Chapter 50: Ginseng

He casually dug a hole, buried the ginseng in it, leaving only the red fruits exposed.

"Third Brother! I've dug up a lot of cinnabar roots!"

When Chi Nan Yi finished speaking, Chi Huai Qian ran over, looked at the pile of cinnabar roots weighing at least fifty jin, and said in disbelief, "Isn't this just bullying? I went up the mountain and couldn't find a single one, yet you come back with basket after basket. Could these things have some spirit? Only appear when you go up the mountain?"

Chi Nan Yi touched his nose tip, smiled and said, "Maybe it's because I'm more good‑looking."

"That may be so." Chi Huai Qian looked at Chi Nan Yi: "My little sister is naturally the most beautiful!" At that moment, a few red dots behind Chi Nan Yi caught his attention.

Sensing his gaze, Chi Nan Yi knew he had spotted the ginseng he had just buried.

"Little sister, there are red fruits behind too, they look like cinnabar roots as well," Chi Huai Qian said, glancing at the densely packed red fruits in the back basket and then at the noticeably shrunken red fruits, shaking his head: "Forget it, they look like the big ones that have been pulled out, probably haven't grown yet; the roots likely don't weigh much either. Let them grow longer. We'll harvest them later."

Chi Nan Yi: "…"

Pulled… pulled out?

What kind of adjectives are these?

How are his Third Brother's eyes shaped? They're both red, but those fruits clearly look different!

Completely different, okay?

She had previously thought his Third Brother just didn't know herbs, but now it was obvious he was clueless.

She silently rolled her eyes.

Chi Nan Yi walked up to the red fruit plant, feigned surprise and said, "Third Brother! This isn't cinnabar root!"

Not cinnabar root?

"Ginseng! This is ginseng!"

"What?" Chi Huai Qian blinked: "Ginseng? The ginseng you speak of is… the priceless ginseng?"

"Exactly!" Chi Nan Yi brushed aside the soil, slowly revealing the root.

Earlier, Chi Nan Yi had arranged the root's position to make the ginseng look more authentic, pressing the soil a bit firmer.

Now it seems she was being unnecessary.

She carefully lifted the ginseng from the soil, smiling, "Third Brother, look! Ginseng! It really is ginseng!"

Chi Huai Qian's hand brushed his own body, wanting to reach for it but fearing to damage it.

"This is ginseng!" Chi Huai Qian murmured, "I once heard the village elders say ginseng grows looking like a person; now it truly is! How much silver could we sell it for?"

"If we were in Jingcheng, such ginseng might fetch a hundred taels, but here the price would be lower, though not too cheap. In a bit we'll go to the town to inquire; if we get a good price, our house can be rebuilt."

"Good, good, good!" Chi Huai Qian withdrew his hand: "I won't touch it; if I damage it we can't sell it." He tore a piece of cloth from his clothing to wrap the ginseng; Chi Nan Yi carefully stored the ginseng, and the two, without returning home, got into a carriage and headed straight for the town.

The news of the locust disaster in Qingjun County quickly reached Jingcheng.

The Emperor saw the memorial and, unusually, smiled.

The officials below heard the locust disaster news, originally trembling while awaiting the Emperor's wrath, never expecting the Emperor to smile.

Smiled!

Led by Meng Hui, the first‑ and second‑rank officials exchanged glances: what's wrong with the Emperor?

Extreme anger turned to laughter?

"Good! Very good!" the Emperor laughed, "I never imagined such terrifying locust disaster would wipe out half of Qingjun County without even passing over it, truly unheard of! Bring them!"

"Your servant is here."

"Transmit my decree: Xie Yuwei, deputy magistrate of Qingjun County, has merit in resisting the locusts; I am very pleased, seeing his virtue and talent are both outstanding, fit for great responsibilities, may he uphold loyalty, fulfill his duties, assist me, and be rewarded with two hundred taels of silver and a hundred mu of good land, making the people the foundation of the state, a solid state brings peace. Now Qingjun County has suffered a locust disaster, crops damaged; to prevent the people from becoming homeless, I, concerned for the realm, exempt Qingjun County's farmers from taxes."

The civil and military officials bowed and said, "Your Majesty is wise."

The Emperor, holding the memorial, smiled: "Xie Yuwei is indeed a talent; after some time we can invite him to serve in Jingcheng." He glanced down: "Where is Prince Li?"

"Sir, Prince Li has taken leave today."

"Again taking leave?" The Emperor furrowed his brows, said gravely, "Has his leg ailment flared again? Should someone go see him?"

Crown Prince Mo Junheng heard this, stepped forward: "Father, I will personally go to the Prince's residence to look."

The Emperor thought, shook his head: "Fine, his health is already poor and he's at odds with you; if you go you'll only add to his distress. You shouldn't go." He turned to the elder beside him and said, "You go."

"Yes."

Crown Prince Mo Junheng's expression turned sour; his father's words were a public slap. Clearly he is the Crown Prince, yet Mo Junyan is now a useless man; even so, he still receives his father's special favor.

The officials below kept their heads low, daring not even to breathe.

It's a joke; now whoever speaks is a fool.

One is the Emperor, the other the future Emperor.

Offending either would mean not only losing one's own head but the entire clan, from top to bottom, would be wiped clean.

After returning to the Hall of Nurturing the Heart, the Emperor sent someone to investigate Prince Li's residence.

"Your Majesty, Prince Li does not seem to be in the residence."

"Not in the residence?" The Emperor threw the document onto the table, his face full of anger: "That brat, even though he's lame, still disobedient, why is he running around? Does anyone know where he went?"

"Your Majesty, in a few days it will be the Empress's death anniversary; will the Prince…"

After the words fell, the Emperor's expression tightened. Li Defu, realizing what he had said, hurriedly slapped himself and said, "Your Majesty, forgive me, the old servant spoke without restraint."

The Emperor sat in his chair, his gaze fixed on the opened page; after a while he waved his hand: "Get out."

"Yes."

The Emperor opened the hidden compartment beside the desk, revealing a dragon‑phoenix pendant.

He rubbed the jade pendant, his expression obscure and unreadable.

At this moment in Changxi Town, Mo Junyan sat in a refined room, his gaze toward the street below; Yun Shui stepped forward and whispered, "Lord, the person you seek has arrived."

Mo Junyan slowly turned his head, looking at the old man and speaking softly, "Sir, no need to be nervous; I summoned you today merely to ask a few questions."

Zhao Xifeng looked at him with sincere fear, body trembling slightly, "Your Excellency, please ask."

"Who actually devised the method for dealing with this locust disaster?"