"…It is a bit messy, I admit."
As Yun Shu stepped toward the courtyard gate and halted, Yun Chuhe who had been holed up inside for days without realizing just how cluttered the place had become, finally regained a semblance of awareness.
Somewhat embarrassed, he stretched out a hand and pushed aside a wooden frame that had nearly poked her in the face.
"Besides the complete plow and the ones I dismantled, there are quite a few modified versions I tried to make. None worked very well, so I simply tossed them all into a pile."
"You certainly attempted quite a lot."
Following Yun Chuhe's gaze, Yun Shu saw a chaotic heap of oddly shaped contraptions. She examined them one by one, and after much deliberation, finally picked out something that resembled a crooked version of a traditional curved-beam plow.
"…Why did you even make a ball?"
"Did you not say earlier that the biggest issue with the current plow is its size and weight? Even an ox struggles to pull it for half a day."
Yun Chuhe launched into an explanation of his so-called ingenious idea.
"So I thought, if it were round, wouldn't that make it much easier to push? But once I actually made it, I realized that while the round shape does save effort, the problem is that it cannot till the soil at all!"
"A round one doesn't work…"
Yun Shu rubbed her chin, and with an air of casual curiosity, mused aloud.
"What about a half-circle?"
"Half-circle?"
Yun Chuhe looked baffled.
He had made it round so that it could roll smoothly and reduce resistance. But a half-circle? How would that even roll?
Her suggestion was simply too…
"…Maybe it could work!"
Just as Yun Chuhe was about to refute her, Xiao Yuanzi who had unknowingly crouched beside the only intact plow in the courtyard, suddenly had a flash of inspiration. Pointing at the straight beam of the plow, he exclaimed:
"Your Highnesses, if this straight beam were curved instead, like a traditional curved beam, it could reduce the plow's size and weight!"
"Would that work?"
Yun Shu looked utterly confused, not understanding the technical details at all.
"So by curving the beam, it becomes easier to turn? Since it's like a half-circle?"
"What does that have to do with turning?"
Yun Chuhe could no longer bear it.
"Fifth Sister, do you even know what it feels like to operate a plow? The beam—"
"Do be quiet for a moment."
Raising a hand to silence him, Yun Shu turned her bright gaze toward Xiao Yuanzi, who had seemed hesitant to speak.
"What is it you were about to say?"
"This servant was thinking…"
After casting a cautious glance at Yun Chuhe who, to his surprise, did not appear displeased at being interrupted, Xiao Yuanzi continued more confidently.
"If a rotating joint could be added at the end of the beam, it might allow the plow to turn more easily."
"There, I knew it would work!"
Completely disregarding the part about needing additional parts, Yun Shu clapped her hands in satisfaction.
"Half-circles are the most ingenious!"
Yun Chuhe: "..."
He found that his Fifth Sister's ability to blindly stumble upon the right answer was truly remarkable.
Hmm… that young servant, Xiao Yuanzi, seemed promising as well.
Considering that he might need to remain in his Fifth Sister's good graces in the future, Yun Chuhe swallowed the sarcastic remarks he had nearly let slip.
He merely gave Xiao Yuanzi a nod and said, "Try building it. We shall see how it works."
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Having spoken his idea aloud and received immediate approval from both masters, Xiao Yuanzi's confidence soared. With renewed vigor, he enthusiastically set about his task.
Meanwhile, Yun Shu had someone clear out a small area in the courtyard, just enough to place a chair and sit for a brief rest. She continued chatting idly with Yun Chuhe.
"If Xiao Yuanzi's plow turns out well, do you think it could be pulled by human strength alone?"
"How would I know that right now?"
Yun Chuhe crossed one leg over the other and tore into a bun.
"If you're curious, you can try it yourself once he finishes building it."
"Forget it. With my delicate frame, I'd only make a fool of myself."
Resting her chin on one hand, Yun Shu let her thoughts drift.
"I just remembered reading in a book once. It said that the military uses a contraption called a windlass. A soldier standing in a war chariot can use the windlass to lift the platform beneath them. If that kind of mechanism were used in the fields, would it not make pulling the plow easier?"
"There is such a thing?"
Yun Chuhe sat up at once, abandoning his half-eaten bun.
"Then why didn't you say so earlier? Just use a windlass! Why bother modifying the plow?"
Had he been wasting his effort all these days for nothing?
"The windlass is not convenient to use,"
Yun Shu replied lazily, keeping her voice just loud enough for Xiao Yuanzi to overhear.
"That contraption must be fixed in place before it can function. At most, it can only pull something in that fixed location. But a field is vast. Surely one cannot till only the edge."
"…So it cannot be used after all?"
"It cannot."
"Then why bring it up?"
Instantly losing all interest in the windlass, Yun Chuhe slumped back into his chair.
"A complete waste of time."
"What harm is there in talking?"
Seeing how heartily Yun Chuhe ate, Yun Shu reached for a meat bun herself and took a bite.
"If the plow can be improved, then why not the windlass? What if it could be made mobile, like a cart that can be pushed around?"
"That already sounds difficult."
Yun Chuhe curled his lip. The past few days had taught him, quite clearly, that this sort of work was not his calling.
Swallowing the last bite of bun, he chuckled bitterly.
"You'd best leave it to Xiao Yuanzi. If you're hoping for results from your Third Brother, I fear you'll be sorely disappointed."
"I had no such expectations."
Noticing that Xiao Yuanzi had glanced their way clearly having overheard their conversation, Yun Shu rose from her seat, still holding her bun.
"Whether it is the plow or the windlass, improving either will likely take time."
"I have already reported the matter to Father Emperor. Xiao Yuanzi will remain at your estate for the next few days. Once the device is completed, simply have it delivered to the palace."
"You're leaving already?"
Yun Chuhe uncrossed his legs and stood up in haste.
"It's still early. Are you heading to the Tian Waitian Restaurant? Allow me to escort you!"
"I am not."
So that was his real intent.
Yun Shu rolled her eyes at him and waved a hand without looking back.
"I must return to the palace. Other matters await."
Back to the palace…
Then never mind.
Yun Chuhe promptly sank back into his chair without the slightest attempt at concealment.
"Very well. Safe journey, Fifth Sister. Come visit anytime! A meal, perhaps? Third Brother's treat. Tian Waitian Restaurant, fourth floor!"
===
A windlass is a mechanical device used to lift or move heavy objects, most commonly by winding a rope, cable, or chain around a horizontal rotating drum or axle. It's been used for centuries in various contexts from wells and ships to ancient siege engines and construction.
You can search by yourself if curious about this.