Love Lock

Chapter 287 Making a fortune every day!
A boy of about four or five years old, leaning on crutches, limped to the front, his round face beaming with an innocent smile.

"Xiao Le!" Aunt Li's expression changed, and she hurriedly grabbed her son. "How many times have I told you? You have to call her 'Your Highness' now!"

She turned to Han Lei and awkwardly explained, "Your Majesty, please forgive me, this child has always been unruly..."

Han Lei had already squatted down and looked Xiao Le in the eye: "There aren't that many rules. Xiao Le can call me whatever he wants."

She reached out and gently pinched the boy's cheeks, which were red from the cold. "You've grown quite a bit taller in the past six months!"

Xiao Le proudly puffed out his chest: "I eat two steamed buns at every meal!"

The child's innocence amused everyone, and the previously tense atmosphere immediately eased.

Aunt Li looked at Han Lei gratefully, her eyes slightly moist: "Thanks to Your Majesty's kindness. It's freezing cold, please come inside to talk."

The chicken and duck farm was warm and cozy. On the neatly arranged three-tiered wooden shelves, plump chickens and ducks were pecking at the feed in the troughs.

Charcoal braziers were lit at intervals along the central corridor, their orange-red flames dispelling the winter chill.

Han Lei noticed that each poultry house was equipped with adjustable ventilation windows and the ground was covered with dry straw, reflecting the scientific design of a modern farm.

"How many chickens are there in the flock now?" Han Lei asked as she walked, her fingers gently stroking a speckled pheasant that was peeking out.

Sister Li reported with great familiarity: "Your Majesty, we currently have 2,000 laying hens, 1,500 broiler chickens, and 1,200 ducks. Following your method, we can harvest nearly 2,000 eggs every day."

She pointed to the newly built incubator on the west side, which was constructed according to the blueprints, and said, "The five hundred chicks that have just hatched over there will be ready for market in another half month."

"How is the epidemic prevention work going?" Han Lei asked again.

"I strictly followed the prescription given by the Empress, fumigating with mugwort once every ten days, and also added the preventive medicine given by the Empress to my drinking water."

As she spoke, Sister Li pulled out a small notebook from her bosom, which was filled with daily epidemic prevention records. "This is what Ling'er taught us to remember. Now, about 80% of the people here can read some words."

As they were talking, Xiao Le, leaning on her crutch, followed along, curiously approaching Han Lei: "Your Highness, may I touch the chicks? My mother won't let me touch them, saying these chicks are very precious!"

“Of course.” Han Lei took the boy’s hand and gently placed it on the back of a docile hen. “Like this, be gentle.”

Feeling the soft feathers in her palm, Xiao Le's eyes lit up like stars: "So warm! They're warmer than my blankets!"

The crowd burst into good-natured laughter again.

Han Lei noticed the child's leg and gestured for him to sit on the wooden stool next to her: "Xiao Le, let me see how your leg is recovering."

She skillfully unwrapped the bandage on Xiao Le's leg, revealing the surgical scar that had long since healed.

Han Lei gently pressed along the shinbone with her fair and slender fingers, occasionally asking the child how he felt.

Aunt Li nervously twisted her apron, and the other female workers also gathered around her, holding their breath.

A moment later, Han Lei finally showed a relieved smile, "The recovery is going very well. The bones have fully healed. Starting today, I can try to walk slowly without crutches."

"Really?"

"really?"

Li Sao and her son exclaimed in unison.

Xiao Le's eyes widened in surprise, and she was about to stand up and try it when her mother pressed her down.

Tears welled up in Li's eyes, her voice choked with emotion: "Your Majesty's immense kindness and virtue will be forever enshrined in our hearts..."

As Li Sao was about to kneel down to express her gratitude, Han Lei quickly grabbed her arm.

"Don't say that," Han Lei interrupted her, reaching into her sleeve to take out several plasters from her spatial storage. "Apply these after a hot compress every night before bed to help your muscles recover. Remember, you need someone to support you when you first start walking; don't rush it."

The women around exclaimed in amazement, "The Empress's medical skills are truly miraculous!"

"The doctors said back then that the leg couldn't be saved..."

"Xiao Le is so lucky! To be able to meet a divine doctor like the Empress."

Xiao Le suddenly tugged at Han Lei's sleeve, looked up at her with a serious expression, and said, "Your Highness, I want to learn your amazing medical skills! I want to cure many, many people's illnesses in the future! Is that alright?"

Han Lei gently stroked the child's hair: "That would be great, but you need to be able to read and write before you can study medicine."

She stood up, looked around at the women present, and said, "I have good news to share. Next spring, new-style schools will be opened in all counties of Cangzhou, and all school-age children can attend for free."

A gasp of amazement immediately rose from the crowd.

At the back of the crowd, a woman wearing a blue headscarf excitedly raised her hand and asked, "Does Your Majesty mean... that children like us commoners can also go to school?"

