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

Chapter 204 Nangong Sheyue was so angry with Su Mo that she died.
Leng Xixi offered such a huge temptation, and she has never failed to deliver on her promises.

Su Mo had nothing to say.

Wool is cheap, and there is plenty in the artisan camp. They usually mix it with straw and use it to keep warm in their quilts.

At the same time, quicklime was also available, which Su Mo specially sought out for disinfection and pest control in the artisan camp.

The Empress and Nangong Sheyue saw Su Mo prepare a lime water clarification solution, and then soak the dirty, black, and smelly wool in the lime water.

Then Su Mo didn't take any further steps.

The Empress blinked, her pretty face full of suspicion as she looked at Su Mo: "That's it?"

Su Mo nodded: "That's right!"

He took out a fluffy ball of wool and waved it in front of the Empress: "It needs to be soaked in lime water for one or two days to remove the grease and deodorize it. For the sake of the plot, I'll just show you the finished product."

"Plot?" The Empress looked at Su Mo with suspicion again.

However, Leng Liuxi was already used to this guy saying strange things. She reached out and took the wool, rubbing it slightly.

The wool, which was originally greasy and stiff, is now unusually soft and feels very comfortable to the touch.

She looked at Su Mo with a strange expression: "This is the Su family's ancestral secret recipe? It's so simple?"

"So, my lord intends to use this to exchange for three hundred fiefs and to build a private army?"

Su Mo's face immediately darkened: "Lord Leng, you make it sound like I'm willing!"

"Don't underestimate this simple method. Who says a secret recipe has to be complicated? If I hadn't told you, would you have thought of it, sir?"

He paused, then said indignantly, "Wool that is originally worthless can be processed a little and knitted into sweaters, and people will buy them for a hundred dollars each!"

"Wool sweaters have excellent warmth retention properties, and wool can also be used to weave blankets and be used as bedding."

"This is unlike distilled spirits or soap, which require grains and oils! It can be used by hundreds of millions of people in Dawu!"

"This secret technique is worth more than a million pieces of gold!"

As he spoke, Su Mo glared at the Empress: "If Your Majesty guarantees not to leak this secret method, then this method of making a fortune every day can be left to me to earn big money. What does it matter if I don't want three hundred fiefs and a private army!"

The Empress hurriedly laughed and said, "No, no!"

"I was just joking with you, my lord. Please don't be angry! I'll make it up to you, okay?"

Su Mo snorted heavily!
Nangong Sheyue was speechless.

Is this really a ruthless and decisive empress?

As if fearing that Su Mo might change his mind, the Empress immediately added, "When I return, I will have Wannian County... uh, I will inform His Majesty that Wannian County will relocate three hundred fiefs to Gufeng Mountain for my lord!"

Just then, Yin Rou, who had been kicked out by the Empress, loudly announced to Su Mo from outside the room: "Reporting to the teacher, Ding Bashi has finished building the bicycle and is waiting outside the government office!"

The Empress was immediately taken aback: "You've invented bicycles again?"

Su Mo was furious and didn't bother with her, so she pushed the door open and left.

Sure enough, Ding Bashi had already pushed the bicycle to the square outside the government office.

In addition, there was a four-wheeled carriage that was much wider than an ordinary carriage parked in the square, with two inferior horses harnessed to it and walking side by side.

Su Mo was a little surprised.

Unexpectedly, Ding Bashi even managed to build a four-wheeled carriage.

Four-wheeled carriages have both advantages and disadvantages.

For example, the carriage is much wider than a regular horse-drawn carriage, making it less agile when turning and only suitable for traveling on wide roads.

Given the road conditions in Dawu, many sections are difficult to navigate, making it hard to promote the project.

The advantages are also obvious.

With a large load capacity, its stability and comfort far exceed those of a two-wheeled horse-drawn carriage.

The disadvantages of a four-wheeled carriage are certainly not disadvantages in the vicinity of Shenjing.

Even the section of the official road from Gufeng Mountain to Shenjing was easily passable by four-wheeled carriages.

With its exceptional comfort, sophisticated appearance, and the fact that it can only be manufactured in Gufeng Mountain, it already possesses all the attributes of a luxury item!
Su Mo naturally intended to use it to reap the wealth of the local tycoons in the capital.

Both Leng Liuxi and Nangong Sheyue were curiously examining the bicycle and the four-wheeled carriage.

Su Mo's eyes darted around: "Lord Nangong, Lord Leng, would you like to try out this newly developed carriage?"

The Empress was naturally quite curious when she saw the four-wheeled carriage, which was much larger than her own Phoenix Cloud Carriage.

