CHAPTER 809: CHAPTER 807: I ASKED MY SUPERIOR FOR LEAVE

In the past few months, along with the transportation of materials to the capital, news from the capital has also been continuously relayed.

The transmission of these news is mostly detailed in the letters from Jiang Yifan to Ye Xinyan.

Official Tang’s garden and Guan He’s garden have both been completed, and even the trees in the gardens have been transplanted.

Jinrong’s little garden is also nearing completion, and he named it Chang Garden. The name is quite unfitting, yet it reflects Jinrong’s mood. Seeing this garden, he is pleased.

In the letter, Jiang Yifan praises that both Guan He’s and Jinrong’s gardens have their own unique merits. Especially the rockery in Jinrong’s garden, which possesses a unique landscape.

Although Chang Garden is not completely finished, and the trees transplanted in May are waiting to turn green next year, the entire garden is already displaying its full appearance. Among the pavilions, buildings, trees, and pools, that rockery looks as if it were a masterpiece of nature.

Though the mountain is small, within a short distance, there are countless ravines and valleys. With each step, the scenery changes, and the magnificent peaks appear, the view is utterly splendid. Everyone who has seen it is full of praise and reluctant to leave.

On the other hand, Guan He’s garden is known for its tranquility. Even if a rough person enters and takes a walk around, they would emerge filled with a serene aura, truly magical.

In comparison, although Official Tang’s garden is barely one of the best, it falls short.

Yet in this inferiority, the Construction Industry responsible for building Official Tang’s garden is loudly proclaiming how exquisite the garden is after their extensive modifications.

They even say that if it had been according to the previous design by Guangsha Construction, the flaws would be so many that it would be unbearable to look at. Guangsha Construction is truly limited in talent and, after completing the gardens for Prince Yu and Guan He, their creativity was exhausted, unable to create any decent scenery, hence designing such an unsightly garden for Official Tang.

When describing this segment in his letter, Jiang Yifan extensively displays his eloquence, capturing the brilliance of the events and the exquisite description of the gardens.

According to Jiang Yifan, Jinrong has been exceedingly bored recently, and the Garden Layout Map that did not preserve any of Official Tang’s original structures, previously made by Ye Xinyan, has already been taken by Jinrong.

Jinrong says that spreading this map around at this time is meaningless. Moreover, with winter approaching, no matter what Construction Industry it is, business is scarce. Delving into this matter now is useless, simply burying a masterpiece.

If you want to enjoy a good spectacle, you must wait until next spring, when every household holds grand spring banquets, and then bring out this map to compare it with Official Tang’s current garden.

That scene will be the real embarrassment.

As for whose influence this Construction Industry follows, and why they want to undermine Guangsha Construction, Jinrong feels the reason is the same; there’s no practical significance in digging deeper now, it’s just buffoonery, let it rest for now.

Another major event related to Ye Xinyan is the implementation of the patent law. Whenever the court adds or abolishes a law, ministers from various factions within the court will argue and bicker for a long time, without necessarily reaching a conclusion.

And this patent protection law has sparked even more debate in the court. This law, which protects grassroots craftsmen, is seen by many officials and scholars as completely inverted, disrespecting the court and ancestral traditions.

Fortunately, His Majesty is determined to implement the patent protection law, with strong support from key ministers like Han Yanhui, and even military generals like Duke An, who usually do not engage in regular court affairs, have expressed their approval.

Therefore, although the writing of the legislation and court discussions progress slowly, they are indeed moving forward.

Jiang Yifan’s ongoing letters also include correspondence from Madam Yin and Qi Jiaer, but they evidently lack Jiang Yifan’s literary skills. Even when discussing the amusing anecdotes of Qi Jiaer and Qi Sanshun, Jiang Yifan can bring the stories and characters vividly to life, whereas Madam Yin and Qi Jiaer’s accounts are much plainer.

Ignoring the subtle undertones in Jiang Yifan’s letters, his talkative nature in writing provides Ye Xinyan with a clear understanding of the happenings, big and small, in the capital.

......

By mid-September, the thousand-mile rail project connecting Jiangbei Prefecture to South Zhejiang Prefecture was fully completed.

An official contingent from the Ministry of Works conducted an inspection over half a month, testing the project with a loaded wagon team making a round trip safely.

This project is thus formally handed over.

After handing over the project, what remains is for the Ministry of Revenue to disband the laborers, and Ye Xinyan, Zhang Chang, and others begin packing up for their return journey.

For convenience, they take the rail transport line back to Jiangbei Prefecture. Although aware of the track’s defects, which won’t manifest in the short term, they feel quite apprehensive. Therefore, their carriage travels at a slow pace.

Even so, their return journey takes only half the usual time by carriage to reach Jiangbei Prefecture. After resting overnight, they switch to a carriage heading to the capital.

When the South City Gate of the capital comes into distant view, it’s only the Si Hour (9 am).

Ye Xinyan’s return to the capital creates quite a commotion, with Duke An’s Mansion represented by Lian Gui, waiting early outside the city gate. Madam Yin and Zhou Biyao also wait by the official road in a carriage.

Currently, Qi Jiaer and Qi Sanshun are being disciplined under Guan He’s instructions, following adult etiquette. Especially Qi Jiaer, who can no longer sit with Madam Yin in a carriage; they both ride on ponies, accompanying Jiang Yifan.

Even Yuan Shang handed over his shop to his staff and waited with Lian Gui for Ye Xinyan’s return.

After a chaotic and lively reunion, everyone exchanges pleasantries and greetings.

After exchanging greetings with Ye Xinyan, Jiang Yifan stands two steps away, smiling silently at her, which turns Ye Xinyan’s face red, and she hurriedly turns and boards Madam Yin’s carriage.

Madam Yin, feeling sorry for her daughter, restrained Zhou Biyao from making jokes, and the three of them warmly chatted for a while.

As they were about to turn towards the Duke’s Mansion, Madam Yin, holding back her reluctance, watched her daughter switch to her carriage, waved goodbye, and headed for Duke An’s Mansion.

There was nothing to be done; after all, her daughter was the granddaughter of the Ye Family.

Jiang Yifan, perceptive as always, stayed outside the Duke’s Mansion, bade farewell to Lian Gui with a clasped hand, and then approached Ye Xinyan’s carriage.

Ye Xinyan lifted the carriage curtain and looked askance at him, smiling as she asked, "I wanted to ask you earlier, it’s still early, why are you wandering around instead of going to the Yamen on duty?"

Jiang Yifan replied nonchalantly, "I took a leave of absence from my superior."

Ye Xinyan: "..." Isn’t your frequency of taking leaves too high? And who is your superior, they seem so understanding; can you introduce me?

Jiang Yifan waved at her with a smile, "Go inside, the Duke is still waiting. I’ll come see you again tomorrow." It seems tomorrow he could take another leave.

Duke An and the Duchess were indeed waiting. When Ye Xinyan entered the Duchess’s chamber, she performed a grand greeting for the two elderly figures.

With a look from the Duchess, Maternal Aunt Zhao quickly stepped forward to help Ye Xinyan up.

Ye Yuan was playing on the Duchess’s couch. Not having seen each other for over four months, this little guy astonishingly remembered Ye Xinyan.

He stared at Ye Xinyan for a moment and immediately started waving his hands and called out, "Sister, Sister, Sister..."