Chapter 55-The World of Empress

Recently, Shu Shulan is very active.

No one thought that an underestimated boudoir girl could climb to a high position in a short period of time and become one of the hottest figures in the capital.

Most of the series of changes in the lives of the people of the Yun Dynasty are related to her.

Paving cement, transparent glass used in shops and houses in streets and lanes, women’s cosmetics, children’s jigsaw puzzles and other toys, various novel snacks, and a means of transportation that is more convenient than a horse-drawn carriage and named by her as a bicycle. Reform Later newspapers and so on and so on.

Even the training of the army and the equipment of the army are closely related to her.

Not long ago, because the female emperor supported business, she proposed to open transportation stations across the country to facilitate the delivery of goods from all over the country and better complete the trade. This organization was named by her as express delivery, which is indeed more convenient.

Today, because of her something new and strange appeared in the capital, the empress was invited by her to come to the courtyard at the entrance of the industrial department, where a behemoth was covered with a white cloth.

And Shu Shulan was standing in front of the object, full of spirits, and even the strands of hair spread proudly.

"Your Majesty, this is the latest research result of the minister."

She saluted the empress and pulled off the covering cloth.

Under the white cloth is a weird-looking thing that people in this world have never heard of, with a black appearance, glowing with a cold light, like a silent monster.

Ning Su recognized what it was at a glance.

[This is impossible! ]

The voice of 020 sounded in his mind, and the mechanical sound increased to the point where it almost pierced the eardrum. Ning Su's complexion remained unchanged, and he was not disturbed by the magic sound.

Without knowing it, Shu Shulan was proud to introduce to the empress incessantly: "This is a steam engine, look here, a separate condenser, a planetary gear, a centrifugal governor, a throttle valve, a heat insulation layer..."

The long list of nouns made the onlookers dizzy. Ning Su knew what the hostess was saying, but she didn't pay attention to it at the moment and was only surprised.

This is an impossible task, the productivity has not reached this point, and the smelting of steel is not enough to make what she does.

However, at this moment, it just appeared in front of oneself, and it was completed by one person. It seems that the conditions that restricted one's development speed in the past did not exist.

"What a miracle."

Ning Su was silent for a while, then sighed.

She is not only talking about the steam engine, but also about the person who invented the steam engine at this time.

Although she had known the power of the so-called heroine's halo for a long time, when it refreshed her receptivity time and time again, she still had to be frightened by this luck.

Shu Shulan was still introducing the function of the steam engine, and people of insight other than Ning Su slowly understood its purpose.

They don't understand what power is and what is mechanical work, but they understand that with this thing called a machine, many instruments that require manpower to manipulate can be changed to use this machine.

This means less manpower, more output, higher efficiency...

Even the people in the crowd who did not understand, under the whispered explanation of others, also understood the value of this steam engine.

After Shu Shulan demonstrated the operation of the steam engine, everyone looked at her with admiration.

This will be an invention that will change the world. This will be a person who will change dynasties.

People cheered, gathered around her to compliment, and congratulated the king for having such a general.

There was no unpleasant expression on the female emperor's face, she seemed to care that Shu Shulan had robbed the attention of the crowd, nor did she care that her reputation among the people surpassed her.

Regarding such indulgence, taking another look at her plan, Shu Shulan felt guilty in her heart, but she did not waver.

"What kind of reward does Aiqing want?"

Shu Shulan raised her head to meet the female emperor's smiling eyes, just like when the female emperor watched her make cement when she first went to the Qizhen Pavilion, and promised her a request.

The young woman who took up the position of an extremely human minister respectfully paid a salute to the empress: "The minister does not ask for promotion and nobility, nor for gold and silver treasures. I only hope that your majesty can agree to a request from the minister."

"any request?"

Ning Su raised her eyebrows with interest, but Shu Shulan didn't want to say, she just respectfully said: "Your Majesty will know in the future, you must first promise the minister."

"Well, I promise you."

The guilt in Shu Shulan's heart would almost overwhelm herself. Without the slightest suspicion, the Empress agreed to give her a promise. This kind of trust and favor was never obtained by any official in the history of the Yun Dynasty.

With the promotion of the steam engine and the emergence of various whimsical ideas surrounding the steam engine, Shu Shulan's name spread across the country.

There is even a saying that she is a **** from the sky who descended to the world to benefit all living beings. There are also simple people who have built temples for her to worship.

