The interns were here for practical training but Li Yuanying was here to play. He did not leave after seeing the fossils but is prepared the stay the night at the village.

It is lively and sophisticated in the city but very hot at night. Yuanying was able to adapt well but Sizi and the others weren’t able to sleep well. Therefore, Yuanying planned a trip to the village to catch fireflies for fun and to explore local delicacies. He instructed servants to buy whatever they can find and for things not available, to be made available by hand. He didn’t want the girls to run around during such hot weather.

But after this night of good sleep, Yuanying faced a huge problem!

There was a tenant named Wang Tiesheng in the Sunflower village who was a filial son. His mom fell seriously ill two months ago and the village manager invited a doctor over and saved her in time.

The manager is send from Sunflower Gaden and was one for the first few orphans taken in by Yuanying. He has been brainwashed by Dong Xiaoyi to believe that Li Yuanying is the best and the kindest person in the world.

These poor folks who had no land, no roots and wandered around, no one cares if they died. Who would give them the opportunity to go to school and give them the great fortune they have now? Therefore, they treated tenants in difficulties with more care and would help  if they could.

After listening to Wang Tiesheng’s gratitude, the manager told him that all is good because of the  master’s family.

Wang Tiesheng ended up brainwashed and was full of gratitude and love for Li Yuanying, whom he had never met.

Knowing that the manager was sent to Taiyuan to look for dragon bones, he felt that he could help  find the parts that might be lost. Every day after finishing his work in the field, he would wander around in the mountain, digging and knocking trying to see if he could find the fossils scattered elsewhere.

Wang Tiesheng did not come home after entering the mountain, which made his mom anxious. She went to the manager for help. Although Wang Tiesheng was an adult, who knew what can happen in the barren mountain? There might be man-eating beasts!

The manage thinks that Wang Tiesheng had good intention but used it wrongly. He actually got into trouble when their little prince is here!

But human life was at stake, so the manager hurried to report it to Li Yuanying.

The group was playing when they heard that someone had gone into the mountains and had not returned. Yuanying sent his guards with the manager into the mountains to search.

Since so many is entering the mountains as part of the search party, Li Zhi was confident that they would find him. He didn’t arrange for more soldiers to join but  only sent a few more who were accompanying them.

Wang Tiesheng’s mom had never seen such commotion before and was stunned. She originally thought of just asking a few familiar faces to enter the mountains and shout a few times, but she never thought that these nobles would send so many to find her son!

The manager realize the mental state Wang Tiesheng’s mother was in and told female stewards to send her home to rest.

Most men following Li Yuanying had travelled to the Tibetan Empire and has rich in surviving in the wild. They quickly organized a large-scale search and rescue team.

Yuanying took Sizi and the others to a viewpoint on top a mountain not far away, and saw three teams, with torches in their hands surrounding the entire barren mountain in three direction. With these three fire dragons, the dark night was not so scary!

The soldiers divided into 3 groups and call out to Wang Tiesheng’s name as they walked. Within half an hour, someone heard a weak response from the bottom of a narrow mountain crack.

It was true that it was a mountain crack. That place was strange and the entrance narrow. A person will definitely get stuck if they went in so one would wonder how Wang Tiesheng fell in! It was deep and words echoed loudly!

The leader’s brought out tools and a roll of rope. It is easy now since they found the target, we just have to work together to pull him up.

Wang Tiesheng was stunned when he saw so many people. When he learned that master had sent people to find him, he was moved beyond words. He roughly told the rescuers about how he was chased by a wild boar and fell into the mountain.

The wild boar was big, and Wang Tiesheng thin as a bamboo pole. He couldn’t beat it, so he could only run. Fortunately, he was thin so the wild boar couldn’t squeeze in and he was not hurt.

But Wang Tiesheng was still unlucky. No one passed by until nightfall, and he failed to get out of the mountain crack!

After he had finished talking, everyone felt a thrill and warn him not to wander the mountain anymore.

But Wang Tiesheng isn’t here to share this. He instead told the guards that he has discovered something big: “There’s iron ore in this mountain! You can’t see it from above, but it’s visible at the bottom. I see a large area that is exposed, much more must be hidden!”

Iron!

They are farmers and buying iron tools are expensive!

He was waiting anxiously below, and sub-consciously started knocking on the mountain wall. As a result, he found iron! Such shallow iron ore is convenient to mine, and you can dig them by just opening a hole!

Normal people would secretly smuggle some home first before reporting it to the authorities. After all, iron is expensive, who doesn’t want some for their own home?

But Wang Tiesheng will not do so if he had any conscience left. His master made a big commotion to rescue him so he told the leading guard as soon as he was rescued.

After hearing this, the guard was not in a hurry to report back. He sent a message to the other two teams and jumped down the mountain to find out more. Indeed , Wang Tiesheng was not lying. When he lit his torch, the whole wall was full of minerals!

There’s many minerals in Taiyuan, but this mountain has been abandoned for many years. When we first bought it, the original owner sold it at a cheap price not expecting this barren mountain to hide  an iron mine!

