I traveled with them to the Northern Song Dynasty

Chapter 39 Concubine Ma
...

When she came in, Ma Xiaojiao lowered her head and even closed her eyes.

She was really afraid that Zhao Ya would pounce on her with a lewd smile on his face, just like in her dream.

The key point is that in her dreams, she can still hide, but in reality, she dare not hide, nor does she want to hide.

After walking a few steps, Ma Xiaojiao bumped into someone's arms with a "bang".

Ma Xiaojiao thought she had bumped into the arms of Liang Shicheng, who was walking in front of her. She hurriedly stepped back and apologized: "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

Because she retreated too quickly, Ma Xiaojiao accidentally stepped on her long skirt and almost fell.

At this moment, a pair of big hands embraced Ma Xiaojiao's slender waist, helping her to stabilize her body.

Ma Xiaojiao was shocked and subconsciously wanted to struggle.

But at this moment, Zhao Ya's voice rang out: "Do you usually walk with your eyes closed?"

Ma Xiaojiao's body froze instantly, and her heart suddenly began to panic.

Ma Xiaojiao quickly opened her eyes, and what came into view was Zhao Ya's face, which was somewhat playful and gentle.

Ma Xiaojiao discovered that there was no lust in Zhao Ya's eyes as in her dreams, but instead a hint of imperceptible care and tolerance.

Being held in the arms of this man who made her uneasy day and night but was always obsessed with her, Ma Xiaojiao reacted for a moment and tried to break free from Zhao Ya's arms.

But Ma Xiaojiao found that Zhao Ya's arms were strong and warm, giving her an unprecedented sense of security, as if there was an inexplicable power that made her unable to move.

Just when Ma Xiaojiao didn't know what to do, Zhao Ya helped her up very gentlemanly, then took her hand and led her to the people in the room.

Ma Xiaojiao felt very uncomfortable, but for some reason she didn't mind Zhao Ya being so close to her.

This feeling is very twisted, but it is Ma Xiaojiao's truest feeling.

Zhao Ya said to an old man in the middle, "Master Su, she is the concubine Ma whom I told you about."

The old man saw that the woman Zhao Ya had boasted about, saying she was proficient in mechanical engineering, had a pair of naturally skillful hands, and could make many magical things, was actually a little girl who was only about sixteen or seventeen years old, and was wearing heavy makeup, looking like an ordinary woman. He immediately looked down on her.

However, Zhao Ya was a prince after all, and he respected him very much, so he couldn't be too disrespectful to Zhao Ya.

So the old man smiled and said to Ma Xiaojiao, "Prince Shen praised Madam Ma to the skies. I hope you will be willing to give me some advice."

Ma Xiaojiao is completely confused now and has no idea what is going on.

Moreover, perhaps because she hadn't been able to sleep with him for the past few days, Ma Xiaojiao's first thought was, "Sister Chun said that the powerful people in this era like to give their concubines to others. Could it be that Zhao Ya wants to give me to this old man?"

Ma Xiaojiao didn't dare to think further, because if things really developed like this, then she might be the most miserable time traveler.

At this time, Zhao Ya introduced the old man to Ma Xiaojiao: "This Su Shaoshi is the Prince's Shaoshi, the Prime Minister during the Shaosheng period..."

If Zhang Chun were here and listened to Zhao Ya's introduction, he would definitely have guessed that this old man was Su Song, an official in the middle period of the Northern Song Dynasty, an outstanding astronomer, astronomical machinery manufacturer, and pharmacist.

But Ma Xiaojiao is not Zhang Chun. He doesn’t even know what period the Shaosheng period is. How could he know who the prime minister of this period was?
Fortunately, Zhao Ya didn't stop there, but continued to introduce Ma Xiaojiao: "Master Su is a man of great learning and talent. He is well-versed in classics and history, the theories of the Hundred Schools of Thought, as well as arithmetic, geography, mountain classics, herbal medicine, exegesis, and musical scales. The 'Water-Powered Astronomical Observatory' he led in its construction is the most advanced machine of its time."

Now Ma Xiaojiao knew the old man before her was Su Song, one of the greatest naturalists and scientists of ancient and medieval China. Her eyes lit up, as if she had seen her idol. She eagerly asked, "How did you come up with the anchor-shaped escapement for the water-powered astronomical observatory?"

