What's wrong with me, a powerful minister, supporting a few female officials?

Chapter 178 The Empress Wants to Sleep in Su Mo's Bed!

Su Mo led Leng Liuxi and Nangong Sheyue to a side hall.

They didn't even bother to serve tea; they just went out and did as they pleased, completely disregarding their own family. Afterward, they went to take a shower.

After Su Mo left, Leng Liuxi approached the bookshelf.

Nangong Sheyue thought the Empress was going to take the tea leaves from the bookshelf, so she quickly grabbed them and prepared to brew tea.

Then, dumbfounded, the Empress skillfully took away several books and opened a hidden compartment.

First, pick up a thin strand of hair, then take out a small booklet from it.

Seeing Nangong Sheyue's astonished expression, Leng Liuxi smiled and, unusually, explained to others, "That guy secretly writes things down in this booklet!"

"He is indeed cunning... cautious, having placed a hair in the booklet, but how could he possibly fool my eyes!"

Nangong Shoots the Moon...

As the empress spoke, she opened the booklet and began to read it carefully.

Unfortunately, it's estimated that Su Mo won't have the energy to write a log during this period.

In the end, I didn't find any valuable new records.

There were only two folded sheets of Xuan paper, sandwiched between the pages of the booklet.

The Empress opened the blueprints and her expression turned suspicious: "A bicycle? A large waterwheel?"

She knew about the bicycle; it was the business Su Mo had prepared for Nangong Sheyue.

Of course, to be precise, it was the Empress's business.

However, the Empress cannot compete with the people for profit, so Nangong Sheyue can only act as her successor.

Leng Liuxi stared at it for a long time, but still couldn't figure out what it was!
One frame and two wheels.

The empress recognized each of the labeled words, but when put together, she was completely baffled, as they were words like rubber, shock absorber, and bearing.

Does adding these things make the bicycle move on its own?

The problem is that the two wheels, front and back, are completely different from those of a horse-drawn carriage. They can't even stand upright, so how can they move on their own?

Could it be that Su Mo possesses a special array diagram from Baiyujing that wasn't recorded on the drawing?

The Empress suspiciously turned her gaze back to the large waterwheel.

Now I understand.

Da Wu also has waterwheels, but they look far smaller than the ones Su Mo marked, and Su Mo's waterwheel has a more complex structure.

The word "bearing" was also written on it.

The Empress frowned slightly.

A waterwheel of this size could transport dozens of times more water than an ordinary waterwheel!
She hesitated for a moment, then beckoned Nangong Sheyue over: "My dear minister Nangong, come and take a look too!"

Nangong Sheyue was taken aback: "Your subject can also see?"

Judging from the Empress's skill in reading this booklet, it's clear that she has sneaked into the Su residence to peek at it quite a few times.

Nangong Sheyue could guess that Su Mo's booklet must contain something extraordinary.

The Empress said calmly, "This must not be told to outsiders!"

Nangong Sheyue then leaned closer, and was equally dumbfounded.

"Your Majesty, I can understand the waterwheel to some extent, but this bicycle... I really don't know what its secrets are."

He paused, then said, "This is completely illogical to me. What kind of cart has two wheels, one in front of the other?"

The Empress smiled and said, "It is indeed illogical."

"However, Su Mo is too illogical. We'll know once he creates it."

Then, pointing to the large waterwheel, he asked, "Do you think this waterwheel can be built?"

Nangong Sheyue thought for a moment: "It's not impossible to build a waterwheel of this size."

"However, the larger the waterwheel, the greater the force it bears, making it extremely easy to damage and difficult to last long. Therefore, people mostly build small waterwheels."

As she spoke, Nangong Sheyue added suspiciously, "Since Officer Su has drawn up the blueprints for the large waterwheel, he should be able to solve the problem of its fragility."

The Empress nodded, her slender finger pointing at the bearing diagram: "The key lies in this strange bearing!"

Neither of them noticed a problem.

They now have blind confidence in Su Mo, as if they have been brainwashed.

When faced with such an illogical situation, their subconscious thought was that it wasn't that Su Mo's blueprints were wrong, but rather that they simply didn't understand the logic behind them!

