The emperor would rather have a

Chapter 219 Welcoming a New Life

Li Yi was naturally unaware of Li Sanlang's assessment of him as having the "form of a dragon and tiger." The next day at noon, he arrived at the Li family residence in Chongxinfang as promised, intending to take the Li siblings to Longjin Market.

Upon arriving at the house, the Li siblings had been waiting for some time. A carriage with a blue curtain made of elm wood was parked outside, presumably indicating that the siblings were preparing to travel there.

After all, Li Erniang was a woman, and riding a horse was not very convenient for her. In addition, there was also the lame Li Shu, so riding in a carriage was indeed the best choice.

Li Yi rode in, wearing a deep purple brocade robe with a beaded pattern, the gold embroidery reflecting the sunlight. The gilded fish pouch hanging at his waist rose and fell with the horse's movements, and he exuded a calm and composed demeanor.

He dismounted, his black leather boots clicking lightly on the ground. His gaze swept over the brother and sister, and he said with a gentle smile, "Second wife, third husband, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. If everything is ready, shall we set off now?"

Before Li Erniang could respond, Li Shu bowed deeply and said respectfully, "We are deeply grateful for General Li's personal guidance; my brother and I are unworthy of such an honor!"

Compared to his awkwardness when they first met yesterday, Li Shu was much more natural now, but one could still see a forced composure on his face.

But thinking about it, it's normal. Even ordinary people would feel intimidated if they encountered a tall person who was 1.9 meters tall.

Moreover, the person before him was a renowned warrior who had fought his way up from the battlefield. The combined intimidation of his physique, imposing presence, and prestigious status was not something that could be easily ignored.

Li Yi said with a friendly expression, "Third Young Master, you flatter me. I have a very close personal relationship with Second Madam, and she has helped me so much. This is just my way of showing hospitality."

Upon hearing this, Li Erniang's lips curled up almost imperceptibly, but a ripple of anger and resentment swept through her heart.

Her eyes lowered slightly as she thought to herself: When we first met, who was it that stood there with a sword drawn, cold and aloof, almost frightening this weak woman into a state of panic? Now that they need her help, they're talking about some past relationship... Humph, what an infuriating fellow!

Before she could finish her thoughts, she had already arrived at the carriage with the green curtain. The coachman bowed and lifted the curtain. Li Erniang's slender hands gripped the elm wood frame of the carriage, and as she stepped onto the wooden bench with her embroidered shoes, she suddenly turned around and looked at Li Yi.

"The sandstorm is quite strong today. If the general doesn't mind, why don't you ride with my brother and sister for a while?"

Li Yi was about to mount his horse when he heard this and paused slightly. After a moment's thought, he nodded and replied, "Thank you for your consideration, Second Madam! Riding horses all day has indeed caused me some back pain. I will take the liberty of troubling you."

After saying that, he casually handed the reins to Xu Sheng, who was standing to the side, and strode towards the carriage.

Li Erniang's expression froze for a moment, clearly not expecting Li Yi to be so "open-minded." She had only meant it as a polite remark, assuming that he always traveled by horse and wouldn't want to ride in a cramped and bumpy carriage.

But the words had already been spoken and could not be taken back. She could only turn slightly to give way, her fingertips unconsciously tightening the lotus pattern on the hem of her sleeve.

This carriage is made according to civilian standards, with size restrictions on its length and width. It's just enough for two people, but if there's one more, it immediately feels much cramped.

The paulownia wood walls were polished smooth, yet the space felt cramped. As soon as Li Yi's imposing figure entered, even the air seemed to thin.

He crouched down in the innermost seat of the carriage, his head still touching the low ceiling, and could only lean forward slightly, his broad shoulders taking up almost no space on either side.

As a result, the three of them were almost squeezed together.

As a man, Li Shu could barely adapt, sitting close to the left side wall, trying his best to make room for Li Yi.

The most embarrassed person was Li Erniang on the right. She was almost holding her breath, desperately shrinking her slender body into the corner, her toes wrapped in stockings curling inward as she tried to create some distance between herself and Li Yi.

But the carriage area is only so big, how much smaller can it be?

The axle rumbled as it turned, crushing the cracked earthen road surface. Each time it rolled over a pothole, the cart lurched and swayed, causing Li Erniang's heart to tremble slightly.

Li Yi's slightly turned right leg inevitably brushed against her outer thigh time and time again as the car bumped and swayed.

The brocade and silk skirt rubbed together, making a very subtle rustling sound. The warm and powerful touch, even through several layers of clothing, provided a slight sensory stimulation, like an electric current penetrating the skin.

The faint blush behind Li Erniang's ears quickly spread to her neck, spreading into a beautiful, rosy hue in the dimly lit carriage.

She deeply regretted her loose tongue, which had put her in such an awkward situation.

