Then a few people went down the mountain, and I ordered as I walked: "Let's leave this bomb like this for now. Before now, I only remembered to look for saltpeter, and ignored the stone flow yellow. Gongshujin, when you go back, discuss with Prime Minister Li to put a large amount of it in places with natural hot springs. Collect Shiliuhuang. If you buy it from Qian Shou, I will go to Taoyao and let them do it."
The two said yes.
As soon as they arrived at the foot of the mountain, a group of people came up to them, led by Zhou Chi and Yi Shan.
Seeing me coming down the mountain, the two of them saluted quickly: "See you, Your Majesty!"
I asked curiously: "Zhou Chi? What are you doing here?"
Zhou Chi said quickly: "Back to Your Majesty, I saw a loud noise coming from the mountain and white smoke rising. Knowing that Your Majesty was here, I was worried about Your Majesty's safety, so I rushed over immediately. Your Majesty is safe and sound, and I feel at ease."
I nodded and said with a smile: "You are commendable for your loyalty. How is the construction of Tianzi Temple going?"
"Your Majesty, it is expected that the topping will be completed next spring, the statue will be sculpted at the same time, and it will be completed in March."
I hummed and said, "The construction period does not have to be so urgent. If it is cold this winter, the progress can be delayed. In addition, I will go to see Prime Minister Li tomorrow and I have some things to tell you."
Zhou Chi quickly bowed: "Yes, thank you Your Majesty for your consideration."
I glanced at the people around me and ordered: "I was burning the mountain just now and accidentally burned the rocks. I sent people to surround the mountain and restore it to its original state. Do you understand?"
As ministers and imperial guards, everyone naturally understood and agreed.
Then the three of us got on the carriage, and I put on my bamboo hat as usual, got off the car at a hidden place outside the city, and let the carriage and horses take Li Si and Gongshu Jin back.
Walking slowly into Xianyang City, I originally planned to go all the way along the street to see Xianyang City and relax. However, the group of people were dressed too eye-catching, so I had to take a detour to the Ba's Terrace.
When they arrived at Ba's Terrace, a servant announced that Taoyao was not there, but it was Ba Ling who came out to greet her.
He bowed slightly and said, "I have met... sir."
When I saw Taoyao didn't come, I asked with a smile: "Where is your sister?"
Baling's smile was as bright as a flower, and he bowed slightly and replied: "Sister went to Sister Ying Lan's place. She said she was waiting for Sister Ying Lan to come back and asked how the things she brought for you were doing."
"Okay, then I won't go in and go to Ying Lan's place to find her. Do you want to go together?"
Baling's face fell, and he shook his head and said: "Sister asked me to learn accounting in the mansion. I can't leave the mansion until I learn it."
I nodded, Tao Yao would have to be the one to treat her, and said with a smile, "Then I won't disturb your study, let's go."
"Congratulations, my lord."
After turning a corner, we arrived at Wanlixiang. There was only loneliness in the hall. Li Qing is mainly in charge of Zhongding Pavilion now, and Baoyue Building is full of residents, so there is not much to do. Usually, Ji Yong is there to greet people, and when Ying Lan goes out, he goes back to Wan Lixiang to look after the shop. After all, this is the base camp, and the servants will call him if there is anything.
When Zi Yong saw two people wearing bamboo hats coming in, he immediately knew it was me and hurriedly stepped forward to salute: "I've met you, sir."
Meng He and I took off our bamboo hats and gave them a little support: "Excuse me, isn't Ying Lan back yet?"
"Back to my lord, not yet."
"Is Taoyao here?"
"Sir, I'm playing with Xiangyun in the backyard."
I walked towards the backyard. Meng He followed me into the backyard and stopped at the door.
As soon as I entered, I heard Xiangyun's cry: "Sister Taoyao, you're cheating!"
He looked up and saw that the two of them were throwing pots. Next to them, Tao Yao covered her mouth and was laughing so hard that she was out of breath and said, "How could I be cheating? It's obvious that you are short and can't throw in. How can you blame me?"
