After my inner voice was eavesdropped, I became the favorite of the Tang Dynasty

Chapter 91

However, Li Qingge, the daughter of the emperor, put the interests of the people first. She ordered the factory to install air conditioners in the homes of the people first, and then the businesses. Therefore, even though there are many restaurants, only a few can enjoy the treatment of air conditioning, which undoubtedly became a highlight of this restaurant.

Emperor Qianlong sat on the sofa, feeling the coolness brought by the air conditioner, and couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion in his heart. He thought of the scorching heat in the Forbidden City in summer, the unbearable heat that seemed to burn people. Although there are many ways to escape the heat in the palace, whether it is cooling down with ice cubes or running to the Old Summer Palace or the Mountain Resort, it is not as convenient and cool as air conditioning. He lightly pressed the remote control, and the cool breeze blew over. The comfort made him laugh out loud, and he exclaimed: "This is simply the life of a god!"

Li Qingge stood aside, watching Emperor Qianlong's satisfied look, and felt a little relieved in her heart. She was worried that Emperor Qianlong was active and would be bored if he was locked up in the hotel, but she didn't expect that he would enjoy it. She really regretted not thinking of this trick earlier, thinking that in such a hot day, who wouldn't want to stay at home with air conditioning and cold drinks? Emperor Qianlong, as an ancient emperor, had never enjoyed such treatment before, so arranging him in the hotel was not confinement, but a welfare for him.

As night fell and the lights came on, Emperor Qianlong stood by the window, looking out at the city. The lights were dim and flickering, as beautiful as a painting. He secretly admired Li Qingge's good governance. In just a few years, he managed the south to be so prosperous. He thought that if the Qing Dynasty was also handed over to Li Qingge to manage, then the north and the south would be unified, and the whole of China would definitely be more prosperous and powerful.

Just as he was immersed in his thoughts, he suddenly heard a knock on the door. Emperor Qianlong came to his senses, walked over to open the door, but was stunned. Standing outside the door was a woman in a black and gold cheongsam. She had a graceful figure, a pure and elegant temperament, and a bit of enchantment, just like a flower blooming at midnight. Her eyes were deep, as if she could see into people's hearts, and there was a faint smile on the corner of her mouth, which made people feel close to her.

Emperor Qianlong asked in surprise, "How did you know I was here?" Li Qingge smiled and replied, "How could you hide it from me when you came to the territory of Dayan?" Her voice was clear and pleasant, like a spring in the mountains. Emperor Qianlong also smiled, "I have known for a long time that you have great magical powers. You will know it as soon as you enter the territory."

Li Qingge asked again: "Since you know you can't hide it from me, why do you dare to come in so easily? Aren't you afraid of danger?" Emperor Qianlong answered generously: "No!" His eyes were firm, revealing a fearless spirit. Li Qingge curiously asked the reason, but Emperor Qianlong smiled and said nothing: "It's enough for you to know the reason, why ask more questions."

As she spoke, Li Qingge walked into the room with a tea bag in her hand. The black and gold cheongsam she wore shone charmingly under the light, as if blending in with the surrounding splendor. She began to boil water and make tea, her movements smooth and elegant, like flowing clouds and water, just like entertaining guests. After a while, the fragrance of tea filled the whole room, the fragrance was fresh and elegant, making people feel relaxed and happy.

She poured herself a cup of tea and pushed another cup to Emperor Qianlong: "Come and taste my tea." Her voice was gentle and kind, as if it could soothe people's irritability. Emperor Qianlong took the teacup, took a sip, and immediately felt a refreshing fragrance that penetrated his heart, making him exclaim: "Good tea!"

The two of them sat on the sofa, sipping tea and chatting. The lights outside the window were still flickering, as if adding a bit of warmth and romance to their gathering. In this magnificent restaurant, two people from different worlds met because of a wonderful fate and spent an unforgettable night together.

