Chapter 779: Princess Shaoyi
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The County Head of Shaoyi tried to plant a crop called sweet potatoes that had been imported into the country from overseas. This crop was drought-resistant, durable, produced a high yield, and filled the stomach. Its leaves, vines, and roots were all edible.
King Yue Fei helped the various farmsteads under the County Head of Shaoyi to promote this crop. The sweet potatoes actually survived the drought and even grew pear-sized roots.
The affected people relied on sweet potato leaves in summer, ate sweet potato vines in autumn, and ate sweet potato pieces in winter to greatly alleviate the disaster.
At the same time, Ye Hanyuan, who was far away in Zhejiang, had also neglected the Imperial Court. After the water disaster in Zhejiang, the County Head of Shaoyi promoted the planting of sweet potatoes in Zhejiang, and there was still a harvest in December.
As soon as the news spread, not only did it shock the Imperial Court, but even the thousands of commoners were shocked.
Then, the Imperial Court found out that sweet potatoes had also been planted in the suburbs of the capital.
They specially sent someone to Little Zhouzhuang, Rogue Manor, and the nearby villages to investigate. He confirmed that King Yue Fei and Lord Ye were not lying and brought back sweet potatoes.
The next day, the Empress Dowager went to the golden hall and ordered someone to distribute the sweet potatoes to the court officials to taste.
No matter how they cooked it, it was delicious. They ate it raw to quench her thirst. When it was cooked, they could eat a small piece to fill their stomachs. The entire royal court was shocked.
Immediately, an old minister knelt in the golden hall and shouted with tears streaming down his face, “Heaven blesses our Great Zhou.”
There were also old officials who were so excited that tears welled up in their eyes. “The County Head of Shaoyi’s actions are beneficial now. It’s His Majesty’s blessing, the blessing of all the people, and the prosperity of the country!”
“County Head of Shaoyi is righteous. I beg Your Majesty and the Empress Dowager to reward him handsomely.”
“I agree. The County Head of Shaoyi is brilliant. Her entire family is benevolent and loyal. For many years, she has organized charity halls, provided porridge stalls, and donated good money to help the refugees. Although she’s a woman, she’s benevolent and kind. She’s even better than a man.”
“…”
Ever since the Great Zhou Dynasty was established, it had placed emphasis on farming and suppressing trade. Every year, the Imperial Court would distribute new seeds and encourage the commoners to try them. The Imperial Court would reward anyone who planted them successfully.
Yu Youyao tried to plant a new seed to relieve the drought and benefit thousands of people in the world. If it were any other man, he would have been conferred the title of Marquis.
The reward for the County Head of Shaoyi had almost become everyone’s hope.
That day, the cabinet held an emergency meeting and wanted to invite the County Head of Shaoyi to be conferred the title of Princess.
The invitation was presented to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager took a red brush and circled it around the character “Yi”. She said, “The character ‘Yi’ isn’t glorious. Rewrite it.”
The cabinet discussed this matter overnight. In the end, a Minister of Revenue suggested that the original character for “Yi” be changed to the character for “Yi” that meant “exemplary.” He said bluntly, “The contributions of the County Head of Shaoyi must be recorded in history. The original character for “Yi” represents a small appearance and small virtue, so it doesn’t show any merit or virtue. The deep appearance, great looks, and great virtue of the new character “Yi” are meant to be praised. It shares the same pronunciation as the character for “Yi” which is used to show surprise. It’s an exclamation and a praise.”
The Minister of War also agreed. “The posthumous law of the Book of Zhou says that gentleness subdues kindness, and gentleness is kindness. Only the new character for ‘Yi’ can show the benevolence and kindness of the County Head of Shaoyi.”
The Ministry of Rites also agreed. “The new character for ‘Yi’ contains the characters for ‘heart’ and ‘owing’. As the saying goes, one should hold on to their ambition and not let let anger out. Beauty is within her and spreads out to her four limbs. The County Head of Shaoyi deserves it.”
The next day, the memorial with the new title was handed over to the Empress Dowager again.
The Empress Dowager looked at the memorial. “Yes!”
