Chapter 228: Seed

In summer, fluffy white clouds dotted the azure sky over Jianning, where the weather was pleasantly mild. A relaxed atmosphere pervaded the city, both within and beyond its walls. Under the bright summer sun, dappled tree shadows fell upon roads and courtyards. Birds fluttered among the painted boats on the river, while pedestrians came and went in the ancient city. The sounds of storytellers and musicians filled the air in the restaurants and teahouses, their melodies mingling with the fragrance of fresh tea and the murmur of friends conversing, all becoming part of the season's tapestry.

It was afternoon, and the scent of brewing tea wafted from a courtyard on one side of the city. The shade cast by a sycamore tree mottled the black and white pieces on a chessboard, making them appear alternately bright and dim. In this very courtyard, a boy's voice echoed.

"Mencius once said, 'To govern the people, one should not rely on the boundaries of land; to secure the state, one should not rely on the dangers of mountains and rivers; to command the world, one should not rely on the might of weapons.' He also said, 'Those who align with the Dao receive much help, while those who deviate from it receive little.' What the sages said is indeed profound truth. However, since ancient times, those who gained many supporters for a time were not necessarily aligned with the Dao, and those who deviated from the Dao or received little support often considered themselves to be aligned with the Dao. So, what truly is the Great Dao?" The boy paused, then continued, "Confucius said, 'A village moralist is the thief of virtue.' From this saying, one can infer..."

The boy was not tall, and his face still looked youthful, likely around eleven or twelve years old. Yet, dressed in a white scholar's gown with a flowing head wrap, he appeared much like a mature little adult. In reality, children from ordinary families at this age rarely saw much of the world and typically wore their hair in a 'double horn bun' – two separate topknots resembling horns, which was anciently called 'zǒngjiǎo.' The Book of Songs even contains the line, 'A zǒngjiǎo feast, with joyous laughter and talk.'

However, there were always distinctions in such matters. Children at that time typically underwent a 'guanli' (coming-of-age ceremony) between the ages of fifteen and twenty to signify adulthood. Yet, among farming families, it was common for individuals to marry and have children at thirteen or fourteen, with many shouldering family responsibilities before fifteen. Urban children, after receiving elementary education, gained more knowledge and often viewed themselves as scholars. As the social atmosphere was highly literary, some young boys who could compose a few poems would often dress in Confucian robes and scholar's head wraps, resembling little adults. This was seen as lively and vigorous, and as long as their attire was simple, no one would object. For instance, it was not uncommon for fifteen or sixteen-year-olds to speak eloquently, discuss national affairs, and even visit courtesans.

The boy speaking in the courtyard was Zhou Junwu, one of Ning Yi's disciples. Previously, he had been a lively child, but in the past year, he had begun to mature. Of course, an eleven or twelve-year-old's maturity is limited, but he had developed some new ideas and no longer spent his days simply playing. He felt he had 'grown up.' Naturally refined in appearance, he now looked rather spirited in his young scholar's attire.

As he spoke, he pondered and organized his words, naturally aiming to answer the elders' questions in the courtyard. Under the tree shade, Qin Siyuan and Kang Xian had just finished a game of chess and casually posed a few questions. In response, Junwu launched into a discourse on the 'Debate of the Great Dao.' To one side of the courtyard, a young girl sat on a low stool, observing the scene. She was also young, her hair still styled in double topknots. Her pink-and-white summer dress highlighted her slender waist and tiny feet, adorned with goose-yellow and ivory embroidered shoes. With her chin resting in her hands, the girl watched the scene with a slight smile, holding a round fan. As the weather wasn't particularly hot, she only occasionally fanned the teapot warming on a small stove nearby. This, of course, was the young Princess Zhou Pei.

Ning Yi had departed Jianning several days prior. Although the young brother and sister were still nominally enrolled at Yushan Academy, they had largely ceased their studies there. As before, Kang Xian primarily oversaw their education, with other tutors from the Prince's or Consort's manor assisting with instruction. Zhou Pei had not yet reached adulthood, but being 'older,' her studies were flexible, guided by her preferences with less strict requirements. However, young Junwu's academic progress was held to a considerably higher standard.

