Chapter 346: with translation of chapter title

The more Gu Xixi spoke, the less anxious she felt.

Presumably the emperor himself had little fondness for playing matchmaker.

The so-called bestowal of marriage was merely a means to keep her in the capital, convenient for having her serve the court.

Only by making the emperor realize that her remaining unmarried could create more benefits.

This works better than saying anything else.

"As for this humble woman's coming to the capital this time, it is to plant tea trees and open tea fields in Qing Tian County."

"Although the Northwest itself does not produce tea, it manufactures the renowned brick tea known inside and out. Yet all tea exported to the Western Regions and the North must pass through the Northwest. This humble woman wishes to become an official tea merchant, opening several tea trade routes from the Northwest."

"Furthermore, in the humble woman's Huachi Du Cun, the yearly millet yield per mu has been only three to four hundred catties; last autumn, when everyone first used the method she proposed, the average yield per mu reached over five hundred catties."

When Gu Xixi said these words, the young emperor listened attentively.

He had concealed his talents and bided his time in his youth, leaving the capital for his fief; in fact, his inner ambition and ability were no less than his father's.

The late empress dowager's relatives' faction brought disaster to the state, excluding dissenters, extorting the people, disturbing local order, leaving too many gaps.

The Great Undertaking Dynasty first waged a great war against the Northern Li, then sent troops to suppress the relatives.

After these drains, the national treasury could no longer bear the burden.

Thus, when the emperor first ascended the throne, he had no choice but to issue successive orders for rest and recuperation, solely to revive the people's livelihood.

And what Gu Xixi has done—border stability, grain yield increase, tea trade prosperity, stimulating commerce, etc. —is exactly what the emperor wants.

Gu Xixi bowed deeply, prostrating herself fully, saying, "This humble woman has not yet personally realized all of this."

"Please, Your Majesty, do not be so eager to have this humble woman marry!"

The former sentence was spoken solemnly, while the latter carried a hint of a little girl's coquettish pleading.

The facts proved that Gu Xixi's gamble was correct.

Only the emperor's hearty laughter was heard, clearly indicating his good mood: "Indeed, Qi Xiu was right."

Gu Xixi lay still, glancing sideways from the corner of her eye, muttering to herself, "What scheme has he cooked up for her again?"

The emperor smiled at Mu Nan Zhao and said, "You said I need not regard Boss Gu as an ordinary young lady, that she is fully worth a man's use; now I understand."

Gu Xixi could not help but mutter, "The Regent Prince's meaning is simply to 'use women as men, men as beasts'; please, Your Majesty, exploit to your heart's content!"

Still, this is far better than being a useless person in the emperor's eyes and being casually tossed into marriage.

Mu Nan Zhao said, "Your Majesty has heard her say so much; is there anything else you wish to ask?"

At this moment, the atmosphere in the hall had already relaxed.

The emperor, smiling, looked at Gu Xixi and said, "Melons, fruits, tea leaves, and the fine grain grown on the border—help the Dependents Village become self-sufficient. I understand these still need time for you to promote."

"But speaking of visible results, last year the Northwest Army itself produced a large quantity of grain and fodder, supporting two campaigns and adding winter rations for the entire army; this merit I already know."

"However, the millet yield increase you just mentioned has piqued my interest more."

"According to my understanding, grain production in the Northwest is not easy; historically the mu yield of millet has been at most three hundred fifty to four hundred catties, and that is on relatively good irrigated land; on dry or sloped land, a yield of around two hundred catties is already not bad."

Gu Xixi secretly thought, it seems the emperor also came prepared.

The Northwest is not an important source of land tax for the Great Undertaking Dynasty and has always been neglected by the court.

Had he not investigated her affairs beforehand, how would the emperor know so clearly about the Northwest's agricultural data?

Indeed, the emperor immediately asked, "Boss Gu, how did you achieve this?"

The shift from addressing her as "Miss Gu" to "Boss Gu" signifies a change in the emperor's consideration of Gu Xixi.

And Gu Xixi naturally would not disappoint the emperor; she had come prepared.

"This humble woman petitions Your Majesty to gradually implement the new farming method nationwide."

She produced a folded sheet of paper, holding it aloft with both hands over her head.

Receiving the emperor's glance, the chief eunuch hurried down to take the paper and returned to present it to the emperor.

The emperor flipped through it momentarily, then raised his eyes and asked, "Is this your exclusive secret formula?"

"If you intend to promote it nationwide, why is it that only your village and a few people have learned this method?"

Gu Xixi replied, "Actually there is no secret formula; aside from the pesticides and fertilizers used, the rest is merely methods and ways."

"Your Majesty governs all under heaven, myriad and complex; naturally you understand better than this humble woman, and often actions must be made to suit the times and shift with circumstances."

The emperor, seeming thoughtful, glanced at Gu Xixi and said, "Rise, sit and continue speaking."

Gu Xixi sat down again, her heart already free of tension, her mind filled only with what she was saying at that moment.

"Farming sounds simple, but doing it well is not easy."

"Soil and water differ from place to place, as does sunlight; if everyone rigidly copies a single method, how can maximum benefit be achieved?"

The emperor lowered his gaze to the paper, "So you say promoting it nationwide is not a short-term endeavor; it requires long-term vision."

"The court will uniformly train agricultural officials, passing down experience layer by layer; finally, county-level grassroots agricultural officials will go into the fields to find the most suitable local methods, while simultaneously spreading the new farming technique."

"Moreover, establishing official pesticide and fertilizer workshops in each locality can initially benefit the people."

Gu Xixi straightened her expression, "Yes."

"However, some profit can be seen in the short term; it can only be said that promoting nationwide still requires several years."

The emperor's expression turned solemn; after a moment, he looked at Gu Xixi and said solemnly, "Boss Gu's plan will benefit a thousand generations."

"As for the specifics of implementation, I will certainly give it careful thought."

Having spoken, the emperor smiled freely at Gu Xixi, "The matters you yourself must attend to must not be neglected; should you encounter any difficulty, go to the Qing Tian County Office—if the county office cannot handle it, go to the prefectural office."

His eyes deepened, "From now on, in every locality there will be someone to aid your smooth passage."

Gu Xixi's gamble today in coming before the emperor was ultimately for this passport.

She performed a solemn kowtow, saying, "This humble woman thanks Your Majesty's trust; I will surely devote my utmost effort not to fail Your Majesty's present regard."

Upon exiting the first corridor, Gu Xixi lifted her head to gaze at the sky, feeling as if she had just awakened from a great dream.

The sentiments stirred by her earlier remarks have not yet fully settled.

Mu Nan Zhao suddenly asked, "It's noon; what do you feel like eating later?"

Gu Xixi glared at him angrily, "Can you give me a moment? I don't feel like eating."

Mu Nan Zhao walked behind her with one hand clasped behind his back, matching her steps leisurely, apparently in a good mood.

"The glazed squab from the Hall of Gathered Worthies has a translucent, crisp skin; biting into it feels like a thin sugar shell—crack—while the inside meat is tender and juicy, seasoned with over thirty secret spices through six steps..."

Gu Xixi couldn't help but swallow.

Just a moment ago she didn't feel hungry.

But hearing Mu Nan Zhao describe the glazed squab, his tone was melodious and vivid.

It seemed as if the fragrant, colorful, flavorful squab were right before her lips.

Gu Xixi's stomach suddenly growled with hunger, so much that she felt panicked.

"Hurry up and go!"

"Go eat!"