Done! Your Majesty is going to prostitute me for free!

Chapter 117

After hearing this, Yin Jiajin's face instantly became filled with loneliness and depression. Since Lin Xiaofeng left home, she has been feeling uneasy in her heart. As a maid who has served for many years, her feelings for Lin Xiaofeng are intertwined with awe, gratitude and indescribable complex emotions. She is worried that her humble mentality will be exposed, and she is trying to adjust her mentality to adapt to life. of various changes.

Seeing the delicate atmosphere, Lin Taohua tactfully came out to smooth things over, and said comfortingly: "Oh, there's no need to be so nervous. I invited her to enjoy this milk bath." She turned to Yin Jiajin and said kindly: "Xiao Yin, please go down first. "The young master and I have something to talk about." After hearing this, Yin Jiajin quickly retreated to the backyard.

Lin Xiaofeng stretched lazily and ordered: "Come and press your shoulders to loosen your muscles and bones." Then he asked with concern: "Did anything important happen at home while I was away? Xiao Yin? Nothing unusual?" Lin Taohua immediately leaned close, gently massaged Lin Xiaofeng's shoulders, and replied confusedly: "Everything is as usual, there is no problem. Xiaoyin often goes shopping with me, but because she is short of money, so All the purchases were paid for by me.”

Lin Xiaofeng suddenly stood up and stared at Lin Taohua sideways: "How can this situation work? You two are both maids." There was dissatisfaction in his words, "I always feel something is strange when I look at Xiao Yin." Lin Taohua once again persuaded Lin Xiaofeng to sit down. Continuing to explain: "In the prosperous place of Kyoto, she often visited a clothing store called 'De Xing'. I had secretly checked and found nothing suspicious. I arranged for someone to follow and observe secretly. Every time she came back from outing, she always His eyes were dazed, he probably just wanted to buy new clothes, but he was short of money."

When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, she couldn't help but question: "Giving her three taels of silver every month is quite generous for a non-Yangqu native. The clerks under her command only get one tael, but the maid Yin Jiajin actually gets three taels. She is only responsible for cooking meals every day." , there is no need for cleaning, and other chores are shared by other maids. Even if her appearance is acceptable, can it be worth the real value of silver? Why does a maid have to spend twenty taels for a bath? Such treatment even in Beijing? It’s also extremely rare in the city!”

After hearing this, Lin Taohua rolled her eyes and retorted: "I will also bathe in it. If necessary, I can bear the expense." Lin Xiaofeng waved her hands and sighed: "You have been with me since childhood, when you were still a little girl." , was so thin that it was only as high as my waist. Now she is as tall and graceful as if she had grown up like my biological sister. I will leave the maid's affairs to you. This time I brought back a sum of money from other places. You go. The warehouse rechecked the accounts. In addition, I found that your consumption became increasingly extravagant while I was away. From now on, the monthly pocket money limit shall not exceed five hundred taels. "

Lin Taohua muttered and complained: "I just applied for a milk bath discount card, thirty times totaling 500 taels." Lin Xiaofeng corrected seriously: "This kind of behavior that seems to be taking advantage but is actually a loss is not advisable! Everything in our county is legitimate The business will not tolerate such mistakes happening again. From today on, the monthly allowance is 500 taels, and you are not allowed to spend any more. If you want to spend extra, you must earn it by yourself!"

Lin Taohua muttered dissatisfied: "What a stingy person!" Lin Xiaofeng retorted: "Am I stingy? Everyone is grateful and praises me for being generous and generous. How can you know the secret behind this?" The conversation changed and he mentioned it again: "This When I came back this time, I specially prepared a gift for you." Lin Taohua suddenly became interested and asked eagerly: "What good thing is it?"

Lin Xiaofeng pointed at a package placed on the bench in the backyard. Lin Taohua ran forward to open it with joy, and exclaimed in surprise: "Wow, so many jewelry?" But after a closer look, she was discouraged: "Oh~, it's better to sell them for some cash. Although they are valuable, they are still not as exquisite as the glass jewelry in our county. That's all, just pick a few pieces and give them to Xiao Yin."

Lin Xiaofeng squinted her eyes and warned: "Don't be fooled by Xiao Yin's performance." Lin Taohua responded: "Xiao Yin looks dull and taciturn, and is often alone in a daze. I guess she misses her parents far away. Don't worry, I will pay attention to her behavior. , After all, she has not served for two years. If there is any abnormal situation, I will report it to you in time." Lin Xiaofeng nodded and agreed: "That's very good."

As night fell, the lights dimmed in the backyard of the county government office. Li Dexian, Xie Hongxin and others gathered to enjoy the beautiful scenery of the bright moonlight and starry sky. Ripples appear in the lotus pond, koi carps swim leisurely under the water, the chirping of insects in the grass and the light and shadow of the bonfire interweave into a peaceful and harmonious picture. Everyone sat around the table, candlelight danced, there was a dazzling array of food, and the aroma of fine wine overflowed. A roast suckling pig was placed in the center. The golden skin was crispy and attractive, and the inside was juicy and mouth-watering.

Except for Lin Taohua and Yin Jiajin, everyone else was looking forward to the roasted suckling pig they were about to taste. Lin Xiaofeng secretly laughed in his heart, and his thoughts drifted to another world: whether artificial intelligence has already dominated the earth, whether humans have set foot on Mars, how the research on controllable nuclear fusion is progressing, and whether his parents have received the response after his sudden death at work. Some compensation... In the turmoil of these issues, time slipped by quietly, the night became darker and darker, the stars were bright, and the moonlight was like a train, reflecting on everyone's face, projecting the thousands of thoughts in their hearts.

Lin Xiaofeng recently traveled around Yangqu County. This is a closed but undercurrent county. Businessmen are vying to make a name for themselves in this land like cockfighting birds. The flames of competition are scorching every inch of the soil. He once opened up territory on this land and founded a training center with the intention of enlightening the people of this rural place with modern ideas. However, he failed to create many ripples at first. Until the rhythm of life gradually stabilized, the market began to boil like a jar of fermented old wine. Although the leading commodities still remained at the level of primary agricultural products, the service industry had quietly given birth to the embryo of the modern market. Paper was as cheap as a straw, flyers and coupons were flying all over the sky, and there was even an unheard-of luxury consumption experience like milk bath. Li Dexian walked through it, nodding in wonder frequently, and kept uttering heartfelt admiration.

One day, the sun was shining brightly and the breeze was gentle. Lin Xiaofeng led Li Dexian and others on a stroll among the flowers in the suburbs, where a lively and interesting monkey show was being staged at the winery. Sunlight reflected on Li Dexian's face through the flowers. On a whim, he tried a fruit-throwing game with a clever monkey, but he was teased by the monkey and became disgraced, which caused bursts of laughter from the crowd around him. In the afternoon, the group walked leisurely into the city and stopped to watch in front of the newly established arena facility. Here, people only need to spend a mere two cents of silver to go on stage to sweat and vent their emotions. Not only are there fair and impartial referees on the stage to maintain order, but even doctors are ready to treat the wounded at any time, which shows the fierce and unruly folk customs here. At this moment, two women on the stage, wearing finger gloves and jerseys, were having a fierce duel. The onlookers cheered one after another. Li Dexian could not restrain his enthusiasm and eagerly joined the cheering crowd. Standing in the crowd, Lin Xiaofeng witnessed this scene, with mixed feelings in his heart, wondering whether he should intervene in this seemingly harmless social phenomenon that may actually lead to violence.

As the sun set, Lin Xiaofeng specially booked a local theater and invited Li Dexian to watch a carefully arranged drama performance. The facilities in the theater have been updated, and cup slots have been added next to each seat for the audience to place drinks. However, the play "Legend of Jigong II" performed that night was shoddily tampered with and the plot was extremely vulgar, which made Lin Xiaofeng feel heartbroken. What worries him even more is that Li Dexian purchased several books with extremely vulgar contents. These bad cultural products flood the market and are undoubtedly a poison to people's hearts. Lin Xiaofeng secretly vowed to strictly control the performance in the future and resolutely boycott such inferior performances.

