Chapter 853: Chapter 853: Sisi’s Good Idea
However, just after reading a few pages, Di Yelei returned.
“Why are you still reading books? It’s cold outside the quilt, read a little less, okay?”
As Di Yelei spoke, he ordered the servants to bring in water and saw that Liu Sisi was leaning against the pillow without moving, so he took off his outer garnts and went into the bathroom.
Until Di Yelei ca out of the bathroom, the two hadn’t said a word to each other.
“Still angry with for hurting Chou Chou? I didn’t do it on purpose—it was just a random act. How could I have known it would hit Chou Chou? I feel terrible about it too.”
Liu Sisi flipped a page of her book nonchalantly and didn’t speak; instead, she turned her body the other way, her face toward the inside.
...
“Sisi, I really didn’t an it. I just instinctively swung my hand without thinking that it would hurt Chou Chou, I…”
Liu Sisi glared at him: “If an unintentional act can cause such a serious injury, what if it had been intentional—what then?”
“Chou Chou is my child too, how could I possibly intentionally harm him?”
He wasn’t afraid of Sisi’s reproach, but he was scared of her silence. At her words, he quickly tried to please her, “I swear, next ti I will be careful, and I won’t let a similar incident happen again! Sisi…” As he spoke, he moved his face closer, directly coming into contact with Liu Sisi’s cheek.
“Alright, just rember what you’ve said now.”
Liu Sisi, worried about Chou Chou’s injuries, couldn’t possibly show him a happy face. She casually put down the book and slipped into bed, closing her eyes.
Seeing that the situation wasn’t good, Di Yelei hastily got under the quilt and pulled her into his arms.
“Sisi, weren’t you curious about the reason Old Master ca the other day? Co, I’ll tell you.”
While speaking, his big hand reached out from the quilt, directly pulling her slender waist into his embrace, holding her in his arms.
Liu Sisi struggled forcefully a few tis, trying to break free from his embrace: “If you want to tell , then tell . If not, forget it.” Despite her curiosity, if he didn’t want to talk, she couldn’t force him, could she?
This stubborn little woman!
Di Yelei chuckled to himself but his hands didn’t slow down; he firmly pulled her into his embrace regardless of her struggle.
“Old Master was seeking my advice. His Majesty intends to reorganize Bianliang City’s environnt and streets and vigorously develop the economy—that’s why he consulted a few elder ministers.”
Reorganize the capital and develop the economy?
Liu Sisi’s eyes suddenly brightened. She hurriedly turned her body around to face Di Yelei, whose eyes were almost laughing. She felt she was too obvious—her ears were sowhat burning, but her face remained serious.
“What does Old Master think?”
Di Yelei chuckled inwardly, showing nothing on his face: “I have discussed it with Old Master for a long ti, but we couldn’t co up with any statutes. I was delayed tonight because I was discussing this matter with big brother.”
“Do you have any ideas?” Liu Sisi asked cautiously.
“To say that I have no thoughts at all would be a lie, but in the end, it’s because the national bank is now empty, and His Majesty urgently needs silver to fill it that he’s turned his attention to the businesses in the shops of Bianliang City.”
Seeing Liu Sisi lost in thought, Di Yelei hurriedly stood up and asked, “Sisi, do you have a good idea?”
“I do have a few ideas, but I don’t know if they’ll work.”
“Speak quickly! Tomorrow, at the early morning session, let your husband make a suggestion that’ll turn heads!” Di Yelei urged repeatedly.
“What kind of impression could you possibly make? It would be better to leave this matter to Eldest Uncle or Elder Di to handle.”
Liu Sisi glared at him fiercely before saying, “In these past days, while searching for a shop, I have practically visited every shop near Imperial Street. I believe that if we want to develop the economy, there are several points that need improvent. First, the shops on both sides of Imperial Street are too cluttered and unorganized. If we could arrange for shops selling the sa items to be on the sa street, it would be much easier for everyone to make comparisons when they shop, wouldn’t it?”
“Hmm, your approach is indeed good, but the shops have always been mixed together. It would be very difficult to have the sa items on one street. Moreover, the shops belong to different shopkeepers, so to unify them to sell one item, it would probably require an imperial decree,” Di Yelei frowned repeatedly at the first point.
Liu Sisi spoke boldly, “If His Majesty really implents such a strategy, my Great Zhao’s national bank need never worry about being empty again.”
“Yes, yes, you’re right. Tell about the second point,” Di Yelei naturally did not argue with her about these matters.
“Secondly, it’s about extending the curfew hours.”
Liu Sisi glanced at Di Yelei. People in her previous life loved the nightlife; when she had been in Macheng County and seen everyone going to bed early, she thought it was because the place was remote. But after coming to the Capital City, she found that they also closed the city gate at nightfall here, which was utterly baffling!
“Isn’t it true that nowadays the city gate is opened at sunrise and closed at sunset? Change the closing ti for the gates of both the inner and the outskirts of the city to the end of the 9 p.m to 11 p.m period until the end of the 3 a.m to 5 a.m period. Open a big night market, encourage everyone to co out at night to move around and spend money, especially on Imperial Street. The shops on this street could be rented out in full, with all proceeds going to replenish the national bank.”
“Imperial Street? You an to establish shops on both sides of Imperial Street? I’m afraid this would also require His Majesty’s consent.”
Security has always been the top priority on Imperial Street since ancient tis. If shops were set up on both sides of Imperial Street, it could pose additional risks during the tis when civil and military officials travel to and from the early morning session.
Naturally understanding Di Yelei’s concerns, Liu Sisi said, “Since it’s Imperial Street, why not double its width? This way, even if shops are built on both sides, the road will still be broad, and there’s no need to worry about problems. anwhile, we can establish a Military Patrol Shop at regular intervals on Imperial Street. The patrol guards in the shops would be assigned a specific person responsible for maintaining order during the day and guarding governnt houses at night, ensuring protection against theft, fire, and preventing accidents.”
This ti, Di Yelei pondered longer, his two eyebrows knitted tightly together.
After a while, he softly asked, “Is there a third point?”
“There is. The third is to open up sea transport,” Liu Sisi said seriously.
Jewels, agate, ivory, and similar items command high prices in the market. Liu Sisi also learned from her Treasure Store that Great Zhao had now closed off sea transport. Naturally, this was due to the nurous pirates at sea, frequent and difficult to suppress by imperial forces. Add in barbarian invasions and civil strife, the previous emperors of Great Zhao had grown weary and decided to simply close off sea transport. Apart from official ships, no other ships were allowed to freely appear along the coastal coast.
“That’s impossible!”
Di Yelei almost jumped up, “The first two points you made might persuade His Majesty, but this last point about opening up the sea ban, most likely he won’t agree.”
Once the sea ban is lifted, how could they discern which vessels were their own and which were pirate invaders?
Isn’t that just asking for trouble for no reason?
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