Emperor Qianlong was stunned for a moment, and at that moment, it seemed as if time had frozen in his stunned state. Then, he sat down slowly, with an unspoken dignity and calmness in his posture. He picked up the teacup in front of him. It was a delicate blue-and-white porcelain with elegant landscape patterns painted on the wall, which complemented the quiet atmosphere of the Hu Gong Temple. He gently sipped the tea. The tea was emerald green, like tender leaves in spring. After taking a sip, his eyes suddenly lit up, and a satisfied smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "This Longjing tea from the Hu Gong Temple is indeed a top-quality tea!"

His words revealed his deep love for tea, and also evoked his memories of more than ten years ago. At that time, he was still young, touring the south of the Yangtze River, full of curiosity and enthusiasm for everything. He specially went to the foot of Shifeng Mountain in Hangzhou, where there were clouds and mists, like a fairyland. He witnessed the scene of tea farmers picking Longjing tea. Those tea farmers were skilled in picking tea leaves, which were tender green and full of vitality. At that time, he was in a good mood and went to the fields himself to pick a few handfuls of tea leaves like the tea farmers. The tea leaves in his hands seemed to be a gift from nature, with an indescribable freshness and vitality.

However, the good times did not last long. A personal attendant came running to him, saying that the Queen Mother was ill and needed him to return to the palace urgently. Although Qianlong modestly said that he was not a wise ruler, he was very filial to his mother. When he heard that his mother was ill, he quickly put the freshly picked tea leaves into his sleeves. The tea leaves were covered with morning dew, as if they also carried his filial piety and worry. He hurried back to the capital, exhausted all the way, just to see his mother as soon as possible and confirm her safety.

The Queen Mother's illness was actually caused by eating too many delicacies from land and sea on a daily basis, which caused her internal heat to be strong, resulting in red and swollen eyes and pain. Fortunately, it was not serious, she just needed to rest. When Qianlong rushed back to the palace, the Queen Mother smelled a strange fragrance on him, which was fresh and elegant, making people feel relaxed and happy. She curiously asked him what good things he brought back. Qianlong himself was also puzzled, and when he turned up his sleeves, he saw that it was those handfuls of Longjing tea. After several days of bumps and sun exposure, the tea leaves had dried naturally, but the fragrance was even stronger. He quickly ordered someone to cook it and offer it to the Queen Mother for tasting.

As soon as the empress dowager drank it, she felt the fragrance of the tea fill the room. The fragrance seemed to penetrate into people's hearts, making them feel relaxed and happy. Her anger disappeared, and even the discomfort in her eyes was mostly cured. She praised the tea as more effective than elixir, and her smile was full of satisfaction and relief. Seeing that the empress dowager liked it so much, Qianlong ordered that the top 18 tea trees in front of Hu Gong Temple at the foot of Shifeng Mountain be named as imperial tea, and the tea picked every year was exclusively for the royal family to enjoy.

West Lake Longjing tea is the best tea and is known as the "king of green tea". The tea produced in Shifeng is the best of the best. The eighteen tea trees in front of Hu Gong Temple are simply the best of the best. Among the tea tributes from various places, Emperor Qianlong only preferred the Mingqian tea from Shifeng Mountain. The tea is emerald green in color, has a noble aroma, and tastes fresh, as if it can wash away the dust in people's hearts. But since the South was handed over to Li Qingge for governance, he has never tasted this flavor again. Now tasting it again, he feels that it is even more delicious than in his memory, and the fragrance of the tea seems to evoke infinite reverie in his heart.

Li Qingge looked at Qianlong, her eyes were clear and deep, as if she could see into people's hearts. She smiled faintly, revealing a kind of detached and indifferent smile: "I have tasted many famous teas before, and even good teas like West Lake Longjing may not be to my liking. But after losing it and getting it again, I can truly appreciate its beauty." Her words are full of philosophy and perception, which makes people fall into contemplation.

Qianlong remained silent upon hearing this, just savoring the fragrance of tea. The fragrance of tea seemed to carry Li Qingge's words, allowing him to secretly understand her meaning. Only when you lose something, will you know how to cherish it. He looked at Li Qingge, his eyes revealing a complex emotion, with appreciation, admiration, and a subtle regret.

