“Since the imperial court intends to promote the water-powered spinning wheel, shouldn’t we also encourage the common people to plant hemp and mulberry? This will prevent a shortage of raw materials once the water-powered spinning wheel becomes widespread across the land.”

The following day, Grand Minister of Agriculture Kou Yannian took the initiative to enter the palace and audience the Emperor, earnestly requesting His Majesty to encourage the people to plant more mulberry and hemp. After all, the civil and military officials had already fully verified the claims made by the Director of the Imperial Workshop. The water-powered spinning wheel could indeed spin one hundred catties of hemp yarn per day. If the court did not plan ahead, they would face the embarrassing situation where water-powered spinning wheels were everywhere, yet there was no ramie available to use.

At that moment, Yin Shuhuai was in the hall reviewing memorial submissions.

Ever since Huo Yan led the army to suppress the rebellion and returned power to the Emperor, the Department of State Affairs had sent all memorials to Chongde Hall for His Majesty’s review. Later, Huo Yan died, and Shentu Yang was appointed Prime Minister. Shentu Yang was also someone who disliked reading memorials; even though he held the heavy responsibility of directing the Department of State Affairs, he was too lazy to sit in his mansion and flip through them. Consequently, the newly independent Emperor Yin Shuhuai had no choice but to painstakingly review the memorials himself. Fortunately, before the previous Prime Minister died, he had painstakingly taught Yin Shuhuai how to read and govern; otherwise, an awkward situation would have arisen where the Emperor, finally holding great power, would be repeatedly deceived by his ministers simply because he could not understand the memorials.

“The Grand Minister of Agriculture makes a valid point. Encouraging agriculture and sericulture is fundamentally the duty of the imperial court.” Moreover, if the court wanted to vigorously promote the water-powered spinning wheel, it indeed had to avoid an embarrassing situation where productivity exploded but the supply of raw materials could not keep up.

However, since his time-traveling arrival, Yin Shuhuai had experienced the ways of the world and deeply realized how troublesome the powerful aristocratic families could be. Hearing how proactively the Grand Minister of Agriculture was planning this matter, Yin Shuhuai could not help but feel guarded, warning him, “The court can certainly encourage the people to plant more mulberry and hemp, but you must remember that to keep the realm stable, agriculture must remain the foundation. We absolutely cannot let the planting of hemp and mulberry affect next year’s spring farming.”

Yin Shuhuai remembered that this era roughly coincided with the second Little Ice Age in history, a time prone to frequent droughts and floods. No one knew when the next natural disaster would strike. Yin Shuhuai only wanted to take advantage of the good harvest years to let the people farm more, clear more wasteland, and store more grain. In case they encountered a natural disaster or man-made calamity, they would at least be able to fill their bellies, avoiding the tragic extreme of exchanging children to eat.

Therefore, safeguarding agricultural farming was the bottom line.

However, later generations had indeed said that if you want to get rich, you should plant trees first. Yin Shuhuai also hoped that while the citizens of the Yin Dynasty could fill their bellies, they would also have summer clothes to cover themselves and winter clothes to keep warm. After reflecting for a moment, he added, “This matter shall be fully managed by the Grand Minister of Agriculture. Have the court extensively publicize the benefits of the water-powered spinning wheel in every commandery, county, and village, ensuring the people plant as much mulberry and ramie as possible without disrupting their farming. The Imperial Workshop has recently invented and improved many new agricultural tools. The Grand Minister of Agriculture must promote all of these tools, calling upon the people to clear more wasteland and cultivate more fields.”

Yin Shuhuai paused briefly at this point, then added, “Tell the people that for newly cultivated fields, no taxes will be levied for the first three years.”

Kou Yannian looked at Yin Shuhuai in some surprise, then bowed in agreement. As he turned to leave the palace, he happened to bump into Shentu Yang, who was rushing into the palace holding a fiery red fox.

“Prime Minister,” Kou Yannian greeted Shentu Yang.

Shentu Yang glanced at Kou Yannian, feeling somewhat puzzled. “The Grand Minister of Agriculture is quite diligent today.”

Having lived in the palace for so long, he had never seen an external minister proactively enter the palace to discuss matters with the Emperor.

Kou Yannian smiled slightly and said, “This minister was advising His Majesty, hoping the court will encourage the people to plant more mulberry and hemp. When the summer harvest arrives next year, the people will also be able to make more money.”

So that was it.

Shentu Yang raised an eyebrow and spoke bluntly, “I wondered why you suddenly became so diligent; it turns out you are only driven by profit.”

