Chapter 277: Chapter 277

"Lord Han, you're too kind. I wouldn't call it experience—regarding cultivation practices in various prefectures' mountainous regions, these years I've merely been in the process of exploration..."

Finally, she let out a light laugh:

"Only after numerous trial-and-error attempts have I achieved these modest results."

The visitor quickly clasped his hands in return with a smile:

"Your Highness is truly too modest. If this can only be called modest results, then we officials should surely die of shame."

By the time offices closed, the government building was quite bustling with people coming and going. From time to time, someone would approach, carrying recently organized documents.

On a small table not far away stood an exquisitely crafted pale green jade double-eared incense burner, occasionally emitting faint wisps of blue smoke.

Despite the oppressive summer heat and humidity, being in this room somehow evoked the refreshing sensation of clear lotus blossoms swirling and green water rippling, inexplicably uplifting one's spirits.

It was even more expensive than the finest agarwood available. Despite this, every time it came to market, supply could never meet demand.

Even he had only had the chance to encounter it briefly through sheer coincidence.

But this one before him...

Feeling an indescribable mental clarity throughout his body, Han Qi's eyes flickered thoughtfully. This one clearly surpassed what he had seen before, whether in fragrance or effect, by several levels.

This was likely also the handiwork of the person before him.

Incense, exotic flowers, cosmetic shops popular throughout Bianjing and various regions, workshops everywhere... and even the mountain estates, orchards, breeding facilities he had personally visited earlier in Dingzhou. Even the most barren land could be transformed into something remarkable.

Just from what he knew, the profits involved needed no deep consideration—one only had to look at the nearly doubled tax revenues in Dingzhou and various regions over these past few years to get a glimpse.

Truly worthy of being someone who could revitalize local economies and livelihoods with a wave of the hand while remaining far away in Bianjing.

Amid midsummer, occasional cicada chirps drifted through the window.

Looking at the princess before him who was not yet twenty, even Han Qi couldn't help but feel a sense of regret about wasted years.

"As Your Highness says, if this system can be implemented, it would indeed be wonderful. However, in its promotion, I'm afraid there won't be few opposing voices in the court!"

"Lord Han, rest assured—things achieved slowly are done well. This principle I do understand..."

Han Qi unconsciously narrowed his eyes.

He always felt that given this person's usual methods, she didn't seem like someone who would easily retreat or compromise.

Thinking this to himself, the lord before him maintained his usual expression.

Tsk, truly an old fox!

Sipping the light tea in her hand, An Ning couldn't help but click her tongue inwardly.

It had to be said that speaking with intelligent people was truly a pleasant thing, especially when this person was, in a sense, your superior.

The two went back and forth about current policies until the sunset was about to descend, with some rosy hues appearing at the horizon. Only then did they emerge from the Three Departments government office one after the other.

Outside the hall, Han Yue along with Sima Xiang and several others had been waiting there for some time. Seeing An Ning return, they hurried forward to meet her.

Sima Xiang personally stepped forward, offering the freshly brewed cool tea prepared by attendants with her own hands, saying solicitously:

"Your Highness, why are you returning so late today? Did you encounter any troubles at the office?"

As she spoke, she carefully passed over the freshly iced watermelon beside her. Her originally pretty little face now unconsciously showed some unease.

Seeing her , An Ning couldn't help but shake her head with a light laugh, saying seriously:

"I merely chatted a bit more with several ministers—nothing major. But you, A-Xiang, really don't need to be in the future..."

As these words fell, Sima Xiang's face instinctively paled.

Sima Xiang's features were originally delicate, with a slender and graceful figure—in modern terms, she had the classic innocent, vulnerable appearance. Now, holding back tears, she appeared even more pitiable and touching.

Especially when she looked at you with those tear-filled eyes.

Even An Ning felt her heart soften momentarily.

She inwardly exclaimed that the lethality of the innocent, vulnerable type was truly max level!

"Alright, I know what you're worried about. Didn't I say before? Your father is your father, and you are you..."

"Besides, A-Xiang!" Pulling her to one side, An Ning raised her elegant eyebrows in pretended anger:

"What, after knowing each other for so many years, don't you understand what kind of person I am, your princess?"

They were just some harmless impeachments—she didn't take them to heart.

Of course, this was on the condition that this person remained useful.