“Of course.” Han Lei nodded affirmatively. “It’s not just about literacy and arithmetic; we’ll also teach them medicine, agriculture, crafts, and all sorts of practical knowledge. After they finish their studies, the children can choose to pursue further education, or even take the imperial examinations and become officials in the future.”

"Oh my God! Is this true?"

"This is incredibly joyous news!"

"There is hope for the children of us commoners."

These words were like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples.

The female workers whispered among themselves, their faces filled with unbelievable joy.

A young mother suddenly slapped her thigh: "I have to go back and tell my husband right away! He always says that the child's education is wishful thinking..."

"Your Highness, how much silver will it cost?" a woman asked timidly.

"The first three terms of the school are completely tuition-free," Han Lei added, raising her voice. "Only when everyone's lives are better in the future, in order to ensure the normal operation of the school, will we symbolically charge some tuition fees to keep it running."

Wiping away her tears, Aunt Li murmured, "This...this is truly a stroke of good fortune! Our village chief sold his only old ox to pay for his son's tuition..."

“Times have changed.” Han Lei looked at the snow falling outside the window and said softly, “As long as you are willing to work hard, everyone has the opportunity to change their destiny. Your children may become doctors, craftsmen, or even officials in the imperial court in the future.”

Xiao Le had somehow discarded his crutches and was trying to stand up while holding onto his mother's arm.

His youthful yet determined voice echoed in the warm chicken coop: "I want to be a doctor! I want to heal more people's illnesses, just like the Queen!"

Han Lei crouched down to the child's eye level: "Then you must study hard first. Remember, healing and saving lives isn't about how skilled your medical techniques are, but about your heart..."

She gently tapped Xiao Le's chest, "This place should forever hold the suffering of the people."

Han Lei's words filled the female workers' faces with hope, as if they could already see the children dressed in neat school uniforms, sitting in a bright classroom.

On this cold winter day, seeds of hope are quietly sprouting in this land.

...This is a dividing line for asking for a dragon...

Capital City, Imperial Palace.

After the snow cleared, the vermilion walls and green tiles were covered in a blanket of white. Glistening icicles hung from the eaves and brackets of the nine-tiered palace, reflecting shimmering light in the warm sunshine.

The white marble steps were covered by the new snow, which concealed the carvings, leaving only a few rows of winding paths swept by palace servants.

A cold wind swept by, stirring up a layer of snow mist that fluttered down in front of the Panlong screen wall, startling the gilded bronze crane into retracting one leg.

The air in the Golden Palace was filled with the fragrance of sandalwood.

Emperor Jing sat upright on the dragon throne, the jade beads hanging from his crown swaying slightly, obscuring his inscrutable expression.

"Your Majesty," the Minister of Revenue said, his voice trembling slightly as he held his ivory tablet.

"After several days of investigation and confiscating property, the Wei family owns 27 residences in the capital, including eight five-courtyard complexes; over 1,200 antiques and paintings, including 36 authentic works by masters of previous dynasties; 1.8 million taels of silver and 120,000 taels of gold; 48 shops and nine gambling dens."

Before the Minister of Revenue had finished reading, the hall erupted in an uproar.

Someone gasped: "And this is just in the capital?"

"The Wei family is the head of all aristocratic families. After a century of operation, their wealth is naturally comparable to that of a country!"

"My goodness! There are so many branches."

"Silence! Silence!" the chief eunuch Li Zhongxin shouted in a shrill voice.

Emperor Jing tapped his fingers lightly on the armrest of the dragon throne, producing a dull sound.

His gaze swept over the assembled officials in the hall, finally settling on the Minister of Revenue: "Continue."

"Yes." The Minister of Revenue wiped the sweat from his brow. "In addition, there's land..."

"Your Majesty!" The Imperial Censor suddenly stepped forward. "I have a question. As far as I know, the eldest son of the Wei family owned three properties: Jinxiufang, Yuanyangzan, and Zuixianniang. Why were they not among those to be confiscated?"

The hall fell silent immediately.

Emperor Jing's gaze suddenly sharpened, and the Minister of Revenue's tablet fell to the ground with a "thud."

"Your Majesty," the Minister of Revenue hurriedly picked up his official tablet, "these three properties were transferred to Lin Yuanshan, the owner of Lin's Cloth Shop, for eight thousand taels of silver the day before the confiscation. They now belong to Lin Yuanshan."

"Eight thousand taels?" a minister exclaimed. "As far as I know, the daily income of just three shops is more than that!"

Emperor Jing's knuckles turned white, but he said nothing.

“It has been thoroughly investigated by the Jingzhao Prefecture,” the Minister of Revenue said to the minister. “The transfer documents are complete, the signatures and seals are all in place, and even the transfer tax is in full.”