At the same time, the imperial edict that had taken three days to complete was officially completed. The next day, the emperor’s carriage arrived at the Yu Residence. Yu Youyao was not around, so Yu Zongzheng and Madam Jiang received the imperial edict on her behalf.
The Internal Affairs Department was also stepping up their supervision of Princess Shaoyi’s imperial order.
When the order was completed and sent to Quanzhou at full speed, it was already the 27th of December, and the new year was approaching.
Under the lead of the Jiazhou Residence, the accompanying eunuchs arrived at the Xie Residence. Old Master Xie immediately led the entire Xie Residence to kneel and thank the emperor and the Empress Dowager for their grace.
The eunuchs also brought rewards from the Imperial Court. There was good farmland, cloth, gold, jade, antiques, spices, medicinal herbs, and so on. They were very generous.
The eunuch handed the jade plate representing the princess to Yu Youyao and passed on the Empress Dowager’s words. “… According to the etiquette, Princess Shaoyi should immediately set off for the capital and enter the palace to thank the Empress Dowager. It’s only in the middle of winter, so it’s not suitable for the princess to travel arduously. The Empress Dowager has helped the princess and allowed her to return to the capital after the new year.”
Yu Youyao immediately knelt down to thank him.
This trip was very tiring. The Xie family had prepared a lot of gifts and politely sent the eunuch and the others out of the residence.
When the eunuch saw the carriage full of generous gifts, he immediately felt that this trip was too worth it.
The group went to the courier station to rest for the night.
The next day, they were going to set off for the capital.
Yu Youyao brought over the incense medicine she had personally made.
The incense medicine was for the Empress Dowager. Whether she used it or not was secondary. However, after receiving the Empress Dowager’s kindness and becoming a noble lady of the imperial family, she had to show some filial piety.
Yu Youyao returned to the Xie Residence and discussed this matter with her grandfather. “Take advantage of the fact that Quanzhou’s defenses are loose today. Let’s prepare to leave Quanzhou at midnight.”
Worried that it would arouse suspicion, everything in the Xie Residence went on as usual during the day, as if nothing was amiss. However, as soon as night fell, the residence began to move.
Yu Youyao instructed Yin San to arrange for a portion of the 100 elite troops guarding the Shaoyuan to go to the dock to receive them, and a portion to escort them out of the city.
At this moment, after sending off the people from the palace, Yin San finally heaved a sigh of relief. He planned to dote on his concubine and have fun. Just as the Jiazhou Residence was in a good mood, they were woken up by the butler.
The head of Jiazhou Residence was exasperated, but there was nothing he could do. He cursed and got up from his concubine. He hurriedly put on his clothes and went to the study.
The head of the Jiazhou Residence took the note from the spy and frowned. “The Xie Residence is leaving? I’ve been sending people to keep an eye on the Xie Residence these past few days, but I didn’t notice anything amiss.”
The spy said respectfully, “The news was spread by the spy we arranged in the Xie Residence. The Xie Residence should be wary of the government office, so they arranged it very carefully. They also planned to escape with the entire family, so it was inevitable that there would be a commotion in the family. That’s why the spy noticed something amiss and quickly reported it.”
The head of the Jiazhou Residence stared at the note for a long time. “Perhaps it’s because Changfeng’s teasing of Princess Shaoyi on the streets last time aroused the suspicion of the Xie family. During this period of time, Quanzhou has begun to be under martial law, and the Xie family has noticed something amiss.” He pondered for a while before saying, “Bring 500 elite troops to the Xie family immediately.”
“Lord.” The spy was originally someone beside King Liang, so he was a little hesitant. “There’s still no news from the King. If we go over rashly, won’t we alert the enemy?”
Jiazhou Residence immediately said, “There’s been a lot of commotion in Quanzhou recently. Princess Shaoyi is the eldest daughter of the first wife nurtured by an aristocratic family. She’s also seen the world in the capital. Perhaps she has sensed something, but she’s been holding it in because she doesn’t have any evidence and because the Xie family is controlled by the government for self-protection.”