Chapter 114: Undercurrents Surging

Stepping into the desert once more, Liu Zheng felt a wave of emotion.

The trip to Loulan was full of surprises, and even held unexpected gains.

Zheng Yue Ru looked at Liu Zheng from the side with a playful expression, but simply refused to speak.

Liu Zheng gave a wry smile: "Big Miss, could you please stop looking at me like that?"

Zheng Yue Ru giggled: "That Queen Reguli, Brother Liu, are you truly not tempted at all?"

Liu Zheng said gloomily: "Her son is already a king; am I supposed to just go over and become the Retired Emperor, saving myself thirty years of struggle?"

Zheng Yue Ru didn't understand at first, but then she realized, laughing until she shook.

"It's just that blueprint of yours..."

Zheng Yue Ru took a breath: "Are you serious?"

Liu Zheng looked at her and smiled: "Why does everyone think I'm joking? Do I look like someone who likes to joke that much?"

"But..."

Looking at the desolate surroundings, Zheng Yue Ru could only feel despair in her heart.

Liu Zheng laughed: "Whether it works or not, we must try. Think about it, how vast this desert is; the amount of territory we could harvest in the future! Isn't it fascinating? If we can't do it, there's the next generation; if they can't, there's the generation after that! The best time to plant a tree was ten years ago, the second best time is now! There has never been anything more fulfilling than leaving an oasis for those who come after us!"

Zheng Yue Ru's delicate body trembled; she felt this young man before her growing ever more imposing.

Reguli's eye for people was truly sharp...

Yinzhou.

Yintan City.

In just a few months, the entire Yintan City was nearly finished. Still on that small hill, Qingyang Shuo looked at the majestic city and smiled slightly: "The young master should be returning soon."

Standing behind the wheelchair, Hu Xi'er snorted coldly: "Old Dad, you think about him every day; who knows if he hooked up with a Princess in Loulan and became an Imperial Son-in-law!"

As she spoke, she burst into a giggle herself.

She didn't know that she had actually almost guessed right... it was just that Liu Zheng hadn't almost become an Imperial Son-in-law, but had almost become a Retired Emperor.

Qingyang Shuo smiled dotingly: "Silly child, this will be your home from now on; you really should curb that bad temper of yours!"

Hu Xi'er blushed: "Old Dad, stop talking nonsense!"

Qingyang Shuo smiled faintly and said no more.

Hu Xi'er asked curiously: "What is Old Dad thinking about?"

Qingyang Shuo said calmly: "Now that Yintan City is built, it risks standing out like a tall tree in the wind. This Refined Salt, beginning to appear in the Longyan Dynasty, will surely attract the attention of many. What I worry about is that the mere Baiya Army still cannot reach the heavens with its hands."

Hu Xi'er looked worried: "Old Dad, what should we do then?"

A sharp glint flashed in Qingyang Shuo's eyes: "There is no need to worry about Yinzhou for now; the first to bear the brunt of this matter should be the Baiya Army. The longer it takes, the greater the attrition will be for the Baiya Army. This may not necessarily be a bad thing for Yinzhou. It's just..."

"Just what?"

Qingyang Shuo looked leisurely at the sky: "Watching how the situation in this world changes."

Jinghua.

The political center of the Longyan Dynasty.

The most prosperous metropolis in the entire dynasty.

The Imperial Palace alone stretched for miles, towering and magnificent. It was said that walking around the inside and outside of the Imperial Palace would take a full three days, with all its various gates and courtyards often leaving people dazzled.

"Salt Management Commissioner, Lord Yu, requests an audience!"

"Lord Yu requests an audience!"

"Lord Yu..."

Today, Yu Chaoshu was covered in cold sweat, clutching a brocade bag, running wildly to request an audience with the Emperor. However, requesting an audience with the Emperor required passing through various checkpoints and the scrutiny of various Inner Court eunuchs. As a Salt Management Commissioner, he was a third-rank official in the Longyan Dynasty, not a low position, but he dared not act arrogant in front of these Inner Court eunuchs.

