In the early morning, Zijuan got up early. After washing, she went to Daiyu's bedroom to see if the girl was awake.

When I walked into the bedroom, I saw that the gauze curtain on the embroidered couch outside was hanging low. On the floor in front of the couch were two pairs of shoes, one pair belonged to Xueyan and the other pair belonged to Shi Xiangyun's maid Cuixi.

Shi Xiangyun and Daiyu played chess last night. After playing for a while, they rested here.

Zicuckoo stepped forward and lifted up the gauze curtain, and saw Snow Goose and Cuixi, head to head, sleeping soundly.

She stretched out her hand and patted the thin brocade quilt twice, and called softly: "Xueyan, Cuixi, it's getting late, get up quickly."

Both girls were relatively light sleepers, so they sat up immediately upon hearing the sound.

Cuixi raised her hand and rubbed her eyes and said, "Sister Zijuan, what time is it?"

"It's almost Chen time. You two should get up and wash up quickly. I'll go in and wake up the girl."

After Zijuan finished speaking, she turned around and walked towards the inner room.

Walking around the red sandalwood screen, Zicuckoo walked to the bed and shouted softly inside: "Girl, Miss Smith, it's time to get up."

After calling twice, Shi Xiangyun's voice came out, "Zicuckoo, please let me and Sister Lin sleep a little longer."

Zijuan hurriedly said: "Have you forgotten, miss? Today is the birthday of Mr. Bao."

Daiyu's voice came from inside again, "Zicjuan, please wait a moment, Sister Yun and I will get up soon."

Shi Xiangyun: "Today seems to be Sister Ping'er's birthday as well. Both sides bumped into each other. What should we do?"

Daiyu: "Go back and ask your brother what his idea is."

After a sound of getting dressed, the pink gauze curtain was lifted up from inside, and Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun walked out.

Here, Xueyan and Cuilu came in carrying toiletries and helped the two girls wash up.

Not long after, Pearl, Furong and Shi Xiangyun's little maid Xiao'er also walked in and helped the two girls dress up.

…

Zicuckoo asked Daiyu: "Girls, do you want to eat here, or go to Third Master's place to eat with grandma?"

Daiyu asked Shi Xiangyun: "Sister Yun, what do you think?"

Shi Xiangyun: "It's better to go and have a meal with your brother and sister-in-law. It's more lively when there are more people."

Daiyu: "Xueyan, go and notify the kitchen and send breakfast to your brother later."

"Slave, please respect your order."

"Zhenzhu, go to your brother's place and see if he and his sister-in-law are up?"

"yes."

Not long after, Pearl came back and reported to Daiyu that Lin Yun and Qin Keqing had gotten up.

After Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun packed up, they headed to the east courtyard with their minions.

…

Everyone came to the main room in the east courtyard and saw Lin Yun dining with Qin Keqing. Ping'er, Xiangling and Yingge stood aside to serve.

The two girls quickly stepped forward and greeted each other one by one.

After the greetings, Daiyu and Shi Xiangyun sat beside Qin Keqing and ordered the meal to be served.

While waiting for the maid to prepare breakfast, Daiyu asked Lin Yun: "Brother, are you sending us to the mansion over there today?"

Lin Yun: "I have to go to the Hanlin Academy for work in the morning, so I won't send you there. I'll ask Sister Ping'er to send you there later. I'll pick you up at noon."

Shi Xiangyun asked anxiously: "Brother, aren't you going to celebrate my brother's birthday?"

"It's not my birthday, so there's no need to make it so grand. Besides, Brother Bao doesn't want to see me either, so why should I bother to make others uncomfortable."

Daiyu: "What about sister Ping'er? Today is also her birthday."

Qin Keqing smiled at the side and said: "Sister, your brother and I have agreed to go to Ping'er's house over there to celebrate with the second grandma. In the evening, we will go to the house to help her with the arrangements."

Shi Xiangyun smiled and said: "This is a good idea. Sister Ping'er can celebrate her birthday twice."

Ping'er said shyly: "The third master and grandma have taken too much trouble, and I really can't afford it."

Lin Yun: "Now that I am in the palace, I will help you make it more lively. When the court arranges errands for me later, I will wrong you."

Daiyu asked anxiously: "Is it possible that my brother also wants to be released?"

"I mean it's possible, so don't take it seriously."

Daiyu patted her small chest and said, "I was shocked. I thought my brother was really going to be released."

After Lin Yun finished his breakfast, he stood up and said, "I'll ask Zhong Yi to escort you to Rongguo Mansion. I'll go to the Hanlin Academy on duty first, and then I'll pick you up at noon."

"Husband, walk slowly."

"Brother, walk slowly."

…

In the morning, in the waiting room of the Hanlin Academy, Lin Yun was sitting behind the desk, drinking tea and looking through the books borrowed from the library.

While he was watching intently, he saw the old official surnamed Tang approaching him and said, "Master Xiaolin, have you heard? The imperial court is going to build a shipyard in Dagu, Tianjin."

