You, a tyrannical ruler, roam the heavens; you cannot understand my joy.

Welcome to the boundless fantasy continent, the entrance is here:

After dealing with the follow-up reports on the cement issue at the court meeting, Lu Zuo returned here. He didn't look tired at all; instead, he had a calm demeanor as if everything was gradually getting back on track.

Li Qingzhao was sitting behind a desk to the side, organizing documents. Her pale yellow palace dress made her skin look as white as jade. When she heard the voice, she looked up and saw that it was Lu Zuo. She was about to get up.

"Qingzhao, sit down."

Lu Zuo waved his hand, walked to the main seat and sat down. After a moment's thought, he said, "Draft an imperial edict for me."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Li Qingzhao spread out the special imperial edict paper, picked up her brush, dipped it in ink, and waited for the next chapter.

"An imperial edict was issued to the Ministry of Works and to inform all prefectures and counties."

Lu Zuo spoke calmly: "The benefits of cement have already been proven."

"Immediately select a site in a strategically important location by land and waterway in the capital region and neighboring prefectures to build a government-run cement workshop."

"The artisans and laborers in the wards are specifically recruited from good citizens who have no land registered in the register, or whose land is insufficient to sustain them, and who are displaced."

"The imperial court paid wages on a daily basis and provided food and lodging, enabling them to make a living."

"Local officials must handle this matter diligently, and must not mistreat laborers, nor allow farmers with land to abandon farming for manual labor and neglect their original occupation."

"The cement produced in the workshop is given priority for use in official roads, bridges, water conservancy projects, and city defenses."

"The Ministry of Works and the Ministry of Revenue shall discuss and draft the specific regulations within ten days and submit them to the emperor."

Li Qingzhao's pen flew across the page, her elegant handwriting flowing out, transforming Lu Zuo's ideas into a rigorous imperial edict.

She understood that His Majesty's method killed several birds with one stone: it expanded cement production to meet national needs, provided work relief to settle displaced people and prevent them from causing trouble, and did not disturb the agricultural and weaving industries.

More importantly, it ensured that vital means of production were firmly controlled by the imperial court.

"Your Majesty, the imperial edict has been drafted. Please take a look." A moment later, Li Qingzhao approached, holding the edict paper with the ink still slightly dry.

Lu Zuo quickly glanced through it and nodded: "Apply the seal and send it to the Secretariat and Chancellery, to be distributed throughout the land."

"Yes," Li Qingzhao replied, carefully moving the imperial edict aside to allow the ink to dry completely, preparing for the next steps. She hesitated for a moment, then asked softly, "Your Majesty has worked hard all day; would you like a meal?"

"No rush."

Lu Zuo stood up, walked to the window, looked at the sky outside the palace walls, and said, "I want to go out for a walk."

"No need to alarm too many people. Just call Li Gui and have two squads of plainclothes guards follow along."

Li Qingzhao was slightly taken aback. Was His Majesty going to leave the palace incognito?

"Your Majesty, I will make the arrangements immediately."

……

Afternoon, on the streets of Lin'an.

Lu Zuo changed into a royal blue silk shirt, the kind worn by ordinary rich young men, and walked leisurely down the bustling street, holding a gold-leafed folding fan.

Behind him followed Li Gui, a eunuch dressed as a steward, and more than ten elite guards mixed in with the crowd.

He had no specific purpose for this trip; it was purely to trigger his mysterious talent of "traveling incognito and receiving divine blessings," and to see if he could stumble upon some opportunity from "all the heavens and myriad worlds" today.

As I passed through several bustling streets and came to a relatively quiet alleyway, a muffled, intermittent sound of a woman crying drifted on the wind.

The cries were mournful and filled with despair, completely out of place with the hustle and bustle of the market outside the alley.

Lu Zuo paused slightly, listened intently, and asked Li Gui behind him, "Where is this place? Who is crying?"

Li Gui, a veteran of the Imperial City Guard, knew the capital's various social classes and government offices like the back of his hand. He glanced up at the inconspicuous black lacquered door deep in the alley and whispered:

"Young master, this is a side gate to the back courtyard of the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau)."

"Inside... were mostly the families of convicted officials, who were taken into custody."

He spoke subtly, but his meaning was clear.

The Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau) was under the Ministry of Rites and was responsible for court banquets and music. It also received the female relatives of officials whose families were confiscated for crimes, and their fates were predictable.

Lu Zuo said "Oh," and his gaze swept over the small door. The black lacquered door creaked open from the inside.

A eunuch dressed in a dark blue eunuch's robe, with fair skin and a appearance of about thirty years old, walked out of the door with his head down, seemingly about to do something.

He looked up and happened to come face to face with Lu Zuo at the alley entrance.

The eunuch was stunned for a moment, but when he saw Lu Zuo's face clearly, he suddenly shuddered and his face turned pale.

