Chapter 147 Expanding the Workforce

Upon returning to the Daming Palace after an absence of several years, Li Yetian headed straight to the Chengxiang Hall, eager to seek out the memories buried within its walls.

Though she had spent the past few years residing in the Eastern Capital, this place had not been left completely vacant. Many of the palace maids from the Yeting Palace had continued to live here over the years, responsible for general cleaning and upkeep.

Consequently, upon her return, the place remained spotless, completely free of dust.

Standing at the entrance of the Chengxiang Hall, Li Yetian did not step inside immediately. Instead, she lingered outside the doorway, looking up at the gates she had left behind years ago. Fortunately, the Daming Palace had not been built all that long ago; no obvious traces of the passage of time could be seen upon the doors. It remained a remarkably youthful palace.

Standing beside her, Shangguan Wan'er turned her head with a look of puzzlement. "Why does Your Highness not go in?"

"She must be reminiscing about the past, I suppose," Princess Yiyang remarked, seemingly able to understand her younger sister's thoughts. A faint, serene smile graced the corners of her lips. "I find myself feeling rather nostalgic as well."

Li Yetian suddenly turned her head. "Wan'er, do you still remember the days we spent waiting here years ago?"

"Yes!" Shangguan Wan'er replied without a shred of hesitation. "Ever since I first had the honor of meeting Your Highness, I have remembered every single detail!"

There was not the slightest hesitation in her tone, nor the least bit of evasion in her gaze.

Li Yetian nodded and smiled. "Is that so? I remember it as well. Come, let us go inside and take a look!"

With these words, she lifted her foot and stepped across the threshold.

Entering the hall, the scene before her echoed with the memories of years past, drawing a soft smile to the corners of Li Yetian's lips. The furnishings here remained exactly as they had been years ago. Yet, sitting before the desk, she felt a subtle sense of unfamiliarity.

Pondering the source of this discomfort, she realized it must be due to the fact that she had grown considerably taller, altering her perspective entirely.

Princesses Yiyang and Chengcheng were also looking around, turning their heads from side to side and occasionally speaking up to recall events that had once taken place here.

Shangguan Wan'er knelt gracefully before the desk, reaching out to gently stroke the polished surface. Her eyes curved into bright crescents as she smiled. "Does Your Highness still remember sitting right here and telling me stories?"

"I shall continue telling them to you in the future!" Li Yetian replied with a laugh. She had told Wan'er far too many stories to remember which ones she had shared in this exact spot, so she cleverly chose to change the subject.

Before she could say anything further, the voice of Fulai rang out from outside: "Your Highness! Your Highness..."

His voice carried a palpable sense of excitement. Though not overly loud, it possessed the distinct, sharp quality characteristic of eunuchs, and cracked ever so slightly at the end.

A figure rushed into the hall in the wake of the cry, Fulai's face beaming with excitement. "Your Highness has returned!"

"What is this? Did you miss me after only a few days apart?" Li Yetian teased with a smile.

With an ecstatic expression, Fulai bowed respectfully. "Ever since this servant returned ahead of time from the Eastern Capital, not a single moment has passed without me yearning for Your Highness..."

"Ah, well, well, well..." Li Yetian waved a hand dismissively. "I have just returned; go and rest first. We can speak more tomorrow."

"Understood. Then I beseech Your Highness to rest well and take care not to wear yourself out," Fulai said solicitously.

Li Yetian nodded to show she understood. In truth, she only felt somewhat mentally fatigued; her physical stamina remained exceptionally robust. After all, she had not practiced her martial arts properly over the past few days, and her body was beginning to feel somewhat out of practice.

That evening, after dining with her imperial parents at the Renshou Hall, Li Yetian made up her mind to resume her rigorous training starting tomorrow. Otherwise, her physical constitution would practically rust away.

...

Having just returned to the Daming Palace, there were countless matters demanding her attention.