The father and daughter sat opposite each other, their eyes meeting from time to time. Li Qingge looked calm and composed, her face was elegant and refined, as if not stained with a speck of dust. She was wearing a dark dress, but that dress seemed to only set off her temperament, making her look even more intelligent, pure and flawless. Qianlong looked at her carefully. After a long absence, he found that Li Qingge's demeanor was more outstanding than before. Her beauty was not only in her appearance, but also in the temperament and charm that emanated from the inside out.

Qianlong thought that although he had many beauties in his harem, this was the first time he had seen a woman as stunningly beautiful as Li Qingge. If they were not blood relatives, and if he was not bound by his status as an emperor, he would have pursued her at all costs. But the reality was so cruel that the identities and statuses between them seemed to be an insurmountable gap.

Li Qingge sat quietly, letting Qianlong look at her. Her eyes were calm and deep, as if she could see through everything. If it wasn't for seeing it with one's own eyes and experiencing it personally, who would believe that such an extraordinary woman could have such shocking power and ability? Her beauty is like Yu Ji in ancient times, with a gentle and tenacious temperament that is unforgettable; her courage is comparable to that of the Overlord Xiang Yu, with a spirit of not fearing power and daring to challenge that makes people admire her. Beauty and heroism, these two completely different qualities, are perfectly integrated in her, forming a unique charm.

The more Qianlong thought about it, the more incredible it seemed. He looked at Li Qingge, his eyes revealing an indescribable complex emotion. He admired Li Qingge's talent and ability, and also regretted the difference in identity and status between them. But no matter what, he could not deny Li Qingge's excellence.

"You look at me so straight, do you think I have a peach blossom on my face?" Li Qingge was a little displeased by Qianlong's look. She frowned slightly, and her eyebrows seemed to be a graceful arc, adding a bit of charm to her face. Her voice was cold and pleasant, as if it could penetrate people's hearts.

"No, no matter how many flowers there are in the world, no matter how beautiful they are, they cannot compare to your face." Qianlong replied with a smile, his smile was sincere and honest. Although his words were simple, they revealed his deep praise and appreciation for Li Qingge. He understood that no matter what her identity and status were, Li Qingge was an irreplaceable existence in his heart.

Qianlong spoke sincerely, his eyes were clear, without any evil thoughts, as if at this moment, he was really just a father who longed for his daughter's forgiveness, rather than the high and mighty emperor of the Qing Dynasty. His eyes revealed an indescribable sadness and expectation, as if he was telling of his endless longing and regret over the years.

Li Qingge smiled, but that smile was filled with endless sarcasm and indifference. The corners of her mouth curved up, and her voice was as cold as a knife: "You have been caught by me, but you can still talk to me with a smile on your face. Are you really not afraid of death at all?" Her eyes were sharp, as if she could see through the deepest secrets of people's hearts.

Qianlong remained calm, his voice steady and firm: "What am I afraid of? No matter how much you hate me, the blood relationship between us cannot be severed." His words revealed an inexplicable self-confidence, as if this blood relationship was his last trump card.

Li Qingge pretended to be surprised and said, "You...you already know about our relationship?" There was a hint of surprise in her eyes, but it was immediately replaced by indifference.

Qianlong nodded slightly, revealing a hint of pride, but that pride was mixed with a bit of bitterness: "Yes, I knew it a long time ago, so I dared to step into the territory of Dayan." In fact, he was not so proud in his heart, but more of regret for the past and worry about the future.

Li Qingge snorted coldly, her voice filled with endless sarcasm and disdain: "So what if you know? The past is hard to let go. Instead of remembering it clearly and adding to the pain, it is better to be confused for the rest of your life." Her eyes revealed a kind of determination, as if she had made up her mind to sever this blood relationship.

"I am your father, how can you not acknowledge me?" Qianlong's voice was a little excited, and he tried to impress Li Qingge with family affection.

