Chapter 220, exclusively published on Jinjiang Literature City, grants the title of Noble.
On the third day after Lu Xuan arrived in the capital, a new notice was posted on the bulletin boards at all the city gates and commercial streets.
As soon as the notice was posted, literate people gathered around to read it.
Those who couldn't read asked, "What's written on it?"
Upon reading the notice, the people excitedly exclaimed, "The imperial court is going to build greenhouses on a large scale to grow grain, and is recruiting workers from all over the capital to build these greenhouses. They even said that they will show us a miracle after the greenhouses are completed!"
The surrounding people were in an uproar.
"Hiring? Really? How many people are you hiring? Will you pay wages or food allowance?"
"A miracle? What miracle?"
"Can we really grow crops in a greenhouse? If this summer is as hot as last year, won't the crops wither and die again?"
The people asked questions that concerned them, making the already noisy street even more chaotic.
Especially after someone shouted, "The notice also said at the end that from today onwards, people will be arranged to sell a batch of food and salt that can fill one's stomach on various streets in the capital, and medical clinics will also provide highly effective medicines!"
The people were even more excited.
No one knew the specifics of the miracle, and it sounded rather far-fetched, so not many people cared. Everyone was preoccupied with recruiting workers or trading goods.
"Is there really any salt for sale? My family has been without salt for almost ten days. Adults can stand it, but kids can't."
"Won't the medicine be very expensive? My mother has been sick for more than half a month. She is not in good health to begin with. I'm really afraid that something bad will happen to her if we don't have the medicine."
The others had only just seen the notice and naturally couldn't answer those questions.
Unable to get a specific answer, the crowd grew increasingly anxious. Some even prepared to go to the government office to inquire about the details, while others ran directly to the nearest commercial street.
Whether there are supplies or what the prices are, you'll find out by going there.
Some people were even more shrewd and rushed home to get their money, lest they find something to sell but couldn't buy it because they didn't have the funds, and then regretfully slap their thighs in frustration.
Silver can still circulate in the capital, but prices are much higher than before the disaster. Daily necessities are three to five times more expensive, and food is more than ten times more expensive.
While it's unclear whether the food listed above for sale is actually grain, anything that's ingested is unlikely to be cheap.
After the first group of people who learned about the notice ran away, even more people who were unaware of the situation crowded in front of the bulletin board again, but soon they also scattered like birds and beasts.
Meanwhile, crowds gathered in front of the shops on various streets, which were set up under the supervision of the government, completely blocking the streets.
The streets frequented by ordinary people mainly sell daily necessities, such as nutritional supplements, salt, and sugar, with a small amount of cured meat and dried meat also available.
The price isn't expensive; it's much cheaper than the food that skyrocketed in price after the disaster and is still hard to find. However, it's rationed; each household can only buy enough for one month, and each household can only buy a maximum of three kilograms of meat.
In addition to silver, barter was also a form of settlement.
For example, one pound of grain that can feed a person for at most two days can be exchanged for two doses of nutritional supplements, which can last for at least four to six days. If it is only to maintain basic life, this time can be extended to nine days, greatly extending the survival time of ordinary people.
The harvested grain was just right to be used to help the disaster victims from the surrounding villages who were on the verge of starvation, or to pay for the construction of heated houses.
The various medical clinics were also crowded with people.
All the newly delivered medicines were laid out, and the clinic's staff and apprentices explained their prices and effects.
Whether it's pills, capsules, or powder, they are all sold one pill at a time. For minor ailments, one pill is usually enough to cure the problem, while for more serious cases, three to five pills may be sufficient.
Each pill costs only one hundred coins!
The people were shocked when they first learned of the price.
"Can just one pill really cure all diseases?"
"One pill costs only one hundred coins, not one hundred taels!?"
The clinic clerk's lips twitched as he listened.
One hundred taels, that must be for selling ginseng and lingzhi.
The shop assistant shouted, "If you don't believe me, you can buy a few pills and try them. Our clinic is a century-old establishment; we would never use potent medicine to fool you. Besides, even if you don't believe us, you should at least trust the authority of the government, right?"
