I started as a concubine, and I made the crown prince cry with my delicious food.

The new emperor's feat of declaring his love for his wife in front of all the officials and foreign envoys spread like wildfire throughout the capital and even the entire Liang Dynasty.

The storytellers in teahouses and taverns embellished this story in various versions, such as "The infatuated emperor refuses marriage for love" and "The queen offers a wise plan," telling it in a dazzling and captivating way that enthralled the people.

For a time, the love story of Emperor Yong'an and Empress Ye became the most popular "IP" in the Great Liang Dynasty.

Ye An'an herself reached an unprecedented peak of popularity among the people. People regarded her as the embodiment of wisdom and wealth, a "lucky queen" who could bring good fortune to the Great Liang Dynasty.

Princess Yuezhuo, filled with shame, anger, and helplessness, slunk away from the capital, carrying the trade promises of the Liang Emperor. She knew that she had utterly lost to the Liang Empress, whom she had never met.

Having resolved this minor incident, Xiao Jingshi devoted all his energy to the construction of the "Royal Bank" and "Yong'an City".

Under the management of the business genius Shen Wansan, the "Patriotic Construction Bonds" were issued with exceptionally smooth progress.

He leveraged his extensive trade routes and connections across the country to spread the slogan, "Buy government bonds—it's patriotic and profitable!" throughout the land. The public's enthusiasm was ignited, and long queues formed daily outside "Shen's" shops in various locations. In just ten days, he successfully raised over five million taels of silver!

This number left the entire court speechless.

Those old officials who had initially scoffed at the idea of ​​"borrowing money from the people" were dumbfounded when they saw the accounts submitted by the Ministry of Revenue. They then realized that such enormous wealth was hidden among the common people.

With money, the construction of Yong'an City progressed at an astonishing pace.

Countless artisans, merchants, and refugees, drawn by the generous rewards, flocked to the northern border. In just two months, a brand-new, magnificent city rose from the once desolate borderland.

The city walls were high, the streets were wide, and shops lined the streets. Inside the city, there were not only trading markets, but also inns, restaurants, warehouses, and even a small clinic.

On the opening day, before dawn, caravans from various tribes of the grasslands had already gathered at the gates of Yong'an City.

They led herds of cattle and sheep, and drove carts laden with furs and ore, their faces showing a mixture of curiosity and anticipation.

As the heavy city gates slowly opened, everyone gasped in amazement when they saw the dazzling array of Central Plains goods that they had only ever heard of in legends.

A porcelain bowl as smooth as jade can be exchanged for just three sheepskins.

A cleaver sharp enough to cut through iron like mud only requires five sheepskins.

Warm and soft cotton cloth, only one cow is needed to make one piece.

And there's the fragrant tea that carries for miles, the cloyingly sweet candy, the exquisitely crafted comb and mirror...

These luxuries, which only the nobles could afford on the grasslands, are surprisingly "cheap" here!

The merchants on the grasslands have gone completely mad!

They rushed into the market, frantically exchanging the hides of cattle and sheep they had brought for all sorts of goods. They wished they could move the entire city back to their tribe.

The merchants of Daliang were equally excited.

A magnificent steppe warhorse could fetch at least a hundred taels of silver in the capital. But here, they could obtain one for just a few dozen bolts of silk.

A complete pelt of a northern silver fox is a coveted luxury item among the noblewomen of the capital, priceless and unavailable. But here, it can be exchanged for a few cans of tea.

The huge profit margin made all the businessmen involved extremely wealthy.

The first day of business.

The total transaction amount in Yong'an City exceeded 200,000 taels of silver!

When the news reached the capital, Xiao Jingshi, in front of all the officials, slammed the account book presented by Shen Wansan onto the imperial desk.

"My beloved ministers, take a look!" His voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement and pride. "This is 'stopping war through commerce'! This is my national policy!"

There was complete silence below.

Especially those former nobles, led by General Lin, were all red-faced, feeling as if their faces were being slapped repeatedly.

He earned 200,000 taels in just one day!

This is far more than the spoils they could plunder after fighting a hard-fought battle! And all without bloodshed or a single casualty!

Facts speak louder than words.

No one dared to question the emperor's decisions anymore.

The success of "Yong'an City" acted like a powerful stimulant, injecting vitality into the economy of Daliang. The national treasury was replenished at a visible rate.

Xiao Jingshi immediately fulfilled his promise, using a portion of the trade profits to improve the pay and equipment of the soldiers stationed on the border. This greatly boosted morale.

At the same time, the "Royal Bank of Daliang" was officially established. With the successful experience of issuing national bonds, the people had great trust in this "Royal Bank" and deposited their savings there. The bank's savings steadily increased, providing a continuous stream of funds for subsequent economic activities.

Da Liang, seemingly overnight, transformed from a frail and sickly patient into a robust man brimming with vitality.

The entire country presents a thriving and prosperous scene.

Xiao Jingshi and Ye An'an, this young emperor and empress, used their wisdom and courage to usher in an unprecedented "prosperous era of Yong'an".