Transmigration: A Farm Girl’s Brocade
Chapter 608 - 306 Cloning Purple Pearl_1

Chapter 608: Chapter 306 Cloning Purple Pearl_1

"Is the Emperor asking us to help find the Purple Dragon Pearl?" Liang Yiqian asked.

Old Duke Liang shook his head and said, "We haven’t reached that point yet. The Emperor wants me and Zhaozhao to go to Baoguo Temple and ask Old Fairy to help interpret a dream. It’s uncertain whether such a Purple Dragon Pearl exists in this world. If the Emperor’s time is drawing near, he wishes for Old Fairy not to take Little Master Hongji to Daci Temple but to let him stay temporarily at Baoguo Temple."

Liang Jinzhao said, "My master dislikes meddling in worldly affairs, I fear he might not be willing to divine this fortune."

Old Duke Liang said, "We will try our best. If Old Fairy is unwilling, there is nothing we can do. Besides, this also concerns Little Master Hongji’s fate; Old Fairy will surely give some indication."

Liang Jinzhao added, "I feel that my master has never thought that his disciple would become the Emperor. The disciple is gentle and kind-hearted, now wholeheartedly learning the foreign language, thinking that one day he would go see another world. He doesn’t even think about serving the Imperial Court, let alone becoming the Emperor."

Old Duke Liang sighed, "This is the Emperor’s current obsession. As his subjects, we cannot defy him." He then instructed, "Only I, Prime Minister Zhang, and Eunuch Cai are aware of this dream. You must also keep it confidential and not let word spread."

The next day, the weather cleared up, the sky was cloudless, and the brilliant sunlight made the snow glow red, too dazzling to look at directly. Liang Jinzhao accompanied Old Duke Liang to Baoguo Temple, where the abbot, Master Hongzhi, was waiting for them at the temple gate.

Master Hongzhi led them into his meditation room and said Master Beikong was in deep meditative practice and would not meet anyone. However, he did convey two messages from Master Beikong. First, Master Beikong would still leave Baoguo Temple with Hongji in the middle to late part of this month and return to Daci Temple. Second, regarding the Purple Dragon Pearl, both obtaining it and its emergence in this world depended on fate.

The grandfather and grandson exchanged a look; this was sufficient.

The fact that Old Fairy would take Hongji away from Baoguo Temple signified that, at the very least, the Emperor would not pass away before the end of the year, that is, before the master and disciple returned to the capital. The second message was even more evident; the Purple Dragon Pearl truly existed in this world.

They thanked Master Hongzhi and donated five thousand taels of silver as incense money. After descending the mountain, Liang Jinzhao went straight back to the camp, while Old Duke Liang proceeded to the palace.

That evening, after Old Duke Liang and Commander Liang returned to the residence, they went straight to the outer study room.

Commander Liang asked, "How did it go?"

Old Duke Liang recounted Master Beikong’s words, "... The Emperor instructed us to secretly investigate the whereabouts of anything resembling the Dragon Pearl. Not just our family, but Zhang, Yue, Zhao, Fu families, and the Emperor’s secret guards are involved. The Emperor claimed he dreamed of such a rare pearl that caught his fancy, and he desires to take it to the Imperial Mausoleum. Whoever presents the pearl will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of gold."

Commander Liang gave a wry smile, "The world is vast; where do we even start searching? Moreover, obtaining it and its appearance in this world still relies on fate. This ’fate’ is the hardest to decipher. To be bluntly disrespectful, if the Emperor is not fated, even if someone obtains it within his lifetime, there’s no guarantee it could be delivered to his hands."

Old Duke Liang said, "That’s why the Emperor is anxious... he has also begun preparations for after his death... Perhaps, Prince Ning’s days are growing even harder."

"Why would that be? Could the Emperor still be obsessed with the old rumor that ’the world will return to Ning, and Daqian shall fall’? That was probably fabricated by the Third Prince and Ye family to strike at Prince Ning, with a foreign monk composing nonsense. Didn’t you ask Old Fairy about this a few years ago? Hasn’t Old Fairy already said that the situation the Emperor fears won’t happen, and also foretold that the Great Qian Kingdom would continue to thrive for nearly a hundred years?"

Old Duke Liang shook his head, "The Emperor is cautious and suspicious. He prefers to err on the side of belief than doubt. Our understanding of Old Fairy’s words is that if Prince Ning claims the throne, Daqian will not falter. But the Emperor’s interpretation is that Prince Ning could never claim the throne; therefore, Daqian will not wane. Alas, I hope the Emperor comes around... Nowadays, even I and Master Marquis cannot fathom the extent of Prince Ning’s influence within the military."

Commander Liang spoke softly, "Not to speak of others, even Zhaozhao might favor Prince Ning at heart. Aside from Little Master Hongji, if anyone other than Prince Ning took the throne, Zhaozhao might well join them in their cause."

On the afternoon of February 12th, the Little Monk received a letter from a monk at Baoguo Temple. Master Beikong instructed him to return to Baoguo Temple in two days to prepare for their return journey in a few days’ time.

