"Erhu's wife, that's a very unpleasant thing to say!" Widow Liu said, her face showing some displeasure. "This hot pot and the beef and mutton were all gifts from the Lady of Le'an County. How can you say they were taken?"

After saying that, she turned to go home. Everyone in the village said that river mussels could spit out pearls, so she had to hurry and get a bucket to collect river mussels.

This is all thanks to the Lady of Le'an County; only a fool would refuse it.

“Princess of Le’an County?” Madam Qian frowned and pulled the person back.

I just ran into a princess who looked like a ghost in white, and now another county princess is here.

What day is it today? Why have all sorts of strange and monstrous things come to Shanghe Village?!

"Such a big thing happened in the village today, don't you know?" Widow Liu looked at her stunned expression with a strange look on her face.

Then, her eyes darted around, and she handed the large bowl in her arms to her two sons, winking at them to hurry home and get the wooden bucket.

Qian gave an embarrassed smile, "I just overslept at home and didn't notice! Aunt Liu, don't try to talk nonsense with me, tell me quickly what happened in the village..."

Widow Liu didn't care whether she had overslept or not, and with a smile, she poured out everything that had happened that day like beans spilling out.

Only after seeing the other person's dumbfounded look did she wiggle her hips and walk away.

Not only did Su Bai marry the man she wanted, but she also lived a more carefree life than her. Only the wife her second son married was like a dirty stain left on a beautiful painting, which made her feel somewhat at ease.

Madam Qian was utterly shocked, and it took her a long time to recover. "My goodness! My sister-in-law has become a county magistrate! The entire Qingshui County belongs to her! What a powerful official she must be..."

Putting that aside for now, the gold and treasures bestowed by the Emperor himself would be enough to last a lifetime.

Furthermore, the Su family is known as a family of benevolence and righteousness. Doesn't that mean they can do whatever they want in Qingshui County, Tangshan Prefecture, and even places near Dayu?

If I had known it would turn out this way, she shouldn't have agreed to separate the family property even when she was threatening to kill herself.

The woman was filled with remorse, wishing she could go back to the day the family property was divided...

Chunhua, standing to the side, smiled so broadly her eyes narrowed. "My aunt has become a county princess! Mother, let's hurry to the end of the village to offer our congratulations!"

Although she didn't know what a county princess was, since it was bestowed by the emperor, and since both county princesses and county magistrates have the character "county" in their names, it should be similar to Yu Cheng's father, both being officials.

My sister-in-law becoming an official is a wonderful thing!

“You’re right, we should congratulate you. Even though we’ve separated our families, our blood ties can’t be broken.” Madam Qian composed herself. “But let’s wait a while, until your father comes back, and then we can go together.”

She had such a bad falling out with the village head; if she went there now, she probably wouldn't even be able to get through the door, let alone see the imperial edict, look at the gold, or touch the treasures.

The mud houses were not soundproof, and the Su family's ancestral home and the village chief's house were located one after the other, separated only by a small path. The conversation between the Qian family and the others was clearly heard by the four servants and their master around the campfire.

"No wonder this ugly thing is so annoying, it turns out it's another one surnamed Su!" Cai Die sneered, then with a slash of her dagger, she cut off the rabbit leg and sliced ​​it into thin pieces, carefully handing them to the girl. "Princess, please try some, do you like this rabbit leg meat?"

“While parents are alive, the family doesn’t separate. The fact that the second branch of the Su family was assigned here shows that the Su family isn’t really united.” Jun Qingcheng’s eyes darkened slightly.

He took the plate, took a bite of the rabbit leg meat, and immediately spat it out.

Cai Die paused in her slicing of rabbit meat. "Princess, is this rabbit leg not tasty?"

After saying that, he picked up a small piece and tasted it, his brows furrowing so deeply they could trap a mosquito. "How can this rabbit meat be so tough? It tastes like chewing dry grass, and it even has a burnt flavor..."