As the night wore on, Li Dexian could not keep his eyes off the wonderful martial arts scenes on the stage, but Lin Xiaofeng felt heavy in his heart. He promptly raised the issue of Jingjiang ticketing and believed that it was necessary to strengthen management to prevent ordinary people from indulging in the illusory world of entertainment, thereby affecting their normal livelihood and work. At the same time, he emphasized that the treatment of journalists needs to be improved urgently to prevent the loss of talent. Li Dexian seemed a little confused about Lin Xiaofeng's suggestion to cancel the Jingjiang vote. Lin Xiaofeng explained that the purpose of this move is to prevent people from losing their minds on the ticket purchase issue and prevent things that are originally beneficial from going to extremes. They reached a consensus and decided to go to the newspaper office together the next day, planning to incorporate Xiang Xiehong into the management and pay close attention to personnel transfers after Qiu Wei. Just as Lin Xiaofeng was speaking sincerely and caring about the country and the people, the stage suddenly showed the scene of Tathagata Buddha being crushed under the Five Fingers Mountain. The two people's eyes were once again attracted by the drama. This scene was like a microcosm of all kinds of contradictions and conflicts in real society, which made Lin Xiaofeng's worries become more and more intense. He is well aware that cultural and entertainment matters must not only meet the spiritual needs of the public, but also accurately grasp the rudder of guiding social trends to ensure the harmonious and orderly development and progress of a country's land and water.

The morning light showed slightly the next day, and Lin Xiaofeng quickly set off for the capital. His first stop was the newspaper office in North Langfang. As soon as he stepped into the mottled door, what he saw in front of him made him feel nervous: all the reporters looked tired and haggard, and looked at them like zombies struggling back from the edge of hell. Although they were exhausted, there was still a hint of unnoticeable excitement and expectation in their dull eyes. Seeing this scene, Li Dexian's face turned red with shame, and he felt deep self-blame in his heart. Thinking of the hardships and toil that these people had gone through with him, he felt ashamed and ashamed. Lin Xiaofeng watched this scene with his heart pounding, so he walked straight to Yang Baixi to explore the hidden hardships.

Yang Baixi responded with a wry smile: "Sir, you don't know. Recently, many people from our agency have been dispatched to the Yangtze River Basin for in-depth interviews and reports. There is an extreme shortage of personnel. Everyone has not been home for reunions day and night for several months. Food and accommodation are not normal at all. Guarantee, that’s why we’re in such a bad situation.”

After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng's heart became more and more grief-stricken, and a strong feeling of guilt arose spontaneously. He raised his chest and said sternly: "My colleagues have worked extremely hard, and I am here to change your plight in life! You are here! You are all heroes of Jingjiang, how can I bear to let you suffer such hardship! The responsibility for this matter lies with me and cannot be shied away from me!" As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Xiaofeng pretended to wipe the tears from his eyes and solemnly announced that he would spend a huge amount of money to buy the next door. The restaurant, which has been idle for a long time, has been completely renovated to ensure that each reporter can have an independent and comfortable dormitory, and can even bring family members to live with him. It is also planned to build a convenient passage between the dormitory and the newspaper office to completely solve daily problems. The hard work of traveling back and forth.

Immediately afterwards, Lin Xiaofeng personally introduced the new person Xiang Xiehong as the vice president, and solemnly promised to improve the quality of food in the canteen and ensure that the meals are rich and diverse, and there is meat to eat every meal. In addition, considering everyone's long-term selfless dedication, Lin Xiaofeng decided to give generous bonuses as rewards. First, each person was given one tael of silver to show his appreciation. At first, this amount made the reporters a little disappointed, but Lin Xiaofeng then raised his voice and announced: "Your Majesty and the Crown Prince are well aware of your hard work, so they have specially ordered to increase the bonus to one hundred taels, and colleagues who are dispatched to the Yangtze River for reporting will receive an additional five taels." Twelve taels." At the same time, it was announced that everyone's monthly salary would be doubled.

As soon as these words came out, the whole audience fell into shock, and then turned into a sea of ​​joy. The reporters burst into tears of gratitude and shouted, "Mr. Lin is benevolent, righteous and virtuous", "His Royal Highness may live forever" and "His Majesty may live forever". These measures taken by Lin Xiaofeng not only fundamentally solved the reporters' survival dilemma, but also greatly inspired their love and loyalty for their work. In an instant, the entire North Langfang newspaper office was filled with joy and excitement, just like the spring breeze blowing away the winter snow, and everything was revived, full of vitality, and a prosperous scene.

In the atmosphere of laughter and thunderous applause, Lin Xiaofeng quietly whispered into Xiang Xiehong's ear: "You will be solely responsible for handling the specific matters regarding bonus distribution. The required silver will be withdrawn directly from the county treasury." Xiang Xiehong heard this Hearing this, he frowned slightly and responded in a low voice: "Sir, although your generosity can win people's hearts, it may not last long. How can you keep supporting people without asking for anything in return?" After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng smiled calmly, With firmness and confidence in his eyes, he replied: "It doesn't matter, don't worry too much. I firmly believe that as long as we work hard, the newspaper will eventually turn a profit. And it is urgent to improve the treatment of reporters, because the responsibilities they shoulder will only increase. The heavier. Recently I heard that His Majesty intends to restore the Jin Yiwei establishment. It may be difficult for me to refuse this important task. After all, what man does not yearn to wear a flying fish suit and hold an embroidered spring knife to be powerful? However, although this position is prestigious, it is easy to be aloof and independent. Officials in both the government and the public stayed away from me. Now my reputation in the court has been slightly damaged. Fortunately, I have a deep friendship with the prince and my future is still bright. Sooner or later, I will be able to repair the relationship between all parties. As for these reporters, they are actually an important cornerstone of the capital's intelligence network and will be useful in the future. The place of martial arts.”

While everyone in the room was immersed in joy, Yang Baixi calmly raised the issue of the approaching autumn. Some reporters planned to prepare for exams and might not be able to take care of their daily work. After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment, then readily agreed and asked about the number of reporters who wanted to participate in the scientific examination. Only more than ten people stood up to respond. After careful consideration, Lin Xiaofeng decided to retain their positions and fund a new library next to the newspaper office for candidates to study attentively. At the same time, he promised that pens, ink, paper, inkstones and other school supplies would be provided free of charge, and he could still assist with newspaper office affairs after studying.

Faced with Lin Xiaofeng's thoughtful and considerate arrangements, the reporters were moved to tears and all turned their grateful eyes to him. Lin Xiaofeng smiled warmly and encouraged everyone to work with peace of mind. Those who participated in Qiuwei can return at any time, and the newspaper office will always be their warm haven. Later, Lin Xiaofeng and Xiang Xiehong came to a secluded corner. Xiang Xiehong also raised the issue of the cost and construction of the library's collection of books. Lin Xiaofeng made a prompt decision, not only to complete the repairs, but also to add an archive room to collect all kinds of orphans and manuscripts of famous writers. and classic interpretation books, striving to create the best learning environment for journalists.

In addition, Lin Xiaofeng also privately asked Xiang Xiehong to place some books printed in Yangqu County in a conspicuous place in the library, and cleverly inserted a few "special" readings under the classic books, such as "The Young Woman's Attic" Waiting for secular novels, and requesting them to be printed and produced with pictures as soon as possible. Xiang Xiehong looked embarrassed and thought that this move seemed to go against the stoicism of scholars. Lin Xiaofeng sneered and retorted: "The way of heaven is not just about diligence. Many times, fate is like a lottery. Sometimes studying hard in a cold window may not be better than once." By chance." He emphasized that the path he has paved for reporters may be more open than the imperial examination. Moreover, with himself and the prince as a solid backing, the status of reporters is expected to be significantly improved in the future. As for whether to choose the imperial examination route, the final choice is still in the hands of the reporter. Although Lin Xiaofeng has good intentions, he also respects everyone's free will. After all, the rudder of fate is always in everyone's own hands.

After this careful planning and planning, Lin Xiaofeng firmly believed that his decision was not only conducive to the development and growth of the newspaper, but also opened up a unique life path for reporters. Although he was full of inner conflicts, he always insisted on one belief: destiny should be firmly grasped, rather than relying on illusory God to reward hard work. With his own efforts and wisdom, Lin Xiaofeng is shaping the future of Yangqu County in a unique way, and is also invisibly changing the destiny of everyone who grows up under his wings.