Of course, despite often being teased by his assertive older sister, Zhou Junwu was inherently intelligent. While his academic performance wasn't top-tier, it was consistently average, certainly not poor.

The 'Debate of the Great Dao' was a rather versatile topic. It wasn't a question posed by Qin Siyuan or Kang Xian, but rather one the boy had elaborately developed based on a few casual remarks from Kang Xian. After his extensive discourse, the two elders exchanged a knowing smile.

"'Flowery and ornate,' one of them commented."

"'Grand but unsubstantial,' the other remarked."

Though the evaluations weren't glowing, as a test of the boy's independent thinking, he had passed. Young Junwu, familiar with the personalities of both 'grandpas,' chuckled, scratching his ear. He knew that after his master had gone to Suzhou and Hangzhou, Grandfather Qin was also preparing to depart for the capital; indeed, today, some of his belongings were already packed. Grandfather Consort's visits for chess over the past few days were likely also in preparation for a farewell.

"'Since your master left, you've been studying with the tutors in the Prince's manor. The pace there is likely different from Yushan Academy. Are you able to keep up with your studies? Do you understand everything?' Qin Siyuan asked with a smile."

"'Yes, I understand,' Zhou Junwu replied, bowing and smiling. 'Actually, Tutor Zhang and the others have already tested the students' progress. They've continued with the subsequent lessons and even reviewed the previous ones. But even with the new material, when the tutors explain it, I often feel like I already know much of it. My master used to ramble about many seemingly irrelevant things during his lessons, but now I realize that he would often touch upon later concepts while teaching earlier ones. So, even though there's much I haven't formally learned, when the tutors explain it, it feels very familiar and easy to grasp. It's just... *hehe*, a bit dry.'"

At this, the two elders exchanged a smile, then sobered their expressions. Kang Xian said, "Do not be complacent. Tutor Zhang and the others are great scholars of our time, possessing considerable knowledge and insight. Each person's teaching method is different. While you may feel you understand, you may not have grasped the true essence of Tutor Zhang's scholarship. Even if what they say seems clear, the more easily you understand it, the more carefully you must ponder it."

Junwu nodded respectfully. "'Yes, my master said the same when he left. He told me that every teacher has their unique strengths, and as students, we should learn to think and absorb everything good. As for what is truly 'good,' that must be slowly verified through future practice. We can be as active as we wish in our learning, but never arrogant.'"

"'A master like Li Heng is indeed hard to find,' Qin Siyuan chuckled. Kang Xian shook his head, a hint of exasperation in his expression. Zhou Junwu, however, looked subtly proud of his master. The young princess, who had been resting her chin in her hands, smiled, her eyes narrowing into slits as if lost in thought. Qin Siyuan then questioned Junwu on his understanding of the Four Books, chatted with Kang Xian for a while, and as he brewed a fresh pot of tea and prepared to set up a new chess game, he brought up Ning Yi again.

"'Before Li Heng left Jianning, I did speak to him about going to the capital, but he seemed to have reservations. What he thinks has always been difficult to grasp. In the past, he only discussed how to get things done, never about saving the nation or aiding its people. From my perspective, it appears he harbors concerns about the Great Dao itself, leading him to be exceptionally cautious.'"

Kang Xian nodded. "'He is exceptionally resourceful in his work. However, it was always evident that he held a certain disdain for worldly officialdom. If he could be persuaded to come and assist you, you would face less resistance in handling various matters in the capital.'"

Qin Siyuan shook his head slightly. "'Li Heng always acts with composure, yet his style is often radical and thorough. Crucially, he possesses such capabilities, and he is likely aware of this himself. Before he left, he told me that if he were truly to embark on a public career, he wasn't even sure if it would lead to good or bad outcomes. I, too, have recently been pondering what the ultimate result of allying with Jin against Liao will be. I don't know. If the Jin state grows large, who knows if it will simply become another Liao? Sometimes, good intentions do not necessarily lead to good deeds.'"

