79 Cousin

◎“My wife is intelligent and kind-hearted.”◎

In the morning, Luo Su sent someone to deliver a message saying that the cotton trees had blossomed. Shen Suqin originally wanted to take Xiao Pingchuan to see them, but he was called away by Xu Youcai.

So, she had no choice but to take Ju Tao with her.

The ancient town of Guzongfang now resembles a modern industrial park, with its interior divided into zones according to business type, including soap workshops, saltpeter workshops, and dried meat workshops.

The soap workshop occupies the largest area, with thirteen factory buildings already expanded, yet it still cannot meet the demand. The workshop is divided into sections with bluestone-paved roads, including a food and lodging area, a work area, and a warehouse area, employing nearly 20,000 workers.

In just six months, Guzongfang has been built up to be almost like a small town.

The two walked through the neighborhood, where guards stood every ten zhang (approximately 33 meters).

To be honest, this was because there was a fight in the neighborhood last time, which is why more guards and patrols were added afterwards.

As for the troublemakers, they were directly expelled from Ningyuan by Commander Zhou, who also made it clear that anyone who trespassed into any area marked "No Trespassing" would be expelled and banned from entering for life.

"Does Commander Zhou mean that those who stirred up trouble did it on purpose?" Ju Tao asked.

She was busy recently and didn't pay attention to this matter.

"It's hard to say, but he thought it was better to arrest the wrong person than let them go."

"Indeed, even the slightest leak of our secrets would be a huge loss."

"So when he later said he wanted to increase the number of guards and patrols, I agreed wholeheartedly."

As they spoke, the two arrived at a designated cotton-growing area.

A house was built specifically for Luo Su, and in front of the house was a fenced-off cotton field.

At this moment, a lone, thin, broad-leaved tree grows on the soft black soil. It is as tall as a person's thigh. Small, pale yellow flowers, somewhat like trumpet flowers, bloom on the side of the tree's stem. When the wind blows, the whole tree trembles and sways. I'm afraid that a strong wind will blow it down.

Luo Su stood beside the two, his hands behind his back, and said with a sense of vicissitude, "It has finally bloomed. If it hadn't bloomed soon, I would have already bloomed."

Shen Suqin laughed out loud: "Yes, yes, thank you for your hard work, Brother Luo. You must record the planting process in detail. Once we get enough seeds from outside the Great Wall next year, we will start planting on a large scale."

"But the climate in Jinzhou is not suitable."

“It might not be in Jinzhou, it could be in Liangzhou,” Shen Suqin said. “By the way, the wheat and sweet potatoes there are growing well, they can basically survive if you just put them on the ground, they’re much easier to grow than this cotton.”

"Both of them are edible, and their yield is not low; they can feed people."

"Yes, I spoke with His Highness and asked him to send people to the border region to get more seeds so that they can be planted on a large scale next year along with cotton."

Once wheat and sweet potatoes replace millet as the staple food, the number of people going hungry will certainly decrease.

"These are important matters that you big shots should be concerned about. I'll just do my own little job," Luo Su said.

Shen Suqin laughed: "What you've done is quite significant. You must have seen the Yuezhi people wearing cotton-padded clothes. When the people of Daliang wear them one day, they will definitely be grateful to you."

On the other side, after returning to his residence, Zhao Yunxiang changed into a more delicate set of clothes, carried the food box prepared by his aunt, and strolled leisurely toward the prefectural government office.

Upon arriving at the other end, the gatekeeper stopped her and asked, "Who are you? Do you know that you cannot trespass into the prefectural or government offices?"

Zhao Yunxiang slipped a silver ingot to the gatekeeper and said, "I am General Xiao's cousin, and I've come to bring him some food."

The gatekeeper looked her up and down. "Wait here, I'll go in and announce your arrival."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, brother."

A short while later, the gatekeeper came out and said, "Go in, walk straight ahead, and don't wander off."

"Thank you, brother."

Zhao Yunxiang straightened his clothes and walked towards the government office.

They hadn't walked far when they arrived at the front hall, where they could faintly hear voices.

No matter how bold she was, she didn't dare to go in directly. She just stood obediently at the door, waiting for the people inside to come out.