However, Li Qingge said firmly: "I don't recognize her!" Her voice was firm and without any hesitation. "The fifth princess is dead. The only one alive now is Li Qingge, the daughter of the Jin family." Her eyes revealed a kind of determination and pride, as if she had completely gotten rid of her past identity and constraints.

Qianlong whispered, "Heaven, Earth, the Emperor, Parents, and Teachers. It is a great act of filial piety not to recognize your own biological father." He tried to restrain Li Qingge with traditional moral concepts.

However, Li Qingge spat with disdain: "Bah! What about Heaven, Earth, Emperor, Parents and Teachers? They are all hypocritical rhetoric. Don't use these feudal remnants to suppress me. I won't fall for it." Her voice was full of disgust and contempt for feudal ethics.

"Are only blood relatives considered family? Whoever treats me well is my family." Li Qingge continued, her eyes revealing a kind of indifference and alienation, as if she was completely disappointed with this blood relationship.

She sneered repeatedly, her voice full of sarcasm: "How could I not know about your past? Since you regarded me as a bad omen in the first place, why bother looking for me now? Belated concern is as light as a feather, and is meaningless to human relations and kinship." Her tone revealed a kind of determination and indifference, as if she had completely lost faith in this family relationship.

Qianlong was speechless for a moment. He knew he was in the wrong and could not refute Li Qingge's words. Thinking back to the past, because he believed in slander, the fifth princess became a commoner, went through hardships, and eventually became the current Lord of Dayan, Li Qingge. His heart was filled with regret and self-blame, but he could not change the facts of the past.

Considering the strength of Da Yan and its military might, Qianlong knew that if he did not use family affection to tie Li Qingge's heart, once the war broke out and the army pressed on, the Qing Dynasty would face a catastrophe, and the royal family would not be spared. As an emperor and the patriarch of the Aisin-Gioro family, he had to consider the fate of the entire family. Although he felt sorry for Li Qingge, he had to bite the bullet and play the family card.

Qianlong gritted his teeth and said, "I am indeed sorry for what happened in the past, and I am willing to make up for it in any way. But the Aisin-Gioro family is innocent, and I hope you can keep this in mind." There was a kind of pleading and helplessness in his voice, as if he was begging Li Qingge's forgiveness.

However, Li Qingge responded coldly: "There are so many innocent people in the world. Those who have been executed because of the literary inquisition of your three generations are all innocent souls. Since I have accepted the mission of heaven, I must follow the trend of the times and eliminate all the feudal dregs." Her voice was full of hatred and determination for the feudal system.

She paused for a moment, as if organizing her thoughts, and then continued: "But I once promised my mother that I would not harm your life. As for others..." When she said this, her tone suddenly became cold and ruthless, and her eyes flashed with a cold light.

Qianlong's heart was in his throat. He knew Li Qingge's determination and cruelty, and was afraid that she would do something cruel to the Aixinjueluo family. He looked at Li Qingge in horror, as if he was looking at a death god who was about to pronounce the fate of his family.

Li Qingge's tone was as cold as a knife, as if it could cut through everything: "The fate of the Zhao royal family after the Jingkang Incident is the future of your Aisin-Gioro family." Her voice was filled with resentment for the past and determination for the future.

"No! You can't do this, they are all your relatives, blood is thicker than water!" Qianlong shouted in horror. He tried to impress Li Qingge with family affection, but found that his voice was so pale and weak.

He knew the shame and tragedy of the Jingkang Incident, which was even more heartbreaking than the Tumu Incident in the Ming Dynasty. He couldn't imagine how miserable and sad it would be if the Aisin-Gioro family suffered the same fate. He looked at Li Qingge with pleading and despair in his eyes, as if begging her to show mercy.

However, Li Qingge just looked at him coldly, as if she was looking at a stranger. There was no affection or compassion in her heart, only hatred for the feudal system and determination for the future. She knew that her decision would change the fate of many people, but she took this path without hesitation. Because in her opinion, only by sweeping away all the feudal dregs can the world become better and more just.