"Yo, what wind blew Lord Yu here today?"

A voice that was hard to distinguish as male or female rang out.

Yu Chaoshu looked over, cursed his luck inwardly, and piled on a smile: "Grand Eunuch Zhou, it is a matter of extreme urgency; I need to see the Emperor!"

Grand Eunuch Zhou, named Zhou Zhaolun, was the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court and a favorite in front of the Emperor; no one dared to offend him. It could be said that he held absolute power in the Imperial Palace; even Queen Zheng Fu had to give him some face.

Grand Eunuch Zhou looked at Yu Chaoshu sideways, smiling without warmth: "Lord Yu, the Emperor is a bit tired today and has already rested. Heaven and Earth are vast, but the Emperor is the greatest, right? Whatever Lord Yu wants to report, just tell me!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the group of young eunuchs behind Grand Eunuch Zhou blocked Yu Chaoshu's path.

Yu Chaoshu was sweating profusely: "This... this... Grand Eunuch Zhou, this is of great importance, I really cannot delay!"

Grand Eunuch Zhou snorted coldly: "Could there be anything more important than the Emperor? Even the Emperor doesn't hide anything from me; does Lord Yu not trust me?"

"I... I... I..."

Yu Chaoshu made a bitter face: "I would never dare, it's just..."

Grand Eunuch Zhou looked at the brocade bag in Yu Chaoshu's arms and asked: "What is this?"

Seeing he couldn't hide it anymore, Yu Chaoshu sighed and gritted his teeth: "Grand Eunuch Zhou, this is exactly what I need to see the Emperor for! In our Longyan Dynasty, Refined Salt even finer than what the Salt Transport Office produces has been discovered!"

"What?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou was startled: "Bring it here for me to see!"

Supervision Courtyard.

The Refined Salt in the brocade bag left the group of people dumbfounded.

Grand Eunuch Zhou narrowed his eyes slightly.

Yu Chaoshu said anxiously: "Grand Eunuch Zhou, this matter is no small thing! Our Salt Transport Office absolutely does not produce this kind of Refined Salt!"

Grand Eunuch Zhou chuckled, his fingers tapping on the table: "Lord Yu, is this kind of Refined Salt top-grade?"

Yu Chaoshu sighed: "Premium grade!"

In the Grand Eunuch's hall, one could instantly hear a pin drop.

It was so quiet that even Yu Chaoshu's breathing sounded heavy.

Grand Eunuch Zhou chuckled and said, "Lord Yu, where is this Refined Salt flowing into the Capital from?"

Yu Chaoshu gave a wry smile and said, "Grand Eunuch Zhou, this matter is precisely why I wish to have an audience with the Emperor! Judging by its quality, one can tell that ordinary families would not be able to afford this salt. I obtained it by chance, so I have yet to figure out the transport channels. Your subordinate believes that this should be reported to the Emperor for the Emperor to decide whether to crack down on this case or to first dispatch the Secret Guard to uncover the source of this salt!"

Grand Eunuch Zhou pondered for a moment before chuckling, "Lord Yu, do not be alarmed. The Emperor has been weary lately and should not be overly disturbed..."

Yu Chaoshu was anxious, but he also knew that rumors had spread since before the new year that the Emperor was in poor health, and there were even whispers in the palace that the Emperor was already preparing for the Crown Prince to succeed to the throne.

"Then what is Grand Eunuch Zhou's meaning?"

Grand Eunuch Zhou smiled and said, "Lord Yu, you may leave first. I will keep this matter in mind, and when the Emperor's health is slightly better, I will choose an opportune moment to report it to him. How does Lord Yu feel about that?"

Yu Chaoshu was overjoyed and immediately agreed.

After Yu Chaoshu left, Grand Eunuch Zhou slowly looked at the Refined Salt on the table again, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes.

"Someone come!"

"Old Ancestor, I am here!"

"Order the Commander of the Secret Guard to come and receive orders. Within one month, I want to find out where this Refined Salt comes from!"

"Yes!"