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墨書 Inktalez
"Liu Yi, bring another bucket of water!"
"Chunyu, the room is tidied up, hurry and arrange the bedding."
In the yard, everyone was busy. After two hours of hard work, the kids finally managed to get the house in order.
"However, since this is our first time here, we haven't prepared any food or drink. We've been munching on dry rations all the way. Let's go to a restaurant for a meal," Liu Qingxi said happily, looking at everyone, relieved that they wouldn't have to eat dry rations anymore.
They called on the Wen family and others and headed towards the most prosperous area of the capital in a grand procession. If all went well, there would be the best restaurant in the city.
In this unfamiliar place, Liu Qingxi had plenty of silver and naturally wouldn’t deprive himself.
In the Imperial Palace, Imperial Study
On the golden dragon throne adorned with five-clawed dragons dancing majestically, there was a bright yellow screen embroidered with brown patterns behind it. Above it hung a plaque inscribed with the powerful words "Zheng Da Guang Ming."
On the table in front of the dragon throne lay a thick stack of memorials, with an open book in the middle and several crystal-clear jade qilins placed on either side. A lantern embroidered with peonies burned a candle inside.
The emperor had graying hair and wore a bright yellow dragon robe. He had a slightly long beard and pale lips, holding a wolf hair brush as he diligently reviewed the memorials.
After Liu Gonggong reported in, he led Yang Yichen inside: "Your Majesty, I have been ordered to summon Lord Liu to the capital."
Yang Yichen knelt and performed a respectful greeting: "I pay my respects to Your Majesty. Long live Your Majesty!"
Sitting on the dragon throne, Dugu Han finished his last stroke on the memorial and looked up at this young talent renowned in the Western Moon Kingdom: "Rise!"
"Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty!"
"After not seeing you for several years, Lord Yang, your talents have truly opened my eyes. How did you design those machines?" Dugu Han was particularly interested in the methods and machinery that greatly improved production efficiency.
Yang Yichen lowered his head slightly, respectfully yet without flattery or humility, and replied calmly, "Your Majesty, the method I first used to select seeds was suggested by a clerk from Linyi County. The results we have now are also the result of everyone's collective brainstorming."
"Those machines came to me as a sudden inspiration while I was working alongside the farmers. If we could create machines to replace manual labor, it would save a significant amount of time. The time and energy saved could allow them to accomplish much more, such as working more efficiently and making life much easier."
He answered each question truthfully, never taking credit for what was not his own achievement, and presenting his own contributions with fairness and justice.
There was no exaggeration or false modesty in his words, which made Dugu Han increasingly satisfied. Such calmness and composure in a young man were indeed becoming rare.
In just two years, the various methods and machines invented by Yang Yichen had led to a qualitative leap in farming efficiency and yields across the Western Moon Kingdom.
In terms of agriculture, they had outpaced other nations significantly; how could he not be pleased?
Dugu Han laughed heartily, but suddenly his chest convulsed, leading to a fit of intense coughing.
The eunuch attending him quickly stepped forward, "Your Majesty, your old ailment has flared up again. Please take some medicine." This was a special pill prepared by the Imperial Medical Institute for you.
He immediately brought the pill to Dugu Han's lips and helped him take a few sips of water.
After a moment, Dugu Han finally caught his breath: "Lord Yang, Young Talent, you are the pillar of our Western Moon. I hope you can achieve great things in the capital as well."
"I will do my utmost," Yang Yichen replied with the same expression as before—neither sad nor happy—as he knelt in gratitude.
This attitude of not being swayed by external circumstances caught Dugu Han's attention.
Many of the old ministers in the court are visibly pleased when they receive praise, and Yang Yichen's ability to reach this level shows his strong inner self and calm demeanor.
"Alright, you can go back now. I give you three days to arrange yourself, and after that, you will officially take your post." After finishing his words, he wearily waved his sleeve, signaling Yang Yichen to leave.
Once the person left, he slowly closed his eyes and let out a long sigh: "I can't deny my age any longer."
In the past two years, his health had deteriorated, and now even a little emotional excitement would lead to coughing fits.
"Your Majesty, please take a rest!" Beside him, a white-haired grandfather in his fifties carefully attended to him, worried that the cold air from the ice placed in the Imperial Study was too much. He even draped a thin blanket over him.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly; the Emperor worked day and night, and his health was getting worse.
But as an emperor, this was his helplessness.
While enjoying everything that power brought him, he also had to make corresponding sacrifices.
This grandfather sympathized with Dugu Han and felt for him. Having grown up alongside the Emperor and accompanied him for decades, he was the Emperor's most trusted person.
And this grandfather was none other than Liu Gonggong's godfather.
On another side, after leaving the Imperial Study and bidding farewell to Liu Gonggong, Yang Yichen walked towards the palace gate under the guidance of the guards.
The precious flowers and plants lining the road were vibrant and colorful but failed to catch Yang Yichen's attention at all.
His thoughts were entirely on Dugu Han. Two years ago, he had looked very healthy; he didn't seem like someone in his fifties. The well-maintained Emperor appeared to be at most forty years old.
After two years of not seeing each other, the changes were striking. The once handsome face now appeared quite puffy, the lips had lost much of their color, and he seemed listless, not to mention the loud cough that sounded like it could bring up a lung.
Could it really be that he was getting old? No, he refused to believe that things could be so simple.
Perhaps it was precisely the seemingly simple matters that were more complex behind the scenes, especially in this treacherous and arduous palace filled with intrigue.
Despite thinking this all the way, he couldn't come up with any answers.
Exiting the palace, Yang Yichen walked back in the direction he had come from.
Ordinary officials were not allowed to bring carriages close to the palace; this stretch of road had to be traversed on foot.
Just as he was about to board his carriage to leave, a seemingly ordinary carriage appeared nearby, and a voice called out from within: "Lord Yang, our master requests your presence!"
Yang Yichen paused for a moment, his body tensing as he sensed no one around. He then changed direction and boarded the carriage next to his own, instructing the driver to head home directly.
The seemingly ordinary carriage turned out to be exquisitely decorated inside. Yang Yichen chuckled lightly; it seemed that person truly thought highly of him, approaching him right after he left the palace gates.
However, he felt no fear and faced the situation with calmness.
The sound of the carriage rolling along only served to soothe his thoughts further.
After a quarter of an hour, the carriage arrived at an ordinary courtyard. Without any pause, it drove straight in. The driver respectfully said, "Lord Yang, please disembark! Our master has been waiting inside for some time."
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