Among the thirty-six strategies, attacking the heart is the best, and this is true. Li Qingge is well aware of this. She knows that if she wants to realize her lofty ambitions, she must first lower her bottom line to the lowest level, as low as the dust, just like an experienced businessman bargaining in the market, who initially offers a jaw-droppingly low price, waits for the other party to be astonished, and then slowly negotiates, and finally closes the deal at a price acceptable to both parties. On the contrary, if you offer a normal price at the beginning, the seller will know that you are determined to win and will definitely ask for an exorbitant price, so it will be difficult to make things happen.

Li Qingge's words were as sharp as a knife, and each one seemed to pierce Qianlong's heart, leaving him speechless for a moment. If it were someone else who contradicted him like this, Qianlong would have been furious and ordered severe punishment. However, the woman opposite was also an emperor, holding great power and a strong military force. Even if Qianlong was very dissatisfied, he could do nothing about her.

Li Qingge looked at Qianlong's frustrated look, feeling secretly proud. She thought of those women who traveled through time and space. No matter how powerful and scheming they were, they still had to succumb to the authority of the emperor and the prince and live a life of grievance. Even if they became the big winner and the queen, they still had to abide by those cumbersome rules. Li Qingge didn't want to do that. She planned to rebel directly, overthrow the old order, and create a new era. She wondered in her heart, those travelers all had extraordinary abilities, some could practice Taoism, and some mastered strange arts and medicines, why didn't they think about subverting everything and reshaping the world? With such abilities, why were they willing to be someone else's concubine and compete for favor with a group of women? Do they all have a masochistic tendency? It's not like women can't live without men and love. Even if she wants to find a man, she can easily establish a new dynasty and become the founding empress herself. At that time, she can choose any handsome man in the world, which is much better than waiting for a man to come to her.

Li Qingge's momentum was so strong that Qianlong was defeated by her questioning. In the end, he could only sit on the sofa dejectedly and look at her helplessly. His eyes were full of pleading, as if he was about to beg her: "You...what do you want to do in order to let the Aisin-Gioro family go? They are all your relatives!"

Although Li Qingge's face was grim, his tone was calm: "Your Majesty, you are too serious. I am not a bloodthirsty person. The Queen is my mother and Yongqi is my brother. I will naturally protect them. When Yongqi gets married and starts a family in the future, the Aisin-Gioro bloodline will naturally continue. What do you have to worry about?"

When Qianlong heard this, he felt even more uncertain. She only said that she wanted to protect the queen and Yongji, but she didn't mention anyone else. Isn't this obviously a plan to kill them all? He was extremely anxious, but he could do nothing.

After a conversation, the two seemed to be back to square one. Qianlong originally wanted to use the country to seduce Li Qingge and negotiate peace with her, but now he really couldn't bear it anymore. He gritted his teeth and said, "If you are willing to give up and save the Aisin-Gioro family, I am willing to give the throne to you and let you become the master of this vast country."

After hearing this, Li Qingge couldn't help but sneer. The sound was clear and pleasant, like a mountain stream: "What does this country mean to me?" Her eyes revealed a look of disdain, as if this vast country was just a speck of dust in her eyes.

When Qianlong heard this, he was shocked. He looked at Li Qingge in disbelief, as if he was looking at a monster: "This is the foundation of the Qing Dynasty. How many princes dream of the supreme throne. When Emperor Shengzu was in power, his nine sons fought for this throne and even killed each other."

Li Qingge smiled as brightly as a flower, her voice gentle but firm: "How the princes fight and compete is their business. I am not interested in that broken chair. With my strength, the northern territory is no problem, so why should I covet this little kingdom?" Her eyes revealed a kind of confidence and determination, as if she had already seen the new era she had created.

Qianlong looked at Li Qingge's determined eyes, and a feeling of powerlessness surged in his heart. He knew that no matter what he said, he could not change Li Qingge's determination. He could only sit there silently, looking at Li Qingge helplessly, as if he was looking at a demon that was about to subvert his world.