The Little Monk was reluctant to leave the Qian family but even more reluctant to leave his Master; he longed for Daci Temple and nodded in agreement. That evening, the Liang family sent someone to collect him, and he played at Liang Mansion until late before returning to the Qian family.

The next morning, the Little Monk stopped his studies and went to play in the Xiyue Garden with Pan Yue and the Qian siblings for half the day, having a vegetarian meal there at noon. In the afternoon, Yixiu headed to Prince Ning Mansion. She wanted to invite Zhu Sujin to dine at the Qian family that evening, to bid farewell to the Little Monk.

Having endured the harsh winter, the weather had grown warmer, and Princess Ning’s health had somewhat improved compared to the cold days. She smiled, pulling Yixiu onto the heated brick bed, and said, "My child, you haven’t visited in many days."

Yixiu smiled, "We had guests at home, so I’ve been busy." She then mentioned inviting Zhu Sujin over to the Qian family for dinner that evening.

The Princess smiled, "Good. You stay and talk with me, and we’ll wait for Jinjin to finish school and go back together."

Yixiu nodded and glanced at the Princess’s complexion, which seemed to have a bit more luster than before. Smiling, she said, "Has the Princess been persisting with the massages?"

Princess Ning nodded and smiled, "Indeed, he’s been persisting. Sometimes when I’m lazy and don’t want to do it, both father and son would urge me on."

Qian Yixiu smiled and said, "Her Highness is truly fortunate."

A look of unabashed joy appeared in Princess Ning’s eyes as she smiled, "Yes, although I have suffered some, the Prince respects me, and my son is filial. I am content."

Qian Yixiu nodded outwardly, but thought to herself, what a foolishly infatuated woman, enduring such hardships and still feeling content!

As they were talking, Prince Ning suddenly arrived. Qian Yixiu quickly got off the kang bed and paid her respects to him.

Prince Ning took a seat on the kang, and Qian Yixiu sat down on a chair next to it, then spoke of inviting Zhu Sujin over to her house for dinner that evening.

Prince Ning nodded, spreading out his palm which held a dark red glass marble, bought from Old Foreign Li. He asked, "Can your glass factory produce this type of bead?"

Qian Yixiu nodded and replied, "Making this kind of bead is not difficult; it should be possible to produce them."

Prince Ning’s face lit up with pleasure and he asked further, "Could you produce a bead like this, a pale purple one, slightly larger than a longan, with golden light shining from within?"

Qian Yixiu was taken aback, wasn’t that the description of the Purple Pearl from the Cave Sky Pool?

As she was lost in thought, Prince Ning asked again, "Is it not possible?"

Recovering her senses, Qian Yixiu hurriedly said, "It’s not that it’s impossible. The color and size can certainly be made to the Prince’s specifications, but making it shine with golden light... that’s difficult." If it were her previous life, it would definitely be possible. With the current craftsman techniques, it definitely couldn’t be done.

After pondering, Prince Ning then said, "Then add a touch of gold within the purple, so that the purple glass bead has some golden streaks. Would that be possible?"

Qian Yixiu responded uncertainly, "That should be possible, I suppose. I’m not entirely sure; I’ll have to ask Jack."

Prince Ning said, "Alright then, have Jack find a way to make it happen. I want five of them. Remember, this matter must be kept absolutely secret, not to be told to anyone, including General Qian. And make sure Jack keeps his mouth shut to avoid bringing disaster upon himself."

Qian Yixiu nodded urgently. She recalled what the Demi Immortal said, hinting that the Purple Pearl was related to the Royal Family and entangled with the issue of dynastic change.

Prince Ning wanted to clone the Purple Pearl, and to clone five at once – what exactly was he planning to do?

On further thought, she considered that whatever he intended, in the end, he was bound to sit on the throne, so she would just carry out his wishes. As for the real Purple Pearl, she would follow the Old Monk’s instructions.

As the sky began to darken, Zhu Sujin returned. He seemed to be in an especially good mood today, a joy in his eyes that he could hardly conceal.

Princess Ning asked, "Jinjin, you seem so delighted today. Has something joyous happened?"

Zhu Sujin smiled with pursed lips, "I will tell mother after I return."

He bid farewell to his parents, took the clothes prepared by the Princess for the Little Monk, and left with Qian Yixiu for the Qian family home.

Inside the carriage, he excitedly told Qian Yixiu, "Today, my Imperial Grandfather arranged a marriage for my Eighth Uncle."

Qian Yixiu glanced at him and said perplexedly, "That’s your Eighth Uncle’s happy occasion, not yours. Why are you so pleased?"

Zhu Sujin said gleefully, "My Eighth Uncle is sixteen this year. He’s set to be betrothed this year, and married the next. I’m already fourteen this year, so in two years, I’ll request our Imperial Grandfather to arrange a marriage for me and you. Three years from now, I’ll be able to marry you and bring you home to the mansion."

PS: Thank you for your tips and monthly votes, much appreciated!