As a result... the bluestone slab shattered with a crack, and the cement once again won decisively.

"Heavens! Your Highness, pinch me! Am I really seeing things?" Zhou Li's eyes were wide open, completely dumbfounded.

But Fu Zhun's attention was entirely on Su An, and he seemed not to hear anything.

The little girl, bathed in the setting sun, seemed to be draped in a shimmering glow, her beautiful face radiant and captivating.

Unaware of the danger, Su An smiled leisurely at Lin Yong and said, "Well, Lord Lin, can you trust me now?"

Now that things have come to this, Lin Yong has confirmed the practicality and importance of cement. As Su An said, it is several times more durable and sturdy than bluestone slabs!

He swallowed hard and bowed respectfully to Su An, saying, "Miss Su, there are always people more capable than you, and there is always something beyond your understanding. I was narrow-minded before."

"I hope Miss Su will kindly instruct me on how to use this cement for road construction. I will immediately have people start the work once I return!"

Only then did the crowd belatedly burst into cheers.

"Su An! Su An!"

"Long live Boss Su!"

"No, no, that's too kind! This isn't just my achievement..." Su An belatedly smiled modestly.

Then he busied himself discussing road repairs with Lin Yong.

Lin Yong originally only thought about repairing the official road outside to facilitate access, but after discussing it with Su An, he made a decision to replace all the roads in the county with cement roads.

Road construction is a major undertaking, especially since it involves the entire county and requires many skilled craftsmen.

Upon hearing this, Lu Ming hurriedly summoned his disciples and led the refugees to join in the road repair.

On a small scale, the production of cement and the paving of roads are good deeds that benefit people's livelihoods.

On a larger scale, it can be said that it witnessed the birth of a miracle, and its subsequent promotion will be a revolution!

Those who were able to participate in this groundbreaking and significant transformation will undoubtedly be remembered for generations to come!

Upon hearing this news, Chu Yi couldn't help but stand up in shock, his eyes brimming with interest and admiration. "Well done, Su An is truly remarkable. I knew I hadn't misjudged her. She is indeed a unique and extraordinary person."

only--

"How dare someone address another as 'Long Live the Emperor' under the emperor's authority? Humph!"

Chu Yi was excited but also dissatisfied, sometimes sighing and sometimes cursing. He quickly picked up his pen and personally wrote a secret letter to send to Fuyou County.

Three days later.

Upon receiving the secret letter, Peony nearly suffered a heart attack and closed her eyes in sorrow.

Didn't they say that all the informants in Fuyu Prefecture had been eliminated?

But now she feels like she's being watched without any way to hide, and every move she makes can be heard by the emperor!

"Ha, you can spy on me all you want, I'll take care of it, okay?"

Whether it works out or not, she'll just go through the motions and get it done, whatever!

Peony found Su An in one breath, her face full of tears, and asked, "Miss Su, there's something I need to ask you."

"His Majesty wants to marry you as his concubine, and he's in a hurry."

Su An had been extremely busy lately, and upon hearing this, her mind went blank for a moment. "Is he sick?"

Upon hearing this, Peony's expression twisted slightly.

Su An snapped back to reality, quickly covered her mouth, and gave a dry laugh: "That's not what I meant, it just feels ridiculously absurd."

"So, Miss Su, are you unwilling to accept this immense wealth? This is a chance to rise to the top and become a phoenix!" Peony tried her best to persuade her.

Su An straightened his gaze slightly. "Miss Peony, I think I already answered you before. I just want to live an ordinary but wealthy life. I'm really not worthy of this... but you can consider it a kind gesture."

Upon hearing this, Peony, having laid everything bare, narrowed her eyes slightly and issued a symbolic threat:

"The emperor's thunder and rain are both acts of kindness, and sometimes you can't refuse them just because you want to. Don't forget that you have a family to support."

Meeting Mudan's complicated gaze, Su An forced a smile.

"That's true, but don't I still have Fu Zhun?"

"As long as he craves my cooking, I have the confidence to do so."

peony:"……"

That makes so much sense, I can't argue with it.

Since she had already tried to persuade him and was rejected without any concern for him, she decided to just go home.

"That's all I have to say, Miss Su. I don't want to be your enemy, and I hope you can keep this a secret," she sighed.

Su An blinked innocently, then had to remind him, "In fact, Fu Zhun already knew that you had dealings with the emperor."

"What?"

Peony was stunned, then a bitter smile appeared on her lips.

Yes, she should have realized it sooner; that man wasn't so easily fooled.

"Whether I know it or not, it doesn't matter. I'm powerless to control everything right now, so I'll just have to let things take their course for now."

Peony lowered her eyes sadly, her whole being enveloped in an aura of sorrow.

To be honest, Su An also tended to believe her explanation that she had no choice.

Peony ran the shop with genuine anticipation and joy, and loved the beauty salon with all her heart.

After all, it's a relevant field of study, and she seems to be more interested in makeup than being a bodyguard.

Su An felt sympathy and muttered a secret piece of advice: "Peony, you are beautiful and capable. It's a waste of your life to work for that brain-dead emperor. You might as well work with us and grow bigger and stronger together."

Upon hearing this, Peony's lips twitched.

Perhaps only Su An would dare to say such a thing about the current emperor.

"My life is in the emperor's hands."

Peony shook her head, said no more, and left wearily.

Her life was indeed in the emperor's hands.

Therefore, after returning, she dutifully relayed Su An's reply back to her.

...

"Damn it! How dare a mere peasant girl refuse me!"

Chu Yi tore the secret letter he received to shreds, his chest heaving with rage, his face extremely gloomy.

"You arrogant and ignorant wretch! Fuhai, order your men to kill her immediately! If I can't have her, no one else can!"

Fu Hai, standing to the side, said helplessly and cryptically, "Your Majesty, the Prince of Zhenbei has been concerned about that peasant girl and has sent people to protect her secretly. He will certainly not let her be in danger."

Chu Yi's lips curled into a sneer as he ground his teeth menacingly.

"Don't worry, with the refugees blending into the city, Fuyou County is no longer a monolithic entity!"

Upon learning of this, Lao Yu, the chief craftsman in the prefectural city, immediately led his men to Fuyou County.

After making inquiries, they easily found Su An's home.

Su An opened the door and saw an old man, about fifty or sixty years old, with a face full of wrinkles and a few lines around his eyes. He was expressionless but exuded a strange kind of shrewdness.

"So you're Su An, the person in charge of building the cement road?" Old Yu asked bluntly.

He had investigated everything during his stay.

The girl invented cement and a host of new tools, so Lin Yong entrusted her with overseeing the repair of the cement road.

Su An sensed a hint of hostility coming from the door, and closed it a little tighter, saying, "I'm just doing this part-time. What do you want?"

Old Yu chuckled twice, his tone filled with pride: "I am the chief craftsman from the prefectural city. I am very interested in your methods with cement and tools, so I brought my students and men to help you build the cement road."

Upon hearing this, Su An was stunned for a moment, then rolled her eyes.

The old man's words were fairly straightforward, but they didn't quite have the right feel to them.

It was as if his willingness to come over was a great act of charity on his part!