In the manor, Princess Zhaoyang and the Crown Princess did not always walk with Liu Yulian. They were not ignorant people.

Since the materials had been prepared long ago, it was much easier for those people to build the glass shed.

The greenhouse's frame is made of both wood and iron. Iron was scarce and expensive at the time, so this mix of materials was used.

Liu Yulian still asked those people to pay attention to safety and not to blindly reduce materials in order to reduce costs.

"With this greenhouse, growing vegetables and strawberries will be much easier." Liu Yulian thought about when they were growing strawberries in the northwest before. Because there was no greenhouse, she had to soak the strawberry seeds in chemicals and took some other measures.

In order to make the strawberry plants grow well, Liu Yulian also put a lot of effort into it.

However, not everyone can build a greenhouse; it costs money. Many ordinary people don't have that much money, so they don't build these greenhouses; most of the time, it's the businessmen who do.

Liu Yulian believes that as long as someone does it, it will be useful.

In ancient times, there were some vegetables in winter, but they were few. If those people had built greenhouses, they would have more vegetables in winter and could make money.

Once grain production caught up, people had more options. However, farming was primarily done by hand, with oxen being the most common method. Without machinery, people still couldn't spare much labor, unlike later generations.

"What are you going to plant?" He Xiyuan asked. "Still planting strawberries?"

"Not only that, we'll also have to plant some vegetables, fruits, and melons." Liu Yulian said, "We can plant a lot of things."

"That's right." He Xiyuan nodded. Although he didn't understand it very well, he felt that there should be no problem here.

When the people nearby saw Liu Yulian's farm with so many glass sheds, they were very surprised and some even wanted to steal the glass. They thought the glass looked very good and they could take it back.

When several pieces of glass were lost from the greenhouse in Liu Yulian's farm, the head of the farm reported the incident to Liu Yulian, who felt helpless.

Glass in later generations is not that expensive, but glass in ancient times was expensive.

Even though glass can be mass-produced now, it is not yet popular, so it is inevitable that some people will have ulterior motives.

In this situation, Liu Yulian could only arrange for more patrols to prevent those people from stealing glass. However, some people still stole glass, but the amount was less.

Liu Yulian simply reported the case to the authorities, asking them to catch the thieves and severely punish them, so that others would not dare to steal again.

Some people had never seen glass before, so they thought Princess Rongning was too extravagant. The common people thought that Princess Rongning must have spent a lot of money to build this greenhouse, and they, the common people, could not even get enough to eat, yet Princess Rongning was still building this large-scale project.

Liu Yulian did not explain to those people, but asked the research institute to come forward. Liu Yulian asked those researchers to choose greenhouses when studying crops and let them know the uses of greenhouses.

The ancients had greenhouses, but they were small in scale.

The greenhouse built by Liu Yulian is larger and made of glass, which is completely different.

"Why are there still people stealing glass?" Liu Yulian stayed in the yard at home. She didn't stare at Zhuangzi all the time. She really felt that the glass was not that good. There was no need for those people to steal the glass. They would be able to afford to buy glass sooner or later.

"Isn't it because glass is good?" Liu's mother was not surprised at all. Originally, colored glaze was a precious thing, and this glass was almost the same as colored glaze. When those people saw it, they would inevitably have other thoughts.

Those people thought that since Princess Rongning had simply placed the glass outside, they would be wasting their opportunity if they didn't take action. Some people stole the glass, mainly thinking of turning it into mirrors or selling it.

"Glass is good, but... my greenhouse is always leaking." Liu Yulian was helpless. The glass of some greenhouses was always stolen, making it difficult for her to let people plant things there, for fear that the crops would be frozen to death by wind and frost.

"It will be fine after a few days." Liu's mother said, "Hasn't it been reported to the police? Let's just wait a while."

"I can only wait." Liu Yulian shrugged. "I can't catch those people. Even if I do, I still have to hand them over to the authorities."

It was not easy for Liu Yulian to promote something in ancient times, especially something as easily broken as glass. Perhaps some people still thought that glass was useless and that it was just beautiful.