Thinking about how this person, whether in her previous life or now, constantly preached about virginity virtues, An Ning couldn't help but scoff inwardly.

"No, Your Highness, I just... I just..."

"Just feel that A-Xiang... A-Xiang is truly useless..."

Meeting her princess's gaze, the moisture in Sima Xiang's eyes increased.

Among their group of four study companions, Sister Yue was not only clever but also skilled at management and handling accounts. For many years now, she had been handling various matters for Her Highness in different regions. Her father, Lord Han, was a pillar of the state and had no disagreements with Her Highness whatsoever.

Sister Cao came from a prestigious family, her mother also from a renowned clan. Even though the Cao family's attitude toward Her Highness's political participation was somewhat ambiguous, it didn't affect Her Highness's trust in her at all.

Even the previous imperial estates affairs had been entirely handled by Sister Cao.

Besides, Sima Xiang wasn't foolish—being able to make original supporters of Her Majesty the Empress remain neutral showed Sister Cao's capabilities.

Even the most lively and carefree Younger Sister Zhou was also outstanding in martial arts. Her family had been Her Highness's earliest supporters, adding many connections in the military over the years.

Only she, apart from the poetry and literature she had once been proud of, had almost nothing.

Even her father... her father didn't consider his daughter's situation at all.

Thinking of her mother at home who constantly talked about hoping she would follow rules to have a comfortable life in the future, Sima Xiang felt increasingly distressed...

Why? She had studied diligently since childhood, never slacking in any subject for a single day, far surpassing her sisters in poetry.

Why couldn't she use her abilities to secure a future for herself?

"Enough!" Seeing what was in the other's heart, a smile unconsciously appeared at the corners of An Ning's mouth:

"A-Xiang, don't underestimate yourself. Have you forgotten? If not for your previous poetry and literary works, Yuyan Workshop including the previous exotic flowers and incense wouldn't have their current reputation among literary circles."

After all, no matter how good something is, good wine needs no bush!

To be honest, An Ning was quite satisfied with her highly literate little propaganda expert.

Gently wiping away the tears about to overflow from the other's eyes, as if remembering something, An Ning soon said with a smile:

"If A-Xiang has free time recently, I happen to have something for you to do!"

"And among everyone, only A-Xiang is most suitable for this!"

As these words fell, Sima Xiang's eyes instantly brightened.

"As long as I can serve Your Highness, A-Xiang will do anything."

A small publication called the Morning Gazette quickly became popular in Bianjing. At first, people didn't pay much attention, thinking it was no different from ordinary tabloids. Only the price seemed cheaper, and the content more interesting.

This dynasty had open customs, with freedom of speech among scholars. Thus, not only were there official publications, but many folk tabloids were also popular, some even containing various court political affairs, often discussed in wine shops and tea houses.

It wasn't until several months later that one piece of news instantly shocked the court.

In June, starting from the south, a sudden drought swept through various prefectures, followed closely by a locust plague that quickly invaded major northern prefectures. Along the way, You (Prefecture), Bing (Prefecture), Si (Prefecture), and Ji (Prefecture) all faced disaster, and it now seemed to have a southward trend...

The next day, while court officials were still arguing noisily about the impending disaster.

She inwardly exclaimed that the destructive power of the innocent, vulnerable type was truly max level!

What? Last year, on the imperial estates managed by Her Highness the Princess, medical experts specializing in this field had developed several special medicines.

Like herbicides, even medicines that could resist various harmful insects. Most importantly, to combat the possible locust plague, every household in the capital could receive doses for ten mu of land free of charge with their household registration.

Those needing more could additionally purchase with money at similarly low prices. Everyone calculated that it came to less than ten wen per mu—an extremely low price.

Naturally, some were skeptical about the new medicine. But as the saying goes, free things—why not take them? However skeptical, people were still quite diligent in obtaining them.

Long lines quickly formed before the major imperial estates.

Especially seeing the noticeably heavier wheat ears in several fields near these imperial estates.

For farming families, land was everything. Seeing this scene, something quickly flashed in everyone's eyes. Some clever ones had even started asking nearby tenants:

"I say, brother, aren't we all growing wheat in these fields? How come yours looks so different!"

Busy applying medicine to the fields, a sun-tanned older brother in short coarse clothing didn't even look up, his face full of excitement:

"It's all because our Princess is amazing! Since taking over the imperial estates several years ago, she personally brought people here for that... it's called inspection, right!"

