After the disaster in Yunzhou was brought under control, the most heated debate in the court was whether or not to dig a canal.
Although the Emperor ordered the Ministry of Works to draw up the blueprints first, this was a huge project. So many people worked overtime for several nights before they were able to draw up the blueprints for connecting the major waterways, based on a few sentences from the scholar's article.
What was originally a wild and imaginative conjecture, when put on paper, filled all those in the Ministry of Works who participated in drawing the map with indescribable excitement—regardless of whether the canal was dug or not, this map would ensure their lasting fame.
When this map was delivered to Yuwen Wuji, his first reaction was the same as everyone else's: if it were implemented, he would become the wise emperor in history.
However, the Ministry of Revenue had not yet provided an overview of the funds spent, nor had the Ministry of Personnel issued a plan for personnel arrangements. He dared not make a decision rashly.
Such a massive project cannot be accomplished simply by his statement that it is feasible. It requires the full mobilization of the nation's resources, but does he have the courage to undertake it? Does the Great Chen Dynasty possess such national strength?
"Your Majesty, shall we discuss this matter after you return to the palace?" Minister of Works Zuo Yi was a little nervous. He really wanted to undertake such a large project. Regardless of whether he could become famous for generations, he had never undertaken such a large project since he took office!
He was getting fed up with all this work – leading people to repair this mausoleum or build that palace. When Jiangzhou flooded, he thought, "Shouldn't the Emperor have his Ministry of Works recruit soldiers and build water conservancy projects?"
Hey, it turns out they didn't need it. They just built a dam and fooled people for another year.
Zuo Yi's knees buckled as he spun around, desperately wanting to kowtow to the Emperor and beg for his permission to take on the job. But he knew it wouldn't be easy; not only did he need the Emperor's approval, but also the nods of the five Grand Secretaries of the Cabinet.
If all five Grand Secretaries disagree, the Emperor will not be able to proceed, no matter how much he wants to.
"Leave it for now, I'll think about it some more, and we'll discuss it again when I return to the palace."
Zuo Yi left with considerable regret. After exiting Huangjue Temple, he slowly walked down the mountain and encountered several burly men.
"Lord Zuo, our master has something he would like to discuss with you."
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Inside Yikun Palace, Lu Yinghong had been having a rough few days, not only with family matters but also with affairs within the harem.
With the Emperor away from the palace, the Fifth Prince studied under his teacher in the Grand Secretariat and received unanimous praise from the Grand Secretaries.
She was very jealous of Consort Shu, even though she was not very prominent, because Consort Shu had a son!
Her biggest regret in life was that she never had a child.
"Your Highness, the clan elders still favor the Fifth Prince," the nanny said, massaging Lu Yinghong's temples.
"No, the position of Empress is vacant. Several princes are raised by their birth mothers. The Fifth Prince and Consort Shu have a deep bond. Even if I kill Consort Shu, I'm afraid the Fifth Prince will not have any feelings for me."
That makes sense, but by the time Consort Zhen's son grows up, I'm afraid the power will have already fallen into other hands.
The old woman sighed.
"The Crown Prince is away on disaster relief missions; I wonder how he is doing."
Lu Yinghong crossed her hands, her slender, white knuckles stained with balsam juice, making her look very beautiful.
"The clan has its own arrangements; I can remain in the inner palace. It's just that my elder sister..." She rubbed her forehead, her head aching. It was still because the Lu family had no one in the court!
Although the Emperor promoted several members of the Lu family, they were all to minor or insignificant official positions. It was impossible for the Jingzhao Prefecture to reduce her sister's crime out of consideration for the Lu family.
The most important thing now is to make peace with the Prince Xuan's residence, but as a concubine, she cannot leave the palace. She can only send a letter to the Prince Xuan's residence to invite the Princess Xuan into the palace.
Although she was a concubine, she dared not, like Gao Ping, consider herself the sister-in-law of the Princess Consort of Xuan. This was because she had no children and could not secure her position!
Lu Yinghong felt increasingly uneasy about her situation. Perhaps out of desperation, she told her nanny, "Go and send a letter to the wife of the Minister of Personnel, asking her to bring the women of her household to the palace for a visit."
The old woman hesitated for a moment, then agreed and left.
Lu Yinghong thought that she still needed to promote the sons of her clan. Only when they gained a foothold in the court could she secure her position in the harem.
However, she forgot what kind of person her husband was.
"Gao Ping has been in charge of the harem for over a decade, and the Emperor has allowed the Gao family to act arrogantly and domineeringly in the capital for over ten years, yet he has never granted any of the Gao family members an important position. The Gao family members have repeatedly failed the imperial examinations, and everyone says that the Gao family's fate is sealed. But are they truly unqualified, or is it that the Emperor is unwilling to allow it?"
When Consort Shu heard that Lu Yinghong had invited Madam Ye and her female relatives, she couldn't help but chuckle twice.
She sorted through the dried osmanthus flowers, examining them carefully and picking out any that had turned black.
"Your Majesty is right. Just watch the Imperial Noble Consort torment herself until she kills herself."
Consort Shu sighed and said, "Of the sisters who entered the palace with me, there will be very few left by then."
The trusted palace maid said, "Your Highness's good fortune is yet to come!"
"Enough! Let's not dwell on the past and look forward. Quickly steam all these osmanthus flowers. I'll make them into pastries later and send some to the Emperor at Huangjue Temple, and also send some to the remaining palaces."
"Here you go!"
The next morning, Yuwen Wuji received a gift of osmanthus and mung bean cake from Consort Shu at Huangjue Temple.
He found his stay at Huangjue Temple rather dull these days. Although he didn't have to sit and chant sutras all day, he still had to put on a show in front of people when the incense was burning brightly in the morning.
Li Wei presented him with osmanthus and mung bean cakes and said with a smile, "Your Highness still likes to make these things."
Yuwen Wuji picked up a piece and tasted it; it was indeed very good.
"She's always been considerate." Thinking of this, it seemed that none of the women in his harem had ever shown him any kindness since he came here.
Yuwen Wuji couldn't help but frown. Was he really that unpopular with these women?
After finishing one piece, Yuwen Wuji waved his hand.
"Has anything happened in the palace recently?"
Li Wei then recounted Lu Yinghong's invitation to Madam Ye, which prompted Yuwen Wuji to raise an eyebrow, seemingly somewhat displeased.
"What connection does she have with this Madam Ye, and why would she suddenly send someone to the palace?"
Li Wei then recounted the feud between her sister and the Prince Xuan's household.
Yuwen Wuji scoffed coldly, "Ha! I gave her some face, and she's already become arrogant!"
Li Wei understood perfectly what his master was thinking. He could accept a woman having power, but he could not accept a woman cultivating her own power behind his back.
He was so terrified of Empress Jingxian back then that he would scream even in his dreams.
Only after Empress Jingxian died and the Xie family withdrew from the court could he finally get a few peaceful nights' sleep.
To put it bluntly, this kind of person knows they are not worthy of their position, but is unwilling to be replaced, so they can only keep eliminating those who threaten their position.
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