The Ming Dynasty: The opening scene features Zhu Di angrily accusing him of illegitimate succession.

Lin Yue quickly stepped forward and bent down to examine the fish tank closely.

Sunlight shines through the tank walls, and although the shadows of the red goldfish in the water are discernible, they are shrouded in a faint haze, unlike the crystal-clear images found on later glass.

He lightly tapped the side of the jar with his fingertips, producing a crisp sound, which slightly diminished his ecstatic joy.

This fish tank can barely be considered to be made of glass, but it is not transparent enough and looks rather brittle; it would be more appropriate to call it crystal.

Ancient China has always possessed the technology to fire glass (liuli), as evidenced by the frequent excavations of high-temperature furnace sites. These high-temperature furnaces were essential technologies for both iron smelting and glassmaking.

However, as is well known, quartz sand requires more than 1,700 degrees Celsius to melt, which was too difficult for ancient blast furnaces.

The Western method involves adding high-quality natural alkali to lower the melting point, but the East lacks this, so craftsmen can only use lead as a flux, refining it together with saltpeter and glass.

Although such lead glass could be made into objects, its transparency was far less clear than that of later Western glass due to the presence of lead.

However, the prerequisite is that the West first finds a way to steal the blast furnace technology from the Ming Dynasty or the Middle East before it can even think about making glass.

"Sir, is this glass fish basin of your choice?" The stall owner saw that he was dressed in a scarlet official robe of a third-rank official, with the peacock insignia on his chest gleaming with gold thread, and immediately bowed respectfully.

"This is a family heirloom craft. It is exquisitely crafted and perfect for raising goldfish."

"Your family's traditional craft? Heh, don't you laugh at yourself for saying that?" Lin Yue chuckled twice and tapped on the side of the fish tank.

"This glassmaking technique, with its precise control of heat and polishing, is not something an ordinary vendor can master on their own; there must be a powerful master behind them."

The stall owner's face stiffened. He glanced at Lin Yue, who was dressed in a scarlet official robe of a third-rank official, and dared not hide anything. He quickly lowered his head and answered.

"My lord, please understand! My name is Afu, and I am a shop assistant at the Shen Family Chamber of Commerce. This glass is not a family heirloom; it was made in the Shen family workshop in Suzhou and is being sold here."

"The Shen Family Chamber of Commerce?" Lin Yue's eyes flickered. "Is it a descendant of Shen Xiu and Shen Wansan?"

Afu nodded, looked up at Lin Yue, and said respectfully, "That's right, this shop belongs to the Shen family."

Shen Xiu, also known as Shen Wansan, was an extremely wealthy man in Jiangnan during the late Yuan and early Ming dynasties. He was so rich that he could rival the wealth of a country. He once spent a huge sum of money to help Zhu Yuanzhang build the city wall of Nanjing. However, he was then suspected by Zhu Yuanzhang, who confiscated his property and exiled him to Yunnan.

However, saying this is actually just flattering Shen Wansan. Zhu Yuanzhang was merely cracking down on the increasingly arrogant landlords, merchant groups, and financial magnates in Jiangnan, and incidentally dealt with Shen Wansan as well.

Lin Yue thought for a moment. The Shen Wansan family was skilled in handicrafts and overseas trade. They were able to build a huge merchant fleet back then. Now that they run a glass workshop, they must have mature artisans, workshops and raw material channels.

Perhaps we could collaborate with them; such dynamic and talented individuals should be put to good use.

Lin Yue stared at Afu and said, "Afu, do you know why the Shen family went from prosperity to decline?"

Afu shook his head blankly.

He was just a lowly worker; he didn't know these things and didn't want to know.

But clearly, Lin Yue really wanted to say: "The Shen family declined because they had wealth and skills but no loyalty to the court, which led to their repeated suspicion from powerful figures and their eventual downfall."

"Your Shen family's business association meeting me today is an opportunity for your Shen family to prosper once again."

