Chapter 115: The Paper Mill Owner

After Fulai left, Li Yuechen shook her head, resting her chin in her hands with a sigh. Born into royalty, she had unwittingly learned how to manipulate others. She owed this, in part, to her father, who had allowed her to observe the emperor and personally taught her many imperial tactics, making her increasingly aware of the art of control.

Sigh... living as a princess in this era, it seemed she could never reclaim the innocence she once had, she thought to herself. Although she had never enjoyed scheming, in reality, innocence was now a distant memory.

Reflecting carefully, she realized that her soap products were already being distributed nationwide. The merchants paid upfront, so she now held a substantial amount of cash. Moreover, the production of transparent glassware had officially begun, promising a steady influx of money.

However, with no banks in this era, holding such large sums could risk deflation. She needed to find ways to spend it quickly. At present, there were no reliable projects except for the blast furnace experiment, which she could expedite.

Another possibility was paper manufacturing. With money in hand, perhaps she could establish a paper mill. With this idea in mind, Li Yuechen rose and called Xiao He to accompany her to the Artisan Workshop.

The craftsmen greeted her respectfully. Li Yuechen straightforwardly asked, “Have the blueprints been completed?”

“Your Highness, most of it is done, but some parts will require trial and error during construction,” they replied.

“Good, then let’s begin,” Li Yuechen nodded. “Have you selected a location?”

The craftsman nodded in return. “Yes, there’s an excellent site on Mang Mountain, not far away, convenient for Your Highness to inspect anytime.”

Li Yuechen clapped her hands. “Alright, estimate the costs and prepare a list for me.”

“A list?” The craftsman looked puzzled. “Your Highness, I’m simple-minded and don’t understand what a ‘list’ is. Besides, we cannot read or write...”

Hearing this, Li Yuechen patted her forehead, realizing she had overlooked this. She turned to Xiao He and beckoned, “Go fetch Sister Xuancheng!”

“Yes!” Xiao He nodded. “I’ll go get her, Your Highness, please don’t wander off.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll stay right here,” Li Yuechen assured her.

About twenty minutes later, Xiao He returned with Princess Xuancheng, who approached at a brisk pace. Li Yuechen had grown impatient, thinking that this palace truly needed some transportation. Otherwise, summoning someone and waiting for a response wasted too much time in such a vast place.

The craftsmen saluted the new arrival. “Greetings, Princess Xuancheng!”

“No need for formalities.” The princess raised her hand slightly, then turned to Li Yuechen. “Yuechen, did you call me here for something?”

Li Yuechen nodded wearily. “Sister, could you come tomorrow to verify the costs with them?”

After a brief explanation, which was straightforward—just investigating the approximate cost of building the blast furnace to prepare a budget—Princess Xuancheng agreed. She examined the blueprints and asked about various production data, planning to calculate the materials needed later.

Li Yuechen clarified, “Once the list is ready, you’ll all sign it, then I’ll approve the funds. Don’t worry, it’s just to prevent embezzlement.”

The craftsmen nodded in understanding, assuring her that they had no intention of misappropriating the princess’s money.

Three days later, Princess Xuancheng handed Li Yuechen the verified list. Li Yuechen glanced over it and immediately instructed Fulai to disburse the funds to begin constructing the blast furnace. She also allocated money to expand canned food production and arranged for several people from paper mills to come to her.

The following afternoon, Li Yuechen arrived at Jixian Workshop, sitting at the head of the office while Fulai and Laicao stood on either side. Opposite them stood three somewhat nervous middle-aged men, heads bowed and hands fidgeting with their hems.

Li Yuechen smiled gently. “No need to be nervous. Today, I merely want to ask about your craft.”

She signaled Fulai. “Bring them some yogurt. If they remain this tense, I won’t get any answers.”

“Right away!” Fulai responded.

The three men were inwardly distressed. They worked at a paper mill, technically employed by relatives. Although slave trading was legal in this era, few could afford slaves except landlords. Most waitstaff in taverns and teahouses were relatives of their bosses, trusted more readily.

The paper mill had many slaves, but they handled the dirtiest, most exhausting tasks and had no freedom to roam or drink, making it impossible for them to be brought here by Fulai casually.

Soon, Fulai brought yogurt, pouring a cup for each, their hands trembling slightly. Li Yuechen suddenly turned to Fulai. “How did you bring them here?”

Fulai looked embarrassed. “Well...”

Some thirty minutes earlier, the three men had left the paper mill, joking about where to drink. But just outside the gate, several plainclothes guards emerged from the crowd. With a blade pressed to their necks and a cold whisper, “If you want to live, obey and come with us!”

They had never encountered such force before. Feeling the chill on their necks, they nodded in compliance.

The guards escorted them by carriage to Jixian Workshop. Passersby saw nothing unusual. Upon arrival, they saw a group of armed soldiers standing guard and dared not speak, obediently entering the office.

Soon, a clean-shaven, slightly plump middle-aged man in official robes entered. Without ceremony, he said, “Listen carefully. The princess will question you shortly. Answer truthfully, or your heads won’t be safe.”