After hearing this, the people bought the medicine they needed, albeit with some skepticism.
If these medicines are really as miraculous as the shopkeeper says, then they have indeed made a profit.
After all, in the past, getting medicine often cost several hundred coins or even one or two taels of silver, and it would take five to seven days or even ten days to half a month to see results.
If one or two pills are enough to cure the illness, not only will the price be affordable, but the patient's pain will also be greatly reduced.
Soon, the medicines in the clinic began to visibly decrease.
More and more people carefully carry medicine home to feed to their sick relatives, and then watch miracles happen before their eyes.
The wealthy streets frequented by aristocratic families have also seen a significant increase in new supplies.
In addition to daily necessities, the supplies also included fruits, seafood, sweet potato starch, toilet paper, bio-clothing suits, high-powered flashlights, various small appliances, and energy stones.
These supplies were generally expensive and were prepared by the new emperor specifically for wealthy noble families.
As for more specialized supplies such as hoverboards, spatial rings, communicators, refrigerators, air conditioners, and holographic helmets, they were not sold openly to outsiders; instead, a batch was sent to the Ministry of Revenue.
Any official who wants it, or any wealthy businessman with connections, can buy it. There is no specific price; the highest bidder wins.
When Lu Xuan first arrived in the capital, he observed the city from the air for half an hour.
He didn't know whether the capital was in chaos while the catastrophe was happening, but at first glance, the capital, which was in a dormant period of the catastrophe, did indeed appear to have regained its superficial prosperity.
Shops and stalls were open for business as usual, and countless pedestrians came and went on the streets. The city walls were intact, and soldiers were patrolling on them, creating a peaceful and safe atmosphere.
However, a closer look reveals that the situation in the capital city is not much better than it seems, judging from the porridge kitchens in the slums and the lingering sorrow on the faces of many ordinary people.
Even today, ordinary people buy cheap daily necessities while high-ranking officials and wealthy people buy expensive luxury goods. Only when people see hope do they truly cheer up, and laughter on the streets becomes more frequent.
For a time, the atmosphere in Beijing was as lively as if the New Year was about to begin.
The new emperor and his court officials, who had been keeping a close eye on the outside world, breathed a sigh of relief and began to focus on preparing to build the greenhouse.
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The designated locations for building greenhouses were all in Huangzhuang, which already had a considerable workforce. They also recruited a group of people from the city. The 20,000 mu of glass greenhouses and 50,000 mu of rainproof cloth greenhouses were all completed in just one day.
The tillers and plant protection machines also completed the tilling and sowing work.
Tens of thousands of people witnessed the wonders of the two machines and spread the news as soon as they returned to the city.
The people were talking about it enthusiastically, and even many second-generation members of prominent families went out of the city in groups to see what was new in the outskirts of Beijing.
It's not just the tillers and plant protection machines that are on display; the tens of thousands of acres of glass greenhouses lined up in the village create a scene that is equally spectacular and leaves one speechless.
The crowd subconsciously assumed this was the miracle mentioned above, and the people felt they had indeed broadened their horizons, which instilled in them a sense of awe for the government.
The day after the greenhouse was completed, at noon, officials beat drums and gongs, ordering the people to come to the city gate tower in the east of the city to witness the miracle.
The people: ? ? ? How come there are still some?
Upon arriving at the East Gate Tower, the people found many soldiers guarding the area, and many low-ranking officials who could be seen occasionally were lined up in front of them.
Someone looked up at the city wall and caught a glimpse of bright yellow, exclaiming in surprise, "Your Majesty!?"
The others instinctively looked up and, upon seeing the dragon robe that shone brightly in the sunlight, were so shocked that they instinctively knelt down, kowtowed, and shouted "Long live the Emperor!"
The new emperor waved to the chief eunuch beside him, who, holding a megaphone given to him by Lu Xuan, addressed the crowd below: "No need for formalities."
The people were startled by the thunderous voice from above, then nervously stood up again, waiting respectfully and somewhat apprehensively for the emperor to speak.
