My palace is full of female protagonists.

Zhao Qi'er sat by the window in the imperial study, holding a bowl of warm porridge in her hands. Her gaze was blank as she stared at the swaying branches of trees in the night, her heart filled with mixed emotions. She was conflicted. On one hand, she began to feel that Emperor Zhao Chengyu had returned to the difficult days of exile, when they fought side-by-side, supporting each other and facing the storms together. That tacit understanding and reliance gave her a sense of warmth and security. During those days, they were not only master and servant, but also companions who had shared hardships and faced life-or-death trials together.

However, on the other hand, the emperor before her felt like a stranger. His personality seemed to have undergone a complete transformation; he was no longer the soft-hearted yet struggling prince on the road to exile. Now, his words and actions exuded an indescribable air of authority and aloofness, and even his thoughts seemed to have changed significantly, becoming unpredictable and elusive. This change made Zhao Qi'er wonder if the emperor before her was still the same Zhao Yingqing who had once shared her deepest feelings and weathered hardships with her.

She ate a few mouthfuls of porridge, the warm food seeming to bring a touch of warmth to her body, and also gradually blurring her thoughts. Perhaps it was because her body was too exhausted, or perhaps the struggle in her mind had consumed too much of her energy, Zhao Qi'er's hand holding the spoon gradually weakened, and her eyelids slowly closed, as if she was about to fall asleep.

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu gently put down the bowl in his hand, slowly rose, and moved closer to Zhao Qi'er. He gazed at her tenderly, his eyes filled with affection and reluctance. After softly instructing the servants beside him to leave the room, he gently helped Zhao Qi'er lean against his strong chest, allowing her to sleep more peacefully. Zhao Qi'er felt this long-lost sense of security, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned up, as if she had found a moment of peace even in her dreams.

Soon, Zhao Qi'er drifted off to sleep, her breathing gradually becoming steady and deep. Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu felt both reluctant and helpless. He gently handed Zhao Qi'er over to several elderly women who were already waiting nearby, ensuring she received the best possible rest. Before leaving, he specifically instructed the women to take meticulous care of her and not to be negligent in the slightest.

After arranging everything, Zhao Chengyu turned and left, his steps heavy. He changed his clothes directly outside the courtyard, and Xiao Kuangzi quickly helped him put them on, while someone else stoked the stove in the courtyard.

Zhao Chengyu stood in the center of the courtyard, his gaze piercing through the night, focusing on the flames of the stove that the servant had just lit. The leaping firelight reflected in his deep eyes, as if igniting a chord within him, causing him to involuntarily mutter to himself, "I've been here so long, and winter is almost here."

The busy servant, mistaking the Emperor for someone speaking to him, quickly stopped what he was doing and respectfully replied, "Yes, Your Majesty, the first batch of high-quality charcoal has already arrived at the palace. To ensure the palace remains warm and comfortable, some old tree roots are being smoked outside. When the weather gets colder, they can be used for underfloor heating, guaranteeing warmth in every corner of the palace." The servant's words were full of gratitude for the Emperor's concern and familiarity with the details of palace life.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu was slightly taken aback, realizing that his earlier mutterings had been misunderstood. He then steered the conversation to a more practical question: "How much does it typically cost to sell charcoal over a winter?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Kuangzi looked troubled. He knew that the specific figures involved in this question were beyond his control: "We should probably ask the eunuch; he knows the palace's finances better."

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu waved his hand gently, a smile playing on his lips, as if he felt a little apologetic for his abruptness: "I was presumptuous. You go about your business. We're about to go to court. I'll ask the Prime Minister."

The atmosphere in the imperial court suddenly became heavy and silent. Zhao Chengyu's question about the expenses of charcoal fires in winter was like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, creating ripples that caused all the officials present to fall into deep thought. They looked at each other, clearly stumped by the question.

Even the seasoned minister, Prime Minister Gao, seemed somewhat at a loss. He scratched his head, trying to recall the past, and finally answered, "Your Majesty, Empress Gao Lingyan mentioned this matter when she was in power; it was about 20,000 taels of silver." His voice was steady, but the flicker in his eyes revealed his uncertainty about the amount.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu frowned and looked intently at Prime Minister Gao: "Have you ever seen 20,000 taels of silver?" His tone was questioning, clearly dissatisfied with the vague answer.

