Chapter 209: The Arrival of the King of Miaojiang
Chapter 209: The Arrival of the King of Miaojiang
Bai Yuwei asked a guard for a horse and rode off without a backward glance.
Xun Yu, who was following behind, quickly dismounted from his carriage and approached Bai Qingchen's carriage with concern. "Young Master Bai, what happened? Where is Miss Bai going?"
Bai Qingchen sighed helplessly, "She argued with me and went to find our grandfather."
Instead of immediately inquiring about the King of Miaojiang's arrival in the capital, Xun Yu expressed his concern. "I'll go after her, Young Master Bai. Rest assured, I'll safely bring Miss Bai back to the Chancellor's Mansion."
Thinking that it would be better for Xun Yu to handle the situation since her sister was still angry, Bai Qingchen replied, "Thank you, Xuanyu Prince."
Xun Yu also requested a horse and rode off after Bai Yuwei.
"Miss Bai!"
Bai Yuwei let out a cold huff. "Are you here to scold me too?"
Xun Yu smiled. "Miss Bai, you've misunderstood. I just want to accompany you and take your mind off things. It's my fault for not inquiring about Meng Xiaojiu's skills, which allowed her to deceive you."
Bai Yuwei slowed down her horse and strolled leisurely on the street. "That's more like it! I heard she's not skilled in archery, so I shot a few arrows carelessly. If I were to do it again, I would never lose to her!"
Xun Yu spoke gently, "I believe in you, Miss Bai. If you say you didn't cast a spell, then you didn't. Clearly, she's skilled in archery, but she lied about it. It's obvious who has the better character, and the difference in skill is evident."
"I like what you're saying!" Bai Yuwei was pleased by his words. "I'll take you to find my grandfather!"
Xun Yu was surprised. "Has the King of Miaojiang arrived in the capital?"
Bai Yuwei smiled. "Not yet, but I know where he is! I want to give him a surprise! My grandfather dotes on me the most, and he'll be delighted to see me."
Suppressing his excitement, Xun Yu hesitated and asked, "I wonder if the Chancellor's Mansion has the honor of accommodating the King of Miaojiang."
Bai Yuwei confidently replied, "Wherever my brother and I are, that's where my grandfather will stay! But he doesn't like noise."
Xun Yu immediately assured her, "Miss Bai, rest assured. While the King of Miaojiang is staying at the mansion, the Chancellor's Mansion will not entertain any guests, and we won't allow anyone to disturb his peace. I'll immediately dismiss the troupe from the mansion."
Bai Yuwei nodded, "That's perfect!"
Xun Yu asked, "Does the King of Miaojiang have any other preferences?"
"Let me think... Oh, my grandfather likes..."
Bai Yuwei shared many of the King of Miaojiang's preferences and taboos with Xun Yu.
Xun Yu took note of everything and, upon passing by one of their shops, immediately instructed the shopkeeper to deliver the news to the Chancellor's Mansion to prepare a grand welcome for the King of Miaojiang.
---
The scorching sun blazed in the afternoon, and the fields shimmered with heat.
The young emperor, dragged by Lu Yuan to work in the fields for the entire morning, was sweating profusely and slumped on the ridge, panting heavily.
Lu Yuan approached him with a winter melon in hand.
Having changed out of his elegant attire in the carriage, Lu Yuan now wore coarse linen clothing, revealing his strong and muscular arms. His pants were rolled up high, and he wore rough straw sandals.
He looked nothing like an official; instead, he resembled a farmer working the fields.
"Is this not enough?"
Lu Yuan smiled at Zong Zhengxi, "There are still two acres of melon fields waiting to be harvested."
Zong Zhengxi was almost in tears. "I can't harvest any more! Are you trying to work me to death and take my throne? Take it! It's all yours!"
Lu Yuan smacked him on the forehead. "You good-for-nothing!"
Zong Zhengxi howled in protest, "Your hands are dirty!"
Lu Yuan looked at his hands and nodded. "Indeed, they are."
Then, he rubbed his hands on Zong Zhengxi's face and body several times.
Zong Zhengxi: "..."
The two of them shared the winter melon.
The melon was freshly picked from the field and still warm. It wasn't even cut into a delicate fruit platter, and Zong Zhengxi held it and took a bite, not caring about his image.
But for some reason, he felt this winter melon tasted better than the ones chilled in the palace.
Lu Yuan smiled faintly, "It's the same melon, but you've come to understand its value, and the appreciation you have while eating it makes it taste even better."
Zong Zhengxi seemed to understand, mumbling, "Is this how I feel about you?"
Lu Yuan: "What did you say, Your Majesty?"
"Nothing!" Zong Zhengxi's eyes darted away, and he buried his face in the melon, "Just eat your melon!"
As the two of them enjoyed the melon to cool off, a commotion could be heard in the distance.
"Old Zheng, didn't you say someone would deliver a new plow today? What time is it now? Where's the plow?"
"Yes, Old Zheng, everyone is waiting. Are you sure you weren't deceived?"
The farmer called Old Zheng anxiously replied, "That's what the young master said. How would I know if he promised and then didn't deliver? Maybe it's still early; let's wait a bit longer."
A woman shouted, "Wait until it's dark! Who goes plowing at night?"
Zong Zhengxi was confused, "What pear? Are there pears to eat already?"
Aren't pears only available in autumn and winter?
Lu Yuan explained, "It's an iron plow, a farming tool."