Lin Xiaofeng continued to speak decisively, and then said: "That's all, I will leave this trivial but crucial matter to you to implement one by one. The first priority is to improve the food problem, and make sure that everyone eats satisfactorily and with dignity. In addition, in the second day, Set up a designated person to check in at the entrance of the building, following the county government's practice. Once someone is late, five yuan will be deducted immediately as a punishment." A trace of confusion appeared on Xiang Xiehong's face, and he asked cautiously: "Master, what are these new rules and regulations? It has not been announced to everyone yet." Lin Xiaofeng's eyes flashed with shrewdness, and he instructed Xiang Xiehong to announce the matter to the entire newspaper later, and mentioned that some people have been too sleepy in recent days. For those who are really sick, They should be given paid sick leave, two days a month, and encouraged to go home to recuperate. Xiang Xiehong further proposed whether to add holidays to boost morale, and Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment. In view of the current staff shortage, this proposal will not be considered for the time being. When the newspaper team grows in the future, we will discuss the implementation of holiday benefits such as double wages and group dinners, and Emphasize the need to record the birthday of each employee and give gifts in a timely manner to show care.

Lin Xiaofeng also emphasized the importance of healthy living and suggested that all members do exercises every morning to boost their spirits and temporarily maintain good operating order of the newspaper through strict rules and regulations. At the same time, he also actively planned to send people out to solicit advertising business and seek more ways to make profits. His firm and powerful eyes seemed to indicate a bright future.

Li Dexian carefully recorded while revealing his inner entanglement and struggle. He questioned Lin Xiaofeng: "Master, the bonus of one hundred taels seems too generous. When it was first proposed, it was only one tael of silver. Could it be that you are teasing everyone?" Lin Xiaofeng glanced sideways. Li Dexian glanced at him, smiled slightly, expressed his appreciation for his sense of thrift, and then recounted his management wisdom: "First give each person one tael of silver as a starting point, which will lower their expectations; then gradually increase it to one hundred If you directly promise a double reward from the beginning, it will be difficult to arouse additional enthusiasm. "This is the art of expectation management." I have some understanding, but there is still a trace of confusion in my heart that cannot be completely solved.

In order for Li Dexian to fully understand the mystery, Lin Xiaofeng cleverly used endorsements as an example: Imagine that when Li Dexian returned to the palace to be questioned by his father Jingjiang about his studies, he could first humble himself and only prepared three texts, but in fact he had read them thoroughly and He understood eight classic chapters so that he could perform exceptionally well at critical moments and exceed Emperor Jingjiang's originally low expectations, thus winning the appreciation and surprise of his father. After hearing this, Li Dexian had an epiphany, as if he had seen the sun from the clouds. However, Lin Xiaofeng did not forget to remind him that this method can only be used occasionally. The way to study is to be down-to-earth and not to perfunctory for a long time, otherwise the truth will one day be exposed.

In order to help the Prince overcome the current political difficulties, Lin Xiaofeng ordered reporters to carefully compile a special report on the Yangtze River disaster relief, describing in detail the hardships of the Prince's personal experience of the disaster and His Majesty's concrete measures to sympathize with the suffering of the people. He took this opportunity to call on all walks of life to donate generously and jointly provide relief. Disaster victims. Lin Xiaofeng smiled calmly and said that his role in it did not need to be exaggerated. Yang Baixi deeply admired this and decided to publicize Lin Xiaofeng's low-key and high-profile deeds.

When night fell, Li Dexian stepped into the Qianqing Palace and faced Emperor Jingjiang's inquiry. He acted according to his plan and claimed that he could only recite three texts. However, when Emperor Jingjiang heard this, his expression suddenly changed and he became furious. Before the exam could be held, he ordered his guards to take down Li Dexian, intending to punish him with a cane. Li Dexian was caught off guard, and in panic he begged Emperor Jingjiang to allow him to take the exam, but Emperor Jingjiang severely reprimanded him for neglecting his studies. He was so angry that he waved his stick without hesitation. Li Dexian's painful wails echoed in the palace for a long time, becoming the most tragic thing on that desolate night. scene.

One day, Lin Xiaofeng was busy carrying out drastic reforms and rectifications in the newspaper office in the capital. At dawn the next day, as the morning glow first touched the sky, Lin Taohua led a group of colleagues who had migrated from Yangqu County into the prosperous and difficult urban life. From time to time, sighs and complaints about life in Beijing came from the crowd. . Lin Xiaofeng smiled bitterly when he heard this, and said in deep thought: "This capital city is not only the source of glory and wealth, but also a road full of thorns. My colleagues still need more patience and perseverance."

Shortly after Chenshi, the new residence was properly decorated, and the maid Yin Jiajin hurriedly walked into the inner room holding a gold-plated invitation. Lin Xiaofeng was not in a hurry to accept the invitation, but first stared at the changes in Yin Jiajin, and couldn't help but sigh with emotion: "It's really a woman's eighteenth transformation. The immature little girl in the past has become so charming, with skin as white as snow and a face like a peach blossom. The graceful figure is even more delicate, and the arrogance of the past has been tempered by the years into a kind of simple respect." Yin Jiajin lowered her eyebrows and thought to herself: "I'm not really afraid of you, I'm just afraid of being punished for trivial matters and having my meager wages deducted. That's all." After she calmed down, when she looked up, Lin Xiaofeng patted her head gently and praised her: "Xiao Yin, your performance recently is really impressive, from being at a loss at the beginning to being decent and calm now. , She has become an outstanding maid." When Yin Jiajin heard this encouragement, a warm current surged in her heart.

Lin Xiaofeng then accepted the invitation, and at the same time taught Yin Jiajin to be meticulous in her work. Each task has a score record, and if you accumulate one hundred points, you can obtain a Yangqu household registration. Yin Jiajin calculated in her mind that she still needed two years of hard work. She suddenly realized that she had been negligent and had poor points status. She couldn't help but feel ashamed and left angrily. Lin Xiaofeng smiled slightly when he saw this, knowing that although Yin Jiajin was straightforward, she still needed more guidance and education to grow.

After unfolding the invitation, it turned out that the King of Hanjiang invited him to a gathering at the palace, which surprised Lin Xiaofeng and wondered why the King of Hanjiang was so well-informed. After thinking for a moment, he decided to accept the invitation.

Li Dexian and Xie Hongxin also arrived at this time. Lin Xiaofeng showed the invitation and asked Li Dexian about the situation of King Hanjiang. Li Dexian recalled indifferently that he had visited the prince's palace several times during festivals. He mentioned that although the emperor's uncle, King Hanjiang, had a slightly inferior reputation and was not good at learning and governing the country, he only loved those weird crafts. For him, Not many details are known. Lin Xiaofeng recalled her past interactions with the King of Hanjiang and felt mixed emotions, so she decided to visit the Prince of Hanjiang's palace with Li Dexian.

When the three of them arrived at the gate of Hanjiang Palace, they saw Butler Liu walking out to greet them with a smile as warm as the spring breeze. This man was tall, with longer arms than ordinary people, and a pair of bright smiling eyes, which was impressive. Lin Xiaofeng recognized Butler Liu, whom he had met before, and they followed him into the palace. Butler Liu was particularly respectful when he saw Lin Xiaofeng, who was the "Prince". As for Xie Hongxin's identity, Lin Xiaofeng introduced him as the Prince's personal guard. Afterwards, the three people were led to the main hall to wait for the arrival of King Hanjiang.

Lin Xiaofeng's eyes wandered and he noticed a painting with a very modern art style hanging on the surrounding walls. The ink shades seemed to have endless meaning. At the same time, Li Dexian found a huge telescope in the courtyard and blurted out in surprise. Lin Xiaofeng examined it carefully and confirmed that it was an astronomical telescope with excellent craftsmanship. The cost must be high, and it was rare to see it in the Hanjiang Palace. The lenses of the telescope are not made of ordinary glass, but are carefully ground from crystal clear crystal.

Not long after, the King of Hanjiang appeared in person, respectfully bowed to Lin Xiaofeng and the "Prince" and asked for their well-being. Talking about the astronomical telescope, King Hanjiang called it a star-gazing treasure mirror. Its function is comparable to a magical mirror that can spy on scenery thousands of miles away, and can even observe the subtle texture of the moon's surface. Faced with Lin Xiaofeng's curious questioning, King Hanjiang frankly told him that he had developed it himself, and promised to let Lin Xiaofeng experience the secret later.

At the banquet, King Hanjiang apologized for not being able to meet Lin Xiaofeng earlier due to illness, but Lin Xiaofeng responded politely and appreciated King Hanjiang for still maintaining strict and thorough etiquette even though he was ill. The tea served during the banquet was the top-grade famous tea that is a specialty of Yangqu County, which shows the attentiveness and exquisiteness of the King of Hanjiang in his hospitality. However, Lin Xiaofeng was not completely immersed in the joyous drinking, and his thoughts were still lingering on the shock brought by the astronomical telescope. Inadvertently catching a glimpse of an abstract painting on the wall, he casually inquired about its meaning. The King of Hanjiang thought for a moment and then bluntly proposed the concept that the earth is a round sphere. Lin Xiaofeng was stunned and found it difficult to accept this subversive view.