But vaguely, she had another feeling—she didn't seem to dislike this contact, it was just a simple shyness from the bottom of her heart?
Upon realizing this, Li Erniang's heart trembled slightly. She quickly suppressed her chaotic thoughts, turned her face even closer to the carved window, and pretended to gaze at the flowing street scene outside.

"Although Tokyo is in dire need of reconstruction and construction is not yet complete, its atmosphere is already different from what it used to be!"

Li Yi seemed completely oblivious to the embarrassment of the woman beside him. He lifted the indigo coarse cloth curtain hanging by the window and cast his gaze across the streets and alleys, as if he could see through the scene before him and into the distant future.

"Longjin Street Market is a microcosm of this new atmosphere. It is not just a commercial market, but also a model for the construction of cities in the future."

No sooner had he finished speaking than the carriage ran over something and suddenly lurched violently!

Losing her balance, Li Erniang cried out softly and involuntarily leaned towards the back of the carriage. Li Yi reacted extremely quickly, almost instinctively extending his left arm to steadily support her elbow.

His broad, strong hands, with calluses on his knuckles and a rough texture from years of holding a bow, conveyed a solid supporting strength at this moment.

"Second Mistress, be careful!" Li Yi's voice was low, yet very close.

Li Erniang, still shaken, almost bumped her nose against his firm chest, and was instantly enveloped by the masculine scent of his clothes, sweat, and a faint smell of soap.

Li Erniang could clearly feel the bulging muscles in his arms beneath his clothes. Her heart pounded wildly, and her face flushed crimson.

She jerked her arm back as if electrocuted, her fingertips frantically smoothing the wrinkled hem of her skirt, her voice barely audible: "Thank you... thank you, General!"

In the confined space, the air seemed to freeze for a moment. The touch just now was like a pebble thrown into a deep pool, the ripples spreading silently between the two of them.

Li Erniang gripped the fabric of her skirt tightly, trying to maintain a calm demeanor, but her lowered eyelashes trembled slightly, and her breathing seemed to become cautious.

Li Shu cleared his throat awkwardly and could only lower his head and pretend he hadn't seen anything. In this situation, even though he was the elder brother, he didn't know what to say, and the safest thing to do was to keep quiet.

Li Yi calmly withdrew his arm, his deep gaze returning to the window. This time, however, a hint of helplessness seemed to be mixed into his gaze.

To be honest, this kind of "ambiguous" scene, which is common in movies and TV dramas, was nothing more than a slight physical contact when he held the other person's elbow. It wasn't anything to worry about.

It's not that Li Yi is oblivious to romance; it's simply that he is genuinely honest and straightforward.

If he had reacted even a fraction of a second slower, and Li Erniang had lost her balance and fallen into his arms, that would have been a truly awkward situation.

Li Yi had originally intended to take advantage of this rare free time to discuss the details with his siblings on the road; otherwise, he wouldn't have insisted on squeezing into a carriage.

However, after this little incident, they had to put it on hold for the time being... Of course, Li Yi was naturally free of any ulterior motives, but what the Li siblings would think was anyone's guess.

The wheels continued to creak forward, rolling over the uneven road, carrying the subtle atmosphere surging within the carriage, heading towards the Longjin River outside the Zhuque Gate.

……

Finally, the carriage stopped at the Longjin Bridge. As soon as I stepped off, a smell of fresh wood, dust, and smoke hit me, accompanied by a cacophony of voices and the clanging of objects.

The sight before them caused Li Erniang and her brother to hold their breath in unison.

The once somewhat chaotic banks of the Longjin River have been completely transformed. Wide, straight new streets and alleys crisscross the landscape, replacing the old, dilapidated, and potholed dirt roads.

The most eye-catching feature is the massive building that rises from the ground on the southeast side of the bridge – Tokyo First Building!
Its main structure has already been erected, with bamboo and wooden supports wrapped around it like vines, yet they cannot conceal its magnificent outline.

"Is this the No. 1 Building in Tokyo?" Li Erniang lifted a corner of her veil and looked at the building across the bridge.

"Not bad!" Li Yi nodded slightly, leading the Li siblings forward.

The group crossed the bridge, and as they approached, the soles of their boots made a crisp "tap-tap" sound as they stepped on the ground.

The Li siblings' attention was originally drawn to the tall buildings, but then they realized that the ground beneath their feet felt unusually solid. They quickly looked down and saw a large expanse of smooth, gray-white ground extending from both sides of Longjin Bridge to a point out of sight.

Li Shu tapped the ground with his cane, his face filled with astonishment, and said, "This ground..."

Li Yi chuckled and said, "This is a cement road, impervious to rain, snow, and mud, allowing vehicles to pass freely in all seasons. The muddy and impassable roads of the past are gone forever."