"Come in." A voice came from inside. It was Xiao Pingchuan who spoke, but you couldn't tell what emotion he was saying just by listening to his voice.

Zhao Yunxiang took a deep breath, lowered his head, and walked in.

"This humble woman, Zhao Yunxiang, greets Your Highness and all the generals." She bowed respectfully.

Shi Ye sat at the head of the table, looking down at her for a long time before turning to look at Xiao Pingchuan.

Seeing his displeasure, she slightly curled the corners of her lips and said, "Get up, Miss Zhao, we've met so soon."

Zhao Yunxiang breathed a sigh of relief, got up and opened the food box a little: "I heard from Yuanxiang that my cousin didn't have time to eat breakfast this morning, so I took the liberty of making it myself and bringing it over. If Your Highness doesn't mind, please have some too."

Her tone was gentle and soothing, very pleasant to the ear.

"Jin'an is so lucky," Shi Ye joked with a smile. "Thank you, Miss Zhao."

Xiao Pingchuan cupped his hands and said to Zhao Yunxiang, "Go back now that you've delivered the goods. Your aunt must be worried."

Zhao Yunxiang gracefully bowed, preparing to take her leave.

"Wait, Miss Zhao, are you literate?" Shi Ye suddenly called out to her.

"Your Highness, how many of them do I recognize?"

"That girl must know how to persuade farmers to start farming, right?" Shi Ye asked.

"Persuade...persuade farmers to work hard?" Zhao Yunxiang had only read "Women's Virtues" and "Women's Appearance," so he had never heard of persuading farmers to work hard. After hesitating for a long time, he reluctantly replied, "If you want the people to work hard and not be lazy, you have to collect more taxes. When the burden on their shoulders is heavy, naturally no one will dare to be lazy."

Shi Ye was speechless for a moment, then looked at her with a puzzled expression: "Miss Zhao, are you joking?"

Zhao Yunxiang wasn't stupid; he immediately realized he had misspoke and quickly tried to cover it up, saying, "Of course I was joking. If we want the people to farm with peace of mind, we need to increase their income so that they can get what they deserve for their labor."

That's barely acceptable, right?

Shi Ye then asked, "The Great Liang has been exhausted for a long time, and the national treasury is empty. What do you think, young lady?"

"What does it matter to her if the national treasury is short of money?" Zhao Yunxiang thought to herself, but she still replied with utmost seriousness, "If the national treasury is not full, we must naturally increase revenue and reduce expenditure."

"Increase revenue and reduce expenditure?" Shi Ye agreed. "Go on, young lady. How do we increase revenue? How do we reduce expenditure?"

This put Zhao Yunxiang in a difficult position. She had no idea how to increase revenue and reduce expenditure; she had only overheard the steward of the manor mention it occasionally.

"Well... why doesn't Your Highness first share your thoughts?"

Shi Ye, without suspicion, said, "Scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, we can start increasing revenue by trading goods. As for reducing expenditure, I would like to hear Miss Zhao's insightful opinion."

Zhao Yunxiang was stumped by the question and stammered for a long time without being able to give a coherent answer.

At this point, Shi Ye finally realized that the person beside him was empty-headed and had no real talent or learning, and couldn't help but feel somewhat disappointed.

"Miss Zhao must be tired, so I won't insist that you stay. Please make yourself at home," he said, dismissing her.

Zhao Yunxiang's cheeks burned, and he quickly left with his head down.

After everyone left, Shi Ye leisurely got up, strolled over to Xiao Pingchuan, and teased, "General, you want to become my relative by marriage? This young lady won't do; she's empty-headed but has a lot of ideas."

“I’m not stupid,” Xiao Pingchuan replied. “If I were to push such a person onto you, it would not be a marriage alliance but an enmity. I will handle it myself, Your Highness need not take it to heart.”

Shi Ye laughed: "When did you become so knowledgeable about all these intricacies of the backyard? Did someone give you some pointers?"

The expert he was referring to was naturally Shen Suqin.

Xiao Pingchuan indeed said, "My wife is intelligent and kind-hearted."

“If I remember correctly, Miss Shen has a divorce agreement in hand, so she can’t be considered your wife,” Shi Ye said.

Xiao Pingchuan hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but then stopped.