During the banquet, everyone had a heated discussion around this topic, and the doubts in Lin Xiaofeng's mind became more and more intense, speculating that King Hanjiang might be a hidden scientific madman, rather than a simple ancient nobleman. The discussion gradually turned to the understanding of the shape of the world. Both Li Dexian and Xie Hongxin had reservations about the spherical earth theory proposed by King Hanjiang, and adhered to the traditional concept of a round sky and a round earth. Lin Xiaofeng observed the attitude and remarks of King Hanjiang, and felt more and more that they contained some extraordinary wisdom. The atmosphere of the banquet became increasingly heated, and the discussion about the nature of the world pushed the party to a climax. Everyone was trying to understand and accept the truth that might subvert existing perceptions.

King Hanjiang's face was light yet profound, as if it contained endless secrets and wisdom. He spoke slowly, with an otherworldly power in his words: "The territory under my feet is not as simple as the world imagines. It is actually a round sphere, with the sun, moon and stars as its center constantly rotating. , hence the change of day and night, and the rotation of the four seasons." After hearing these remarks, Lin Xiaofeng's inherent knowledge of the geocentric theory quietly loosened. If the sun in Jingjiang is true, its size must be much larger than the earth itself. Although this view subverted Lin Xiaofeng's long-standing world view, deep down he admired the extraordinary insight and courage of King Hanjiang. In this seemingly closed and conservative era, for the first time, someone dared to challenge the secular world and proposed such a Groundbreaking theory.

Looking back on the past, Lin Xiaofeng still remembers asking everyone about their opinions on the shape of the heaven and earth when he first arrived. People's opinions vary widely. Some firmly believe that the earth is as regular as a square chessboard, some believe that the earth is a round thing, and some even think that the earth is boundless. The boundless flat world. However, among the many scholars who were well-read in poetry and literature, those who adhered to the concept of "a round sky and a round earth" accounted for the absolute majority, and there were few voices of dissent. Only the King of Hanjiang had a unique vision, and his thoughts were as sharp as an unsheathed sword. He not only had keen insight, but also had a rare scientific research spirit.

At this moment, Lin Xiaofeng noticed that King Hanjiang's eyes were staring at her, so he asked respectfully: "How did the prince confirm that the earth is indeed round?" King Hanjiang raised his hand slightly and pointed at the astronomical telescope, and his voice Low and powerful: "Look at the moon and the sun. They are both perfectly round. In the past, we thought the moon was just a tiny luminous dot hanging in the sky, but it is not. If you observe it through a telescope, you will find its shape. Although it is far away, it can be inferred that the stars are not small, but appear small because of the distance. If you imagine that you can stand on the moon and look down on the earth, you will definitely find that it shows typical spherical characteristics. "

Lin Xiaofeng carefully savored the discussion of King Hanjiang. Although it was concise and straightforward, it was a valuable insight at that stage of scientific enlightenment. The King of Hanjiang shifted his gaze to Xie Hongxin, with a trace of contempt in his eyes: "Can you understand the truth of this?" Xie Hongxin did not buy it, insisted on his own opinion, and said bluntly: "Even though I can understand this statement, but I We still adhere to the traditional concept that the earth is square." Li Dexian also nodded in agreement.

Faced with doubts, King Hanjiang shook his head gently, smiled without saying a word, and said with pity: "Ignorance is a sin. When the truth is revealed, people will hate their ignorance." He played with it in his hands. A bunch of grapes is used as a comparison: "Exploring the truth of the world is like tasting the taste of grapes that you have never tasted before. Only by personal experience can you truly understand. Otherwise, the more you speculate, the farther you will be from the truth."

Lin Xiaofeng listened to this and was secretly shocked. King Hanjiang not only proposed such a shocking theory as geocentrism, but also had strict logic in his words. It is really difficult to compare him with the image of someone who is obsessed with making alchemy and seeking immortality. It would be unbelievable for such a wise and brave man to be accused of being the villain who poisoned his father. However, the formation of people's hearts does not happen in a day, and it is not yet time to draw conclusions easily. Lin Xiaofeng had already placed a question mark on King Hanjiang in his heart.

Li Dexian persisted in asking, if the earth is really a huge sphere, wouldn't everything on the other end fall down? Lin Xiaofeng felt guilty that he failed to impart basic knowledge as a teacher. But the prince's curiosity and desire for knowledge made him feel relieved and there was no need to worry too much. Lin Xiaofeng was also eagerly looking forward to how King Hanjiang would answer this question. King Hanjiang answered calmly and leisurely: "A play about the Trial of Galileo's Three Trials that was staged in North Langfang many years ago gave me a sudden enlightenment."

Lin Xiaofeng further asked what kind of drama could give such enlightenment, and the King of Hanjiang responded calmly: "Although the performances in the drama are plain and simple, they contain a lot of philosophy. The mystery of the iron balls landing at the same time has yet to be solved, but it triggered this story. Wang's thoughts on another question - why everything must eventually return to the ground. After some in-depth research, I boldly speculated that perhaps the land beneath our feet is a powerful magnet that attracts everything to cling to it. "

As soon as he finished speaking, King Hanjiang threw the grapes in his hand to the ground. Li Dexian looked puzzled, while Xie Hongxin sneered at such complex and abstract questions. The King of Hanjiang once again turned his attention to Lin Xiaofeng, and his tone was calm with a hint of provocation: "Does Mr. Lin understand the meaning?" Although Lin Xiaofeng felt that some of the views of the King of Hanjiang were questionable, he still expressed his sincere admiration for his outstanding talents: "I I understand, the prince is truly a talented man of all time!”

When the banquet was in full swing, Butler Liu stepped forward to report that the grand banquet was ready, and the King of Hanjiang happily invited Lin Xiaofeng to join them for a feast of delicious food and wine. The topic of the conversation at the dinner was nothing special at first. It was not until Li Dexian temporarily left the table for some reason that the King of Hanjiang turned to Lin Xiaofeng and claimed that he had important matters to discuss. Lin Xiaofeng listened attentively and was ready for new discussions. The King of Hanjiang spoke highly of Lin Xiaofeng's ability to manage Yangqu County, and mentioned the Hou'er Wine, intending to sign an exclusive sales contract with him, and planned to have the prince's men responsible for the promotion and sales. Lin Xiaofeng humbly expressed his willingness to hear more details and waited for the specific arrangements of King Hanjiang.

King Hanjiang's eyes flashed with determination, and he once again extended an olive branch of cooperation to Lin Xiaofeng, but Lin Xiaofeng did not respond immediately, but fell into deep thought. After a moment, he spoke slowly: "Your Majesty, the world is changing rapidly. Now the monkey wine matter is no longer what it used to be. I dare not accept it easily. The conditions for cooperation need to be re-examined." Faced with the offer of two hundred thousand taels proposed by the King of Hanjiang, Lin Xiaofeng secretly calculated Baiyin's proposal to purchase the exclusive sales rights of Houer Wine: He could make a profit of 40,000 taels in just a few months, so why not run it on his own? Therefore, he shook his head slightly and politely rejected the suggestion.

However, the King of Hanjiang was not discouraged and instead raised the price to 300,000 taels. Lin Xiaofeng took a sip of tea and replied calmly: "I am really worried that the prince will suffer losses, so I can't agree to this." He bluntly pointed out that the performance of Yangqu wine in the Kyoto market was mediocre, and sales had not increased significantly in the past two years. He is quite dissatisfied with its marketing strategy; and Houer Wine is highly profitable, he is not willing to let others control its lifeline easily.

In this regard, the King of Hanjiang patiently analyzed that Yangqu wine was too strong and did not suit the taste of most people in Beijing, so it was unsaleable; but Houer wine was completely different. It had a mellow and soft taste and a rich fruity aroma. It was bound to be popular in the market. It is very popular in Jingjiang area and even wider areas. He also revealed that he has assembled a smart and capable team to be responsible for the operation and promotion of Houer Wine, and he firmly believes that Houer Wine can become a hot seller. Although Lin Xiaofeng knew that the cost of Houer Wine had increased due to the juice content, but it could still be sold at a high price, his attitude remained firm as before. The King of Hanjiang once again offered to purchase the exclusive sales rights of Houer Wine for 300,000 taels of silver, and promised to divide the profits at 46%. Lin Xiaofeng asked in astonishment: "Of these 46%, which party accounts for 60%?" The King of Hanjiang said with a smile on his face. He smiled and replied: "Of course I respect you very much, Mr. Lin, and I am willing to let you take 60% of the proceeds." Lin Xiaofeng was full of doubts in his heart, suspecting that this was just a joke by the King of Hanjiang, but the King of Hanjiang looked serious and said: "I am very interested in Jin. Yin Caibao is not overly greedy. He only gets involved in business with enough money to satisfy his personal tastes. He only loves Houer wine. If this wine can be sold well in the Jingjiang area, he will benefit for a long time and even benefit from it. It will benefit future generations. If the management is not good, the contract will be automatically terminated and part of the silver will be returned." As soon as he finished speaking, the King of Hanjiang poured a cup of hot tea for Lin Xiaofeng.