Speaking of cups, there are ceramic cups, so it doesn’t matter whether there are glass cups or not.

Liu Yulian thought they should build another house, using steel bars, cement, glass, and bricks... Such a house would not be as ancient, but it would have good thermal insulation and the wind from outside would not blow in so easily.

To build a house, she first needed a piece of land, and that piece of land couldn't be too far away. It had to be where ordinary people could see it. When ordinary people saw it, they would understand the most important use of glass, and then they would use glass to make windows.

"Are there any dilapidated houses in the city that can be demolished and rebuilt?" Liu Yulian asked.

"Of course." Mother Liu nodded, "If you want to buy it, go and have a look."

Liu's mother thought that since Liu Yulian was a princess and a first-rank official, she could afford a larger house. If Liu Yulian wanted to rebuild the house, that was fine.

"Okay." Liu Yulian thought, it's almost November now, and the Chinese New Year is coming soon. So it's not impossible to find someone to build a house now. If it's just a one-story house, it can be done quickly.

Liu Yulian figured she had to build a two-story house, or maybe a three-story one. She could use it for business later, which would be nice. The main structure would be reinforced concrete with glass windows, and some of the interior decoration could be more classical.

When the emperor learned that Liu Yulian had bought the dilapidated house and demolished it to rebuild, he was a little curious. However, Liu Yulian used her own money, not the money from the research institute, so she could buy some of the glass and other items at a low price.

The emperor wondered what kind of house Liu Yulian wanted to build. He knew cement was very useful. He had already ordered people to use cement to build bunkers, canals, roads, and dams.

Cement is very useful. The emperor did not even think of it, but the court officials also thought of various uses for cement.

"Rongning hasn't been crying poor recently." The emperor and the prince were playing chess in the house.

"She was crying for her glass. A lot of glass from her greenhouse was stolen," the prince said. "Some people stole the glass and hid it as a treasure, while others stole it to sell."

"She should cry a little," said the Emperor, smiling, "give her more glass, so she won't run out of it."

The emperor was quite generous to Princess Rongning. After all, these things were developed by the researchers led by Liu Yulian. If the emperor did not allow Princess Rongning to use glass, it would be unreasonable. He did not ask Princess Rongning to buy it at a high price. Princess Rongning and the researchers were eligible to buy glass at a low price as long as it did not exceed a certain limit.

"Give it to her." How could the Crown Prince not dare give Princess Rongning glass? Not to mention that Princess Rongning was his future cousin, Princess Rongning had also researched so many things. The court had to treat people like Liu Yulian better. "Those greenhouses are already planted with fruits and vegetables. I wonder what will happen to them."

"You don't have to worry about this. She is not using money from the national treasury," said the emperor.

Some court officials impeached Liu Yulian for extravagance, but the emperor did not listen to them and punish her. She was using her own money, not the state treasury's. Liu Yulian had given all the money she earned to the court, so why shouldn't she be allowed to use it for other things?

Who knows, those people might really like it in the future.

The emperor also wanted to try some of the fruits and vegetables grown in greenhouses. He had heard that Princess Rongning grew very large strawberries in the northwest. Those strawberries were also very delicious. Although the emperor had not tasted the fresh strawberries grown by Liu Yulian, he knew about strawberry jam.

The capital is far from the northwest, and strawberries are difficult to transport. That's why the emperor didn't get to eat the strawberries grown by Liu Yulian. But this year is different. Liu Yulian has returned to the capital, so perhaps he can eat the strawberries grown by Liu Yulian.

"When I'm gone, you must remember this," the emperor said. "What kind of construction project is Rongning doing? How much money has she spent? Not to mention she didn't use any imperial money. Others can use their money to buy all kinds of things, so why can't Rongning build a few houses and a greenhouse?"

The emperor thought that some ministers were making a fuss out of nothing and they did not truly appreciate the power of Princess Rongning.

"Sure." How could the prince dare to say no? He himself had long felt the quality of what Princess Rongning made.

Those things are so good, the prince also wants them.