Yan Yixin's heart skipped a beat, and she quickly said, "This is how roasted rabbit meat is; the outer skin will be a little charred. Why don't you peel off the outer layer of rabbit meat before eating, Princess?"

When the men cook, they always eat it as long as it's cooked through.

Especially in such a poor and remote place, it's already a blessing to be able to find meat to eat.

Looking at the roasted rabbit meat in her hand, Jun Qingcheng couldn't help but recall the Su family's banquet she had seen at the end of the village earlier. "When it's light tomorrow, remember to send someone to town to find out what those bright red pots the Su family uses are called, and buy some to eat!"

The aroma of the hot pot is enough to make your mouth water, but the rabbit and chicken soup is either overcooked or has a strong fishy smell.

"Yes, I will take care of it first thing tomorrow morning," Yan Yi replied, clasping his hands in a fist salute.

In the large brick and tile house on the west side, the man had been listening intently to the sounds from the corner of the wall. Only when the voices had all fallen silent and only the crackling of the campfire remained did he quickly rush out the door, clutching a snow-white carrier pigeon.

Meanwhile, behind Tongxin Lane in Qingshui County.

In a quiet, unassuming courtyard, the lights were still on.

The man, dressed in a moon-colored robe, leaned back in a mahogany armchair. The dim firelight flickered gently in the draft, clearly reflecting the astonishment in his peach blossom eyes. "Su Hua has actually been personally bestowed the title of Princess of Le'an by the Emperor, and the Su family has also been honored as a family of benevolence and righteousness. Is this news truly true?"

Ye Yu cupped his hands in greeting, “This is what the secret guards heard with their own ears when they encountered a messenger on the official road today and followed him all the way to Shanghe Village.”

Jun Yan raised his eyes, "Do you know why the Su family and Su Hua were granted these titles?"

Ye Yu said in a deep voice, "According to the guards, it's because Su Hua presented sweet potatoes."

"Sweet potato? What's that?" Jun Yan asked, somewhat surprised.

Ye Yu pursed her lips: "It should be a kind of grain crop. According to the imperial edict, the yield of sweet potatoes is several times that of rice and wheat. Moreover, it can thrive in water and grow in soil. It is suitable for both dry and wet conditions and is a divine product."

Jun Yan was so shocked that she stood up from her armchair, her peach-blossom eyes filled with disbelief. "The yield is several times that of rice and sweet potatoes? Really?!"

"Whether it's true or false is currently unknown." Ye Yu shook his head. "Sweet potatoes are grown in Fuhu Mountain and Zaozhuang, but General Zhennan has sent people to guard them, so our people can't get close. However, His Majesty has granted Qingshui County as the fief of the Lord of Le'an County, ordering him to teach the people in the county how to grow sweet potatoes."

Upon hearing this, the man was shocked. This was the first time in the hundred years since Yu the Great established the country that a commoner had been granted a fiefdom as a county lord!

If Su Hua were his person, he would definitely win this battle for the throne.

However, Xiao Jinhan and the Prince Gong's Mansion behind him were too much of a hindrance. When the old Prince Gong made a move, he directly crippled two important officials under his uncle. And that old scoundrel from the Qin family also got involved, ultimately losing more than he gained...

Ye Yu glanced at the man and then said, "Master, Princess Mingzhu has also come to Shanghe Village today."

"Qingcheng?" Jun Yan snapped out of his daze, his thick eyebrows furrowing. "What is she doing in Shanghe Village?"

Ye Yu shook her head. "I don't know for now."

"This water is getting muddier the more you stir it." Jun Yan chuckled, the light from the wall lamp half-illuminating his cheek, making it impossible to see his expression. "Make sure to prepare the congratulatory gifts carefully. I'm going to congratulate Princess Le'an tomorrow, and while I'm at it, I'll also take a look at Qingcheng."

"Yes," Ye Yu replied, bowing respectfully.

The courtyard gradually returned to tranquility. Two streets away, Meng Yun'er and Feng Zicai hurried along and finally arrived at the Qingshui County Government Office before curfew.