After speaking, he gently placed the half-eaten winter melon on the ridge and walked over to the farmers.
Zong Zhengxi wasn't very good at interacting with the farmers, so he watched from a distance.
Lu Yuan spoke with the farmers, but all Zhengtou heard was something about a blacksmith and a spade.
Zhengtou, the old farmer, then handed Lu Yuan a spade. Lu Yuan removed the spade head and compared it to a farming tool, shaking his head. He then instructed Yu Zichuan to fetch a piece of iron from the carriage.
The original purpose of the iron piece was unclear to Zong Zhengxi, but in Lu Yuan's hands, it seemed to transform into a thousand different uses.
Lu Yuan began hammering and shaping the iron piece.
Zong Zhengxi was stunned, "You can even forge iron?"
In the end, Lu Yuan attached the forged iron piece to the farming tool and brought over an ox, plowing two acres of land in one go.
"So this is what plowing is like," Zong Zhengxi realized, feeling like he had gained a lot of knowledge today.
However, he also became more curious about Lu Yuan, "How do you know so much?"
"Young man, are you married?" a middle-aged woman asked Lu Yuan with eager eyes.
Zong Zhengxi quickly rushed over with his unfinished wintermelon, "Hey, hey, hey! This is not allowed!"
---
This year, the capital was hotter than usual, and Bai Yuwei was nearly melting from the heat.
Xun Yu hired the most luxurious and spacious carriage from a carriage rental service and spent a significant amount of money on a large basin of ice to place inside the carriage to help Bai Yuwei cool down. He also hired a maid to fan Bai Yuwei along the way.
Bai Yuwei felt refreshed and fell asleep in the carriage.
Midway through their journey, they encountered an old farmer sitting by the roadside, fanning himself with a straw hat and waving at Xun Yu's group.
The carriage driver was kind-hearted and stopped to ask the farmer what he needed.
The farmer replied with difficulty, "It's too hot, and I can't walk anymore. Can you give me a ride?"
Xun Yu threw a silver ingot from inside the carriage.
The driver understood his passenger's intention, but as a mere carriage driver, he didn't dare make decisions for his customer. He drove the carriage away.
As dusk fell, Zong Zhengxi finally finished all the farm work assigned by Lu Yuan and tearfully climbed into the carriage.
He was truly exhausted, so tired and worn out!
On their way back, they also encountered the same old farmer.
Lu Yuan asked Yu Zichuan to inquire about the situation.
Yu Zichuan replied, "He said he can't walk anymore and wants us to give him a ride."
Lu Yuan said, "Let him come up."
After giving the instructions, he stared intently at Zong Zhengxi, who was crying so hard he could barely catch his breath.
Zong Zhengxi complained, "Why are you staring at me? Can't I cry? It's all your fault for tiring me out like this!"
Lu Yuan was speechless, "The carriage is small, and I wanted you to make room for him."
Zong Zhengxi stomped his foot hard, crying and moving to the side.
That stomp was the last act of defiance from the young emperor.
The old farmer climbed into the carriage and sat down on the bench, taking up most of the space.
Zong Zhengxi was shocked by the farmer's audacity.
These days, even hitching a ride on a carriage was done so boldly?
Fortunately, he had a good temper, unlike his royal brothers who might have had the man executed.
In fact, his royal brothers would never allow a dirty old farmer into their carriage.
Lu Yuan examined the old farmer and asked, "Old man, where are you going?"
The farmer asked, "Ah, where are you headed?"
Lu Yuan replied, "We're returning to the capital. Where are you going? We can give you a ride."
The old farmer kept dodging the question and pointed at Zong Zhengxi, "Is he your younger brother?"
Zong Zhengxi turned away, "No, I'm not! I don't have a brother like him!"
The old farmer patted his belly, "I'm hungry."
Lu Yuan glanced at the snacks and tea on the table, "Help yourself."
"Then I won't hold back!" The old farmer grabbed the teapot and started gulping down the tea.
Zong Zhengxi had never seen anyone eat so heartily, as no one dared to be so informal in front of the emperor.
He swallowed his saliva, feeling hungry after working all day.
However, the last snack quickly disappeared into the old farmer's belly.
Zong Zhengxi felt even more like crying.
The old farmer, seeing Zong Zhengxi's pitiful state, patted his round belly and said to Lu Yuan, "Oh dear, I accidentally finished your younger brother's food. How about this—when we reach the capital, I'll treat you. Let me take you to a nice meal!"
Zong Zhengxi choked up, "Food in the capital is expensive."
After this trip, he realized how hard it was for commoners to earn money. This old farmer probably couldn't even afford a meal at a restaurant after working all year.
The old farmer took out a shiny silver ingot from his pocket, "A young master gave me a silver ingot just now. Isn't he a great person?"
As the sun set in the west, Xun Yu's carriage arrived at the post station mentioned by Bai Yuwei.
"What did you say? My grandfather went to the capital alone?" Bai Yuwei asked in disbelief, looking at the Miaojiang guards in the post station.
The captain of the guards was puzzled, "Miss Bai Yuwei, didn't you meet him?"
There was only one imperial highway from the post station to the capital, and the timing matched.
Bai Yuwei frowned, "No! Prince Xuanyu, did you see my grandfather on the way?"
Xun Yu recalled and remembered seeing only an old farmer with a straw hat on the road.
His expression changed, "Could it be..."
Xiao Feizhang, rubbing his hands together, popped in to ask for a vote.
(End of Chapter)
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