Chapter 136 I really like it, but I don't want it...
The next morning, after having breakfast with Zhilan, Fu Yun waved away all the servants and took Zhilan to the study.
Seeing his mysterious demeanor, Zhilan couldn't help but become curious: "Why did you bring me to the study?"
Fu Yun smiled but remained silent.
Zhilan glanced at the newly added calligraphy and paintings on the display shelf and guessed, "The surprise you mentioned, could it be a gift of calligraphy and paintings?"
Fu Yun shook his head and said self-deprecatingly, "My knowledge is nothing compared to yours."
As he spoke, he extended his right hand, placed his palm over the vase on the display shelf, and slowly twisted the vase clockwise.
The display shelf in front of me began to vibrate, followed by the sound of a heavy object being moved.
Until the entire display shelf opened wide to both sides, revealing a secret passage leading into the darkness.
Zhilan raised her eyebrows slightly, looking somewhat surprised, and asked, "What is this?"
Fu Yun gave a meaningful smile but did not explain, clearly wanting to maintain the mystery.
He stepped into the dark secret passage: "Follow me."
Upon hearing this, Zhilan didn't ask any more questions and followed after her.
After Zhilan entered the secret passage, Fu Jun took out a tinderbox, lit it, and illuminated the dark surroundings.
He lit an oil lamp hanging on the wall of the secret passage, then took it down directly for illumination.
Zhilan glanced at the bottomless passage and asked again in confusion, "Why did you dig this secret passage?"
Fu Jun said calmly, "Don't worry, you'll find out soon enough."
He reached out and touched one of the oil lamps on the wall, turning it clockwise, and the open display shelf slowly closed again.
The two walked side by side in the secret passage for a long time, making many twists and turns as they went downhill, passing through a set of steps and then another passage.
This cycle repeated itself many times, but there was still no sign of an exit.
Zhilan, unsure of Fu Yun's true intentions, looked slightly helpless: "This secret passage is like a maze. Could it be that you've become interested in underground passages because of the spies' work in excavating them?"
Fu Yun shook her head and declared, "Of course not. My method has a greater effect than the secret passage. You'll definitely like it after you see it."
Zhilan looked intently at Fu Jun: "Is that so? Then I'll wait and see."
After walking for half an hour, the secret passage they saw gradually extended to both sides, and the space instantly became wider. The originally deep passage became a passage leading to various areas, and each passage had no end in sight, obviously extending outwards.
Countless doorways lined both sides of the passageway, each with a small square paper window next to it.
Zhilan's expression became somewhat subtle, and though it was a question, her tone was one of certainty: "Could these be temporary dwellings dug out for the poor?"
Fu Yun shook her head: "To be precise, this is a shelter."
Zhilan's pupils dilated slightly, and she asked with some uncertainty, "A shelter used for disaster prevention and fire protection?"
Fu Yun smiled slightly and explained, "These are just the two simplest of their functions."
Zhilan's interest was piqued: "Oh? It has other uses too?"
Fu Yun nodded in response: "In a true sense, this kind of secret passage is called an air-raid shelter, which is a large-scale refuge that can play its maximum role. It is extremely well concealed and easy to defend. It can not only be used to avoid the cold, heat and disaster, but also to protect the safety of civilians during wartime, so that they would not be left with nowhere to hide when the two armies are fighting and be slaughtered by the enemy without cause."
Zhilan's eyes lit up instantly, her face showing shock, and the surging emotions in her heart could not be calmed for a long time: "Are you trying to share my burdens?"
Fu Yun sighed, her voice filled with heartache: "I know that what I've done is just the tip of the iceberg compared to the responsibilities you bear. It can't help you solve your problems or difficulties. I just want to lighten the pressure you're under, even if it's just a little bit, so that I don't feel like I'm useless to you as your so-called lover, making you work so hard without being able to help you in any way."
He paused, then reached out and grasped Zhilan's hands, his expression solemn and sincere: "I know that as the son of a merchant, being with me means you have to give up being a relaxed and carefree monarch, and you are destined to be unable to use the connections of the old ministers in the court to stabilize the situation in the court, but I still want to do my best to assist you."
"I hope to achieve the same level of support that powerful families can provide through other means, even if it's not through power, but through wealth. I often hear people say that money can make the devil turn the millstone, and I believe that once the national treasury is full, many things will be easily solved."
Zhilan sighed softly and raised her hand to rub Fu Jun's forehead: "Silly boy, don't underestimate yourself. How can those cunning old foxes compare to you? What they care about is never whether the country can prosper and be peaceful, but their own rights and status. If anyone threatens their power, they will definitely get rid of them as soon as possible."
"On the contrary, those ministers who do not force me to marry and have children are the ones who truly want to do something for the people of our country."
"Do you know which officials took the initiative to go to deal with the most troublesome flooding in Qingzhou these past few months?"
Fu Yun shook her head: "I only heard Qian Qingling say that a civil official accompanied him."
