pdf-ebookys Chapter 81 What is Yuan Jieyu doing?
Chapter 81 What is Yuan Jieyu doing?
The emperor ate a potato and felt full.
Shen Congzhang realized the significance of these two species to the Great Zhou Dynasty, and knelt down, saying, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! It would be wonderful if these two species could be promoted and cultivated in our Great Zhou Dynasty. But I wonder what kind of climate and soil they are suitable for?"
The Emperor said, "You truly are a man of action; you've hit the nail on the head. These two crops, along with corn, are much easier to grow than wheat and rice. I've heard they can grow even in sandy soil and can be planted all over the country."
All the officials offered their congratulations.
One of the ministers asked, "Heaven has blessed our Emperor with such a divinely bestowed species. I wonder who has rendered such a great service to our Great Zhou? Your Majesty, such a person deserves a great reward!"
The Emperor laughed and said, "It is a great reward, but you need not inquire about who it is. I know the answer in my heart. Shen Congzhang, listen to my command. I appoint you as the chief promoter of the new crop. This task is entrusted to you, but there is no need to rush."
"If we can successfully breed and promote this new species in the next two years, that will be a great achievement!"
"I obey your decree!"
The officials then admired the tomatoes, peppers, and corn that the emperor had grown.
The emperor was quite stingy; he only gave each of them a slice of tomato. For those who could handle spicy food, the emperor cut off a small piece for each of them to try. It was really spicy, making them chuckle.
Even those who can't handle spicy food tried it, and it was so spicy it was unbearable.
One person tasted a section of corn and estimated its yield. Corn needs to be threshed, and the yield per mu (unit of land area) is about five shi (unit of dry measure), which is incomparable to potatoes and sweet potatoes. However, it is easy to grow and can be planted on the ridges of fields. Its yield per mu is also higher than that of rice and wheat!
The key is that this thing is suitable for the climate in the North.
The officials were very excited, and when they left the palace, they all looked as if they had drunk three catties of Erguotou (a type of Chinese liquor).
Li Yuanke was also happy and wanted to go to Zhaoyang Palace to share the joy with Shen Shixi. Remembering that the scoundrel was still angry, he asked, "What is Consort Yuan doing?"
Li Fude thought to himself, "How would I know?"
"Your Majesty, Zhaoyang Palace is not open today either. However, I heard that the people inside are taking turns to take three days off each. I haven't seen Consort Yuan come out either. But a couple of days ago, Consort Yuan asked someone to buy a lot of storybooks from outside. I suppose she has been reading them these past few days."
"You damned scoundrel, you're quite patient!" Li Yuanke said. "Go to the storeroom and pick out some good things for Consort Yuan as a reward, and while you're at it, see what she's doing!"
Li Fude, leading a large entourage, carried over twenty boxes of gifts and bowed respectfully to Shen Shixi, saying, "Greetings to Consort Yuan!"
"Please rise, Eunuch Li. You are a servant of the Emperor; there's no need for such formality!"
"The proper etiquette must not be neglected!" Li Fude said with a smile. "Consort Yuan, here are today's rewards, as well as the silver that the Emperor mentioned he would reward you with at Qingyi Garden last time. This servant brought it over this time. It totals five thousand taels of silver, one thousand taels of gold, and a box of copper coins for your reward."
Besides these, there were some exquisite ornaments, as well as silks, satins and jewelry. Seeing the two large boxes of furs, Shen Shixi remembered that people here used to cover themselves with furs in the winter, and cotton had not yet been introduced to the world.
Cotton had long been cultivated and spun in Xiling, but in Da Zhou it was still considered an ornamental plant.
Ordinary people couldn't afford fur coats, so they used reeds, willow catkins, and straw to keep warm.
Shen Shixi had two thick cotton quilts herself, so she didn't pay attention to this matter.
She also has cotton seeds, but cultivating them will take time.
It won't work this year; the season is long over. Besides, there's no rush. The imperial court needs to spend time and energy promoting new crops.