"'At least there's an opportunity now. If Jin and Liao go to war, we simply need to seize the moment, win a few battles, and we can reclaim our lands. But if we fail to win even with such an opportunity... then that wouldn't be solely your responsibility.'"

"'If that were the case, then the nation truly ought to perish.' Qin Siyuan frowned, recalling that particular phrase. Indeed, if spoken by an ordinary citizen, such words would be deemed highly treasonous, but here, it was perfectly acceptable. Kang Xian, too, furrowed his brows. Qin Siyuan lowered his voice, 'Actually, I believe Li Heng's concerns stem from this.'"

"'Hm?'"

"'What he thinks is always straightforward, just like his way of doing things. The day I heard him utter that phrase, it seemed like a jest, but perhaps it wasn't. Perhaps in his view, our dynasty has become so weakened that if a day truly arrives when we cannot seize such an opportunity, then this nation... well, then it ought to perish.'"

"'How could that be?'"

"'The opportunity is already here. On this journey to Bianjing, I will certainly cooperate with Chancellor Li to reorganize military affairs, but whether we can succeed, I fear, remains fraught with difficulties. Ah, since ancient times, even the smallest changes in the world have met with countless obstacles; those who attempt great reforms, nine times out of ten, find no safe return. He told me, 'Your future, old man, is uncertain, so I won't get involved with you.' Haha, though said in jest, Li Heng has likely thought these matters through clearly. With his insight, he has probably considered the difficulties of how to proceed and how to seize this opportunity. Perhaps he finds it too challenging, holds a preconceived notion, and thus holds back. In my view, this is his constant reason for declining.'"

"'Even if it's difficult, someone must still do it.'"

"'The more intense the situation and the more numerous the changes, the harder it is to predict the outcome. Li Heng probably believes his working style is too radical. Having never entered politics, he might, based purely on imagination, fear becoming overly dogmatic in the future, which is why he harbors thoughts of reclusion. In the past few days, this is the only reason I can come up with.'"

"'Ha, to think he understands something without ever having done it himself – isn't that a bit too arrogant?' Kang Xian chuckled."

"'If it were anyone else, I would say the same. Someone in their early twenties, even one with a high opinion of themselves, would at best envision becoming a county or prefectural magistrate in the future. But for Li Heng, I cannot say that. From his handling of several incidents in Jianning, his actions were remarkably seasoned. Among the younger generation, he is truly the only one I have ever witnessed with such capabilities. He naturally perceives people's thoughts and can manipulate them to achieve his objectives. If this man lived in a chaotic era, he would undoubtedly become a formidable leader. However, it is his self-awareness of his own abilities, coupled with his self-restraint, that I truly admire. For instance, when I invited him to the capital this time, he may not have genuinely rejected the idea. But on one hand, he recognizes the future difficulties, and on the other, he understands his own methods. Because he fears causing harm, he exercises restraint. In my view, this is not cowardice; it only makes me admire him all the more.'"

The old man smiled again. "'However, whether he chooses to serve or remain reclusive, I am not concerned. With his capabilities, he will emerge sooner or later. Let him first think everything through clearly for himself.'"

As the two men spoke, they made no effort to avoid Zhou Junwu. After all, he was different from ordinary students. For typical students, respecting one's teacher was paramount, and these two would certainly not have discussed his master in front of him. But Junwu was, after all, the young prince of Kang's manor. Although the martial dynasty strictly regulated masters, on the other hand, Zhou Junwu was Kang Xian's disciple. Kang Xian's wife, Princess Chengguo, held significant royal properties. While Kang Xian and Zhou Xuan also had their own children and grandchildren, passing down these properties in the future required approval from higher up, and Junwu was, in fact, being groomed as one of their future managers. Ning Yi was, after all, a difficult person to fully comprehend, and should anything arise in the future, the elders' present evaluations would serve as a crucial reference for Junwu.

Of course, it was also because these were positive evaluations that the two men felt comfortable discussing them. While they spoke, Junwu had frowned, his expression uncertain, but when they finished, he finally smiled. Qin Siyuan looked at him with a slight smile. "'Junwu, in your recent discourse on the Great Dao, some of those ideas were Li Heng's insights, weren't they?'"

