“The epidemic in Suzhou has been effectively controlled, but there is still a long way to go in post-disaster reconstruction.” Pei Yanqi bowed and replied, “The humble minister has come to ask Your Majesty, how should the confiscated silver and grain in Suzhou be distributed?”
Xiao Shen turned around and asked, “Do you want to estimate the money needed for post-disaster reconstruction?”
“This time, Suzhou suffered heavy losses and has almost become a ruin. Rebuilding it is not easy.” Pei Yanqi frowned slightly. “But in the minister’s opinion, the court is only providing temporary relief but not addressing the root cause. We should find a way to fundamentally solve the problem of Suzhou’s perennial drought.”
Shen Qingzhuo nodded slightly, “Lord Pei and I have the same idea. The two major problems in Suzhou are corruption and constant droughts. Now that the corruption case has been solved, the next step is to fundamentally control the drought.”
Pei Yanqi looked at Lord Shen, who was on the dragon bed, and couldn’t help but smile from the bottom of his heart, “Yes, the humble minister thinks we should vigorously build water conservancy projects in Suzhou. One is to store water for irrigation during droughts, and the other is to draw water from water-rich areas to solve the problem of drought and water shortage in Suzhou from the root.”
Shen Qingzhuo also smiled and was about to respond when a black shadow suddenly rushed over, and with a wave of his big hand, he lowered the curtains on both sides of the dragon bed.
“Master, your body is weak, and you cannot stand the wind.” The emperor explained righteously.
Shen Qingzhuo: “……”
Weak body? Can’t stand the wind? Who tortured him last night?
Xiao Shen thought he was smart, but he didn’t know that the looming figure of his master behind the bed curtain made him even more itchy.
Pei Yanqi lowered his eyes unconsciously and no longer looked directly at the dragon bed.
“I agree with Lord Pei’s suggestion.” After a while, Shen Qingzhuo returned to the topic: “In addition, we need to improve the types of crops in Suzhou and plant drought-resistant and high-yield crops such as potatoes, corns, and potatoes. Sweet potatoes, in particular, do not compete with grains for land and can be planted in land that is not suitable for farming. After we have gained planting experience, we can promote planting to other drought-stricken areas across the country.”
The production level of Dayong was close to that of the Ming Dynasty. At this time, crops such as corn, potatoes, and sweet potatoes had been introduced, but they were only used as fresh food and had not yet been cultivated on a large scale, so they could not provide more food for the people.
Lin Jinyu said thoughtfully, “If we can really promote planting, it will not only increase the people’s food supply but also increase the national treasury income.”
“In this way, the people of Suzhou will not suffer from a total loss of crops in drought years.” Pei Yanqi agreed and asked curiously, “But how did Lord Shen know that these crops are drought-resistant?”
Shen Qingzhuo paused for a moment and said casually, “I planted it myself when I was in Youbei. We can use Suzhou as a pilot to study the planting technology and then decide whether it can be promoted nationwide or not.”
Xiao Shen pondered and said, “Zhen will immediately post a notice to recruit experts who are good at cultivating and planting to study the planting techniques of these drought-resistant crops.”
“It’s still not too late to plant corn now.” Shen Qingzhuo continued, “Corn matures quickly and can be harvested in late October.”
The few people discussed drought-resistant crops for a while, and Pei Yanqi said, “Building water conservancy projects is a major project. The specific expenditure still needs to be calculated by the Ministry of Industry, but it will definitely be a considerable expense.”
“That’s simple. I haven’t yet fully exploited those wealthy businessmen and the rich.” Shen Qingzhuo sneered. “Officials and businessmen collude to not only plunder the people’s blood and sweat but also rob the country of its grain and taxes. If we don’t crack down on local tyrants, how can the people live and work in peace, and how can the national treasury be filled?”
The two major drawbacks of the Dayong Dynasty are official corruption and local tyrants’ hegemony, both of which must be eradicated thoroughly.
***
After the two lords bid farewell, the bedchamber returned to peace.
Xiao Shen opened the bed curtain and said with a malicious smile, “Now that we have discussed state affairs, can we continue what we were doing just now—”
“Stop.” Shen Qingzhuo raised his hand, his fingertips pressed against the black and gold dragon robe. “Master is still ill, stay away from me.”
His handsome face fell, and Xiao Shen apologized honestly: “Master, I was wrong.”
Shen Qingzhuo glanced at him, “What’s your mistake?”
