126: Chapter 126: Angered the Little Emperor Again 126: Chapter 126: Angered the Little Emperor Again When each of them held five taels of Silver Coin in their hands, everyone was like in a dream, truly unable to believe that all of this was real.
This time not only was the salary issued in advance, but it was suddenly five taels of Silver Coin, which was equivalent to most of a year’s salary for them.
However, that was not all.
Even Lin Yi told them, all craftsmen who went out to work would receive an additional subsidy of 100 coins every day.
This was something unheard of before.
After dispensing their salaries, Lin Yi waved his hand generously and gave each of them a half-day holiday, telling them to all go and rest.
Tomorrow, Lin Yi would arrange for someone to give them a list so that they could go to work.
At this, everyone grew even more excited.
Someone led the way by shouting “Swear to serve the gentleman to the death.”
And in a moment, as everyone laughed and responded in turn, they all shouted this phrase in unison, and for a moment, the entire courtyard of the Ministry of Industry reverberated with this sound.
“Alright, stop loitering here, hurry up and take your Silver Coins home.
Have your wives cook some meat and pour some drinks for you.
Get a good rest, because from tomorrow you need to continue working.
Additionally, Chief of Staff Lu, please arrange to have a design drafted as soon as possible to renovate our Government Office.
Report back to me on how much Silver Coin it will specifically need.”
After saying this, Lin Yi did not linger, but turned and left amid the cheering of the crowd.
It was a long time after Lin Yi had left that the group started to disperse.
When they left, their eyes were seemingly filled with tears, not of sadness of course, but of excitement and joy.
These people had been in the Ministry of Industry for a number of years now, and the longest-serving among them had spent almost half their lives there.
To have such a moment of uplift and pride like today was truly unprecedented.
Those who were constantly being nagged by their wives about not having a salary and could barely make ends meet could finally hold their heads high.
They could now strut with pride as they went to show off to their wives.
They had already planned out what to do when they got home: slam that shiny Silver Coin in front of their wives and see if they dared to quarrel with them anymore.
Of course, all of this was thanks to Mr.
Lin, and thus every craftsman present secretly vowed in their hearts to go through fire and water for Mr.
Lin if he so commanded.
There was nothing to be done; people of this era were just so easily won over.
As for what these people were thinking, Lin Yi, of course, had no idea.
He returned to his own room and saw those large chests with his own eyes.
This made him shake his head and laugh wryly:
”It’s beyond me how the old Chief of Staff managed this, turning this place into such poverty, haha.
Truly a waste of a golden rice bowl.”
That’s right, in Lin Yi’s eyes, the Ministry of Industry was definitely a goose that laid golden eggs.
Moreover, considering his plans for the future, the Ministry of Industry was an indispensable component, thus he was particularly attentive to these people.
After returning, he didn’t idle but continued to be busy with the work at hand.
He wanted to think through the next steps carefully, to plan each move he was going to make.
After work, he kept busy until evening before returning to the Imperial Palace.
He had no choice, as returning to the Imperial Palace daily to serve was a rule set by the young Emperor.
And to this, Lin Yi had no complaints; after all, returning there felt like coming home.
Working during the day and returning at night, such days were quite enjoyable for him.
After all, although his evening return was nominally to manage the night affairs of the Imperial Study Room, what was the reality?
He was accompanying the young Emperor to sleep.
But this time, upon seeing the young Emperor, he found the lad with a face full of worry.
Even when he saw Lin Yi, the young Emperor merely lifted his eyelids for a glance and then paid him no more mind.
This left Lin Yi somewhat puzzled, wondering who had upset His Majesty now.
Waving his hand to signal all the surrounding Palace Maids and eunuchs to leave, Lin Yi then took a step forward, moving behind the young Emperor, and gently placed his hands on the other’s shoulders, kneading them.
As Lin Yi’s palms pressed and kneaded, the young Emperor also closed his eyes comfortably and began to enjoy it.
Who has upset our darling young Emperor this time?”
Listening to these words, the young Emperor’s originally gloomy mood improved a lot.
However, his cheeks also reddened from the phrase “our darling young Emperor.”
This rascal really dares to say anything, uttering such embarrassingly intimate words.
The young Emperor, with his eyes closed, enjoying Lin Yi’s massage, couldn’t help but speak out irritably:
“Don’t spout nonsense, if others heard this, wouldn’t you suffer the consequences?”
Hearing the young Emperor’s warning, Lin Yi didn’t take it to heart at all, just chuckled ‘hehe’ and applied even more strength to his hands.
Meanwhile, the voice of the young Emperor rang in his ears:
What else could it be?
Isn’t it the matter I mentioned to you before?
The Empress is almost recovered, and she sent a Palace Maid to summon me tonight.
I made an excuse about being busy here and just barely put it off for one night.
But as for tomorrow, it’s hard to say.
Perhaps the Empress will come directly to my Imperial Study Room like last time.
Speaking of which, my day is already full and troublesome enough, add in the matter of the Empress and it’s no wonder my mood can’t be good.”
[Heh, I thought it was something serious.
It’s just such a small matter, what’s there to worry about?
Why not leave the matter of the Empress to me, wouldn’t that settle it?
Really, instead of enjoying yourself, you manage to look so downtrodden.
But still, if the Empress were to find her way here, to have a direct confrontation, wouldn’t that be delightful?]
After hearing the young Emperor’s words, while continuing the massage, Lin Yi couldn’t help but complain inwardly.
However, the young Emperor, who was indulging in the massage, suddenly flung Lin Yi’s hands away.
His expression darkened following that action, which took Lin Yi by surprise.
It is said that serving the Emperor is like being with a tiger, and indeed it is so.
The young Emperor’s thoughts are truly inscrutable; all was well just a moment ago, but suddenly his mood changed.
Could it be that I said something wrong?
But I didn’t speak at all.