He then pointed to both sides of the street and alley, "Look at these shops, they still adopt the traditional layout of front shop and back yard, but they are all uniform two-story structures. The ground floor can only be used for business and is not allowed to be used for living. The upper floor and the back yard can be divided for their own purposes." "This place will become an open market, where vehicles and goods can go directly to the shop door, and there will be no more restrictions on the separation of market and neighborhood."

As far as the eye can see, all the shops under construction or with their frameworks already built along the street are two-story structures, with wide doorways on the ground floor, rows of carved windows on the second floor, and wide courtyard walls behind them.

Meanwhile, on the roadside, several foremen were directing craftsmen to dig ditches according to the blueprints.

Seeing this, Li Yi explained, "They are laying ceramic pipes, which are planned drainage channels to draw water from the Longjin River, keep the streets clean, prevent foul odors in summer, and reduce icy and slippery roads in winter."

He led the brother and sister forward, and soon they arrived at the Tokyo First Building, where many craftsmen were carrying special buckets of ash and painting the walls with light-colored lime paint.

When Li Erniang was far away in Chengdu, she learned about the cement from Li Quan's letter, but seeing is believing.

She stepped forward and touched a section of solidified cement wall; it was hard and cold to the touch, far more so than ordinary bricks and stones.

Unlike ordinary wooden buildings, its walls are a grayish-white color cast in one piece, and the gaps between the bricks and stones are filled with a peculiar mortar, making them look like a whole.

She had seen taller towers before, such as the Kasyapa Relic Pagoda in Chengdu, which was over ten zhang tall.

However, the two are completely different in shape and size. Although the tower appears more solemn and majestic, in terms of the practicality of the space, it is probably far inferior to the tall building in front of us.

“This building… is truly amazing!” Li Erniang murmured.

"But its construction cost is even more astonishing." Li Yi sighed softly, "With most of the manpower and materials costing no cash upfront, the building's expenses have already approached 50,000 guan, with cement, steel bars, wire, paint, and other materials accounting for the majority!"

Upon hearing this, Li Erniang couldn't help but click her tongue in surprise. She knew that 50,000 strings of cash were enough to buy a decent mansion with at least dozens of rooms and halls, but it wouldn't even be enough to fully construct this tall building?
And if just one building costs so much, how much must this entire street market have cost?

Li Yi bent down and picked up a small piece of flaking ash from the ground, gently rubbing it a few times: "The initial trial of cement has many impurities and is prone to cracking. The key to truly usable cement lies in the formula and firing process."

"However, the cost of firing them nowadays is extremely high. If we weren't in a hurry to build Longjin Market, we would never be able to use these novelties."

Li Erniang listened quietly, her thoughts swirling. Yesterday, the caravan's route into the city took them through the West Water Gate, with the cargo ships going directly to the Bian River wharf in the inner city.

Although I also witnessed the large-scale construction in Tokyo, it was completely different from the scene in Ryujin Street before me.

All the buildings were laid out in a neat and orderly manner, as if measured by invisible lines. The meticulous planning and ingenious design far exceeded her imagination.

Li Erniang was amazed. She had never imagined that a market could be built like this. She wondered what a magnificent sight the Longjin Bridge area would be after it was completed.
The group paused for a moment, then continued on their way.

As Li Yi walked, he explained, "This construction is not only for the sake of the imperial court's image, but also to open up a prosperous path for commerce. Luocheng will also implement a brand-new management system. The ward system will still be retained, but the ward walls will no longer separate the wards."

“The neighborhoods are divided into sections, and under the sections are communities, streets, and markets, which are equally divided. Communities can be seen as residential areas, streets are commercial areas, and markets are mainly for large-scale trade. Communities and streets complement each other to facilitate the daily purchases of the people.”

“The farmland and wood-burning workshops within Luocheng will be concentrated in one place as much as possible. Livestock breeding and slaughtering will also be restricted. Farmers, workers, communities, and markets will each have their own responsibilities, in order to fundamentally eliminate the drawbacks of disorder and mixed human and animal habitation.”

"Of course, these are just long-term plans and ideas, and they certainly cannot be completed in a short period of time. But we have to take things one step at a time, and we will eventually see a dramatic turn of events."

At this point, Li Yi breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the busy scene around him, and couldn't help but feel a sense of accomplishment.

Aside from going to the battlefield to kill people, at least in other aspects, I have made a small contribution to the development of this era.

Li Yi collected his thoughts and continued leading the Li siblings forward until, after walking a hundred or two meters, the smooth cement road suddenly ended, replaced by an ordinary rammed earth road.

Li Shu, who had been silent all along, couldn't help but ask, "General Li, why isn't the road being paved with cement anymore?"