In other words.

Su Mo was right; they were the ones who were wrong.

If Su Mo is wrong, refer to the previous sentence!
In Leng Liuxi's view, the waterwheel was more important than anything else, such as liquor or soap, because it could be used for farming.

In agrarian countries, anything related to agriculture is a major event!
If such a large waterwheel could truly be built, its value would be immeasurable, making it a national treasure!

I can't believe I found something good in this booklet again!
The Empress suppressed her excitement, carefully folded the drawings, and tucked them back into the booklet.

Then put it back in the hidden compartment and put the hair back in its original position.

Seeing that it was exactly the same as before, the Empress nodded in satisfaction.

Su Mo's bath took a little long.

After Nangong Sheyue brewed the tea, the Empress sat down to enjoy it, but Su Mo had not yet appeared.

"This tea is terrible!"

"This guy earns more money than I do, yet he can't even afford to buy decent tea!"

The Empress made a comment.

He picked up the teacup, but before he could even taste a few sips of the inferior tea, a doorman came to report, "My lords, where is my master?"

The one who came to report this time seemed much more clever; he was also a former member of the Youyu Hall.

That honest fellow is still dutifully watching over the sweet potatoes for Su Mo!

Nangong Sheyue glanced at the Empress, then said calmly to the gatekeeper, "Your master is taking a bath. What can I do for you?"

The doorman hesitated for a moment, but still said, "A man named Ding Xiaochui from Lonely Peak Mountain has come to deliver something to you, sir, on behalf of his father, Ding Bashi."

"They say it was commissioned by the master to be made by his father."

Upon hearing this, the Empress's eyes lit up.

Could it be a bicycle?

He said softly, "Tell him to bring it here!"

This woman is very clever; she knows that her master has a very close relationship with both of these ladies.

Perhaps they will become two of the mistresses of the Su residence in the future.

He immediately agreed and left.

A large vehicle soon appeared outside the living room, with a large item wrapped in tarpaulin on its frame.

The driver was a strong young man, accompanied by two soldiers from the Dragon Guard.

The Artisan Battalion is of great importance, and artisans cannot easily go out. They need to apply for permission to go out, and the Dragon Guard must keep an eye on them. This is a rule set by Su Mo.

Leng Liuxi was taken aback when she saw the giant, flat object wrapped in tarpaulin.

Is the bicycle really that big?
It is probably ten feet long and eight feet wide.

Judging from the wheel tracks, it was no small weight; no wonder it needed an oxcart to be brought here.

"What is this?" Leng Liuxi's curiosity was instantly piqued.

Ding Xiaochui swallowed hard and looked at the two women, who were even more beautiful than fairies.

Then he quickly lowered his head, not daring to look any further, and stammered, "Reporting to the two ladies, this is a spring bed that Lord Su instructed my father to make out of soft steel."

"My father just finished making it and then asked me to deliver it to Lord Su!"

The Empress and Nangong Sheyue looked at each other in bewilderment.

Mild steel? Spring mattress?

Su Mo used that incredibly precious soft steel to craft the bed?
Public instrument for private use?

So much heavy soft steel, how many divine bows could be made from it!

Although the Fengming Division's artisan battalion was already able to forge soft steel, most of it was ruined during the forging process, with only one or two out of ten forgings succeeding.

This mild steel can be used not only in the crossbow, but also in many other military weapons, such as catapults.

Su Mo used it to make a bed!
The Empress was absolutely furious with Su Mo!
Even if you provided the mild steel formula, you can't waste it like this.

Didn't I also grant him a title, as well as land and fiefdoms?
Oh, and there's also the Great Heaven-Mending Pill, worth 100,000 taels of silver!
The angry empress forgot to correct Ding Xiaochui on the truly important issue of calling her "Madam"!

He couldn't help but let out a heavy snort: "Open it!"

"I'd like to see what kind of bed it is that requires soft steel to be made!"

Ding Xiaochui was taken aback.

I wonder why this fairy-like lady suddenly got angry.

But Nangong Sheyue had already stepped forward, and with a flick of her wrist, tore open the tarpaulin covering the spring mattress.