Zhilan chuckled, her tone tinged with sarcasm: "You might not believe it, but in this vast court, apart from two lower-ranking compilers and editors who volunteered to go to Qingzhou to manage the floods, not a single other official expressed any interest. They all found excuses to decline, adopting an attitude of indifference, believing that their high-ranking positions made it unacceptable for them to go to such a dangerous place as Qingzhou."
At this point, Zhilan's expression hardened: "Once the floods in Qingzhou are resolved, I will uproot these corrupt officials and make them understand the difference between being an official and being a citizen."
Fu Yun thought to himself: It seems that the top scorers and runners-up of the past two years are the ones who have taken the initiative to shoulder the heavy responsibility.
He nodded in support: "Once you've made a decision, go for it. A truly good official who serves the country and its people will do his best to solve difficult problems, no matter how low his rank is."
With Fu Yundao's comforting words, Zhilan's expression softened a bit: "Yes, it's time to consider sending them down to the countryside, and also to let them deeply understand what it is really supposed to be like as local officials."
"As a man, you can always think about the poor and refugees, and then compare that to the inaction of those in power. It is truly heartbreaking and disappointing."
Fu Yun gently comforted her, "Alright, alright, let's not talk about these annoying people anymore. Let's continue exploring the air-raid shelter!"
Zhilan nodded in agreement and changed the subject, "Where do these passageways lead?"
"There are several cave entrances on a wild hill that is relatively close to the city gate."
Zhilan stared directly at Fu Yun: "Those exits in the mountains?"
Fu Yun touched his nose and told the truth: "There's also the imperial palace."
Zhilan, with an expression of complete understanding, asked again, "Which part of the palace?"
Fu Yun covered her face, somewhat embarrassed: "Water prison."
Zhilan: "?"
She asked curiously, "What are you doing going to the water dungeon? Are you planning to break me out?"
Fu Yun immediately shook her head: "Of course not, it's just that I feel this position is the most unexpected and the hardest for people to find."
There was another location that Fu Yun was too embarrassed to mention, which was the backyard of Zhilan's palace.
Zhilan chuckled and praised, "What are you thinking about all day? How did you come up with the idea of digging such a hidden shelter?"
Fu Yun joked to himself, "Of course, I think wildly and without any limits, otherwise how would I come up with a way to make money?"
After thinking for a moment, he made a guarantee: "Don't worry, the exit to the palace is very well hidden and has been specially concealed. People who don't know the inside story won't know that this passage exists. Even if someone accidentally finds it, they won't be able to open it. Because your safety is more important than anyone else's, I have set up passwords and hidden mechanisms all of them. Even if someone opens the mechanism, they will still need to crack the password I set to go out or come in."
As he spoke, he pulled a small wooden plaque from his sleeve: "The secret to unlocking the mechanism and the code lies in this wooden plaque. It needs to be soaked in water to reveal the words. Once you memorize the decryption, you can destroy this wooden plaque."
Zhilan felt a surge of emotion: "Okay, I understand."
Fu Yun breathed a sigh of relief, but murmured softly, "I hope this air-raid shelter will never be needed."
Zhilan chuckled and shook her head, saying nothing more, and simply followed behind Fu Jun as they continued through the secret passage.
As they walked, they could feel a gentle breeze blowing from time to time.
Zhilan asked in confusion, "Isn't this underground? Why is there wind?"
Fu Yun explained, "We've done some ventilation. Otherwise, without natural air circulation, it would lead to oxygen deficiency, and people wouldn't be able to stay inside for very long."
Zhilan suddenly realized, "No wonder you put windows in every cave; it's for ventilation."
Fu Yun patiently explained, "Because once war breaks out, we have to be prepared for a long-term war, so we must be able to stay for a long time."
Zhilan expressed her satisfaction: "Thank you for the surprise you prepared for me. I really like it and I'm sure it will be of great help in the future."
Fu Yun took Zhi Lan's hand and said softly, "But I don't want it to ever be of any use."
Zhilan was slightly taken aback, but did not respond.
Fu Jun sighed inwardly. How could he not know that war was inevitable, it was just a matter of time?
He held Zhilan's hand tightly, secretly resolving in his heart: "No matter what difficulties we encounter in the future, I will definitely stay by her side, through life and death, and advance and retreat together."
The two walked out of one of the cave entrances in the mountains. Outside, the sun was shining brightly and the autumn air was crisp and clear.
The two walked down the mountain and headed towards the city gate.
It was already noon when we arrived at the city gate.
Before entering the city, Fu Yun glanced casually at the spot where Wang Linfang usually distributed porridge, but was surprised to find that Wang Linfang, who always distributed porridge for charity, was not there today, nor was her companion.
Fu Yun frowned slightly, about to say something, when Ye Lan's figure appeared inside the city gate, walking anxiously towards him and Zhi Lan.
As soon as she stood in front of the two, Ye Lan quickly said, "Master, there are important matters in the court that require your attention."
Author's note: The most important climax is about to begin. The book will be about 500,000 to 530,000 words long by the end.
Friendly reminder: Since men are called "Mr.", then the child must be born to a man.
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