"That's not all—from seedling cultivation to planting, she had people test everything step by step, even specially ordering various good things to use in the fields. They call this experimental fields..."

Then he pointed at several people not far away:

"See those people in white clothes up ahead? Those are the talented people specially selected and trained by Her Highness. I heard that for any results, the rewards this time are at least several hundred guan!"

"Gasp! Se... several hundred guan!"

The young fellow farmer stared in shock.

"Exactly! They have money! Don't say several hundred guan—if you're skilled enough and make contributions... even several thousand guan!"

"Not only that—we had an experienced old hand here before who didn't know any characters, just shared some unknown experiences, and received exactly this much! Enough to enjoy for a lifetime!"

Holding up five fingers, the tenant brother clicked his tongue enviously.

Thinking that with so much silver dangling before them, wouldn't they exert all their effort!

"Ah, the first few years had some failures, but these recent years have been amazing! The harvest from one mu of land isn't much different from one and a half, even two mu before!"

"This... this is too incredible..."

The visitor clicked his tongue again, especially looking at these heavy wheat ears.

"This... brother, besides these insecticide medicines, I wonder if the imperial estates sell anything else..."

Similarly, identical conversations were happening all around Bianjing's suburbs.

Having witnessed this scene firsthand and repeatedly tested that it wouldn't harm plants, except for a very few who refused to believe, everyone quickly put it to use. Especially those with more land—they treated it as spending money for peace of mind.

Facts proved they were indeed right.

For a long time afterward, everyone felt fortunate about this decision.

Sure enough, several days later, locust swarms indeed came swarming. However, perhaps due to excessive losses along the way, they didn't form an overwhelming force. Even so, farmers were still badly frightened.

Especially after seeing bare tree trunks, or those who tried to save money unwilling to spend an extra ten or hundred wen, resulting in everything beyond the allotted ten mu being completely devoured...

Or those who thought themselves clever and didn't dilute with water according to the specified ratio—well, the medicine concentration wasn't enough to repel, let alone kill locusts. The consequences were predictable...

They really couldn't even cry about it!

In short, after this battle, Princess Fukang's name instantly resounded throughout Bianjing and beyond. To farmers, she was truly no different from a living bodhisattva.

Also famous at the same time was the "Morning Gazette" that first brought the news.

Under some thoughtful guidance, people now realized. Oh, so the gazette from the beginning didn't just contain various poems and literary works, court politics, but also various contents about planting and animal husbandry.

Even the various new medicines, fertilizers previously released on imperial estates were all included. Even sale times and addresses...

Only at first, some people didn't pay enough attention. And farming families mostly couldn't read, let alone read newspapers.

Recalling what they saw that day at the imperial estates, some clever village heads, local leaders, even appointed farmers had started collecting newspapers through the entire village's efforts.

Every new issue, they обязательно found literate villagers to read aloud on the spot. Indeed, it brought some excellent news.

For example, the imperial estates had released new farming tools with attached patterns and usage instructions—everyone could make their own.

For example, how to prevent poultry diseases, tips for rapid growth of poultry and livestock, fertilizer production, etc.

Another example: several months ago, a ship brought something from overseas called chili pepper, excellent for seasoning. Many capital restaurants had considerable demand, with prices now reaching over fifty wen per jin. Those interested could come to the imperial estates tomorrow to receive some seeds for free...

In short, with the locust disaster's favorable momentum, especially after tasting the benefits, the "Morning Gazette" quickly took root in Bianjing and various regions.

With the good news of the quickly resolved locust disaster in Bianjing and remaining prefectures, court officials' attention once again focused on this princess who always seemed full of surprises.

Especially her recent various actions in the Ministry of Revenue and even throughout the court that could be called swift and decisive...

Pretending not to see the meaningful looks from above and all around, An Ning routinely attended court and left offices as usual, occasionally enjoying spring and tasting tea with her female companions...

Until this day, at Zichen Palace.

"Your Majesty, historically princesses participating in court politics already violates ancestral teachings. Now Princess Fukang clearly had solutions early on but remained silent, instead using this to recklessly seek fame among the people.

Your Majesty, this... this... the Princess's actions clearly show disregard for the court, disregard for Your Majesty! Even... even treacherous intentions!"