Prime Minister Gao was rendered speechless by the Emperor's question and could only lower his head, inwardly regretting his actions. In truth, everyone present knew perfectly well that anything sold to the palace was always several times more expensive. With so many people in the palace, the demand for charcoal was enormous, naturally driving up prices. But such common sense was difficult to utter in front of the Emperor; after all, no one wanted to be the one to unveil the veil of palace extravagance.

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu felt a surge of anger. He knew all too well that extravagance was rampant in the palace, where even the most basic charcoal fire could be used as a tool for embezzlement. He recalled the TV dramas he had watched, and the depictions of exorbitant prices in the palace were now being confirmed in reality.

So he said to Xiao Kuangzi, "Go and have someone bring over twenty thousand taels of silver." Xiao Kuangzi was startled and hurriedly went to make the arrangements. Knowing the Emperor's temper, he dared not delay in the slightest. He then had a swift-footed guard carry him on his back, and they sped towards the national treasury. Within the palace, this method of transportation was undoubtedly the fastest, saving the trouble of carrying a sedan chair while ensuring speed.

Soon, 20,000 taels of silver were transported to the imperial court. The silver was neatly stacked in sturdy wooden chests, piled up like small mountains in the center of the hall. Zhao Chengyu gazed at the silver and chests before him and sneered, "This silver and these chests could keep the palace warm all winter, so why sell charcoal?" His voice echoed throughout the court, each word carrying weight and impossible to ignore.

It must be said that the Emperor's words, though rough, were not without merit. His words were like a sharp knife, directly piercing the heart of the court's extravagance and waste. Upon hearing this, the officials present all showed shame and lowered their heads in silence. They knew that the Emperor's words were not only a questioning of the charcoal expenses, but also a warning against the court's extravagant lifestyle.

Standing on the throne, Zhao Chengyu's gaze was deep, but his thoughts drifted back to his distant childhood. He remembered that his family wasn't well-off when he was young, and they relied on simple honeycomb briquettes for heating in the winter. Those seemingly insignificant briquettes brought a touch of warmth to the house on cold winter days. Thinking of this, he couldn't help but wonder if anyone in this era had already begun to explore the use of coal ash as a resource?

So he spoke again and ordered, "Bring me all the types of charcoal in the market, let me take a look." His voice carried an undeniable air of authority, yet also revealed his concern for the details of people's lives.

However, as the emperor, Zhao Chengyu was well aware of the constraints that came with his status. On the one hand, he possessed supreme power; with a single command, he could obtain anything. On the other hand, his actions were severely restricted, preventing him from freely roaming the streets and experiencing the joys and sorrows of life like an ordinary person. This contradictory feeling often left him confused and helpless, unsure whether he was too free or had no freedom at all.

Before long, various types of coal were presented, piling up in one corner of the court. Several officials followed closely behind, each stepping forward to explain the uses and properties of different types of coal to the emperor. Their words were filled with reverence and flattery towards the emperor, but also revealed their appreciation and understanding of coal as a resource.

Zhao Chengyu listened carefully to the officials' introductions, his gaze sweeping over each piece of coal. He discovered that this dynasty had already begun using coal, though the methods were still quite rudimentary. Large pieces of coal were used to make utensils, while smaller pieces were distributed to slaves, because burning them produced a lot of smoke and odors, which not only blackened the houses but also harmed people's health.

Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu felt a strong sense of responsibility. He knew that as the ruler of a country, he had a responsibility to improve the living conditions of his people, enabling them to enjoy a more comfortable and healthy living environment. Therefore, he secretly resolved to promote more efficient and environmentally friendly ways of utilizing coal, so that this precious resource could better serve the country and its people.

Zhao Chengyu stood in the imperial court, his gaze sweeping over the officials present. Their faces were filled with doubt and curiosity. He decided to share the method of making honeycomb briquettes with these high-ranking officials, hoping to find a new solution to the country's energy problem.

"My esteemed ministers, today I wish to share with you a new type of coal-burning method—honeycomb briquettes." Zhao Chengyu's voice echoed in the court, causing a small commotion.

