she stubbornly declared, "If I don't marry you in this life, I will never marry again. I'll wait."
This novel's true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
Xu Ning quickly bowed, alarmed. "Your Highness, please don't say such things! You are the Princess. You must not waste your life on me."
Xia Li waved her hand, turning away. "I'm tired. You may leave now."
Xu Ning could only sigh helplessly and turn to leave. There was nothing more to say.
Riding Tie Dan back to the Prime Minister's residence, he found the guards delivering the pig iron and cloth arriving just in time. They were carrying large crates.
Xu Ning quickly went over to direct them to put the items away. The logistics took some time.
The materials filled two entire rooms to the brim.
The Third Prince, Xia Lin, and Shen Yun watched with curiosity and confusion as the crates were stacked.
After the guards who had delivered the gifts left, Xu Ning walked to the fire in the courtyard and sat down. "You two, come here."
Xia Lin and Shen Yun immediately and obediently came to Xu Ning's side, kneeling attentively.
Xu Ning said, "You two have both cultivated the Iron Shirt technique. Today, I will pass on the tenth level of Iron Shirt to you. From now on, go back and cultivate on your own. I've taught you everything I needed to teach you."
Xu Ning had taught the two to read and write, imparted many useful skills, and guided their moral development over the years.
Now, the two were truly accomplished in both literature and martial arts, outstanding among the younger generation of Da Xuan.
When Xia Lin and Shen Yun first heard about the tenth level of Iron Shirt, they were both shocked and filled with disbelief. They had thought the technique only went to nine levels.
What did the tenth level of Iron Shirt mean? It was a legendary technique in the martial arts world, something that had never existed before.
Upon hearing Xu Ning's next words, both of them were startled and immediately knelt down, their voices urgent, saying in unison,
"Sir, please don't send us away! We want to stay with you."
Xu Ning said gently, "I've already taught you everything I needed to. Just don't slack off after you go back. There's not much point in you staying here now. Besides, Shen Yun is of age to take the imperial examinations. You need to build your own life."
"As for Xia Lin, you should also go and prepare for your own affairs. You have responsibilities as a prince."
Both of them were of age and status, and at this point, they needed to do serious things in the world.
Shen Yun and Xia Lin's faces were filled with sorrow upon hearing this, and they said at the same time, "We will never forget your kindness in educating us, sir. We don't know when we can repay you. We owe you everything."
Xu Ning waved off their gratitude. "What are you talking about repaying? Just don't mention your master if you cause trouble in the future and embarrass me. Live well."
Then, Xu Ning stopped them from saying anything more and passed on the tenth level of the Iron Shirt technique to them in a private moment.
"Sir!" Finally, Xia Lin and Shen Yun kowtowed three times to Xu Ning, their heads touching the ground, before reluctantly leaving.
At the gate of the Prime Minister's residence, Xu Ning watched their departing figures and couldn't help but sigh. The courtyard felt emptier already.
Looking back at the Prime Minister's residence, now deserted once more, Xu Ning felt a pang of sadness.
Humans aren't plants or trees; how could they be without feelings? Having spent so many years with the two, their sudden departure was impossible without a sense of loss.
Then, Xu Ning shook his head, calming himself. As an immortal, he would inevitably experience such things countless times in the future. If he held onto them all, he wouldn't be able to cope. He had to let go.
However, sending the two away was necessary for the upcoming major upgrade. He needed privacy.
In the following time, Xu Ning began preparing the pig iron for the upgrade. He worked in secret.
He first took out the pig iron and then used the powerful flames of the lantern to melt it together into larger pieces.
Five hundred catties of pig iron were melted into a single solid piece. He repeated the process.
Xu Ning roughly calculated that he needed to upgrade six items: one kitchen knife, one iron pot, an axe, a hoe, his own armor, and Tie Dan's armor.
A total of six items to bring to the next level.
The smelting process alone took Xu Ning half a month of constant work, carefully managing the fire.
Then, Xu Ning fed them all with the prepared pig iron, upgrading them all to top-grade mortal items in one go.
Then he fed them all again, directly upgrading them all to legendary mortal items. They were now extraordinary.
After these items reached legendary status, not only were their individual functions greatly enhanced, but they could also be shrunk or enlarged at will. This made them much easier to carry and eliminated the need to retrieve them from the hut each time.
Next, Xu Ning needed to prepare pig iron to upgrade to divine mortal items, the highest level.
This was more troublesome. Xu Ning needed to melt five thousand catties of pig iron into a single massive piece before upgrading. A single upgrade consumed enormous material.
Similarly, Xu Ning needed to prepare six such massive pieces, one for each item.
This process took Xu Ning a whole year of careful smelting and preparation.
During this year, Xia Yun urged Xu Ning countless times about the higher-level iron cavalry equipment he had promised.
Xu Ning kept making excuses to avoid it, saying he was still working on the materials.
A month later, after Xu Ning had finally upgraded all six items to Divine-grade Mortal-level, he began working on Xia Yun's requested equipment.
This was simpler and would be done in a short time. He had saved the best for last.
The reason Xu Ning had been delaying was that he was afraid Xia Yun would use the equipment to launch a personal military campaign immediately. It wasn't that he didn't want Xia Yun to go, but he felt the timing wasn't right. He wanted him to wait.
Now he felt it was about time to proceed. The kingdom was stable, the army was ready.
Sure enough, as soon as Xia Yun received the new equipment from Xu Ning, his eyes lit up with excitement. He immediately ordered preparations for a personal military campaign. The emperor would lead his troops personally.