Chapter 126 - 93, Domestic Affairs and National Affairs
While Chen Ji was taking a break to drink water, Bai Li quietly approached and whispered, "I just saw them secretly noting down what you were saying. Be careful not to let them steal your techniques."
As Chen Ji drank from the waterskin, he glanced over, and many of the burly men avoided his gaze.
He asked in confusion, "Commandery Princess, these people were brought by your father, aren’t you siding with your own father?"
Bai Li angrily retorted, "One thing at a time, stealing is wrong!"
Chen Ji chuckled and said to Bai Li, "Don’t worry, Commandery Princess. Look, these craftsmen are excellent at kiln work. They’re here helping out with such laborious tasks; it wouldn’t hurt for them to learn something. We shouldn’t be so petty."
Bai Li, exasperated, replied, "Though I don’t know if your skills are truly valuable, they must be, since even my father is eager to steal them. I can’t tell if you are genuinely naive or just pretending. Don’t you understand the saying ’a master starves as his apprentice thrives’? My father, on one hand, is kind to the people, but when it comes to serious matters, he is full of tactics. Would the scholars of Jiangnan have willingly given him provisions if not?"
"Well, listen to you speaking about your own father."
Bai Li rolled her eyes, "Forget it, I can’t make you understand. I’ll talk to him myself!"
Watching her leave in a huff, Chen Ji suddenly laughed.
At that moment, Feng Daban had someone bring a table and chairs from the storehouses, covered them with a rough cloth, and set up a chess board: "This kiln conversion might take a while to complete, Prince Jing, don’t just stand around. Allow me to entertain you with a few games of chess to stave off the boredom."
Prince Jing smiled and said, "Come, yesterday’s game almost shattered my spiritual peace. Playing against you today might just restore some of my confidence."