Afu was completely confused and had no idea what to do.

He was merely a stall worker hired by the Shen family's business association; the rise and fall of the business was simply a matter of changing jobs for him.

He scratched his head and quickly bowed, saying, "Sir, I can't make that decision myself. Should I go find the steward and report back?"

No sooner had the words left his mouth than footsteps echoed from the alley entrance.

Lin Yue looked up and saw a young man dressed in a moon-white brocade robe walking quickly towards her.

His face was fairly refined, with the air of a wealthy man, but lacking the aristocratic air of a scion of a prominent family.

"This humble subject, Shen Sen, greets Your Excellency," Shen Sen said, bowing.

Shen Sen was the grandson of Shen Wansan. He was handling business affairs at his residence when he heard that one of his employees had encountered a young official in a scarlet robe of a third-rank official at the market, so he hurriedly ran over.

In the Ming Dynasty, a third-rank official was either a veteran minister with decades of experience and graying hair, or a general with outstanding achievements. Such a young third-rank official was extremely rare in the court.

Considering that Emperor Yongle had only recently ascended the throne, and that his sons were young and promising, often being granted honorary titles such as Grand Master of the Palace, Shen Sen's expression suddenly changed, and his pupils contracted sharply.

This must be a very important person; if not a prince, then he must be the heir of a vassal king.

Overjoyed, he could barely contain his trembling as he stepped forward to greet them again, this time bowing deeply in respect.

"I was unaware of your arrival, sir; I have failed to greet you properly!"

Lin Yue was stunned for a moment, and he looked around, feeling somewhat confused.

This is still the Ming Dynasty, right? Why is Shen Sen bowing so readily? Does the Shen family have some kind of Japanese blood?

But that was irrelevant, and Lin Yue was too lazy to ramble on, so he got straight to the point.

"I have a mutually beneficial deal to discuss. Where is your glass workshop located? Would you be willing to cooperate?"

"Yes, yes, I can definitely cooperate." Shen Sen quickly replied, becoming even more certain that the other party was of noble status.

"The Shen family, a humble household, has more than a hundred craftsmen. Their kilns and techniques can be said to be among the best in the Ming Dynasty."

"Sir, this is not the place to talk. Why don't you come with me to the manor for a more detailed discussion?"

......

The aroma of tea filled the main hall. Lin Yue picked up his teacup, took a sip, and got straight to the point.

"Shen Sen, the reason I've come today is very simple: I just want to borrow your Shen family's glass workshop for a while."

Upon hearing this, Shen Sen's smile faded slightly. "Lin? So your surname is Lin? Then you're not related to the royal family."

Shen Sen's attitude immediately changed: "You jest, sir. The Shen family workshop is merely a means of making a living; how could we dare trouble the imperial court?"

"Master Shen, there's no need to worry," Lin Yue said.

"Cooperation is not a forced acquisition. The specific details will be agreed upon based on the price paid. After the deal is done, you will be granted the Shen family's franchise rights. In the future, no one will guarantee that no one will dare to make things difficult for you in the glass business."

Shen Sen still hesitated, his brows furrowed: "My lord, it's not that I'm ungrateful, it's just..."

Lin Yue interrupted him and said directly, "There's no need to worry. I have a technique that can transform your Shen family's glass from its current semi-transparent state to crystal clear, reflecting images clearly, and creating truly transparent glass."

This is a lie. It is true that Lin Yue has a science and engineering background, but who would study how to make glass in the Ming Dynasty?

But who cares if it works or not? Just make a big promise first. If it doesn't work out in the end, then it's considered a mistake that lowers his reputation and makes it easier for him to get beheaded later. In short, he won't lose out.

Shen Sen looked at Lin Yue with disbelief in his eyes.

He had been helping his father run the glass workshop since he was a child, and this transparent glass was something he had never heard of before.

"Is this, sir, as transparent as crystal?" Shen Sen asked.

Lin Yue nodded calmly.