If the court encouraged the people to plant more mulberry and hemp, the local powerful clans and aristocratic families could buy up the silk and hemp from the people once they matured. Ultimately, it was still the lure of money and wealth moving their hearts.

Kou Yannian smiled without speaking.

Shentu Yang did not bother with him either. He excitedly carried the fox into Chongde Hall. “Your Majesty, look at the wonderful thing I brought you!”

Yin Shuhuai, whose eyes were dizzy from reading memorials, looked up to see a refreshed Shentu Yang… and the fiery red fox he was holding.

“Is that a fox?” Yin Shuhuai’s gaze was instantly drawn to the fox, his eyes staring straight at it. “Where did you get it?”

“The Shanglin Imperial Park,” Shentu Yang placed the red fox, whose limbs and snout were tied up, onto the desk in front of Yin Shuhuai. “I went hunting in the Shanglin Imperial Park with the boys and happened to run into it. I brought it back for Your Majesty to keep for fun.”

Yin Shuhuai carefully stroked the fox’s fur, which was even thicker and softer than he had imagined. The tightly bound little fox whimpered, its dark, grape-like eyes looking pitifully at Yin Shuhuai, actually glistening with tears.

Shentu Yang’s gaze turned sharp, and he glared fiercely at the little fox, cursing harshly, “This little beast actually dares to seduce Your Majesty!”

Yin Shuhuai was speechless.

Looking at Shentu Yang, who looked ready to draw his sword and hack the little fox to pieces, Yin Shuhuai was forced to abruptly change the subject. “As the Prime Minister, instead of handling the political affairs of the court, you actually took soldiers to hunt in the Shanglin Imperial Park?”

As for the minor detail of a minister daring to barge into the imperial park to hunt without the Emperor’s express order… Yin Shuhuai could no longer be bothered to argue with Shentu Yang about it.

“Does Your Majesty’s ‘political affairs’ refer to having the court encourage the people to plant more mulberry and hemp?” Reminded of the Grand Minister of Agriculture he had just met outside the hall, Shentu Yang smiled meaningfully. “The Grand Minister of Agriculture only acts when there is profit to be made. But I am entirely devoted to Your Majesty, with my mind full of nothing but how to please Your Majesty and make you happy.”

Yin Shuhuai glanced at the heavily tied fox and said noncommittally, “The Prime Minister’s way of pleasing me is certainly unique.”

To try and please an emperor by trampling over royal authority was something probably only Shentu Yang could pull off.

Shentu Yang curled his lips indifferently. “Dong Wan, who guards the Shanglin Imperial Park, was indeed dutiful, but his martial skills are mediocre; he couldn’t even withstand a single blow from me. Does Your Majesty really intend to rely on these useless fools to secure the realm? You might as well plead nicely with me…”

Yin Shuhuai’s face stiffened slightly. He had known long ago that with Shentu Yang’s arrogant, domineering nature and grand ambitions, he would eventually clash with the Northern and Southern Armies guarding Luoyang, but he had not expected it to happen so soon.

“You injured Colonel Dong?”

Noticing Yin Shuhuai’s displeasure, Shentu Yang let out a mocking laugh. “It was his own incompetence. A useless fool who couldn’t even take one strike from my sword dares to claim he can protect Your Majesty? Does Your Majesty actually entrust heavy responsibilities to such garbage?”

Whenever Shentu Yang recalled how Dong Wan had once furiously denounced him as a rebellious traitor in front of Yin Shuhuai, he found it incredibly ridiculous. Even if he, Shentu Yang, had ambitions for the throne, hadn’t that dog of the Huo family also committed treason? They were all birds of a feather, so what was Dong Wan doing pretending to be a loyal official in front of the Emperor? He even dared to sow discord in the relationship between ruler and minister! Shentu Yang could see through his motives at a glance.

Yin Shuhuai’s face turned completely grim. He immediately ordered Zhuang Wuwei to take wound medicines and an imperial physician to the Shanglin Imperial Park to visit Dong Wan. “If Colonel Dong’s injuries are severe, let him take a leave of absence to recuperate.”

Seeing this, Shentu Yang felt even more displeased. “Is Your Majesty so worried about Colonel Dong? Or do you think I have no sense of restraint and would heavily injure your precious champion?”

He spat out the last words with intense sarcasm.

Yin Shuhuai flew into a rage upon hearing this. “Presumptuous! Do you know that breaking into the Shanglin Imperial Park without permission and injuring the guarding colonel is an act of treason?”