However, Li Qingge did not continue to force Qianlong. She knew that pushing too hard would make Qianlong feel disgusted. So, she slowly stood up, walked in front of Qianlong, and said softly: "Your Majesty, you don't have to be so nervous. I am not here to take your kingdom. I just want to make this world a better place. Don't worry, as long as you don't take the initiative to provoke me, I won't do anything to you."

Qianlong felt relieved when he heard this. He looked up at Li Qingge and found that there was no malice in her eyes. So he nodded slowly to show his agreement.

Seeing this, Li Qingge smiled slightly and turned away. She knew that although this negotiation did not reach any substantive agreement, it at least let Qianlong know her determination and strength. In the future, no matter what happens, she has the confidence to deal with it.

As Li Qingge left, the atmosphere in the room gradually returned to calm. Qianlong sat on the sofa, silently looking at her back, with mixed feelings in his heart. He didn't know what would happen in the future, but he knew that the world had changed because of Li Qingge's appearance. And he, as the ruler of this world, was powerless to stop all this from happening.

However, what Qianlong didn't know was that Li Qingge was silently thinking about her future plans on her way out. She knew that she still needed to do a lot to realize her ambitions. But she also believed that as long as she persisted, one day she would create a new era and make the world a better place.

Qianlong was stunned. He thought he held great power, like an eagle high above, able to look down on everything. He thought the negotiation with Li Qingge would be a contest of equal strength. However, after being ridiculed by the other party, he seemed to fall from the clouds and suddenly realized that his bargaining chips were just like toys in the hands of a child in Li Qingge's eyes, not worth mentioning at all.

Li Qingge, the empress of Great Yan, was a martial arts expert who was invincible. Her figure was as tall and straight as a pine tree in the mountains, tenacious and unyielding. Her eyes were sharp, as if she could see through people's hearts. She managed the army well, and the Great Yan army under her command was even more powerful, like a raging fire in a strong wind, unstoppable. Qianlong secretly marveled in his heart, if she really wanted to destroy the Qing Dynasty and create another prosperous era, it would indeed be a piece of cake.

Qianlong's face turned pale and his momentum was obviously weakened. He asked reluctantly: "You can just tell me directly. What do you want us to do in order to let the Aisin-Gioro family go?" His voice was low, with a hint of helplessness and begging.

Li Qingge smiled slightly upon hearing this, with a hint of cunning in her smile, as if she had seen through Qianlong's mind. She thought for a moment, and then carefully selected her words, "You have just arrived in Dayan, and you don't know the details of this place yet. Why don't you stay for a few more days and travel around, and then we can talk about this matter?" Her voice was soft, but it was firm and unquestionable.

Qianlong understood what Li Qingge meant as soon as he heard it. He knew that it was the strength of Da Yan that gave him confidence, and his bargaining chips were getting fewer and fewer. This delaying tactic was obvious to anyone with a discerning eye. He sighed in his heart, Li Qingge was indeed a powerful character, and he was afraid that he would not be able to escape unscathed this time.

Qianlong sighed, waved his hand and said, "No need. I have witnessed the prosperity of Dayan in the past few days. Although I have always looked down on women, I have to admire your ability to govern the country. If I can hand over the Qing Dynasty to you, even if the dynasty changes, I will not have let down the expectations of my ancestors." There was a hint of fatigue and helplessness in his voice.

Seeing that Qianlong was not fooled, Li Qingge looked at him a few more times and said with a smile: "You have only seen the tip of the iceberg. Dayan's strength is far more than this. You have to go to a big city to truly appreciate it." There was a hint of pride and boasting in her voice.

Qianlong replied: "I also want to see the prosperity of big cities, but national affairs are more important." There was a hint of anxiety in his voice.

Li Qingge laughed disdainfully: "Ha, I didn't expect you to care about the safety of the Qing Dynasty." A hint of sarcasm flashed in her eyes.

