Quick Transmigration: The Pregnant Little Fairy is Pampered by the Heirless Boss

Chapter 422 The Little Doctor Girl Knows How to Pamper and Flirt (Part 17)

The drill ground was crowded with people, whispering among themselves, their faces filled with anxiety and confusion.

The Emperor sat high on the platform, his cold gaze sweeping over the crowd, and raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet.

"Fellow villagers," he said in a steady and powerful voice, "I have gathered you all here today to unravel the mystery of why the wheat seeds are not germinating."

The soldiers led the group of men in black forward and removed the black cloths from their faces.

Immediately, someone among the villagers exclaimed, "Isn't that the peddler who was wandering around the village the other day?"

“Exactly.” Si Di sneered, “But they’re not here to sell goods, they’re here to harm people.”

He waved his hand, and the soldiers immediately brought out several large wooden crates, which were full of blackened wheat seeds.

Ji Xiaosong stepped forward and placed the glass cup on the table. Inside the cup were wheat seeds that had been scalded with boiling water, exactly the same as the dead seeds that the villagers had dug up.

"These people, under the orders of Liu Xiang, sneaked into the fields at night and irrigated the planting furrows with boiling water."

The Emperor's voice was as cold as ice, "They want everyone to think that I gave you the bad seed."

The crowd instantly exploded.

"That damned corrupt official!"

"This is trying to cut off our chance of survival!"

"Thanks to the general's keen insight!"

Emperor Si raised his hand to signal everyone to be quiet: "If the seeds are lost, we can only cultivate them again. But..."

Suddenly the gate to the drill ground opened, and dozens of grain carts slowly drove in, each cart piled high with sacks.

"This amount of grain is enough for the people living on the border to get through this spring."

The people cheered and jumped for joy, and some even knelt down to express their gratitude.

The Emperor's gaze softened slightly: "Rise, all of you. Protecting the people on the border is my duty."

After the crowd dispersed, Ji Xiaosong quietly tugged at Si Di's sleeve: "General, those grains..."

“It was taken from Liu Xiang’s treasury.” Emperor Si’s lips curled up slightly. “Since he dared to touch the border grain, he should be prepared to go bankrupt.”

Ji Xiaosong blinked: "That Prime Minister Liu..."

"He's just fast." A cold glint flashed in Si Di's eyes. "However, he can only escape for so long, not forever."

*

Inside the main tent, the candlelight flickered, illuminating the cold, handsome profile of the Emperor.

He held a booklet about border granaries in his hand, his brow furrowed.

"General..." Ji Xiaosong called to him softly, placing a cup of hot tea on the table.

The Emperor raised his eyes, the golden light in them appearing exceptionally profound in the dim tent: "The people's stored grain will not last more than three months."

Ji Xiaosong pursed her lips: "I know."

“The newly cultivated wheat varieties will take at least a year to harvest,” Si Di said in a low voice. “This means…”

“That means many people will starve to death on the border.” She picked up where he left off, her fingertips unconsciously clenching the hem of her clothes.

Silence fell inside the tent, broken only by the occasional soft crackling of the candlelight.

After a long silence, Ji Xiaosong took a deep breath, as if he had made up his mind: "General, I need to find new drought-resistant wheat varieties."

Si Di's eyes narrowed: "Where are you going to look?"

“The northern desert.” Her gaze was firm. “My grandfather once said that there is a kind of wild wheat there that can grow in the driest land.”

"Nonsense!" Si Di suddenly stood up, shaking the table. "The northern desert is uninhabited for thousands of miles, teeming with wild beasts. Are you going to your death alone?"

Ji Xiaosong looked up at him, her eyes showing no sign of backing down: "General, the people on the border cannot wait. If there is even a glimmer of hope, I should try."

What if we can't find it?

"Then keep looking until you find it."

Si Di stared at her for a long time, then suddenly sneered: "Who do you think you are? A bodhisattva who saves people from suffering?"

“I am not a bodhisattva,” Ji Xiaosong said softly but firmly, “but I cannot stand by and watch the people starve to death.”

Si Di strode up to her and grabbed her wrist: "Ji Xiaosong, listen carefully, the border people are my responsibility, not yours!"

“But I am also a member of the border guard!” She pulled her hand away from his, her eyes glistening with tears. “General, do you know what those children call me? They call me ‘sister,’ and they say that once I find new wheat seeds, they will be able to eat white flour buns…”

Her voice choked for a moment, but quickly regained its composure: "General, I must go. Only I am familiar with these grains."

Si Di's chest heaved violently, and his aura was so sharp it was almost tangible.

Just when Ji Xiaosong thought he was about to get angry, he suddenly turned around and punched the pillar.

"Seven days." His voice was hoarse. "I will give you seven days to prepare. Zhao Yan will lead an elite escort to escort you."

Ji Xiaosong shook her head: "No. The environment of the Northern Desert is special, and having too many people will only make us more likely to be spotted. It's easier for me to move around alone."

"you……"

"I promise I'll come back." She stepped forward and gently took Si Di's hand. "General, please trust me this once, okay?"

Si Di grabbed her wrist with his other hand, the force almost causing her pain: "If you do not return within seven days, I will personally lead troops to flatten the northern border."

Ji Xiaosong smiled and said, "Okay."

*

As dawn broke, a considerable number of people had already gathered outside the military camp gate.

Besides the emperor and his personal guards, there were also villagers from the border who rushed over upon hearing the news.

Uncle Li, leaning on his cane, shakily stepped forward carrying a cloth bag:

"Miss Ji, these are pancakes that I made overnight. Take them with you to eat on the road."

Several children also squeezed to the front, clutching freshly picked wildflowers in their hands: "Sister, come back soon!"

Ji Xiaosong's eyes welled up with tears. She bent down to take the flowers from the children and carefully pinned them to her lapel: "Okay, when my sister brings back the new seeds, we'll plant more wheat."

Si Di stood to the side, his face cold and stern, only the turbulent emotions in his eyes betraying his inner turmoil.

He raised his hand to signal his personal guards to step back, and walked alone to Ji Xiaosong.

"Remember the seven-day agreement." He said in a deep voice, taking out a bronze token from his pocket. "This is a border military order. At the post stations along the way, seeing this order is like seeing the general himself, and you can use all resources."

Ji Xiaosong took the token, her fingertips inadvertently brushing against his palm, touching a thin callus: "General, rest assured, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

Si Di was silent for a moment, then suddenly took the sword from his waist and handed it to her: "Take it."

"This..." Ji Xiaosong exclaimed in surprise, "How could the general's sword..."

"This sword is named 'Po Jun' (破军), and it has accompanied me in battle for many years." The Emperor placed the sword around her waist without allowing her to refuse. "Seeing the sword is like seeing the person. Within a thousand miles of the border, no one dares to touch you in the slightest."

The scabbard was cold, yet it seemed to carry the warmth of the Emperor's body.

Ji Xiaosong stroked the black silk ribbon wrapped around the sword hilt and said softly, "I will bring it back intact."

Si Di gave her a deep look, then suddenly raised his hand to tuck her hair, which had been ruffled by the morning breeze, into her hair: "Go and come back soon."

Those four simple words sent a shiver down Ji Xiaosong's spine.

She dared not look into his eyes again, afraid that she would waver, and nimbly mounted her horse.

"drive!"

The black steed reared up and neighed, carrying her into the distance.

The Emperor stood still, remaining motionless for a long time until the figures of the man and his horse completely disappeared at the end of the official road.