Junwu hesitated briefly, then nodded. "'My master mentioned it as well, but... regarding this part, he seemed somewhat hesitant to elaborate.'"

"'Haha, your master was likely afraid of being too radical and scaring you off. That man, he'd probably say that only what proves useful after application truly embodies the Dao, and words alone are useless. However, Junwu, having followed Li Heng, I believe what you've learned most is not poetry, prose, or the Four Books and Five Classics, but rather how to observe and contemplate matters. The reason you find many of Tutor Zhang's teachings easier to understand is partly because Li Heng introduced them, but primarily because you have developed a greater capacity for independent thought.'"

Junwu nodded vigorously.

"'But learning to think too early isn't necessarily a good thing,' Qin Siyuan said with a gentle smile. 'Ultimately, the purpose of studying and literacy is to broaden one's knowledge and then to learn how to think. Once you have truly mastered the art of thinking, learning anything else becomes intuitive and yields twice the results with half the effort. Your master's consistent teaching method was to help you learn to think as early as possible, which is why he told those stories and guided you to use your minds. This allowed you to learn more quickly. However, you are still too young, and your life experience is insufficient. Thinking too much can lead to bias, and eventually, you might become arrogant, feeling that Tutor Zhang cannot compare to Teacher Ning, then believing that Tutor Zhang's words are not reasonable enough, or even starting to find errors in the writings of ancient sages. 'Once you form your own ideas, you might become arrogant and conceited! Junwu, you must remember these words clearly.'"

Qin Siyuan had always been gentle and benevolent towards juniors. Earlier, when Kang Xian described Junwu's discourse as 'grand but unsubstantial,' Qin Siyuan had only said 'flowery and ornate.' But now, as he spoke, his expression began to grow serious, eventually becoming quite stern. Junwu immediately sat upright with a solemn face, listening intently to the instruction. After a moment, Qin Siyuan's expression finally softened.

"'So generally speaking, when teachers instruct disciples, they first simply ask you to remember. Only when you are truly older and can experience things firsthand do they encourage you to think; this way, your foundation becomes much more solid. Of course, I am not saying your master's teaching method is flawed; merely observing his admonishments to you reveals his great emphasis on this. He exercises control, but you are still a child. Grandfather Qin will soon be heading to the capital, and thus, I wish to impress upon you once more: thinking is a good thing, but as your master said, you must absolutely avoid arrogance. Even if you dismiss others' words or find them outdated, you must earnestly commit them to memory. If you can remember them, then as you grow older and verify them one by one, you will come to understand why others thought that way and discover the underlying principles. By doing so, you will undoubtedly realize the benefits.'"

The boy bowed solemnly. "'Junwu remembers.'"

"'That's good,' Qin Siyuan said with a smile. 'However, what you and Li Heng studied, although it included the Four Books and Five Classics, was probably not primarily for that, was it? How is the 'investigation of things' (Ge Wu)? Junwu, do you find it useful? You must have developed some insights by now.'"

"'Useful, very useful!' Junwu was always lively; although he had been actively receiving instruction and undergoing the test just moments before, it was only when the 'investigation of things' was mentioned that his face seemed to suddenly light up. He nodded, and nodded again, repeating, 'Ge Wu is... Ge Wu is...'"

He seemed eager to promote this concept to them, but for a moment, he struggled to organize his words into anything profound. Qin Siyuan smiled. "'Oh?'"

"'Uh, Ge Wu is... My master once said something about physics... oh, the fundamental principle of Ge Wu is bold conjecture.'"

"'Conjecture?'"

"'Yes,' Junwu nodded. 'No matter what you observe, you can guess why it happens. Then, you formulate a usable formula or theory. But this theory must be universally applicable; if even one aspect doesn't fit, you have to discard that conjecture and keep guessing.'"

"'Just guessing?' Qin Siyuan frowned, attempting to grasp these concepts."

