"Quickly, quickly, haul all that coal away from there!"

Outside the South Palace, Yuan Fengxi pointed happily to the half of the coal that had been separated, while the students from the Engineering College hurriedly stepped forward, drove the carriages, and headed towards the Engineering College.

Meanwhile, Lu Qiang watched with a pained expression as truckloads of coal disappeared from his sight. His heart was as cold as the winter weather.

"Master Sikong, you can take the coal! But you have to reimburse us for the carts and transportation costs!"

Lu Qiang looked at Yuan Feng, who was all smiles, hoping to salvage some of the losses. After all, although the coal was cheap, the cost of buying the carriages and the escorts along the way was not small.

"Um?"

Upon hearing Lü Qiang's words, the smile on Yuan Feng's face gradually disappeared.

Then Yuan Feng looked at Lü Qiang with a troubled expression and said in a deep voice, "Attendant Lü, I can return those carriages to you, but as for the transportation costs and damages, please forgive me for being unable to help!"

Upon hearing this, Lü Qiang immediately objected. "You, the Minister of Works of the Imperial Court and the Dean of the College of Engineering, actually want to eat and take for free without paying a single cent? How can this be allowed?"

"Why is that? His Majesty only said that the coal would be given to your engineering college, but it was His Majesty's money that was used to transport it back. We absolutely have to make up for that money!"

After saying that, Lü Qiang stared at Yuan Feng with his eyes wide open, his tone quite forceful, as if to say, "If you don't give me the money, I'll turn against you."

Seeing Lü Qiang's state, it seems that he has no choice but to give an explanation today.

Then Yuan Feng sighed softly, "Alas, Attendant Lü, it's not that I'm unwilling to give, but my engineering college really doesn't have the money!"

"No money?? If you don't have money, then we can write an IOU and you can pay me back when you have the money!!"

Hearing Yuan Feng's clumsy excuse, Lü Qiang's face turned extremely ugly. How could the emperor not have money when he was putting so much effort into supporting the three academies?

"Uh... a promissory note...?"

Seeing that Lü Qiang was completely unmoved by reason, Yuan Feng was somewhat taken aback. This old miser really wouldn't suffer any loss. Yuan Feng couldn't help but have an idea, and immediately thought of a way to deal with Lü Qiang.

Then Yuan Feng looked at Lü Qiang with a bitter expression, "Attendant Lü, as you know, all the expenses of our engineering college are managed by the Grand Minister of Agriculture."

"I'm only in charge of research and development; the money isn't my decision. Even if it's an IOU, you'll have to go to the Grand Minister of Agriculture!"

"The Grand Minister of Agriculture?"

Lu Qiang was taken aback, then glanced at Yuan Feng with a frustrated expression.

Doesn't he know Cao Song's true colors? He's always been a one-way street, only taking in goods and never giving them back. If he wants to get money out of him, he's dreaming.

Yuan Feng nodded. "Yes, you should still go to him about the money!"

"this.....!"

Lu Qiang felt a little uneasy. Cao Song now guarded the national treasury's money even more closely than his wife. If he dared to ask Cao Song for money, he feared that Cao Song would truly hate him.

Moreover, in Lü Qiang's view, Cao Song, that old man, has always been arrogant because of his favor with the emperor. He even dared to join forces with other officials to impeach him for a bite to eat. If he really got hated by Cao Song, would he even be able to live?

"Alright! The School of Engineering is too busy, I'll take my leave now! If you need anything, just go find the Grand Minister of Agriculture!"

After saying this, Yuan Feng smiled and cupped his hands in greeting to Lü Qiang, then quickly got into the carriage and left, leaving Lü Qiang standing alone in the wind, bewildered.

...

On the other side, Zhao Zhong, following Dou Miao's orders, sent people to deliver coal to the ladies' stoves. He then hurriedly returned to Deyang Palace and, under Liu Hong's orders, led his men to install coal stoves in Deyang Palace and Chongzheng Palace.

"Mmm, not bad, it's that familiar taste!"

As Liu Hong stepped out of Deyang Palace, he sniffed lightly and caught a whiff of coal smoke in the air, giving him a fleeting feeling of returning to a winter in the future.

The only regret is that in this era, we can't eat lush green vegetables in winter, which is quite a pity.

"Hmm? Vegetables...?"

Thinking of this, Liu Hong's expression changed. He had been so busy that he had forgotten something very important. He then turned to look at Zhao Zhong behind him.

"Go quickly and fetch Marquis Moyang and the Grand Minister of Agriculture!"

"promise!"

Having just finished his work and returned to the emperor's side, Zhao Zhong received the order and hurriedly ran out of the palace.

At the Cao residence, it was afternoon. Cao Song, having finished his shift, hummed a little tune as he made his way home.

In recent days, Cao Song and Dou Wu have been leading the agricultural officials at the Agricultural Academy, preparing the improved seeds and manure needed for next year's experimental fields. Therefore, they are unaware of what happened outside the Southern Palace and at Deyang Hall today.

What's this smell?

As Cao Song entered his home, he suddenly smelled a pungent odor in the air, causing him to frown and then twitch his nose.

Just as Cao Song was wondering, Madam Cao came out from the backyard and hurriedly went to greet Cao Song when she saw him standing in the courtyard.

"Master, you're back!"

"Hmm! Madam, what's that smell coming from the courtyard? What are you cooking?"

Cao Song nodded to his wife, still sniffing the air. This smell... it seems pretty good?

Madam Cao smiled and explained, "Oh, the Empress Dowager bestowed upon me a few coal stoves and some coal. I have already had them lit and placed in the living room and study!"

"Oh? Zhao Zhong is back?"

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