Chapter 374: Volume One, Chapter 374   The First One to Have Bad Luck Is Her

Volume One, Chapter 374   The first one to have bad luck is her

Besides that, there is another important matter: building roads!

If you want wealth, first build roads; only when roads are everywhere and travel is convenient will people have confidence.

In ancient times there were no asphalt roads, only yellow‑earth paths; when heavy rain fell it was a nightmare, and all kinds of transport carts could not pass.

Under such circumstances, road building is a bonus.

But now Rong Luoge has no money; no matter how grand her ideals, she is constrained by an empty purse.

Nevertheless, the prestige project must be done, as it concerns major investment, so Rong Luoge racked her brain, practically sweeping every royal crevice, and during her last visit to the Glazed Tile Workshop she discovered a treasure.

What is it?

The furnace slag from the Glazed Tile Workshop, when crushed and spread on the road and rolled flat with a stone roller, isn't as good as asphalt but is far superior to yellow‑earth paths.

Relying only on the slag from that single workshop can only pave the road from the workshop to the city outskirts, but that one stretch is enough for now; when the pottery workshops and porcelain kilns later come online, there will be plenty of slag, and we can continue building then.

When Han Xinglan heard about building roads with slag, he kept praising the idea, saying it was great, truly wonderful.

The slag piled there was taking up space and a nuisance; who would have thought it could be used for roads? Such a road isn't ideal for horse riding, but it's perfect for freight carts.

"To think of such an idea, truly a stroke of genius," Han Xinglan admitted he hadn't thought of it, while praising Rong Luoge.

Rong Luoge showed him her latest layout map, saying, "We'll first build the road out of the city; then when merchants travel by carriage on this road, do you think they'll immediately think of using it for freight? It would be fantastic."

Han Xinglan nodded enthusiastically, "Yes, they'll definitely think of it."

The general couldn't take his eyes off the prized sword; merchants who trade abroad travel many routes and naturally know how crucial a road that doesn't get muddy or trap carts in rain is.

Rong Luoge showed Han Xinglan several categories of workshops she had earmarked, saying, "To spur everyone's fighting spirit, I've decided to implement an incentive system."

GDP, she'll handle that too.

Boosting economic development, stimulating domestic demand, increasing court tax revenue; once the treasury is full, Han Xinglan can vigorously promote his edicts.

Han Xinglan: …

The grand vision Rong Luoge drew was so enticing, so beautiful, so irresistible that Han Xinglan couldn't help but feel his heart surge and blood boil.

Good, wonderful!

To let the common folk break free from aristocratic families, stand in the sunlight, have food to eat, clothes to wear, education to pursue, nights without locked doors, roads without theft—that's the flourishing era he desires.

Han Xinglan exhaled deeply, still feeling his heart pounding wildly, and tightly pulled Rong Luoge into his arms; at that moment, he couldn't utter a single word.

That rolling, scorching, blood‑pumping emotion was impossible to suppress; he needed an outlet, so he bent over and tucked Rong Luoge into the tent.

Rong Luoge:?

What kind of development is this?

Can romance be so invigorated that it reaches this point?

Just… let's not say anything else.

A spring breeze slipped through the window, stirring the tent and creating ripples; the palace lantern in the corner flickered, and Han Xinglan felt he had endless energy—he was too excited.

The next day Rong Luoge didn't even know when Han Xinglan had left; she had slept in a daze, and upon waking she instinctively covered her face.

Having been together for so many years, it felt as if they were back at the beginning, and that feeling also excited her.

Get up and get to work.

Rong Luoge first went to see her son, then had breakfast with her mother, handled some palace affairs, and was pondering whether to visit the Glazed Tile Workshop, when Yan Yin arrived.

Rong Luoge was momentarily dazed; these days had been extremely busy, and there was little activity at Funing Palace, so she had truly pushed the Empress Dowager out of her thoughts.

"Servant bows to the Empress," Yan Yin said, entering the main hall and bowing.

"Rise," Rong Luoge said to Yan Yin, "Yan Yin, may I send you on an errand, is it because the Empress Dowager has a command?"

Yan Yin forced a smile, "The Empress Dowager asks the Empress to come over for a talk; I wonder if Her Majesty is available."

Rong Luoge naturally didn't want to go, but it was the Empress Dowager, and with the military exercises imminent and Han Xinglan edging closer to victory, she guessed the Empress Dowager was calling her about matters of the Su family.

However, the Empress Dowager's request about the Su family seemed unrelated to her.

"Yan Yin, I'm truly busy right now, so many matters await my handling; tell me honestly, what does the Empress Dowager want?" Rong Luoge asked Yan Yin.

Yan Yin's expression was a little uneasy; she sighed softly, then looked up at the Empress, "If Her Majesty is unavailable, that's fine; it's not that she must go."

Rong Luoge listened to Yan Yin, paused, and asked, "Is it about Virtuous Consort Su or the Su family's affairs?"

Yan Yin: …

As expected, she couldn't hide it from the Empress; she sighed lightly, "It's about the Su family's affairs." Then she looked up at the Empress, "Empress, the line you left at the Imperial Hospital back then was for today, wasn't it?"

Rong Luoge chuckled, "Yan Yin, you're clearly smart, so why such blind loyalty? You're right, I've kept that line from the Imperial Hospital precisely for today. Now every piece of outside‑court information the Empress Dowager can learn is something I wanted her to know; are you satisfied?"

Yan Yin's face turned slightly pale, and she gave a wry smile, "Empress, forgive me, I misspoke."

"You didn't misspeak, Yan Yin; you still want to mediate for the Empress Dowager, but haven't you seen how the Empress Dowager treats His Majesty? She won't even give the Emperor a face at the grand banquet; I know the Emperor won't mind, but I can't. This time I won't back down."

Yan Yin trembled, "Empress?"

"Yan Yin, go back. Unless you can persuade the Empress Dowager, you should not get involved. Otherwise, the bond we once shared cannot save you." Rong Luoge said to Yan Yin.

Yan Yin's expression was dejected with a hint of trembling; after a long pause she said, "I obey, thank you for the guidance, Your Majesty."

Watching Yan Yin like that, Rong Luoge pitied her loyal servant and gave a final warning, "Yan Yin, you've followed the Empress Dowager for years; you know her temperament better than anyone. After all these years, you've repaid all the kindness you received; it's time you think of yourself."

The Empress Dowager can protect herself because she is the emperor's mother, but what about Yan Yin?

If the moment comes when His Majesty and the Empress Dowager's relationship breaks, the first one to have bad luck will be her.