Qianlong said seriously: "This is the foundation passed down by our ancestors." There was a hint of firmness and persistence in his voice.

Li Qingge asked back: "Since it is the legacy of our ancestors, how can we give it up so easily? If you do this, how can you face your ancestors in the future?" There was a hint of questioning and dissatisfaction in her voice.

Qianlong smiled, as bright as a flower, with a hint of cunning and pride in his smile: "Although you are a woman, we are related by blood. Passing the throne to you is also a family affair, and it is good for the family to keep it within the family. Even if you do not recognize your ancestors, the blood relationship cannot be changed."

At this point, Qianlong became even more proud, with a confident light in his eyes: "You advocated equality between men and women in Dayan, allowing both men and women to have inheritance rights. When you take over the Qing Dynasty, you will definitely promote this system in the north. Both sons and daughters have inheritance rights. What's the difference between passing it to you and passing it to other sons?"

Although Qianlong was easily deceived by beauty, the fact that he was valued by Yongzheng showed that his imperial skills were not simple. Now that he saw Li Qingge advocated gender equality, he went with the flow and wanted to use this as an excuse to give up his throne. He was secretly proud of himself, thinking that he had finally found Li Qingge's weakness this time.

However, when Li Qingge heard this, she was stunned for a moment. She didn't expect Qianlong to use her own strategy against her. A flash of astonishment flashed in her eyes, but then she regained her composure. She secretly marveled in her heart that Qianlong was indeed an old fox, but he was still far from being able to fight her.

Seeing Li Qingge lose his composure, Qianlong was overjoyed, thinking that he had finally won this battle. His smile became even brighter, as if he had seen the dawn of his victory.

However, Li Qingge suddenly changed the subject and asked, "Do you know how much the egg-filled pancake you ate at the night market yesterday cost?" There was a hint of teasing in her voice.

Qianlong was stunned, not knowing why Li Qingge suddenly asked this. He shook his head and said, "I don't know." There was a hint of embarrassment and confusion in his voice.

As an emperor, he would not care about such trivial matters. The servants were responsible for paying for it. He muttered to himself, why did Li Qingge suddenly ask this? Did she want to use this to humiliate me?

However, Li Qingge did not continue the topic. Instead, he smiled and said, "It seems that you don't understand the people's livelihood in Da Yan. Do you think that Da Yan's prosperity is only due to the army and force? You are wrong. Da Yan's prosperity is due to the hard work and wisdom of every citizen. Only when you truly understand the people's livelihood in Da Yan can you understand why Da Yan can be so powerful."

Qianlong was shocked when he heard this. He looked at Li Qingge's determined eyes, as if he saw the future of Dayan. He secretly marveled in his heart that this woman was indeed an extraordinary person. He knew that he could not escape unscathed this time, and could only silently wait for the arrangement of fate.

Last night, the moonlight was like a silk thread, gently sprinkled on the busy streets, adding a touch of soft brilliance to the night. On the corner of the street, a snack stand was steaming, and the lights were dim, which seemed particularly warm. I walked over here, and my eyes were inadvertently attracted by the crystal clear ice on the stand. I couldn't help but feel a little curious, so I asked about its price. However, the people around me seemed to be accustomed to it, and no one responded. Even the stall owner was just busy with his work with a smile, as if the existence of the ice was as natural as the night, and there was no need to say more.

Then, I stepped into an antique inn, the decoration inside was simple but elegant, and the wooden furniture exuded the warmth of time. The waiter greeted me warmly, led me to a clean room, and told me that it would cost two taels of silver to stay. This voice, in this quiet night, was particularly clear, giving me a preliminary understanding of the consumption in this small town.

Just as I was packing my luggage, Li Qingge walked in with a bright smile on her face, like a ray of warm sunshine in spring, instantly illuminating the whole room. "Hey, you know?" she said briskly, "The egg-filled pancakes we ate at that snack stand last night actually only cost four cents each."