Xiao Shen grabbed the red fingertips, kissed them, and leaned over to whisper in his master’s ear, “My mistake is that I let Master…”
The face that had finally calmed down turned red again. Shen Qingzhuo pushed him away fiercely, “You are unrepentant, and your crime is even more serious!”
“Alright, alright, I was really wrong, Master.” Xiao Shen hurriedly smiled and begged, “Lunch is ready, can I have someone serve it?”
Shen Qing pondered for a moment and felt a little hungry.
Stomach…
Talking about his stomach, he felt a slight twitching pain in his abdomen. He was so angry that he raised his hands to cover his eyes, thinking, out of sight, out of mind.
Xiao Shen had obviously thought of something as he looked at his master and smiled like a stupid dog who had successfully stolen something.
After lunch, Shen Qingzhuo wiped his hands with a towel and then said slowly, “Master is almost recovered. It’s time to go back to the Shen Mansion.”
Xiao Shen, who was reading the memorial, paused and flatly refused, “No, you have to rest in the palace.”
“It’s the same if I go back to the Shen Mansion to rest.” Shen Qingzhuo said with a half-smile, “I can’t calm down in Your Majesty’s bedchamber.”
Xiao Shen turned around and said seriously, “I promise I will never touch Master again until Master gets better.”
Shen Qingzhuo looked him up and down with suspicion.
“Divine Physician is still in the palace. Master has to at least stay until he leaves, right?” Xiao Shen put down the memorial and walked to the bed. “Once Master recovers, I will definitely not hold Master back anymore.”
Seeing his little disciple’s confident look, Shen Qingzhuo decided to believe him for once, “Then you have to agree to one condition of mine.”
Xiao Shen replied earnestly, “Even a hundred conditions are fine!”
“Master will sleep here, and you sleep somewhere else.” Shen Qingzhuo smiled slightly, “There is a difference between the monarch and his subjects, avoid suspicion.”
Xiao Shen was dumbfounded. “Separate beds?”
Even though he was extremely unwilling, but in order to keep his master, the emperor still slept in the study.
He consoled himself: This is also fine, I will take this opportunity to let Master take good care of his health, and then we can have fun…
Civil and military officials were shocked to see the new emperor working day and night, even sleeping in his study to handle memorials, and they dared not slack off any more. They arrived earlier than the others at the morning court, and each of them worked diligently and energetically, competing to make achievements. A good atmosphere of dedication and hard work was formed in the court.
At the same time, inspections at local counties and prefectures were carried out in an orderly manner, and water conservancy projects in Suzhou were also in full swing.
Everything is moving in a good direction.
***
By early autumn, Shen Qingzhuo’s body had recovered to the state before he fell ill. He still looked weaker than the average person, but not so weak that he would fall down at the slightest gust of wind.
“The weather is getting colder. Lord Shen, please put on more clothes to keep warm and avoid catching a cold.” Before leaving the palace, the divine physician repeatedly reminded, “Before the winter comes, I will bring a cure to see you, My Lord.”
“I have never met Divine Physician before, but you have worked so hard for me. Qingzhuo is really touched.” Shen Qingzhuo bowed and thanked him sincerely. “If Divine Physician needs anything in the future, Qingzhuo will go through fire and water to help you without hesitation.”
“Lord Shen is too polite. It is my duty to cure diseases and save lives.” Miao Shou waved his hands. “Besides, the rare herbs given to me by His Majesty are also very valuable.”
There were indeed many medicinal herbs he needed in the Dayong Palace, including rare elixirs tributed from the Western Regions and foreign countries. For a physician, this was undoubtedly the best reward.
“Then, I’ll see Divine Physician off.” Shen Qingzhuo put away his wide sleeves. “Divine Physician, please.”
As the two of them reached the door of the outer hall, they saw a dark figure striding towards them from a distance, “Master!”
Shen Qingzhuo paused and said with a smile, “Divine Physician, I’ll just see you here.”
Miao Shou bowed and went to bid farewell to the emperor.
Xiao Shen simply said a few perfunctory words and quickly walked up to his master. “It’s windy outside. Why did Master come out?”
“Master was not even a small leaf. Can I be blown away by the wind?” Shen Qingzhuo turned and walked into the hall.
Xiao Shen followed behind him and kept muttering, “Master is so thin, who knows?”
