If you're going to do it, you should do it well.

Pei Zhi is the kind of person who, once she makes up her mind, nothing can change it.

Pei Zhi has ideas and power.

In other words, I don't have much money, so all my ideas can only be realized little by little.

Two years ago, Pei Zhi advocated for the establishment of colleges in multiple locations.

At first, people did not understand why this empress ascended to the throne in a way that was different from the emperors of other places.

But the results became apparent two years later.

Women were no longer confined to the inner quarters, and women were not inherently less intelligent than men.

Unmarried women who learn skills can help improve their families' living conditions.

Having another person in the family who can earn money is better than having another person at home farming.

As for farming, His Majesty has instructed the Ministry of Works to develop a number of agricultural tools.

Compared to the tools that people used to use for farming, it instantly made things twice as efficient.

With these farming tools, the work that used to take ten people can now be done by one person.

Within two years, every household had plenty of grain, and they no longer feared going hungry if the harvest was bad the following year.

At first, the people had doubts about this empress.

The people wondered, could a woman be a good emperor?

The emperor has so many things to manage; no matter how capable a woman is, how capable can she be?

But the common people are also the most honest. Whoever feeds them and makes them live a good life is a good emperor. They don't care whether the emperor is male or female.

Today is the end of the year, and Pei Zhi is going out of the palace to pray for blessings.

Along the way, the imperial carriage was surrounded by people, making it impossible to pass.

The guards were so crowded that they could barely stand.

They were all ordinary people, and none of them meant any harm, so the guards couldn't lay a hand on them.

The people flocked to pay homage to His Majesty, and Pei Zhi's imperial carriage was constantly pelted with sachets, pouches, flowers, and other small ornaments along the way.

What should have been an hour's journey took three hours, and we still hadn't left the capital.

In the end, having no other choice, they had to head back home.

The guards were all bruised and battered from being jostled.

Yuan Chengyu was protecting Pei Zhi's imperial carriage, but he wasn't in much better shape.

He reached into his pocket and, I don't know who had such good aim, dropped in several sachets.

Xie Qi, who was sitting in the carriage behind the imperial carriage, was not affected.

Xie Qi picked up the sachet that Yuan Chengyu had dropped on the ground. The sachet was filled with tender and affectionate poems.

"Aren't these people a bit too crazy?"

Yuan Chengyu complained: "In the past, when the top scholar rode his horse through the streets, women would throw sachets and flowers at him. Today, the men are even more crazy than the women."

It was only today that Yuan Chengyu realized that those young masters who kept calling themselves gentlemen were actually naive.

Everyone who sees His Majesty acts like a madman.

"That's normal. It's only natural that a wise ruler like His Majesty would be so admired."

Xie Qi tore the love poem to shreds. "Open your eyes and look around. Among all the civil and military officials, who doesn't wholeheartedly submit to His Majesty?"

When Your Majesty ascended the throne, many ministers were outwardly obedient but inwardly resentful, merely out of fear of death.

Two years after Your Majesty ascended the throne, all the ministers followed Your Majesty's lead, which is a testament to Your Majesty's abilities.

“My old-fashioned father has been hinting to me these days that he hopes I will put in a good word for him with His Majesty so that he can return to the court to serve the country.”

Yuan Chengyu was also very surprised: "Really?"

Even someone as aloof as Grand Secretary Xie was willing to set aside his pride and return to the court.

"His Majesty has brought prosperity to the Yuan Kingdom, and all the ministers are full of energy. My father is envious of this."

It wasn't that Grand Secretary Xie was reluctant to give up his official position; he just wanted to do something practical.

Seeing that His Majesty is truly capable, and that everything he does is beneficial to the people.

Although Xie Ge Lao was not very old, he had a heart that cared for the people.

"So what are your plans?"

“I recommended that he go to teach at the academy.”

Xie Qi said, "He is too old. Even if he returns to the court, he won't be able to serve His Majesty for long."

"Why not go to the academy and train a few useful young scholars for His Majesty?" The old man thought it made sense, so he went.

Yuan Chengyu snorted coldly, "In the end, you're just worried that Grand Secretary Xie is choked up and that his return will affect your relationship with His Majesty."

If Xie Qi were to actually ask, His Majesty would certainly not refuse.

"That's good. I'm the only one from the Xie family serving in the court, so His Majesty can rest assured."

Yuan Chengyu hesitated for a moment, "Do you think His Majesty's actions have disheartened you?"

Yuan Chengyu thought that if it were him, he probably wouldn't be as relaxed as Xie Qi.

Xie Qi devoted himself wholeheartedly to His Majesty.

His Majesty, however, was worried that the Xie family was becoming too powerful.

This forced Elder Xie to step forward and promise that, apart from Xie Qi, no member of the Xie family would serve as an official in the imperial court for three generations.

It would be too cruel to cut off the future prospects of the rest of the Xie family members all at once.

Xie Qi looked at Yuan Chengyu and said, "No, on the contrary, I should thank Your Majesty."

Yuan Chengyu was even more confused: "Huh?"

"His Majesty did not directly target the Xie family; instead, he persuaded the Xie family to back down."

Her Majesty is the Son of Heaven; if she were truly so ruthless as to target the Xie family...

Although it will be difficult, with Your Majesty's intelligence and wisdom, it is only a matter of time.

But since His Majesty has chosen to lay the problem bare, Xie Qi must live up to His Majesty's feelings for him.

"The Xie family's power is too great. Even when the late emperor was still alive, there was much suspicion about them. The current situation is just right."

Although only Xie Qi was an official in the court, the rest of the family was still alive and well, which was good enough.

After Pei Zhi finished bathing, a palace maid brought out her toiletries, and Xie Qi and Yuan Chengyu finished their conversation.

Pei Zhi got off the imperial carriage and was hit by flowers and sachets all the way.

Pei Zhi felt that her whole body smelled of various pungent odors.

Upon returning to the palace, he had people prepare bathing and washing supplies.

When Xie Qi and Yuan Chengyu entered, they saw His Majesty wearing a white robe, with palace servants wiping his hair.

Xie Qi took over the work from the palace servants and stood behind His Majesty, wiping his long hair.

Seeing some dried fruit on the table beside him, Yuan Chengyu peeled it and placed it in front of His Majesty.

Pei Zhi ate dried fruit while flipping through the letters in her hand.

"The prince consort said in his letter that he would be returning the day after tomorrow."

Yuan Chengyu was stunned for a moment, then blurted out, "So fast?"

Xie Qi paused in his actions. "Wasn't he sent out to sea by His Majesty?"

Pei Zhi glanced at Yuan Chengyu, then at Xie Qi, "He's been gone for more than half a year, it's time for him to come back."

Yuan Chengyu clicked his tongue and glanced at Xie Qi.

Xie Qi continued to wipe His Majesty's hair, "I suppose the Prince Consort has had a very fruitful trip this time."

When Pei Zhi ascended the throne, he wanted the people to grow some high-yield grains.

But Pei Zhi discovered that the Yuan Kingdom did not have these seeds.

These must be overseas and haven't been brought back yet.

Pei Zhi has just ascended the throne, so he shouldn't act too hastily.

Last year, Pei Zhicai made up her mind to find a suitable person to go to sea, and Qin Xiangyang volunteered.