Shentu Yang laughed out of extreme anger. “Is Your Majesty framing me with false charges because you are afraid I won’t rebel?”

Before Yin Shuhuai could speak, Shentu Yang pressed forward step by step. “It was merely trespassing into the Shanglin Imperial Park. I have barged into the imperial palace, and I have even barged into Your Majesty’s bedchamber. What of it? Are the people who have barged into Your Majesty’s bedchamber few? First there was Zhang Jian, then there was Huo Yan. Why is it that Your Majesty shows a cold face only to me?”

In a flash, a cold light gleamed. With lightning speed, Shentu Yang drew the sword at his waist, blocking the Emperor’s imperial sword.

The clanging sound of metal hitting metal rang through Chongde Hall as Shentu Yang said aggressively, “Your Majesty surely doesn’t think I will give you a second chance to kill me, do you?”

“We are all treacherous rebels holding the Emperor hostage to control the nobles, yet I have never heard of Your Majesty trying to kill Zhang Jian or Huo Yan.”

The Emperor had even posthumously honored Huo Yan as Marquis Wen of Wei. He also showed great favor to the sons, sons-in-law, and former students left behind by that old man. Why was it that when it came to him, the Emperor immediately wanted to fight and kill?

Only now did the stunned eunuchs and palace maids snap out of it, rushing forward to surround Shentu Yang. “Prime Minister, you must not be disrespectful to His Majesty.”

Gao Jingde, Zhou Tai, and the others guarding outside the hall exchanged glances, not even bothering to break through the door.

After exchanging blows with the Emperor, Shentu Yang was the first to sheathe his sword under the persuasion of the numerous eunuchs and palace maids. Looking at the coldly silent Yin Shuhuai, Shentu Yang sat blankly for a long while before finding a topic himself: “Regarding Your Majesty’s order for the court to mass-produce the water-powered spinning wheel, I have already given the instructions.”

As for how the final products would turn out, Shentu Yang was not worried that the officials in charge of overseeing the construction would dare to secretly defy the orders. If they really dared to do so, Shentu Yang would surely make them taste how sharp the swords of the Yan State were!

“I assume that when that time comes, Your Majesty will not continue to protect those useless officials who eat the bread of idleness, just as you protect the remnants of the Huo family now?”

Yin Shuhuai sneered, “The Prime Minister attacked Colonel Dong because he covets the Northern Army. Everyone knows this, so why play dumb in front of me?”

Shentu Yang held Luoyang with an army of two hundred thousand soldiers. These two hundred thousand troops could not remain stationed outside Luoyang indefinitely without an official status. Over time, even the army’s logistics would become a problem. Moreover, there were still two hundred thousand elite troops inside Luoyang. With Shentu Yang’s shrewd tactics, how could he tolerate another tiger sleeping right next to him? His plotting against the Northern and Southern Armies was fully within Yin Shuhuai’s expectations.

Yin Shuhuai just had not expected Shentu Yang to strike at this particular time. Furthermore, Dong Wan could not even withstand a single move from Shentu Yang!

“Has Your Majesty ever heard that an incompetent general wears out the entire army? Since Your Majesty knows I covet the Northern Army, you should know I never do anything without absolute certainty. Besides, the end of the year is approaching, and after the new year comes the spring farming. If Your Majesty drafts all the young men from Guanzhong and Luoyang into the military, it will not only consume grain supplies but also disrupt next year’s spring farming. It will even affect the court’s grand plan to promote the water-powered spinning wheel. Why not just let them return home to farm, plant trees, and recuperate, and let my army of two hundred thousand take over the duties of these soldiers to guard Luoyang and protect Your Majesty? This will also save everyone from fighting and turning Luoyang into a river of blood.”

Yin Shuhuai remained silent.

Shentu Yang sat opposite the Emperor with a smirk, enthusiastically changing the subject. “Your Majesty is exhausted from desk work. Shouldn’t you combine work with leisure and go to the Shanglin Imperial Park to ride horses, hunt, and relax?”

Yin Shuhuai, who was currently feeling sore and dizzy, was indeed tempted.

Observing his expression, Shentu Yang continued to urge him, “Today the sky is clear, and the scenery at the Shanglin Imperial Park is delightful. Your Majesty can go horse riding and hunting, or cruise the lake and fish. Don’t you Central Plains people always like to put on romantic airs? Why doesn’t Your Majesty enjoy a romantic outing for once?”

Yin Shuhuai’s brow twitched. “If you don’t know how to use idioms properly, don’t use them! You brute!”

