Empress: Your Majesty, please respect yourself, I don't want to be promoted

"The most important weapon of the country!"

After reading the relevant reports on the Phantom Spirit Array and Lingshu, Jiang Chengwan took a deep breath and then gave a conclusion with a trembling voice.

"Mr. Lu, you have made another great contribution to the imperial court!"

"Your Majesty is serious."

Facing the empress's praise, Lu Chen shook his head.

"This is the result of the concerted efforts of Li Yue and his colleagues from the Tiangong Division, who devoted themselves to studying the way of the universe day and night. I have only started it. The subsequent investment and research and development have nothing to do with me. This credit cannot be attributed to me. Your Majesty should reward Li Yue and his colleagues more, but don't put the cart before the horse."

As always, although it was clearly a reward based on merit, Lu Chen still habitually pushed it away, as if he was judging someone for a crime and trying to avoid it.

Jiang Chengwan shook his head.

"Everything is difficult at the beginning. Without your theoretical proposal, even if Li Yue and the others were geniuses, no matter how hard they worked, they would not be able to create such an era-changing national weapon. Lu Qing, no matter what, you have made an invaluable contribution this time!"

Lu Chen wanted to say more, but Jiang Chengwan said forcefully:
"I have made up my mind on this matter. You don't need to say more, Mr. Lu. If I can't even do the most basic reward and punishment, what qualifications do I have to be the emperor? Mr. Lu, you don't want others to say that I am a tyrant, right?"

Now that things have come to this, what else can he say?
I had no choice but to obey.

Lu Chen shook his head and said helplessly: "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your grace."

Jiang Chengwan smiled and said, "Don't worry, Lu Qing. Li Yue and the others have made great contributions. I will not forget them. I will reward them to their satisfaction. Otherwise, you can come to the palace to settle accounts with me at any time."

"I dare not!"

Lu Chen rolled his eyes secretly.

Settle accounts?

I was calculating and I was afraid that if I drank another cup of sleep-inducing black tea, I wouldn’t be able to do any serious work for two days.

The empress was so good to him that it was a bit outrageous. She cared about his health more than he did.

There is a kind of tiredness that makes the empress feel you are tired.

If he works for four or five consecutive days, the Empress will definitely force him to take a day off. If he works secretly, he will definitely be called over by the Empress for tea, and then he will be forced to lie on the dragon bed in the Ziwei Palace for two days for no apparent reason.

Although he felt refreshed after waking up, he still felt something was strange.

Moreover, every time he came back, Chai Hongyu looked at him with a strange look in her eyes, which inexplicably gave him the illusion that he was like a wife in a certain foreign action movie who discovered her husband was cheating on her but chose to endure it.

He really didn't want to experience this kind of scene again.

Jiang Chengwan smiled and said nothing.

Lu Chen said at this time: "Your Majesty, although the cost of the Phantom Spirit Array is a bit high now, its practicality is not low. You can try to lay it in several major cities in key areas to strengthen the combat power of key areas."

"In addition, the Phantom Spirit Array consumes a lot of food. I suggest increasing the research and development investment in Tiangong Division's agricultural projects and finding ways to purchase as much food as possible. In addition, the matter of the Phantom Spirit Array should be kept secret."

"There should be many courtiers who are against the king. If they knew about the existence of the Phantom Spirit Array, it would probably cause trouble. The money needed to build and improve the Phantom Spirit Array cannot be paid from the Ministry of Revenue. It should be paid from the inner treasury and the finances of Sui and Yu states."

After a pause, he added: "Anyway, there is not much money in the treasury, and it can only maintain the basic expenses of the court."

Hearing this, Jiang Chengwan's expression couldn't help but look a little strange.

As a subject, you say in front of me that the treasury has no money. Is that really okay?

Shaking his head to get rid of the distracting thoughts in his mind, Jiang Chengwan said softly: "Okay, I'll remember it. I'll issue an order later to let Xuanjiwei be responsible for this matter."

Soon, the business was discussed and Jiang Chengwan suggested that Lu Chen stay for dinner, but Lu Chen left on the grounds that Tiangong Division had several projects that needed to be advanced as soon as possible and he had to go to Tiangong Division.

Watching Lu Chen's back gradually moving away, Jiang Chengwan sighed softly, and a hint of distress flashed across her delicate little face.

Of course, she could see that Lu Chen had been avoiding her these days, and she also knew why he did that.

The reason lies with his elder brother, who is also the pillar of Daxia today—the Holy King Cangming, Jiang Chengdao.

Lu Chen had always believed that Jiang Chengdao liked her, and that he sent troops to help Da Xia out of his desire for her. In order to avoid suspicion, he deliberately kept a distance from her so as not to arouse the dissatisfaction of the Saint King and shake the current situation in Da Xia.

Although she knew the reason, she really couldn't explain it in detail now.

It’s not that I don’t believe Lu Chen, but people without holy relics cannot conceal the secrets of heaven and it is difficult for them to avoid the prying eyes of cause and effect.

If he only explained that his relationship with the Holy King was not what he thought, without mentioning the connection between the jade seal and the holy relic, as well as the true identity of Holy King Cangming, Lu Chen would probably be frightened to death on the spot.

Therefore, everything can only be made clear and open after Daxia is completely stabilized and she is in full control of the empire.

It’s just... this process is too long, and I don’t know how long it will take.

On the other side, after leaving Zichen Palace, Lu Chen went straight to Tiangongsi and found Su Ning who was busy.

"I have met Mr. Lu!"

As soon as Su Ning saw Lu Chen, she quickly put down the thick stack of documents in her hand and bowed to Lu Chen.