The chief eunuch, representing the new emperor, first made some polite remarks, then quickly changed the subject and brought up today's topic.
To make it easy for ordinary people to understand, the message was summarized as follows: the disasters that have continued since last year are a test from heaven for mortals.
However, a celestial being from beyond the heavens, unable to bear the suffering of innocent people, finally sent a celestial messenger at His Majesty's earnest request.
The celestial messengers brought sustenance to fill people's stomachs, helped mortals build greenhouses, provided celestial artifacts for sowing seeds, and also provided celestial seeds that matured quickly but yielded extremely high yields.
The people looked somewhat bewildered upon hearing this.
What immortals, immortal messengers, immortal seeds? Where are there so many immortals?
Although many people in ancient times believed in Buddhism and religion, almost no one had ever actually seen gods or immortals. The people of the capital were also more knowledgeable and less easily fooled than the people in other places.
It's one thing for them to believe it themselves, but if someone actually says they've seen a deity, it's no different from saying, "I am Qin Shi Huang, send me money." Most people would be tempted to curse them as liars!
But now the Emperor is telling them he's encountered a deity, which...
The common people looked at each other in bewilderment. Surely the emperor couldn't be leading the way in deception, could he?
Or was even the emperor deceived?
The chief eunuch calmly continued, following His Majesty's instructions: "The celestial messenger knows that there are many opportunists in the mortal world who use trickery and deception to tarnish the reputation of immortals. He is willing to demonstrate a true miracle for everyone on the spot. You can judge for yourselves whether it is true or false."
After saying that, he took a step back and turned to look at Lu Xuan, who was waiting to the side.
Viewers in the live stream interpreted his expression as: "Hehe, now it's the streamer's turn. Come on, please begin your performance."
Lu Xuan calmly stood at the front, his gaze sweeping over the people below, whose faces were clearly filled with suspicion and scrutiny. Their faces clearly said, "I want to see what tricks this so-called immortal envoy can pull."
The new emperor and his ministers had informed him of this event beforehand, and it was only announced after they received his approval.
According to the new emperor's requirements for Lu Xuan, all he needs to do is to bring rain as he did in Luochuan and encourage the growth of some plants.
However, Lu Xuan felt that since he earned more in the capital than in other places, he might as well give some extra benefits to the people of the capital.
With that thought in mind, Lu Xuan slowly ascended into the air under the astonished gazes of the people, the new emperor, and the civil and military officials. He scattered a large number of pre-prepared seeds in the direction of the people, and at the same time, he waved his sleeve to create a moderately powerful wind that blew the seeds further and more evenly.
Before the people below could recover from the shock of "people being able to fly," they were hit by falling seeds, making them grimace and cry out in pain.
What the heck?
What happened to the promised display of miracles? Why did they start by hitting people?!
Before they could get angry, they suddenly heard someone in the sky say "Rain, come!" and a light drizzle actually began to fall from the previously clear sky.
Everyone: "!!!"
Lu Xuan said again, "All things grow."
As soon as he finished speaking, the people heard countless tiny 'plop' sounds, like the sound of seeds breaking open. Then, the seeds that had fallen all over the ground began to take root and sprout quickly, and then grew stems and leaves.
In just a few breaths, the streets within sight were filled with lush, tender green vegetables, and the air was filled with their unique aroma.
Everyone: "!!!"
The street was silent. Everyone present, from ordinary citizens to officials, stared in disbelief at the vegetables that had suddenly sprouted from the ground, unable to recover for a long time.
A miracle has truly occurred!
The magician might be able to hide some plants on his person beforehand to make it seem like they were grown on the spot, but there are plenty of vegetables growing all over the street, and even on the rooftops. That can't possibly be a magic trick, can it?
Lu Xuan said calmly, "These vegetables are a gift from the immortals to all of you. Everyone who sees them can take them. I hope that after eating these immortal vegetables, you will all be able to safely pass the upcoming trials."