"'Yes, generally, one still uses careful deduction, but my master said imagination is essential. If there's something you don't understand at all, to figure it out, you first have to guess. And, my master also said that some basic principles, for instance, between any two points, you can draw a straight line; and a straight line can be extended indefinitely.'"

Junwu began chattering, excitedly explaining the fundamentals of the 'investigation of things' that he had learned. It was clear the little boy had a missionary zeal, as if he intended to promote the 'very reasonable' study of Ge Wu to Grandfather Qin through his own narration. The old man listened to these simple principles and remarked, "'Do these things still need guessing?'"

"'These are the basic components, Grandfather Qin! The study of Ge Wu cannot be taken for granted. While theories can be conjectured, the verification process must be rigorous, step by step, with absolute precision at every stage,' Junwu enthusiastically expounded on the concepts he had learned from Ning Yi. 'These elements, step by step, can combine to form very complex things, Grandfather Qin. Everything in the universe comes from this. By learning it, we can understand why a scale can weigh things. Why a lever can transmit force... Force, you see! We place a stone here as a fulcrum, press down hard on this side, and the other side lifts up. We can calculate how high it will lift. Then, we can add a gear there, calculate how the gear moves, then add another gear after it, and then another lever. Just like water wheels or windmills, we can create very complex things!'"

"'But aren't water wheels and windmills already in existence?'"

"'But they can be even more complex, Grandfather Qin! You don't know, my master once designed a very simple device for us. It started with a water wheel, connected to levers and gears. Then, we added a printing plate. When the plate rose, a brush would ink it. When the plate pressed down, it would print a page. When the plate rose again, another claw would pull the printed page away and pull a fresh sheet into place, then *thump* it would print again, *thump* it would print again. My master called this an assembly line!'"

The little boy, not being particularly eloquent, was explaining things in too complex a manner, gesticulating wildly. "'Of course, we also have to consider the paper's toughness, the ink's evenness, and the machine's wear and tear. But all these things can be calculated! Even with paper, if we figure out why paper is paper, we can make better paper. My master said it's because of plant fibers or something like that; we don't quite understand that part yet. Oh, and we can also calculate the quality of iron! Grandfather Qin, do you know that iron is hard and brittle because it contains something that can be burned – that's carbon! The less carbon there is, the tougher the iron becomes, meaning it's less likely to break and less prone to rust.'"

Qin Siyuan was now looking at Kang Xian. He hadn't inquired much about Ning Yi's 'investigation of things' earlier, having been somewhat dismissive of it. But at this moment, he gradually began to discern a clearer outline of the concept. Kang Xian, of course, would know all that Junwu had learned from Ning Yi. The two elders exchanged a glance, and Qin Siyuan said, "'Bold conjectures, yes, but they must be followed by the most rigorous deductions, with every single step fitting precisely.'"

Kang Xian nodded. "'Specifically, not much is entirely clear yet, but I've had people record and ponder some of the things Li Heng told Junwu. There's a small booklet now; tomorrow, I'll have someone bring it for you to see. Honestly, just these two aspects – conjecture and deduction – are immensely profound if truly pursued. However... there might also be some trouble involved. Perhaps you can help us think about it.'"

Junwu, nearby, didn't understand what 'trouble' referred to; he merely assumed that completing derivations would naturally involve difficulties. He continued speaking with excitement.

"'Grandfather Qin, have you ever thought about why kites fly into the sky? Or why sky lanterns float up? It's because when the wind blows, the kite is at an angle. This angle decomposes the force, turning it into a backward component and an upward component. As long as the wind keeps blowing, it continuously generates an upward force. If we can make a very large wing and move forward steadily, reaching a certain speed, then it can fly! Of course, my master said this would require tougher materials. If we can understand the principles of bellows, we can make better bellows, which can create higher temperatures in furnaces, producing better iron, and also fabric that's harder to tear. Anyway, we've been calculating it recently: as long as we have a large enough surface area to catch the wind and achieve a certain speed, we will be able to fly! I can definitely build a large kite that can fly!'"