Lin Yun quickly put down the book in his hand and asked the old official: "Where did you get the news?"

Old official: "It was written in an imperial edict that I copied at noon yesterday. I saw that you were very interested in the navy, so I paid special attention to it."

"oh."

Just as Lin Yun was about to ask more questions, he saw a chamberlain walking in and shouting in a high voice: "Is Lin Daizhao here?"

"The minister is here."

"His Majesty has spoken, and Xuan Lin will see you at Yangxin Hall."

"I respect your decree,"

…

When he followed the chamberlain into the Yangxin Hall, Lin Yun saw that in addition to Emperor Zhide, there were several ministers standing in the hall, including Prince Xuan, Prince Zhongshun, Prince Zhongjing, Prince Teng, Minister of the Ministry of War, and Qin Rong, the left minister of the Ministry of War.

, Xiao Jing'an, Minister of Household Affairs.

When Lin Yun came in, he was listening to Xiao Jingan complaining to Emperor Zhide, which meant that the Ministry of Revenue was short of money and food.

Emperor Zhide frowned when he heard this. Lin Yun was about to hide behind Qin Rong, but he heard Emperor Zhide shouting at him: "Lin Daizhao, what are you hiding from? Come to me and talk to me."

Lin Yun hurriedly walked to Xiao Jing'an, rushed to Emperor De and saluted: "I pay my respects to Your Majesty."

Emperor Zhi De: "I'm here to ask you, how much food will it cost to build a dock?"

Lin Yun hurriedly said: "I have communicated with foreigners. According to them, building a warship like the Lion will cost 70,000 to 80,000 taels of silver. If a large shipyard is built, plus a gun factory and a boiler factory,

The iron foundry, mold factory, and other supporting facilities require an investment of at least two million taels of silver every year."

When everyone heard this, they looked at Lin Yun as if they were looking at a fool.

Prince Xuan said anxiously: "Lin Daizhao, what are you talking about? His Majesty asked you how much food it costs to build a dock, and what are you doing with these useless factories?"

Lin Yun: "Your Majesty, when the steam engine is put on the warship in the future, the wooden ship will become an iron ship. If we don't make preparations in advance, we will have to dismantle and rebuild it in the future. Isn't it a waste?"

Xiao Jingan said anxiously: "Where's the money? You mentioned so many factories, where does the money and food come from?"

Before Lin Yun could answer, Wang Ziteng stood up and rushed to Emperor De and said, "Your Majesty, I have never heard that iron ships can travel in the sea since ancient times. Lin Daizhao is talking nonsense. Please punish him."

Zhongjinghou stood up and said: "Your Majesty, Lin Daizhao is not a person who talks nonsense. Since he said this, there must be some truth."

Prince Xuan: "I also feel that Lin Daizhao is not a person who talks nonsense. Your Majesty, please take a closer look."

Seeing that Prince Zhongshun was silent, Emperor Zhide asked him, "Brother Yu, what do you think?"

Prince Zhongshun: "Reporting to Your Majesty, I am not familiar with the navy and dare not make any unreasonable comments."

Emperor Zhide asked Lin Yun again: "Lin Daizhao, you said that iron ships can run in the sea, is there a way to prove it to everyone?"

Lin Yun: "It's very simple. Make a metal box of equal proportions according to the size of the ship and put it in the water. You will know whether it sinks or not."

Xiao Jingan: "Regardless of whether the iron ship can travel on the water, now the national treasury has no money, and it is not enough to build a dock, let alone build so many factories."

Emperor Zhide frowned and said: "The matter of money and food will be settled slowly. The Ministry of Household Affairs will first spend 500,000 taels of silver to build the docks and factories."

Xiao Jingan said with a bitter face: "Your Majesty, the Ministry of Revenue can provide at most 300,000 taels of silver. If it is more, you can withdraw the ministers."

Emperor Zhide said: "Let's do this. I will take out 200,000 taels of silver from the inner treasury and collect 500,000 to build the Daku Shipyard."

Everyone shouted in unison: "Your Majesty is wise."

Emperor Zhi De: "Who do you think should be the governor of Beihai Navy?"

Qin Rong took a step forward, rushed to Emperor De and asked, "Your Majesty, I would like to serve as the Governor of Beihai Navy."

Emperor Zhide smiled and said: "Qin Qing, the Ministry of War is busy with official duties, so don't fight for this governorship."

Qin Rong retreated angrily. He also knew that the chance of being appointed as the Navy Governor of Beihai was very small. He just volunteered to ask for the order just because he had a sense of luck.

At this time, Wang Ziteng stood up and said: "Your Majesty, I recommend Zhao Shuyuan, Governor of Liangjiang, to be the Governor of Beihai Navy."

Prince Zhongshun stood up and retorted: "Your Majesty, Zhao Shuyuan has never been in charge of the navy. It seems inappropriate to let him serve as the governor of the Beihai Navy."
To be continued...