Lu Chen waved his hand and glanced casually at Su Ning's living room.

Hmm. It's quite messy, and feels very technical.

Recovering his mind, he asked Su Ning, "Any progress on the new communication technique project?"

In the current Tiangongsi, besides him, the chief, there are only three chief officers.

Among them, Xiao Yi has no idea about the study of things. He is specifically responsible for administration, procurement, welfare, assessment, external affairs, etc. He is basically running around outside all the time, busy like a top, and is rarely seen.

Liyue is responsible for projects related to weapons and other lethal technologies, such as the Phantom Array.

Su Ning is in charge of projects related to communications, transportation, agriculture, and people's livelihood. For example, she is in charge of this new communication technology. Lu Chen now remotely controls Lingyun Mansion and needs to communicate frequently with Yuzhou and Suizhou. Although there are many different communication methods now, the cost is too high. It costs hundreds of spirit crystals and there is a risk of being intercepted by the enemy. Who can bear this?

So he wondered if he could replicate Blue Star's communication technology and realize it using spiritual power and various materials unique to this world.

Now that he needs to use it, he naturally pays special attention to it.

Facing Lu Chen's question, Su Ning lowered her eyes and said with a guilty look, "I'm sorry, Master Protector, I'm useless and I don't have much clue right now."

Lu Chen smiled nonchalantly and consoled her:

"It's okay, don't worry, just take your time."

However, his magnanimous behavior made Su Ning even more ashamed.

She knew that Liyue had already developed the Phantom Spirit Array, while her own progress was slow. The comparison between the two was obvious.

This made her feel ashamed.

"Your Excellency is so generous, but I cannot take your kindness for granted. Your Excellency developed the Phantom Spirit Array in such a short time, but I have made no achievements. I am truly ashamed of your cultivation."

Lu Chen found an empty stool and sat on it, then said, "Don't underestimate yourself. Research and development is sometimes a matter of luck. Maybe all you lack is an accidental discovery, a flash of inspiration, or inspiration."

"Believe in yourself, you are not bad, you are as good as Liyue, you just don't have such good luck. As long as the opportunity comes, you can do it too."

"I believe you."

After hearing this, although Su Ning still looked gloomy, she felt better in her heart.

After a moment, she suddenly realized that if she failed to achieve results, Lu Shaobao would definitely be disappointed, but he still had to take the time to comfort her to prevent her from giving up on herself.
The young master is already very busy with all kinds of things, but he still wastes his time on himself.
I am so ignorant!

Thinking of this, she suddenly woke up, and then said solemnly: "Thank you for your comfort, Master Shao Bao. Don't worry, I will do my best to promote the project and research the new communication method as soon as possible."

Lu Chen smiled slightly and said casually: "There is no need to be so anxious. This kind of thing cannot be rushed. Just proceed step by step."

After a pause, he continued, "Don't work too hard. Make sure you get enough rest and take care of yourself. Don't let the project be completed before you collapse from exhaustion. You are much more important than this technology."

Hearing this, she couldn't help but look up slightly, looking at Lu Chen who looked calm and composed, with a strange light flashing in her eyes.

"Thank you for your concern, my Lord. I didn't need to do that."

Lu Chen nodded slightly, then seemed to suddenly remember something and said softly:
"By the way, I've been thinking about this project carefully recently, and I came up with an idea. Can you tell me if it can help advance the project?"

Su Ning's expression immediately became stern.

"Please speak, sir. I am all ears."

This is not a compliment, nor is it a pun, but it is sincere and genuine.

Tiangongsi was founded by Lu Chen, and most of the projects were initiated by him. He even promoted the theory of studying things. Although Su Ning is a core technical backbone, she does not think that her talents can compare with Lu Chen's.

She was more than happy to have the opportunity to listen to Lu Chen's sermon.

"Don't be so serious."

Lu Chen looked at Su Ning, who was sitting upright in front of him, with a somewhat amusing look on his face.

"Just chat as friends."

"it is good!"

Although Su Ning agreed, her expression and movements did not change at all.

Seeing this, Lu Chen didn't want to force it anymore.

Business matters.

"There are only a few ways to transmit information, such as sound, images, and letterheads. We won't discuss letterheads, but as for sound and images, let's solve the problem of transmitting sound first."

"If you want to transmit sound remotely, you must first understand the nature of sound and how to transmit it to another person's ears thousands or tens of thousands of miles away."

"Can we start with the medium of transmission, or learn from the way the Phantom Spirit Array transmits spiritual power remotely, build some kind of information channel, transform sound into some kind of energy body, and let it propagate far away at an extremely fast speed. After the other party receives it, the energy body is transformed into sound again."

Hearing this, Su Ning's eyes suddenly widened, and then she stood up suddenly.

A bright light suddenly flashed through her mind, and she instantly had an idea to solve a problem that had been bothering her for a long time.

"Master Shao Bao, you are so awesome!"

She shouted excitedly, then rushed forward and hugged Lu Chen in a frenzy, even boldly leaving a light stamp on his face.

"Uh"

Lu Chen looked at the extremely excited Su Ning in front of him with a confused look on his face, and was unable to react for a moment.

Su Ning did not give him time to react. She let him go and ran anxiously towards the experimental site of the communication technique.

Looking at her hurried figure, Lu Chen couldn't help but feel a little amused.

"What the hell is going on here?"

Shaking his head, Lu Chen turned and left Tiangongsi.

He didn't take Su Ning's action just now seriously, thinking that the other party was just excited and having a little fun.

It's understandable that inspiration suddenly came to me.

Anyway, I won't lose anything, so let her be. (End of this chapter)