313: Chapter 313 Mysterious Gate

Official Xie Tong smiled, "As an official in the Cabinet, I naturally serve the imperial court and perform my duties conscientiously."

"However, all things have a predetermined fate, and dynasties are no exception. This is the Way of Heaven, which cannot be reversed by human effort."

"The Great Gan is now riddled with holes, the people are seething with resentment, and officials everywhere have long been disaffected and disloyal."

"Even if there were ten million of me, it could not be saved... We can only go with the flow; how can we swim against the current?"

Lin Xiao wore a smile on his face, but inwardly cursed, 'He still has the nerve to talk about the Way of Heaven? If the Way of Heaven knew, wouldn't it slap you across the face?'

'You are the leader of the parasites, engaging in land annexation and nepotism. The ones who are destroying the Great Gan are none other than you lot!'

'Who doesn't know how to go with the flow? Do we really need you high-ranking court officials for that?'

'You lot are learned and powerful, yet you refuse to find a way to swim against the current. Are you expecting the starving commoners to do it instead?'

'Even if thousands of people stand against me, I will still go forward! That is true responsibility!'

After confirming that Official Xie Tong was "beyond saving," Lin Xiao couldn't be bothered to say anything more.

He casually made up an excuse and called for Xie Juner, who had been waiting, to leave the Marquis's residence.

"How did it go?"

Marquis Xie Shang came to the back garden in high spirits, found Official Xie Tong, and asked, "Did he agree?"

Official Xie Tong's expression was complex as he frowned and said, "He said... we'll talk about it after the New Year."

"After the New Year!? He can actually wait on such a major matter!?"

Marquis Xie Shang found it incredible. "Brother, what do you think of my son-in-law...?"

Official Xie Tong pondered for a moment and shook his head.

"I... cannot figure him out."

Marquis Xie Shang's expression became conflicted. Was this a good evaluation? At least... it wasn't bad, right?

"Sigh..."

In the back garden, a sigh echoed.

On the other side, Lin Xiao took Xie Juner back to the mansion by carriage.

"Aren't you going to ask what your imperial envoy uncle and I talked about?"

Lin Xiao realized the woman hadn't asked anything at all and was somewhat surprised.

"If my husband wants to tell me, you naturally will. If you don't, why should I ask?"

"In our home, I can only handle trivial matters. If my husband wants to discuss major affairs of the world, how could it be my place to speak?"

Xie Juner had come to terms with it. As a mere princess, next to Lin Xiao, she didn't amount to much. It was better to just settle into her role contentedly.

"You have been performing more and more to my satisfaction these past few days." Lin Xiao was very pleased with the woman's transformation; that self-righteous attitude had truly changed.

"That my husband is pleased is my top priority..."

Xie Juner hugged his arm, rested her head on his chest, and draped a leg over his thigh, practically clinging to him.

"Can't help yourself?"

Lin Xiao didn't mind her acting spoiled in private. None of his other women seemed to have this trait; Xie Juner was the first.

A refined lady in public, but tsundere and clingy in private.

"I missed you, husband... I thought about you until the second half of the night yesterday and couldn't sleep."

"Did you get up in the middle of the night to change..."

"I did not..." Xie Juner's tone was not very firm.

Lin Xiao reached out and touched her blushing cheek. "It's fine, I like you like this."

Seeing that it was still early to return for lunch, Lin Xiao simply had the coachman and Xiaodie return first, then drove the carriage himself to take Xie Juner out of the city for a stroll.

Xiaodie covered her mouth and giggled. She was genuinely happy from the bottom of her heart that her princess had finally gotten her wish.

The two came to a secluded forest where there were still many red leaves, untouched by the frost.

"Husband, this place is so beautiful." Xie Juner felt wonderful and found everything pleasing to the eye.

"Then why don't we use heaven and earth as our witness and get married right here?" Lin Xiao said casually.

Xie Juner was stunned for a moment, then asked in disbelief, "Really?"

"As long as you don't mind this place..."