Li Yi shook his head and smiled, "It's not that we don't need it, but that we can't afford it. For now, we can only afford to repair the nearly 100-zhang-long cement road on both sides of Longjin Bridge. Moreover, we don't have enough cement raw materials. If it weren't for the fact that the imperial court was expanding the capital on a large scale and mobilizing manpower and materials from dozens of surrounding prefectures and counties, we probably wouldn't even have enough cement materials to build high-rise buildings."

"However, merchants and ordinary people passing by Longjin Bridge cannot see that far. As long as there is cement as far as they can see, that is enough."

After saying that, he jokingly said to himself, "Actually, I would like to pave the entire city of Tokyo with cement, so that the people would no longer have to endure the muddy and difficult dirt roads. Unfortunately, even emptying the national treasury is far from enough to do so now. I can only hope that future generations will accomplish this feat!"

Upon hearing this, Li Erniang covered her mouth and chuckled, a strange glint flashing in her beautiful eyes. Unfortunately, it was hidden by her veil, and no one noticed her charm.

Li Yi continued, “Longjin Street Market is taking shape, and the first building is nearing completion, but the use of cement is far more than that. If given time, the cost of cement and other materials can be reduced, and the business opportunities behind it... I don’t need to say more, and Second Madam already has her own plans.”

"This servant naturally believes in the general's abilities and judgment..." Li Erniang smiled, but before she could finish speaking, she was interrupted by a series of hurried footsteps.

Luo Yanhuan rushed over with a serious expression, quickly walked to Li Yi's side, and whispered a few words in his ear.

In an instant, the smile on Li Yi's face froze, turning into an undisguised anxiety.

"Zhao Pu, you can take Second Madam and the others back later."

Li Yi didn't have time to explain further. He only gave Zhao Pu, who was accompanying him, a few words, apologized to the Li siblings, and then hurriedly led his men away.

……

On the way back home, Li Yi felt extremely anxious and wished he could fly home immediately.

He originally planned to take Li Erniang and her brother to see their workshop area outside the city after they had finished browsing the Longjin market.

This not only demonstrates the sincerity of both parties in cooperating, but also allows the siblings to see for themselves, while also painting a picture of the future for them, and more importantly, firmly binding their common interests together.

But now he has no such intention at all.

Because Fu Erniang was about to give birth... to be precise, there were signs that her water was about to break!
Upon arriving home, Li Yi dismounted and headed straight for the inner quarters, where he happened to see the imperial physician and three midwives quietly leaving Fu Erniang's bedroom.

Li Yi quickly stepped forward to inquire, only to learn that Fu Erniang had suddenly experienced severe fetal movement, accompanied by slight amniotic fluid leakage.

Fortunately, after some diagnosis, it turned out to be a false alarm; she wasn't really going into labor.

Li Yi's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally calmed down a little, but the anxiety between his brows had not dissipated: "Imperial Physician Qin, please forgive my rambling, is my wife really alright?"

"Don't worry, General!" Physician Qin, who was over sixty years old and had white hair and beard, saw Li Yi's condition and quickly bowed and replied, "I have prescribed a prescription for the Lady of the County to stabilize the pregnancy and strengthen her constitution. If she takes it on time, it should be able to keep the pregnancy stable."

"However... based on my many years of experience, the Lady of the County will be giving birth in the next three to five days. She must be carefully cared for in case of any unforeseen circumstances."

Li Yi took a deep breath and solemnly clasped his hands in thanks: "Thank you for your trouble, Physician Qin."

"It's nothing more than my duty," Physician Qin replied humbly, then was led by a maidservant to a side room to rest.

Li Yi gently pushed open the bedroom door. A faint medicinal fragrance filled the room. Fu Erniang lay on the bed with her eyes closed, breathing evenly, already in a deep sleep, though a trace of fatigue still lingered between her brows.

Guo Shi, Xian'er, and Zuo Ling'er, three concubines, were also in the room. Li Yi gestured to them with his eyes, then quietly sat down on the edge of the bed.

Li Yi slowly raised his hand, his fingertips gently stroking his wife's forehead, but he couldn't help feeling a little heavy-hearted.

In this era, childbirth for women is like passing through the gates of hell. Welcoming the arrival of a new life is a joyous occasion, but the risks involved are also an insurmountable hurdle.

Li Yi waited quietly by the bedside for a long time until he was sure his wife was sleeping soundly. Then he carefully tucked her in and left the room with the three Guos.

From then on, every moment was like a taut bowstring for Li Yi.

On one hand, the various units of the Imperial Guard were about to set off, and the complex military affairs of troop deployment were imminent, with documents piling up on the desk like snowflakes.

On one hand, Fu Erniang could give birth at any moment, and any slight movement would affect his nerves.

He was exhausted during the day and found it hard to sleep at night, waking up at the slightest sound to check.

After several days, even a man of iron looked exhausted, his brow furrowed with weariness, and he was utterly drained.

(End of this chapter)