The prince didn't know what kind of houses Liu Yulian wanted to build, but he knew that those houses must be extraordinary.

At the Chengguo Mansion, He Xiyuan learned that Liu Yulian had bought a dilapidated house and she was planning to have it demolished and build a new one. He also wanted to buy land and build a house.

"You might as well buy a bigger piece of land. Maybe the house you build can be lived in in the future." said Mrs. He.

Old Madam He did not expect He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian to continue living in the mansion after they got married. Liu Yulian's official rank was not low, and it might not be a good thing if Liu Yulian lived in the mansion.

There are bound to be problems between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law, and sisters-in-law. If He Xiyuan and Liu Yulian want to move out, there is no way that Madam He can stop them.

"But it's on the street, so it shouldn't be a place to live in." Old Madam He continued, "Is it a shop?"

"Maybe, maybe it's the inn." He Xiyuan just heard about this matter. He and Liu Yulian have not yet gotten married, and there is no need for Sister Lian to discuss this matter with him.

"You don't know?" Old Madam He saw the bewilderment on her grandson's face and muttered, "That's right, you haven't gotten married yet. Even if you were married, there's no need for Rong Ning to tell you about those things she wants to do."

"Grandma." He Xiyuan felt that he had no status in this family.

"She holds a high position and can support her family," said Old Madam He. "Is there any problem with Rongning deciding these matters?"

"No, no problem." He Xiyuan certainly couldn't say there was a problem here.

Princess Rongning is indeed more powerful than himself. He Xiyuan thought that he still had money to give to Sister Lian.

"Grandma, if you do this, people who don't know you will think you are trying to sow discord," said He Xiyuan.

"How did I try to sow discord?" Old Madam He said, "If you can't even stand what I said, then what are you going to do in the future?"

"..." He Xiyuan was speechless. He should have known what kind of personality his grandmother had.

His grandmother always said these words to him from time to time, and He Xiyuan didn't know what to say. His brothers had never received such love from their grandmother, and his brothers had definitely not seen their grandmother as often as he had recently.

"You should meet big brother." He Xiyuan said.

"Why would you want to see him?" Old Madam He asked. "He's busy every day. He doesn't need me to take care of him. He has a wife. And you, you're not married yet, and you can still chat with Grandma."

He Xiyuan didn't want to chat with Old Madam He at all. What was there to chat about? Was this normal chattering?

"Just chat." He Xiyuan said.

"What are you babbling about? Go study now," said Madam He. "If you don't study, do you think you'll fail the imperial examination? You're not staying on the battlefield, you're not getting promoted there. If you want to take the imperial examination, then go study. Why are you dawdling?"

"..." He Xiyuan just wanted this to be his good grandmother. How could his grandmother become like this?

It is said that after Madam Qi returned from Duke Cheng's Mansion that day, she felt that her daughter was quite good, so why didn't Madam Cheng refuse to help?

"Your sister refuses to help." Madam Qi said to Master Qi.

"They are still afraid that Princess Rongning will cancel her engagement with Duke Chengguo's Mansion, so how could they possibly help you?" said Master Qi.

"How could that be? Princess Rongning and Yuan'er have a very good relationship, don't they?" Madam Qi didn't think the two families would cancel the engagement. "They have a good relationship, who can interfere? I didn't ask Yuan'er to take our daughter as a concubine. I'm not a heartless mother. How could I bear to let my own daughter become someone else's concubine?"

Madam Qi had never considered letting her legitimate daughter be a concubine. Her own daughter was naturally meant to be someone's principal wife. Concubines couldn't do many things, couldn't go out as they pleased, and had to act according to the principal wife's mood.

Princess Rongning was still a court lady, and Madam Qi didn't want her daughter to be He Xiyuan's concubine. If she really wanted her daughter to be a concubine, it would be to He Xichen.

When Madam Qi thought of this, she felt that they should have let their daughter marry He Xichen as his principal wife, so that her daughter could become the Crown Prince's wife. Unfortunately, they did not bring it up when He Xichen's legs were crippled, so they had even less chance now.

