Wang Xian followed the eunuch through the palace walls. Although he had been in officialdom for many years, he had mostly served in posts outside the capital and had very few opportunities to meet the emperor. Now that he was about to meet the emperor, he couldn't help but feel a little nervous.

Upon entering the main hall, he immediately bowed his head in greeting. Before he could fully bend over, he heard Emperor Yongning's deep voice from the throne: "Rise, my dear minister."

Before he finished speaking, Emperor Yongning had already stood up and stepped down the steps to Wang Xian's side and asked, "Minister Wang, you have been stationed in Pingyang for many years, so you must know the agricultural affairs in the prefecture very well. Just now, Cai Zhang said that there are places in Pingyang Prefecture where wheat can yield up to four shi per mu. Tell me, is that really true?"

Wang Xian looked up and saw Shen Qinghe standing by the side of the hall in his official robes. In the past two years, while serving as an official in the countryside, he had heard many people mention Shen Qinghe, saying that he had entered the Hanlin Academy at a young age and was highly trusted by the emperor, who would often take him by his side. Recently, he also heard that the emperor had assigned him to the crown prince, which showed that he had high hopes for him.

Their eyes met briefly, then they lowered their heads and looked away. Wang Xian stepped forward, bowed, and reported, "Your Majesty, this is indeed true. However, not the entire Pingyang region can achieve this yield. Only carefully cultivated experimental fields can reach the amount of four shi (a unit of dry measure).

These experimental fields were all carefully selected top-quality farmland, close to water sources for easy irrigation, with base fertilizer deeply buried before sowing, making the soil fertile. Furthermore, experienced farmers in the county took meticulous care of the fields day and night, applying specially formulated fertilizers at different stages of wheat germination, growth, and heading, which is why such high yields were achieved.

As for ordinary farmland, without such favorable conditions, it is naturally difficult to achieve this. However…” he changed the subject, “In Qingshi County and the surrounding counties that were the first to apply the new fertilizer, the average yield per mu has reached two and a half shi in years without disasters. If there is fertile land, a yield of three shi per mu is not uncommon.”

Emperor Yongning was overjoyed upon hearing this. He had spent his childhood by the side of the late emperor and often heard him lament the hardships of being a tenant farmer, how arduous it was for ordinary people to rely on the heavens for their livelihood. Now, hearing of such a significant increase in yield per mu, he clapped his hands in praise: "I certainly remember the fertilizer matter! When you reported it to me years ago, I even rewarded you." He looked intently at Wang Xian, "I never imagined that such results could be achieved in just two or three years! Once I have someone verify its authenticity, I will certainly reward you handsomely!"

At this moment, Shen Qinghe's gaze was sharp as he looked directly at Wang Xian. Wang Xian knew what he was thinking, so he immediately bowed deeply and said respectfully, "Your Majesty, this matter is not entirely due to my merits. I dare not presume to claim it."

Emperor Yongning frowned slightly: "What do you mean by that?"

Wang Xian straightened up and said in a clear voice: "This fertilizer method was not created by me, but by a woman surnamed Meng from Pingyang County. Her name is Zhao. She came from a butcher's family and later married into Shenjia Village."

Although she came from a merchant family, she always cared about her hometown. She built workshops in the village to provide for the poor, established a village school to educate children, and when she saw that the people's harvest was not good, she shared all the fertilizer formulas she had developed. The first fertile land with a yield of three shi per mu came from Shenjia Village. I only learned about this after the tax official reported it.

When I heard the news and went to inquire, Meng not only imparted various fertilizer formulas to the agricultural officials without reservation, but also put forward many good strategies. Later, when I promoted fertilizers, I used many of her methods.

Because composting fertilizer requires waste, she designed a special toilet specifically for collecting waste for use in fertilizing fields. Now, these toilets have been built in all the towns and villages of Pingyang, wherever people gather, solving both the fertilizer source problem and making the towns cleaner.

Shen Qinghe stood quietly to the side, listening to Wang Xian's report while thinking about the man's excellence. A smile unconsciously crept onto his lips. The young prince, who was also extremely curious about what Wang Xian had said, couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "Then where is this Lady Meng now?"

Emperor Yongning was overjoyed and clapped his hands in praise: "Indeed, I never imagined that such a virtuous and intelligent woman could be born in the countryside! This is a great achievement that benefits the country and its people. Where is she now? I will certainly reward her handsomely."

Upon hearing this, Wang Xian gave Shen Qinghe a meaningful look, then cupped his hands and replied, "If Your Majesty wishes to inquire about the Meng family, you may directly ask Lord Shen."

Emperor Yongning's gaze sharpened as he turned to Shen Qinghe: "Hua Zhang? What do you mean by that?"

Shen Qing straightened his sleeves, stepped forward, and respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, the Shen Family Village where Lady Meng married is my hometown, and the man she married..." He paused, his voice carrying a hint of something unusual, "was my elder brother."

"What?" Emperor Yongning and the young crown prince exclaimed in unison, their faces filled with undisguised surprise.

Shen Qinghe nodded slightly and continued, "On the day of my wedding, my elder brother was conscripted to guard the border, and soon after, the tragic news arrived." His voice lowered slightly, "At that time, I was still young, and my mother and two younger siblings were all left to depend on each other. It was thanks to my sister-in-law's tireless efforts in managing the household that I was able to study in peace and eventually pass the imperial examinations."

Emperor Yongning was not born in the inner palace. As a child, he followed the late emperor in his campaigns and often heard the late emperor recount the hardships of his time as a tenant farmer. Upon hearing this, he couldn't help but show sadness: "I remember your elder brother's story. That campaign must have been to defend the borders from the Xiongnu."

Shen Qinghe lowered his head, his eyes subtly shifting, but Emperor Yongning didn't notice. Instead, he nodded with satisfaction: "Good, good! Your elder brother sacrificed himself to defend the border, you became the top scholar and relieved my burdens, and now even your sister-in-law has brought such well-being to the people. You truly deserve a reward!" With that, he waved his dragon sleeve and announced loudly to the eunuch standing beside him, "I wish to issue an imperial decree!"

Emperor Yongning was overjoyed just moments before, but when he picked up his pen to draft the decree, he suddenly realized that something was amiss. It wasn't that he felt Meng Zhao shouldn't be rewarded, but after all, she was a merchant's daughter, and if the reward was too generous, it would inevitably attract criticism from the court.

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