Then her pretty face showed suspicion. Inside was actually a layer of deerskin, stitched together with fine thread, seemingly one piece with the contents inside.

The mild steel is completely invisible.

Just as Leng Liuxi and Nangong Sheyue were filled with suspicion.

Su Mo's voice suddenly came from behind: "Lord Nangong, Lord Leng, you..."

"Hey! The trampoline is finished?"

Su Mo's eyes lit up and she quickly stepped forward, reaching out to touch the deerskin covering the spring mattress, then pressing it firmly.

It has a soft and elastic surface!
"nice one!"

Su Mo immediately became excited.

He put a lot of thought into this spring steel.

I went to a fur shop and bought enough high-quality deer hides. I also took the opportunity to test the degreasing technology and got a lot of fluffy wool.

Such a handmade spring bed, with a wool pad inside and a layer of fine deerskin on the outside, would cost at least three to five hundred thousand yuan in later years!
Su Mo only spent less than twenty taels of silver!

With a spring mattress, how could I be afraid that Lord Qianhu wouldn't be clamoring to come to my house every day to cultivate with me?
The only pity is that we can't find cotton.

Of course, using a higher-grade wool instead wouldn't be a problem; the softness would definitely be just as good.

With the weather getting colder, a spring mattress is just the right choice!

Add another large enough silk quilt, and it will be even more comfortable to sleep under the same quilt in the future!
Su Mo smiled and gave Ding Xiaochui a thumbs up: "Well done!"

"Your dad's character is questionable, but his cooking skills are absolutely top-notch!"

As he spoke, he reached for his waist and realized that he had just finished showering and had put his money pouch down.

He then reached out to Leng Liuxi and said, "Lord Leng, do you have a few pieces of silver to borrow?"

Leng Liuxi was both amused and exasperated!
He glared at Su Mo, but in the end, he still reached into his waistband to take out money in a bad mood.

next second.

The Empress turned to look at Nangong Sheyue, her expression slightly embarrassed: "Lord Nangong, this humble servant... also has no money on me..."

Nangong Shoots the Moon...

He had no choice but to rummage through his black and gold-threaded belt and take out a few pieces of silver, which he then handed to Su Mo.

"Thanks!"

Su Mo was much more polite to Nangong Sheyue.

He handed the loose silver to Ding Xiaochui: "This is a reward for you and your father!"

"Don't lose this skill, it will definitely be of great use in the future!"

He then took out two small pieces of silver and handed them to the two Dragon Guard soldiers: "Please trouble you two to take him back to the artisan camp. Make sure nothing happens to him!"

The two Dragon Guard soldiers were flattered and quickly said respectfully, "Thank you for your generous gifts, sir and ladies!"

"I will make sure Brother Ding is safely returned to the artisan camp!"

Leng Liuxi and Nangong Sheyue couldn't help but look strange.

The first time I heard it, it didn't sound harsh.

The second time she heard someone call her "wife" was with Su Mo present.

This feeling is very strange!
But under these circumstances, Leng Liuxi really couldn't explain anything.

All he could do was glare fiercely at Su Mo again!
After Ding Xiaochui and the others left, the Empress finally couldn't hold back any longer and pointed at the spring bed, asking, "May I ask, my lord, what is this?"

Su Mo casually chuckled, "A spring mattress, for sleeping."

Leng Liuxi frowned slightly: "You had it made by the blacksmiths of the artisan camp?"

Su Mo nodded: "Yes, it's that blacksmith Ding Bashi. Is there a problem?"

Leng Liuxi looked at Su Mo speechlessly: "How can there be no problem?"

"I heard from Ding Xiaochui that this is made of spring steel?"

Su Mo smiled smugly: "Exactly!"

"It took me a lot of effort to build this spring bed, but it was worth it. I just couldn't get used to sleeping on that hardwood bed!"

Leng Liuxi and Nangong Sheyue both felt a chill run down their spines at the same time!
I just can't seem to get used to sleeping no matter what I do.

Did Su Mo not used to sleep on a hard wooden bed?