As he spoke, his eyes shone with a fervent longing. The two elders, momentarily absorbed in pondering the content of his words, did not notice this expression. Then, Junwu shook his head. "'Of course, that's still a long, long way off. The development of basic industries will also take a very long time,' he said, repeating Ning Yi's words.

"'Anyway, when my master left, he asked us to consider a few things. First, we now know that all things have forces acting upon them, but... where does this force come from?' He jumped lightly on the spot. 'When we jump up, we immediately fall back down. Why do we fall down? Why does an apple fall down? Why does the earth pull us? Why don't we float upwards?'"

"'This, Li Heng also asked you to ponder?'"

"'Yes, it's just to think about. Of course, we have to think about it; I find it quite strange myself. The second question is: why, when we're at the seaside and see a ship sail away, does its mast always disappear last?' He shivered. 'Grandpa, this is really scary. We see things as straight lines. But if the mast is always the last to disappear, it implies...'"

Junwu swallowed, then took out a piece of paper, his eyes gleaming with an odd, almost fearful light. He bent the paper, forming a small arch, and made a cutting motion with his hand down the middle. "'The higher side is land, the lower side is sea, Grandpa. Our world has a slope! It's like a circle, sliding down towards the ocean. If it were to slide all the way to ninety degrees, Grandpa, what would that be?' His voice dropped. 'I think beyond the sea, there must be a huge hole, perhaps like a giant funnel. But the seawater isn't pouring into that big hole, which brings us back to my master's previous question: why is there a force pulling us down? Grandpa, even though we don't know the reason, it's because there's a force pulling us that we don't fall off! But why would the world be like this? My teacher must be pondering these reasons, that's why he asked us.'"

The world is sloped, and there's a giant hole beyond the sea? Qin Siyuan and Kang Xian thought about it, finding it hard to believe. Yet, when they considered it in conjunction with the verifiable observation that a ship's mast is indeed the last part to disappear on the horizon, it truly became somewhat terrifying.

Junwu shook his head. "'But my master said we should just think about these two questions for fun. He probably feared frightening us, but he didn't know we'd already figured them out so quickly! However, my master's third question is the most important.'"

Qin Siyuan was now also quite interested. "'What did Li Heng ask?'"

Junwu stood up, walked over to the small stove where water was boiling for tea, and squatted down, looking at it for a moment. "'My master said that physics... uh, one of the most important avenues for the development of 'Ge Wu' is right here, on this teapot.'"

"'The teapot?'"

"'Yes,' the little boy nodded, looking back at the two grandfathers. 'My master forgot, he mentioned it to us casually before. Grandfather Qin, if we block the teapot's spout and press down on the lid to prevent any steam from escaping, can we hold it down?'"

"'The steam will always find a way out; I doubt you could hold it down,' Qin Siyuan replied."

"'The steam will push the lid open – that's where the force is! If the teapot is larger, the force will be even greater. My master taught us that with levers, gears, and various other things, we can always transmit this force. As long as we can build such a device, it will be just as my master described!'"

The little boy jumped up, turned around, and laughed. "'My master once said that human strength is sometimes exhausted, and animal strength is sometimes exhausted. No matter how fast a horse you have, a carriage can only run so fast, because even the most powerful horse is still just a horse. But with levers, gears, and other such components combined, machines are different. A water wheel, for example, is much stronger than a horse, but a water wheel cannot move. The first goal of the 'investigation of things' is a portable power source!'"

Terms like 'machine,' 'portable,' and 'power source' were essentially Ning Yi's idiosyncratic way of speaking. Although Ning Yi had been in this era for so long that he had largely integrated, when he became excited about many new things, he disregarded the contemporary grammar and syntax, not insisting whether others understood him or not. Junwu, having spent such a long time with him, had memorized these expressions and adopted them as guiding principles for learning the 'investigation of things.' Because he remembered them, he quickly grasped Ning Yi's explanations once they were given.

"'One day, we'll be able to fly into the sky!'"

The little boy murmured, gazing at the teapot. A moment later, the girl sitting by the small stove raised her round fan and gave him a light smack on the forehead.

