After a bumpy journey, Yuan Feng's carriage finally arrived in Luoyang.

"Whoa!"

As they approached the square outside the South Palace, Yuan Feng's coachman pulled on the reins and stopped the carriage by the side of the street.

"Ugh, are we there yet??"

Having been jostled around at high speed the whole way, Yuan Feng's buttocks were numb and his face was pale. He trembled as he reached out and lifted the carriage curtain to look outside.

"Patriarch...Patriarch, it seems we can't get in!"

Upon seeing Yuan Feng stick his head out, the coachman, looking at the hundreds of carriages densely packed in Nangong Square, couldn't help but swallow hard. There were no parking spaces left...!

"I saw it...!"

Unlike the coachman, Yuan Feng's eyes gleamed as he looked at the large carts loaded with coal in the square.

Yuan Feng stepped forward and couldn't help but pick up a piece of coal from the cart and begin to examine it.

Just then, Gongshu Lian also came up from behind, looking at the large carts in the square with a shocked expression.

"Sikong...Sikong, can we begin our next experiment?"

"Great... Haha! Just like a pillow coming when I'm sleepy! With this coal, my cement refining business is secured!"

Looking at the coal in the square, Yuan Feng's mouth was practically watering.

Then Yuan Feng turned to the coachman beside him and said in a deep voice, "Go back to the Engineering Institute immediately and have them come and haul coal!"

"Ah? Patriarch, is this alright?"

As Yuan Feng's coachman, he naturally had some discernment. He could tell that these were probably destined for the palace, otherwise no one would dare to park them here.

Yuan Feng waved his hand, "It's alright, I'll go to the palace to see His Majesty right away. I'm sure His Majesty will agree, and then we can just take our people away!"

"promise!!"

After the coachman drove the carriage away, Yuan Feng, holding Gongshu Lian's hand, headed towards the palace.

Not long after entering the palace, Yuan Feng saw Lü Qiang leading some eunuchs towards him from not far away, and the direction they were facing was Nangong Zai.

"not good!!"

The moment Yuan Feng saw Lü Qiang, he knew that Lü Qiang was going to receive the coal, and he couldn't help but think of Lü Qiang's stingy personality, just like Cao Song's.

Yuan Feng's eyes flickered slightly, and he had an idea in mind. He immediately walked up to them.

Upon approaching, Lü Qiang quickly cupped his hands in greeting to Yuan Feng.

"Greetings, Minister Yuan!"

"It's Attendant Lü. What's the rush?"

Yuan Feng glanced at Lü Qiang and the group of eunuchs behind him, feigning ignorance as he asked the question.

Lü Qiang nodded slightly, "His Majesty has ordered me to go and receive a batch of coal furnaces and coal! To be distributed as a reward to the Three Dukes and Nine Ministers of the court!"

Yuan Feng nodded and exclaimed, "Is that so! His Majesty is truly benevolent, always thinking of us old ministers when it comes to good things!"

Lü Qiang smiled and echoed, "Sikong and the others are His Majesty's right-hand men, so His Majesty naturally relies on them greatly!"

"Haha~, Attendant Lü, you flatter me! This time, our engineering college has increased iron production to 120% of what it used to be. I have come to the palace to report the good news to His Majesty. There are some matters that I need to discuss with the Minister of the Imperial Household Department. Attendant Lü, why don't you come with me to meet His Majesty first?"

Yuan Feng stroked his beard, laughed heartily, and then invited Lü Qiang to meet the emperor, thinking he should appease him first.

Otherwise, once Lü Qiang has finished receiving the coal and put it into the Shaofu's treasury, he doesn't know how long he'll have to deal with Lü Qiang to get it out, and he really can't wait any longer.

Upon hearing Yuan Feng mention the iron production output, Lü Qiang's eyes lit up. This was incredibly good news, and he would be more than happy to go with Yuan Feng to share the good news.

Besides, the emperor will surely bestow rewards for such an important event. I'll have to make another trip anyway, so it's better to go along and share in the joy. It's very important to show up when the emperor is happiest.

Finally, Lü Qiang hurriedly spoke up, "In that case, let's hurry and go see His Majesty!"

"Absolutely!"

Yuan Feng smiled and nodded, then said, "I also brought the crude iron that was refined this time. It's in the back. Attendant Lü has asked them to go and receive it so that it can be brought into the palace for His Majesty to see!"

"No problem, no problem!! We thank Minister Yuan for his kindness!"

Lu Qiang also thanked Yuan Feng with a happy expression. He thought that Yuan Feng had taken special care of him so that he could show his face in front of the emperor through this happy event.

"Haha~, you're too kind, Attendant Lü. Let's go then!" Seeing Lü Qiang's appearance, Yuan Feng couldn't help but laugh.

"Minister Yuan, please!"

After giving an order to the eunuch behind him, Lü Qiang took the initiative to lead the way for Yuan Feng and Gongshu Lian, walking quickly towards the Deyang Palace.

After Yuan Feng and his group passed through Deyang Gate, Yuan Feng suddenly stopped and looked at Lü Qiang, who was walking in front of him, with a smile.

"Attendant Lü, why don't you go ahead and report the good news to His Majesty?"

"Thank you very much, Minister Yuan. I will go and report the good news to His Majesty right away!"

Upon hearing this, Lü Qiang immediately smiled broadly and thanked Yuan Feng, then quickly ran towards Deyang Palace.

Gongshu Lian looked at Yuan Feng with some confusion, "Minister, why did you just now...?"

"It's alright. We'll inevitably have to deal with Lü Qiang in the future, so let's give him a taste of the good things first!"

Watching Lü Qiang's retreating figure as he ran, Yuan Feng couldn't help but chuckle, then followed behind with Gongshu Lian.

Soon, Lü Qiang also ran quickly to the front of Deyang Palace. After greeting Liu Hong's guards, he immediately pushed open the palace door and ran inside.

My dear reader, there's more to this chapter! Please click the next page to continue reading—even more exciting content awaits!