He wanted to refute it, but unfortunately it was true.

The divorce papers were like a sword hanging over his head, making him afraid to take a single wrong step, lest he displease her one day and she throw out the divorce papers and leave again.

"Alright, let's get down to business," Shi Ye said. "I think you should go and investigate the drought situation in Liangzhou first. If it's true, I'll immediately report it to the court and request disaster relief."

Given his current status, he can no longer easily leave Jinzhou, for fear that if he does, he will be targeted by those who want to assassinate him.

“Sure, I’ll call a group, and we can set off immediately,” Xiao Pingchuan replied. “However, before we go to Liangzhou, I have something to take care of first.”

Upon returning from the government office, he immediately ordered his men to bind Zhao Yunxiang and her daughter.

The two knelt below the hall, looking at Xiao Pingchuan with fear on their faces. Seeing his ashen face, they dared not utter a sound.

"Who gave you permission to go see His Highness on your own?" Xiao Pingchuan asked.

Zhao Yunxiang trembled and dared not speak.

Aunt Zhao, however, was fiercely protective of her daughter and quickly admitted, "It was me, I sent Yun Xiang. But Yun Xiang angered His Highness, so you came to teach her a lesson? She's your own cousin, Jin'an, you can't..."

"I can't? Can't what? She almost dragged the entire Xiao family down with her, do you know that?"

Aunt Zhao didn't believe it: "Don't try to scare me. What man in the world isn't lustful? Yun Xiang just went to His Highness's side a couple of times. He didn't do anything immoral. It's not that serious."

"Bullshit! His Highness asked me if I was planning to strengthen our family ties through marriage."

Aunt Zhao's eyes suddenly lit up. "How did you reply? How did you reply to Jin'an?"

Xiao Pingchuan sneered: "I said it's impossible."

"You! You just can't stand to see your cousin doing well!" Aunt Zhao gasped in anger.

“That’s His Highness the Crown Prince. Even if he were to take a concubine, she would certainly be of respectable birth and of a suitable social standing. I want to ask my cousin, what is she doing? Isn’t she just relying on my influence to plot her way into His Highness’s bedchamber in order to climb the social ladder?” Xiao Pingchuan said bluntly. “How is what she’s doing any different from offering herself up for his bed? Aunt, don’t you know the meaning of the four characters: propriety, righteousness, integrity, and shame?”

He was utterly ashamed.

On the other side, when Shen Suqin returned to the Shen residence from the western suburbs, she had to pass by the government office. Knowing that Xiao Pingchuan was there, she thought she would pick him up and take him home together.

She stood at a distance, only sending Ju Tao to the gatehouse to ask, "Young man, is General Xiao still at the government office?"

The gatekeeper had just changed shifts and didn't know the situation. Seeing that the visitor was polite and humble, he replied, "May I ask who you are to General Xiao? May I go in and inform him?"

"My name is Ju Tao, and I am the general's wife's personal maid. The lady is passing by the government office and wishes to go home with the general, so I have come to inquire."

The young man envied the deep affection between the two and immediately replied, "Please wait a moment, young lady, while I go in and ask."

"Thank you, sir."

Before long, the doorman returned, followed by Shi Ye and Liu Zimu.

"Miss Ju Tao." Shi Ye bowed.

Ju Tao returned the greeting: "Your Highness."

"Where is your young lady? Would it be possible to speak with her in person?"

"Your Highness, please wait a moment. I will go and ask my young lady what she thinks."

"good."

Ju Tao turned and walked towards a secluded spot, with Shi Ye's gaze following closely behind.

Seeing this, Shen Suqin said before Ju Tao could speak, "I won't go to the government office, it's a very important place. Please ask His Highness to go to Xingyuan Restaurant, I'll wait for him there."

"yes."

Soon, the two met in a private room at Xingyuan Restaurant.

"The last time we spoke alone was in the capital," Shi Ye said as soon as they met.

Shen Suqin did not rise to greet him, but instead poured himself a cup of tea, pushed it to the other side of the table, and said, "Your Highness, please sit down."

Shi Ye readily accepted good advice.

"What business does Your Highness have with me?"

"I'd like to discuss the issues of the land equalization policy and taxation."