Kill the Chicken to Warn the Monkeys

Xiao Lingyan gave Zhao Ruxi a thumbs up. "Wife, you're the one who's got the lead role!"

Zhao Ruxi smiled at him, "That's because I have your political backing, which allows me to transfer the technology over without restraint. In the past, even if I wanted to change the world, I wouldn't have dared to do it. I had to save my own life first."

Xiao Lingyan pulled Zhao Ruxi into his arms and kissed her. The couple embraced without saying another word.

Since his wife had acquired new farm tools, Xiao Lingyan naturally couldn't just take them to the Ministry of Works without making a sound. Instead, he first showed them to Xiao Ge.

Upon seeing the blueprint of the handheld harvester, Xiao Ge asked Xiao Lingyan, "How do you plan to get this harvester?"

"Just like those small farm tools, draw up the blueprints and distribute them to the provincial and county governments. Whoever wants them can have them made at the blacksmith's shop," Xiao Lingyan said.

This means it was given to all the people of the country for free.

Xiao Ge thought for a moment, then remembered that someone had reported to him that Zhao Ruxi had gone to the Ministry of Works a couple of days ago to inquire about the sales of harvesters, and he suddenly realized what was going on.

He asked, "Is Zhiwei only bringing out this handheld device because they've almost sold out of the large harvesters?"

Xiao Lingyan nodded. "Exactly."

Xiao Ge shook his head, couldn't help but laugh, and praised, "What a clever little devil."

The large harvesters were sold by the imperial court. Because they were easy to use and saved a lot of manpower, they sold very well. Almost all the powerful families and landlords, large and small, in the capital and other places bought them.

This alone drained a considerable amount of money from the pockets of powerful families and landlords, replenishing the national treasury, which had been depleted by the war in the previous two years.

But if handheld harvesters come out first, or both appear together, with free and easy-to-use handheld harvesters available, who would still buy large harvesters? If large harvesters can't be sold, the imperial court won't be able to extract money from the pockets of powerful families.

Thinking of this, Xiao Ge sighed with emotion, "Little Five, your wife is not only incredibly intelligent, able to make so many useful farm tools, but her business acumen is also first-rate. It's a pity she's a woman. Otherwise, I would definitely train her to be a prime minister."

"If she were a man, would you have such a wonderful Crown Princess, and such a clever and witty grandson?" Xiao Lingyan almost rolled his eyes at his father.

He wants his wife to undergo gender reassignment surgery and try to steal her away from him? No way!

Xiao Ge: "..."

He stared at his son for a moment, then picked up several memorials from the table and threw them in front of Xiao Lingyan: "These two, you're the one who ordered their impeachment, aren't you?"

Xiao Lingyan knew what was going on without even looking.

He nodded directly and said, "Father, I suggest that these two be dismissed or demoted according to the severity of their offenses."

Xiao Ge was speechless. "Do you really have to be like this?"

He sat on the emperor's throne, and he knew everything his ministers did.

However, he can tolerate minor flaws within a certain range. Water that is too clear has no fish. He also couldn't stand everyone being a loyal and outspoken minister.

One of these two officials embezzled some money and practiced nepotism when he was appointed to a post outside the capital, causing a minor disturbance; the other's son had a wife and children at home, but he liked a commoner woman. When she was unwilling, he set a trap to force her to become his concubine.

Which prominent family in the capital doesn't have this kind of problem? As long as they are capable, not just occupying positions without doing their jobs, and don't cause too much trouble, he won't punish them severely. He'll usually just call them in, give them a warning, and that's it.

However, these two officials courted their own demise. One discovered Xiao Lingyan's whereabouts and sent his daughter to encounter Xiao Lingyan twice; the other sent his wife to woo Noble Consort Cen while also sending his daughter to get close to Zhao Ruxi.

Of course, the attempt to get close to Zhao Ruxi failed. The young lady didn't even get close to Zhao Ruxi before being kept at a distance by the guards. Fearing that Zhao Ruxi's mood would be affected, the guards and maids tacitly did not tell Zhao Ruxi about this, but instead reported it to Xiao Lingyan.

Other officials had the same intention, but dared not go too far. For example, Tao Jian, the Ministry of War, had a wife who wanted to send her daughter to Xiao Lingyan as a concubine, but she was afraid of angering Xiao Lingyan and Zhao Ruxi. She dared not do anything further after failing to test the waters.

But these two kept courting disaster.

Xiao Lingyan to use them as scapegoats to serve as a warning to others.

Hearing Xiao Ge's words, Xiao Lingyan snorted coldly, "What do they take me for? The Crown Prince of the Great Jin, how dare any Tom, Dick, or Harry covet me? I said it's impossible, I don't even want him, yet they still try to scheme against me, then don't blame me for taking drastic measures."

Xiao Ge hadn't initially taken this matter seriously. A beautiful and virtuous woman is a gentleman's ideal; and indeed, that was the case.

His son is handsome and tall, with top-notch talent and ability. It's perfectly normal for the ladies of the capital to be interested in him.

But now that Xiao Lingyan has said it like that, it seems to have taken a different turn.

His expression also darkened, and he nodded, saying, "Since you want to punish them, then so be it."

With that, he picked up the vermilion brush. "Tell me, how do you intend to deal with this?"

Xiao Lingyan then explained his proposed solutions one by one.

Xiao Ge finished writing and tossed the Duan Chen beside him. "Draft an imperial edict."

After dealing with this matter, he looked up at Xiao Lingyan again. "What are Zhiwei's plans regarding that sewing machine?"

Xiao Lingyan then told Zhao Ruxi about her plan.

Xiao Ge wasn't Gao Xing when he heard that Zhao Ruxi didn't intend to offer the factory directly to the court, but instead planned to build it with Grand Princess Shangde.

Although the sewing machine hadn't been invented yet, after reading the instructions, Xiao Ge knew that it must be something that could take the craft of sewing clothes to a new level and could very likely drive social development.

It's much more comfortable for Zhao Ruxi to keep such things in his own hands than to give them to the Ministry of Works and let them become a tool for some people to make money.

The meat rots in the pot. Zhao Ruxi and Grand Princess Shangde made money, but they didn't use it to strengthen themselves or seize power from the royal family like those powerful clans. They took from the people and used it for the people, truly thinking of the common people.

"Zhiwei has created such a wonderful thing. Ask her for me what reward she desires," he said.

Xiao Lingyan shook his head. "Zhiwei asks for nothing. But I do want to ask Father for a favor. Considering Zhiwei's great talent and the fact that she can bring unprecedented new agricultural tools and machines to the Great Jin, could you please stop those people from harassing her and me? Can't we just live a peaceful life together?"

Xiao Ge was taken aback, staring at his son. "Are you telling the truth? You don't regret it?"

Xiao Lingyan shook his head. "I have no regrets. In this life, having Zhiwei alone is enough."

"Okay." Xiao Ge nodded. "I'll have people keep an eye out from now on. If anyone tries anything funny, I'll make them move. After two or three times, no one will dare to try again."