The Moon Over Tang Dynasty

Chapter 193: The Power of a Hammer Visitors from Chang'an

As soon as April entered, the weather in Xizhou suddenly became hotter, especially in the workshop area. The sweating craftsmen, noisy sounds and strange smells were all stuffed together in the small courtyards, which made people feel uncomfortable. The dry heat rising under the increasingly violent sunlight became increasingly unbearable.

Qu Chongyu stood in front of a desk and watched intently as several craftsmen pulled the big slingshot in front of them onto the tendon string. After the two sides were tightened, he rolled up his sleeves and stepped forward to pluck the bowstring. He plucked it two or three times, frowned for a moment, and said in a deep voice, "Go over there and try it!"

Next to another table in the yard are two rolling carts that were just made the day before. The table is covered with pure white stacks that have been seeded by rolling carts. Several craftsmen put this four-foot-long The big bow was carried to the table. One person held the bow and the other plucked the strings. If he used too much force, the white stacks would fly around. If he used too little force, it didn't seem to work. Master Li had to try it in person for a while. I found some tricks and plucked for a while. As expected, the white strings that had been played by the bowstring became much softer and cleaner, but deep red marks were also left on the fingers of the strings. He had to stop, wiped the sweat from his forehead and said with a wry smile, "Your Majesty, I'm afraid I have to wear a spanner."

Qu Chongyu shook his head decisively, "It's too big and it's useless even with a spanner on it!" As he said this, he glanced at the courtyard door subconsciously, with a hint of impatience on his face.

When he tried playing the string just now, he felt that it was too strenuous to pluck the string. Even someone like him who had practiced bow and horse could not pluck it too many times, let alone an ordinary craftsman. According to his own wishes, if he wanted to play pine and white fold, he could just make an ordinary small bow to play. However, Cudi insisted on making such a four-foot-large bow and using the strongest beef tendon to make it. Xian, she really should be allowed to see how useful this thing is!

Master Li also turned to look at the courtyard door and murmured in a low voice, "How come Madam Kudi hasn't come yet? I said today that I would try this bullet cart!"

Qu Chongyu looked up and saw that it was almost noon. He couldn't help but smile sarcastically, "It's normal for a woman's family to not be able to endure hardships." In this kind of weather and this kind of place, even Feng Piaopiao couldn't wait to finish his words every time he came. As soon as he left, it was enough for Cudi to stay the whole day the day before yesterday.

Master Li shook his head, "Ms. Kudi is not an ordinary woman." The young craftsman beside him hurriedly and quietly pulled his sleeves. Master Li immediately woke up and looked down at his own hands, pretending not to see Prince Qu's expression. A cold look from across the way.

In the silence, only a few light knocks were heard on the courtyard door. The young craftsman couldn't help but show a bit of joy on his face. He ran over and opened the door, his tone full of respect: "Ms. Kudi!"

Qu Chongyu glanced at him and sneered silently. Liuli walked in quickly from the door with a neatly dressed maid. She was actually wearing a begonia red embroidered Luo shirt, and the golden jade steps on her head were swaying with her. His steps were swaying wildly, and he even applied makeup on his face, as if he was here for a banquet!

Liuli obviously didn't notice Qu Chongyu. When he saw the big slingshot on the desk, his eyes lit up. He walked over and looked at it a few times, pressed it twice, and nodded with satisfaction. After all, everything was ready in the workshop. , with enough manpower, it took only two days to make a four-foot-long bow, and the materials were very solid.

Qu Chongyu couldn't bear it anymore and said in a cold tone, "Mrs. Kudi, how are you going to use this slingshot?"

Liuli was slightly startled when she heard his voice, and then she looked up at Qu Chongyu, only to see that he was wearing the simplest white plaid round-neck robe today, with a soft bun in his hair and high sleeves. With his arm in his arms, he was completely different from the elegant and wealthy person he usually wore. No wonder I didn't see him at all just now - was he wearing white clothes for two days in a row to imitate him? Or did you change your gender due to a sarcastic comment by yourself? But what does he mean by this?

