There are many rivers in Liaodong, so water transportation should be feasible.

Of course, this is just Zhu Youxiao's idea. He also wants his ministers to provide more information for research and send people to conduct field investigations before making a final decision.

After processing the memorials, the emperor stretched out without any ceremony. Beside him, Fan Xiaohui pursed her lips, trying to hold back a smile, fanning herself without changing her rhythm.

I have been in the Palace of Heavenly Purity for more than two months and have learned a lot about the emperor's temperament and character.

Just as Li Chengcheng said, the emperor was easy to get along with and kind. He never punished palace maids without punishment, nor did he get angry and drag them out to kill them.

"Your Majesty..." Wang Tigan walked in with a flattering smile, holding a small wooden cart in his hands. He bowed to the emperor and said, "The cart is ready. What's not satisfactory?"

Zhu Youxiao stood up with a smile, walked to the small wooden cart, looked it up and down, and reached out to push it.

After being carved and polished by skilled craftsmen, the originally simple wooden cart has become a work of art. The lifelike carvings are really not up to my standard!

"Ask the palace servants to lay a soft blanket on this car, and then make a sunshade on top of it. Measure the size and sew it with fine silk..." Zhu Youxiao felt satisfied and gave instructions on the final work.

"Your Majesty's design is ingenious and thoughtful," Wang Tigan flattered, "The two little princesses can sit or lie down without getting hurt, and they won't be exposed to the sun."

Zhu Youxiao chuckled twice and instructed, "Have the craftsmen build two more according to the standard of a doll sitting or lying down."

"I understand." Wang Ti laughed so hard that his eyes were blinded. He said, "Your Majesty is blessed with great fortune and many descendants. Two cars are not enough. Let them build a few more as a backup."

"I hope so too," Zhu Youxiao nodded, not rejecting the eunuch's flattery. Thinking of the pregnant queen, the emperor ordered, "Have dinner and sleep in Kunning Palace tonight. Send someone to tell the queen."

"I'll send someone right away." Wang Ti Gan agreed and walked out.

Zhu Youxiao walked slowly to the rocking chair, which he also made. He half-lay on it. As it rocked like a cradle, his mind calmed and his body relaxed.

Fan Xiaohui followed diligently, fanning herself neither too fast nor too slow, creating a gentle breeze that made the emperor feel very comfortable and relaxed.

The weather is getting hotter, so it's time to put ice cubes in the hall to cool down. Saltpeter ice making was already common in the Ming Dynasty. It can be frozen into popsicles or made into ice cream...

The emperor was lost in thought, and his head gradually turned into a mess.

Li Chengcheng walked in quietly and saw that the emperor seemed to have fallen asleep in the rocking chair, so he took a thin piece of clothing to cover the emperor, took the fan from Fan Xiaohui's hand, motioned her to rest for a while, and then continued to fan the emperor.

Zhu Youxiao fell asleep and had a messy dream. When he slowly woke up, he could no longer remember the content of the dream.

As the vision gradually cleared, Li Chengcheng was wearing a light and elegant dress, fanning herself beside him. She had a slender figure and a faint girlish fragrance...

He reached out and put his arm around the maid's waist. With a little force, Zhu Youxiao pulled the soft body to his side amid the maid's low screams.

The rocking chair rocked violently, making a creaking sound under the sudden increase in weight.

"Your Majesty..." Li Chengcheng's face flushed and he called out in a low voice, but his little mouth was blocked and his dirty hands moved over skillfully.

……………………

The weather was getting hotter and hotter, and even though the newspapers had reported the arrival of the so-called "Little Ice Age", people didn't feel anything about it.

It was very hot in midsummer for the Salt Inspector, but he wore his official uniform meticulously. Led by the palace maids, he entered the palace and came to the outside of the Qianqing Palace.

Although Zhu Youxiao promoted this businessman from the Jiangnan Chamber of Commerce as an exception, he did not summon him, but only ordered him to inspect the salt administration.

Now, Xia Zhongshi has returned from his inspection and has a deeper understanding of the "Salt Ticket System" he proposed, and has made more improvements.

"Master Xia, please wait here." The palace servant pointed to a shady area for Xia Zhongshi.

Xia Zhongshi hurriedly bowed to express his gratitude. He was a little surprised that the eunuch was not domineering but rather polite, which was very different from what he had imagined.

He certainly didn't know that the overbearing eunuchs had been driven away, and Zhu Youxiao was extremely strict with the palace maids. Of course, he was also very kind to the palace maids who obeyed the rules and were loyal.

"Don't put on rouge anymore." Inside the hall, Zhu Youxiao raised his face while Li Chengcheng wiped the rouge off his face.

Li Chengcheng blushed and whispered, "Your Majesty, please don't make a fuss during the day, okay?"

Zhu Youxiao raised his eyebrows and teased, "Don't make trouble during the day, it's better to do it at night."

Li Chengcheng pouted shyly, took a step back, and looked carefully to make sure that the emperor's face was wiped clean.

Zhu Youxiao chuckled, sat up straight in his chair, and restored his dignified demeanor. He coughed dryly and ordered the palace servants, "Call in at noon!"

For several months, while Xia Zhongshi was on an inspection tour outside, Zhu Youxiao was not idle either. He asked someone to study the pros and cons of the "Salt Ticket System" and the current "Salt Import System".

In fact, the "Yan Piao Fa" was not an innovation of Xia Zhongshi. It was implemented during the Jiajing period of the Ming Dynasty as a supplement to the "Yan Dian Fa" and was subordinate to the "Yan Dian Fa". It was first implemented in parts of Zhejiang Province and later in Shandong Province.

The purpose of implementing the "Salt Ticket Law" was to enable the salt marketing system to operate smoothly and to promote the participation of middle and lower-level vendors, cooks, soldiers and civilians in salt marketing activities.

In other words, the imperial court was also somewhat worried that large salt merchants would monopolize and manipulate salt prices, causing social instability.

Although there was a precedent, Zhu Youxiao believed that this "ticket salt system" was not the same as the other "ticket salt system". The two were very different, and this could not erase Xia Zhongshi's contribution.

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