Lin Xiaofeng took the tea cup and his thoughts were racing. Although this deal seemed too generous, when he thought about it carefully, the Hanjiang King's statement was indeed reasonable. He recalled King Hanjiang's past generous behavior and couldn't help but feel doubtful. After weighing the pros and cons, Lin Xiaofeng finally nodded happily and agreed: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your kindness! I will send someone to come tomorrow to discuss in detail and sign the contract."

After hearing this, the King of Hanjiang nodded with satisfaction, thinking that this was another close cooperation between the two parties, and mentioned that Baihua Building was also one of his properties. At the same time, he mentioned Miss Lu Xuanxin and learned that Lin Xiaofeng had a crush on her, so he decided to He gave it to Lin Xiaofeng and guaranteed that she would still be a pure virgin. When Lin Xiaofeng heard this, he was surprised and overjoyed. Lu Xuanxin also walked out shyly and followed Lin Xiaofeng home.

During the banquet, King Hanjiang once again mentioned that the palace had captured people from Yangqu County and released them after interrogation, and asked Lin Xiaofeng if he knew anything about it. Lin Xiaofeng denied it, speculating that King Hanjiang's move might be a means to win over him. No matter what the purpose behind it was, as long as it was beneficial to him, it was worth a try. After all, under Emperor Jingjiang's strict policy of reducing vassals and seizing troops, the vassal kings were like birds in a cage and lost their freedom. No matter how much wealth they had, they could not change the situation.

Finally, Lin Xiaofeng and Li Dexian reached a tacit agreement. Lin Xiaofeng promised to reward a telescope in exchange for Li Dexian not to mention the matter to the princess. Li Dexian curiously asked if the earth was round, and Lin Xiaofeng responded jokingly, suggesting that he return to the palace to request an order to send a fleet to sail around the world to find out the truth. The two of them had their own concerns, ended the party while talking and laughing, and embarked on their own journeys home. At this time, although Lin Xiaofeng was a little worried about the prince's outspoken personality, he was glad that the deal was successfully concluded. As for the true intention of King Hanjiang, he temporarily let down his guard and only sought immediate benefits and peace. After all, in this era of turbulence and power reorganization in the court, , as long as it does not involve rebellion, everything can become a mutually beneficial and win-win situation.

During the banquet, Lin Xiaofeng felt a strange emotion surge in his heart. Facing a character like the King of Hanjiang, it was not that he had never met people of extraordinary intelligence. However, compared with the young students in the Yangqu County Academy, the gap between them was obvious and profound. Those young people are all seeds that have been strictly selected and carefully cultivated at all levels. They are like blank sheets of paper that have not yet been inked. Their thinking has not yet become rigid, and their cultural heritage is still immature. Since time traveling, Lin Xiaofeng's first priority has been to protect the environment and the people, and the second is to pass on his little remaining modern scientific knowledge to future generations. Therefore, he founded the institute to cultivate a new generation of scientific research talents. The difficult start-up period forced them to start in the field of basic mathematics. As the economy of Yangqu County became increasingly prosperous, funds invested in scientific research poured in like rivers, and eventually remarkable results were achieved, which made Lin Xiaofeng feel deeply gratified and proud. However, as time went by, his scientific literacy gradually became rusty because he had not been involved in it for a long time, and he even found it difficult to deal with some basic quadratic equations of one variable. At this moment, it is rare for King Hanjiang, as a royal child, to break through the shackles of traditional education, sprout scientific thinking and put it into practice. Therefore, Lin Xiaofeng admires him from the bottom of his heart as the Jingjiang version of Newton.

The King of Hanjiang was not only outstanding in knowledge, but also elegant in appearance and temperament. He also gave Lin Xiaofeng a beautiful woman, Lu Xuanxin. This move was obviously beyond the reach of ordinary short-sighted people.

When Lu Xuanxin walked into the mansion, the whole family gathered in the hall, and everyone's eyes were focused on the new woman. Lin Taohua asked in a low voice: "The young master has brought back another girl?" Lin Xiaofeng immediately corrected: "Where does the word 'again' come from? In the past, the girls I brought back were out of various helplessness, but now this one is the King of Hanjiang As a gift." When mentioning the old incident four years ago, Lin Xiaofeng reminded Lin Taohua not to mention it again, and told her to treat Lu Xuanxin well. Therefore, Lin Xiaofeng solemnly announced in the center of the hall that a new member was welcomed into the mansion today - Lu Xuanxin. Lu Xuanxin looked shy and bowed gently, thinking about his position and role in this new environment.

Lin Xiaofeng introduced them one by one, and Lu Xuanxin responded to everyone with a smile, showing a matronly dignity in his movements. Afterwards, he called his maid Yin Jiajin and said that although the palace had not arranged monthly payment for Lu Xuanxin, he would ensure that she would have no worries about her food and drink, and ordered Lu Xuanxin to assist Yin Jiajin in handling affairs in the future. Hearing this, Lu Xuanxin was stunned for a moment, with a hint of sadness in his heart, and tears welling up in his eyes. I saw that Lin Xiaofeng was very caring towards Yin Jiajin, and seemed to completely ignore his own feelings. When Lin Xiaofeng explained Lu Xuanxin's identity in detail, people around him had different expressions. Lu Xuanxin was even more aggrieved, with tears almost coming out of her eyes. However, after a brief thought, she clearly realized her situation, held back her tears, and tried to smile.

At the same time, in the Hanjiang Palace, the Hanjiang King was concentrating on observing the astronomical telescope, while Butler Liu stood respectfully aside and asked about the purpose of sending Lu Xuanxin away today. The King of Hanjiang replied calmly: "This woman is simple in love, so don't worry too much. The secret of Baihua Tower is easy to be exposed, how could Lin Xiaofeng not know about it? Instead of being secretive, it is better to tell the truth frankly to avoid unnecessary misunderstandings." Butler Liu was worried. The prince has a close relationship with Lin Xiaofeng, so this move may cause misunderstandings. On the surface, this transaction is not beneficial to Lin Xiaofeng and seems to be intended to be bribed. But he knew that Lin Xiaofeng was not a money-grubbing person. In response, the King of Hanjiang laughed and said frankly that the prince was short-sighted and Lin Xiaofeng was close to the prince because of his duty. Although he speculated that Lin Xiaofeng did not have much pursuit of money, the transportation between Yangqu County and the capital has become extremely convenient. If Lin Xiaofeng intends to expand his industry to the suburbs of Beijing, today's funding will surely pay off in the future. King Hanjiang firmly believes that there is no one in the world who cannot be bought, it just depends on the price paid. Although Lin Xiaofeng is worth a lot of money, the King of Hanjiang has strong financial resources and is very patient. He firmly believes that sooner or later he will be able to establish a true cooperative relationship with Lin Xiaofeng. After hearing this, Butler Liu couldn't help but express his sincere admiration for King Hanjiang's foresight.

The ten days of freedom were fleeting, and Lin Xiaofeng could no longer escape the call of duty. In the past, I had developed the habit of getting enough sleep for six hours every night, but now I had to regain the rhythm of getting up early to adapt to the almost demanding schedule of the imperial court. As a rule, the imperial court only held a morning court once every half month. However, Emperor Jingjiang worked tirelessly and only slept for three or two hours a day to deal with state affairs. Dare to slack off. Although Lin Xiaofeng was quite resistant to this in his heart, he knew that the emperor's order could not be violated, and the person who woke him up in the morning was the new maid Lu Xuanxin.

Lu Xuanxin's hands and feet were nimble and he took care of Lin Xiaofeng's washing and dressing in an orderly manner, which made Lin Xiaofeng quite satisfied. Since entering the house, this woman has spoken sparsely and only worked silently. Her restrained and quiet character left a deep impression on Lin Xiaofeng.