Though unsure why the princess wished to see them, they had no choice but to comply.

Fulai explained nervously, “I only invited them here to talk, nothing more.” She smiled weakly.

Li Yuechen didn’t doubt her; common folk in this era feared officials, especially those from the palace with a mysterious aura.

“Don’t be nervous. I only want to learn about papermaking. Afterwards, no one will know what you’ve said,” Li Yuechen reassured them.

The men glanced around. Facing a royal princess, they had no other choice. The man in the center cautiously looked up. “Ask whatever you wish, Your Highness, as long as we know.”

Li Yuechen nodded and instructed Fulai to record their words. “Describe the entire process. I’ll ask questions if needed.”

They complied, slowly recounting the papermaking craft. Though Li Yuechen was not entirely ignorant on the subject, she had forgotten many details and wished to compare their process with her memories.

Fulai took notes rapidly while Li Yuechen occasionally asked questions, all answered obediently.

After about half an hour, Li Yuechen had a rough understanding of papermaking in this era.

The paper produced in the capital was decent but mostly made from mulberry bark or rawhide for parchment, or hemp for hemp paper. She knew the royal court used tribute paper from Bashu’s rattan paper and Huizhou’s wind paper.

Paper quality was already quite good with many varieties. She recalled many Tang dynasty manuscripts unearthed later, preserved for over a thousand years, suggesting high quality, perhaps even surpassing industrialized paper in some respects.

But this excellence came with high costs, posing a challenge she now faced.

After clarifying, Li Yuechen asked, “Who owns this paper mill? Or rather, who is behind it?”

The three men exchanged uneasy glances.

“I advise you to tell the truth,” Li Yuechen said firmly. “Only if I know who owns it can I protect your lives.”

They then bowed and answered, “Your Highness, it belongs to Duke Lu Guogong.”

Li Yuechen was momentarily taken aback.

Cheng Chumo? Good heavens, she barely knew him!

In truth, apart from Liu Rengui, she knew almost no civil or military officials well. Although she was interested in famed generals like Cheng Yaojin and Xue Rengui and wished to meet them, as a royal, she avoided close ties with nobles to prevent the emperor’s suspicion.

She had never proactively contacted any powerful ministers or nobles besides her mentor.

Cheng Yaojin died the year she was born. His eldest son, Cheng Chumo, inherited the Duke Lu title but held no official court position. Rumors said he idled at home, indulging in women and leisure.

She never expected this paper mill to be his enterprise.

Li Yuechen waved them off. “Very well, you may leave. Fulai, since you brought them here, treat them to some wine.”

“As you command!” Fulai escorted them out, gave a reward, and let them go.

After some thought, Li Yuechen took a carriage back to the palace.

On the way, she asked, “Does Duke Lu have any sons or relatives serving in the palace?”

Fulai considered, then answered respectfully, “Duke Lu’s younger brother, Cheng Chubi, is currently the Right Jinwu General.”

Li Yuechen nodded. “When we return, ask him to meet me at the pavilion in front of the Artisan Workshop.”

“Right away!”

Back at the palace, Li Yuechen dismounted and sat in the pavilion outside the Artisan Workshop. Fulai poured her a cup of yogurt and hurried off to find Cheng Chubi.

About twenty minutes later, Fulai returned with a man in his forties.

Cheng Chubi stood about 1.8 meters tall, broad and sturdy, exuding strength. He wore polished bright armor, his neatly groomed beard lending him an imposing presence.

Approaching, he removed his helmet and saluted. “General Cheng greets Princess Highness.”

“General Cheng, no need for formalities,” Li Yuechen waved lightly.

Cheng Chubi rose. “May I ask the reason for Your Highness’s summons?”

Li Yuechen appreciated his directness. “I plan to open a paper mill. Today, I intended to consult some craftsmen about the process but discovered it belongs to Duke Lu. I want you to introduce me so I may pay my respects.”

Fulai quickly bowed. “Forgive my carelessness in involving Duke Lu’s family…”

“Nonsense!” Cheng Chubi interrupted quickly. “It’s no trouble. I’ll inform my elder brother today. No need to trouble the princess.”

Li Yuechen smiled and shook her head. “Rest assured, General Cheng. It’s merely a courtesy call, nothing more.”

Hearing this, Cheng Chubi did not insist further. Though now an official, she was still a princess, different from a prince. Princes were strictly forbidden from private meetings without the emperor’s supervision, wary of repeating past mistakes like those of Hou Junji.

Li Yuechen had no intention of forcing a visit; meeting within the palace was acceptable. However, Cheng Chumo held no official post, making palace visits awkward. Nobles with titles must greet the emperor on official occasions, but Cheng Chumo and the princess were not close, leaving little to discuss.

Hence, Li Yuechen asked him to notify Cheng Chumo first.

The next afternoon, Li Yuechen, carrying some canned goods and soap, went to the Duke Lu residence. Fulai, sensitive to the matter, had already removed wax seals and wooden stoppers, replacing them with plain porcelain bottles to prevent revealing the canned food formula.