The Vice Minister of Justice sneered, "That's strange. The Wei family owns tens of thousands of properties, yet these three shops, which make a fortune every day, are being sold at such a low price?"

The Minister of Revenue, unsure how to respond, could only steal glances at Emperor Jing. Emperor Jing, expressionless, slowly rose, the jade beads on his crown tassels swaying violently: "According to the law, once the property has been transferred, it belongs to the Lin family."

He paused, his voice icy cold, "Since the paperwork is complete, I... will naturally not make things difficult for an honest citizen."

Emperor Jing's words sounded like they were being squeezed out from between his teeth.

He himself was practically a member of the Wei family, and he knew better than anyone how much wealth the Wei family had accumulated over the centuries.

But this is not what he wanted most.

The Wei family's century-old legacy is substantial, but it can only be confiscated once. Meanwhile, Yuanyang Hairpin, Jinxiufang, and Zuixian Wine are now rising stars in the capital's business scene, attracting the attention of the city's elite. They are making a fortune every day, with profits flowing in continuously.

What's infuriating is that the day before the raid, Wei Chengchao's three shops were transferred to Lin Yuanshan, the owner of Lin's Cloth Shop, for the low price of eight thousand taels of silver.

Although the price was shrouded in mystery and raised many questions, Lin Yuanshan had all the necessary transfer documents and procedures in order, so there was nothing he could do about it.

Moreover, the Wei family held high positions of power, and there were rumors that Wei Chengchao had aided the enemy, so the accusation that the Wei family was plotting rebellion was very solid.

But the Lin family were just ordinary merchants, unknown and unknown, just ordinary people.

Even if he wanted to take a bite out of Lin Yuanshan, he couldn't find a way to do so. After all, he had only recently ascended the throne and still needed to maintain his reputation.

It's such a pity, they make a fortune every day!
Chief eunuch Li Zhongxin keenly noticed the Emperor Jing's emphasis on the words "good people" with gritted teeth and secretly memorized it.

"Retreat."

Emperor Jing was in a very bad mood and turned to leave. But as soon as he turned around, he heard the voice of Cao Ge, the Minister of War, behind him.

"Your Majesty! I have something else to report."

Gary Cao stepped forward quickly, his brows furrowed deeply, his hands trembling slightly as he held the ivory tablet, his eyes filled with deep worry.

Emperor Jing stopped in his tracks and slowly turned to look at him.

“Your Majesty,” Cao Ge’s voice was pleading, “I have been sending messages by carrier pigeon to my younger brother Cao Xiong in Beiguan for several months, but they have all disappeared without a trace…”

At this point, his Adam's apple bobbed violently. "I fear that Cao Xiong has met with misfortune. I humbly request Your Majesty to dispatch secret guards to infiltrate the Northern Pass and investigate."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Jing, seated on the dragon throne, suddenly curled his fingers, which were hidden in the wide sleeves of his dragon robe.

His 100,000-strong punitive expeditionary force was utterly routed upon reaching Cangzhou, unable even to gather a complete head of their commander. If he were to send out all the imperial guards now… what good could the outcome possibly be?

Emperor Jing felt a chill run down his spine, and even the dragon pattern on the gilded armrests made his palms ache.

As an emperor, he could not show fear towards Cangzhou, so he had to settle for second best and analyze the situation with Cao Ge.

"Minister Cao..." Emperor Jing tried to straighten his back, but his voice trembled slightly.

Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of the flickering candlelight on the bronze sparrow lamp stand at the corner of the palace, the swaying flames mirroring the crumbling landscape of the land.

“Since the rebel Zhao Zun of Cangzhou dares to raise the banner of rebellion, he must have already blocked the main roads of various prefectures. In my opinion…” He paused deliberately, his nails digging deeply into his palms.

"Marshal Cao is either under house arrest by Zhao Zun or still in charge of military affairs at Beiguan. After all, the Turks are eyeing us covetously, and apart from a marshal appointed by the court, who can mobilize the 100,000 troops guarding Beiguan?"

The civil and military officials immediately became agitated.

The Minister of Revenue nearly tripped over the hem of his robe as he stepped forward: "Your Majesty is wise! Military reports from the Northern Pass have been delayed for months; they must have been intercepted!"

Seeing that Emperor Jing was beating around the bush and refusing to issue an order to send secret guards to Cangzhou to investigate, Cao Ge suddenly knelt down and kowtowed heavily, the jade bricks making a muffled "thump thump" sound.

When he looked up, blood was already seeping from his forehead.

Cao Ge pleaded again: "Your Majesty, if my younger brother Cao Xiong is truly taken hostage, wouldn't the 100,000 troops at the Northern Pass fall into the hands of rebels? I implore Your Majesty..."

But before he could finish speaking, a rapid shout suddenly came from outside the hall—

"Report! Report! Report—Urgent report from Dongguan."

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