Prince: ...It’s outrageous!

"There is no precedent for female officials in our dynasty."

Not only did this not happen in the Great Qi Dynasty, but it also did not happen in the past!

My cousin has been different from others since he was a child, but how could he come up with such an outrageous thing?

Does he know that this is tantamount to challenging the existing official system? It is tantamount to going against all officials, and those old-fashioned people will scold him to death.

The emperor shook his head slightly. "Send someone to check first. You can use this blueprint to do experiments. Some places are already experiencing drought. Make a waterwheel as soon as possible."

He said he would check it first, but he was inclined to believe it.

For this kind of technical stuff, it’s easy to tell whether it’s real or fake. What’s real cannot be fake, and what’s fake cannot be real.

The prince responded and hesitated for a while, "But, some rivers have dried up, where can we get water?"

The Wei River is different. It is a main river that has never dried up in hundreds of years. At most, the water level has dropped to the bottom of the river.

That is, it only passed through Xiliang without being introduced.

The emperor got a lot of information from the letter, and was inspired. "The idea of diverting water into the canal and matching it with a waterwheel can be used as a reference. It was not feasible in the past, but now that we have cement, it is very feasible."

Speaking of cement, I can't help but think of Mu Wanqing.

Cement is really a magical thing. It can be used everywhere. Not only in building city walls, houses, roads, and embankments, it is also very useful.

Sturdy, practical and cheap.

He thought thoughtfully, "If cement was obtained by chance, it was because she was lucky. Now the water truck has appeared, it is not just luck."

He had never met Mu Wanqing, but the talent she displayed was eye-opening.

What I said before about being good at business and having great cooking skills are all gossip and not worth mentioning.

Now is the great way, and it has truly caught his eye.

The prince was silent for a moment, then sighed softly, "She is very talented in studying things. If she were a man, I could recommend her to the Ministry of Works as a deputy minister, so that she could make the best use of her talent."

The emperor shook his head slightly. This would not work. The appointment and dismissal of extraordinary officials was not something he could decide alone. The cabinet was not a mere decoration.

"Write a letter to explain a few things to that kid and teach him some more. He is not young anymore. You need to make him understand that there are some things he cannot do and some words he cannot say."

"Okay." The prince knew that his father was doing this for Du Shaoxuan's own good, "However, meritorious service must be rewarded so that people will be convinced."

The emperor rolled his eyes at him in anger. Who would be convinced? In the final analysis, he was still speaking for Du Shaoxuan.

"If it succeeds, then... give her a farm and let her strive to achieve more results." He was quite looking forward to it.

Prince: ...

If Mu Wanqing were here, she would definitely say that the Dog Emperor is not an ordinary dog.

The father and son had already discussed it, but who would have thought that more than ten days later, Du Shaoxuan would present a memorial to the emperor, which caused a huge uproar.

Everyone from top to bottom was scolding Du Shaoxuan for being silly and foolish, not knowing the seriousness of the matter and only knowing how to make girls happy.

Some even accused him of being lustful and a simple-minded warrior.

The emperor was extremely furious at first. Not only did this bastard write a letter, he even went so far as to submit a memorial through official channels. Before it even reached the emperor, the news had become known to the world, and there was no way he could cover up for it.

However, the rumors grew stronger and stronger, and the content became more and more outrageous, attracting the emperor's attention. He ordered someone to investigate and found that several princes had been implicated, and even the Prince of Jin was secretly adding fuel to the fire.

Well, these are all troublesome things.

He simply let the civil and military officials discuss the matter in court. They all spoke in unison, which was a rare achievement. None of them agreed to set this precedent.

Once things start, some things are out of control. It is absolutely not possible for a woman to be an official.

Her father and brother can be rewarded for their merits, even if it is just to make them small officials.

Some people were against it, thinking that he was an exiled criminal before, and even if he was pardoned now, his record would not be clean. If he was not fit to be an official, he should just be given some money to get rid of him.

After much discussion, there was no conclusion, but Mu Wanqing's name became known, spreading through the streets and alleys.

Jin Palace, Jinge

Mu Jinyao had just woken up from a nap and was sitting lazily by the window looking at herself in the mirror. Her skin was as white as jade, her cheeks were almond-shaped and her eyes were phoenix-shaped. She was extremely charming, and she was dressed in silk and satin. What a beautiful woman with a stunning appearance.