Even letting a daughter become the prince's concubine is not an easy thing.

Madam Qi still felt that her daughter should be made someone's principal wife. "Don't worry, I don't intend to make my daughter a concubine. I just want her to enter the research institute."

"Why do you insist on letting her go to the research institute? She doesn't understand anything about those things." said Master Qi.

"Isn't it because I hope she can become like Princess Rongning?" Madam Qi said, "How many people in the capital want their daughters to be like Princess Rongning? We have a ready-made relationship here, so why not use it? If what I say doesn't work, go talk to your sister."

"No." Master Qi said, "Why bother saying those things? Isn't it shameful enough to despise your own family? If she is capable, she will pass the exam."

"I'm afraid you're afraid of being rejected." Madam Qi didn't think Master Qi was afraid of embarrassing his daughter. Master Qi was clearly afraid of embarrassing himself. "It's just a talk, it's not a big deal."

"How can it not be a big deal? It involves officials." Master Qi said, "If it's not handled properly, it will become a case of buying and selling official positions."

"We're not saying your daughter will become an official right away. She'll just learn from Princess Rongning first," Madam Qi explained. "She has some maids and palace maids learning with her. If they can learn from her, why can't our daughter?"

"That's a maid." said Master Qi.

"Some of the palace maids were originally female officials in the palace. They were the daughters of officials." Madam Qi believed that if the daughters of other people's families could do it, then her own daughter could do it too.

When those people finish their studies in the future, they might be able to enter the research institute directly. Even if they don’t go directly to the research institute, it will be easy for them to pass the entrance exam.

Madam Qi could see clearly that there were many things involved.

If their daughter could study under Princess Rongning, then her own daughter would be able to enter the research institute sooner or later.

"My daughter has made great progress, and you as her father are proud of it." Mrs. Qi said.

"Why are you thinking about your daughter? There are men in the research institute." said Master Qi.

"Isn't it because Princess Rongning is a girl?" Madam Qi explained that if Princess Rongning was a boy, she would not be engaged to He Xiyuan, and then she would not have said these words.

“…” Master Qi was too lazy to say anything.

At the Su family, Mrs. Su asked the tailor to take measurements for Su Qiuya and others. There was still more than a month until the Chinese New Year. Everyone in the family had to make new clothes, and Mrs. Su did not forget Su Qiuya.

Su Qiuya felt a little aggrieved. Madam Su was always like this. This stepmother was very thorough in every aspect, even more thorough than before Su Qiuya got married. Su Qiuya suspected that Madam Su was doing this on purpose, deliberately for Aunt Qing and Liu Yanbo to see.

Mrs. Su wanted everyone to understand that being a stepmother is not easy and that she has done a lot.

However, Su Qiuya couldn't just tear it apart because Madam Su behaved so well. She couldn't let Liu Yanbo and Aunt Qing know that her health wasn't that good, and she couldn't let them know that she couldn't get pregnant so soon.

"You're welcome, we're all family." Madam Su said with a smile, "Now that you're here, it's like being at home. We in the Su family don't have much, but we do have a lot of money, so we still have enough to make you some clothes."

"Qiuya is blessed to have a stepmother like you." Aunt Qing said this in front of Su Qiuya.

Su Qiuya's face changed slightly. What blessing? Madam Su is not a good stepmother at all. Madam Su is just a smiling tiger.

Madam Su likes people like Qing Yi Niang. She can see that Qing Yi Niang doesn't like Su Qiuya that much. She doesn't think Qing Yi Niang doesn't know that Su Qiuya doesn't like her as a stepmother. Qing Yi Niang still does this, which shows how much Qing Yi Niang dislikes Su Qiuya.

Fortunately, Madam Su thought that she had not let her own daughter marry Liu Yanbo. Otherwise, her daughter would have had a hard time, and because the Jingning Marquisate and Liu Yanbo had severed their relationship, her daughter would not be able to benefit from the Marquisate.

"It is my blessing to have a daughter like Qiuya." Mrs. Su said deliberately.