The officials exchanged bewildered glances, seemingly unfamiliar with this novel method of burning coal. Seeing this, Zhao Chengyu patiently explained, "These honeycomb briquettes are made by mixing crushed coal powder with loess and then pressing it into shape. This not only effectively utilizes crushed coal resources but also improves combustion efficiency."

However, the officials listened, somewhat stunned, seemingly skeptical of this method. Just then, Lin Yi, the swordsman from the Crown Prince's residence—Lord Lin—suddenly spoke up: "Your Majesty, I understand! Coal powder can be used as charcoal simply by mixing it with yellow earth and then pressing it together, is that right?"

Upon hearing this, Zhao Chengyu was overjoyed, finally someone understood his meaning. He smiled and nodded, adding, "Lord Lin is absolutely right, but if it could be made into a specific pattern, such as a honeycomb, it would burn for a longer time. Moreover, if it were paired with a suitable stove and chimney, there would be no unpleasant smell or black smoke inside the house."

Meanwhile, the officials nearby also began to get busy. They took the paper, pens, and ink handed to them by the small box and, following Zhao Chengyu's description, sketched the preliminary shape of honeycomb briquettes on the ground. However, since they had never encountered this method of coal burning before, their drawings were not accurate and required repeated revisions and adjustments.

After numerous attempts and revisions, a preliminary design finally emerged. Zhao Chengyu looked at the sketch on the ground and nodded in satisfaction. He believed that as long as this coal-fired method was widely adopted, it would definitely bring a new turning point to the country's energy problem. After speaking, Zhao Chengyu felt his throat was parched, and he coughed a few times. Seeing this, Xiao Kuangzi quickly offered him throat-soothing tea, respectfully presenting it to the Emperor. Zhao Chengyu took the teacup, took a small sip, and immediately felt much better.

The officials all nodded in agreement, finding the honeycomb briquette method both practical and innovative. It would not only effectively solve the coal utilization problem but also improve the living environment, reducing smoke and odors. Their discussion was enthusiastic; even the usually taciturn officials joined in, offering their insights and suggestions.

Lin Yi's eyes gleamed with excitement as he asked Zhao Chengyu again, "Your Majesty, when you mentioned coal powder, did you mean that it could be either coal dust or charcoal dust?"

Zhao Chengyu smiled and nodded, adding, "Yes, Lord Lin. Moreover, there are more types of coal powder than just these. If you add sulfur, saltpeter, and other substances, and mix it with soapberry seeds, you can even make gunpowder."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Su frowned slightly, as if recalling something. He slowly said, "I have heard a little about gunpowder. There are indeed some sorcerers in the martial arts world who can make such things for performances or other unknown purposes."

Zhao Chengyu never expected that his casual remark would lead to the discovery that someone in this era had already mastered the rudiments of gunpowder production. A thought struck him, and he immediately instructed Prime Minister Su, "Prime Minister Su, since you know of such magicians, please arrange for them to be sent to the palace. I have some questions to ask them."

Upon hearing this, Prime Minister Su immediately and respectfully accepted the imperial decree, indicating that he would make arrangements as soon as possible.

At this moment, Prime Minister Gao also chimed in, pointing to the blueprints and coal slag on the ground, his eyes gleaming with thoughtful consideration: "Your Majesty, if that is indeed the case, then we can set up specialized workshops to mass-produce these honeycomb briquettes using mechanized methods. In this way, the cost will be greatly reduced."

Yun Feiyu, who had been overlooked, suddenly said, "So, it's possible that an ordinary family of five, if they sleep in one room, could get through the winter with just two or three taels of silver worth of coal dust."

Zhao Chengyu nodded approvingly upon hearing this. He added, "Although honeycomb briquettes look somewhat fragile after drying, they have a significant advantage: they are very light. Moreover, they don't easily get damp. Even if they do get damp, simply burning some dry grass or rice straw in the small holes will quickly dry and ignite them. This would be a huge reform for an army on the front lines. Imagine, just two people on a cart could haul a load of honeycomb briquettes, enough for ten tents for a month. This would ensure the army's heating needs while greatly reducing the logistical burden."

The officials listened to Zhao Chengyu's description and nodded in agreement. They seemed to already see the widespread application and enormous potential of this new type of coal-fired power generation method in the future. The court was filled with a warm and positive atmosphere, and everyone was full of anticipation and hope for the future.