Seeing the recommendation also included a hand-cranked shoe repair machine, she bought it.
Could the bicycle be put to use as well?
Could the old-style 28-inch bike be brought back into action?
She remembered reading online that someone once said the 28-inch bike was used as a tool for transporting goods.
She immediately bought one.
When she met the Empress Dowager, she showed her the portable sewing machine.
The Empress Dowager marveled at the ingenuity of the person who invented it, saying it would make sewing clothes much faster.
"Can these be used by the common people?"
"Yes, but this one absolutely cannot fall into civilian hands," the Empress Dowager said, pointing at the treadle sewing machine.
Shen Yunyun was puzzled.
"If this gets out, our Great Li Dynasty won't be able to protect it."
"Does that mean the bicycle can't be protected either?"
The Empress Dowager sighed without denying it.
Shen Yunyun felt a bit deflated. Things that could strengthen their nation's power couldn't be safeguarded. If they fell into enemy hands or were copied, they'd end up boosting the strength of other countries.
The three kingdoms were in a zero-sum relationship—strengthening others meant weakening themselves.
After a moment's thought, she said, "Then let's not stir up trouble. I'll think it over again later."
The Empress Dowager replied, "We can keep this treadle sewing machine for ourselves. Have the embroiderers come to learn it and join the imperial embroidery workshop."
"You've opened an embroidery workshop?"
The Empress Dowager nodded. "With the supplies you've sent over time, the common people's clothing has become varied and less rigid. We can take this chance to reform clothing styles—no need for such complexity, wasting fabric, and hindering movement."
Shen Yunyun quickly nodded in agreement.
The Empress Dowager chatted with Shen Yunyun for a while until a young eunuch reported that the Emperor had arrived.
Shen Yunyun was exasperated. "Empress Dowager, do you have to send for the Emperor every time I come? Isn't he busy with state affairs?"
The Empress Dowager looked puzzled. "I didn't send anyone to inform him."
"Then how did he know?"
"I'm curious about that too."
They exchanged glances and both looked toward the door.
The Emperor, as always, bowed to the Empress Dowager and then to Shen Yunyun.
The Empress Dowager asked, "Your Majesty, why do you always come the moment Yunyun arrives?"
The Emperor glanced at Shen Yunyun, saw the curiosity written all over her face, and gave a slight smile, speaking seriously, "I don't know either, but every time, I can clearly sense her presence."
The Empress Dowager was taken aback, looking from the Emperor to Shen Yunyun.
"A meeting of minds? Could you be fated for each other?"
The Emperor quickly stole a look at Shen Yunyun's expression, saw her stunned face, and chose his words carefully. "Mother's reasoning isn't without merit, but it might also be a coincidence."
Shen Yunyun: "..."
He'd said both the good and the bad.
What was there left for her to say?
"What were you and Yunyun just discussing?" the Emperor asked, though his eyes were already fixed on the bicycle and sewing machine.
The Empress Dowager explained with a smile.
The Emperor listened intently and agreed with her concerns about not being able to protect these items.
He glanced at Shen Yunyun and noticed she seemed lost in thought, her expression shifting vividly, and he couldn't help but smile.
Shen Yunyun, meanwhile, was thinking about how Little Tangyuan had grown up. He used to call her Fairy Sister, but now he called her Yunyun.
"Yunyun?" the Emperor called out to her.
Shen Yunyun snapped back to attention and quickly said, "Ah, yes, you're right."