Being able to support oneself should give lower-class women more say, although those who have been tamed by societal norms and are unwilling to resist will not do much.
She only respects the fate of others and does not interfere in their cause and effect.
She even required that the cement-making craftsmen be bound by a lifelong contract. It wasn't that she was hoarding her skills, but given the current situation in the Dayan Dynasty, you could imagine how the neighbors would react if the technology were leaked.
As the Empress Dowager listened, she gestured to her head maid and the Empress to quickly memorize the information, as she would later have to tell the Emperor that this cement was extremely important to their Dayan Kingdom!
The Empress Dowager said happily, "That's great! I'm looking forward to eating the vegetables grown by Fu Guang!"
The Empress chimed in, "Your Majesty mustn't forget your son when the time comes."
"Very well, I will definitely invite the Empress to taste our Fuguang dishes."
Like a curious old child, the Empress Dowager asked Yue Fuguang, "What kinds of vegetables are you planning to grow, Fuguang? I've never heard of a sunroom before. Should we send some skilled craftsmen from the Ministry of Works to help you build it?"
If she hadn't heard Yue Fuguang's thoughts, the Empress Dowager wouldn't have dared to ask this question so easily, otherwise she would have been suspected of spying on other people's technology.
Now that they hear that the Little Fairy Lord doesn't seem to care about this, they naturally want to help.
Otherwise, it would really be a troublesome matter for a mere immortal!
Upon hearing this, Yue Fuguang exclaimed, "That's right! When it comes to building houses, the craftsmen in the Ministry of Works are professionals carefully selected by the nine clans. This is something that the people in the Yu family can't compare to."
Regardless of whether it was in accordance with etiquette for the Ministry of Works to help her build a private house, her current status gave her enough confidence that she didn't need to care about such details.
With the Empress Dowager and the Emperor around, even if there were dissenting voices, the mother and son would help her suppress all discordant opinions.
Moreover, all the heads of the Ministry of Works were within her sphere of influence, and Yue Fuguang was bursting with confidence. They might even be eager to do private work for her!
Without hesitation, he readily agreed, "Alright, I'll have them come back to the manor with me in a bit. We'll start work today, and when it gets cold, I'll make sure the Empress Dowager can eat vegetables she's never eaten before."
She deliberately kept them in suspense, saying that there weren't any tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers, eggplants, or any kind of green beans or bok choy yet. Eating these in the dead of winter would surely make them very happy!
If you prepare it now, it will grow for more than a month, and when the weather gets cold, you'll have fresh vegetables to eat.
Before Yue Fuguang had even left the palace gates, Emperor Mingxi received the news and immediately dispatched Eunuch Qian to the Ministry of Works to deliver an imperial edict ordering the Minister of Works to come to the palace to see him at once.
Lu Qi, the Minister of Works, was summoned by the Emperor to work before he had even finished his meal. He was already full of resentment, but now he heard that he was building a sunroom for Yue Fuguang, which he had just heard about this morning.
Just as Yue Fuguang had predicted, not only did her resentment disappear, but she also became unusually positive.
Hearing Emperor Mingxi speak of the wonders of cement, he wished he could go there immediately to help with its production.
Seeing his reaction, Emperor Mingxi quickly instructed him, "The people you sent are to help build houses, not to make cement. Remember, since the Junior Tutor hasn't mentioned this matter, you mustn't bring it up too soon, lest you arouse her suspicion and annoyance."
He thought for a moment and then said, "However, you should handle the guidance within reasonable limits yourself."
On the surface, it was considered a great honor for a court official to have artisans from the Ministry of Works build a house; it was said that even a high-ranking official should not personally supervise the construction.
But that's other people. When it comes to Yue Fuguang, they can't be too concerned.
Moreover, Emperor Mingxi knew Lu Qi well; regardless of whether others went or not, he would definitely go.
So Yue Fuguang ate her fill and toddled to the palace gate. Before she could even get into her own carriage, she saw the Minister of Works running towards her.
From afar, he cupped his hands and said, "Young Master, please wait."
As he approached, Yue Fuguang feigned curiosity and asked, "Minister Lu, is something the matter?"
Lu Qi said, "I heard that Your Excellency is going to build a sunroom. I have been ordered by His Majesty to lead the craftsmen from the Ministry of Works to help. So I would like to ask if Your Excellency would like the Ministry of Works to bring some materials?"
After a moment's thought, Yue Fuguang said, "I would appreciate it if you could have someone bring some stones and timber."
Since the Ministry of Works brought its own materials and manpower, it saved her the trouble of asking Madam Yu for them. Besides, with such a good opportunity, she thought it might be a waste to just build a small sunroom.
Even with the status of a celestial lord, one must still understand human relationships and social etiquette; some of the sunrooms produced must be given away.
What's more, she not only wanted to eat vegetables, but also fruit that didn't require points to buy.
Yue Fuguang thought that there was a small courtyard behind her Mingyue Pavilion that seemed to have always been empty. She thought it would be great to come over and connect it with the back garden in her own courtyard to build a sunroom there.
Now that we have vegetable greenhouses, how can we forget about flower greenhouses?
So as soon as Yue Fuguang returned to the Yu residence, she went to ask the old lady for a place.
As she approached the old lady's courtyard, she could faintly hear noises and cries coming from inside, even through the high courtyard wall.
Given her current treatment at the Yu residence, no one would dare to stop her from entering.
So when she entered the main courtyard with a gossipy mindset, she happened to witness a good show.
All the masters and mistresses of the mansion should be in the main hall, including the children of the fourth branch who are about the same age as her.
Madam Sun and Yu Ningrou were kneeling on the ground, crying and begging. Judging from their disheveled appearance, they must have been kneeling there for a while.
Upon seeing this, Yue Fuguang recalled what she had said during the morning court session and roughly guessed what it was about!
However, she still had to pretend, so her face showed confusion as if she didn't know what had happened.
After she walked to the main hall and greeted the elders, Sun, who had been kneeling, suddenly stood up.
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