Full of complicated emotions, Lin Xiaofeng took a sedan chair to the Meridian Gate and saw that the ministers had been waiting here for a long time. As soon as I got off the bus, those familiar faces came one after another, greeting each other with smiles on their faces. Although many people present had a grudge against Lin Xiaofeng, they did not dare to show their alienation easily due to their appearance and good expectations for his future future. Among them, Cai Yingyang was the only one who watched with cold eyes. When Lin Xiaofeng came up to say hello, he only responded politely and took the opportunity to ridicule Lin Xiaofeng for being so bold as to execute Xun Liu, the prefect of the Yangtze River, without authorization. After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng smiled calmly and replied: "Master Cai has given too much praise. Corrupt officials should be punished. If they were reported to each level, I'm afraid they would have escaped long ago. Could it be that there is some personal relationship between Master Cai and Xun Liu?" As soon as these words came out , Cai Yingyang eagerly denied it, while Lin Xiaofeng said lightly that it was just a joke. Cai Yingyang's face turned red and he angrily denounced that this matter was no joke. Lin Xiaofeng insisted that his actions were out of consideration for the people and the justice of the court, and criticized Cai Yingyang's ideas for being too old-fashioned and conservative. The two were tit for tat for a while. The atmosphere became tense instantly.

When Cai Yingyang ran out of words, Lin Xiaofeng found it boring and turned around to leave. The officials around him snickered and watched, secretly glad to have witnessed a fierce war of words so early in the morning, which was quite dramatic. Zhao Zhongzhan took the opportunity to follow Lin Xiaofeng's influence, flatteringly congratulated him on his reinstatement, and asked where Bai Gong was now. Lin Xiaofeng felt inexplicable about Zhao Zhongzhan's concern. Zhao Zhongzhan revealed in a low voice that Bai Yongyuan seemed to be deliberately avoiding contact with Lin Xiaofeng because he was worried about getting into trouble. After hearing this, Lin Xiaofeng just smiled slightly and bluntly said why the family should be so divided, which made Bai Yongyuan even more embarrassed.

At this moment, the long bells of the Bell and Drum Department rang quietly, and the palace door slowly opened, and all the ministers took their places. Emperor Jingjiang sat on the dragon chair, teasing Lin Xiaofeng for not coming to court for a long time, with a look that was slightly reproachful but not lost. intimate. Then, Emperor Jingjiang mentioned that a secret report had been sent from the border recently. The twenty-six tribes of Mongolia had been conquered one by one by the Alukorqin tribe. As a result, Battelle's power had expanded, increasingly threatening the security of Jingjiang. Dali Temple had also received a letter of credence from Ancient Mongolia. , a mission will be sent to sue for peace a month later. When Lin Xiaofeng heard the news, he secretly wondered whether he should prepare gunpowder weapons in advance in case a war breaks out. Emperor Jingjiang saw Lin Xiaofeng thinking deeply and asked him for advice. Lin Xiaofeng knew that the war was a matter of life and death for the country and could not be decided hastily, so he replied: "Your Majesty, regarding the matter of Gu Mongolia, please wait for detailed discussions after the delegation arrives in the capital."

When Emperor Jingjiang heard Lin Xiaofeng's suggestion, a trace of imperceptible disappointment flashed through his deep eyes, but he then thought about it. Lin Xiaofeng had only been an official in the court for a short time, and it was reasonable for him to have such a simple understanding of such important state affairs. . The Mongolian delegation is about to arrive in the capital. This is undoubtedly a major event related to the security of the country. Naturally, we should take precautions and make careful preparations. Therefore, Emperor Jingjiang moved his eyes away from Lin Xiaofeng and turned his attention to the ministers, asking them for their opinions extensively.

Li Dexian seemed particularly excited at this moment. When he heard the mention of the possibility of war, his blood immediately boiled and he looked eager to try. Lin Xiaofeng did not show too much concern about this. He was well aware of Li Dexian's eagerness to achieve merit. However, at this moment, he was thinking about how to cleverly keep the prince away from the whirlpool of disputes and ensure that the princess would not be implicated.

In the court hall, the ministers discussed and expressed their opinions one after another. The debate continued until the end of the court. Li Dexian approached Lin Xiaofeng in private and speculated in a low voice that the visit of the Cuban and Mongolian envoys might not be well-intentioned, and that their real intention might be to provoke disputes between the two countries. Lin Xiaofeng responded with a calm attitude, pointing out that he did not want to see the war rekindled. He mentioned the huge consumption caused by the war, and asked if a war broke out, who could afford the astronomical expenses? Not to mention the sight of innocent people suffering as a result. Li Dexian was left speechless by Lin Xiaofeng's series of questions. Lin Xiaofeng secretly appreciated that the prince still had a trace of kindness in his bones.

Taking this opportunity, Lin Xiaofeng persuaded the prince to go to the newspaper office and told him that the purchase of advertising space in Liuji Grocery Store for half a year had brought huge profits to the newspaper office, enough to support daily operations, which made Lin Xiaofeng quite gratified. When the prince asked if the reporters could be given a salary increase, Lin Xiaofeng showed a tangled look on his face and explained that the salary had just been raised a few days ago. Frequent salary increases may lead to people's laziness. To this end, he proposed an alternative plan: use newspaper profits to improve the living environment of journalists, establish an activity fund, and set standards for annual salary increases. After hearing this, the prince seemed to have some understanding, but he also mentioned the trivial matters in the palace, complaining that he had angered his father the day before yesterday because of his careless words, and was beaten. The pain in his buttocks was unbearable, so he could not go to the newspaper office for the time being. Lin Xiaofeng remembered that she had given a microscope to the prince, but the prince dismantled it and threw it away because the equipment was not good. The scientific and technological achievements that Yangqu County craftsmen had worked so hard to develop were lost. In order to recover the loss, Lin Xiaofeng promised that if the prince could restore the microscope, he would be willing to give out a thousand taels of silver as a reward. When the prince heard this, he immediately became energetic and walked away.

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After the prince left, Lin Xiaofeng stood alone in the empty hall. Feeling sad, he decided to let the institute concentrate on improving the manufacturing process of the microscope, striving to recreate this precious scientific research achievement and prevent everyone's hard work from going to waste. He knew that in this changing era, the power of science was like the light of dawn, illuminating the road ahead and guiding them to explore the unknown world.

After Li Dexian left, the tight string in Lin Xiaofeng's heart relaxed slightly, and he strolled alone to the garden behind Qingyi Palace. I chose this place to meet, not only because the atmosphere in the palace was too restrained and depressing, but the tranquility and leisureliness in the garden were more suitable for expressing my feelings. After being informed by the maid, Princess Li Hanmiao hurried over and stopped when she reached the entrance of the garden. Her nervousness was mixed with a hint of girlish reserve. She moved her lotus steps slowly into the garden. Lin Xiaofeng had been looking forward to it for a long time. When he saw her arriving, he stood up and greeted her respectfully. After not seeing each other for several months, the princess's body was plump yet beautiful, her slim figure became more charming and charming, and her delicate face was slightly flushed due to shyness. Lin Xiaofeng bowed deeply and said, "I have met Her Royal Highness the Princess." Li Hanmiao responded, with a hint of imperceptible shyness in his voice: "Master Lin, there is no need to be polite, please sit down."

Lin Xiaofeng imitated Xie Hongxin's free and uninhibited style, abandoned complicated etiquette, and personally brought a stool to sit side by side with the princess. Li Hanmiao was sitting on the stone bench. Although he was tall and straight, he looked nervous and nervous. His body was as straight as a string waiting to be plucked. Lin Xiaofeng stared at the princess, with a seemingly frivolous smile on her lips. This made the princess, who had lived in the palace for a long time and had rarely been exposed to such eyes from men, quite uncomfortable. She couldn't help but lower her head and turn sideways to avoid his gaze. Lin Xiaofeng keenly caught her embarrassment, immediately put away his smile, turned his expression serious, and asked seriously: "What important matter do you want to tell me, princess?"

When the princess heard this question, she shook her head and then nodded, her face full of embarrassment and hesitation. After a while, she said in a low voice: "How could Mr. Lin return to Beijing so quickly?" Lin Xiaofeng responded with a wry smile: "It turns out that the princess thinks that I came back too hastily and disrupted your rhythm of life!" He also pretended to get up and say goodbye. When the princess saw this, she hurriedly stopped her. Lin Xiaofeng sat down again and looked at her with a smile.

