Chapter 19 An Unexpected Encounter

Just as Tan Weixin was talking about the troublesome matters concerning the Jin Gu Garden, something strange happened. The maid Sisi knocked on the door and then showed half of her small face, reporting in a low voice with a frustrated expression, "Your Highness, the envoy from Chun Nan, Luo Qin, requests an audience."

Tan Weixin waved her hand helplessly and said, "Tell that fellow to wait in the Juan Si Hall." After Sisi left, Tan Weixin sighed to Ye Tao, "Ah, what a jinx. Speak of the devil. It's him again, pressing hard for that additional appropriation for the flowers and trees. I really can't do anything about it. Father is also afraid of trouble and avoids giving any advice. I'm so annoyed by this guy."

Ye Tao shrugged and said, "How about I go take a look?"

Tan Weixin nodded helplessly and said, "Dealing with envoys requires a proper title... Don't laugh! Just temporarily be my palace's proofreader for now."

"Proofreader? What kind of position is that?" Ye Tao was taken aback.

"It's probably somewhere between a secretary and a tutor, who knows. Anyway, with a title, you have a reason to speak on my behalf."

Ye Tao nodded helplessly and said, "Alright, I'll go vent your anger for you."

The Chun Nan envoy Luo Qin didn't look like a horticultural designer directing the construction of Jin Gu Garden at all, nor did he seem like a construction team leader responsible for on-site command. Luo Qin was gentle and refined, with the bearing of a southern scholar. From the moment Luo Qin was sent by Chun Nan to Dong Ping, spies were sent to Chun Nan to investigate him. Luo Qin's background was indeed very humble. Since emerging in the Chun Nan imperial examinations, Luo Qin had risen through the ranks, his career extremely smooth. Although his rank was not very high now, he had always dealt with the top echelons of power in Chun Nan. Being sent to Dong Ping, his responsibilities were definitely not as simple as commanding the construction of Jin Gu Garden; he must be undertaking more complex work. Just the small golden sachet that Luo Qin wore on his waist – something usually bestowed by the Chun Nan ruler to his close ministers – was enough to illustrate his position in the Chun Nan ministerial system.

After bowing to Tan Weixin, Luo Qin said, "Your Highness, I submitted the memorial for the renovation of the flowerbeds in the Jin Gu Garden's West Garden and the request for funds a long time ago. The construction schedule for the Jin Gu Garden is very tight. Can the funds be allocated as soon as possible?"

Tan Weixin had just sat down when the maids Sisi and Qiao'er placed a set of tea and pastries in front of her. Tan Weixin took a shallow sip of the warm tea, glanced at Ye Tao standing beside her, and faced Luo Qin, saying, "Lord Luo, you were the one who sent the designs for Jin Gu Garden in the first place. Back then, I spent almost half a month reviewing the entire construction and costs. Since Jin Gu Garden is being managed by Chun Nan, even though I thought the cost was high, I didn't say anything. My father's affairs are also the affairs of the state. It's not convenient for me to say anything, and I can only give my full support. However, although my Dong Ping is wealthy, spending money still requires procedure. You say you suddenly have a new idea, suddenly want to modify the entire West Garden, and then submit a modified plan and a request for funds. Am I necessarily obligated to give you this money?"

Luo Qin felt a tightening in his heart. Since submitting the modified plans for the West Garden, he had not been able to meet Tan Weixin. He knew very well Tan Weixin's absolute power on these issues, especially those involving the allocation of internal currency. He had sent people to urge this matter several times, and even he himself had come to request an audience with the princess several times, but Tan Weixin had only used various reasons to perfunctorily put it off. And now, when Tan Weixin received him like this and said these words, it was clear that she was prepared to settle this matter.

Luo Qin was also prepared for this and said respectfully, "The marriage between the two countries is a major event for both Dong Ping and Chun Nan. I cannot interject in such a major event, but I can only strive to do the work assigned to me to the best of my ability. Since I am responsible for Jin Gu Garden, I really dare not be anything but earnest and diligent. Dong Ping and Chun Nan are thousands of miles apart, north and south. The climate and terrain are too different. Many flowers and trees… and many artisans participating in the construction of Jin Gu Garden only recently learned that some of the seeds brought from Chun Nan cannot survive here, and many flowers and trees must be procured within Dong Ping. And in coordination with the different appearances of the flowers, the gardeners and I have redesigned the entire West Garden. Only such a West Garden is worthy of the importance of the marriage between the two countries. Please, Your Highness, grant our request."

"Sisi, bring the drawings and lay them out," Tan Weixin instructed. The maid Sisi responded and quickly retrieved the drawings. Two guards pieced together two long tables in the middle of the Juan Si Hall and laid out the entire set of drawings and all the documents. At this time, Tan Weixin faced Ye Tao, smiled slightly, and said, "Young Master Ye, please."

Luo Qin was stunned. He cupped his fist toward Ye Tao and asked, "May I ask who this is...?"

Tan Weixin answered for Ye Tao, "This is our country's most outstanding young landscape architect and architect, and also the proofreader invited to my residence. This time, whether or not to allocate the funds to you will be decided by Young Master Ye."

Ye Tao smiled bitterly in his heart. Since she wanted to rely on him to suppress Luo Qin, it seemed that he had no choice but to form this enmity. Ye Tao carefully looked through the entire design of the Jin Gu Garden and especially carefully examined the new design of the West Garden and all the written explanations of the projects it contained. After reading it, Ye Tao closed his eyes and thought for a while, then opened his eyes and asked, "Lord Luo, may I ask, what do you think is the most important thing in landscaping?"