He immediately rushed forward and knelt down with a "plop" seven or eight steps away from Lu Zuo, touching his head to the ground: "This servant...this servant Zheng Fu from the Jiaofangsi pays his respects...pays his respects to the young master!"

"I was unaware of your arrival, young master; I deserve to die!"

He recognized Lu Zuo!

Although Lu Zuo had only been on the throne for a short time and lived a secluded life, Zheng Fu had once caught a glimpse of the emperor's face from a corner of a grand ceremony, and he would never forget his bearing and appearance.

Moreover, who else in Lin'an City could possibly have Li Gui, the Grand Steward of the Imperial City Guard, personally disguise himself as a steward and follow him around?

Lu Zuo glanced at him, but didn't remember him. He just gave a faint "hmm" in response.

His mind was racing; this brothel…

Isn't this the perfect place to trigger this talent?

Lingering in this place, isn't that the behavior of a tyrant?

He didn't care about the woman's background.

Since talent requires resources, then resources are needed.

"Get up." Lu Zuo gestured with his folding fan. "Why was a woman crying inside just now?"

Zheng Fu quickly scrambled to his feet, hunching over and not daring to look directly at him, and cautiously replied, "Yes, sir..."

"I have disturbed your ears, young master. I deserve to die. I will go and punish you severely!"

"No need," Lu Zuo interrupted him, and strode towards the small, dark door. "Let's go in and take a look."

"what?"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

"Please, sir! Please watch your step!"

Zheng Fu was both surprised and delighted. He quickly stepped aside to lead the way, his mind racing with calculations.

Why did the emperor suddenly arrive at this place?

He secretly glanced at Lu Zuo's expression and saw that the other man's face was calm, but his eyes seemed to carry a hint of... interest.

Upon entering the backyard, there was a small courtyard with several side rooms on both sides. The crying sound was coming from a room on the east side, where someone seemed to have covered the mouth, leaving only sobs.

There were several women in the courtyard dressed in coarse cloth, working with their heads down. When they saw Zheng Fu leading in a young man of extraordinary bearing, they were all so frightened that they knelt down and dared not utter a sound.

Lu Zuo's gaze swept casually across the area, finally settling on a half-withered pomegranate tree in the corner of the courtyard.

There, a woman dressed in plain white old clothes was being half-pulled and half-draggled by a rough old woman, seemingly being led into a room.

The woman's hair was disheveled, and her face was turned to the side, so her full features were not visible. However, one could see that her chin was sharp and delicate, and her neck was slender and jade-like.

Even in such a wretched state, her profile still exuded a delicate and beautiful charm that evoked pity, setting her apart from the other women in the courtyard.

She seemed to sense someone watching her and turned her head slightly.

Lu Zuo saw her face clearly. She was about sixteen years old, with beautiful features, especially her eyes, which, although filled with tears and swollen, were still clear as autumn water.

With a mixture of fear and humiliation, she flicked her finger and instantly transported herself to Chapter 251, "The Exotic Music Bureau: Oh, the Exotic Music Bureau!" And a trace of the lingering reserve of a noblewoman remained.

Tears staining her cheeks only accentuated her fragile beauty.

The slightly worn, moon-white blouse she wore, though made of ordinary material, was well-tailored and accentuated her slender figure.

Zheng Fu, with his keen eye, immediately noticed that Lu Zuo's gaze lingered on the woman for a moment longer.

He immediately understood, and a surge of heat rushed to the top of his head—

opportunity!

A tremendous opportunity!

If the emperor could have his fill here, wouldn't Zheng Fu rise to the top in one fell swoop?

"Young master, this place is messy and may offend your eyes."

Zheng Fu smiled broadly and bent down even lower: "There is a quiet and elegant room in the back, which is usually prepared to entertain distinguished guests. It is quite clean."

"May I be so bold as to ask, young master, to move and rest?"

"This servant will have someone prepare fragrant tea and fruit snacks right away..." he said, while frantically winking at the old woman next to him.

The old woman understood and quickly, almost forcibly, led the woman in white in another direction.

Lu Zuo remained noncommittal and followed Zheng Fu through a moon gate to a secluded courtyard deep in the backyard.

The courtyard is lush with flowers and trees, and the furnishings are surprisingly elegant, a stark contrast to the mess and dilapidation in front.

Zheng Fu led Lu Zuo into the main room, which was indeed lavishly furnished with brocade curtains and embroidered couches, and the air was filled with the fragrance of incense. Although the utensils were not top-of-the-line, they were still exquisite.

"Please wait a moment, young master. I'll be right back."

Zheng Fu served hot tea attentively, then backed out and gently closed the door behind him.

As soon as he stepped outside, his demeanor changed completely. He strode into the side room and, in a low voice, said sharply to the white-clad woman who had just been brought by the old woman and was still weeping, "You! Listen to this!"

"The person inside is the most distinguished person you can imagine!"

"Your time has come!"

"Hold back those tears and serve her well!"