The better Shu Shulan's reputation among the people, the more things proceed according to her plan, the more she understands what a wise monarch she has met.

There is no need to worry about being jealous of the emperor because of her high merits, and no need to worry about being disgusted because of no use value. The courteous corporal, humbly accepting advice, and brilliant, all the words that can be used to describe Mingjun can be placed on her.

However, facing such a person, he had to betray, which made the cruel and ruthless female agents feel pain.

Betraying good will is much harder than fighting malice.

Shu Shulan, who was thinking this way, after returning home, she decisively compiled a newspaper and published some thoughts and speeches on it in an anonymous way, creating an atmosphere where many people discussed and argued.

Then many copies of this newspaper were copied and spread quietly.

This newspaper caused an uproar, and many of the statements published on it were ridiculous and rebellious in the eyes of everyone.

The patrolling officials collected and destroyed these newspapers and periodicals, but the next day there were still a lot of papers, springing up like bamboo shoots in the streets and alleys.

Among scholars, these remarks are extremely controversial. Although most of them are critical, there are still a small number of people who study these things privately.

Every day, Shu Shulan made the thoughts in his memory into newspapers and disseminated them, and also refuted the criticism of them by today's literati on them. This ideological debate has become higher and higher, spreading from the capital to major academies.

Slowly, a lot of examples were added to her team.

This result is also expected.

But when Shu Shulan walked into the palace and saw the empress holding a stack of self-made newspapers in his hand, he still unavoidably had a guilty conscience, but there was another uncontrollable thought in his heart that prompted her to ask this sentence: " What does your Majesty think of these?"

"very funny."

The female emperor looked at the remarks expounding the evils of the imperial power, but did not feel disobedience. She even wore a faint smile on her face.

"Can you understand it?"

She didn't know why, she would ask such a sentence.

The smile on Ning Su's lips did not change. She glanced at Shu Shulan: "If I say yes, then countless people will kneel in front of me the next day and tell me how wrong my thoughts are."

Although she did not answer this question directly, Shu Shulan already understood what she meant.

She was greatly shocked, and she looked at the empress as if she saw Mount Tai collapsed, Godzilla appeared in front of her, and then quickly bowed her head to cover up all abnormalities.

The statements published in the newspapers became more and more pungent and sharp. Finally, officials in the courtroom expressed this issue in a memorial. They strongly demanded that the behind-the-scenes ambassador be taken to prison and all those who dared to support such statements were arrested.

"The mouth of defending the people is better than defending Sichuan."

Shu Shulan made a list of her different opinions, "Suppressing the people's right to express will only make things worse."

The opponent's spear pointed at her immediately: "Is Shu Shilang also a supporter of this kind of remarks?"

"I just don't think it's appropriate to do this."

The female emperor was sitting on the dragon chair, watching the debate unfolding in the court hall. At first, Shu Shulan was alone in the fight against the heroes. Later, some people also stood by her side.

Ning Su didn't seem to support either party. She only said "I will discuss it later." The way this newspaper is handled is already tacit and conniving.

After the former prime minister returned to his hometown, Ye Yuqi, who was successfully upgraded to Ye Xiang, couldn't understand the thoughts of the monarch he was loyal to.

He found the Empress after retiring from the court, and before he spoke, he was ordered a lot of things, so that the way to change the subject was still effective.

After being dragged and instructed for a period of overseas trade, Ye Yuqi began to consider how to obtain greater benefits in shipping, and how to build safer and stronger ships.

He walked out of the palace gate holding a lot of government affairs, and didn't react until he stepped into the palace gate.

As this discussion intensified, Shu Shulan saw the Empress again in the Ministry of Industry.

The other party stood in front of the steam engine she made, rubbing her hands on it, not knowing what she was thinking.

"His Majesty."

She stepped forward to salute, and the empress turned her head and smiled at her: "Zhuang Yitong's wedding date is set. I'll come to you to see her."

Only then did Shu Shulan think about what the other party had said last time. Recently, she was so busy that she had forgotten about it.

When they entered the Zhuang Mansion, they only used the name of Zhuang Yitong's friend to worship, so no one found that the empress came quietly.

Zhuang Yitong was sitting in her room embroidering flowers, and while preparing for her marriage, she told the empress to leave to prepare for the marriage.

Feng Guanxia did not need her to do it, but the sachet given to her husband still needed her to puncture a few needles. During the period before marrying, she could not go out at will, because unmarried couples could not meet before marriage.

