Yinzhi's heart skipped a beat, and he bowed solemnly: "Your Majesty, I will certainly not fail your trust!"

Yongzheng then looked at Yunqi and Lan Dingyuan: "Tenth Brother, assist Eighth Brother, and call Ninth Brother later. As for Minister Lan, wait for his reward."

The three of them agreed in unison.

Yongzheng's gaze fell on the scroll of blueprints again, and his tone was deep: "Now that the Westerners have overtaken us, the Qing Dynasty has no choice but to catch up. We cannot lose this battle."

……………

Yinzhi walked out of the palace gate, looked at the starry sky, and let out a long sigh. The three-year voyage felt like a long dream.

Yun stretched and laughed, "Eighth Brother, we've really accomplished something great this time! You didn't see Fourth Brother's face, it was quite a sight!"

Lan Dingyuan shook his head and smiled bitterly: "Tenth Master, this matter is of great importance, so please do not take it lightly."

Yun Si patted Lan Dingyuan on the shoulder: "Lord Lan is absolutely right. Tomorrow morning, we will go to the Ministry of Works and get this matter settled as soon as possible."

The three exchanged a smile and walked towards the palace gates in tacit agreement.

After the three men took their leave, Yongzheng stood alone in the hall, his heart surging with emotion.

He recalled Lin Yun's mention of "the dangers of the West," which had now indeed come true.

After a moment, he muttered to himself, "The matter of establishing an empress can only be postponed for now; the affairs of the state should take precedence."

Emperor Yongzheng arrived at Yanxi Palace.

Lin Yun had already prepared dinner. Seeing his solemn expression, she asked softly, "Your Majesty, has something happened?"

Emperor Yongzheng sighed and then recounted the situation of each of the Western countries.

After listening, Lin Yun grasped his hand and said, "Your Majesty need not worry. Now that we know the gap, we should strive to catch up. I believe that with Your Majesty's wisdom, the Qing Dynasty will surely be able to catch up."

Yongzheng gazed at her, a hint of tenderness flashing in his eyes: "Yun'er, I originally intended to make you empress, but with state affairs at hand, the investiture ceremony will probably have to be postponed."

Lin Yun smiled slightly and shook her head, saying, "What I care about has never been titles or honors. Your Majesty prioritizes the country and its people, and I will only respect you more."

Yongzheng felt a warmth in his heart and pulled her into his arms. Yun'er was always so considerate, which made him feel even more guilty.