Chapter Ten: Miss Xueqing

He Ziqi hurriedly asked, "Then, what is your intention, Eunuch?"

"Fifty watches. At one thousand taels each, that comes to fifty thousand taels. Since you want them, we will go by the market price. However, in consideration of you providing the manufacturing method, I will give you a fifty percent discount. How does twenty-five thousand taels sound?"

"Eunuch, the method for crafting these pocket watches is worth far more than ten thousand pieces of gold. This is simply—" He Ziqi found this unacceptable.

"Brother He, let me give you a piece of advice. In officialdom, do not look too far ahead. Who knows if you will still be in this position when you wake up tomorrow?" Eunuch Qin smiled indifferently.

In officialdom, any talk of long-term interests is nonsense.

Can the pocket watch manufacturing method make money? Yes.

But in this era, pocket watches are top-tier luxury goods. If you set the price too high, sales volume drops, and the turnover time drags on. If you set the price low—high volume with thin margins—it is sound from a business perspective. But in the position Eunuch Xia holds, he would never do that. It is too much trouble.

Compared to ethereal, long-term prospects, Eunuch Xia only wants money.

If it is not money, anything that can be quickly liquidated is acceptable. Anything that cannot be easily turned into cash is not worth discussing.

He Chong’an felt a heavy weight in his heart. The He family truly had no money.

Observing the contemptuous look in Eunuch Qin’s eyes, He Chong’an’s heart suddenly stirred. He thought to himself, "In truth, this man is tempted as well. He just wants more."

If he were not tempted, he would not be saying so much.

However, He Chong’an found it difficult to gauge Eunuch Qin’s bottom line for the moment. He tested him by saying, "Eunuch, the Imperial Workshop could replicate the pocket watches and report it to the throne. Wouldn't that be a meritorious deed? It would facilitate your future promotion."

Eunuch Qin, who was drinking tea, paused abruptly, leaving his teacup suspended in mid-air. He then took a delicate sip and said, "The pocket watches in the palace are all tributes from the Western lands, and there is already someone in charge of them. It is better to avoid adding extra complications."

"In short, regarding this matter, as long as the money is provided, I, Qin, will ensure everything is handled perfectly for you."

"Eunuch, can you reduce the price a little?" He Ziqi pleaded. "The estate is truly not well-off."

"Brother He, that is not honest of you. Who does not know that your House of Marquis Wuning has fought battles for generations, sending out troops and horses—the silver you have spent is like a bottomless ocean. How is it that when you reach me, it is all gone?"

Just as they were speaking, a crisp female voice suddenly rang out from outside: "Where is Qin Shouzhong? Tell Qin Shouzhong to come out and see me."

Eunuch Qin flew into a rage, exclaiming, "What kind of audacious girl is this?" He rose abruptly, knocking his teacup to the ground, and strode out the door.

He Chong’an’s gaze followed the Eunuch. As the Eunuch stepped outside and looked, his expression changed instantly; the shift from fury to fawning was instantaneous. He immediately knelt on the ground with a thud and said, "Lady Xueqing, is Her Highness the Princess well?"

"She is not." A young girl of seventeen or eighteen appeared in He Chong’an’s field of vision. She was dressed in the garb of a palace maid, yet the material was far superior to that of an ordinary servant. Her demeanor was exceptional, standing tall and graceful; one could easily believe she was the daughter of a noble house.

The girl’s face was flushed with anger. Without sparing a glance at the Eunuch, she strode into the room and sat in the chair Eunuch Qin had just vacated. She said, "Qin Shouzhong, the Western music box that Her Highness the Princess sent here—it has been several days, and it is still not fixed."

"Lady Xueqing, please listen to my explanation," Qin Shouzhong said. "The internal structure of such Western objects is vastly different from those of China. The craftsmen in the Imperial Workshop simply lack the means."

"So, you mean it cannot be fixed?" Xueqing sneered. "You should have said so earlier. I would have asked the Princess to replace the person in charge of the Imperial Workshop; perhaps then it would be repaired."

