Three months after the Storybook Competition ended, the printing presses at the Song Family Bookshop had not stopped for a moment. Two hundred people worked from sunrise to sunset every day without even a single day off.
The printed storybooks were transported to Songzhou City in batches, then sold by various booksellers throughout Jiangnan, the capital, and other regions. Every half month, when Song Anhao received the sales orders and money, her face crinkled with smiles.
The four members of the Song family were working feverishly in Suining. As cement came into widespread use throughout the Southwest Province, merchants from other regions began purchasing it as well, and word of it gradually reached the capital.
On the first day of the eighth month, after the morning court session, Emperor Xiao Chengjing kept Prince Ying and several others behind and summoned them to the Imperial Study to question them.
“I’ve heard that something called cement has appeared in the southwest. Not only can it be used to build roads, but it can also be used to construct houses. It is sturdy and smooth, and costs several times less than bricks and stone. Was it created by County Princess Linghui?”
Dongfang Shaoting, standing below the dais, showed a slight change in expression. After more than half a year, the news had finally reached the capital.
“Gu Qishan, have you heard about this?”
Gu Qishan’s brows drew together into a deep frown, and his heartbeat began to quicken.
“Your Majesty, I have not heard of it.”
He had never paid attention to a place like Suining unless there was a war there.
As for the Southwest Province, Gu Zhongxun had not reported anything either.
“What about you, Prince Ying?”
Xiao Rongyan shook his head. “I have not heard of it either, Father.”
Ever since Song Jinzhao had left the capital, Prince Ying had been acting obedient and filial before the Emperor. Gradually, he had regained the favor he once enjoyed.
However, with seven more princes in the palace and the previous incident as a warning, the court officials had chosen not to take sides again. One by one, they had withdrawn and were lying low, waiting for the other princes to grow up.
At the Emperor’s signal, Eunuch Zhao, who had been waiting nearby, immediately picked up the memorial from the imperial desk and walked down to them.
Xiao Rongyan accepted the memorial and opened it. It was a memorial of greetings sent by Huang Wenlong, the Provincial Administration Commissioner of Jiangnan.
It mentioned that he wished to replace all the official roads in Jiangnan Province with cement roads. The project would require five hundred thousand taels of silver, and he was asking whether the Emperor would approve it.
“Five hundred thousand taels to build roads? Huang Wenlong has gone mad!”
His eyes blazed as he looked at Emperor Xiao, and his voice nearly rose to a roar.
“Father, you absolutely cannot approve this. The official roads are perfectly good and do not need repairs. This is nothing but a waste of money.”
Xiao Chengjing’s expression remained impassive. He had never intended to approve the proposal; he was merely curious about cement.
“None of you know what cement is?”
The answer was silence.
“Since the cement was created by County Princess Linghui, send someone to Suining Prefecture to take a look.”
Whether they would use it was one matter, but they had to find out whether the cement was truly as good as Huang Wenlong claimed.
Once the discussion ended, Xiao Chengjing casually ordered someone to set out for Suining Prefecture.
After returning to his residence, Dongfang Shaoting told Dongfang Yuanbin that the Emperor had sent someone to Suining Prefecture to investigate the cement.
“Last year, the production of smokeless coal was limited. The supply in the Southwest Province alone could barely meet demand. Besides, once winter passed, the common people bought less of it, which was why the news spread so slowly.”
“But once they reach Suining City, neither the cement plant nor the coal plant will be able to remain hidden. Whom is the Emperor planning to send?”
Dongfang Shaoting replied, “Attendant Wu from the palace.”
“Then there’s nothing we can do.” Dongfang Yuanbin shook his head with a bitter smile. “Attendant Wu is one of the Emperor’s trusted men. There is no room to turn this matter around. Once he returns from Suining City, His Majesty will certainly learn about the cement plant and the coal plant. He may even bring cement and smokeless coal back with him.”
Dongfang Shaoting lowered his eyes, his heart filled with indecision.
“The coal plant and cement plant are County Princess Linghui’s private property. The Emperor shouldn’t seize them by force, should he?”
Dongfang Yuanbin stroked his snow-white beard. He opened his mouth, then hesitated.
“Spread word in half a month that we have partnered with County Princess Linghui in the smokeless-coal business. You should also make some arrangements at court.”
Dongfang Shaoting took a deep breath and slowly nodded. “I understand, Father.”