After much hesitation, the princess finally asked: "You once said that you needed to leave Beijing for ten years, why did you suddenly come back early?" Lin Xiaofeng sighed and said: "The disaster along the Yangtze River is serious, and the forces of all parties are complicated. Originally, I have already I am determined to devote myself to it, even if it means sacrifice. However, thinking of the princess and you working alone in the palace, my fighting spirit is rekindled. Although the disaster relief process encountered many difficulties, the prince often caused me trouble, but in the end we overcame it together. There have been many challenges. His Majesty was concerned about the situation in the disaster area and came to supervise the war in person. Because I played a significant role in the disaster relief work, I was recalled to the capital on an emergency basis.”

The princess was deeply moved after hearing this. She knew very well the difficulties and obstacles she faced in promoting sanitary napkins in the palace. Only Lin Xiaofeng understood and supported her. She nodded approvingly: "Master Lin is really a rare hero." Lin Xiaofeng smiled humbly: "It's all thanks to your firm belief and silent support, princess, that I was able to return safely."

The princess mentioned the emperor's brother's claim to save the people from fire and water, and Lin Xiaofeng replied calmly: "Maybe it is true." The princess was indignant: "It is shameful for the emperor to covet other people's credit!" Lin Xiaofeng quickly comforted her: "The prince also made a certain contribution. He played a key role in stabilizing people's hearts. It's nothing for me to suffer some fatigue."

Lin Xiaofeng further inquired about the prince's other words and deeds, and the princess bluntly said that the prince had falsely accused him of only repairing the brothel and doing nothing. Lin Xiaofeng was honest and admitted that he had indeed built a brothel, but he had rescued many women in trouble and had no regrets about it. When the princess heard this, her eyes flashed with admiration and admiration. Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to hold her catkin. The princess's cheeks suddenly turned red and her heart beat like a drum.

Lin Xiaofeng carefully selected a white jade hairpin with a phoenix pattern from Xun Liu's stolen goods and gave it to the princess, and put it on for her with his own hands. The princess accepted it gladly, but could not hide her shyness. Lin Xiaofeng took the opportunity to make a few jokes, and there was an air of ambiguity in his words. The princess was confused about his intentions and felt doubly embarrassed. Lin Xiaofeng gently stroked the back of the princess's hand, feeling the delicate and smooth touch, and then uttered surprising words. The princess quickly pulled away and turned red.

Lin Xiaofeng realized that his actions might be too direct, and the princess could not bear it for a while, so he restrained his words and actions. The princess begged him not to touch her hand again. While Lin Xiaofeng was stunned, she felt a little regretful and wondered if she was too impatient. The two of them were relatively speechless, and the atmosphere became subtle and complicated. Lin Xiaofeng couldn't help but wonder: Why is the princess so shy? She only said a few words, but she was so frightened and uneasy! However, he also understands that within the palace, emotional matters need to be treated with special caution, and every move must be made just right to avoid causing unnecessary waves.

The atmosphere instantly fell into a subtle and awkward whirlpool. Lin Xiaofeng had never expected that the conversation would end in such a turn, and he seemed quite at a loss for a moment. He was keenly aware that the overeager and ambiguous hints in his words had led to the current situation. Princess Li Hanmiao finally broke the suffocating silence and told Lin Xiaofeng about the plight of Emperor Jingjiang who prohibited her from promoting sanitary napkins in the palace. Lin Xiaofeng also felt an indescribable embarrassment. After a moment of careful consideration, Lin Xiaofeng suggested shelving the matter for the time being and waiting to find the right time to try again. After the princess heard this, a sad color appeared on her face, and her heart was full of loss and helplessness.

Lin Xiaofeng observed the situation and held the princess's hand tightly again, trying to convey warmth and comfort, and proposed a new idea: to set up a textile factory outside the city that only recruits female workers, and run it in its name, aiming to improve women's life. living conditions and social status. The princess showed great interest in this innovative idea and couldn't help but ask about the possibility of its implementation. Lin Xiaofeng responded firmly and confidently, emphasizing that women's unique delicacy and wisdom are incomparable to men. Many matters can be handled by the princess herself. Even in the palace, she can gallop across the real territory like a thousand-mile horse. .

However, the princess still had doubts about whether she had the ability to lead such a great undertaking. When Lin Xiaofeng saw this, he was so excited that he couldn't help but hold the princess in his arms, ensuring that no matter whether it was trivial matters inside the palace or big plans outside the palace, she would not be afraid of them. All can be submitted to the princess for decision-making. The princess was stunned for a moment, standing there as still as a sculpture, while Lin Xiaofeng ignored it and continued to explain the specific operation details of the textile factory, promising to go to Qingyi Hall every day to report on the progress of the work, so that the princess could stay in the palace Deep down, you can also realize your ideals and ambitions. The princess was deeply moved by Lin Xiaofeng's enthusiasm, and expectations and longing arose in her heart. Lin Xiaofeng struck while the iron was hot and vowed to start preparations for the construction of the factory immediately. He also politely declined the princess's offer of funding, thereby showing an attitude of closeness and respect. Amidst the mixed emotions of shyness and joy, a smile full of expectation quietly appeared on the princess's face.

At this moment, the prince unexpectedly appeared and interrupted the conversation between the two. In order to avoid suspicion, the princess asked Lin Xiaofeng to leave first. Although Lin Xiaofeng felt helpless, after the prince left, he couldn't help but briefly exchanged a meaningful look with the princess, and reluctantly said goodbye. When he entered Qingyi Hall, he happened to meet Wang Jingwen who came to offer ginseng soup and asked about the purpose of his visit. Lin Xiaofeng responded in a joking yet solemn tone and promised to pay close attention to relevant matters. At this moment, the princess was still immersed in the time spent with Lin Xiaofeng, and her thoughts were racing. It was not until Wang Jingwen curiously asked her what her happy event was that she forced a happy face and responded with a few words in embarrassment.

Lin Xiaofeng was very high-spirited at this moment, having already understood the princess's affairs. He walked towards the East Palace with his head held high and high spirits, intending to witness with his own eyes Li Dexian's embarrassed appearance when facing the dismantled microscope. That young, frivolous and ignorant prince actually dared to touch this scientific treasure. When he finally entered the East Palace, he saw Li Dexian kicking his butt and concentrating on fiddling with something. Lin Xiaofeng took a closer look and couldn't help but be shocked: the microscope had been repaired as before!
"Your Highness, you have already completed the repairs on this thing?" Hearing Lin Xiaofeng's voice, Li Dexian stood up with a proud face: "How can such a trivial matter be so rare for me to live with this prince!"

Lin Xiaofeng took out a thousand taels of silver notes from his arms and asked tentatively: "If someone is secretly assisting, it doesn't count." Li Dexian sneered: "It's just some scattered parts, and there are groove marks inside the lens barrel. How difficult is it!" Lin Xiaofeng could only shake his head helplessly and handed over the banknote, feeling regretful that he had underestimated the simplicity of the microscope's structure.

Although he made a miscalculation in repairing the microscope, considering that this move could resolve the conflict with the prince and further bring him closer to the princess, the thousand taels of silver were well spent. At this time, Li Dexian suddenly announced excitedly that he had made a major discovery, and invited Lin Xiaofeng to observe the dog's reproductive cells through a microscope, which looked like swimming tadpoles. Lin Xiaofeng showed displeasure, but secretly despised Li Dexian's research interests for being so vulgar.

After a conversation, Lin Xiaofeng tried to guide Li Dexian to focus on more practical research areas, such as exploring the connection between food spoilage and disease transmission, reminding him that the answer might be hidden in the microscopic world. However, Li Dexian did not understand the profound significance and still indulged in the study of superficial phenomena. Lin Xiaofeng felt deeply helpless about this, as if he was wielding a carving knife against a piece of rotten wood that could not be carved.

Later, Lin Xiaofeng went to the newspaper office and saw Xiang Xiehong directing and dispatching there, quite like a general. Lin Xiaofeng told Xiang Xiehong to pay close attention to the news about the Mongolian mission coming to Beijing, and planned to build a textile factory outside the city that would only recruit female workers. He planned to use the power of newspapers and public opinion to reduce resistance, and at the same time arrange to report on the heroic deeds of female women to contribute to the textile industry. The establishment of the factory created momentum.

Mentioning the Gu-Mongolian mission, Xiang Xiehong speculated that it might involve marriage matters, and also mentioned that the Sixth Princess might be one of the candidates. Lin Xiaofeng immediately became irritated when he heard this, and sternly warned Xiang Xiehong not to make random speculations, and ordered him to rewrite the contents of the newspaper to deliberately vilify the image of ancient Mongolia, so as to completely cut off any discussion about the marriage.

