Fang Er thought he could escape the fate of manual labor with a foot bath, but he never expected it to be just the beginning.
“Husband, Sister Tong mentioned that in the main world, places like these foot massage parlors offer other services. Is that true?”
“Mmm, I’ve heard that too. They have something called… spa?”
“More than that! Wait a moment, I think I even took a screenshot on my phone of the service list from ‘Royal One’.”
“Come, come, sisters, let’s all take a look…”
Giving his wife a foot bath was supposed to be a pleasant experience, but as he overheard the girls’ discussions, Fang Er instantly lost his composure.
He looked up at Xi Tong, “What did you tell them?”
Xi Tong smiled nonchalantly.
[In the main world, what can’t you see online? Do I need to teach you?]
Fang Er: ………………
Turning his head, he saw Chai Yue, Xiao Qing, and others gathered around Changsun Ling’er, pointing at her phone.
“Oh, what do you think this ‘Phoenixes Soaring’ means?”
“Look, there’s also something called ‘Cloud Top Shiatsu,’ just the name sounds so romantic!”
“Where, where? You guys, look at this one, ‘Imperial Ice Therapy,’ it sounds so cold just thinking about it…”
“‘Fire Dance on the Mountains,’ this one’s definitely not cold…”
Fang Er was completely dumbfounded. Where did all this stuff come from?!
There was no internet connection between the Great Tang and the main world. This stuff must have been saved on the phone beforehand.
He looked at Changsun Ling’er speechlessly, “How bored were you to look at this stuff, and even save it on your phone?”
Changsun Ling’er replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world, “As someone who studies medicine, shouldn’t I pay attention to health and wellness matters?”
Fang Er: ………………
I’m utterly speechless!
Although he didn’t understand what these names represented, it didn’t stop his wives and concubines from being pushed into service, like ducks being herded.
Thus, the noble Prince Kun of the Great Tang finally devolved into the star technician of Fang’s Foot Spa.
Of course, he was the only technician here.
It wasn’t until a few days later, when Li Shimin came looking for him again, saying he needed to conduct a final inspection of the New Capital, that Fang Er was rescued from this watery hell.
Seeing his pale, wrinkled hands and the deep circles under his eyes, Li Shimin felt an inexplicable sense of happiness.
“What’s this, is my Prince Kun scared?”
This abrupt teasing left Fang Er bewildered.
“What makes you say that? What would I be afraid of?”
Li Shimin stroked his beard and chuckled, “Of course, you’re afraid that I, the emperor, am full of vigor and have too many daughters, and your second son won’t be able to handle them all!”
“So, you’ve been working overtime to have more sons, to lighten the load for that boy Fang Yan!”
“How about it, am I right?”
Fang Er almost choked to death!
What on earth was this all about?
He was truly impressed by this old fox, to even come up with such an idea. His thought process…
New Capital, Zheng County.
This place was no longer the desolate land it was a few years ago. Since the completion of the Yellow River Bridge, the banks of the river had completely transformed.
Looking from above, besides the capital city that was still undergoing its final touches, there were warehouses of various sizes located beyond the Yellow River dike.
As the intersection of the Great Tang’s cross-shaped railway, merchant caravans from all directions would stop here, either to receive or dispatch goods. It had now become the most prosperous place in the Great Tang, second only to Chang’an.
The New Capital, covering an area of 200 square kilometers, was now largely completed, especially the crucial Imperial City, which had already finished its landscaping and road paving.
The pure wooden Mingtang, standing at 99 meters tall, was located within the Imperial City and was the tallest building in the entire New Capital, and indeed, in this world.
Standing outside the city, gazing at the Mingtang, Li Shimin was very pleased.
“Come, let’s enter the city and take a look!”
He waved his hand and walked directly towards the Jinshui Gate ahead.
The Jinshui Gate, located beside the Jinshui River, was named after it.
After entering the city and traveling a short distance, they saw a bus, not yet painted, approaching.
There was no doubt that this was produced in Shenyang, and it was equipped with a diesel engine internally.
The chugging sound could be heard from afar.
As the bus entered and stopped, a long-lost figure jumped out.
Upon seeing Li Shimin and his entourage, he quickly stepped forward to salute.
“Your subject, Magistrate of Zheng County, Ma Zhou, pays respects to the Retired Emperor! Pays respects to His Majesty!”
This person was none other than Ma Zhou!
Seeing him, not only Fang Er was surprised, but Li Shimin was also taken aback.
Li Shimin turned and pulled out Li Chengqian from behind, asking with a frown.
“I’ve been back at court for several days and haven’t seen hide nor hair of him. I thought you assigned him some important task, but who knew he’d end up being a county magistrate here!”
“What, you don’t trust me, or you don’t trust An Zhi?!”
Ma Zhou’s talent was undeniable, and moreover, having trained with Fang Er in Shenyang for several years, his perspective was far beyond that of other Tang officials.
In historical records, he rose to the high position of Prime Minister as a commoner, yet now he was a county magistrate. How could Li Shimin not overthink this?
Li Chengqian hadn’t been reprimanded by his father for a long time. Now, with his collar being grabbed, he was stunned for a moment.
Ma Zhou, however, smiled and cupped his hands, “Your Retired Emperor, please do not be angry. This magistrate position was recommended to the Emperor by myself.”
“The affairs of the New Capital are complex, and the financial expenditure is huge. Honestly speaking, it’s no less stressful than being in court.”
A look of realization appeared on Fang Er’s face. Just like Li Shimin, he had only noticed the title of county magistrate and hadn’t thought deeply about it.
Now, upon closer inspection, the position of Zheng County Magistrate was indeed not an easy one, as Ma Zhou had said.
Li Shimin then released Li Chengqian and helped him smooth his collar.
“Very well, it was my mistake!”
“Come, get in the car, let’s tour the city!”
Li Chengqian felt as if he had received a great pardon and secretly cast a grateful glance at Ma Zhou.
After everyone boarded the bus, it slowly turned around and drove into the city.
The vibration of the diesel engine was something the emperor and his officials had not experienced for a long time, and this sensation made them reminisce.
Cheng Yaojin sat in the front row, touching the windshield with a wistful expression.
“Back in the day, when I, old Cheng, drove for the first time, I flew right out of the windshield. Thinking about it now, I was still young!”
Yu Chide nodded and laughed, “Hahahaha, I, Old Blackie, remember that. At that time, I almost shot you and An Zhi, along with the entire car!”
Li Shimin was also reminded of memories, and looking at the roof of the car, he said.
“Thinking back to when I personally campaigned against the Turks, sitting in a pickup truck, with a cigar in my mouth and a hen around my neck, watching the enemy fall one by one. That battle was the most satisfying battle of my life!”
In the back corner, Li Tai and Li Ke couldn’t help but shrink their necks.
Li Shimin had a satisfying battle that time!
But their brothers were busy loading ammunition from beginning to end.