Liuli thought about it and smiled, "Of course it can be used directly to play the white stack."

Qu Chongyu smiled mockingly and said, "With such a big bow, how many strong men in the army are you going to find to help me play this case?"

Liuli asked curiously, "How do you say this? How do you think the prince should play it?"

Qu Chongyu smiled faintly, "Of course Chongyu didn't know, so he asked Madam for advice!"

Master Li hurriedly took a step forward and said with a smile, "Mrs. Kudi, I just tried it when I was young, and it works well. It's just that it's too strenuous to pull, and my fingers will hurt after a few strokes. I'm afraid the bow power is too strong, so it's not suitable for use." "As he spoke, he pulled the bow string a few more times, "This bow string is strong, but the force is too strong."

Liuli looked at Master Li's gestures of strumming the bow string back and forth, and shook his head secretly, are you playing with cotton? It's obvious that if you are good at archery, it would be strange if you can play it well! But on his face, he could only frown and remain silent in thought.

Qu Chongyu’s face became even more sarcastic, “Madam is always full of fantastic ideas, and she will definitely not disappoint the craftsmen!”

Master Li also considered it and said, "Madam, I'm afraid this bow is too big. It's better to change it to a slightly smaller one that ordinary people can use." Such a big bow can certainly play more white stacks at one time, but it can't be used. It’s in vain to move! The force used to draw the bow cannot be solved in any way.

Liuli pondered for another moment, then raised his head and glanced around, and saw a small hammer on the table where the tools were placed. He walked over and took it in his hand.

Master Li was startled and said, "Madam, this bow is not easy to make. It can't be remade. Why smash it?"

The corners of Qu Chongyu's eyes were slightly raised, and his smile was cold, "It's better to smash it, so that outsiders won't see it, and they think we are making crossbows to attack the city!"

Liuli didn't bother to pay attention to him, and walked up to the big slingshot with a hammer, and hit the bowstring vertically with one hammer. The bowstring vibrated up and down, and the white stack near the bowstring suddenly became much softer. Liuli waited until the vibration stopped. , hammered it down again, and after a few times, the white pile near the bow string was played soft and white, and then he threw the hammer away with a smile, "What do you think, the prince, of using it like this?"

Qu Chongyu couldn't help but be stunned. Yes, it is so labor-saving to use heavy objects to press the strings up and down to play. Why didn't he think of it? Looking at the energetic face in front of the counter, he felt as if a stone was suddenly blocked in his chest, and another loud sigh from Master Li came to his ears, "Oh! How did Mrs. Kudi come up with this?" !”

It was Xiaotan who came with Liuli today. The sarcasm on Qu Chongyu's face from the moment she walked in had already made her feel unhappy. At this moment, she couldn't help but smile at Master Li and said, "My wife is so smart, how can it be compared to ordinary people?" ?”

Liuli suddenly felt a little weak. She could only lower her head and take a photo of the white stack that had just floated onto her body. She tried to be as calm as possible and said, "This hammer seems too heavy. The master craftsman might as well make one wrapped with iron or lead." I'm afraid it will be more useful if you hammer it out by hand."

At this time, Master Li was filled with only admiration. He nodded and said, "That's right, I'll do it now!" He turned around and excitedly picked up tools and materials from the desk. Qu Chongyu stayed for a long time, and then slowly exhaled. He felt that the gloom in his heart was even stronger than when he saw the pile of ashes left by Pei Xingjian's burning. He was too lazy to say anything for a while, and almost wanted to leave, but I really can't bear to look like this.

Liuli patted the white sheets off her body, looked at the table again, and casually asked Master Li, "I haven't been here for only two days, how come there are so many clean white sheets with seeds removed?"

Master Li was looking for a suitable piece of wood. Hearing this, he smiled and said, "Your Majesty has modified the rolling cart. Now you can step on the rotating shaft with your feet, which saves a lot of effort and speed."