But before she could even try it out, her gaze fell on the bicycle: "This bicycle... it's a little different from mine."

Su Mo explained, "The lord took it away yesterday..."

The Empress coughed lightly.

Su Mo immediately changed his tune: "The bicycle that I gave you yesterday is a chain drive."

"Because the chain was extremely difficult to manufacture, it was changed to shaft drive to speed up the manufacturing process."

"Although it's a little strenuous to ride, the effect is the same."

The Empress herself got into the carriage to test it out, and it was indeed so.

Su Mo added, "Of course, I will have the artisan battalion continue to manufacture chain-link bicycles."

"However, they will be sold in limited quantities, each engraved with a serial number, and priced at one thousand taels..."

The Empress was stunned upon hearing this, and looked at Su Mo in shock: "A thousand taels of silver? Someone would really buy it?"

In fact, she was already extremely shocked when she saw Nangong Sheyue's message. She never imagined that a bicycle could be sold for three hundred taels of silver!
Selling just a thousand vehicles would be enough to build a new army of several thousand!

In the Empress's eyes, a bicycle was nothing more than a novelty toy, and selling it for fifty taels was considered an exorbitant price!
Before the Empress could even finish being shocked, Su Mo threw out another astronomical figure of a thousand taels!

Su Mo looked at the Empress expressionlessly: "Lord Leng, you just don't understand!"

"No one's buying now, but that doesn't mean they'll be in the future!"

The Empress frowned slightly and, without shame, asked, "Why is that?"

Su Mo explained, "Bicycles are a rare commodity these days, and the sons of noble families are scrambling to buy them."

"Once more bicycles are sold, they will naturally cease to be scarce, and the price will definitely drop significantly."

"At this point, the chain-linked bicycle can be thrown out to indicate that only one hundred are available for sale, and each one has a unique logo."

"And said that this is the same model of bicycle used by His Majesty."

Su Mo gave the Empress a meaningful look: "This humble servant believes that Lord Leng must have a way to present the bicycle to Your Majesty."

"Do you think those wealthy young men will rush to buy it?"

Leng Liuxi and Nangong Sheyue looked at each other in silence.

No wonder he's such a ruthless person who could come up with such a treacherous and cunning scheme as a membership system!

They have a very clear understanding of people's hearts.

Fortunately, he didn't appear in an enemy country, otherwise he would have spared no effort to eliminate Su Mo!
This person is absolutely terrifying!

The Empress once again gained many benefits from Lonely Peak Mountain.

Pinyin and wool are both eager to go back and verify.

She pointed to the four-wheeled carriage and said to Su Mo with a smile, "I need to return to the city."

"Would you like to ride with me, my lord, and try out your new carriage?"

Su Mo suddenly recalled the last time he rode in a carriage with Leng Xixi, and felt a lingering fear. He quickly said, "This humble servant will ride back to the city with Lord Nangong!"

Seeing Su Mo's expression, Leng Liuxi also recalled what happened in the carriage last time.

Feng blushed slightly, but said nothing more. She had An Wu change to a four-wheeled carriage and got into the carriage herself.

Su Mo quickly reminded An Wu: "Uncle An, be careful. The way to drive a four-wheeled carriage is quite different from that of a two-wheeled carriage!"

An Wu gave Su Mo a rare, kind smile: "Don't worry, Lord Su, there aren't any carriages that I can't handle..."

Having said that, he flicked his whip, and the two inferior horses galloped away.

As expected, An Wu's driving skills were not just talk.

Although it started slowly, the carriage quickly sped up and soon sped out of the checkpoint.

The original black carriage, drawn by fine horses, remained at the Lone Peak Mountain camp.

Su Mo withdrew her gaze and sighed inwardly.

As expected, the carriage was coldly and shamelessly requisitioned.

Hopefully, it will be worth the advertising cost.

Anyway, we can just say that this carriage is for the exclusive use of the royal family, and the price should increase by 20% to 30%, selling it for 1,000 to 1,800 taels wouldn't be unreasonable.

Despite its size, the cost of building a horse-drawn carriage is actually not much different from that of a bicycle.

After all, artificial materials are worthless!

The large carriage and several fine horses she left behind are hers now, and it won't matter who comes!
Su Mo gave Yin Rou a few more instructions, then turned his gaze to Nangong Sheyue: "My lord..."

Without a word, Nangong Sheyue mounted his horse and said, "Get on!"

Su Mo skillfully mounted the horse and casually put his arm around Nangong Sheyue's slender waist.

