The ever-diligent Emperor Xuanwu suddenly announced that he found today's court affairs wearisome.
Even more startling, he interrupted the morning session halfway and declared he wished for the court officials to accompany him for a stroll in the Imperial Garden.
What in Heaven's name had come over His Majesty?
Never before had they encountered such a situation. The officials were left utterly bewildered. But of course, no one dared to blurt out something as reckless as, "Your Majesty, has your mind gone awry?"
After exchanging confused glances, they had no choice but to agree.
Dressed in their formal court robes, the procession followed Emperor Xuanwu with slow and solemn steps, making their way toward the Imperial Garden. Among them, Marquis Weiyuan, a man known for his frank and forthright nature, couldn't help but notice Yun Shu walking with hands tucked into her sleeves, looking perfectly composed, as though nothing was out of the ordinary.
Curiosity burned in his chest. He quickened his pace and leaned close to Yun Shu, lowering his voice.
"Your Highness, do you know why His Majesty is behaving so strangely today?"
"Strangely?" Yun Shu arched a brow and glanced at him unhurriedly. "In what way?"
Marquis Weiyuan blinked, momentarily dumbfounded.
"How is he not? Do not pretend ignorance, Your Highness! When has His Majesty ever halted morning court to drag everyone out for a walk in the garden? This is completely unlike him!"
"Indeed. It is unlike Father Emperor's usual conduct."
Yun Shu nodded in agreement.
"But tell me, if Father Emperor truly wished to act out of the ordinary without a word of explanation, do you think he would want This Princess to betray his intentions by revealing them to you behind his back?"
Marquis Weiyuan fell silent.
The officials around them, who had been eavesdropping with ears pricked, also fell quiet.
Her Highness had spoken with impeccable logic.
Yet, did this not all but confirm their suspicions? His Majesty had not brought them here merely for a casual stroll in the garden. There was clearly something more at play.
Their hearts uneasy, they followed Emperor Xuanwu at a measured pace, still pondering what exactly the sovereign intended. Just then, a sudden puff of white smoke rose ahead. Strange rattling sounds echoed from the distance, steadily growing louder.
"What in the world is that?!"
Startled, Marquis Weiyuan stepped forward on instinct, prepared to shield the Emperor at a moment's notice. But when he moved closer, he got a better look at the odd contraption emerging from the garden path.
It resembled the steam carriage Yun Shu had once tinkered with, yet it was not quite the same.
And seated in the crude wooden cart attached to the rear—was that not His Sixth Highness?
Clank. Clank. Clank.
A small wooden locomotive rolled out from the flower beds, moving at a slow but steady pace, coming to a smooth stop less than a zhang from Emperor Xuanwu.
At the front, driving the miniature train, was Ye Qing'an. He dismounted calmly and bowed with practiced grace.
"Your servant greets Your Majesty. Greetings to the Crown Princess."
"Fath—"
Yun Chuhuan, seated in the rear, spotted Emperor Xuanwu and his retinue. Panic flashed across his face. If he hesitated even a second, he feared he would lose another ten thousand taels.
He scrambled down the steps and hurried to offer his salute.
"Your Son pays respects to Father Emperor!"
"You may rise."
Emperor Xuanwu gave a faint hum of acknowledgment.
Though he had heard whispers of this so-called "little train" months ago, this was the first time he had seen it with his own eyes. He turned, intrigued, and studied the odd machine carefully.
"This is the gift the Crown Princess prepared for the Sixth Prince?"
"Replying to Father Emperor, yes. This was indeed a gift from Fifth Sister to Your Son."
Yun Chuhuan deliberately emphasized "to Your Son," clearly fearing that not only had Imperial Father fined him enough silver, but now had set his eyes on his precious toy.
He looked at Emperor Xuanwu with barely concealed wariness and quickly added, "Fifth Sister said this small train was specially tailored for Your Son alone. Even the little compartment at the back is sized just right for someone of my age."
"I can see that."
Emperor Xuanwu paid no heed to his son's protective squawking. Instead, he turned to Ye Qing'an.
"We have heard that this device was crafted under your direction, Ye Aiqing?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, that is correct. This small train was constructed under my supervision, but the design schematics were all drawn by the Crown Princess herself."
As he spoke, Ye Qing'an produced a memorial from his sleeve and respectfully presented it.
"Your Majesty, while crafting this prototype, I discovered that the train could be made much larger, even long enough to transport a full military division from the southern reaches of Tian Sheng to the northern borders within three days."
"What? This contraption can carry soldiers?!"
Marquis Weiyuan had been merely curious before. Now he stood utterly electrified.
If not for the bounds of propriety, he might have snatched the memorial from the Emperor's hands then and there to read it himself.
Alas, propriety could not be breached. But thankfully, Ye Qing'an offered further explanation.
"Not only can it transport troops, but it can also carry military supplies and various goods.
Your servant has already conducted preliminary calculations. In peacetime, by charging fares for train rides, whether from commoners or merchants, with different pricing tiers—basic seats, luxury seating, even private compartments—the annual revenue from just one train could reach upwards of a million taels."
"A single train can earn a million taels a year? Are you serious?"
Minister Yan, who had been listening intently, perked up like a hawk spotting prey.
He elbowed past two officials standing before him and rushed forward, eyes gleaming.
"Then if we build several trains, would that not mean tens of millions in revenue annually?"
"Indeed."
Ye Qing'an nodded.
"If the train's speed can be further improved, then the profits may rise even higher."
Higher profits were always welcome.
Though ten million taels a year might not seem staggering compared to the commercial tax, it was not a sum one could dismiss lightly either.
And as Minister of Revenue, Yan Daren certainly had no complaints about wealth flowing in. Especially considering that before the merchants' tax had been established, the national treasury's annual income had hovered around just fifty million taels.
This alone could account for a fifth of that.
How could one remain indifferent?
Minister Yan's face nearly split into a wide grin, resembling a blooming chrysanthemum.
But just then, Emperor Xuanwu arched a brow after finishing the memorial.
"You have written here that laying five tracks and constructing five trains across Tian Sheng would require no less than seventy million taels?"