"It's boring not to be able to go out, but it will be fine after Baitang gets married."

Zhuang Yitong said nonchalantly, "After returning to the door, I will continue to go to the court to help you. I have discussed with him, go to court together, and go home together. Maybe this is a good day."

"fair enough."

The empress nodded, the other party didn't seem to be upset by the arranged marriage, and the husband and wife got along very peacefully.

It's just that Shu Shulan's attention is not here: "I remember seeing him in the restaurant yesterday."

Naturally, he was referring to Zhuang Yitong's marriage partner, but she didn't seem to understand what Shu Shulan meant, and only explained: "Probably going to a bar with friends."

"I just want to know why the unmarried couple can't meet before marriage, but you are not allowed to leave the house, why not he is in the house and you go out and walk around."

Su Shulan's question caused the room to fall into silence suddenly, and Zhuang Yitong looked a little dazed: "I never thought of this level."

Only limited to the tradition, he asked for leave to go home, just to be happy to be an official again in the future.

"I have never thought of this."

Zhuang Yitong seemed to be hit hard, and the empress comforted her: "Don't think too much, it's just because of your parents' request. Even if you think about it, they will still object."

"Just like when I entered the court as an official."

Zhuang Yitong smiled bitterly, and seeing that the bride-to-be was in a bad mood, they started a new topic and started talking.

After a while, Zhuang Yitong became excited again: "We have all negotiated, and the backyard will still be handed over to the mother-in-law. When there are children in the future, there will be nurses and mothers on weekdays, and we will guard the children during the rest. , It’s just conceived in October, and I have to rest for a long time."

"Actually, pregnancy does not hinder the upper court, just be careful."

Shu Shulan hadn't finished saying these words, the people outside heard her speech were anxious, just heard that the mistress of her daughter had a friend visiting, they heard the last few words.

"Who said that, I told you this girl long ago," she walked in and poked Xia Yitong on the forehead with hatred of iron and steel. "I told you long ago to take care of the backyard and regenerate her own offspring. Peace of mind, you always run outside every day, and your husband’s family will have opinions."

"Mother, I also have my own official position..." Zhuang Yitong protested and was suppressed again by her mother: "You shouldn't be allowed to go to women's school and become an official in the dynasty. This makes your heart more and more wild.

Listen to me, first stand firm in your husband's house and win over your husband. This is your happiness for the rest of your life. "

"But why do women's happiness rest on men?"

Shu Shulan couldn't listen anymore, "In my opinion, Sister Zhuang can have a place in the court, even if she doesn't please her husband, she will live well."

The mistress put her eyes on the friends of the two daughters, and said perfunctorily: "Little girl, you don't understand. Marriage is a woman's second life. It is all a man should do to support a family."

"You mean, the salary paid by the court is not enough for the female officials to support the family?"

Ning Su's question made the faces of the other two strangers. Zhuang Yitong's mother smiled: "How can you say that? After you get married, you will understand that it is not easy for a woman to manage the backyard, so why bother to go forward?

You are also female officials. After you get married, you will find that childbearing and housekeeping are what a woman should do. "

"There is nothing to do."

Shu Shulan couldn't help but said, but she took it for granted that she made herself angry. The other party's thinking has formed a fixed pattern and cannot be corrected. "Forget it."

Zhuang Yitong's winks made his eyes cramp and he didn't respond, so he raised his voice to stop his mother from continuing.

"Let's stop here today, and when you get married, I will send a congratulatory gift."

"Me too."

The two were disappointed and got up to say goodbye.

"I will send you."

Zhuang Yitong rushed out and threw her mother's obstruction behind her. As she walked out, she accused Ning Sulian repeatedly, "I'm sorry, my mother..."

"It's okay, it's not her fault."

When Zhuang Yitong frowned and returned to her boudoir, her mother wanted to comment on her. When she mentioned the two people just now, Zhuang Yitong rubbed her brows and sighed: "I've been winking at you. Just now, the empress was standing there."

"Female, empress?"

She looked at Yansheng, thinking that she was a lady she hadn't seen before, so she didn't worry about how she could be the empress.

She remembered that she had said to the empress that she would stay in the backyard when she was married, her eyes were dark, and she almost fainted.

In fact, the empress did not think she was offended, nor did Shu Shulan think that she had done something wrong.

It was just a woman who was brainwashed by the times, with a motherly heart in her arms that she hoped her children would live well, but she was limited.

There are so many people like her, this is indeed not their fault, but their sorrow.