After a brief silence, a cheer erupted from the crowd, and then, with eyes shining, they began frantically scooping the vegetables from the ground into their arms.
The seeds Lu Xuan selected this time were all leafy vegetables with short growing seasons, such as bok choy, spinach, rapeseed, and chives.
The energy required to produce it is much less than that required for radishes and cabbages, which can maximize production. Its smaller size also makes it easier for the people to distribute.
If a hundred or eighty mutated radishes and cabbages weighing several tens of kilograms were spawned, the people who couldn't get enough to go around might start fighting on the spot.
But now, with officers and soldiers who had been notified in advance maintaining order, the people were busy but not chaotic, and no one was fighting. They would rather spend that time in another place to grab a few more vegetables.
[Aaaaaah! So many mutated vegetables! I want them!]
I really want to crawl over the screen and join them in grabbing the vegetables!
[I have a level three speed ability. At my speed, I can grab at least ten or twenty pounds of vegetables! Ahhh!]
So many leafy greens were trampled and crushed after being snatched away? What a waste!!!
Not only were the viewers in the live stream excited and frustrated, but even high-ranking officials and dignitaries, who were far removed from ordinary people, couldn't help but swallow hard when they saw the greenery all over the streets.
Those who reacted quickly had already sent their servants to rush over and join in the grabbing.
Some, concerned about their status or unwilling to compete with the struggling common people, planned to order some from Lu Xuan later.
Many of them initially scoffed at the so-called miracles, thinking they were just a crooked trick devised by the new emperor to stabilize the situation and appease the people.
But after witnessing such a miraculous scene with their own eyes, they suddenly felt that perhaps the person really was an envoy sent by the gods.
When Lu Xuan landed back in his original position, the new emperor and the surrounding ministers looked at him with some surprise and doubt.
However, the new emperor thought that he or his trusted confidants might gain the same abilities after taking the evolution fluid, and his expression quickly returned to normal, even showing some anticipation.
Lu Xuan thought that today's task was over, but unexpectedly, the new emperor nodded to the chief eunuch, who took out an imperial edict from his sleeve, raised a megaphone, and read it aloud to the people and ministers below.
The imperial edict stated that the celestial envoy had rendered great service, and in gratitude, he was specially granted the title of "Marquis of Yunxian," an exceptional honor bestowed with a superior rank, a marquis's mansion, and ten thousand acres of fertile land. The title was hereditary for three generations, after which it could be inherited at a lower rank.
Lu Xuan raised an eyebrow in surprise, and the viewers in the live stream went wild.
[Wow! The emperor actually bestowed a title upon the streamer!]
[The streamer has become an aristocrat, achieving a direct leap in social class!?]
[A top-ranking marquis, awesome!]
[He even gifted mansions and land! The emperor is incredibly generous!]
[What a grand gesture! It's clearly a cunning scheme! By bestowing a title upon the streamer, they're all on the same side, right? Then the streamer won't be able to refuse any favors they ask.]
Although the new emperor had not told Lu Xuan in advance that he would receive the imperial decree, Lu Xuan would not refuse such a free benefit. He readily nodded his thanks and accepted the imperial decree.
Lu Xuan wasn't the type to just take benefits without doing anything in return.
He really didn't have any extra evolution fluid, and the holographic helmet had already been sent to the palace by Lord Xie a couple of days ago. He's probably already playing with it.
After a moment's thought, he took out a single-person protective shield and gave it to the new emperor.
"This item can protect Your Majesty's life in case of danger. As long as there are enough energy stones, no one can harm you."
The new emperor was overjoyed upon hearing this, feeling as if he had found a priceless treasure, and he felt even more certain that the title had not been given in vain.
The ministers present couldn't help but show envy, secretly thinking that they would find an opportunity to ask later if there were any more of these protective shields and if they could be traded.
By this time, the people had almost finished grabbing the vegetables, and the noisy street had quieted down again.
The new emperor took the opportunity to announce the last thing for the day.
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Author's Note: Special thanks to the following:
One landmine was thrown at Changyushan. Throwing time: 2025-05-31 01:13:10
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