Chapter 100
Chapter 100: You Are Truly Unpleasant
Shi Zi Chu spoke succinctly: “A kind of food, high yield, easy to preserve.”
High yield and easy to preserve—this meant that the common people had gained another food source to fill their stomachs!
Ye He Qi praised, “Very impressive!”
Shi Zi Chu raised an eyebrow, her face full of satisfaction.
After resting for a while, she went to soak in a hot bath.
When she finished washing up, lunch was just ready.
During the meal, Shi Zi Chu briefly mentioned her plans for the upcoming year.
Ye He Qi listened, not fully understanding the details, and only said, “You should discuss the specific yield and implementation of the sweet potatoes with Sect Master Pei.”
Once he had dealt with the bandit problems, he would find time to learn more about it.
“Heng Prefecture is too poor. If they weren’t starving, no one would want to turn to banditry. If we can pacify them, we should,” Shi Zi Chu added.
Just as Ye He Qi thought Shi Zi Chu was speaking with compassion, she continued, “For Heng Prefecture to develop, we need to clear land for farming and repair roads for trade. These are all ready sources of labor!”
Ye He Qi pondered for a moment.
Why had he thought Shi Zi Chu was kind?
“I understand,” Ye He Qi replied, “You should rest as well. There will be time to work after the new year.”
Shi Zi Chu nodded.
A few days later, it was the eve of the new year.
As they looked at the brightly decorated residence, Shi Zi Chu and Ye He Qi wandered around with curiosity.
The festive atmosphere was strong, unlike anything they had experienced in the cultivation world.
Both were fascinated by the new traditions, fully embracing the local customs—they ate the New Year’s Eve dinner together, stayed up until midnight, and watched fireworks.
Shi Zi Chu even managed to snatch a red envelope from Ye He Qi.
After the new year, the two of them returned to their usual busy routines.
Shi Zi Chu had the ability to find sweet potatoes, but she knew nothing about farming.
This was when the local farming officials were put to use.
Those officials practically lived in the fields with Shi Zi Chu, as this was crucial to the future development of Heng Prefecture.
Pei Qing You looked down on Shi Zi Chu’s efforts, so he hardly visited.
“Not good! Prince’s consort! Not good!”
The steward of the estate rushed to Shi Zi Chu, almost tumbling over himself, and before catching his breath, he said, “Princess Rou tried to stop the wedding with her life, accusing the Seventh Prince of raising private soldiers!”
?
Before Shi Zi Chu could respond, a group of imperial guards riding horses appeared in her line of sight.
The rigid imperial guards, upon seeing Shi Zi Chu in her simple clothes, were momentarily surprised, but then one of them spoke in an authoritative tone: “Prince’s consort, please come with us to the capital!”
Shi Zi Chu remained calm and replied, “Please allow me to explain a few things.”
Since no charges had been made yet, the imperial guards did not trouble her too much.
Before Shi Zi Chu could give her explanation, the officials who had been working with her in the fields spoke out angrily.
“How many times has the Seventh Prince been wounded while suppressing bandits! How many bandits has he pacified in these last few months! The Seventh Prince is devoted to the people—how could he possibly raise private soldiers!”
“Prince’s consort, you almost froze to death in the mountains during the last winter to ensure the people of Heng Prefecture could eat! Ugh! What kind of princess is that? They slander you with baseless accusations! She’s not worthy of being a princess!”
The imperial guards, looking at the officials who were fuming with anger, did not speak.
Shi Zi Chu quickly intervened, “Do not be anxious, justice will prevail.”
“These few acres of land are the future of the people of Heng Prefecture. You must be careful,” Shi Zi Chu said with a gentle smile, “Leave it to you.”
After giving her instructions, Shi Zi Chu followed the imperial guards back.
The matter was urgent, and the imperial guards escorted them back to the capital in less than half a month.
Shi Zi Chu was allowed to return to the prince’s manor, but Ye He Qi was sent straight to the prison.