Experts will know if there is one as soon as they take action.

Ma Xiaojiao immediately revealed the core components of the water-powered astronomical observatory, which made Su Song and others, who had originally not taken Ma Xiaojiao seriously, start to pay attention to her.

Han Gonglian, who was beside Su Song, asked, "Mrs. Ma, have you ever seen the Water-Transporting Astronomical Observatory?"

Su Song, tasked with inspecting the various armillary spheres used by the Imperial Observatory, realized that an instrument capable of displaying celestial phenomena would be necessary to complement the armillary spheres. He recruited talent for this research and recommended Han Gonglian, a mathematician and astronomical expert, to Zhao Xu for joint development. Under Su Song's guidance, Han Gonglian wrote "Nine Chapters on the Hypotenuse and the Other Side of the Armillary Sphere" and produced large and small wooden prototypes. Su Song and Han Gonglian then hired a team of skilled craftsmen to meticulously construct the Water-Powered Astronomical Observatory.

Ma Xiaojiao thought to herself, "I've never seen a water-powered astronomical observatory, but I've seen a restored model and a diagram of its structure. I've even considered restoring it, but it's too difficult and would take up too much space, so I had to give up."

But Ma Xiaojiao couldn't say these things. She could only say shamelessly: "Although I have never seen it, I have deduced it on my own."

Then, without waiting for Su Song, Han Gonglian and others to ask further questions, Ma Xiaojiao threw out her understanding of the water-powered astronomical observatory one by one.

Seeing that Ma Xiaojiao could deduce the water-powered astronomical observatory solely by her own reasoning, Su Song, Han Gonglian and others were extremely shocked.

To be honest, Su Song, Han Gonglian and others did suspect that Ma Xiaojiao had seen the Water-powered Observatory.

But the problem is that Ma Xiaojiao not only knows the water-powered astronomical observatory like the back of her hand, but she has also optimized it. And she has not only optimized it a little bit, but optimized it comprehensively. She even improved the designs that Su Song, Han Gonglian and others thought were extremely ingenious.

This time, no one doubted what Zhao Ya said, that Ma Xiaojiao was an extraordinary woman who was proficient in mechanical engineering.

Zhao Ya, who was illiterate in science and engineering, could not understand the following conversation between Ma Xiaojiao, Su Song, Han Gonglian and others.

Zhao Ya didn't force herself to listen, but sat alone in the corner, watching Ma Xiaojiao exuding her unique charm.

During this time, Zhao Ya was not idle. While continuing to make money selling soap, he also recruited talents. He even had his own garden demolished to build this large factory. He also collected all the advanced tools, instruments, and machinery of the time for Ma Xiaojiao, preparing a stage for her to show her talents.

——Of course, in order to avoid unnecessary trouble, Zhao Ya did not recruit warriors. He mainly recruited practical scholars and craftsmen.

Among the talents recruited by Zhao Ya were Han Gonglian and other scientists and skilled craftsmen who had participated in the research and development and manufacturing of the water-powered astronomical observatory.

It was precisely because Han Gonglian and others who had worked with Su Song for many years were all recruited by Zhao Ya, and Su Song, who had retired and no longer cared about state affairs, accepted Zhao Ya's invitation to visit his private factory.

To be honest, Zhao Ya had no idea what these top scientists and skilled craftsmen of this era could create under the leadership of Ma Xiaojiao.

But Zhao Ya's heart was full of expectations and longings. He hoped that the combination of Ma Xiaojiao and these ancient science and technology masters would open up an unprecedented era, a new era in which science and technology and culture would be intertwined and integrated.

As the conversation deepened, Ma Xiaojiao not only demonstrated her deep understanding and unique insights into the water-powered astronomical observatory, but also brought out many modern scientific concepts, which enlightened Su Song, Han Gonglian and others.

Occasionally, Su Song, Han Gonglian and others would discuss their understanding of science and technology with Ma Xiaojiao.

Watching all this happening before his eyes, Zhao Ya seemed to see a dialogue across time and space. The ancient and the advanced, the traditional and the innovative, collided at this moment to create dazzling sparks.

Zhao Ya thought: "Perhaps I can advance the Industrial Revolution by seven or eight hundred years..."

……

(End of this chapter)