"I don't mind!!"

Xie Juner smiled in pleasant surprise. "I thought I would have to wait for the older sisters to marry first, and it would be my turn last..."

Lin Xiao laughed. "You are all my women anyway; none of you can run away!"

In the forest filled with red and yellow fallen leaves, facing the warm sun, the two completed the ceremony.

Lin Xiao noticed that Xie Juner's marital status had changed to "Married."

"Wife, there is no time to lose. A spring night is worth a thousand pieces of gold; a winter day should be just the same!"

"Husband!"

Xie Juner was already impatient and threw herself directly into the man's arms...

"I stop my carriage to admire the maple forest in the evening, the frost-covered leaves are redder than the flowers of the second month!"

At noon.

Back at the Generals Mansion.

Xiao Qingxuan and the other women were already preparing to eat.

"Husband, Juner, you've finally returned."

Xiao Qingxuan smiled. "We have an unexpected guest today."

Lin Xiao had already seen a red-nosed old man drinking to the side.

"Old Yu, here to mooch a meal?"

Old Yu patted the metal cylinder placed to the side, along with a stack of blueprints.

"General, I have finished researching the Thousand-Glare Star you gave me. This thing is extremely complex; I've lost several pounds. Don't you have to treat this old man to a good meal?"

Lin Xiao was delighted. "You replicated it? Didn't you say it was very difficult?"

Although the Thousand-Glare Star posed no threat to him, it was still quite reliable for killing ordinary grandmasters at close range.

"Replicating it is difficult. The Xuanji Sect has been gone for over a hundred years. However, by studying the structure inside, I have discovered something new."

Lin Xiao felt slightly disappointed, but he still invited Old Yu to eat first.

"Come, come, let's talk while we eat!"

The table was filled with a sumptuous meal, and the dishes were quite different from before.

Lin Xiao asked and learned that it was Liaojie the monk who had prepared it at Baiyu Pavilion and sent it over. Their household was effectively "ordering takeout"!

After tasting it, everyone praised it endlessly. Old Yu exclaimed that it was worth coming, and one day he would go to Baiyu Pavilion to splurge!

In fact, with his current income, he was already a wealthy man and didn't have to worry about food or drink.

After three rounds of drinks, Old Yu was full and satisfied. He picked up the blueprints and handed them to Lin Xiao.

"General, based on your research into engineering, I assume you can tell what this is?"

Lin Xiao opened the blueprints and his eyes suddenly narrowed!

"This is... a loom? No... this is just a gear transmission set, and it's incomplete..."

Old Yu's eyes lit up. "Weaving? That's right! This thing can be used for weaving! The efficiency would be absolutely high!"

"General, what did you call this? 'Gear transmission set'? That's a good name. I couldn't think of what to call it specifically!"

Old Yu pointed to the disassembled Thousand-Glare Star, which contained a dense pile of metal components, which were precisely gears.

"General, look, the members of the Xuanji Sect were truly extraordinary people. These gears, as you call them, are crafted so precisely!"

"It's a pity that this sect vanished along with the Great Zheng Dynasty. Otherwise, if they had been allowed to tinker for another hundred years, who knows what good things they could have created!"

Lin Xiao was stunned. "What did you say? The Xuanji Sect... vanished along with the Great Zheng Dynasty?"

"Yes, it was around those years. For some unknown reason, the members all disappeared, and the Xuanji Sect was burned to the ground."

Old Yu sighed with regret, "It is said that my ancestors dealt with the Xuanji Sect and even left behind some of their remaining scrolls. It's just a pity that my attainments are not high enough, and I cannot understand much of them."

"This time, by studying the Thousand-Glare Star, I have cleared up many doubts, and by combining it with the Xuanji Sect's blueprints, I managed to create this 'transmission set' you mentioned."

"With it, our mines and construction sites can significantly improve efficiency!"

Lin Xiao felt his scalp tingle upon hearing this and hurriedly asked, "Do you still have the Xuanji Sect's blueprints with you? Let me see them!"