Chapter 697: Chapter 697: Clearly He Is Right in Front of Her

More importantly, the state is now vigorously building factories and has begun printing the unified currency of the Great Tang, allowing people to work in factories during the agricultural off-season.

The wages from the factories are stable, and taxes are only required once income reaches a certain level; otherwise, the money in hand is their own.

Even some officials sighed, saying that with Tang Zan and Pei Shu’er, their days have become increasingly better, and there is hope for the future.

Of course, because the country has a surplus of grain, every so often the state selects poorer areas to distribute relief grain at set times and places.

And the grain from Pei Shu’er’s space is also increasing.

Its yield and maturation time are twice what they used to be.

The grain in Pei Shu’er’s space has almost reached its capacity, constantly being transported to areas where farmers have weak bodies.

This not only improves everyone’s physical condition but also ensures food security.

With such unrelenting efforts, in just three years, they could say they had exceeded Yan Huan Yu’s requirements.

This time, it was not Tang Zan who went to see Yan Huan Yu, but Yan Huan Yu who came to find Tang Zan on his own.

He was full of sincerity, without bringing any subordinates, and upon arriving at the court, he knelt before Tang Zan.

"King Liang pays respects to the Emperor."

With this statement, he defined his own nature.

He was no longer the Emperor Liang of Da Liang, but the King Liang of the Great Tang.

Yan Huan Yu’s actions actually made Pei Shu’er quite happy, at least there was no need for further warfare.

Moreover, it demonstrated Yan Huan Yu’s recognition of them.

Having subdued Da Liang, and with the recent period under Tang Zan’s governance, prosperity thrived more than ever.

Tang Zan also began to eye other countries.

The overseas lands were too difficult to govern, so Tang Zan did not venture into them.

Pei Shu’er even heard some people lament why Tang Zan did not become Emperor earlier, so their family members wouldn’t have died.

When everything was ready, Tang Zan began to personally lead military campaigns.

During the years of Tang Zan’s battles, there was a moment in his campaign against Great Chu when he narrowly avoided death.

Pei Shu’er, having exhausted all her efforts, could only keep Tang Zan in a false death state, eventually resorting to a false death pill to preserve his life.

Then she continued to study various medicines and medical plans.

Problems that Shiqi couldn’t solve had to be left to Pei Shu’er.

Pei Shu’er played both the roles of father and mother, watching Tang Zan grow thinner by the day, and she could not bear it.

Seeing Tang Zan still showing no signs of waking up in the fifth year, Pei Shu’er decided to pass the throne to Tang Chong.

At that time, Tang Chong was 15 years old, and Tang Zan was 37.

Tang Chong governed the country very well, compared to Tang Zan’s decisive and iron-handed methods, his approach was relatively more gentle.

As for Tang Zan, although he had not left, he had actually departed his body in an extraordinarily eerie way.

He hovered above the earth, watching Pei Shu’er day in and day out study medicines and improvement plans.

Using various methods to stimulate her brain, but none had any effect.

Pei Shu’er continued her efforts, seemingly never breaking down.

Until one deep night, Pei Shu’er initially went to sleep but returned to his resting place, holding his hand and gently speaking.

"Will you never wake again?"

She pressed her cold cheek against his hand, tears slowly trickling down.

This was one of the few times she displayed such a dejected appearance; she always seemed positive and optimistic, tireless in searching for that sliver of hope for him.

Numerous divine doctors joined her research, but many gave up; only Pei Shu’er persisted as if unaware that curing him was nearly impossible, her face persistently calm and composed.

He could drift into the space with Pei Shu’er and knew she constantly read books inside.

Meanwhile, Pei Shu’er also cultivated her own team, whose confidentiality was impeccable, having been raised by her since childhood, taught to recognize words, namely simplified characters and the Great Tang script.

Then Pei Shu’er would take medical books out of the space for them to find the keywords related to his conditions.

Once found, she would meticulously sift through them.

Only when confirming they were beneficial would she instruct to transcribe those parts.

He thought Pei Shu’er never tired or had such negative emotions.

Pei Shu’er cried, "You have no idea, how much effort it took to remain calm. In actuality, I worry more than anyone."

"Tang Chong, Tang Li, and Tang Yu all ask me if you’ll never wake up. I always say you will, and after repeating it so many times, I’ve begun to doubt myself too."

"I’m just a healer, not a deity; the diseases medicine can cure compared to human ailments are still woefully few."

This was her first time feeling so dejected, her weeping paining Tang Zan’s heart deeply.

He reached out to touch Pei Shu’er, but his transparent hand passed through her.

He was more desperate than Pei Shu’er.

He was right in front of her eyes.

Pei Shu’er’s emotions showed a crack, yet within just five minutes, she wiped her tears away, reverting to being the calm and composed Pei Shu’er who could maintain order.

Then Tang Zan felt his body being pulled by a strong force, unaware of where he was drawn to, feeling only dizziness and twisting torment.

When he awoke again, his soul was even more transparent, seemingly on the verge of scattering at any moment.

As he opened his eyes, he saw an enormous space filled with mist.

He felt both unfamiliar and familiar with it.

Wasn’t this Pei Shu’er’s space?

But why was it so empty, with not even the black soil visible, only the spring water?

He walked over, standing before the Spiritual Spring Water.

He could feel something within the Spiritual Spring luring him, so he dove in.

Inside, he drifted aimlessly, unsure how long had passed until he felt a tremor within the space.

Opening his eyes, he saw Pei Shu’er standing in the center of the space, dressed in peculiar modern clothing, her hair tied into a neat ponytail, a pair of frameless glasses perched on her nose, exuding a rather cold aura.

She wandered the space with a look of confusion.

Appearing as though it was her first time here, yet remaining calm without a hint of panic.

Clearly, she was much more familiar with this space than he was.

He approached Pei Shu’er, yet still passed through her.

However, he could now sense Pei Shu’er’s body temperature.

He attempted to speak to her, but Pei Shu’er seemed oblivious to his presence.

After a moment, she closed her eyes, then vanished from the space.

Tang Zan could only feel a heart-wrenching sadness.