Chapter 190: Your sister will always believe in you

Lu Yuan's mindset shifted, and Gu Qingwan beside him noticed.

After all, Lu Yuan had been sitting properly before.

Suddenly not knowing what came over him, Lu Yuan suddenly became just like his usual self.

He leaned back, then carelessly crossed his legs.

To be honest, Gu Qingwan, seeing this, was very happy!

Very happy!!

Gu Qingwan said from the heart, previously Lu Yuan had been polite to the cabinet officials, and she had somewhat disliked that.

After all, Lu Yuan, what are you afraid of?

Who are you?

And who am I?!

You are the younger brother of the present Great Zhou Emperor; sister, how much she dotes on you, you don't even realize it yourself?!

If these people were proper officials, it would be fine!

These people are precisely those I will eventually have to deal with!

Why do you always act polite toward these people?

Seeing Lu Yuan like this now, Gu Qingwan was truly satisfied.

Exactly, this is how it should be; your sister is the present Great Zhou Emperor, so what if you act a bit arrogant?

Moreover... most importantly.

Gu Qingwan really needs someone like this.

Put another way, even the person she loves most cannot act recklessly in front of these cabinet people.

Then is this emperor of hers too constrained by the cabinet?

Is her emperor actually a head shorter than these cabinet officials?!

Nowadays, who gets to decide in Great Zhou?

Rectifying the cabinet—this matter will slowly begin.

We'll start with this matter concerning Lu Yuan.

A tearing sound.

Lu Yuan lit a cigarette beside him.

The cabinet is a place where one can smoke.

Look at these tables—they all have ashtrays.

It's just that these people dare not smoke in front of Gu Qingwan.

Lu Yuan dares.

As Lu Yuan puffed out clouds, the cabinet officials, heads lowered and smelling the smoke, some dazedly lifted their heads to look.

When they saw Lu Yuan sitting beside Gu Qingwan, legs crossed, smoking, everyone looked bewildered.

This??

Is he crazy??

This... the Emperor is right here!!

The officials stared blankly at Lu Yuan.

They glanced again at Gu Qingwan beside him.

And Gu Qingwan herself was a bit dazed.

This little thing... his courage keeps growing!

Before, seeing these people, they truly dared not do anything; now they actually dare to cross their legs and smoke?

Has he become enlightened?

Exactly, Lu Yuan has become enlightened.

Lu Yuan is like a host on Earth; before, he was proper and honest.

But after interviewing Ma Ge, he became completely enlightened.

After Lu Yuan figured this out, he also became enlightened.

Just smoke!

At this moment, the cabinet's Grand Secretary, Yan Chonghui, came to his senses.

A man in his sixties, he sat in the first seat to Gu Qingwan's left.

"Lord Lu, is this not improper? The Emperor is still here; this is a breach of decorum before the sovereign!"

Before the Emperor there are three major taboos.

Looking up at the ruler, improper conduct before the sovereign, and shouting in the court.

Each of these is a major taboo.

Lu Yuan remained calm, directly looking at Yan Chonghui and said:

"Grand Secretary, you may not know this: while serving the state and the Imperial Court, researching and inventing, I contracted a stomach ailment; the doctor said I must do this."

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, the surrounding people all had black lines on their faces.

What nonsense is this kid spouting?

Yan Chonghui immediately frowned and said:

"What does your stomachache have to do with smoking?"

Lu Yuan then raised his eyebrows and said solemnly:

"Of course it's related—this stomachache is just discomfort; smoking a cigarette eases the discomfort, and this is specially permitted by the Emperor."

Gu Qingwan beside him blinked, and after coming to her senses, she also gave a slight nod, expressionless, and said:

"Mm, I allow him to smoke."

Yan Chonghui gritted his teeth, staring at Lu Yuan, and said:

"Then is your habit of crossing your legs also related to your stomach ailment?!"

Lu Yuan immediately smiled, narrowing his eyes at Yan Chonghui, and said:

"Sir, you're seventy or eighty, and you're really not at all muddle-headed."

"Exactly, the doctor said this posture lets the intestines and stomach relax, which helps alleviate the stomach ailment."

Yan Chonghui: "???"

Everyone around looked at Lu Yuan, completely bewildered.

"This is really the first time I've seen someone dare to speak to the Grand Councilor like this!!"

"This kid... is way too arrogant!!"

"Was this kid like this before??"

The crowd was a bit confused.

And just as Yan Chonghui, gritting his teeth, was about to say something, Gu Qingwan beside him coldly looked at him and said:

"Have you finished arranging the matter of laying railways in the south? How much longer do you want me to wait?"

Yan Chonghui was taken aback, then hurriedly looked at Gu Qingwan and said:

"Your Majesty, right away..."

Finally, Yan Chonghui glanced at Lu Yuan, then stopped saying anything else.

Instead, he hurriedly continued organizing the documents in his hands with the people around him.

Lu Yuan continued to smoke casually.

Meanwhile, Gu Qingwan beside him looked at Lu Yuan with some surprise.

"Alright, this little guy finally dares to take on these people head-on!"