The morning after her martial arts training, Li Yetian hurriedly boarded a carriage and, accompanied by Fulai, headed to the Western Market to select a storefront. The reason she had no intention of visiting the Eastern Market was simple: the commercial properties there were exorbitantly expensive, and she had no desire to squander her money on such inflated prices. The primary clientele targeted by the Eastern Market consisted of high-ranking officials and nobles, making shop rentals frustratingly costly—something Li Yetian deemed entirely not worth the expense.

In any case, commodities like canned goods and moisturizing cream were currently exclusive to her enterprise; if people wished to purchase them, they would simply have to send representatives to the Western Market obediently.

Storefronts in the Western Market were slightly more affordable than those in the Eastern Market. Although the price difference wasn't massive, the cost largely depended on the specific location. The Western Market bustled with merchants from all regions and a considerable number of foreigners, which promised to yield greater profits than the Eastern Market.

After inspecting several storefronts currently up for sale, Li Yetian settled on one of the larger ones. Though the price was somewhat steep, as the variety and volume of goods she sold increased in the future, she could consider remodeling it into a modern supermarket-style layout.

Mainly, there were no two adjacent shops available for purchase. Since Li Yetian was neither willing to pay an exorbitant premium to acquire them nor inclined to abuse her status as a princess to bully others, this was her only viable option.

By the time the storefront was secured, dusk was already falling, and Li Yetian chose to return to the palace for dinner. Naturally, the following day was no less busy; by the afternoon, she was already at the Imperial City scouting a location for the newspaper office.

The Imperial City sat directly in front of the Taiji Palace, maintaining a certain distance from the Outer Court of the Daming Palace. However, there was no help for it; in Chang'an, the Imperial City and the imperial palaces were separate entities, and the Outer Court of the Daming Palace simply lacked vacant space to accommodate such an establishment, leaving her no choice but to look here.

Fortunately, there were still a few plots of land available for selection within the Imperial City. After some consideration, Li Yetian decided to place it right behind the Imperial Ancestral Temple. Aside from occasions involving ancestral sacrifices, virtually no one frequented this area, making it exceptionally quiet while also allowing her to maintain a low profile.

Having finalized the location, she immediately went to report the matter to her imperial parents. Emperor Gaozong pondered it for a moment, and finding no objections, readily nodded in agreement.

On the way back to the Chengxiang Hall, Li Yetian inquired, "Is the location you selected in Wannian or Chang'an County?"

"Replying to Your Highness, I initially intended to choose Wannian, but the suitable locations there were excessively remote. In the end, I settled upon Feng'an Ward in Chang'an."

"Very well. How are the dormitories coming along?"

"They are not entirely finished yet, but they are already fully habitable," Fulai replied.

Li Yetian nodded. "Alright. Once you are finished, arrange accommodations for my students. As for Lu Zhaolin and his family, select a fine residence for them."

"As you command!"

Originally, when Li Yetian had first asked her students if they wished to accompany her to Chang'an, she had feared they might be reluctant. To her surprise, the moment the words left her mouth, the children's parents began expressing boundless gratitude, all the while admonishing their offspring to study diligently under the Princess and obey her every instruction... completely unconcerned about whether Li Yetian might somehow abduct and sell their children.

Lu Zhaolin had also expressed his willingness to follow the Princess to Chang'an and continue educating the children until their studies were complete.

Delighted by such dedication, Li Yetian assured him that proper lodgings would be provided and encouraged him to make the journey with peace of mind.

Of course, the downside to such extravagant generosity was that money flowed like water. Before Li Yetian had even set foot back in Chang'an, she had already disbursed a considerable sum without generating any revenue thus far.

Yet, this was hardly the time to fret over such concerns; the most pressing task was to establish the paper mill here as soon as possible. After all, the quantity of paper brought back from the Eastern Capital was rather limited. Judging by past sales volumes, the current supply would only sustain newspaper printings until the end of the year. Consequently, a local paper mill had to be constructed posthaste—which would, naturally, incur another massive expense.

