People's livelihood is difficult
It's spring again, and the fields in Mingzhou are soaked in drizzling rain, like a layer of gauze covering the scent of freshly turned earth.
The raindrops were fine and dense, falling on the hats of the farmers who were busy planting rice, making a rustling sound.
Pedestrians wrapped their clothes tightly and walked hurriedly, but they could not hide their cherishment of this season when "spring rain is as precious as oil". The fields were full of figures working with their heads bent over.
A fast horse galloped along the muddy ridge of the field, the sound of its hooves was crisp.
The horse was ridden by a sturdy young man, his face covered in rain and sweat, but his cheerful expression could not be concealed. He reined in his horse at the edge of the field, quickly glanced at the busy crowd, then swiftly dismounted, rolled up his trouser legs, picked up a handful of bundled seedlings, and stepped into the paddy field with one foot deep and one foot shallow.
He moved skillfully and soon got close to a figure in the middle of the field.
"Your Highness!" The young man shouted in a loud voice, filled with uncontrollable excitement, to the figure bent over planting rice, "It's done! Our people have wiped out the pirates entrenched in Luoyan Dang. Not only have we destroyed seven or eight pirate ships, but we've also seized countless gold and silver!"
"And the brothers are becoming more and more presentable. They are deploying their troops in an orderly manner!"
"Just me, I killed two pirates!"
Tian Zhongren stood up and took off his bamboo hat, revealing a beautiful face. It was Ning Lingyi. She wiped the rain and sweat from her face and looked at Wang Mengzi who came to report the news. A look of relief flashed in her eyes: "How many casualties are there?"
"Your Highness, there were a few injured, all of them were lightly injured, and no one was killed!" Wang Mengzi grinned, revealing a row of white teeth, his expression full of pride.
He was the best among the soldiers trained by Shen Qingyan using the three thousand fine horses sent by Tuoba Hong. Wang Mengzi's family was originally dying refugees, and was the beneficiary of Ning Lingyi's land distribution and people's livelihood in Mingzhou.
Shen Qingyan originally thought that these three thousand people could serve as a force if the princess went to Beishuo. Unexpectedly, she did not go to Beishuo, but they turned out to be of great use.
After Ning Lingyi arrived in Mingzhou, this group of people naturally became part of her command and became the core force in her hands.
Wang Mengzi's family was naturally loyal to the princess who saved their lives. They were always at the forefront in training troops and suppressing bandits. He became the leader among them. Although he had no official status, they only considered themselves the princess's people.
After Ning Lingyi came to Mingzhou, he also trained soldiers several times and suppressed bandits. This time, he let them act independently in order to hone their abilities, and they really lived up to expectations.
"Well done." Ning Lingyi nodded, without much joy on her face, as if she had just heard something ordinary.
She bent down again and firmly planted the seedling in the mud. "The work is not over yet."
Wang Mengzi was even more motivated after receiving the affirmation, and he responded loudly: "Hey!"
He also buried his head in the work, mud and water splashed around him. Since he was born into a peasant family, he naturally knew how to plant rice seedlings, and he planted them quickly and well.
In comparison, Yan He and Ling Yao in the paddy field next to them looked much more clumsy.
Little Lingyao gritted her teeth, her face flushed red, and she tried hard to imitate the adults, but the seedlings she planted always fell over crookedly.
Yan He had an even more bitter face, his delicate wrists had already ached, and he wanted to give up several times, but when he caught a glimpse of his sister's meticulous figure, he could only swallow his grievances and continue to struggle with the slippery seedlings.
At first, they tried to act coquettishly and make trouble, but Ning Lingyi was firm and said, "If you don't know the hardships of farming, how can you know the hardships of people's lives?" She insisted that they experience it for themselves.
Now, although I am reluctant, I have no choice but to persevere.
The drizzle gradually stopped and the sun set in the west.
When this acre of paddy field was finally covered in neat green, Ning Lingyi, covered in mud, led his brother and sister-in-law, who were also in a mess but seemed to have something more, to pack up the farm tools and return to the city.
When I returned to the back garden of the prefectural government office and just changed my wet clothes, Shen Qingyan came to greet me.
He wore a rare, relaxed smile. "Your Highness has returned. The Ministry of Revenue just reported that this spring's winds and rains have been favorable, and the rice seedlings are planting smoothly in all counties. Barring any major disasters, this autumn will surely be a bumper harvest."
"The Mingzhou treasury is overflowing, and the newly reclaimed wasteland is gradually yielding harvests. Mingzhou's clean administration and fair taxes and labor service are now widely known. Citizens are flocking to it, and the population has increased by over 10% compared to last year."
Ning Lingyi wiped her face with a warm towel and smiled as she heard this: "This is all thanks to Mr. Shen's tireless efforts and wise governance."
"Your Highness is too kind." Shen Qingyan bowed, but his expression quickly turned solemn. "This is because the people of Mingzhou are united, and it is also because Your Highness is in charge. But..."
He paused, lowering his voice, "I wonder how long this peace and stability can last?"
Ning Lingyi walked to the window, opened half of it, and the moist air after the rain rushed in.
She looked at the newly blooming green in the courtyard, her eyes far-reaching: "What's the latest news from the capital?"
"The government is still corrupt." Shen Qingyan walked to her side.
"Although Emperor Guangqi is cunning and ruthless, he has never received instruction from a crown prince, and ultimately lacks the skills to maintain checks and balances at court. Since ascending the throne, he has used coercion more than gentleness, and suspicion more than trust."
