After returning to the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion from the palace, Jia Xu and Zhao Yun had been waiting for a long time.
Currently, Jia Xu and Zhao Yun have both been rewarded for their meritorious service in suppressing the rebellion, and they have moved into the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion together.
The three talked late into the night by candlelight, and Mu Zi'an also told them about the emperor's desire for him to become a loyal subject.
Under the candlelight, Jia Xu's eyes were dark and unfathomable before he spoke.
"As the saying goes, 'The tree may wish to be still, but the wind will not cease.' Young Master's current position is already second only to the emperor."
"Now, with the momentum of a great victory, it will inevitably arouse the jealousy of those in the court who harbor treacherous intentions."
"Moreover, the cause of the old Duke Zhenguo's death is unknown, and there are still behind-the-scenes forces lurking in the court."
"His Majesty's actions are not merely to make you a tool in his hands, but also to protect the young master."
"Moreover, arranging your marriage with the Ninth Princess will demonstrate to the world the relationship between you two, the emperor and his subject, and will also make those who secretly want to make a move hesitate to act."
"For you, young master, this is a win-win situation."
Zhao Yun echoed this sentiment.
"However, since ancient times, only the bond of kinship can truly earn trust. Although it is said that the royal family is ruthless, if you become the prince consort, it will be much easier for you to act with the princess's support."
The two of them analyzed the situation in front of Mu Zian very clearly in just a few words, which really made him feel like the clouds had been cleared.
The three talked until midnight before parting ways.
The next morning, Mu Zian woke up early.
The chili seeds planted in the backyard have already sprouted, and it won't be long before Mu Zian can fulfill his wish to eat hot pot in the Great Li Dynasty.
But right now, something even more important than chili peppers is sweet potato seeds.
Chili peppers are just a condiment, but sweet potatoes are different; they can truly save lives.
This plant is not only drought-resistant, but also has a very high yield and is easy to store.
In an era when 95% of the population was starving, the emergence of sweet potatoes was a new hope for ordinary people.
After all, in this era, a single drought could lead to widespread starvation and cannibalism.
Currently, there is only one pound of sweet potato seeds available, which is enough for at most a few acres of land, making them extremely precious.
Mu Zian specially asked Jia Xu to recruit more than a dozen skilled farmers from the land brokerage, and then selected several of the most fertile plots of land under the name of the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion to be used as experimental fields.
To ensure the sweet potatoes would not be endangered during their growth, Mu Zi'an specially selected three hundred armored soldiers from the Trapped Camp to guard the experimental field day and night.
The August heat was unbearable, but Mu Zian was quite content.
Jia Xu, standing to the side, wiped the sweat from his forehead and said.
"Young master, is this thing really as miraculous as you describe?"
The sweet potatoes that Jia Xu was referring to were naturally being planted.
Mu Zian carefully buried a sweet potato seed in the soil, and then smiled.
"Even the best fertile fields in Dali can only yield a maximum of 400 catties per mu, but the sweet potato seeds we planted today can yield up to 10,000 catties per mu."
Upon hearing this, Jia Xu was so shocked that he stood there stunned, unable to recover for a long time.
At this moment, Jia Xu finally understood why Mu Zi'an cared so much about just a few acres of land.
They even went so far as to personally come down to sow the seeds.
The ability to produce 10,000 catties of grain per mu is not just a matter of importance; once word gets out, it will inevitably attract the covetous eyes of countless powerful figures.
This thing is enough to overthrow a country!
After a long while, Jia Xu seemed to wake up from a dream, and then bowed to Mu Zi'an.
"On behalf of all the people of the world, I thank you, young master!"
No one understood the importance of sweet potatoes to the people better than him.
Just as Mu Zi'an was still indulging in his dream of a future where everyone in the world could have enough to eat, Zhao Yun came to report that Princess Xiao Xiuning had arrived.
Upon hearing the name Xiao Xiuning, Mu Zian felt inexplicably guilty.
However, his current muddy appearance is rather unsightly.
Just as Mu Zian was about to change his clothes, Xiao Xiuning, dressed in a silk skirt, appeared at the edge of the field.
Under the sunlight, the golden phoenix embroidered on the skirt is lifelike, as if it is about to soar into the sky at any moment.
Her fair and delicate features made her look like a fairy from another world, someone you could only admire from afar and not touch.
At this moment, the goddess Luo, described by Cao Zhi as a fleeting beauty, seems to have taken on a concrete form.
For a moment, Mu Zian was stunned.
Until Xiao Xiuning's voice came.
"I never expected that the Duke of Zhenguo would know how to farm."
Xiao Xiuning's gentle voice made Mu Zi'an feel a little embarrassed.
He wiped the dirt off his hands and said with a smile.
"I'm sorry to have made a fool of myself in front of Her Highness the Princess."
"Among scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants, farmers are the foundation of the world, so how could I possibly laugh at them?"
It has to be said that, having grown up in the royal family in luxury, it's no wonder Xiao Yu likes her so much, given her knowledge and magnanimity.
"I already know that my father wanted to betroth me to you last night."
Xiao Xiuning's sudden remark made Mu Zian feel somewhat awkward.
"It's all His Majesty's fault for randomly pairing people up."
As soon as Mu Zian finished speaking, a fragrance suddenly wafted to his nose.
When he looked up again, Xiao Xiuning's almost perfect face was only an inch away from him.
"You don't like me?"
Immediately, Mu Zian's heart began to pound violently.
"Your Highness is as beautiful as a fairy and is the epitome of womanhood. What man in the world would not admire her?"
Xiao Xiuning moved her cheek a little closer to Mu Zian.
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