Madam Mu picked up the comb and combed her daughter's hair. She was filled with joy as she looked at her beautiful daughter.

She knew that her daughter would not let her down.

You are born to be rich and to enjoy happiness.

Just look, in just a few months, Mu Jinyao became the most beloved woman of Prince Jin, and won his favor so much that even his wife had to give her some respect.

As her family members, everyone in the family was well off. Madam Mu, as her personal mistress, also enjoyed the good life, eating delicious food and drinking spicy drinks, and lived a very comfortable life.

The only unsatisfactory thing is that Mu Jinyao is not pregnant yet.

"Yao'er, I asked your brother to find a secret recipe for having a baby. I will prepare it myself later. You can drink a bowl of it. It is said that drinking it for a month will make you pregnant."

Mu Jinyao frowned slightly, "Mom, I'm still young, why are you in such a hurry?"

How can we not be anxious? We finally have a good life again, and no one wants to lose it.

Madam Mu advised earnestly, "Serving a man with your beauty will not last long. Only having a son can guarantee your future life. With a son, you can truly gain a foothold in the Prince Jin's Mansion. Listen to my advice. I will not harm you."

Mu Jinyao felt a little uncomfortable. She understood this, but... "I am too popular. If I have another child, I may not be able to keep it. Now is the time to cultivate feelings with the prince. Mother, I have a plan in mind."

Looking at her daughter with a determined expression, Madam Mu opened her mouth, but swallowed the words that were about to come out of her mouth.

The child has grown up and has her own ideas, but she is also smart. She has come to where she is today step by step, all thanks to her scheming and means.

"Aunt Mu, the Crown Prince's wife wants to see you." Someone outside reported.

Mu Jinyao was stunned for a moment, then quickly stood up, changed into a simple set of old clothes, and took off most of the pearls on her head, "Let's go."

When she entered the main courtyard, she found it was full of people. All the prince's women were there. What were they going to do?

She concealed her doubts and bowed respectfully to the Crown Prince's Consort, not daring to be negligent in the slightest.

She is a smart person and has done a good job on the surface, so no one can find fault with her.

The Crown Prince's Consort has a decent appearance. She is the only daughter of a great scholar and has a scholarly air.

She didn't call out, as if she had forgotten. "I called you here to ask you something."

Mu Jinyao knelt down and replied without a single complaint, "Please speak, Princess. I will tell you everything I know."

Her attitude was extremely respectful, and even if the Crown Prince's wife disliked her, she could not openly embarrass her.

"Mu family, who is Mu Wanqing to you?"

Mu Jinyao never expected this. Hearing Mu Wanqing's name for the first time seemed like a lifetime ago. "Ah? She...she is my cousin, the daughter of my second uncle."

Only then did she realize that everyone was looking at her strangely, as if with envy and jealousy.

The Crown Princess raised an eyebrow, "What kind of person is she?"

Mu Jinyao has complicated feelings towards his cousin. Logically, she should have died long ago, but she survived and changed her own destiny step by step.

She led the family out of the predicament by her own efforts, and her ability is admirable.

In the previous life, the Mu family fell into a quagmire and could not climb out, with countless casualties. But in this life, they are all alive and well, and this is all thanks to Mu Wanqing.

"A smart, independent, talented, proud and generous girl."

The Crown Princess was a little surprised. To be praised so highly by a person of the same sex, she must be outstanding. "What is her relationship with Du Yuze?"

"Who?" Mu Jinyao suspected that there was something wrong with his ears.

The Crown Prince's Consort thought she didn't know him, so she repeated, "The young commander of the Xiliang Du family army, Du Yuze."

A huge wave rose in Mu Jinyao's heart. She knew this name. In her previous life, when the northern cavalry invaded, Du Yuze led 100,000 Du family soldiers to defend Xiliang. Later, the court failed to provide them with food and ammunition, and they ran out of food and died in the city. Their end was extremely tragic.

What was even more tragic was that after his death he was slandered as a traitor to foreign countries. Not only was his corpse whipped, but the ancestral graves of the loyal and brave Du family were also dug up. The military and civilians of Xiliang were so grief-stricken and indignant that they openly confronted the court and declared an uprising.