Xiang Xiehong's curiosity was ignited about the subtle emotional entanglement between Lin Xiaofeng and the Sixth Princess. Lin Xiaofeng joked that the sixth princess was pregnant, which made Xiang Xiehong's face instantly turn pale and panicked. However, Lin Xiaofeng was thinking in his heart about how to achieve great military exploits so that one day he could honestly reveal this secret relationship to the emperor. The conversation between the two is so absurd that the listener can't help but laugh or cry, but it also triggers profound thinking.

Time is like a thread traveling on a shuttle. In less than two months, the ocean of public opinion in Beijing has been turned upside down and turbulent. Lin Xiaofeng, who moved as fast as the wind and rain, found a vast expanse of land on the outskirts of the city the day after leaving Qingyi Palace. The land seemed to reach the sky and the earth, with no end in sight. Immediately afterwards, he aggressively recruited troops and established industries in Beilangfang, which seemed to be a sudden storm of change.

Lin Xiaofeng was ingenious and decided to recruit only female workers in the newly built textile factory. This move was unprecedented due to its geographical location close to the imperial city and its scale. The news rushed like a mad rush and swept the entire capital in an instant, with discussions in the streets, teahouses and restaurants. The sounds come and go, like the chirping of cicadas in summer.

Weaving is an ordinary labor for women, but such a large-scale gathering of female workers was like a thunder on the ground, touching the nerve endings of those conservatives. They all jumped out to accuse this move of violating traditional ethics and tarnishing customs. However, the wheel of fate did not stop here for a long time. The news that the Mongolian mission was about to come to Beijing was like a thunderbolt in the clear sky. It instantly shifted the focus of public attention. People turned to this fresh hot topic one after another. For a time, Lin Xiaofeng's textile factory crisis was temporarily submerged in the torrent of history.

During this period, Lin Xiaofeng often appeared in plain clothes and walked leisurely with Xie Hongxin in the market. Their figures were looming in the streets and alleys, listening to the various folk customs and feeling the warmth and warmth of the world. Li Dexian, who was once active in everyone's sight, seems to have quietly faded out of people's sight. Lin Xiaofeng has no regrets about this, but enjoys this hard-won tranquility.

One day, as always, Lin Xiaofeng held a steaming steamed bun in his hand and leaned against the wall. Next to him was the bustling newspaper reading place, where not only many illiterate civilians gathered, but also many scholars who heard the news Come and share the fruits of public opinion. Although many of the articles published in newspapers were written by Lin Xiaofeng himself, what he focused on was not the words themselves, but the thousands of thoughts that people generated after reading them, like weeds in the fields, growing with the wind and growing luxuriantly.

After the newspaper reader finished reading, the people around him started a heated discussion again, and the living habits of the ancient Mongolians became a hot topic. "I heard that the ancient Mongols never bathed. Is this true?" "Although bathing is not a daily necessity, they have never touched water in their lives?" The crowd was amazed and discussed. Lin Xiaofeng chewed the bun in his hand expressionlessly. The other bun had been squeezed by him until the filling almost spilled out. At this moment, Xie Hongxin quickly caught it and stuffed it into his mouth. Even though the atmosphere in North Langfang is relatively fresh, for the people here, being able to take a bath once a month is a rare luxury.

Lin Xiaofeng listened quietly to everyone's discussion, and suddenly someone came up with even more shocking news: "It is said that every family in ancient Mongolia likes to exchange spouses!" This stone stirred up a thousand waves, and the crowd was in an uproar. Some people questioned its authenticity. . At this time, Lin Xiaofeng intervened at the right time, using the fact that there were no brothels on the grassland to support this statement. After everyone heard this, they believed it, and more absurd rumors followed, such as the ancient Mongolians playing with donkeys. The strange story about horses and others was a hot topic in the streets and alleys for a while, and the atmosphere was very lively. When someone wondered where these secrets came from, the answer was revealed: it turned out to be an internal manuscript that was accidentally lost. The people were secretly delighted to learn the state secrets, and their excitement was beyond words.

After the crowd dispersed, only Lin Xiaofeng and Xie Hongxin were left on the street. Lin Xiaofeng looked at the scene he had carefully planned with satisfaction. He had carried out a series of smear campaigns against Gu Meng for more than a month, and today he personally added fuel to the fire. He predicted that Emperor Jingjiang would definitely hear these rumors tonight. Emperor Jingjiang has always been concerned about royal appearance. Faced with the boiling public opinion, he may not be able to stick to his original marriage strategy. The so-called newsboy leakage incident was actually a chess game set up by Lin Xiaofeng in advance, intending to use the power of word of mouth from the people to not only preserve the reputation of Beiling Newspaper Agency, but also to secretly slander Gu Meng. Now it seems that everything is progressing smoothly according to plan, the court veterans cannot grasp the reason, and Emperor Jingjiang knows it well, so he can only scold him privately, and at most ask Lin Xiaofeng to write an article to whitewash the peace. In this invisible chess game, Lin Xiaofeng is sure to win!

Lin Xiaofeng pondered for a moment, making sure that every link was correct, and then took a bite of the bun in his hand, only to find that the filling inside had disappeared without a trace. At the same time, at the Duantian City Station, the Mongolian envoys arrived with dozens of boxes of gold and silver jewelry and many rare treasures. The leader was a bald man, wearing gold and jade ornaments, and he was extremely powerful. Beside him was a striking giant man with a burly figure and a bold appearance. He was asking the national master Wu Rige when he could arrive in the capital.

Wurige turned his head indifferently, and stared at the giant Buhashe with his deep eyes like an ancient lake under the setting sun. He spoke slowly, with a gentle but strong tone: "We will arrive in the capital in about three days." Then, his face became solemn, and his tone contained a serious warning: "After arriving, you must not cause trouble. Now the border conflicts are like dry fire. , I am shouldering the important task of negotiating peace and demonstrating the power of Mongolia. All actions must be obeyed my command, remember!" Before he finished speaking, half of the huge leg of lamb in his hand had been eaten, and the fat was in his mouth. The corners of his mouth shimmered.

Buhashe glanced sideways at the trembling clerk in the corner of the post station, with a disdainful smile on his lips, and hummed: "The people of Jingjiang Kingdom are really weak." Wurige's face became more solemn when he heard this, He responded: "This is not the time to show off with force. Although Jingjiang Kingdom has suffered many disasters this year, its heritage is still there, and its strength cannot be underestimated. King Khan has just taken control of Mongolia, and he urgently needs to stabilize the overall situation, recuperate, and accumulate strength. You are certainly brave. "Excellent, but the war cannot be controlled by one person. There must be hidden masters hidden in the palace. Then you will have the opportunity to show off your skills."

At the same time, in the spacious courtyard of Lin Mansion in North Langfang, Lin Xiaofeng lay leisurely on a rattan lounge chair, enjoying the gentle kneading of his legs by his personal maid Xiao Yin, as if he had returned to the tranquility of Yangqu County days. Next to her, Lin Taohua straightened her back and read aloud the official document she had just copied. The official document was divided into two parts. The first half came from the instructions of the superior government, and the second half contained Beilangfang's self-reported summary of various matters, including the official document. Important developments of local merchants, public feedback and major project progress, etc. Lin Taohua's voice was filled with excitement. When she read the second paragraph, she suddenly stopped and reported nervously: "Due to the ban on the performance of new Yang operas in the North Corridor Square, the angry people have destroyed the stage, and now there are only a few people watching the opera in the evening. Almost 38 stores jointly requested to resume performances. "

When Lin Xiaofeng heard the news, his originally relaxed face suddenly darkened, and a hint of anger flashed in his eyes: "This county has already banned it, so why are there always turmoil in North Langfang? Dramatic art should allow a hundred flowers to bloom! What are you performing recently?" Lin Taohua After a slight hesitation, he replied: "'Loyalty to the Country' has caused controversy after a month-long run. Everyone is now eager to watch the new Yangqu opera." "The county theater is also deserted, and only brothels occasionally perform some low-grade plays." Lin Xiaofeng He said sternly: "Then it will be staged for another two months! No one cares about such a positive and positive drama, and instead pursues the dregs! Immediately amend the book and notify the county government that if the brothel performs another inferior drama, it will be closed down and banned immediately! Tomorrow, we will select a few people with good conduct. Select people, set up a review team, all new plays must be strictly reviewed, promote the theme of positivity, patriotism, justice and kindness, and resolutely abandon any dark and vulgar works!”

(End of this chapter)