Inside the Chengxiang Hall, Li Yetian counted on her fingers and roughly tallied the accounts. Good heavens, she had barely done a thing since returning, yet nearly a thousand strings of cash had already slipped through her fingers.

This money vanished as swiftly as the ocean tides, but there was no helping it; necessary expenditures could never be avoided. Fortunately, once the next batch of soap and clear glassware was produced, she would recoup a portion of the capital, so it was hardly a matter for panic.

...

She had returned to Chang'an in late October, and by the time Li Yetian finished attending to these matters, November had already arrived.

On the fifth day of the month, Li Yetian and Shangguan Wan'er attended court as usual to listen to the proceedings and gather news. They happened to arrive just as the King of Khotan, Yuchi Fuzhexiong, accompanied by his kinsmen and various tribal chieftains and leaders, came to the Tang court to pay tribute.

Emperor Gaozong maintained a warmly welcoming attitude toward tributary nations, bestowing a wealth of gifts during the court session as a gesture of reciprocal hospitality.

Shangguan Wan'er did not record too many details of the conversation between the Emperor and Yuchi Fuzhexiong. She kept firmly in mind the key points Li Yetian had previously shared regarding the publication of news; the newspaper would simply print a brief mention that the King of Khotan had arrived to pay tribute. As for the specifics of his dialogue with the Emperor, those constituted state secrets and could not be casually published in public prints.

Two days later, Shangguan Wan'er presented the compiled news reports to Emperor Gaozong for review. With his approval secured, she officially gave the order to commence printing.

After finishing her evening meal, Li Yetian strolled down to the edge of the Taiye Pool for a walk, only to find Shangguan Wan'er hurrying over to join her.

"Your Highness..."

"Ah, is something the matter?" Li Yetian asked.

Shangguan Wan'er lowered her gaze. "It concerns the newspaper office... At the same time, I simply wished to accompany Your Highness for a walk."

"Very well."

Nodding, Li Yetian allowed her to walk alongside her by the shores of the Taiye Pool. "What is the issue with the newspaper office?"

"At present, the printing of the newspaper is still being handled by personnel from the Directorate of Palace Buildings. I feel that... the efficiency is rather low," Shangguan Wan'er ventured.

Hearing her proactively offer a suggestion, Li Yetian nodded. "That is indeed a problem, but such work is hardly suitable for those students of mine. And among the maidservants we purchased, not a single one is literate... Does Wan'er have any recommendations?"

"Why does Your Highness not select literate individuals from within the palace to take charge of this matter?" Shangguan Wan'er countered. "The printing equipment can be moved directly to the newspaper office; they would only need to be responsible for typesetting, while the physical printing can be left to menial laborers."

Li Yetian considered this and realized she had a point. In truth, the printing process was the only troublesome part; having Shangguan Wan'er or Princess Yiyang travel back and forth to handle the typesetting was terribly inconvenient, and the operation ought indeed to be relocated directly to the newspaper office.

Yet, as the saying went, in this day and age, anyone who knew how to read aspired to pass the imperial examinations—who on earth would willingly perform such manual labor?

Perhaps she really would have to rely on literate servants, though she herself did not have many literate individuals in her personal retinue.

Shangguan Wan'er's mother, Madam Zheng, was certainly capable, but her status was rather sensitive. Unless absolutely necessary, Li Yetian was reluctant to dispatch her, lest it provoke her mother's displeasure and cause unnecessary complications.

At this thought, Li Yetian suddenly turned her head to look at Fulai, who was trailing behind them. "Fulai, you are literate as well. How about..."

"Oh dear!" Upon hearing this, Fulai interrupted her with an aggrieved expression. "This servant wishes for nothing more than to remain constantly by Your Highness's side, and could never bear to leave you!"