Shentu Yang did not mind being scolded, merely raising an eyebrow with a smile. “Does Your Majesty know how to ride a horse? If not, you can share a horse with me.”

Shentu Yang had already inquired carefully. The current Emperor had pretended to be a fool among the common people for sixteen years, and after being brought back to the palace, he served as a puppet for two years, always traveling in the imperial carriage. No one had ever seen him ride a horse or hunt. It was obvious he did not know how.

Yin Shuhuai cast a glance at the ill-intentioned Shentu Yang. He did not know if the original owner of the body could ride, but he himself certainly could. However, he had no desire to share a horse or enjoy a hunt with Shentu Yang; he was thinking about when to get rid of Shentu Yang so he could go to the Shanglin Imperial Park alone to clear his head and check on Dong Wan.

Unexpectedly, Shentu Yang acted just like a mind reader. With a single look at Yin Shuhuai, he threatened pleasantly, “Your Majesty had better not think about ditching me to go to the Shanglin Imperial Park alone. Your Majesty surely wouldn’t want me to clash with the Northern Army soldiers guarding the imperial park gates again, right?”

Yin Shuhuai’s expression changed. “You”

His excellent mood was instantly completely ruined as if doused by a bucket of cold water. Outraged, Yin Shuhuai said in a deep, angry voice, “If the Prime Minister treats war as a game and does not care about the lives of the Yan army soldiers, I am by no means a ruler who fears war!”

Combined, the two hundred thousand troops of the Northern and Southern Armies might not beat Shentu Yang’s three hundred thousand Yan troops, but Shentu Yang could forget about getting away unscathed either.

Seeing this, Shentu Yang grinned shamelessly and leaned closer again. “Why should Your Majesty be angry? I only wish to serve at Your Majesty’s side at all times. Please understand my absolute devotion.”

Yin Shuhuai didn’t understand it at all! He realized that Shentu Yang was completely shameless, always pushing his luck the moment he was given an inch!

Furious, Yin Shuhuai stood up and strode out of Chongde Hall. He casually pointed out an attendant to lead him to the stables.

Dozens of white horses were kept in the stables, all of them magnificent steeds. Yin Shuhuai randomly selected a white horse, and the servant in charge of tending the horses immediately led it out of the stall. Only then did Yin Shuhuai notice that riding at this time involved no saddles or stirrups, though reins and horseshoes were already in use.

Shentu Yang, who had caught up, noticed the hesitation on Yin Shuhuai’s face and leaned over with a smile. “Does Your Majesty not know how to ride? I can share your burden.”

“No need,” Yin Shuhuai said coldly. He immediately grabbed the reins, leaped onto the horse, and pressed his legs slightly against its sides. “Hyah!”

The white stallion instantly shot out like a gust of wind. Seeing this, Shentu Yang immediately mounted another horse to give chase.

“Your Majesty”

Zhuang Wuwei and the other attendants and guards followed behind, frantically whipping their horses to keep up. However, how could the horses they rode compare to the Emperor’s magnificent steed?

In the end, only Shentu Yang managed to stick closely behind the Emperor.

Yin Shuhuai galloped freely, feeling all the troubles of the world quickly left behind him, leaving nothing but the fierce, clean wind rushing against his face.

The Emperor’s strikingly beautiful features looked even more dazzling in the brilliant autumn glow. Dressed in jade-colored casual robes on horseback, his large red cloak embroidered with gold thread fluttered wildly in the wind. From afar, he looked like an unbridled flame, burning fiercely in the autumn wind.

Chasing from behind, Shentu Yang felt completely entranced. He cracked his whip hard against his horse, and the already galloping steed instantly shot forward like an arrow from a bow, closing the distance to Yin Shuhuai’s horse.

The moment the two white horses ran side by side, Shentu Yang made a powerful leap, unexpectedly landing right behind Yin Shuhuai.

In an instant, two muscular arms locked like iron clamps around the Emperor as he galloped on horseback. Shentu Yang’s arrogant yet restrained voice echoed right behind his ear: “Your Majesty…”

Feeling the hot breath against the back of his ear and the scorching body pressed firmly against his back, Yin Shuhuai flew into a rage from embarrassment. “Presumptuous!”

“Get the hell off me!”

Shentu Yang let out a low laugh, his eyes burning as he stared at Yin Shuhuai’s delicate earlobe and fair, tender neck. “If Your Majesty keeps provoking me like this, I might actually have to become presumptuous.”

Before his voice had even faded, he leaned his head down and bit the Emperor’s earlobe.