Shen Qingzhuo was too lazy to pay attention to him, so he went back to the bedchamber and started packing his clothes.
Xiao Shen’s expression changed, and he remembered their previous agreement. He said in a somewhat unhappy tone, “Master is in such a hurry to leave?”
“How can an outsider minister live in the emperor’s bedchamber all the time?” Shen Qingzhuo picked up a brocade robe. “Before, I fell ill because of disaster relief, and the court officials didn’t know how to say it. When they react, they will understand how unreasonable this matter is.”
Xiao Shen frowned, “I am the emperor, do I have to look at their faces?”
“Yes, yes, yes, you are the emperor and the most important one.” Shen Qingzhuo turned slightly and said jokingly, “But Master has to look at their faces.”
Xiao Shen took a step towards the bed and said, “Even I have to look at Master’s face all the time. Who dares to show Master a cold face?”
Shen Qingzhuo laughed and threw the brocade robe in his hand at his little disciple’s face, “The king does not joke ah. Don’t regret it.”
Xiao Shen held the brocade robe in his hands and took a deep sniff like a pervert. “What a nice smell…”
Shen Qingzhuo: “……”
“Master, please have dinner before going back.” Xiao Shen lifted his clothes, his face full of innocence, “Will you accompany me for the last time?”
Shen Qingzhuo hesitated for a moment but finally didn’t have the heart to refuse.
After slowly finishing dinner, Xiao Shen deliberately asked his master about state affairs. Seeing that it was almost time, he said nonchalantly, “It’s getting dark, Master, you should go back to the Shen Mansion tomorrow morning. It doesn’t matter if you stay one more night, right?”
Half an hour later, Shen Qingzhuo was lying in the hot spring pool, still a little dazed as to how things had turned out like this.
However, the hot spring pool exclusively for His Majesty is indeed very comfortable. It is a huge bathing pool built of white jade, with natural hot spring water gurgling in it and elegant and pleasant-smelling incense burning on the side. After soaking in it for a while, one will feel drowsy.
While his consciousness was hazy, Shen Qingzhuo seemed to hear some movement.
He thought it was Xiao Dezi who came in to serve him, so he didn’t pay much attention until a hand brushed away his scattered hair and placed a kiss on his shoulder.
He immediately opened his eyes alertly. “Xiao Qi?”
Apart from the young emperor, who else would have the courage?
“It’s me, Master.” Xiao Shen responded softly, his lips moving up along the graceful neckline, leaving a series of wet and hot kisses, finally reaching the lips.
The big hand pinched the slightly wet jaw, turned the beautiful face to the side, and bit the moist and fragrant lips.
“Hmm…” Shen Qingzhuo hummed softly, gently loosened his teeth, and allowed him to kiss him freely.
His master had never been so proactive before. Xiao Shen was so excited that he couldn’t control himself, and his upper body kept leaning forward.
Just as he was getting more and more excited by the kiss, Shen Qingzhuo withdrew unexpectedly, then stretched out his arm and pulled his little disciple into the water.
With a loud “plop”, Xiao Shen fell into the bathtub without any preparation. Fortunately, driven by his instinct for survival, he quickly struggled to break free from the water and stood up.
“Haha…” The prank was successful. Shen Qingzhuo, wrapped in a white bath towel, asked with a smile, “Does Master’s bath water taste good?”
Xiao Shen raised his hand and stroked his wet black hair. The hot spring water dripped into the pool along the contours of his deep facial features. His eyes were dark and evil as he approached the gentleman. “It tastes good, but there’s something that tastes even better…”
Looking at his expression, Shen Qingzhuo suddenly realized the danger and stepped back. “You go out first, Master hasn’t finished bathing yet.”
Xiao Shen was not in a hurry either. He smiled leisurely, like a beast holding a lamb under its claws: “Master is going back to the Shen Mansion, which means you are completely well, right?”
Shen Qingzhuo frowned slightly. “No, I still feel dizzy from time to time. Now that I’ve been soaking for a long time, I feel a little dizzy…”
As he spoke, he had already reached the pool wall, with no way to retreat.
Xiao Shen laughed again and replied in a deep voice, “Liar, Master is a liar.”
The next moment, he pounced over like a beast out of a cage.
At this moment, a similar scene flashed through Shen Qingzhuo’s mind, and a severe headache came over him.
“Master?” Xiao Shen quickly stopped in the water and caught the staggering Master, who was about to fall.
Thank you for your translation !