Guan Zhiyue was always happy when she went to sleep at night, after all, there was finally news about this natural asphalt. Although it was not yet certain, she could feel that it was probably true.

It seems her grand plan is finally about to begin and gradually get on track. Once the official roads are all tidied up, the road will be smooth and safe for traffic.

"Yue'er, what are you laughing at?" Li Qiji looked at Guan Zhiyue sleeping in the room, who was covering her mouth and chuckling. He felt that she was acting a little strange, so he couldn't help but ask.

Guan Zhiyue turned to face Li Qiji and said, "I feel that what your men found this time is the natural asphalt I want."

I'm thinking that if all the official roads in our country become smooth and paved, won't our country become even more prosperous and powerful?

Li Qiji listened to Guan Zhiyue's words with a look of longing. Who wouldn't want their country to be prosperous and powerful when they are emperor?

So when Li Qiji heard Guan Zhiyue say that, he was so excited that he couldn't sleep. He lay flat on his back and put his hands under his head.

He chuckled and said, "If that day ever comes, it will all be thanks to you, Yue'er!"

"If it weren't for you, I would never have witnessed such a magnificent and awe-inspiring sight!"

Guan Zhiyue found Li Qiji's words quite appealing! She liked them very much and laughed, saying, "Hahaha, let's see if you dare treat me badly again!"

Upon hearing this, Li Qiji quickly turned to face Guan Zhiyue and said with fervent eyes, "Yue'er, I've been incredibly good to you!"

As for why I'm banishing you to the cold palace, it's not because you spat pastry crumbs all over my face on our wedding day.

Upon hearing this, Guan Zhiyue became interested and immediately asked, "Oh, what is that?"

"Give me a straight answer tonight, so I can hear how eloquent you really are."

Li Qiji was speechless. He couldn't tell her yet, because he hadn't found out whether someone was trying to harm her! So he couldn't reveal it to Guan Zhiyue right now.

The Guan family was already a large and wealthy family, and now she has produced all kinds of high-yield grains, as well as glass products that bring in a fortune every day.

Many people are envious of her. If he doesn't protect her well, she might be taken away by someone else.

And his good brother from last time, who is also the crown prince of Ningjian Kingdom, Yuan Ningsu could not possibly be someone who came all the way from Nanding Kingdom.

Although they were good brothers, he was, after all, the crown prince of a country. Every emperor hopes that the country he rules will be prosperous, and he was no exception, let alone others.

Although they stayed for a few days and then left in a hurry, I don't know if they received some news or came to inquire about something.

Moreover, it's still unknown whether these people were involved in the theft of the grain seeds from the back mountain, or whether there were any secret guards or assassins from other countries involved in stealing the grain seeds. Who can know for sure?

"Yue'er, I'll tell you about this later, don't worry!" Li Qiji explained.

Upon hearing this, Guan Zhiyue knew that he would only use this sentence to brush her off, so she simply shrugged and stopped asking. Asking would be pointless, and there was nothing to say, so she simply stopped talking. It was just too ridiculous.

"Oh! Tell me if you want, or don't!" Guan Zhiyue said, then turned to face inside, leaving Li Qiji behind, and went to sleep. Sleeping is the best thing ever!

Seeing that Guan Zhiyue was definitely angry, Li Qiji quickly chased after her, reached out and pulled her into his arms, hugging her like a bear.

Guan Zhiyue didn't want to be held by him, so she pushed him away a few times, but couldn't break free. Instead, she started to sweat a little. Since she couldn't break free, she simply gave up. She was so hot, and it was rare for her to go through all this trouble with him.

She closed her eyes and went to sleep. Seeing that Guan Zhiyue was no longer moving, Li Qiji slowly moved a few steps closer.

He stopped moving only after pressing his entire body against Guan Zhiyue's back, obediently hugging her like that.

Nothing was said that night.

——

The next morning.

Li Qiji got up very early again, before dawn, and went back to Chengqian Palace to take a cold shower. Every time he rested with Guan Zhiyue, it was torture, especially when he made Guan Zhiyue angry.

Before we started dating, I could tolerate it, but ever since we opened up to each other and started dating...

This provided some temporary relief, but they still didn't consummate their marriage. Guan Zhiyue's exact words were that she was still too young and should wait until she was at least eighteen.

She's sixteen now, and soon he'll be free after two more years!

"Your Majesty, your health is paramount! The harem has more than just the Empress!" Hua Quan watched as buckets of cold water were carried into the bathhouse, and couldn't help but start to complain about Guan Zhiyue.

Li Qiji picked up a bucket of water and poured it over himself from head to toe. He shook his head before saying, "I only like the Empress. I have no interest in any other women!"

Speaking of other women, Li Qiji remembered what Guan Zhiyue had told him: if he hadn't touched any of the women in the harem, then he should send them all away!

Anyway, what she's after is a lifelong commitment to one person. If he can't do that, then let her go and let her live alone!

How could Li Qiji let her leave at this point? Especially since he had already fallen in love with her, how could he let her go?

"Hua Quan, find an excuse to send all the women in the harem away! After all these years, I haven't visited them or shown them any concern."

"According to the Empress, keeping these women in the harem is a waste of food and they cause me trouble every day! Just looking at them annoys me!"

Li Qiji was fine until he mentioned the women in the harem, then he was overwhelmed with worry, they were simply too hateful.

Hua Quan was shocked by the Emperor's words. What kind of bewitching potion had the Empress given the Emperor?

What's going on?! The women in the harem are all daughters of high-ranking officials. If they're released, how are they supposed to survive?!

This has never happened before! It's absolutely terrifying! What's wrong with the Emperor?!

Seeing that Hua Quan hadn't replied, Li Qiji asked, "What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Hua Quan stammered, seemingly hesitant to speak. Li Qiji, while dressing, said, "Speak your mind, and I will pardon you!"

Hua Quan then said while helping Li Qiji put on his clothes, "Your Majesty, many of the concubines in the harem are daughters of high-ranking officials."

If we send her back, what will the minister's family do? Besides, what kind of logic is there in letting a woman who has married into the palace be released?

"There's never been such a rule before, so let's just forget about it?"

Li Qiji remained silent, his face cold, lost in thought. Seeing Li Qiji's demeanor, Hua Quan quickly shut his mouth as well, not wanting to risk getting into trouble, which could cost him his head.

He remained silent, quickly helped the Emperor change into his dragon robe, dried his hair, and then strode towards the Golden Palace.

However, the guard who delivered the natural asphalt sample had already entered the capital and was galloping towards the palace, eager to show it to the Empress as soon as possible to see if it was the one she wanted!

At this moment, Guan Zhiyue was still in bed playing chess with the Duke of Zhou (a figure in Chinese mythology associated with dreams). She must have been dreaming about something funny, because Guan Zhiyue was drooling and grinning from ear to ear.