Looking again at the young Emperor, he was staring at the seventeen parcels of land Lin Yi had marked on the map, feeling unsatisfied no matter how he looked at them.
"My great You Country is vast with sparse population. How co this scoundrel only chose so few places for rice cultivation? When can we have enough food reserves for the National Treasury?"
"Unacceptable. Ying Yi, bring a pen."
Following that, the young Emperor circled and dotted the map again, adding thirty-two more plots of land.
"This is very good. Forty-nine plots of land make a perfect number."
After choosing the land, the young Emperor then summoned the Fourth Prince to enter the palace.
Suddenly needing so much land for rice cultivation, the young Emperor felt it best not to discuss it in court, lest it startle the snakes in the grass.
As for the purpose of these lands, he still needed to co up with a good excuse.
The Ministry of Revenue was under the influence of the Fourth Prince. Although the young Emperor was the ruler of You Country, it was still necessary to give a heads-up.
The Fourth Prince had just left the court and was called by the young Emperor again. If this were before, he would definitely feel disgruntled.
But now, with his forehead injury not yet healed, he could only act humbly these days.
In the Imperial Study Room, the young Emperor, as usual, was reviewing morials, but the recent morials were much fewer, which she was not accustod to.
"Your servant pays respect to Your Majesty."
"Oh, the Sixth Imperial Uncle has finally arrived, please take a seat quickly."
After offering a seat, the young Emperor got straight to the point.
"Sixth Imperial Uncle, I have indeed summoned you here because there is a matter of importance to discuss. I have decided to construct six Praying Towers in You Country."
As soon as he heard ’Praying Tower’, the Fourth Prince’s eyes lit up, "Your Majesty, it’s imperative to build Praying Towers, all departnts will surely cooperate fully. Once it’s built, your servant will definitely visit to pray daily, co rain or shine."
His forehead injury hadn’t even healed yet, and with a hundred tis the courage, the Fourth Prince wouldn’t dare cross the Praying Towers.
Witnessing the Fourth Prince’s devout expression towards the Praying Towers, the young Emperor couldn’t help but laugh inwardly.
’My dear Fourth Uncle, it seems you have been poisoned by the Jade Pendant of Fortune, Longevity, and Prosperity. Unexpectedly, that scoundrel’s capability for deceit is quite sothing.’
However, after the secret delight, the young Emperor took out Abbott Shi Yifan’s letter.
"Fourth Uncle, this is a personal letter from Abbott of the White Horse Temple. The Abbott has chosen six locations inside and outside the Imperial City to construct the Praying Towers, with one main tower and one in each of the four cardinal directions."
"There’s still one in the southwest corner left; I plan to build one especially for Fourth Uncle."
"Your Majesty, do you really have such intentions?"
Hearing this, the Fourth Prince was shocked and incredulous, looking at his young nephew, hardly believing his own ears.
It’s known that Princes, despite being the Emperor’s relatives, have never been chosen for such folk veneration.
Feeling the Fourth Prince’s joy, the young Emperor, however, showed a look of difficulty on his face.
"However, Fourth Uncle, we currently have the Sixth and Eighth Imperial Uncles in court. Although I wish to be fair and even-handed, there’s only one Praying Tower."
At this point, even a fool could discern the young Emperor’s intentions, let alone the shrewd Fourth Prince.
’My wily young nephew is getting craftier by the day, it’s clear he’s angling for so benefits from .’
’Hmph, I’ll play the fool as well this ti. At the very least, I could allocate more funds from the Ministry of Revenue; after all, it’s the court’s money, not mine.’
With this in mind, the Fourth Prince deliberately showed an eager expression.
"Your Majesty, what would you have do?"
Had it been before, the Fourth Prince would never have used such respectful language as "you" to address the Emperor, but today was different; the lure of the Praying Towers was simply too great for the Fourth Prince.
The young Emperor chuckled, not fully grasping the deeper implications.
"Your Majesty wishes to keep a low profile, only arranging for the Praying Tower for Fourth Imperial Uncle alone, hoping that Fourth Imperial Uncle can keep it a secret."
Such a windfall befalling Fourth Prince had him over the moon with gratitude, prompting him to kneel and express thanks.
"Thank you for Your Majesty’s great grace. This subject will certainly maintain utmost secrecy and not fail Your Majesty’s favor."
Finally fulfilling a wish for Fourth Imperial Uncle, the young Emperor then took out that map again. At last, he revealed his ultimate intention.
Staring at the map crowded with circled plots of vacant land, Fourth Prince found himself in a dilemma.
So the young Emperor’s true purpose was to designate these new lands, and the Praying Tower was rely a lure.
But having already swallowed the bait, Fourth Prince knew he was inevitably going to be drawn into yielding sothing in return.
After much thought, Fourth Prince slowly inquired, "May I ask if Your Majesty is planning to build another Nanshan City by suddenly wanting to plan out so much land?"
The existence of a single Nanshan City had already given Fourth Prince sleepless nights; the Nanshan Army had beco a formidable weapon for You Country.
If another Nanshan City appeared at this juncture, the young Emperor’s power would indeed skyrocket.
This was sothing all the Princes were loath to witness.
"The Nanshan Research Institute has developed so new vegetable seeds. Your Majesty desires to clear the land to conduct a planting trial."
Since it was for planting vegetables, Fourth Prince was thereby reassured and nodded, thanking Your Majesty once again before leaving the Imperial City to find Lin Yi.
In a wasteland overrun with weeds, Lin Yi was orderly directing craftsn in pouring concrete pillars and constructing signal towers. When Fourth Prince arrived, he instructed the workers to halt.
"Well, what kind of wind has blown our Fourth Prince over here? Soone bring over a chair."
Fourth Prince arrived in a sedan chair under the scorching sun, nearly blinded by the brightness.
Handling such an ordeal was tiring for his old bones.
"Sir Lin, this old man’s bones can’t take it, so I won’t go down; it’s Your Majesty who sent here."
With that, he extended his thick neck, trying to lean closer to Lin Yi.
Lin Yi smiled faintly, surprised that Fourth Prince actually had a secret to share.
’Heh, what’s with this pretense, acting like so old, weary man? When you were exercising with your Consort, you didn’t seem old and frail; you were totally emphasizing how you’re still in your pri.’
’Since it is my most esteed wife who sent you, then I shall accord you the respect due.’
Next, Lin Yi obligingly leaned towards Fourth Prince to attentively listen to the so-called secret.
Upon learning that the young Emperor had arranged a Praying Tower specifically for Fourth Prince, Lin Yi’s mind was quickly racing.
’Heh, my beloved spouse, since Fourth Prince is giving such an opportunity, I won’t hold back.’
"Heh heh, Fourth Prince, since it is the Emperor’s edict, Lin certainly cannot defy it. I recall that your birth date is—"
Lin Yi had once glanced at the information for all the Princes and morized it all with his excellent mory skills.
"Your birth date aligns quite well with today, and if we could manage to finish the Praying Tower at the southwest corner today, it would further boost your fortunes."
Hearing this made Fourth Prince’s eyes shine; he beca so excited that he leaped off the sedan chair, nearly stumbling.
"Sir Lin, is there a chance to complete the Praying Tower at the southwest corner today?"
Fourth Prince’s eyes revealed a greedy, impatient desire, determined to complete the southwest Praying Tower at any cost.
Lin Yi took advantage of this, feigning so difficulty.
"Fourth Prince, the Emperor’s intent is to have this main tower constructed first, but this main construction is challenging. It’s estimated that we won’t reach the position of the southwest Praying Tower until the day after tomorrow."
...End of Chapter...
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