Let's learn about "Crowdfunding" in Chapter 91.

Mu Zhen felt like he'd been stepped on, and before Mu Ji could finish speaking, he vehemently denied it: "Ahem... Since Your Majesty intends to train my son, I am deeply grateful."

Mu Xi, on the contrary, looked expectant: "Please grant my request, Your Majesty."

Yu Muxi had another reason in mind when she requested the reconstruction of Zhilan Terrace: it was like someone offering a pillow when you're about to fall asleep.

She originally planned to use her previous reputation for "coming back to life" and "spirit possession" to raise awareness of Prince Kim's ability to communicate with spirits.

If he hadn't been injured by the assassin later, he might have already made a name for himself at Yangyi Altar.

We missed out on Yangyi Altar, but now the King has sent us Zhilan Terrace.

According to the customs of Yansheng, large altars and small altars are everywhere, but if it is built by the royal family, a viewing pavilion is usually built on both sides of the altar, otherwise it is too shabby and not sincere enough to heaven.

Mu Xi had her eye on the viewing pavilion.

After the altar was built, it was of little use except for special days when shamans would perform rituals to communicate with heaven and earth. But the addition of the viewing pavilion made all the difference.

The viewing pavilion could be used to observe sacrificial rites, as a gathering place for literati and scholars, and even to conduct "spiritual communication" activities, or even "spiritual communication" activities under the name of King Yu.

Thinking about it this way, although I have no experience in building an altar, at worst it will just cost more money and effort, but the future effect is really promising.

No one else knew Mu Xi's plans and could only watch anxiously.

Mu Ji's deep eyes softened slightly, and a friendly smile even appeared on his lips: "Since Prince Jin Fang has such ambition, how can I not grant his request? It is approved."

"Thank you, Your Majesty." Mu Xi thanked him, glancing at Cao Pan'er out of the corner of his eye.

However, Mu Ji changed the subject: "But these escaped slaves..."

Mu Xi was afraid that Mu Ji would change his mind: "Your Majesty, a king's word is law..."

“Eh…” Mu Ji raised his hand to stop him, his face already turning ashen again. “Killing the runaway slaves won’t be enough to intimidate people, but killing them all would be too much of a problem due to manpower shortages. These criminal slaves are already the lowest of the low, and there’s no one left to punish them…”

Mu Xi knew this was meant to be a warning to others, but she still had to make one last effort: "Since Your Majesty has said so, why not spare their lives so they can serve my Great Yu?"

Mu Ji ignored him and thought it over carefully before finally making a decision: "Kill the ringleader, Lu Cao, as a warning to others, and send the rest to Prince Jin Fang to rebuild Zhilan Terrace."

"Your Majesty..." Even if Mu Xi didn't know Cao Pan'er's relationship before, after just a bit of gossip, he could guess most of it.

It's likely that Cao Pan'er's desire to save the group of slaves below was also due to this one person.

Mu Xi was even more afraid that Cao Pan'er would not be able to accept it, so he made one last attempt before Cao Pan'er could say anything: "Your Majesty, please think it over. Since you can spare everyone, why kill Lu Cao?"

"I have already shown leniency by killing only one person, which is an immense act of mercy. What is the purpose of the Crown Prince's protection of Lu Cao in this way?" Mu Ji's attitude changed faster than turning the pages of a book.

Mu Xi dared not resist directly; she was already at a loss.

Lu Cao suddenly kowtowed to the ground and said loudly, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for showing leniency. This sinful slave is willing to accept death."

Having achieved his goal, Mu Ji didn't even want to look at the slaves below anymore, and waved his hand to order: "Take them away."

Gao Quan waved his hand, signaling the Imperial Guards to take the man away.

Cao Pan'er and Lu Cao were clearly inseparable.

Mu Xi was afraid that Cao Pan'er would cause trouble again at this time, so she grabbed her and said to Gao Quan with a smile, "Lord Gao, I don't care about anything else, but I have to take this back to the manor."

Cao Pan'er's eyes were filled with despair, and her heart was still with Lu Cao.

Fortunately, Gao Quan didn't notice, and was more concerned about Mu Xi's "great victory" than his feelings: "Don't worry, Your Highness, apart from that damned devil, the rest of these people are Your Highness's."

Lu Cao had already stood up, shook his head and chuckled at Cao Pan'er with a look of grim determination, and then left the outer hall without looking back.

Cao Pan'er instinctively wanted to get up and follow.

Mu Xi pressed the person back to the ground and whispered, "I tried my best."

The grief in Cao Pan'er's eyes instantly turned into hatred, but thankfully she knelt back on the ground and said nothing more.

"Your Highness? Is it really that hard to tell?" Mu Ji suddenly asked from above.

"Huh?" Mu Xi realized she had lost her composure and quickly let go.

Mu Ji didn't seem to blame him, but then another thought came to mind: "Since Your Highness is so willing to rebuild Zhilan Terrace for me... oh... no... since it's a reconstruction, it can't use the old name anymore. What should we name it?"

Tao Jin's eyebrows shot up, and he immediately asked, "What does Your Majesty think of the 'Phoenix Perching Terrace'?"

“Qifengtai…” Mu Ji clapped his hands in delight almost without thinking. “Hmm, the name ‘Qifengtai’ is just right. Let’s go with it.”

Tao Jin, with a smug face, started complaining about being poor again: "Your Majesty is wise, but... the Sikong Mansion really has no budget for the construction of Qifeng Terrace."

"Hey... Lord Tao, what's the rush? Just now, Prince Jin Fang agreed, but he didn't mention anything about money." Gao Quan took the opportunity to taunt Mu Xi.

Mu Xi had already suffered a loss, and could not afford to suffer any more: "Lord Tao, the construction work ultimately falls under the jurisdiction of the Sikong Mansion. It is unreasonable for the Sikong Mansion not to pay a single tael of silver."

Tao Jinfa's face twisted into a fierce grimace: "The Sikong Mansion can't spare a single penny of its budget. If His Highness the Heir Apparent hadn't intervened, construction certainly wouldn't have been possible."

Mu Xi understood that the emperor and his ministers did not want to spend a single penny; they were trying to get something for nothing today.

Trying to trick her out of money without even asking what she was like in her past life.

Mu Xi wiped her face and said, "It doesn't matter if the Sikong Mansion can't come up with the money, but if my Jin Fangjun Mansion has to come up with this money... after all, I didn't steal the old wood from Zhilan Terrace to exchange for that much money. However, there is another way to raise the money, but the name of this altar will need to be changed."

"Change it? Why?" Mu Ji asked.

Mu Xi bowed earnestly and said, "Your Majesty, this is naturally for fundraising, crowdfunding from the people. Since the altar is for flood prevention and worshipping the Dragon God, it is only natural for the people to crowdfund its construction. However, since the people have contributed, it is not appropriate to name the altar 'Qifengtai' (Phoenix Nesting Terrace). To ensure the smooth progress of the fundraising, it should be called... 'Baekjetai' (Baekje Terrace), 'Baekchoutai' (Baekchou Terrace), 'Baekhuatai' (Baekhua Terrace), anything is fine."

Upon hearing this, Mu Ji glared at Tao Jin: "Minister Tao, the Sikong Mansion can't even come up with this little bit of silver? And we have to raise funds from the people?"

Mu Xi coldly observed the emperor and his minister singing in harmony.

Heh, trying to trick her?

How about crowdfunding?

If you still have any sense of shame, then you can't.

Unexpectedly, Tao Jinkuan, with his broad eyebrows and wide eyes, was a shameless man who would do anything for money: "The Sikong Mansion really can't afford any more."