Gu Yuchen glanced at Consort Shu and saw that this fool thought he hadn't noticed and even showed a hint of smugness. He couldn't help but curl the corners of his lips.

He played with Consort Shu's fingers, deliberately remaining silent, and the atmosphere in the imperial study immediately turned cold.

Consort Shu was a little anxious and twisted her body, saying, "Your Majesty, please grant my request. I also want Xiao Liu to write a few more words in his letters."

hehe……

You want Xiao Liu to send your father a bright future, right?

Gu Yuchen pretended to be hesitant: "This Granny Xu's family has a rather special status. I'm afraid it will be difficult to get them to go to the northern desert."

The Xu family were all servants, and given their background, how could an ordinary master family release them so easily?

If it weren't for the concern that openly sending these people to the northern desert would attract the attention of the King of Chu and make him guess his true purpose, Gu Yuchen would have done so long ago.

Consort Shu sat up straight: "So, Your Majesty agrees to my request?"

Gu Yuchen pretended not to know and glanced at her sideways.

She covered her lips and smiled, "Your Majesty's promise is enough. Rest assured, I will use perfectly legitimate means to send the person to Xiao Liu's place."

Consort Shu thought smugly that once these people arrived in the northern desert, Xiao Liu's inn should be almost finished being built, and then these people could be put to use.

The thought that Xiao Liu would give her more New Year's gifts and thicker letters, along with the jealous looks from the women in the harem, filled Consort Shu with an uncontrollable smile.

"In that case, you can handle this matter." Gu Yuchen gave a brief instruction, "Remember what you said, and don't let anyone else know."

After receiving a definite answer, Consort Shu hurriedly left, showing no intention of staying to continue currying favor.

As Consort Shu receded into the distance, Gu Yuchen called out, "Zhao Xi, bring that bowl of soup."

Regardless of Consort Shu's purpose in coming, the soup was destined to end up in his stomach.

Gu Yuchen took a sip, but couldn't help spitting it out the next moment.

"Your Majesty!" Zhao Xi exclaimed in alarm, and hurriedly called out, "Quickly, go and summon the imperial physician!"

Consort Shu couldn't possibly poison someone so openly, could she?

"Shut up!" Gu Yuchen grabbed the teacup next to him and gulped it down. "Pour the tea!"

Damn, it's so salty!

That idiot Consort Shu, just how much salt did she put in!

Is this soup? This is practically a salt flat!

"By imperial decree, cut off one month's supply to Consort Shu's palace."

At this moment, Consort Shu was overjoyed and sent a message outside the palace, asking her family to find a way to send Xu Mama's family to the northern desert.

After the letter was sent, Consort Shu had a smug smile on her face.

The reason she dared to make such a boast was simply because during her investigation of Granny Xu's background, she discovered that other members of the Xu family were actually working at their family's gourmet estate outside the capital.

What's this called? "You search high and low, but find it right under your nose!"

At that moment, when the Xu family members of Ningqin Manor outside the capital heard the steward tell them to pack their things and head to the northern desert, the Xu family members all knelt down and begged their master for mercy.

In the eyes of the Sang Dynasty people, the northern desert was a desolate place, a synonym for remoteness. Wouldn't going there be tantamount to being rejected by their master?

Besides, the road to the northern desert is fraught with danger!

They all knew that last year, some bandits had been so audacious as to rob the imperial rewards.

Thinking of this, Xu Mama's father's face turned red.

You might not want to go, but as a servant, you have no freedom. You'll definitely go wherever your master tells you to.

The steward chuckled and helped Xu Mama's father up, whispering, "Oh, Xu Zao Tou, this is wonderful news! You two were personally selected by Consort Shu to go to the northern desert."

Xu Zaotou frowned.

The fact that Ningqin Manor was owned by Consort Shu's maternal family was unknown to the other members of the Xu family, but Xu Zaotou certainly did.

But he couldn't understand why Consort Shu would send them to the northern desert.

The housekeeper said it was a good thing, so why doesn't he believe it?

The steward didn't know the real reason, but the higher-ups had said they would send the best escort agency to take them there.

The Xu family returned to their room in a daze, all looking dejected. After a while, Xu Chao, the eldest brother of Xu Mama, scratched his head and said, "Father, should we try to contact my younger sister? Isn't she in Consort Tai Xian's palace? Maybe she knows about the situation in the Northern Desert."

As soon as Xu Chao finished speaking, Xu Shouyi, Xu Mama's father, suddenly raised his head: "Now that you mention it, I suddenly remember. Isn't Prince Wen the child of Consort Taixian? Do you think your sister might be in the Northern Desert, and that's why we're being taken there?"

The more Xu Shouyi thought about it, the more likely it seemed. His initial bewilderment and confusion gradually gave way to joy: "If what I said is true, then our family may very well be able to reunite."

After being sold to a brokerage firm, Xu Shouyi tried his best to keep his family together. Xu Mama was an exception. The other party wanted a young girl, and Xu Shouyi agreed because he saw that the person buying her had clear eyes and a good family background.

Later, this family was indeed blessed. The baby that Xu Mama was taking in actually entered the palace, and not only that, but also gave birth to a prince for the late emperor.

Xu Shouyi let out a long breath: "No matter what the truth is, we'll find out when we get to the northern desert."

The Xu family members looked at each other, all thinking the same thing.

Because of this speculation, the Xu family was no longer so resistant to going to the northern desert and actively prepared food and clothing.

They even guessed that Granny Xu was in the northern desert, so they prepared a lot of gifts for her, which filled several carts.

Three days later, the guards disguised as escorts, along with the Xu family and their indentures, quietly set off for the northern desert.

Not two days after the Xu family left, news of His Highness Prince Wen's discovery of two new types of grain quickly spread from the palace.

Rumor has it that the Emperor and all the ladies of the harem greatly enjoy the taste of these two new grains.

There are also rumors that His Highness Prince Wen presented the seeds of the two new grains to the Emperor, instructing the Ministry of Revenue to plant them first, so that the provinces would be able to obtain the seeds of these two high-yield new grains next year.

As soon as these rumors spread, the ministers all sought confirmation during the morning court session. Minister Su, who usually closed his eyes when attending court, praised Prince Wen to the skies in the main hall.

Zhao Xi kept glancing at the Emperor, fearing that the Emperor would punish him for this, and even wished he could step forward and cover Su Shilang's mouth. Su Shilang, could you please say less?

With Vice Minister Su as a witness, the ministers realized that the news of the high yield of the new grain was true. The ministers discussed it among themselves, and Gu Yuchen took this opportunity to summon the Vice Minister of Revenue to come forward.

A reward is due. With such a great contribution, King Wen must be rewarded. Not only should he be rewarded, but the news should also be announced to the world.

Let the world see what contributions Prince Wen, at only six years old, has made to the Sang Dynasty!