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墨書 Inktalez
In the Golden Throne Hall, the figure clad in bright yellow still exuded an imposing presence, though his face now bore the marks of time, lacking the sharpness that had characterized his gaze a year ago.
Time is a relentless force, aging all it touches, and this saying applies equally to the Sovereign.
A year ago, he appeared as a middle-aged man, but now he showed signs of the age that should accompany his years, a condition exacerbated not only by state affairs but also by family matters.
At over fifty years old, he could hardly be compared to his younger self. The competition among the three thousand beauties in his harem weighed heavily on him, and that was not to mention the external and internal strife from rival nations.
The schemes and intrigues among his many sons vying for the throne had left Dugu Han, a ruler for many years, feeling somewhat worn out. Over the past year, his health had deteriorated sharply.
He picked up a newly arrived Memorial from the imperial desk and glanced at its contents, which brought him great joy: "Good! Good! Good!" He exclaimed three times in succession, excitement causing him to cough.
"Your Majesty, please take care of your health. The Imperial Physician advises against excessive emotional fluctuations," a eunuch behind him quickly said as he soothed Dugu Han's chest.
Dugu Han waved his hand: "You may leave. Today I am happy. Our Top Scholar has not been honored in vain two years ago; look, he has made significant contributions to the agricultural development of our Western Moon Kingdom."
The content of the Memorial detailed Yang Yichen's successful experiment with a new power-driven waterwheel, which would soon be put into use—another major innovation in history.
As an emperor, who wouldn't want to leave a lasting legacy? Who wouldn't want to be regarded as a wise ruler in the hearts of the people? Dugu Han felt similarly.
However, he truly could not be called a wise ruler nor an outright foolish one. If judged fairly, his diplomatic relations with Neighboring Countries were moderate at best, while matters within the harem were poorly managed.
Well, throughout history, palace intrigues have been countless, and injustices abound; it merely depends on whose misfortunes are highlighted.
In the Golden Throne Hall, civil and military officials were arranged in four neat rows. Leading them were the Prime Minister and several princes, with Dugu Hao standing alongside the Crown Prince.
"Congratulations to Father Emperor for uncovering such a fierce general for our Western Moon."
"Indeed! In just two years, this Top Scholar has made remarkable contributions. The machinery sent back from Linyi is nothing short of exquisite."
"We once wondered why this Top Scholar was sent to such a remote place; who would have thought he could achieve great things anywhere?"
"Your Majesty is wise and discerning; you recognized that this Top Scholar was suited for Linyi."
The praises from below were incessant, filling Dugu Han with delight.
Regardless of why Yang Yichen was initially sent away from the capital, it now seemed clear that his decision had been correct. In just two years, grain production in Linyi had increased by thirty percent, and the efficiency of the people had doubled. Consequently, various regions of Western Moon began implementing Linyi's methods and policies.
This is all the result of his wise decisions as a Ruler.
Those who laughed at Yang Yichen back then were all soundly slapped in the face, the sound echoing.
The Crown Prince, dressed in a moon-white four-clawed python robe, stood at the front, laughing heartily, flattering Dugu Han: "This is all due to Father Emperor's capable governance that we have achieved such results and seen progress like Yang Yichen. Ultimately, it is your credit, Father Emperor."
Dugu Han nodded in approval: "Crown Prince, you must also work hard!"
Encouraged, Crown Prince Dugu Li responded loudly: "Thank you for your encouragement, Father Emperor. I will certainly live up to your expectations."
He then cast a sidelong glance at the silent Dugu Hao beside him, snorted coldly, and turned back dismissively.
What right did such a person have to compete with him for the throne? It was merely relying on the support of the Yu Family.
Dugu Hao maintained a neutral expression, not responding to Dugu Li's provocation. If it weren't for Queen Wang's protection, Dugu Li wouldn't know how many times he would have met his end.
Having experienced the ups and downs of life, Dugu Hao had cultivated an unshakeable demeanor that few could match. He had no desire to waste any expression on Dugu Li's trivial provocations.
As for Yang Yichen, the talent he had painstakingly recruited, after two years of hiding his light and honing his skills, it was naturally time for him to play his role.
Perhaps it was this unexpectedness that would deliver a fatal blow to their opponents.
Just as Dugu Li was secretly contemplating how to bring Yang Yichen under his command, Dugu Hao had already arranged the next steps.
Emperor Dugu Han looked at the ministers below: "All of you are talents for our nation. Western Moon needs you; only then can we have a stronger national power that cannot be undermined by others. If only all the young people in Western Moon were like Yang Yichen!"
The subtle sigh not only expressed admiration for Yang Yichen but also contained disappointment towards others.
The court fell into silence; no one dared to pick up on the Emperor's words.
After a long pause, someone suddenly proposed: "Your Majesty, Yang Yichen is exceptionally talented and has made tremendous contributions to our Western Moon. Such a talent should be utilized in more effective ways. Why not summon him back to the capital to serve in the Ministry of Revenue?"
Once this idea was put forward, it received the approval of most people.
"Yes, that's a good idea. A talent like Yang Yichen would be perfect for the Ministry of Revenue, specializing in various machinery—wouldn't that be excellent?"
"While managing the people of one region, he can still contribute so much. If he serves specifically for the Ministry of Revenue, wouldn't that yield even better results?"
Thus, the issue of Yang Yichen's future became a topic of discussion in the court.
According to usual practice, local officials serve a term of three years, with evaluations every three years. Those who perform well may have the opportunity for promotion, while those who do not continue to serve in their current positions.
As for Yang Yichen? He had only been in office for two years, yet his achievements were truly admirable.
Dugu Han thought to himself, indeed, two years ago he had intended to keep Yang Yichen in the capital. However, Queen Wang had whispered in his ear, wanting to marry her niece to Yang Yichen.
Eventually, this matter fell through. It seemed he had also heard that Yang Yichen was too young and could not take on a significant role in the Ministry of Revenue.
Over time, Yang Yichen was reassigned to a more remote area.
As it turned out, gold will shine no matter where it is placed, and Yang Yichen was just that.
Reflecting on what happened two years ago, Yang Bingshan suddenly felt a bit of disdain for Queen Wang.
If it weren't for this woman occasionally whispering in his ear, he wouldn't have missed out on such talent as Yang Yichen for two years. Although his contributions during these two years were evident, could they really compare to the resources and conditions available in the capital?
If given better conditions, perhaps what he could create would be far beyond what has been achieved so far.
As a Ruler, the most untouchable taboo is anything that influences his judgment.
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