Chapter 421

Lv Jing's heart surged, and she also stood up and raised her cup, "As a commoner girl, I also wish the Prince, to grow old together with his beloved."

She said, poking Gu Xixi underneath.

Mu Nan Zhao had already lifted his wine cup and drained it in one gulp, smiling slightly as he said, "Thank you, I wish for auspicious words."

He said those words while looking at Gu Xixi.

Jiang Mingyuan also drank the wine, remaining silent.

The three each had their own thoughts, plus a Xu Prefect who was completely unaware of the situation.

Xu Prefect was still feeling moved, thinking, "The Prince actually laughed and thanked a commoner girl."

Truly courteous to the virtuous and humble to scholars, his temperament is not as bad as rumored.

At this moment, Gu Xixi finally put down her chopsticks, she raised her tea cup with both hands and stood up.

"As a commoner girl, I feel the Prince's genuine emotions are far more exciting than the stories circulating in the streets."

"As a commoner girl, I am not good at drinking alcohol, so I use tea instead of wine to toast the Prince."

Mu Nan Zhao also stood up under Xu Prefect's astonished gaze.

"That Boss Gu thinks this way, I am truly pleased."

The two exchanged a smile, each drinking the water or wine in their cup.

Xu Prefect was shocked; even if the Regent Prince dislikes putting on airs, this level of approachability is… a bit too much, isn't it?

Jiang Mingyuan gave a self-mocking bitter smile, lowered his eyes, poured and drank for himself, downing three cups of wine in a row.

Lv Jing pinched her thigh excitedly, otherwise she feared she couldn't help laughing out loud.

Xu Prefect didn't notice others' reactions; his gaze shifted back and forth between Mu Nan Zhao and Gu Xixi several times.

Suddenly, a bold speculation arose.

Xu Prefect widened his eyes slightly; inwardly, he actually found it hard to believe.

But the more this was the case, the more he wanted to verify the answer.

After hesitating for a long time, Xu Prefect finally said with a smile, "I see the Prince and Boss Gu hit it off at first sight."

"Could it be that you two already knew each other before?"

Mu Nan Zhao replied lightly, "Indeed, as Sir Xu said, the Prince and Boss Gu are meeting for the first time."

Gu Xixi smiled lightly, "If not for today's fortune in borrowing the Prefect's prestige, a commoner girl like me would have no chance to meet the Prince."

Xu Prefect nodded to hide his embarrassment, "Oh, yes, that's right."

After letting out a breath, he inexplicably felt a bit disappointed.

It seems this Boss Gu merely happens to share the surname Gu by coincidence.

Jiang Mingyuan certainly hadn't forgotten his own most important matter.

He kept drinking his bitter wine, quickly composed himself, and brought up the tea garden matter to Xu Prefect.

And Gu Xixi had been waiting for this moment all evening.

She then elaborated on the advantages and disadvantages of the tea garden's site selection, planting plans, staff recruitment, tea production, varieties, and plans for opening future trade routes, etc.

Xu Prefect had already looked over the proposal in advance; he listened very attentively.

From time to time he raised his own questions.

As the local Parent Official, Jiang Mingyuan naturally also had to join the discussion.

Their conversation lasted half an hour.

Until Xu Prefect raised no further questions, his expression seemed fairly satisfied.

After all, if such a large tea garden were successfully opened, the benefits would be many.

The profitability of the tea business goes without saying.

If in the future the title "Number One Tea Garden of Xi Bei" were turned into a golden signboard, it could certainly serve as an official's political achievement.

The local Government Office would gain a substantial annual addition to public funds, and could also stimulate other taxes.

Afterwards, the tea garden will need workers; those lacking land can earn a living through labor.

In sum, it amounts to having both substance and reputation.

Xu Prefect said, "As an official, I cannot immediately agree to this matter."

"We still need to wait until tomorrow to discuss it with fellow officials before deciding."

He paused, then smiled, "In the prosperous lands of Jiangnan, silk and tea have always accounted for the largest share of tax revenue."

"Who would have thought that our impoverished, bitterly cold Xi Bei could also cultivate tea trees."

Gu Xixi knew he was already moved, but he still had doubts about whether tea trees could be successfully planted.

She looked toward Lv Jing.

Lv Jing understood, said something to the people at the table, and left her seat first.

After a while, when she returned, she was holding a whole round piece of fu tea cake.

Gu Xixi said, "This is the fu tea I made myself last year."

"If Prefect Sir does not disdain it, tomorrow we can all officials taste and evaluate it together."

Xu Prefect accepted the tea cake, and smiled with understanding.

This Boss Gu is indeed clever, able to see where his concerns lie.

Nothing is more convincing than laying out the facts directly.

That evening, they returned to the relay station.

Lv Jing then voiced her doubt, "Boss, isn't there a... all-powerful pass?"

Whenever speaking of official matters, Lv Jing would address Gu Xixi as "Boss," in order to distinguish it from daily life.

Regarding the gold medal bestowed by the emperor, Gu Xixi also told Lv Jing the truth on her way back to Xi Bei.

Gu Xixi laughed and retorted, "What do you think? Should I just slam the gold medal in front of Prefect Xu and tell him he must cooperate with me, that everything should follow my lead?"

"Hmm..." Lv Jing frowned, pondering, "Doing that wouldn't be quite right either."

Gu Xixi said, "Since it's something I ought to do, I will naturally give it my all."

We can't just think about relying on this gold medal.

Think about it: if the Cha Yuan plan itself isn't feasible—for instance, if officials are dissatisfied with some detail of the public‑private cooperation but still have to obey me because of the gold medal—

Just because Cha Yuan didn't work out doesn't mean I wasted the gold medal, right?

Lv Jing, lost in thought, said, "So even if we gain such great power, we shouldn't always rely on it."

What we ought to do ourselves, we still have to do ourselves.

Gu Xixi nodded. "It must be so."

She said earnestly, "As those who make a living from farming, there's no way to fake it."

Whether good or bad, success or failure, will be revealed to all with each season's harvest.

Lv Jing nodded solemnly.

After a moment, she asked again, "Then in what circumstances should we use this medal?"

Gu Xixi calmly said, "If someone deliberately stirs up trouble, picks fights, and their objections have no basis in reality, that is something I cannot accept at all."

Or if an emergency arises, or it concerns survival.

Lv Jing agreed, "Exactly! Good steel should be used on the blade's edge."

If we whip out this medal for every trifling matter like a fly, the more we do it, the less valuable it seems.

Gu Xixi rose to change, "Let's get some sleep early; tomorrow we await the outcome of the discussions at the government office."

In case there are further summons for questioning, we need to keep our spirits up.

After washing up, the two lay side by side on the bed.

Not knowing how much time had passed, Lv Jing might have been too excited tonight to fall asleep right away.

She whispered, "Xixi, have you fallen asleep?"

Hearing Gu Xixi give a vague hum, Lv Jing immediately turned over to face her.

Since you're not asleep, let's chat.

Your Regent Prince has finally returned to the northwest; who knows how long he'll stay this time?

Will he come home with you?

Gu Xixi closed her eyes, not intending to answer.

But hearing the last part, she still said, "I don't know; maybe he won't, maybe he will."

He's always been so carefree; there's no need to overthink it.

Besides... I haven't even planned to get married yet.

Gu Xixi's voice grew fainter, gradually turning into even, shallow breaths.

Now she was truly asleep.