And after Lu Yuan finished dressing down Yan Chonghui, he was also completely unflustered.

Anyway, Lu Yuan had figured this out.

Soon.

About twenty minutes later.

The southern railway lines had been worked out.

A large map was hung up.

On it were red railway lines.

Next, Assistant Yan Shijin stood up, holding a stick, pointing at the red railway lines on the map, and explained to Gu Qingwan why they should be built this way.

In the Great Zhou Dynasty, railways are the economic lifeline; wanting to build a railway, though said to be difficult, is actually not that hard.

As long as it passes through major cities along the route, that's fine.

This first railway will go to provincial-level cities, as well as some major cities within the provinces.

But the Great Zhou Dynasty will definitely not just open a single railway.

In the future, many, many more railways will be opened.

In the future, it can still be improved.

As Yan Shijin finished speaking, Gu Qingwan nodded satisfactorily, and then glanced at Lu Yuan beside her.

This was Lu Yuan's doing; Gu Qingwan wanted to see if Lu Yuan had any other ideas.

Lu Yuan didn't either.

Lu Yuan isn't a nitpicker; close enough is fine.

Immediately, Gu Qingwan nodded and said:

"Take this document and send it to the Ministry of Works right now, so they can begin preparations and start construction nearby."

But as soon as Gu Qingwan finished speaking, Yan Chonghui beside her immediately stood up, bowed toward her, and said:

"Your Majesty, I have something to report."

Gu Qingwan looked at Yan Chonghui with some annoyance and said:

"Speak."

Yan Chonghui immediately said:

"The northern railways, built according to Your Majesty's request, have already been completed, and their cost is already astronomical."

"Meanwhile, the south is mountainous and hilly, making construction far more difficult, and the cost is many times that of the north."

Before Yan Chonghui could finish his rambling, Gu Qingwan wore a look of annoyance and said:

"Get to the point."

Gu Qingwan knew that Yan Chonghui was about to start again; every time she undertook a major matter, the cabinet would always jump out and say something.

Gu Qingwan knew these people were just trying to flaunt their authority.

But Gu Qingwan couldn't understand why, for something as beneficial to the country and people as railways, with a hundred benefits and no harms,

they would still jump out to say something?

What could they possibly say?

Yan Chonghui blinked, then immediately said:

"Your Majesty, this old subject means that, according to the vision, the railway is absolutely a great invention that astonishes ancient and modern times."

"Even the Great Zhou Dynasty could, by relying on the railway, leap to become a mid-tier dynasty, possibly even a high-tier dynasty, but……"

"All of this must have a precondition: that this thing is exactly as Baron Lu said."

This train can really get moving; it can really pull ten thousand tons of stuff.

If this cannot be achieved, then all of this is mere empty talk, mere bubbles.

Furthermore, according to Old Chen, the Great Zhou Dynasty's first locomotive is still holed up inside the Emperor's Chonghua Hall courtyard.

Upon saying this, everyone in the Cabinet nodded.

This has nothing to do with the Emperor.

Everyone simply refuses to believe that something this powerful actually exists in this world.

After all, everyone is not Gu Qingwan, so they would not trust Lu Yuan to this degree.

No matter how you think about it, such a thing seems utterly impossible.

No need for a spiritual power core?

Can it power such a massive beast and haul ten thousand tons of cargo?

This is utter nonsense.

As for Yan Chonghui's remark, Gu Qingwan crossed her legs, gently swayed her beautiful feet, and said expressionlessly:

"Tomorrow, Lu Yuan's train will be able to get moving."

As soon as Gu Qingwan finished speaking, Yan Chonghui immediately said:

"Then please ask the Emperor for permission to hold this document until tomorrow when the train actually starts, and then send it to the Ministry of Works."

Gu Qingwan said expressionlessly:

"No problem, we can send it today."

Immediately, Yan Chonghui then said:

"Your Majesty, this is no child's play..."

Everyone in the room knows that the Emperor and the Cabinet are about to lock horns again.

Whether this document is sent to the Ministry of Works tonight or tomorrow, it actually makes no difference.

If sent tonight, the Ministry of Works could not possibly claim they would immediately head south to make arrangements.

The root cause of this matter remains the same as before.

Same old talk.

Just when everyone thought the two sides were about to start wrangling again and pull at each other,

This time, Gu Qingwan's attitude was extremely resolute; she slammed the table, then glared at Yan Chonghui and shouted sternly:

"I have said it before; trust Lu Yuan."

"Yan Chonghui, you really have the gall of a dog, and nowadays you're getting more and more presumptuous; whatever I do, you always have to stick your nose in!"

Meanwhile, Yan Chonghui immediately dropped to his knees and shouted loudly:

"Your servant, I dare to remonstrate unto death!!"

Meanwhile, Gu Qingwan didn't even glance at Yan Chonghui; with a cold face she walked out, saying:

"Tonight, I want to see the Ministry of Works receive today's document!"

Everyone in the hall immediately knelt to see Gu Qingwan off.

Lu Yuan glanced at Yan Chonghui, then immediately followed Gu Qingwan out.

