The Ling Shu Institute* did not exist to diagnose sickness or to brew medicine. They did not fix up the human body, they only fixed up machines. They ranked equal to the Imperial Guard, directly under the command of only the Emperor himself, was the largest debt collector of the Ministry of Revenue, and also the parents who fed and clothed the military forces.

*the word used for Institute was 院(yuàn) which could also be used for hospital, that's why there's the joke of them not existing to cure humans

'Kite', 'Armor', 'Cavalry', 'Light Suit', 'Eagle', 'Chariot', 'Cannon' and 'Dragon': the seven primary military arms, from the equipment design blueprints, to improvements and upgrading, and even the secret mystery of the Black Iron Camp, they all came from Ling Shu Institute.

The Ling Shu Institute often used 'Imperial Mechanics' as self-deprecation and a display of modesty. They almost never spoke up in the Imperial Court, and appeared like they were not very high-ranking. They spent all of their time hiding away inside Ling Shu Institute, burying their heads in handling iron stuff.

But no one dared to compare them with the craftsmen from the common folks who made a living by machine oil.

The reason why Gu Yun was able to restart the Black Iron Camp was not only a matter of a measly letter of emergency from the emperor. To a large degree, this was thanks to his old friend Shen Yi who had assisted in creating a relationship with the Ling Shu Institute. In the key moment, they had stood behind this young general, and provided him with the most advantageous support, making the military power that had been degraded for ten years, once again overwhelm the talkative scholarly magistrates.

After the Black Iron Camp died and came back to life, Shen Yi was invited by Gu Yun to leave the Ling Shu Institute and to become Gu Yun' exclusive assistant. These messy matters, with Chang Geng's knowledge and experience at this time, of course, he would not know.

Shen Yi also did not intend to explain them either, he just looked up and asked Ge Pang Xiao: "I have a few words to discuss with His Highness, you..."

Ge Pang Xiao smartly replied: "Yes, yes, you both continue, I always get drowsy when I am full. I should go back to sleep now."

He gathered up two big steam buns and a pig's foot, then jumped off the chair and ran out.

In the room, only the two of them remained. Shen Yi slowly spoke: "At that time when the war situation at Western Regions became stabilized, Grand Marshal received a secret decree from the Emperor: he ordered him to travel to the Northern Frontier to search for Your Highness, the Fourth Prince, who had disappeared together with the consort sisters that year."

Chang Geng's movements stopped for a second, he raised his gaze and looked at Shen Yi without saying a word.