"Those old ministers and nobles, while outwardly subservient, are secretly either veiled in disobedience or enriching themselves. They are even worse than those in the last years of the previous emperor. He is now overwhelmed and unable to fully devote his energy to dealing with Mingzhou because of the numerous flaws within it."
"But he won't forget Yan He is here," Ning Lingyi continued. "A living prince is a sword hanging over his head. The temporary peace is just him looking for an opportunity."
Shen Qingyan nodded: "Your Highness is wise. Therefore, we need to race against time."
"No matter how long this peace lasts," Ning Lingyi turned around, her eyes as sharp as ever, "we just need to do what we have to do."
"Training troops, storing food, pacifying the people, and fortifying the city...
"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Opportunity is something you wait for, but it is also something you strive for."
The two of them met eyes, and there was no need for words, as a tacit understanding was already there. No one mentioned what they were going to do, but everyone knew what they were going to do.
*
In the backyard of the state government, dinner was served in the warm room. The dishes were simple but steaming hot.
Yan He and Ling Yao were obviously exhausted and extremely hungry. They held their bowls and ate with great relish, their little faces almost buried in the bowls.
Lingyao swallowed a mouthful of rice and suddenly raised her bright eyes to look at Ning Lingyi: "Sister, planting rice is so tiring today! It turns out that the rice we eat is grown with such hard work!"
Her face was full of seriousness. "Those uncles and aunts who work on the land do this every day. They work much harder than we do today!"
Yan He also put down his chopsticks, rarely complaining, but only muttered quietly: "It's hard work, my hands and waist are sore, I really don't want to farm anymore."
He looked at Lingyao again and muttered, "But Yaoyao is right, farmers have it harder."
Ning Lingyi looked at her brother and sister-in-law, a gentle light in her eyes. She picked up the serving chopsticks and put a piece of vegetables into each of their bowls: "If you know how hard it is, you must know how to cherish it. Every porridge and every meal should be appreciated. It is not easy to come by."
"Our status doesn't mean you're superior to others, but rather you must understand that this status carries a responsibility to the people. If you let your status lead you to extravagance and waste, treating the people's strength like grass, that would be the greatest mistake."
Lingyao nodded vigorously: "Yaoyao, remember! Sister must be a good official and make it easier for the uncles and aunts who work on the land!"
Yan He also nodded, not quite understanding, and said, "Sister doesn't want to be an official, she is a princess!"
"A princess can also be a good official, the highest official!"
Yan He tilted his head and thought for a long time, but he couldn't think of what official position a woman could hold. Suddenly, he said, "Mother never taught us what official positions women can hold."
Then, the little guy seemed to suddenly realize something and murmured to himself: "I miss my mother..."
Ning Lingyi also felt a little sad.
She gently stroked Yan He's head, looking out the window at the dark dusk, her thoughts seeming to drift back to the imperial palace in the capital.
These baby birds escaped from the cage, but their mother was still trapped in it and could not break free for the rest of her life. Especially after they escaped, they didn't know how the new emperor would treat them.
Mother, are you doing well in that deep palace?
Yier misses you too.
*
Thousands of miles away in the capital, deep in the palace.
The atmosphere in Fengyi Palace where the empress lived was different from the simple and elegant one in Mingzhou. Empress Yang of Emperor Guangqi sat in front of the dressing table, with her hair combed by a palace maid.
She looked at her still youthful yet exhausted face in the mirror and said calmly, "Pass on this imperial decree: All expenses for the care of the concubines in the Western Garden must be in accordance with the old rules, and no deductions or neglect are allowed. This is especially true for Concubine Yu, as she has always been frail and must be cared for with extra care."
The female official standing by looked hesitant and whispered, "Your Majesty, His Majesty seems to have some feelings towards the old people of the previous dynasty..."
"Your Majesty has his own considerations." The Queen interrupted her, her tone still calm.
"The concubines are elders. As the queen, it is your duty to respect them and help settle the harem. If you treat the concubines harshly because of the changing times, it will not only be disrespectful, but also violate the royal etiquette. Do as I say."
The female official did not dare to say anything more, and bowed and replied, "Yes, I obey your order."
The Queen stood up, straightened her sleeves, and extended her hand to the Crown Prince, who was wearing an apricot-yellow robe beside her: "Ze'er, follow your mother to see Grandpa Huang."
The little prince Ning Chengze placed his hand obediently in his mother's palm and asked in a baby voice, "Mother, will the emperor recognize Ze'er today?"
The Queen led him out, her voice gentle, "Grandpa Huang is ill. Sometimes he recognizes me, sometimes he doesn't. Ze'er, please talk to him more often. Grandpa Huang is happy, and when he's happy, he'll get better."
She looked down at her son's tender face, her eyes revealing deep anticipation. "Ze'er is the crown prince. You must be filial to the emperor and make him happy. Do you understand?"
"Okay, Ze'er understands!" Ning Chengze nodded vigorously.
The mother and son walked through the courtyard, where the newly opened wisteria flowers swayed in the drizzle.
Deep in the Western Garden, the retired emperor was still lying silently on the couch, staring at the ceiling with empty eyes. No one cared about him, only the queen would bring the prince to visit him occasionally.
But the queen was no longer his own queen, the prince was no longer the prince he appointed, and he himself was no longer the emperor.
"Grandpa Emperor."
He heard Chengze calling.
His withered fingers moved almost imperceptibly.
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