"Four coins?!" I couldn't help but widen my eyes when I heard that, and I was filled with surprise. You know, in my opinion, such a well-made pancake filled with eggs must be very expensive. I shook my head repeatedly and repeated in disbelief: "Impossible, absolutely impossible. I saw them make it with my own eyes yesterday, and the whole egg was stuffed in. Adding various costs, this pancake must be sold for at least 20 taels of silver to make a profit, right?"

Seeing this, Li Qingge smiled even more. She pulled a chair over and sat down, slowly explaining, "During the Qing Dynasty, the place in charge of purchasing these daily necessities for the harem was called the Imperial Household Department. When they purchased, they added layers of fees and exploited the customers. When they finally settled the accounts, one egg was worth ten taels of silver. Although there was no modern chicken farming technology at that time, the price of local eggs was high, but it was not so outrageous."

As she spoke, she sighed softly, with a complicated light flashing in her eyes: "It's written in history that when Emperor Qianlong ate an egg, the Ministry of Internal Affairs reported that he spent ten taels of silver. Emperor Qianlong was busy with all kinds of affairs, so he didn't have the time to check these trivial matters, and he didn't understand the twists and turns in procurement."

As I listened, I couldn't help but feel an inexplicable emotion in my heart. I couldn't help but sigh when I imagined that the emperor, who was so high above, was blinded by these trivial matters. Li Qingge seemed to see through my thoughts and continued, "Once, a minister came to see Qianlong, and Qianlong casually asked, 'What did you eat in the morning?' The minister replied that his family was poor and could only eat three eggs with white porridge. Qianlong got angry when he heard it. He knew that an egg cost ten taels of silver. Wouldn't this meal of three eggs cost thirty taels of silver? How much would he have to eat and spend in a year! The minister's salary was originally low, only a few hundred taels of silver, and the officials in the capital didn't even have money to maintain their integrity. How could they afford such a luxurious breakfast? Qianlong thought, this minister must have embezzled a lot of money."

At this point, Li Qingge paused, picked up the teacup on the table, took a sip, and a hint of amusement flashed in his eyes. I continued to ask: "What happened next?"

She smiled and continued, "When the minister saw that Qianlong was angry, his face changed. He knew he had said something wrong and quickly explained, 'Today is my son's birthday, and the family specially cooked a few more eggs. They were all broken and worthless.' After hearing this, Qianlong's anger subsided a little. But from then on, the matter of 'one egg costing ten taels of silver' took root in Qianlong's mind, and he felt that everything was ridiculously expensive."

I couldn't help but feel an indescribable emotion when I heard this. You know, one tael of silver can be exchanged for one thousand coins, and ten taels of silver can be exchanged for ten thousand coins! And egg-filled pancakes are only four coins each, and ten taels of silver can buy two thousand five hundred! How can such a price difference not shock people?
My face couldn't help but fall, and I felt mixed emotions. Li Qingge saw my expression and asked with a smile, "Are you surprised? An egg isn't that expensive. In the Qing Dynasty, an egg was not cheap, costing more than ten coins, but it couldn't be as expensive as ten taels of silver. The Qing Dynasty has been in power for so many years, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs has been corrupt. I'm afraid they have made a lot of money that I can't count."

I was furious when I heard that. My face turned as black as the bottom of a pot. I gritted my teeth and said, "That's all my money! It's all mine!"

Li Qingge smiled secretly when she saw my reaction. There was a hint of cunning and deep meaning in her smile: "It is said that a thousand-mile dam is destroyed by an ant hole, and the decline of a dynasty often starts from within. Do you know why I was able to conquer the south and establish Da Yan in just over two years?"

I heard her words, and my heart moved. I looked up at her, waiting for her answer. I saw that her eyes were firm, and a confident smile appeared on the corner of her mouth: "Because I have seen through these corruptions and hypocrisy, I know what the people really need. I gave them a just and fair world, a home where they can live in peace. Therefore, they are willing to follow me and fight for the future of Da Yan."