Teasing the First Dragon at the Start

Looking up, bathed in sunlight, Zheng Jie's figure became even more alluring.

The beautiful woman before me was dressed in a magnificent black dragon robe, her curves exquisite and graceful. The dragon patterns embroidered in gold thread on the sleeves shimmered in the sunlight, making her look like an incomparably beautiful empress.

Zhengjie looked at Bai Su, who was staring blankly with her mouth wide open, and couldn't help but smile slightly: "You idiot, what are you looking at?"

Chapter 281 Just an Ordinary Village Girl

"Of course, it's to admire the beauty; her alluring eyes shyly close, her crimson lips part in a smile. The wind rustles her grape-grape sash, the sun shines on her pomegranate-red skirt..."

After a long while, Bai Su came to her senses and said with a smile.

A smile appeared on Zheng Jie's beautiful face, and her phoenix eyes sparkled.

She walked straight to Bai Su's side, and the two sat down side by side.

Sunlight streamed in through the gaps in the doors and windows, giving Zhengjie's jet-black hair a faint sheen, as if she were draped in a light veil, like a goddess stepping out of a painting.

Bai Su touched Zheng Jie's fair hand and looked at her in her dragon robe. She couldn't help but smile mischievously and said, "No one in the entire court has seen His Majesty like this up close."

The Empress Dowager rolled her eyes at him: "Looking across the world, everyone who faces me trembles with fear and dares not raise their head. Even Qin Wuyang and Jing Ke back then did not have the courage of a treacherous minister like you."

"In that case, I have accomplished what Jing Ke could not do back then."

"What is it?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Jie's face showed a hint of doubt, and she asked.

"Naturally, it's to assassinate the First Emperor."

Bai Su chuckled mischievously, and a poem about Jing Ke's assassination attempt on the First Emperor involuntarily came to mind.

Jing Ke assassinated the First Emperor, his two jade-like legs hoisted onto his shoulders, his head slightly raised as he thrust his jade-like thighs forward, his fragrant sweat soaking the ivory bed...

"You damned treacherous minister..." Zheng Jie, understanding Bai Su's meaning, flashed a look of shame and anger in her eyes.

Before she could speak, Bai Su chuckled, cupped Zheng Jie's head in his hands, and gently kissed her lips, savoring the faint rouge. His large hand then reached out and touched her lips.

Zhengjie and Bai Su were kissing. Her fair hands pushed against Bai Su's chest, but her fingers gradually lost strength. She gripped the clothes on her chest tightly, then let go and gripped again, over and over again.

A blush gradually spread across her face, her breathing became rapid, and she was somewhat powerless to resist Bai Su's advances.

After a long while, their lips slowly parted.

Zhengjie was panting heavily, her cheeks flushed, her eyes alluring, and her elegant and beautiful face had gained a touch of charm that was extremely captivating.

She gave Bai Su a strange look and couldn't help but ask, "Why do you always touch me when we kiss..."

Although he hadn't finished speaking, the meaning was already quite clear from the way she was clutching her chest and glaring at him.

Faced with Zheng Jie's intense gaze, Bai Su scratched her cheek and coughed lightly, saying, "Ahem, who doesn't hold their bowl while eating?"

Zhengjie was stunned for a moment, then looked both amused and exasperated.

Bai Su's answers were always completely unexpected; that damned sycophant.

However, she felt no dislike whatsoever.

She brushed aside the strands of hair between her brows with her fair hand, glanced at Bai Su with her phoenix eyes, and then slowly bent down.

......

......

At this time, the date of the imperial examination was drawing ever closer.

The city of Xianyang became bustling with activity, as scholars from all over the country could be seen everywhere, coming to participate in the imperial examinations.

Many people arrived early, some even a month or two in advance.

After all, many scholars traveling from afar would need more than half a month just to get there. If they encountered torrential rain or other problems with the mountain roads, the delay would be even longer.

If you accidentally miss the imperial examination, you'll have to wait another three years to participate again.

Life has only a few three-year periods; often, once missed, they're gone forever.

However, since Bai Su decided to build several vertical and horizontal brick roads in the Central Plains, transportation between different places has become much more convenient.

What used to be a two-week journey can now be completed in just five or six days. Logically speaking, these candidates don't need to arrive so early.

However, many scholars, in order to avoid missing the imperial examination, still arrived early, partly to prevent accidents on the way and partly to broaden their horizons.

After all, during the imperial examination period, scholars who passed the provincial examination could use their credentials to stay at post stations in various places in Xianyang, and all their food and lodging expenses would be reimbursed by the government.

Even if you need to go out urgently, you can apply for a carriage from the post station.

This can be considered one of the benefits that the imperial court bestows upon these future talents.

Therefore, an interesting saying has circulated among the people: scholars during the imperial examination period were like gold nuggets, and they were greeted with kindness wherever they went.

But once the imperial examinations ended, they instantly went from being a gold nugget to being one of the three scourges, despised by everyone.

Therefore, many scholars arrived in Xianyang early on. It would be best if they could pass the imperial examinations, and even if they failed, they could still travel around and broaden their horizons, which would not be a loss.

"This...this is Xianyang? It's so prosperous."

A young girl dressed in coarse linen clothes, carrying a backpack, stared blankly at the bustling street in front of her, somewhat incredulous.

The woman beside her couldn't help but sigh, "I remember ten years ago, Xianyang was still desolate. I never expected it to change so much. Even the most prosperous capital of Wei, Daliang, didn't have such a scene."