He was a shrewd man; he knew that while such a position might sound respectable, it could never compare to the benefits of serving directly by Li Yetian's side. Besides, any literate person could handle such menial tasks, while the editorial work was entirely managed by Shangguan Wan'er and the princesses, leaving no technical difficulty whatsoever. If one spent too much time on such an assignment, there was every likelihood the Princess might simply forget all about him!

Seeing his theatrical display of grievance, Li Yetian found it somewhat amusing, though she chose not to press him further. Although he was a servant just like any other palace maid or eunuch, he had, after all, watched her grow up since childhood; some degree of preferential treatment was only natural.

A thought suddenly occurred to Li Yetian, and she tested the corner of her mouth with her tongue before asking, "You people in the palace seem to have a custom of taking adoptive children, do you not? Having been in the palace all these years, have you never taken on a literate foster son?"

Hearing Li Yetian pierce straight through the private customs of the palace servants, Fulai's expression grew slightly awkward. "This servant has spent all these years diligently serving by Your Highness's side, and truly has not..."

"Enough!"

Li Yetian impatiently waved a hand to cut him off, thinking to herself, *Why bother putting on an act for me?* "Just tell me straight: do you or do you not?"

"A short while ago, a newcomer to the palace expressed a desire to take this servant as his foster father. However, not yet knowing the boy's moral character, this servant did not immediately consent, intending to observe him for a while longer..." Fulai replied with an embarrassed smile.

In other words, the customary bribes and flattery hadn't been sufficient yet. Li Yetian instantly deduced the truth.

"Can he read?"

"He can!" Fulai nodded. "The boy comes from a decent family background; he entered the palace some years ago due to family involvement in a political crime."

Li Yetian nodded. "Bring him to me tomorrow to be inspected. If he proves suitable, you can give him this job."

"Understood!" Fulai bowed in assent.

At noon the following day, after finishing her meal, Fulai brought a young eunuch to the Chengxiang Hall. He looked quite young, appearing to be around Li Yetian's age with a difference of no more than five years, and still retained a hint of youthful immaturity on his features.

Yet his eyes revealed a maturity that belied his appearance, and his skin was somewhat darkened, suggesting he had endured his fair share of wind and sun.

Catching sight of Li Yetian stepping out from the hall, he immediately dropped into a respectful bow and announced in a clear voice, "This servant, Gao Yanfu, pays respects to Your Highness!"

"Rise, needless formalities!" Li Yetian swept him with a glance. The young eunuch possessed an utterly unremarkable face—the sort that would vanish entirely in a crowd, devoid of any striking features.

"I hear you are literate?"

"Replying to Your Highness, this servant can read and write!"

Li Yetian turned and walked back into the hall, gesturing with her hand. "Come! Write out a passage of the *Thousand Character Classic* for me to see!"

The *Thousand Character Classic* served as the universal primer for students of this era; anyone who was literate could recite it backward and forward.

"As you command!"

Gao Yanfu entered the hall with utmost reverence, knelt gracefully before the desk, picked up the writing brush, and prepared to begin.

"Save some time; just write the first ten lines," Li Yetian instructed from the side.

In this era, scholarship and calligraphy were inextricably linked; one could generally gauge a person's cultural proficiency simply by looking at their handwriting.

Gao Yanfu acknowledged the order, lifted his brush, and began to write, executing every single stroke with meticulous care.

Every servant in the palace knew that working under this particular Princess was an absolute blessing! Having finally secured such an opportunity today, he was determined to put on a stellar performance!

Before long, Gao Yanfu laid down his brush. "Your Highness, this servant has finished!"

Li Yetian stepped forward to inspect the sheet. The calligraphy was neat and standard—neither exceptionally brilliant nor poor—which made it perfectly adequate for the task at hand.

Nodding in satisfaction, she issued her directives: "Wan'er, take him to the newspaper office tomorrow and instruct him on his duties. Furthermore, Fulai, find a few more eunuchs tomorrow and send them along to serve as his assistants!"

Hearing this command, Gao Yanfu hurriedly bowed in deep gratitude. "This servant thanks Your Highness!"