As soon as these words were spoken, Qin Shouzhong collapsed to the floor, limp.

"Lady Xueqing," He Chong’an said, offering a salute. "In truth, Eunuch Qin has been working hard. I am the very person he specifically invited from outside the palace to repair the music box."

"You..." Lady Xueqing seemed to notice He Chong’an and his uncle for the first time. She looked him up and down and asked, "Which family are you from?"

He Chong’an bowed, his posture upright and elegant, like a jade tree in the wind. "He Chong’an of the Marquis Wuning’s house. I am merely ashamed; I have been fond of mechanical arts since childhood, which brings disgrace to my family name."

Lady Xueqing’s tone softened instantly. "So, it is Young Master He. Since Young Master He has interceded for Qin Shouzhong, I will grant him a few more days. If he still has nothing to show for it by the deadline, do not blame my Princess."

Lady Xueqing seemed imperious, but in reality, she was very measured.

To the palace eunuchs, who were mere domestic slaves, a single word from the Princess could dispose of them. But for those outside the palace, regardless of which Marquis's house they belonged to, if a matter were truly brought before the imperial court, she would gain nothing from it. Naturally, she had to be somewhat courteous.

Furthermore, He Chong’an’s bearing was exceptional. Women are always more lenient toward handsome men.

"Qin Shouzhong," Lady Xueqing’s voice turned stern once more. "The Princess is waiting for the music box. If it is still not fixed—"

Lady Xueqing merely let out a cold laugh, saying no more. She turned and walked away, followed immediately by two palace maids.

She came and went like the wind.

Looking back at Qin Shouzhong, he was already slumped on the ground, unable to stand.

After a long while, Qin Shouzhong was helped up and regained his senses. He immediately knelt before He Chong’an, clutching his leg, and asked, "Master He, is it true that you can fix the music box?"

He Chong’an watched Qin Shouzhong’s fawning, dog-like expression, unable to process it for a moment.

It was not that he had never seen people turn their backs as easily as flipping a page, but he had never seen anyone like Qin Shouzhong, who seemed to have no bottom line and did not even consider himself a human being.

Recalling the many books he had read about the stories of eunuchs, he understood more deeply what kind of creatures they were.

Eunuchs have no bottom line for themselves, so naturally, they have none for others. They are infinitely fawning to those above and infinitely difficult to those below.

One can never trust such a person.

To make him act, one must suppress him.

"Eunuch Qin, I can indeed fix the music box. However, about the pocket watches for my family..."

"Please rest assured, Master He. As long as you fix the music box, you may call upon as many craftsmen as you need."

"No money?"

"Of course, no money."

"No, I want money," He Chong’an said indifferently. "I don't just want the craftsmen to help me build fifty pocket watches; I also want ten thousand taels. Otherwise, I will not fix this music box."

Qin Shouzhong’s expression shifted slightly.

He Ziqi was also shocked, pulling at He Chong’an’s sleeve.

Everyone knew that eunuchs valued money more than their lives. To extract money from their pockets was no different from taking their lives.

Moreover, palace eunuchs were notoriously vengeful. Most nobles adopted an attitude of keeping a respectful distance from eunuchs—neither offending them nor wishing to associate with them. Yet now, He Chong’an was demanding a sum of money from Eunuch Qin.

He would certainly pay it now, but he would also be deeply offended.

Once Qin Shouzhong passed this crisis, who knew what he might do?

But He Chong’an seemed not to receive He Ziqi’s signal.

Deep inside, Qin Shouzhong was ten thousand times unwilling, but he dared not say a word. For now, he had to handle the Princess’s errand first.

"I will go prepare it immediately."

With that, Qin Shouzhong produced a thick stack of silver banknotes, claiming it was ten thousand taels.

He Chong’an did not even look at them, shoving the notes into his robe. He looked at the damaged music box and asked, "Who was that palace maid just now?"