Chapter 830 Princess Taiping's Fate
Cheng Wanwan settled down in this house.
Because they needed her help, the guards weren't as strict, and she was allowed to walk around the yard.
She inquired and learned that this was inside the palace of the Western Rong Kingdom, near the Cold Palace on the southwest side. The area outside the walls was deserted and no one passed by.
Inside the walls, besides the four guards who watched over her and the two maids who served her, there was no one else.
If she were the only one arrested, she could easily find a way to escape, but there are more than a hundred people who are being held captive somewhere.
As for foreign aid...
After the Western Rong people captured them, they must have also slaughtered the local people. No one knew that they had been abducted by the Western Rong Kingdom.
It will probably be several months before the imperial court learns of their disappearance and sends people to investigate.
It's better to rely on yourself than on others; she has to save herself.
On the third day, the Western Rong Grand Minister came again: "I wonder what Lady Sui's decision has been?"
“This is a big matter, I can’t make a decision on it,” Cheng Wanwan said. “I need to discuss it with the people around me before I can give the Prime Minister an answer. I wonder if the Prime Minister could arrange for me to meet with them?”
The Prime Minister's smile faded: "We treat Lady Sui with courtesy because she is highly talented and capable, but to be honest, Your Majesty has not yet witnessed her abilities. Therefore, this request cannot be granted until Lady Sui demonstrates her true power."
Cheng Wanwan's lips curved slightly: "I don't want gold or silver, I don't want power or status, I just want to see the people around me. The Prime Minister has refused so thoroughly. It seems that the Western Rong Kingdom is not sincere in negotiating with me. In that case, the Prime Minister should go back."
She turned away, refusing to speak further.
Da Xiang opened his mouth, then got up and left.
Cheng Wanwan was certain that the Western Rong Kingdom hadn't intended to kill San Niu and his group, but what if they had?
More than two hundred people have already died because of her, and she does not want anyone else to die in Xirong.
That night, as she was preparing to go to bed, she heard the sound of many people's footsteps outside her door.
She put on her coat and sat up. Two maids immediately opened the door. First, two old women came in, and then a woman in her forties dressed in fine clothes stepped across the threshold and walked in.
Almost the moment the woman entered, Cheng Wanwan guessed who she was.
The woman had an oval face and almond-shaped eyes, typical of the people of the Dayu Kingdom, yet she was in the Western Rong and had so many people serving her, indicating that she was of noble status. Therefore, she could only be Princess Taiping, who was married off to the King of the Western Rong twenty years ago.
"I have met Princess Taiping."
Cheng Wanwan stood up and performed a deep bow.
Regardless of which side Princess Taiping is on now, she did end the war between the two countries back then, saving many people from displacement. She is an admirable woman of the Great Yu Kingdom and has left a glorious mark in the history books of the Great Yu Kingdom.
"Madam Sui, you were able to guess my identity the first time you met me. You are indeed intelligent." Princess Taiping waved her hand, dismissing everyone around her, and then sat down at the table. "There are no outsiders here. Please sit down, Madam Sui."
Cheng Wanwan did not refuse. She sat down at the table and poured a cup of tea for Princess Taiping.
She looked up and said, "Princess Taiping is here at night to act as a persuader, isn't she?"
"I am no longer Princess Taiping. Lady Sui can simply call me Queen." Princess Taiping said calmly. "I am not here as a persuader. I am here to kindly remind you, out of consideration for our shared identity as citizens of the Great Yu Kingdom, that you should know when to stop before the Western Rong turn against you. Otherwise, you will be the one who suffers in the end."
Cheng Wanwan narrowed her eyes slightly: "Could the princess explain it more clearly?"
“When I was sent to marry a foreign ruler, I was only fifteen years old. Now I am thirty-five.” Princess Taiping touched her cheek. “But I look older than Lady Sui. I am a princess of the Great Yu Kingdom and the queen of the Western Rong Kingdom. Can you guess why my appearance is not as good as that of a peasant woman?”
Cheng Wanwan really didn't know any of this.
The people of Dayu Kingdom only knew that Princess Taiping had become the queen of Xirong Kingdom. Because of Princess Taiping's presence, Xirong and Dayu were able to maintain peace for many years... But no one knew what kind of life the princess actually led in the Xirong palace.
It seems that the princess's life is not going very well.
“I’m not saying this to complain,” Princess Taiping said calmly. “I just want to tell you that even though I am of such high status, the King of Xirong has never taken me seriously. And although you have some abilities, if you become too arrogant, the King can simply pretend he never caught you. Do you understand what I mean?”
Cheng Wanwan understood.
If she tries to negotiate based on her limited resources, the negotiations will definitely fall apart.
She began, "I'd like to know about the others."
“If you work for the Western Rong Kingdom, they won’t be in danger in the short term.” Princess Taiping’s eyes dimmed slightly. “How to weigh the pros and cons, Lady Sui, please think it over carefully.”
She got up to leave.
Cheng Wanwan also stood up: "After the princess entered, she dismissed all the palace servants. I observed that all the people around the princess had the appearance of the Western Rong Kingdom. I would like to ask, where did the more than one hundred servants who accompanied the princess to marry into the Western Rong Kingdom go?"
Princess Taiping's fingers tightened suddenly: "This is not something you should be asking."
"They're all probably dead." Cheng Wanwan pursed her lips. "Even if I agree to work for the Western Rong Kingdom, the people around me will die, right?"
“I don’t know if they will die in the future, but they are not dead now.” Princess Taiping avoided her direct gaze. “But if you refuse to work for the Western Rong Kingdom, you will all die now, and none of you will escape.”
After she finished speaking, she pushed open the door and walked out.
The palace servants who were guarding outside followed in a flurry of activity. There were more than a dozen maids and nannies, forming a very imposing group, which had the air of a queen.
But is that really the case?
Cheng Wanwan stood quietly at the door, watching until Princess Taiping and her entourage disappeared into the night, before turning back into the house.
She sat on the bed and couldn't help but sigh.
The next morning, Da Xiang arrived once again.
Before he could speak, Cheng Wanwan said, "For the past two years, I've been improving rice seeds, selecting the highest-yielding varieties from different regions and cultivating them generation after generation. Now it's the fifth generation of rice seeds, which can be grown in barren, dry land..."
Da Xiang's breathing suddenly became rapid.
The land in their northwest region is so barren and lacks water that it is impossible to grow rice. They can only grow barley, but the yield is shockingly low.
If rice could be widely cultivated, how much grain would be harvested? We would never have to worry about running out of food supplies during wartime again...
“Ordinary rice yields a maximum of two hundred catties per mu, but the rice I cultivated can yield four or five hundred catties.” Cheng Wanwan took out a bag of seeds from her sleeve and handed it over. “In order to successfully develop this kind of rice, our emperor allocated me 50,000 taels of gold. I am presenting my research findings to demonstrate my abilities. Can I make some requests?”
Da Xiang took a deep breath: "Why would Madam Sui carry these with her?"
"Isn't that obvious? I have to carry my skills with me at all times." Cheng Wanwan grabbed a handful of golden rice seeds. "If you set up the experimental fields my way, we'll see before the New Year whether the yield per mu of these rice plants is really as I said. Grand Chancellor, is my sincerity enough?"
"That's enough, that's enough." The Prime Minister was overjoyed. "Indeed, it's easier to talk to people from the same hometown. The Queen and Lady Sui can visit each other more often. It just so happens that the King is having a banquet tonight. Lady Sui, dress up and come to the banquet. I won't let you down."
Cheng Wanwan knew that this was probably an opportunity for her to meet San Niu and the others.
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