The streets were lined with shops selling a dazzling array of goods, including spices from the Western Regions, leather from the grasslands, and exquisite porcelain, tea, and silk from the Central Plains.

Countless foreigners with exotic faces, speaking fluent Guanzhong dialect, hawked their wares.

This bustling scene left the women, who lived in a remote mountain village with limited access to information, utterly dumbfounded.

"Hehe, all of this is thanks to our great sage."

A scholar who had arrived very early came out of the post station and looked at the group of scholars in front of him who looked like country bumpkins and were dumbfounded. He couldn't help but chuckle and say something.

The woman was taken aback: "Da Liangzao, could you be referring to Bai Su... Lord Bai?"

The scholar asked with some curiosity, "Oh, you know about the Grand Chancellor?"

The woman nodded: "I have always loved reading, but unfortunately my family is poor and I really can't afford to buy books. But later, thanks to Lord Bai, who invented papermaking and printing, I was able to read many precious books at a low price."

"I have always kept this kindness in my heart and engraved your name in my mind. I never expected to hear your name again, so I couldn't help but go up and ask."

Upon hearing this, the scholar couldn't help but smile: "I see. But our Grand Chancellor is even more capable than you think."

The woman politely bowed and said, "I am all ears."

The scholar then began, "That's a long story. Our Grand Chancellor, hailing from Handan, was invited by His Majesty to enter Xianyang alone. He drove back the Xiongnu in the north, campaigned in the Western Regions in the west, fought floods and provided disaster relief in the south, and eradicated smallpox in the north..."

He launched into a long, rambling monologue, clearly having memorized Bai Su's past deeds perfectly.

But thinking about it, it makes sense.

Bai Su was born into humble circumstances but possessed extraordinary talent, and he had a chance encounter with Emperor Qin Shi Huang.

Despite being the ruler of the land, Zheng Jie placed great trust in Bai Su, entrusting her with crucial decisions concerning the fate of the nation on numerous occasions.

Bai Su did not disappoint Zheng Jie's trust, repaying the monarch's trust with outstanding achievements.

As a subject, he was not greedy for power or wealth; his reputation as a virtuous and upright man spread throughout the world.

As the monarch, Zheng Jie never doubted Bai Su in the slightest. The two, as monarch and minister, worked together to create a beautiful story of a model monarch and minister.

This made countless young scholars across the land envious, yearning to achieve fame and success like Bai Su.

Little did they know that the man in the eyes of the world, a virtuous official, an honest man, and a saint, was actually a complete traitor who deceived the emperor, and even the current emperor had to endure the humiliation of crawling between someone's legs.

The woman was unaware of these things. After hearing the various rumors about Bai Su, a strange light appeared in her eyes.

She couldn't help but murmur, "He really is an extraordinary man of our time. If I had the chance, I would love to meet him."

The scholar smiled and said, "It's not difficult for you to see him. Those who pass the imperial examination will enter the palace to participate in the palace examination, which will be personally tested by His Majesty. At that time, Prime Minister Li Si, General Wang Jian, and Grand Minister Bai Su will all be watching. The prerequisite is that you can pass the examination and get into the top three."

The woman smiled sweetly: "So, all I need to do is win first place to meet this Grand Master of Ceremonies?"

"Hey, wake up, stop dreaming in broad daylight. How difficult it is to achieve high academic success."

The scholar couldn't help but shake his head, then asked, "By the way, I still don't know your name?"

The woman's eyes, as clear as autumn water, widened for a moment, then she smiled and said, "Me? My name is Chen Ping. I am from Youyi in Wei, just an ordinary village girl."

Chapter 283 Two Women Questioning the Meaning of Life

Inside the Shaofu (a government office).

Bai Su was stroking her chin when she asked, "How's the heating going these days?"

Mo Xun, dressed in an apricot-yellow dress, sat gracefully to one side, her jade-like hand gently brushing aside the strands of hair between her brows.

She looked down at the registration information in her hand and said, "It has now been gradually rolled out in various parts of the city, and about 30-40% of the city has already installed it."

"As for those high-ranking officials and nobles, they do not want to use the same channels as ordinary people. They want to have one custom-made, just like the Imperial Household Department. Is that possible?"

Bai Su smiled and said, "Of course, not to mention making it individually, even if they want to use water that falls from the sky without roots, it's fine. I can satisfy all their requests."

Mo Xun's delicate eyebrows furrowed: "But...but this would increase the cost by several times."

Bai Su gently tapped her head.

"It hurts so much." The girl covered her head and looked at Bai Su with a wronged expression.

Bai Su chuckled and said, "Sir, when have I ever made a losing deal? As the saying goes, the wool comes from the sheep's back. Since they've come to us willingly, why should we turn them away? Let's just start with a hundred times the cost price and fleece them..."

Mo Xun rubbed his head, his face full of confusion.

After all, being born into the Mohist school, her philosophy over the years has been to explore the laws governing all things and study the essence of things.

In her view, only things that truly benefit people's livelihoods are good things.

This business logic—that things that are utterly useless are worth a fortune—is somewhat difficult to understand at first glance.

Bai Su said with a smile, "Just do as I tell you, and I guarantee that the merchants and nobles will line up to give you money."

“I will allocate half of it as research funding for your inkstone inspection.”

When Mo Xun heard that Bai Su was willing to allocate research funding to her, her almond-shaped eyes lit up immediately, and her originally reluctant expression instantly turned into one of excitement.

You should know that Bai Su recently assigned her a project.

She was tasked with researching ships capable of crossing the ocean to the east, as the imperial court planned to send a fleet to Penglai Island to capture Xu Fu.