However, she doesn't plan to plant cotton in Zhaoyang Palace anymore, because those things love to attract insects and crawl everywhere. She's most afraid of those fleshy insects, and the cotton bollworm is one of them.
And they climb everywhere.
Shen Shixi said, "Go to the flower room and get a few pots of pretty chrysanthemums. Put them under the eaves. It's almost a festival, so we need some atmosphere. Everyone, cheer up! I haven't fallen out of favor yet, and you're all already looking dejected?"
"You think you haven't fallen out of favor? Rumors are circulating that you've offended the Emperor!" Bai Ping said irritably.
Shen Shixi glared at her and poked her forehead. "How pathetic! You've offended them, so what? Why are you so scared?"
"Aren't you afraid of being relegated to the cold palace?" Bai Ping asked.
"If the Emperor doesn't come, wherever you stay will be a cold palace. But the Emperor will still come, won't he? It'll be better to stop worrying when even the Emperor's imperial carriage stops passing through here!"
Chao En rushed in. "Your Highness, the flower room said that all the chrysanthemums for this year have been distributed. The remaining ones will be placed in the Imperial Garden tomorrow. Not a single pot will be given to our palace."
Shen Shixi chuckled. "They've all been distributed? Does that mean each palace already had its share? So who took ours?"
Chao En said, "It's all my fault. I didn't send someone to move our allowance in time, so they gave it to another palace."
"Who did they all go to?" Shen Shixi asked.
"Four pots were given to Wangxian Pavilion, and four pots were given to Qing Zhaoyuan Palace."
"The Second Prince is going back. Is Consort Qing trembling again? How is Consort Jin's injury healing?"
"The wound has healed, and you can walk around! The imperial physician said there's nothing seriously wrong, but you'll need to rest for a while longer."
"Did she know she couldn't have children?"
"They probably don't know."
Shen Shixi said, "Forget it, let's not bother with her for now, considering she's a pitiful person. Let her be as smug as she wants. When she has her day to cry, our people don't need to put effort into this. After all, she was just accompanying the emperor."
Consort Qing's rank is higher than mine, and I can't compete with her. Have someone transport all the potatoes and sweet potatoes to Qian Yuan Palace, and send over the "Manual for Planting and Storage of the Five Major Crops" that I drafted. Ask the Emperor if it's worth exchanging for a few pots of chrysanthemums from Qian Yuan Palace.
No sooner had Chao En left than the head eunuch of the flower room arrived carrying twelve pots of chrysanthemums, kowtowing to Shen Shixi. "This servant greets Your Highness. While I was away, the children were ignorant and offended Your Highness's servants. Please forgive them!"
He had just heard that Consort Yuan had offended the Emperor and lost his favor, but who knew that the Emperor would reward Zhaoyang Palace so handsomely.
"It's common for people in the palace to treat others differently based on their status, so I don't blame you. But I don't want these flowers; they're not pretty, and I don't like them. If you really want to curry favor with me, go to Consort Jin's and Consort Qing's palaces and bring me the chrysanthemums that were given to them."
"This... Consort Yuan, please forgive me, this servant really... how could I possibly offend such noble people like this?"
"So, I'm someone you can offend, but other important people you can't?" Shen Shixi smiled. "Then you may leave!"
The flower room manager, unaware of the situation, breathed a sigh of relief, relieved that Consort Yuan wouldn't hold it against her.
Inside the Qian Yuan Palace, after reviewing Shen Shixi's "Manual for the Cultivation and Storage of Five Major Crops," Li Yuanke asked Chao En, "Is your master's chrysanthemum missing from the palace?"
Chao En said, "His Majesty doesn't like the chrysanthemums sent from the flower shop, but only has his eye on the ones from Qian Yuan Palace, hoping to receive a reward from His Majesty!"
Li Fude, being a quick-witted man, chimed in, "Your Majesty, the flower shop has had all the chrysanthemums that were originally meant for Zhaoyang Palace moved to Wangxian Pavilion and Chengming Palace. Not a single pot was left for Zhaoyang Palace."