 Pressed with feet? Liuli hurriedly walked over to the newly made rolling cart and took a look at it. She couldn't help but nod, "It's really much better. Your Majesty is so thoughtful!" The admiration in her tone was genuine. She could come up with rolling carts and big slingshots. I came here because I already knew that Qu Chongyu could think of changing the hand crank to the foot step, but he really relied on himself. Although this peacock is very narcissistic, he really has some talent in this area.

Qu Chongyu's voice was indifferent, "Mrs. Kudi is so smart, Chongyu can't even match her."

Liuli was startled and looked back at Xiaotan. Xiaotan also smiled and made a face. Qu Chongyu couldn't help but feel angry in his heart, and his tone became colder, "Mrs. Kudi also has time to come to the banquet today. We are very honored." ”

 He sent the words back exactly as they were! Liuli looked down at her clothes and said with a smile, "It is true that we have relatives and friends coming from Chang'an today. I don't want to be rude, but how can I dare to compare with the Crown Prince? When it comes to hospitality, no one in Xizhou dares to compete with the Crown Prince. "Compared!" Datang dare not say that he dresses up every day as if he is going on a blind date. Xizhou is determined that no one can be Qu Chongyu's opponent.

Qu Chongyu didn't know what to say for a moment, so he could only nod his head calmly, "I see, it has delayed Madam from entertaining relatives and friends." Moreover, they are relatives and friends from Chang'an... His heart suddenly moved slightly, and he glanced at Liuli, "Madam looks very good, I guess. I heard a lot of good news! ”

 Good news? Apart from the fact that his father is already in full bloom, there is indeed one serious piece of good news, but... Liuli turned away her eyes and suppressed the smile at the corner of her mouth, "I would like to borrow the prince's good words."

Qu Chongyu sneered slightly in his heart and sighed with emotion, "Speaking of which, I also went to the Furong Banquet back then, but I didn't expect that the eldest princess Linhai would end up like she did today!"

Liuli raised her eyebrows in surprise, Princess Linhai? She had almost forgotten about this person and couldn't help but ask, "What is her fate now?"

Qu Chongyu was stunned. Kudi didn't know the condition of the eldest princess of Linhai, so why did she laugh so weirdly just now? Are you just pretending again? His mind changed slightly, and he immediately told the eldest princess's situation in the past few months in a few words. Liuli listened quietly at first, and then nodded seriously, "I didn't expect that she would end up like this." Without saying any more words, he walked up to Master Li and watched him attentively as he made the hand hammer. He made a few more suggestions. Master Li naturally nodded and said, "Don't worry, Madam, this hammer will be available tomorrow. Madam, I'll take a look at it then." ”

Liuli smiled and said, "Then I'll come back tomorrow." After saying that, he straightened up and smiled at Qu Chongyu, "Your Majesty, there are still guests at home today. If nothing happens, I will leave first."

Qu Chongyu felt full of confusion and depression, and didn't know where to start, so he could only say, "Madam, please excuse me." After Liuli left, he walked around the yard several times, feeling sulky and having nowhere to go, when he saw Bai Diazhong The dark iron hammer was picked up and hit the bowstring a few times. The buzzing sound immediately echoed in the yard, and it took a long time to stop.

　　…………

Pei's house in Qushuifang was much livelier than usual. As soon as Liuli entered the courtyard, the housekeeper Lao He smiled and said, "Madam is back! Madam Kang has asked me several times."

Does the third cousin sister-in-law have anything else to say to me? Liuli hurriedly walked inside. In the upper room, Mrs. Kang looked really bored. When she saw Liuli, she stood up with a smile on her face, "You, the master, have left us all behind!"

Liuli hurriedly confessed, looked around, and couldn't help but wonder, "Where is the third cousin?"

Kang said with a smile, "Don't mention him. I was dragged into the east room by your patriarch and have been talking for half a day. I'm still wondering, did these two hit it off at first sight?"

Pei Xingjian pulled An Sanlang into the study to talk? You’ve been talking for so long! What do the two of them have to say? Liuli looked at the ajar study door and couldn't help but wonder.

Liuli’s hammer shattered Koyokuro’s fragile little heart. Hoho… It already has 160 votes. It will be updated on Christmas Eve.

 (End of this chapter)