The rescue team made their way back. When the mother and son met, Wang Tiesheng’s mom immediately broke down in tears and started hitting him. She then dragged him to thank Prince Teng.

“It’s just walking around in the mountains. It’s nothing serious. It’s good that you’re found safe.”

The guard told Li Yuanying about Wang’s discovery of the iron mine.

“Your name is Tiesheng ^[1]Tie refers to the iron character in mandarin? I didn’t expect you and iron to be destined!”

Wang Tiesheng smiled honestly, not knowing how to respond. He kowtow to express his thanks several times before leaving.

Yuanying  had no plans for this iron mine. Salt and iron were all controlled by the Imperial Court. According to the law, it’s monopolized by the Imperial court and no one else can get involved. It’s impossible to dig them unless you want to rebel against the Emperor!

 Yuanying and Li Zhi jointly reported this incident to the Emperor, asking him to send someone to study the area and the mining process. It’s okay to hand over the barren mountain but there are tenants living here who rely on this land to survive. If so, will the Imperial court give some resettlement allowance to the villagers?

Such big news had to be deliver fast to  Chang’an as an emergency.

The fact that Li Yuanying just circled a barren mountain and actually found an iron mine shocked many. What kind of luck does the kid have?

Even though the size of the iron mine is not known yet, His Majesty send over experts. If there is a big mine, it must be controlled well.

Yuanying couldn’t be bothered about the iron mine after he’s done his duty reporting it. He tookhis friends to  around Taiyuan eating, drinking and having fun. After playing all around Taiyuan, he was ready to return home. Before leaving, he had a few drinks with Li Zhi and blabber about him needing to be a good vassal prince and a good father!

Li Zhi was slightly drunk and returned to his room. Princess Wang was waiting for him  and sensing the smell of alcohol, she gave him tea to sober up. She then asked about his conversation with Li Yuanying.

Li Zhi did not hide and told her everything.

Princess Wang laughed: “And you always fall for his talk.” After moving to Taiyuan, Li Zhi would occasionally mention “young uncle said” and sometimes he would look lonely, obviously missing the days in Chang’an.

The couple chatted quietly and went to bed.

Seeing Li Zhi and his wife living in harmony with a plump and cute baby, Yuanying left back to Chang’an with confidence. However, he did not take the original route but took a detour to Xiangzhou to fulfill his promise to Little Round Ball.

Xiangzhou is not too far from Taiyuan. The party will arrive in a few days by travelling south. He sent a letter to Li Tai saying that he wanted to visit his grand nephew. Li Tai gritted his teeth and replied that he can visit anytime.  Yuanying took it as Li Tai’s warm welcome and came to his door without any shame.

Li Tai had never seen Li Yuanying so shameless.

His Majesty still treats Li Tai well. At the very least his current palace is magnificent and much more reliable than Xiangcheng Palace that the Emperor built for himself to escape the summer heat. Yuanying led his group straight to the palace and met Li Tai, who has been away for a long time.

Li Tai looked much more mature and he is thinner. His looked a little gloomy, obvious that he did not welcome Li Yuanying very much. But since everyone is here, Li Tai could not drive them out. After all, his two biological sisters were traveling in this group.

How can father allow Li Yuanying to take the girls everywhere?

Little round ball was the happiest. He held onto Yuanying and told him all about the interesting things he had encountered in Xiangzhou. Although he did not go out often, he learned a trick from Yuanying, by asking people to find him interesting stories. The child spoke eloquently and cleverly.

Seeing little round ball full of energy, Yuanying was relieved and let the boy drag him everywhere to find delicious food and fun thing. They had a great time.

Li Er only found out about Li Yuanying’s detour after he had arrived in Xiangzhou. When he heard this news, his brows jumped fiercely.

On one side is the son he has spoiled for so many years, and on the other side is the younger brother he has raised for so many years. His Majesty naturally want them to get along well, but is that possible?

The two were hostile, and Li Yuanying still approached Li Tai. What is he thinking!

Li Tai also didn’t know what Li Yuanying was thinking. At first, he thought he’s here to show off his power and was waiting for him to make a move. But Li Yuanying only met him at the beginning and dissapear after that. All he did was eat, drink and have fun every day!

Li Tai couldn’t wait any longer. He decided to host a banquet for Li Yuanying and his group. Yuanying ate and drank, but still did nothing. On the day he was about to leave, Li Tai finally confirmed that: This kid just came to see his son!

This is his son, not Li Yuanying’s son. Why did Li Yuanying care so much?!

Li Tai was still upset when he sent the part away. And Quan Wanji decided to still pick on him, saying that Li Zhi hospitable to them the whole time, and that they were united and friendly. Why didn’t you even treat your uncle and sister well? Li Tai was fuming!

He’s no longer fighting against Li Chengqian, but Li Yuanying is still haunting him! Who wants to be united and friendly with him!

It’s so infuriating!

Notes from the Author:

Even after leaving Chang’an, the fourth nephew is still so angry that he turned into a pufferfish!