Nangong Sheyue snorted, gripped the horse's belly tightly with both feet, and the tall, magnificent warhorse instantly transformed into an arrow released from a bow, galloping away! Not long after, Su Mo saw the four-wheeled carriage running ahead.

I thought Nangong Sheyue would overtake the carriage, but Nangong Sheyue turned his horse around and headed in another direction.

Su Mo was immediately taken aback: "My lord, aren't we going back to the city?"

Nangong Sheyue snorted coldly: "Shili Slope! Fu Residence!"

"besides……"

Nangong Sheyue glanced down slightly and snorted again: "Keep your hands in line, or I won't hesitate to chop it off!"

Su Mo was speechless.

Ten Mile Slope it is then.

He was also curious about what Zou Hou had buried in the Fu family mansion that required a personal reminder from the system.

If there were 10,000 or 20,000 taels of gold, how could I seduce Nangong Sheyue and get the money divided among us?
Well, at worst, I'll share one with Leng Xixi too!
……

The Empress was unaware that Su Mo was so good to her, even including her in his fortune.

They returned to the imperial city by four-wheeled carriage.

Such a unique carriage naturally attracted a large crowd of onlookers.

The carriage passed through Xuanwu Gate and entered the Imperial Garden before slowly coming to a stop.

The Empress stepped down from the carriage with a somewhat complicated expression: "Anbanban, how is this carriage?"

An Wu quickly replied respectfully, "This carriage is easier to drive than a two-wheeled carriage, and its stability is excellent."

He paused, pressed the seat, and said with a wry smile, "Lord Su is truly extravagant; even the seat cushions have been reinforced with soft steel springs..."

"However, this vehicle is very large and difficult to maneuver, so it should only be suitable for traveling on main roads and official roads!"

The Empress laughed and scolded, "That guy loves to shirk his responsibilities and is extremely lazy. He doesn't do any serious work and only wants to enjoy himself all day long!"

"He used such precious mild steel to make spring beds and carriages!"

An Wu quickly replied, "Lord Su meant well, thinking that His Majesty would be more comfortable traveling in a four-wheeled carriage."

He paused slightly and exclaimed, "Lord Su's ingenious and skillful methods are truly unparalleled in the world!"

The Empress snorted: "An Banban, don't try to speak well of him!"

"He doesn't even know my identity, how could he possibly imagine that I can travel comfortably!"

An Wu quickly smiled and said, "Lord Su made His Majesty, who was disguised as a centurion, sit comfortably. Isn't that a rather unusual thought?"

The Empress thought for a moment and said, "Go and inform the Wannian County government to select three hundred able-bodied villagers to relocate to Gufeng Mountain."

An Wu hesitated for a moment: "Should we arrange for someone from the Embroidered Uniform Guard or the Phoenix Cry Division?"

The Empress waved her hand: "No need!"

An Wu felt a chill run down his spine.

It seems that Su Mo's position in the Empress's heart is much higher than I thought!
The Empress seemed to be speaking to An Wu, yet also to herself, saying, "We must find a way to get him to develop Lonely Peak Mountain! I will personally go and see for myself in the future!"

……

Nangong Sheyue led Su Mo at breakneck speed until they reached the edge of Shili Slope before reining in their horses and stopping.

Looking around, one sees a manor covering an area of ​​more than three acres, nestled against the mountains and facing the water, quite impressive.

The two characters "Fu Residence" on the gate plaque are written in a magnificent style.

There are several houses nearby, but they look extremely dilapidated, with cobwebs covering the door lintels and eaves, clearly indicating that no one has lived there for a long time!

Nangong Sheyue turned to look at Su Mo expressionlessly: "Dismount!"

Su Mo dismounted.

After Nangong Sheyue dismounted, he walked directly toward the mansion.

Su Mo was slightly taken aback: "My lord, your horse..."

Nangong Sheyue turned to look at him: "Who dares to touch the horses of the Fengming Division?"

He paused, then continued, "This horse is a rare breed, with a keen sense of intelligence. Its four hooves possess the strength of a thousand pounds, capable of killing even tigers and leopards!"

Su Mo was immediately shocked and looked at the white horse that had stopped in place!

The world of cultivation is indeed different from the normal ancient times.

I just don't know if Nangong Sheyue's horse is more powerful, or if my own commander's horse is more powerful!
With a dark and gloomy face, Nangong Sheyue approached the Fu family mansion.

Then, she raised her eyebrows slightly and stopped walking.

Su Mo was slightly taken aback again.