"'Alright, you haven't even mastered arithmetic, and you're always thinking about these things! And dreaming of flying into the sky—aren't you risking your life? Master scolded you just a few days ago, saying it was dangerous, and told you not to think about it anymore!'"

"'Ugh,' the little boy groaned, clutching his forehead and glaring resentfully at his sister. He mumbled, 'This is my dream!'"

It was difficult to say whether the idealistic boy had been shaken out of his reverie. As for the essence of the 'investigation of things,' Qin Siyuan and Kang Xian found it both unprecedented yet remarkably logical on one hand, and quite absurd on the other – primarily because of Junwu's inference that the earth was shaped like a funnel. Shortly after, Qin Siyuan slowly mused, "'If one were on the grasslands, seeing people ride horses and gallop in every direction, it would all look the same. Why is that? If one thinks about it this way, could the earth perhaps be round?'"

He pondered for a moment, then laughed. "'Nonsense, sheer nonsense! But such ideas are quite intriguing, *haha*.'"

Kang Xian was also stunned for a moment before chuckling. "'Interesting, indeed! If it were round, what would the other side of the earth look like? Wouldn't everyone just fall off? Would they all live upside down?'"

Junwu was quite distressed for a moment. The two men laughed for a while, their expressions then becoming rather peculiar before they steered the conversation elsewhere. Both were exceptionally intelligent individuals; although they had no prior familiarity with Western forms of logical reasoning, human thought processes are fundamentally similar. They could instantly adapt to the method of providing conditions and principles to draw strict inferences. For this particular question, they found themselves suddenly hesitant to even contemplate it.

"'Just now, Junwu kept saying 'we' and 'our.' It sounds as if, besides you and Xiao Pei, there are others learning this 'investigation of things'?'"

"'Yes, you could say so,' Junwu nodded, full of pride. 'Besides me and my sister, there are two junior brothers from the 'Ghostly Mighty Academy,' and the youngest son of the Duke of Kaiping. I spoke to him recently, and he also thinks it's very reasonable; he's going to make kites with me soon. Oh, and also Kang Luo finds Ge Wu very interesting! So, a few days ago, we formed the Ge Wu Party! We have six members now. I'm the Party Leader!'"

Zhou Pei's round fan smacked her brother's head again, but she smiled and said nothing. The two elders found themselves amused for a moment. Apart from the two junior brothers from his academy, the youngest son of the Duke of Kaiping was only ten this year and usually trailed behind Junwu, having been roped into the group by him. Kang Luo, Kang Xian's youngest grandson, was currently eight. Junwu, this fellow, was quite popular among the children and had immediately drawn them all in.

"'It seems this 'Ge Wu Party' will grow very quickly,' Qin Siyuan nodded."

"'My little Qi and little Xin at home probably won't escape either,' Kang Xian chuckled, making a joke about his own children. Among his grandchildren, Kang Qi was seven and Kang Xin five, and it seemed they too were destined to be inducted into the 'Ge Wu Party.'"

Amidst the two elders' jesting, young Junwu grew slightly annoyed. He decided he wouldn't give Kang Qi or Kang Xin the chance to join the 'Ge Wu Party,' as they were quite foolish anyway. He was currently very strict about recruiting members, because each time he intended to bring someone in, he would meticulously describe the future prospects – prospects that involved flying into the sky!

"'That day will surely come...'"

It was a summer afternoon. Roughly eight hundred years remained until the actual appearance of flying vehicles in another historical timeline. In that courtyard, the young prince looked back at the teapot, and in his heart, he envisioned a grand, ambitious future, like a huge pie, full of ardent longing.

Some things, once silently rooted and sprouted, can never be dispelled.

Meanwhile, the person who had casually sown these seeds had already passed Zhenjiang by boat. They had initially traveled eastward by boat along the Yangtze River, stopping in Zhenjiang for several days before setting off again, heading south along the rivers south of the Yangtze. This stretch of water was bustling with boat traffic, but the current was calm, allowing for a slow and leisurely journey. After a day of travel, they passed Danyang and were just entering the territory of Changzhou.