After the two left,

Only then did the people in the hall breathe a sigh of relief, wipe cold sweat, and rise.

Afterwards, everyone immediately gathered around Yan Chonghui and helped the premier up.

Nobody said much.

Everyone knows why Yan Chonghui did that.

The grudge between the Cabinet and the Emperor has long been irreconcilable.

If Yan Chonghui backs down, his fate will be even worse.

The more Yan Chonghui acts this way, the less the Emperor can do anything to him.

Otherwise,

Not heeding loyal ministers but listening to villains, such a big hat will be placed on the Emperor's head.

If the Emperor still dares to act against Yan Chonghui, who knows how it will be spread abroad.

He, Yan Chonghui, could still leave his name in history.

In this matter, Yan Chonghui loses nothing, inside or out.

If tomorrow's train fails to start, Yan Chonghui will be a super great meritorious official.

By then, Yan Chonghui will be smug.

Look, I said it yesterday—it's because Your Majesty wouldn't listen.

If tomorrow's train gets moving, Yan Chonghui is still a super great meritorious official.

After all, what Yan Chonghui said is not wrong.

Without even seeing the actual thing, the court allocated so much money to start building railways; this matter is inherently worth discussing.

……

Meanwhile, Lu Yuan was pushing the cart, following Gu Qingwan toward Chonghua Hall.

Compared to her earlier icy demeanor, Gu Qingwan has improved considerably, looking at Lu Yuan she spoke softly:

"Why have you come running back to look for your older sister?"

"Quickly speak up, but don't delay your going home to embrace your wife."

Lu Yuan glanced at Gu Qingwan, blinked, then pursed his lips and smiled:

"There seems to be something underground at Little Green Mountain; help me gather a bunch of people to dig."

Is there something under Little Green Mountain?

Gu Qingwan looked at Lu Yuan curiously and said:

"What is it?"

After Lu Yuan pondered for a moment, he then grinned and said:

"I can't say for sure either; we'll have to dig to find out."

Lu Yuan felt that beneath it was spirit power ore, but there's always an exception—what if it isn't spirit power ore?

It could be a gold mine, iron ore, or something like that.

Or maybe it's oil.

Anyway, let's dig first and talk later.

Immediately, Gu Qingwan nodded and said:

"Good, I'll have someone follow you later; how big a dig do you need, and should we bring some heavy machinery?"

After Lu Yuan thought for a moment, he quickly shook his head and said:

"No need, it's inside Little Green Mountain; large machinery can't get in, and that place is a river channel, which is also easy to dig."

"Just have people bring hoes and shovels, dig down a bit, and that's enough—except that little stream still has water, so we need to get the Ministry of Works to dam the upstream."

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Gu Qingwan stared at him with a strange expression and said:

"You can't catch any fish, so you want to drain the water?"

Lu Yuan: "????"

Before Lu Yuan could say anything, Gu Qingwan had already burst out laughing.

Immediately, Lu Yuan gritted his teeth and said:

"My fishing skills are truly super strong!!"

Gu Qingwan was laughing so hard her stomach ached, her jade hand resting on Lu Yuan's shoulder, nearly doubling over.

Lu Yuan's face darkened with a black line, then he said:

"Hurry and have the Ministry of Works send people to first dam the water, then send a team to dig; it's getting late, we might have to work through the night."

After Gu Qingwan restrained herself, she then had the nearby eunuch go to the Ministry of Works at once.

Lu Yuan was at a loss for words, then when the two arrived at the gate of the Hall of Double Splendor.

Gu Qingwan was about to return to the Hall of Double Splendor, while Lu Yuan rode his carriage out of the palace to Little Green Mountain.

Once the Ministry of Works staff arrive, Lu Yuan will need to tell them which spot it is, right?

As Lu Yuan was riding his carriage and about to set off, he gazed at the enormous locomotive in the courtyard and fell silent for a few seconds.

Then Lu Yuan suddenly turned his head to look at Gu Qingwan beside him and said:

"I... elder sister... do you really believe tomorrow's locomotive will start?"

Actually, Lu Yuan can't be entirely certain about this.

After all, the locomotive contains far too many parts.

Even now, Lu Yuan can't rely entirely on memory; he assembles it following the design drawings.

If it fails, we'll have to troubleshoot from the beginning.

This isn't a thresher, nor a washing machine.

The structure is simple; if something's amiss, it can be repaired in a few minutes on the spot.

If the locomotive is disassembled and then reassembled, it would take two or three days.

Adding fault‑troubleshooting time, it could take seven or eight days.

If it fails to start tomorrow, how much face would Gu Qingwan lose?

And how smug would Yan Chonghui be?

However, Lu Yuan had just finished speaking.

Gu Qingwan smiled gently, poked Lu Yuan's cheek with her jade hand, and then whispered softly:

"Elder sister always believes in you."

Thanks to old brother Kongdeng for the 1666 book coins reward, thank you very much~

Thanks to @old brother for the 200 book coins reward, thank you very much~

……

There's another chapter tonight at around eight or nine, eh.

(End of chapter)