This is the beginning of the chaos...

"I don't know him. My cousin... probably doesn't know him. However, I'm not sure about her current situation."

Seeing that she didn't seem to be pretending, the Crown Prince's Consort thought to herself, "Du Yuze wrote a special memorial to commend Mu Wanqing and wanted her to serve as an official in the court. It is said that she invented the Mu family waterwheel. What is that?"

Mu Jinyao's mind was in a mess. Waterwheel? What was that? Serving as an official in the court? "Are you sure you're right? My cousin is a girl."

A voice sounded, "That's right, Mu Yuze is really out of his mind. He even dares to say such things. It seems that he has really been spoiled by the emperor."

It was the Prince of Jin. He strode in. The women in the backyard were surprised and delighted, and they all rushed to greet him.

The beautiful girls, with their sweet voices and soft words, are a scene of prosperity and splendor.

Mu Jinyao was much more reserved. She just greeted him and let the Crown Prince's Consort perform.

When the Crown Prince's wife saw how good she was at reading the Crown Prince's expressions, she began to like her a little more. She was the most sensible one, unlike those concubines who all clung to the Crown Prince.

The Prince of Jin thought they were too noisy, so he waved away his concubines, sat down in the main seat, took the fragrant tea offered by the Princess, and his eyes fell on the beautiful figure.

"Yao'er, write a letter to Mu Wanqing and invite her to live in the capital. This is the root of the Mu family. The ancestral tomb is here. As the head of the family, she should come back to worship her ancestors."

He was very satisfied with the intelligence of his favorite concubine. Not only could she add beauty to his life, but she could also help him solve problems. Therefore, he doted on her even more.

But, she suddenly realized that she was still far behind Mu Wanqing.

We still have to find a way to bring Mu Wanqing over.

Mu Jinyao's heart skipped a beat. "She... won't listen to me."

The Prince of Jin was a little unhappy. He was usually so smart, why did he become stupid now? "Then she is disrespectful to her ancestors, isn't she afraid of being criticized by everyone?"

Mu Jinyao couldn't tell what she felt. All the bitterness and sweetness surged into her heart. She suppressed her bitterness and asked boldly, "Do you think she will be afraid?"

Mu Wanqing is a person who does not fear gods or Buddhas and disregards hierarchy.

She could exchange Old Madam Mu and Mu Zhongde's family for money, and she could also confront the honorable Prince Jin.

What ancestors does she have in her eyes?

The Prince of Jin was silent. That girl was indeed a person with no taboos, but everyone has weaknesses.

He could hardly suppress the thought, "Yao'er, cement and water truck are heirlooms of your Mu family."

Mu Jinyao shook his head, "I haven't heard of it."

If there is any treasure, it must be in the hands of her grandmother. It will never be Mu Wanqing's turn. Mu Wanqing was pardoned last time because of cement. What about this time?

An inexplicable melancholy rose in her heart. Her cousin was so capable that she looked so weak.

But, there is a hint of pride, because she is also a daughter of the Mu family.

The Prince of Jin hinted, "It's your family's stuff. Logically, things passed down from ancestors should be passed down to the eldest son of the family. You are the legitimate heir."

A trace of surprise flashed across Mu Jinyao's eyes. Was he trying to take away Mu Wanqing's credit? He... this man was indeed a great hero. In his eyes, besides profit, he only had desire.

"Yes, you are right, but you forgot... I am a dead man."

She had no way of appearing in front of everyone openly, because she was a fugitive who could not face the light of day, and a fugitive who had escaped secretly.

The Prince of Jin's face turned green. How could he have forgotten this? The Mu family was pardoned, but the Mu family's eldest branch was not included. "

"The amnesty should be Mu Wanqing's idea. She doesn't care about family affection at all. But it doesn't matter. I will teach her how to be a human being."

Mu Jinyao's expression changed. "Prince, Wanqing is just an ignorant little girl. Why bother with her? She can do anything when she gets mad."

Prince Jin thought of the loss he had suffered and snorted coldly, "I didn't consider her as an opponent before. This time I will use a little more strength to let her know clearly that those who obey me will prosper, and those who go against me will perish!"