I thought Nangong Sheyue would simply climb over the wall into the backyard, subdue the people in the house, and dig out Zou Hou's incriminating evidence in a straightforward and brutal way.

"Sir, what's wrong?"

Nangong Sheyue extended two jade fingers, quickly drew a magic talisman, and gently touched it between Su Mo's eyebrows.

Before Su Mo could react, she felt a refreshing aura emanating from between her eyebrows.

What I saw suddenly changed.

The originally unremarkable Fu family mansion was suddenly shrouded in a gloomy, dark aura!
Resembling a giant black spider, with eight massive legs standing outside the house, and fangs on its head serving as the house's gate.

The black mist condensed on the spider's body writhed and rolled like a living thing, which was extremely uncomfortable to look at and made people want to vomit.

Despite it being broad daylight, the eerie scene still sent chills down Su Mo's spine.

Nangong Sheyue said coldly, "There's definitely something strange about this!"

"This is the Eight Gates Ghost Spider Gathering Formation!"

"Such intense and malevolent energy will affect everything within a hundred feet. At best, people will be plagued by all sorts of illnesses; at worst, they will die on the spot!"

“No wonder the nearby villages are dilapidated!” Su Mo frowned and couldn’t help but say, “Shili Slope is only about ten miles away from the capital.”

"How could such a malevolent and sinister house have gone undiscovered for so long?"

Nangong Sheyue rolled her eyes at Su Mo, annoyed: "Do you think everyone is like me, with a mid-stage Returning Aperture Realm cultivation?"

"Even I, without careful observation and the aid of my spiritual eye techniques, would not have discovered the anomaly in this house!"

Su Mo's heart stirred slightly!
Nangong Sheyue has finally revealed his true colors.

Unexpectedly, he was at the mid-stage of the Returning to the Aperture Realm, a whole realm higher than my Lord Qianhu!

Lin Moyin has only just advanced to the Returning Aperture Realm, and her strength has not yet stabilized, so she is definitely no match for Nangong Sheyue!

Nangong Sheyue squinted, staring intently at the mansion. Her eyebrows furrowed even more, and she muttered to herself, "Zou Hou, with only the early stage of the Divine Realm, how could he set up this Eight Gates Ghost Spider Gathering Formation?"

"This is a fifth-grade magic array, which cannot be set up by anyone who has not reached the Returning Aperture Realm!"

Su Mo was startled by this and hesitated for a moment: "My lord, should we summon more of the best soldiers from the department?"

Nangong Sheyue was furious with Su Mo!

It's shameful that Fengming Division would take in such a cowardly and greedy person!
She glared at Su Mo fiercely: "Do you think everyone in the Phoenix Cry Division is as idle as you?"

Su Mo rolled her eyes: "This subordinate thinks Lord Leng has a lot of free time..."

Nangong Shoots the Moon...

After a long silence, he took a deep breath, his expression became extremely serious, and his voice became very low: "Don't talk nonsense again!"

"Actually...actually..."

Seeing Nangong Sheyue's sudden expression, Su Mo was taken aback: "Actually what?"

Nangong Sheyue turned her head and looked around, then gritted her teeth and said, "Don't worry about Lord Leng's identity!"

Her voice was so low that even Su Mo, who was standing right next to her, could barely hear her: "Just treat her with the same respect as His Majesty!"

Upon hearing this, Su Mo's expression changed drastically, and he stared at Nangong Sheyue with a look of horror!

Nangong Sheyue felt a bitter taste in her mouth.

So, has this counted as betraying His Majesty?
This is a heinous crime that could lead to the confiscation of property and the extermination of one's entire clan. Why am I suddenly acting so irrationally?
But she didn't know why she had reminded Su Mo!
They feared that if Su Mo continued to court death like this, he would one day anger the Empress.
Fearing that he would lose his usefulness and the Empress would bring up old grievances again, she was worried that he might be brought up again.
Although the Empress seems to treat Su Mo very well now, value him highly, and even spoil him!
Nangong Sheyue had never seen the Empress treat someone with such leniency!

Even Anwu, who had watched her grow up since childhood and had made great contributions to the rise of the emperor!

but……

The emperor's heart is unfathomable!
Nangong Sheyue thought that Su Mo had already understood the meaning of her words.

As a result, Su Mo breathed a sigh of relief: "This humble servant knew it. Lady Leng is His Majesty's own sister!"

"Thank you for reminding me, sir!"

"I will treat her with more respect from now on!"

Nangong Shoots the Moon...

Finally, he gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Su Mo!
never mind!

Let him keep courting death!

I'm done with this!
This is infuriating!

(End of this chapter)