October's autumn colors are my favorite. At this time, the sunlight is cool and bright, as clear as autumn water. The fields are golden, unlike the ripe rice and wheat of summer. They make people feel warm.
Today is a significant day for the Cold Palace. As for what it is, it is, of course, a good thing that benefits the country and the people.
"Your Majesty, are you up yet?" Bilian knocked on the door frame, looking very excited.
Guan Zhiyue had already gotten up; how could she not be up on such an important day?
"Here I am, here I am, what's the rush! This matter isn't going anywhere." Guan Zhiyue opened the door and came out, already dressed in a smock.
"Oh my, Your Highness, what have you done! This outer garment completely covers the clothes underneath." Bilian looked Guan Zhiyue up and down.
Guan Zhiyue laughed and said, "This is called a smock or apron. Only by wearing it like this will the front part of our clothes not get dirty!"
Bilian looked at Guan Zhiyue with great envy, blinking her eyes but not saying a word. How could Guan Zhiyue not know what Bilian meant!
"Hey, come on in! I've got several more items with me!"
"Hehe, thank you, Your Majesty. You're the best." Bilian followed into the room with a smile. Looking at the robes on the table, she casually picked up a pink one and put it on, feeling quite pleased with herself.
"Your Majesty, how come you have so many of these things?" Bilian asked.
Guan Zhiyue laughed it off and said, "It was given to me by the Emperor."
Upon hearing that the Emperor had given it to her, Bilian fell silent and nodded to indicate that she understood.
He then said, "We have a bumper harvest today, should we go and ask the Emperor and the Prince to come and help?"
Guan Zhiyue said, "No need, just have Liu Debao inform Lan Shanqi! Our second batch of rice paddy fish is ready!"
Bilian nodded, happily put on her pink smock, and ran towards the door to find Eunuch Liu Debao so she could deliver a message to the palace gate.
The Cold Palace was a scene of bustling activity, while the Golden Palace was in complete chaos!
"Your Majesty, you mustn't! What is this? We've never even heard of it before! This is a laborious, time-consuming, and expensive undertaking!"
"Yes, Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
"Your Majesty, please reconsider!"
Upon hearing Li Qiji's words about building an asphalt road, all the ministers opposed it, and not a single one stood on Li Qiji's side.
Everything was against him, constantly putting pressure on him and making him feel that it was difficult to move this matter forward.
But who is Li Qiji? He's the kind of person who knowingly ventures into dangerous territory, so why would he stop moving forward just because of the opposition of these old folks?
"My beloved ministers, I am merely informing you that this is what I am about to do, not seeking your opinions."
"I thought this was a good thing that would benefit the country and the people, and that all my ministers would give their full support. Unfortunately, what I see today is nothing but opposition!"
"Don't all of you officials like a smooth official road?" Li Qiji looked up at all the officials in the court and said in a cold and distant voice.
The ministers bowed low, looking at each other, wondering what had gotten into the Emperor lately, as he seemed to act in fits and starts.
They didn't have a moment to breathe at all, and suddenly a big thing happened!
This really overwhelmed them; it was simply amazing. The key was that there were many things they didn't know, such as this "asphalt road"!
What is asphalt?
Where does asphalt come from?
How long will an asphalt-paved official road last? Will it be troublesome to maintain in the future?
Where do the road repairmen come from? Are they paid? Will there be a charge after the road is repaired?
They had no idea what was going on, and then the emperor announced that he wanted to build an official road. Didn't this leave the ministers completely bewildered?
"Your Majesty, this old minister is filled with trepidation!"
"Your Majesty, please forgive my bluntness, but is this so-called asphalt road really as good as described in this booklet?" The old Minister of Works, with his gray hair and squinting eyes, asked as he looked at the booklet in his hand.
Li Qiji said, "Minister Liu, as a veteran Minister of Works, do you think this would benefit the country and its people if it were implemented?"
Minister Liu stroked his beard and said, "Judging from the plans in this booklet, they are indeed very good. However, this old minister does not understand, is this asphalt really that good?"
"Yes, absolutely true!"
"Hua Quan, bring up yesterday's sample and show it to all my beloved ministers. This is naturally produced asphalt, which is perfect for paving roads."
"That's why I insisted on building the official road." Li Qiji excitedly called Hua Quan to bring his samples so that these old guys could see them.
Hua Quan didn't hesitate and quickly went to the side, bringing over the asphalt in no time.
The ministers looked around and found it to be dark and murky. It didn't smell bad, but it was a strange, dark mass.
"As you all see, this is the asphalt I intend to use, the material for a smooth road!"
"As for the issues you mentioned, I have already thought them through. I will entrust the Ministry of Works to handle them. In addition, some of the people who are building water conservancy projects in Sihuangzhou will be transferred to the north to the place where asphalt has been discovered!" Li Qiji said.
Seeing the emperor in such a state, what could the ministers say? If they said anything more, the emperor might lose his temper, and they might not even have their heads left.
It's best to keep quiet. The Emperor has already made up his mind; he's just informing us that he's going to do this. It's too late for them to stop him now, so all we can do is bow and say, "Yes, Your Majesty is wise!"
They might be cursing the emperor in their hearts, so these ministers are all shrewd and cunning, each one of them extremely slippery!
Li Qiji was very satisfied with these old guys, and they dared not say anything against him anymore. He was in a great mood!
He hurried off to the Cold Palace to harvest the second crop of rice; he hadn't forgotten this important matter!
So Li Qiji rushed off court and headed straight for the Cold Palace, wondering how much grain they could produce this time.
If the quantity remains the same as before, then their country should be able to distribute grain next year.
"Oh dear, Your Majesty! Slow down! Why are you running so fast?" Hua Quan chased after Li Qiji, who was running very fast ahead.
Without turning his head, Li Qiji said, "Hurry up and harvest the rice!"
Hua Quan: "..." You're probably just rushing off to cause trouble!
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