Xiangyun hugged Taoyao's thigh and jumped up and down: "I don't care, I don't care, you have to step back, otherwise it's not fair!"
Looking at Taoyao's rare girlish appearance, I said loudly: "Adults can't bully children."
Tao Yao heard my voice, turned around quickly, bowed with a smile: "I have met Your Majesty!"
Xiangyun spread his peach blossoms, followed suit and saluted, and said with a smile: "I have met your majesty!"
I stepped forward, picked up the arrow wrapped in cloth, and tried to throw it. It hit the target with one hit. I turned around and said, "Did you see it? This is called strength!"
Xiangyun praised: "Your Majesty is so powerful! Sister Taoyao, do you dare to compete with Your Majesty? Your Majesty will definitely win. I let you bully me!"
Tao Yao suppressed her laughter, touched her head, and responded: "I don't dare to compete with Your Majesty, lest I lose too badly."
Xiangyun curled his lips: "Sister Taoyao, don't you always praise His Majesty for his wisdom and martial prowess? You also said that if you could marry someone like His Majesty, you would have no regrets in this life. Why don't you even dare to smile every time you see His Majesty?"
Tao Yao's expression changed instantly. She was both shy and nervous. She quickly bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I... I was just joking. I made a mistake. Please forgive me!"
Xiangyun was startled by Taoyao. Although he didn't know what he said was wrong, he also knew that he said the wrong thing. He lowered his head and didn't dare to look at me.
Looking at the appearance of the two of them, I joked: "I'm so handsome, it's only natural that you want to marry me. What's the crime?"
Seeing that I was not angry, Tao Yao breathed a sigh of relief and said quickly: "Your Majesty, are you here to look for sister Ying Lan? Sister Ying Lan has gone to the palace and has not come back yet. I asked her to bring saltpeter. Please confirm whether it is true or not." That thing."
I shook my head: "Let's go inside and talk."
Xiangyun was practicing pot throwing outside, and Taoyao and I went inside and sat down.
"I just came from Pasteur Terrace and came to see you."
Tao Yao bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty, you can give me whatever you want."
I took out the remaining stone flow yellow and handed it to her: "I got the saltpeter. It's that thing. You can collect it in Shu. In addition, we need a lot of stone flow yellow. Li Si and the others went to find it, but I need it." There are a lot of them, and I hope you can buy them from the private sector. Don’t go to Baichong for the money and food you need, go directly to Li Si.”
Tao Yao still didn't ask what it was for, she cupped her hands and said, "I obey."
"Don't make it public about collecting saltpeter and stone flow yellow. Just collect it secretly. Firstly, I don't want others to know that the court is in urgent need of these two items. Secondly, to avoid the skyrocketing price of these two items, which will be very troublesome to collect." The formula of gunpowder should not be leaked, but once this kind of killer weapon appears on the battlefield, it will definitely attract attention and prevent anyone from thinking about it.
Tao Yao raised her hand and said yes.
After giving the instructions, I stared at Taoyao and said with a smile, "Is what you just said true?"
Tao Yao was stunned and said cautiously: "What did your Majesty say?"
"I said, you just said that if you marry me, you will have no regrets in your life, but is it true?" I repeated it again.
Tao Yao panicked instantly, stammered for a long time, calmed down, stood up and said solemnly: "Your Majesty, I am just a cheap businessman, and I am nearly twenty-five years old. How dare you have such unreasonable thoughts? It's just a joke. Please Your Majesty, forgive me!"
I suppressed my smile and said solemnly: "Isn't it just a six-year age difference? No one stipulates that the emperor's concubine is younger than the emperor, right? If you are willing, I promise you as the emperor that I will marry you when I crown you!"
Taoyao was silent, she was struggling. Between her feelings for me and the huge gap in status, she didn't have the courage to take this step.