In a small place like Changping County, Su Mo came from a poor family. What else could he sleep on besides a hard wooden bed?
Did I let something slip?

The Empress and Nangong Sheyue remained unmoved.

They didn't even bother to question Su Mo about abusing public power for private gain.

Leng Liuxi smiled and said, "Why can't I sleep on a hard wooden bed? I think it's fine."

Su Mo subconsciously said, "No hardwood bed is as comfortable as a spring bed!"

Leng Liuxi: "Did you used to sleep on this spring bed, my lord? No wonder you specially ordered Ding Bashi to make one!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo was immediately stunned!
Forget about those two women; they belong to the intelligence department!

He immediately changed the subject: "My lords, may I return this bed first, and then speak with you?"

Leng Liuxi secretly lamented the loss.

However, her pretty face remained unchanged, and she smiled and said, "My lord, I think what you are doing is somewhat inappropriate."

Su Mo was immediately taken aback: "What's wrong?"

It's just building my own spring mattress, why is this coldness being blown out of proportion?

Leng Liuxi was speechless when she saw Su Mo's astonished expression.

"My lord, aren't you abusing your public office for private gain?"

"His Majesty detests this kind of behavior the most. Aren't you afraid of being punished by His Majesty?"

Su Mo frowned: "Using public resources for private purposes?"

"I paid for the deerskin myself, and I also paid Ding Bashi to make the spring steel. How is this a misuse of public resources?"

Leng Liuxi was both amused and exasperated: "Putting everything else aside, the soft steel used to make this...spring bed is a government-owned item. How can you use government property to make a private bed?"

"If everyone did this, how could there be any rules? Wouldn't the imperial court fall into chaos?"

Su Mo subconsciously replied, "Isn't spring steel my duty?"

Empress...

Nangong Shoots the Moon...

Su Mo immediately realized what was going on and hurriedly said, "This subordinate purchased the iron materials and had Ding Bashi help smelt them, and was paid accordingly!"

Leng Liuxi was speechless again.

This guy never tells the truth.

However, the artisan battalion, especially the marginalized artisans in the garrison who did not receive military pay, did not actually have a strict set of regulations governing them.

After all, many of the artisans in the garrison took on private jobs, and most of the materials in the camp were also made by themselves.

The imperial court had no money to support them, nor did it allocate any supplies or anything like that, so it could only turn a blind eye.

We can't let people die.

The Empress stopped arguing with Su Mo about this issue.

Looking at this strangely shaped deerskin bed, a slight thought stirred within me.

This unheard-of item, judging from Su Mo's words, seems to have been used before?
Could it be from Baiyujing?
Could we uncover some secrets about Bai Yujing and Su Mo through this spring mattress?

Thinking of this, the Empress took two steps forward, stretched out her fair hand, and pressed it twice on the deerskin. Suddenly, a look of surprise and doubt appeared on her pretty face.

It's soft and can be pressed down, and it seems to sink in, as if there's a subtle force resisting it.
What's even weirder is.

When she lets go, the dented area springs back.

This elasticity far exceeds that of mild steel!
Beds can be made like this?
What exactly is its internal structure?
Wouldn't it be very comfortable to sleep on a bed like this at night, and cure my insomnia?

Leng Liuxi's eyes suddenly lit up, and she smiled at Su Mo: "I will have someone pick up this spring bed later."

Su Mo was immediately dumbfounded: "Why?"

Leng Liuxi sighed, "My lord, your bed is certainly excellent!"

"Shouldn't such a fine item be offered to the sage first?"

Su Mo...

Leng Liuxi then added, "After all, the Sage treats my lord very well. This time, besides having me inquire about the method of alcohol production..."

"She also instructed me to convey a verbal message to my husband."

"That's what the Sage said. Go ask Su Mo if he wants to be granted the title of Master of Lonely Peak Mountain, or promoted to a centurion in the Embroidered Uniform Guard!"

Su Mo remained dumbfounded.

So he's been promoted and given a title?
Didn't Leng Liuxi say she wouldn't promote herself to the rank of centurion?

Unexpectedly, Leng Liuxi then added, "Also..."

(End of this chapter)