Shi Zi Chu, with no way to intervene, could only anxiously wait at home.
A few days later, the emperor visited the prison, and Ye He Qi was released into house arrest at the manor.
In a pavilion, at the chess table,
Ye He Qi and Shi Zi Chu were playing chess.
“You truly are hated by many,” Ye He Qi placed a black stone on the board. “In order to kill you, even I wasn’t spared.”
Shi Zi Chu laughed, “Isn’t that a good excuse?”
She wouldn’t dare to trap Ye He Qi like this, but Chu Zhi Rou actually dared to do so—tsk, such courage was boundless!
Ye He Qi looked at the balanced game, a smile playing on his lips.
Chu Zhi Rou had handed him such an opportunity. If he didn’t make her pay dearly, he would change his surname to Shi!
Looking at the white stone Shi Zi Chu had placed on the board, he raised an eyebrow. “Chu Zhi Sheng assigned her the title of noble consort.”
Shi Zi Chu smiled, “You’re also quite cunning.”
After Chu Kingdom’s defeat, Chu Zhi Rou, originally supposed to become empress by marrying into the kingdom, only managed to secure the position of noble consort. If it weren’t for Ye He Qi’s interference, her head would have been on the chopping block!
Ye He Qi smiled and said, “We’re a couple; why insult yourself?”
“…” Shi Zi Chu gave Ye He Qi a sidelong glance.
He certainly had a talent for annoying people.
Their stay in the capital was short, as the mess in Heng Prefecture was soon uncovered.
After the emperor investigated, they were given some compensation and allowed to return.
When they arrived back in Heng Prefecture, it was already the end of May.
Shi Zi Chu dove straight into the fields, while Ye He Qi resumed his bandit-suppressing work.
By early July, the early rice planted in March was ready for harvest.
“These rice ears! This yield!”
The officials, rubbing the rice ears, gazed at the plump grains with tears in their eyes.
“Prince’s consort, you are our food and clothing benefactor!”
“This year, fewer people will starve to death!”
…
When Pei Qing You was invited to see the progress, he found Shi Zi Chu harvesting rice in the field.
“Prefect, look!” one of the officials excitedly handed him a rice ear, “In the past, the yield per acre was just over two hundred pounds, but now it has tripled! Each acre yields over six hundred pounds!”
Pei Qing You took the rice ear from the official and then looked out at the fields, filled with golden rice.
In that moment, he felt a strange emotion that was hard to describe.
He watched Shi Zi Chu working in the fields and couldn’t help but think that she was no longer the same woman he had once despised.
“As long as we plant this kind of rice next year, the people won’t have to worry about food!” the official said excitedly.
“It’s a shame that winter comes too early in Heng Prefecture; otherwise, we could have planted late rice!”
“Don’t we still have sweet potatoes and wheat?”
“Yes, yes! Sweet potatoes! The yield of sweet potatoes is also incredibly high!”
The officials chatted excitedly, completely ignoring Pei Qing You, the prefect.
By the time they noticed, Pei Qing You had already rolled up his sleeves and taken a sickle to join them in the field.
Shi Zi Chu was sitting on the ridge, resting when Pei Qing You came over.
He sat beside her, holding a bundle of rice ears, his posture simple and grounded.
“Sorry,” Pei Qing You suddenly spoke.
Shi Zi Chu looked at him in surprise.
Had he been soul-possessed?
Seeing her surprised expression, Pei Qing You awkwardly continued, “I used to think what you were doing was pointless, but in the end, it was because of you that Heng Prefecture’s plight was solved.”
He realized he shouldn’t have judged Shi Zi Chu based on his previous biases.
Shi Zi Chu smiled softly, her voice calm and warm, “Actually, you don’t need to say this. Your attitude doesn’t affect me in any way.”
“You…” Pei Qing You’s emotions, which he had carefully built up, were instantly scattered. He felt somewhat annoyed, but in the end, he only said, “You are truly unpleasant.”