Chapter 116: Hard to Account For

The Ministry of Works also sought to curry favor with those in power.

They knew that Cheng Chumo was working on behalf of Li Zhi, and that the emperor held Li Zhi in high regard.

Building houses was a small matter; pleasing Li Zhi and Li Shimin was the real priority.

Everyone worked together with one mind.

In just two days and one night, they had roughly completed the layout of the clubhouse.

Three houses stood side by side, all connected in the middle.

From a distance, it looked like a single building.

The residential area behind was constructed with bricks and tiles, featuring a massive open-air swimming pool—half for swimming, half for fishing. Nearby was a small shop selling various delicious snacks.

Inside the main hall stood a runway stage.

Beautiful women from several renowned brothels lined up to showcase their talents.

Playing the zither, dancing, singing...

Or even changing costumes on stage!

Corridors flanked both sides of the hall, housing over a hundred luxurious guest rooms, a casino, and more.

On the third day, Li Zhi arrived and, upon seeing the clubhouse, praised Cheng Chumo: “I didn’t expect you to manage the clubhouse so well. Your dedication is evident...”

“How does Your Highness find it?”

“Excellent!”

Li Zhi climbed to the rooftop to survey the distant scenery: “From here, one can see the palace and the city towers… This must be the highest point in the entire city, right?”

“Yes, Your Highness. It’s only a third lower than the city towers…”

The open rooftop was specially instructed by Li Zhi to be built.

It was meant for leisure and tea.

Being high up lifted one’s spirits, preventing distracting thoughts.

“A few rocking chairs are missing... When people are tired, they need to lie back in rocking chairs to relax their bodies and minds! Sitting cross-legged all day, one’s rear end gets sore—who could bear that?” Li Zhi remarked.

“Rocking chairs?”

“What’s that?”

In the Tang Dynasty, there were no chairs and tables as we know them today—at most, ‘barbarian tables and stools’ were used.

Most people followed ancient etiquette, sitting cross-legged to drink tea and eat, which could be exhausting after half a day.

“We want this clubhouse to be captivating, different from the outside. Otherwise, who would want to stay here and suffer? Luotong, come with me to the Ministry of Works to design some practical furniture…”

“Yes!”

Yet even then, no one explained what a rocking chair was.

Cheng Chumo pursed his lips and continued to arrange for the clubhouse’s decoration.

Li Zhi and Luotong headed to the Ministry of Works.

---

“Your Highness?” Just as the carriage reached the Ministry’s gate, a voice called from behind. Li Zhi turned to see Minister Dong Lin hurrying over with blueprints in hand.

“Greetings, Minister Dong!”

“Greetings, Your Highness… What brings you to the Ministry? Please command, and I shall arrange everything for you!” Dong Lin was visibly eager.

“Shall we go inside to talk?”

“Certainly! Please, Your Highness,” Dong Lin welcomed him into the Ministry’s reception room.

Tea was served as they sat.

Dong Lin said, “Thanks to Your Highness’s grace, I learned how to read simple blueprints from you last time. The emperor valued me and promoted me to Minister of Works!”

“From now on, if Your Highness needs any buildings constructed or renovations, I will be at your service!”

“Congratulations, Minister Dong!”

Li Zhi hadn’t expected that teaching Dong Lin to read blueprints—a minor matter—would lead to his promotion, and to such a prestigious position.

In the Tang Dynasty, the ministerial posts in the Six Ministries held great weight.

Aside from Changsun Wuji and a few officials from the Three Departments, the Ministers of the Six Ministries were among the highest-ranking officials.

No wonder he was so delighted upon seeing me.

“I do have a request for you, Minister.”

“Please, Your Highness!”

“I want to produce a batch of rocking chairs…”

“What are rocking chairs?” Dong Lin had never heard of them.

“Rocking chairs are…” Li Zhi found it hard to explain, so he drew a picture and handed it to Dong Lin: “This is a rocking chair!”

“A person can sit or lie on it!”

“A marvelous thing!” Dong Lin liked it immediately. But then he shook his head: “But unfortunately, no one dares to use such furniture. If placed in a reception room, who would dare to sit?”

“Why not?”

This puzzled Li Zhi.

“There are no nails on the chair, so why wouldn’t they sit?”

“The Tang Dynasty is a land of etiquette. People kneel or sit properly to show respect. When entertaining guests, one should sit at a proper table. Who would cross their legs and lie back in a rocking chair? Wouldn’t that be disrespectful?”

“Heh!”

Such were the archaic views of the past.

Chairs should help people relax, not cause suffering. If kneeling felt uncomfortable or harmful, then the etiquette itself was flawed.

Not wanting to argue further, Li Zhi instructed, “Just follow the blueprint I drew and make them. Don’t worry about the rest!”

“Understood, Your Highness! But when do you need them?”

“In two days! In two days, I need thirty sets of rocking chairs and round tables!” Li Zhi handed over the table blueprint as well.

Each set included one round table and four rocking chairs.

Thirty sets!

This was no small order.

Dong Lin hesitated: “Your Highness, this... is a tight deadline. I’m worried we can’t finish in time.”

“I will send someone to collect them the day after tomorrow!”

“Uh... yes, Your Highness!”

Li Zhi swept his sleeve and left.

To thank Li Zhi for teaching him to read blueprints and his subsequent promotion, Dong Lin ordered everyone to focus on making the furniture.

Whether or not they could finish on time, they would try their best.

No one should give up simply because of difficulty.

---

Outside the merchants’ guild, crowds had gathered, clamoring for liquor.

Some were even threatening to smash the guild hall.

With no other choice, Li Zhi dispatched the Golden Blade Guards, which barely quelled the unrest.

But this was not a lasting solution.

Luotong stepped outside, took a look, then returned with anger: “These ruffians and hooligans—I really want to give them a good beating to show them that the capital’s guild is not to be bullied!”

“You think I don’t want to?” Li Zhi drew his short sword from his belt and stabbed it into the tea table, cursing, “I damn well want to kill someone…”

“Your Highness, calm down!”

...

If it weren’t for the bigger picture, Li Zhi wouldn’t swallow his fury. He would have had these hooligans dragged to the county magistrate’s office, beaten thoroughly, and locked up for days.

That would put an end to their arrogance.

“Whew!” Li Zhi exhaled deeply, suppressing his anger.

At that moment, Cheng Chumo stormed in from the doorway, clasping his hands: “Your Highness, the Golden Luxury Clubhouse is fully decorated. It will open for business tomorrow!”

“Good! Finally, you’ve finished!”

Protected by Luotong, Li Zhi walked to the guild’s entrance and addressed the crowd outside: “Everyone, please calm down and hear me out!”

“The divine liquor you seek has already been prepared but will take a few days to arrive at the guild. To prevent you from waiting impatiently, I have a fun place in the East Market. I will host you there, and all expenses will be on me! If you find it uninteresting, I will arrange for you to stay at the most upscale tavern in the capital. When the divine liquor arrives, it will be distributed. What do you think?”

“Um...” The crowd hesitated.

They hadn’t come just to demand debts—they aimed to sully the reputation of the capital’s guild and force it to shut down.

The Guanlong clan had given them ample incentives.

If they let Li Zhi off so easily, it would be hard to explain to the Guanlong family.

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