"If you could win even the slightest favor from this important person, not only you, but even your mother who's still suffering in prison might have a chance to survive!"

"If you offend this important person... hmph, you know what will happen!"

The woman trembled, raised her tearful eyes, and looked at the tightly closed door. Despair and struggle flashed in her eyes, which finally turned into a deathly silence of resignation.

Her name is Su Han. Her father was originally a third-rank vice minister of the Ministry of Revenue. He was implicated in an embezzlement case and his family was raided and he was executed a month ago.

The men were exiled, and the women were sent to the brothels. She and her mother were brought here together. Her mother was frail and sickly, and this sudden change had further devastated her. Now she was dying in the dark room at the back.

She cried, partly for her own fate, but mostly out of worry for her mother.

At this moment, Zheng Fu's words were like the last straw, and like a glimmer of light in the darkness.

For my mother...

What else could she not give up?

Seeing her expression, Zheng Fu knew she had given in, and gave a wink to the old woman beside him.

The old woman understood, quickly stepped forward to tidy Su Han's disheveled hair, wiped her face, and whispered, "Miss, try to think positively, it's all fate."

"The one inside is a celestial being. If you serve him well, you'll enjoy endless blessings."

Su Han closed her eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, all that remained was an empty sense of submission.

.....

Inside the room, Lu Zuo was sitting at the table, toying with the teacup in his hand.

Seeing Su Han enter, he looked up. The woman had wiped away her tears; although her eyes were still red and swollen, her face was indeed beautiful.

She walked about five steps away from Lu Zuo, slowly knelt down, and touched her forehead to the ground: "This servant...this servant Su Han greets Your Excellency."

"Please...please, sir, have mercy and forgive my mother."

Lu Zuo put down his teacup and looked at the trembling woman at his feet, feeling little emotion.

"Spare your mother?"

"That depends on your performance."

Su Han's delicate body trembled violently, her fingers digging deeply into her palms as she lay on the ground.

She understood the meaning of the word "performance".

The last shred of dignity and shame was utterly crushed at this moment.

But then she remembered her mother's pale face...

Slowly, with an almost self-destructive pace, she straightened up, raised her trembling hand, and reached for her belt...

……

The next day, early morning. Imperial Palace, sleeping quarters.

Lu Zuo awoke from a deep sleep. Before he even opened his eyes, as usual, lines of clear golden text appeared in his mind:

[Enchanted by beautiful women, internal strength +3.]

[Excessive indulgence results in an extra reward: +3 Stamina.]

[Visiting brothels grants an extra reward: Internal Energy +1.]

well.

Both internal strength and physical strength have increased. Although the points gained each time may seem small, they accumulate over time, like water dripping on a stone.

"With further improvement in strength, there are even more things we can do."

Lu Zuo thought to himself, "It seems I'll have to visit this music and entertainment venue more often in the future."

"Guards, change your clothes and prepare for court."

……

Daqing Hall.

As dawn broke through the tall palace gates and intricately carved windows, it cast bright beams of light onto the smooth, mirror-like gold-brick floor.

The civil and military officials had already been arranged in two ranks according to their grades, their crimson, purple, and green robes forming a sea of ​​color.

The low murmurs, like the buzzing of mosquitoes on a summer night, were not loud, but they coalesced into a continuous hum, breaking the solemn silence that usually preceded the morning assembly.

Almost everyone's gaze, whether open or hidden, was drawn to Shen Gai, the Minister of Works, who stood at the front of the civil service column, and the officials from the Ministry of Revenue beside him.

The core of the topic, of course, is the "cement" and "bamboo-reinforced cement" that I saw and heard firsthand at the Ministry of Industry's workshop yesterday.

"As solid as a rock, even more solid when it encounters water... What Minister Shen said yesterday was probably an overestimation."

An official in a scarlet robe, with a sharp and capable face, whispered to his colleague. He was an official in the Imperial Workshop and had witnessed Huyan Tong banging his head against the wall yesterday:

"If these materials could be used to reinforce the border cities, especially the rammed earth walls in the north, the Jurchen cavalry and battering rams would likely suffer heavy losses!"

"It's more than just building a city!"

An official in charge of canal transport chimed in, "The key is to build roads and bridges!"

"Brother Wang, think about it. If we could use this to build a wide and flat official road that runs directly from Yingtian to Lin'an, unaffected by rain or snow, how much faster would the transport of grain and fodder be?"

How efficient should the troop movements be?

"And the canal embankments, if reinforced in this way, could save us the trouble of conscripting laborers for maintenance every year!"

"The effects are indeed miraculous, but..." Another official, slightly older and with a lean face, stroked his beard, a worried look on his face, "The production of this product will likely not be easy. It requires building kilns, mining, and a large amount of manpower."

"The initial investment was enormous."

"Although the national treasury has been slightly depleted in recent years, the military expenses in the north and the relief efforts in various regions still require funds."

"Where will the money come from to suddenly undertake such a large-scale project?"