The six ministers of the Six Ministries hurried into the imperial garden, only to find that everything had already been arranged in advance, with a tea table neatly set in the open air while Zhu Youjian sat calmly beside it, a small stove at his side and a full spread of delicate tea utensils laid out before him as if this were nothing more than an ordinary afternoon tea gathering.
On the surface, it really did look ordinary.
But none of the six ministers believed that for even a second.
Especially the Minister of War, Chen Xinjia, whose entire body was already tense with anticipation as if every nerve had been wound tight like a drawn bowstring, waiting for the emperor to finally bring up the two rebelling princes and the question of how exactly they should be suppressed, not to mention the unresolved issue of whether Ming forces should continue their campaign toward Shenyang, which remained one of the most critical military decisions on the table.
As the man responsible for military affairs, he was practically drowning in matters that demanded immediate attention.
The moment he reached the tea table, he sharpened his focus, ears stretching metaphorically, mind alert, every thought lined up in readiness as if preparing for battle itself.
And yet, at this very moment, Zhu Youjian was thinking about none of that.
To hell with rebellions.
To hell with strategy.
Right now, all he wanted was one thing, and one thing only, which was money, money, and more money.
He raised a hand and beckoned them over with a casual motion. "Come, my ministers, sit."
The six ministers sat down, each one only daring to place half their weight on the chair, their bodies still rigid, their minds still braced for impact.
Then, before their eyes, Zhu Youjian slowly turned his body, deliberately unhurried, and placed a small kettle beneath a strange curved pipe. With a simple twist of a mechanism, a stream of clear water burst forth with a rushing sound, filling the kettle in an instant.
He filled it completely, then calmly twisted the mechanism shut again, cutting off the flow.
Every movement he made was slow.
Deliberate.
Measured to ensure that not a single detail escaped their notice.
And of course, nothing did.
All six ministers stared, stunned.
Without saying a word, Zhu Youjian placed the kettle onto the stove and began heating the water, his expression perfectly composed as he glanced at them. "What are you staring at, have you never seen…"
He suddenly paused, his line slipping for a brief moment as he lowered his gaze to the booklet resting on his lap, the "Liang Shixian Money-Making Strategy", scanning it quickly before lifting his head again and continuing smoothly, "Have you never seen imperial-grade running water?"
The first to break was Chen Xinjia, who could no longer hold back his curiosity. "Your Majesty, what exactly is this 'imperial-grade running water'? How can water appear the moment you turn that mechanism?"
Zhu Youjian maintained his calm demeanor, his eyes flicking briefly toward the strategy guide again before he spoke in a slow, almost leisurely tone. "This is a royal privilege, running water. Ever since the palace adopted this system, there has been no need to draw water from rivers or wells in such an undignified manner. One only needs to twist this slightly…"
As he spoke, he demonstrated once more, turning the mechanism so water flowed again in a steady stream. "You see, once the valve is opened, the water comes by itself. This device is called a faucet."
The six ministers all wore the same expression, the unmistakable look of men who had just realized how small their world had been.
This was beyond impressive.
Watching the emperor retrieve water with such effortless grace, it felt as if even something as mundane as fetching water had been elevated into an act of refined nobility, further reinforcing the idea that what belonged to the imperial household was fundamentally different from anything used by commoners.
At that very moment, Zhu Youjian's hand slipped slightly, knocking over a teacup so that tea splashed onto his hand. He let out a soft exclamation, then casually turned and placed his hand beneath the flowing water, rinsing it clean with ease before smiling faintly. "With running water, even washing one's hands becomes effortless. There is no longer any need to summon eunuchs or palace maids to bring a basin. A simple turn, and the water is there."
The six ministers could only think one thing.
This is absurdly convenient.
Zhu Youjian then waved his hand lightly. "Now then, let us drink tea and discuss some matters of state."
At once, all six ministers shifted into official mode.
Yet in truth, there was not much to discuss.
The matter of Shenyang remained stalled, with Zhu Youjian still refusing to authorize an attack. Zhu Yujian was somewhere at sea, and Cao Wenzhao's navy had yet to locate him. Over in Henan, Gao Jie had only just arrived, and suppressing the rebellion would take time.
For once, it felt as though there were no urgent crises pressing down on the court.
Only the Minister of Rites spoke at length, discussing the reopening of several ports and the increasing presence of Westerners, while the rest of the conversation drifted without weight.
After a long while, the discussion came to an end, and the ministers rose to take their leave.
Just then, Cao Huachun hurried in from outside, speaking rapidly. "Your Majesty, the Eastern Palace has also been connected to the running water system. Her Highness is extremely pleased and sent this servant to inform you."
Zhu Youjian nodded. "Good."
Cao Huachun continued, his voice intentionally loud enough for everyone present to hear clearly. "The Empress Dowager has also tried it and praised it highly. The ladies all find it most convenient, and the Grand Princess was overjoyed."
Zhu Youjian gave another simple nod. "I understand. Have the Western Palace installed as soon as possible."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
Cao Huachun bowed and withdrew.
But the six ministers had already caught onto something important from those few sentences.
This entire matter was under Cao Huachun's control.
They quickly followed him out into the palace corridor, catching up with him before he could leave. "Eunuch Cao, please wait a moment."
Cao Huachun turned back. "What instructions do the ministers have?"
The Minister of Revenue stepped forward. "That imperial faucet system you arranged for His Majesty, what exactly is it?"
Cao Huachun replied smoothly, "It is a highly convenient water supply mechanism."
The Minister of Revenue nodded repeatedly. "It is indeed extremely convenient. After seeing His Majesty use it, I cannot help but admire its practicality. I wonder, is this something reserved exclusively for the imperial household, or may we also partake in its use?"
Cao Huachun chuckled. "It is not restricted. His Majesty has issued no prohibition. Anyone may use it."
One of the ministers lowered his voice slightly. "But we heard His Majesty call it a 'faucet' with the word 'dragon' in it. That would not be appropriate for us to use."
Cao Huachun waved a hand dismissively. "Then simply change the name. Call it a fish head if you like."
That made perfect sense.
The six ministers were immediately delighted. "Then how does one go about acquiring such a system?"
Cao Huachun's smile deepened. "This is not something you can construct on your own. The scale of the project is considerable. You must rely on the imperial waterworks to supply it."
At those words, the ministers understood instantly.
So it was a matter of purchasing it from the imperial household.
Well then, purchasing it was no problem at all.
Being able to use the same things as the emperor carried its own prestige, and although the emperor was often criticized these days, the imperial name still held immense weight.
Besides, they were not lacking in wealth.
If even the emperor could afford such a system, how difficult could it be for them?
They leaned in eagerly.
"Eunuch Cao, what is the price?"
Cao Huachun's eyes lit up as he spoke. "There is an initial installation fee, which includes pipes and the… fish head device. After that, there will be a monthly water supply fee. Let me be clear, the monthly cost will not be low. Your households are large, your consumption will be significant, and our imperial waterworks must continuously supply you. Water must be carried day and night to reservoirs atop Wansui Hill to maintain pressure. Just consider how much labor that requires."
Chen Xinjia simply smiled, completely unfazed. "Eunuch Cao, just name the price."