latelenovela Chapter 525 223 BC
Chapter 525 223 BC
But soon, the King of Qin calmed down from his excitement. He pondered for a moment and slowly said, "Jiayang, what you said sounds very promising, but this is something that has never happened before, and it is only an idea. Whether it will work or not remains to be seen."
Ying Wuyou hurriedly said, "Father, I have arranged for Lu Sheng and others to conduct in-depth research, starting with applications related to agriculture and basic industries, and gradually verifying their feasibility."
The King of Qin nodded slightly. "In that case, let them try it first. However, we must not let this novelty cause us to neglect the foundation of the Great Qin."
Ying Wuyou hurriedly replied, "Your subject understands and will certainly consolidate the foundation first."
The King of Qin then said, "If this steam engine can truly function as you say, it will be a great blessing for Qin. You must diligently oversee its development, and promptly inform me of any problems that may arise."
Ying Wuyou was overjoyed and respectfully bowed, saying, "I will obey Father's decree and do my utmost to ensure that this steam engine benefits the Great Qin." Afterward, Ying Wuyou left Zhangtai Palace with light steps. She knew that her plan to promote the steam engine had taken an important step.
After careful consideration, Ying Wuyou decided not to mention the steam engine in court for the time being. Although the steam engine had been successfully invented, this was only the beginning.
Simply having a steam engine cannot immediately trigger an industrial revolution; the real key lies in its widespread application and the generation of practical benefits.
Currently, the application of the steam engine has not yet been fully realized; it requires more time and effort to perfect and experiment with. Only when people witness firsthand the immense benefits the steam engine brings to the Qin Dynasty will this era truly usher in its glorious era.
At this stage, Ying Wuyou believed that prematurely introducing the steam engine into court discussions might cause unnecessary controversy and skepticism. After all, for these people, the steam engine was a completely unfamiliar object, and even the noise it emitted could cause panic. Only actual application could dispel their concerns.
Therefore, Ying Wuyou decided to first focus on promoting the practical application of the steam engine, proving its value and potential through tangible results. Only in this way, when the benefits of the steam engine became obvious, would the discussions in the court be more rational and positive, and more likely to gain support and recognition from all sides.
"Bang bang bang-"
A series of loud bangs shattered the silence of the winter night, and people rushed out of their homes, staring in astonishment at the night sky. Brilliant fireworks burst forth, streaking across the heavens like shooting stars, instantly transforming the dark sky into a dazzling spectacle, as bright as day.
The year 223 BC arrived quietly amidst this deafening roar and a sky full of dazzling colors.
The people on the street were terrified by the sudden loud noise and fireworks. Although the government had previously announced that there would be fireworks on New Year's Eve and told the people not to panic, many people were still so frightened by the loud noise and the fireworks in the sky that they knelt down and kowtowed, praying to the gods to calm their anger.
However, as the fireworks continued to burst forth, people gradually adapted to the breathtaking spectacle. They began to marvel at the beauty of the fireworks, praising this wondrous sight. The fireworks came in various colors and shapes; some resembled blooming flowers, some flying birds, and others twinkling stars, leaving the audience dazzled.
Although the fireworks display was short-lived, it left a deep impression on people. Initially panicked, the public gradually accepted it and began to find it quite beautiful. They shared their feelings about the fireworks and reminisced about this rare spectacle.
Inside Zhangtai Palace, Ying Wuyou, draped in a magnificent brocade robe, stood on the palace's high platform, gazing up at the fireworks blooming in the night sky. Although these fireworks lacked the variety and vibrant colors of later generations, they possessed a unique beauty in Ying Wuyou's eyes.
Each firework's bloom is like a brief yet dazzling dance of life; they burn and bloom in the night sky, then quickly dissipate, leaving only a fleeting moment of beauty and endless memories.
Ying Wuyou tilted her head back, her pupils reflecting the fleeting brilliance, a faint smile still playing on her lips, yet a sense of emptiness and bitterness welled up in her heart without warning.
four years ago.
I have been in this completely unfamiliar world for more than four years. The events of my past life are like an ink painting that has been soaked in water; the colors have faded, the outlines have become blurred, and only some fragmented shadows remain.
She could hardly remember what she looked like when she was struggling in that world of steel and concrete.
What I remember most vividly is that unhappiness.
In her past life, what she feared most was the Lunar New Year. It wasn't a reunion; it was more like a silent interrogation. Relatives sat in a circle, their concerned words weaving an impenetrable net, each question precisely striking at the most crucial point in worldly values—"Do you have a boyfriend?" "When are you getting married?" "You're not getting any younger, shouldn't you have children?" "How much was your year-end bonus? I heard so-and-so got a promotion..."
The voices were noisy and fervent, but she only felt suffocated, as if an invisible hand was choking her. So, she always found various excuses to leave early, or shrink into a corner of the room, using the cold screen of her phone to block out those probing gazes. She thought it was escaping, self-protection.
But now, on the cold palace steps of this strange world, wrapped in a brocade robe embroidered with intricate cloud patterns that is completely different from her previous life, watching the extravagant fireworks that fill the sky for her, the "Princess Jiayang," the clamor and questions that she once avoided have become an unattainable warmth.
She suddenly felt that if she could have stayed a little longer, been a little more patient, looked at the wrinkles at the corners of her parents' eyes, listened to her mother's nagging about the saltiness of the dumpling filling, or even... directly faced those trivial yet genuine concerns, how wonderful that would have been.
Regret, like a vine spreading silently in the night, quietly tightens its grip on the heart.
"I should spend more time with my family and friends..." she sighed softly in her heart, unheard by anyone. The sigh was so faint that it was instantly swallowed up by the sound of new fireworks exploding.
Just then, a completely emotionless, mechanical voice suddenly rang in her mind:
【Happy New Year, Host!】 This was the system's voice.
【Happy New Year!】Ying Wuyou adjusted his mood and responded to the system's greeting.
[Host, what are your plans for the new year?] The system asked routinely, with a hint of curiosity.
Ying Wuyou's gaze drifted southeast, as if piercing through the heavy night to reveal the distant coastline. [Open up shipping routes! Build a seaport!]