Chapter 212: As long as you know what you’re doing
After the emperor ordered the people to investigate this matter, he got the palace attendants to invite those from the Ministry of Works into the palace.
This news naturally spread out.
Everyone was a little puzzled. Why did the emperor summon the works minister into the palace as soon as Shi Qingluo and her husband left.
The works minister was also confused.
However, after he read the few pieces of paper given by the emperor, he immediately revealed an excited expression.
“Your Majesty, if this method of refining iron is successful, it can save a lot of money.”
Recently, the Ministry of Works had been in dire need of money, but the old officials in the Ministry of Revenue were stingy and refused to distribute grants.
Now that he had this, he could brazenly ask the Ministry of Revenue for money.
If getting refined iron was successful, it would be of great benefit to the Ministry of Works.
The emperor nodded. “No matter how much manpower or financial resources you use, you must get this refined iron as soon as possible.”
The minister smiled and said, “As you wish.”
Then, he could not help but ask, “Your Majesty, is the source of this recipe reliable?”
He was just afraid that if he went through a lot of trouble and failed to produce anything, the old officials from the Ministry of Revenue would definitely stare at him and mock him.
The emperor said truthfully, “This is the recipe left behind by that old Taoist priest who blessed us with good seeds.”
“The cement recipe was also left behind by him.”
The Minister of Works immediately understood. “That shouldn’t be a big problem.”
The cement was also developed by the Ministry of Works according to the recipe, so it was indeed useful.
So that Shi Qingluo was going to the palace to present the recipe today?
He thought for a moment and asked again, “Your Majesty, should we keep this information a secret?”
The emperor waved his hand. “No need.”
“If someone asks you when you go out, just tell them the truth.”
He added, “For example, there’s no need to hide the fact that this prescription was specially provided by the old Taoist priest’s disciple, Shi Qingluo.”
The works minister nodded with a smile. “Yes, your Majesty!”
It seemed that the emperor still valued Shi Qingluo very much.
If he were to go out and say it, wasn’t it just to create momentum for the other party.
Very quickly, the works minister took the recipe and left the palace.
He did not return home, but went to the Ministry of Works.
He was a little impatient now, wanting to refine the refined iron.
On the way, he met his colleagues, and the minister inquired about it.
The Minister of Works did not hesitate to tell them about the matter of Shi Qingluo giving the recipe.
He knew that the emperor wanted the news to spread.
Then, all the well-informed families in the capital knew about it.
It turned out that Shi Qingluo had gone to the palace to offer the recipe for ironmaking.
Many people turned around and could not help but praise in their hearts. They had really underestimated this village woman.
There was no need for the good seed to say anything.
She had offered a new recipe for ironmaking and used this merit to complain.
She was brilliant!
If nothing went wrong, the third prince consort’s matter wouldn’t be easy.
Shi Qingluo and Xi Rong left the palace and went straight back to their residence.
Xiao Hanzheng hadn’t returned yet, so she went to see Mr Hou first.
Mr Hou asked with concern, “You were shocked today. Are you alright?”
Shi Qingluo smiled and replied, “I’m fine.”
Then, she took the initiative to tell him about going to the palace and the emperor’s promise to give her justice.
Mr Hou was also very surprised.
He then beamed. “You did well in this.”
“It’s even smarter not to mention the third imperial consort in front of the emperor.”
He thought for a moment and said, “It looks like the emperor will punish the third imperial consort severely, but he won’t do it in the name of harming you.”
“After all, this is also considered a scandal in the royal family. If the people find out that you planted the seed first, then the daughter-in-law of the royal family will send people to do such a thing, the impact will be disastrous.”
He then said meaningfully, “I’m still afraid that someone will make a fuss.”
Shi Qingluo knew about the matter regarding the fief. She nodded and smiled. “You’re right. Actually, I just wanted to teach the third imperial consort a lesson and let everyone know that I’m not easy to bully.”
“In the end, I don’t care what name I use.”
That was why she did not mention the third imperial consort in front of the emperor from the beginning to the end today.
She had just shown it to the nobles of the aristocratic families.
As long as she achieved her goal, it would be fine.
Mr Hou realised that his disciple’s wife was not only smart, but also very transparent in her decisions.
“It’s good that you know what’s going on.”
“Jinyu went to see Yushi Wu. She will probably come back later.”
Shi Qingluo knew immediately that her little husband was trying to use her strength to help her vent her anger.
She smiled and nodded. “Okay.”
After saying a few more words to Mr Hou, Shi Qingluo returned to the courtyard.
Feeling sleepy, she took a nap.
She was in a daze and felt someone touching her face.
When she opened her eyes, she saw her young hubby looking at her gently.
“You’re back.”
She asked again, “Did it go well?”
Xiao Hanzheng reached out to pull Shi Qingluo up and hugged her in his arms. “It went well.”
“Today, I helped imperial censor Wu to alleviate his illness. In the next few days, I went to his residence for acupuncture and even prescribed medicine for him.”
“His old ailment won’t happen again this winter.”
Shi Qingluo lifted her hand and poked his face with another compliment, “Brother Zheng is awesome!”
“Thank you for your praise, my wife.”
Xiao Hanzheng felt relieved as he held her in his arms. “You went to the palace today to present the formula to make iron?”
He knew the formula in his wife’s hands. They had originally planned to present it to Mo Qingling together.
Because he knew his wife well, he asked this question.
“That’s right. Since that woman dared to scheme against me like this, of course I have to return it.”
Shi Qingluo revealed a smug look. “She knows how to bully others, and so do we!”
Xiao Hanzheng kissed her. “That’s right. Who is my wife? Not everyone can bully her.”
Shi Qingluo chuckled. “You won’t let me be bullied either.”
Xiao Hanzheng smiled as well. “Of course.”
“Oh right, Xi Rui went to the palace to look for the empress dowager today.”
“Liang Youxiao found someone to let out a lot of the disgusting things that Fu Wenzheng had done and even suppressed the shop where Fu Wenzheng’s dowry was.”
“Fei Yuzhe also went to look for his scholar friends and told them about how they were almost bullied. Many people wrote articles to satirise this matter, and it also spread.”
“There will be a good show in the capital city tomorrow.”
This was something that even Xiao Hanzheng did not expect.
He did not expect that Xi Rui and the others would directly go against the third prince’s consort for the sake of his little wife.
It was worth it to make a few good-for-nothing friends like his little wife.
Shi Qingluo was also very surprised. “They actually came out to support me!”
“They are really good friends.”She felt warm in her heart.
Then she asked worriedly, “Will they make the person above unhappy by jumping out like this?”
Xiao Hanzheng rubbed her face. “No, the person above isn’t so narrow-minded.”
“Moreover, they didn’t represent the family. They only stood up for you as friends.”
“The person on top will turn a blind eye.”
Of course, without the support of the family, those people would have been captured long ago.
Therefore, the Liang family, Xi family, and the Fei family were also showing goodwill to them. He accepted this favour.
Only then did Shi Qingluo relax. “As expected, you are still suitable for these crooked roads. I’d better farm properly in the future.”
Playing those things in the imperial court was really not suitable for her.
Xiao Hanzheng laughed out loud. “Alright, leave these to me. You only need to be in charge of being as beautiful as a flower and be happy every day.”
Shi Qingluo’s smile seeped out from her eyes. “I clearly made you as beautiful as a flower.”
Her little husband had become more and more beautiful after being raised by her recently.
Xiao Hanzheng didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. “Then let’s do it together.”
As a man, why did he need to be as beautiful as a flower?
But as long as his little wife is happy.