Chapter 277: Cobalt and the 18th Century
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Ten days passed in the blink of an eye. After the successful launch of the galleon ships, another joyful occasion arrived—the Lunar New Year.
As if unwilling to disturb the festive spirit in Qingzhou, the heavy snow that had lasted over ten days finally stopped on New Year’s Eve.
At the entrance of the royal residence, Qian Dafu, the head steward, stood with hands on his hips, barking orders.
“Yes, yes, hang the lanterns higher! You brats—I’ve only been away a few months and already you’re ignoring me? Don’t forget, I’m still the chief steward of this palace!”
With the roads blocked by snow, Qian Dafu had returned to Qingzhou. After a year of hard work, he wanted nothing more than to spend New Year’s at home—and this royal palace was his home.
Ziyuan stood beside him respectfully. Now that the real steward was back, she’d naturally step aside. She was well aware that her standing in Prince Qi’s heart couldn’t compare to Qian Dafu’s. Still, since he had always treated her and Lüluo well, she admired and respected him from the bottom of her heart. As soon as he returned, she took on the role of his assistant.
On New Year’s Eve, Xiao Ming slept in, reluctant to leave the warmth of his quarters. The temperature outside had plunged to nearly minus fifteen degrees Celsius. Curled up beside the brazier, he had no interest in going outside.
He couldn’t help but feel a little melancholy. After today, they would officially step into the 18th century. In this world, the Great Yu Empire, like many ancient dynasties in history, was plagued by arrogance, self-absorption, and a near-total rejection of science.
If his guess was correct, by now most of the world—especially beyond East Asia—was likely colonized by Western powers. Yet the Great Yu Empire was still caught in internal strife and backwardness, not unlike the late Ming Dynasty. If the barbarians managed to invade, the next regime might be even worse, like the corrupt Qing dynasty from his past life.
Frowning, Xiao Ming felt a growing sense of helplessness. He was perhaps the only person who truly understood the global situation from a historical perspective. Everyone else was still lost in their fantasy of being a heavenly kingdom above all others.
Just then, Qian Dafu’s voice called from outside.