Luo Qin thought for a moment and said, "In my opinion, the most important thing in landscaping is borrowing scenery from objects. Whether it is architecture, bamboo, rocks, flowers, or trees, they are all jewels in the hands of the landscaper. Embellishing these jewels in the natural scenery allows the natural scenery to be more beautiful and delicate while also being suitable for recreation, allowing people to live in it and forget to return. Only then can it be considered the true meaning of landscaping."

Ye Tao smiled and said, "Lord Luo is indeed skilled in creating garden scenery, but... isn't Lord Luo trying to be too clever?"

Luo Qin was stunned and said, "Clever? How do you mean?"

"These flowers and trees, when combined like this, the scenery will indeed be very beautiful when the ruler and Princess Bailian get married, but what about after that? Does Lord Luo really not know the growth patterns of these flowers and trees, or is he doing it on purpose? These flowers and trees come from different regions of Dong Ping, with extremely different growth patterns, and the West Garden is mainly a flower garden. After these flowers and trees are planted everywhere, after a few years, when the differences in growth become apparent... wouldn't that be very embarrassing?" Ye Tao said mercilessly.

Luo Qin's face turned pale. What Ye Tao said was already a very serious accusation, accusing him of using any means to please both sides for his own future promotion, completely disregarding what would happen afterward and turning the entire Jin Gu Garden into Luo Qin's vanity project, a political achievement. Luo Qin said coldly, "Young Master Ye, you can't say such things lightly."

Ye Tao snorted coldly. The young man actually had a bit of an air of disdain for the powerful. He bowed to Tan Weixin and said, "Please, Your Highness, prepare a painting table."

Tan Weixin was leaning on a small table, reading a book, and nodded slightly. Sisi and Qiao'er immediately took out exquisite brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones from the room and set them out on another table. Ye Tao walked to the painting table, picked up the brush, and without hesitation drew six rough sketches on a piece of paper, neatly writing "Year 1" on the side. Then, he drew slightly different rough sketches of the same six locations on a second piece of paper, writing "Year 3" on the side. After that, Ye Tao quickly drew rough sketches of the fifth year and the tenth year, based on the general plant growth patterns. Although they were rough sketches, Ye Tao had fully demonstrated his skill in these sketches. In terms of form, these were just quick sketches drawn according to imagination, but the outlines of the trees and flowers in these sketches were extremely skillful, with soft and firm lines, very stylish.

But Luo Qin's face became even paler. Ye Tao's sketches and words were like a huge hammer hitting him in the chest, making his chest feel so stuffy that he couldn't speak. He was just an official responsible for organizing work. He didn't know much about these horticultural matters. He was just operating these things according to the ideas of those old landscape architects. Ye Tao's sketches would never be groundless. Ye Tao had designed several courtyards and even designed a garden for Nongcui Garden in Yicheng. He was extremely familiar with these plants that often appeared in gardens. As a Dong Ping person, he had much more advantages in this regard than Luo Qin and those landscape architects who came from Chun Nan.

Seeing that Luo Qin's face was not right, Tan Weixin smiled slightly and said, "Lord Luo, excuse me. Young Master Ye has just entered my residence and may be a little too eager to show off. Lord Luo, how about going back and reconsidering, and then resubmitting the West Garden plans? Take some time to carefully consider it. I think there's still time."

Seemingly criticizing Ye Tao and giving Luo Qin a way out, she actually struck Luo Qin again. Luo Qin bowed deeply and silently retreated.

The maid Sisi looked at Ye Tao with great curiosity. Ye Tao's move was very high-profile, and being able to overwhelm the talented man from Chun Nan at the age of 14, the same age as the princess, was very difficult. Luo Qin now has some fame in Danyang's social circles, among those literati.

"Well... well done. Luo Qin shouldn't bother me for a long time now," Tan Weixin said happily. She didn't care how Ye Tao suppressed Luo Qin. She just wanted to reduce trouble and costs.

"What about the future? Offending him like this, will I have trouble in the future?" Ye Tao's tone did not contain any panic.

Tan Weixin glanced at Ye Tao and said, "Are you afraid of this kind of person? Besides being a favored subject, this kind of person is nothing. Besides, you are from Dong Ping. Whether it's true or false, you are carrying the title of proofreader of this princess's residence. Do you think anyone dares to provoke you?"

Ye Tao looked at the drawings spread out on the table, then looked at his own sketches, and said, "Actually, the design of this West Garden is still very interesting. If I hadn't used these kinds of trees in the Qi family's old master's courtyard this time, I would have been afraid of making a fool of myself."

Tan Weixin said, "So... then what? Is this over in Danyang? Are you going to return to Yicheng now?"

Ye Tao thought for a while and said, "Yes, I will come again next year before the Yi Zhan Tower is completed. The factory buildings and hydropower facilities of Ye Shi Workshop have begun construction and installation, and the construction progress of the Yi Zhan Tower is still going smoothly. I was originally worried that the cost of timber and other materials for such a complex project would be too high, but I didn't expect you to use the royal wood for building the palace. I have also seen the construction plan for that hall, and it should be fine. I have to go back and study how to make the clock properly, that thing is very profitable after all."

Tan Weixin's tone was a little reluctant, but what she said was not like that, "Well, then see you again in a few months. When you come to Danyang again, you should be able to stay, right?"

Ye Tao knew that Tan Weixin really lacked someone to communicate with. Bearing great pressure, her body was so fragile that she could collapse at any time. Ye Tao thought for a while and said, "Yes, when I come again, I will buy land and a house in Danyang and live in Danyang permanently."