Chapter 122: Xu Yaozu meets the prince, accompanied by his deputy general Zhang Erniu

Mo Zhu brought Xu Yaozu to the outside of the meeting room and stood there, looking back and bowing:

"County Commander Xu, please wait a moment. I will go in and report first."

Xu Yaozu returned the greeting, "Guard Mo, please do as you please."

After only an incense stick of time, Mo Zhu came out.

"The prince is discussing matters with the generals and staff. County Magistrate Xu, please follow me to the side hall and wait."

Xu Yaozu followed Mo Zhu to the side hall again. Although he looked calm on the outside, he was actually very nervous.

Walking into the huge palace, Xu Yaozu's mind was already a little unclear. If he had not been promoted to the magistrate of Wansheng County, he might never have the chance to set foot here in his life.

At this moment his mind was blank, and he almost forgot what he was going to report to the prince. Fortunately, the prince was busy, and now sitting in the side hall would give him time to relax and calm down, so as not to lose his composure later.

Just as Xu Yaozu was organizing the content in his mind, a guard walked in.

"Your Majesty would like to invite Magistrate Xu of Wansheng County to an audience."

Xu Yaozu hurriedly stood up, straightened his official uniform that was wrinkled from sitting, and adjusted his official hat. Then he followed the guards into the meeting room.

Xu Yaozu walked in slowly with his head lowered. What came into view were pairs of high-grade official boots. Xu Yaozu lowered his head even lower, bowed and saluted, saying, "Wansheng County Magistrate Xu Yaozu greets His Majesty. Best wishes to His Majesty."

"Get up!"

Xu Yaozu then stood up and bowed his head. Luo Chuyan looked at the man standing obediently below him, feeling extremely puzzled. He had never imagined that the girl from the Xu family was so beautiful, but her father was such a rough man.

"Haha..." Luo Chuyan couldn't help but laugh happily and joked, "If you didn't say you were a civil servant, I would have thought you were a military officer in the army."

"I do look a little rough."

Taking advantage of the conversation, Xu Yaozu raised his head to look at the prince at the top, and also saw the officials on both sides of the conference room.

At the same time, the officials in the council hall were also looking at the newly appointed county magistrate. They had heard about and seen with their own eyes the production of the new grain varieties, and it seemed that this magistrate's career would still have room for advancement.

"Your Highness, I have compiled the yields of the new grains from different fields into a book. Please review it."

Luo Chuyan took the booklet from the guard and read it carefully. The document that Xu Yaozu had sent over before only recorded the yield per mu and the total output of this batch of new grain varieties. But this booklet recorded in detail the yield and changes of various soils, and even included several new planting methods.

Luo Chuyan looked at it seriously, but the people below were all very uneasy. What was worthy of the prince looking at it for so long?

"Good, good, good. It is a blessing for the people and the Zhenbei Army to have Xu County Magistrate in the Northern Frontier."

"I am terrified."

Luo Chuyan ignored the discussion below, handed the booklet to the guards and said, "Pass it around to them all."

The first person sitting at the bottom was the deputy general Zhang Erniu. He scratched his head and chuckled, "It's better to leave such an important matter to a capable person. I know how to fight a war."

Luo Chuyan glared at him, and Zhang Erniu put away his smile and looked at him seriously.

It took a full half hour for the booklet to be passed around and read by everyone. At this time, Luo Chuyan slapped the armrest and said, "Since you have all read it, please tell us what you think..."

“…”

The discussion about the new grain seeds lasted for more than an hour. By then, it was already dark. Luo Chuyan looked at the people below.

"Let's stop here today and do as we said before." Then he said to Xu Yaozu, "County Magistrate Xu, don't be in a hurry to leave. Just stay and have dinner in the palace. Erniu, you should also stay and accompany County Magistrate Xu for me."

Luo Chuyan's words not only stunned Zhang Erniu, but even those who were about to leave looked at Xu Yaozu who was standing at the end in surprise.

Xu Yaozu was also surprised and bowed quickly, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty. I am overwhelmed."

Luo Chuyan walked down and said loudly: "County Commander Xu, don't be afraid. This is a private banquet. Besides, are you going back to the post station alone to starve? Miss Xu must have been left behind by the princess. After dinner, you two can go back together."

Xu Yaozu had no choice but to respond with trepidation. At this time Zhang Erniu also reacted. Although he usually looks silly, if he was really silly, he would not have been appointed as the deputy general.

"Thank you, Your Majesty. It seems that I will also benefit from the favor of County Magistrate Xu today."

"Be careful, don't get me drunk, or you'll get revenge from Miss Xu, haha..."

Luo Chuyan left the meeting room after he finished speaking. Although Xu Yaozu and he might be relatives in the future, their identities were there. Luo Chuyan was giving Xu Yaozu a lot of face by allowing a second-rank deputy general to accompany him.

As the officials in the meeting room left, they began to murmur in their hearts that even if County Magistrate Xu had made contributions to the new grain seeds, he should not be treated so preferentially.

Those who knew some of the inside story did not say much, but they had already decided in their hearts that they would invite County Magistrate Xu out for a drink while he was in the royal city in the next few days.

There were also people who had guesses in their hearts but were not sure, including the Left Chief Clerk Zheng Bojian.

But he heard the prince mention "Xu girl" more than once, calling her so intimately and she was the daughter of County Magistrate Xu. He could only think of one possibility, and thinking this, he rushed back to the mansion.

Mrs. Zheng looked at her husband who came in with an anxious look on his face and went to greet him.

"Master, what's wrong? What happened?"

Zheng Bojian put his official hat on the table, feeling very worried. After much hesitation, he finally expressed his guess.

Madam Zheng was a little suspicious, "My Lord, you are overthinking it. How could the princess agree that the princess of the county is the daughter of a mere county magistrate? This is a humiliation to His Royal Highness the county prince. Given the love that the prince and princess have for the county prince, how could such a thing happen?"

Seeing that his wife looked unconvinced, Zheng Bojian didn't say much, but he still felt a little uneasy.

"Find an opportunity to persuade Hui'er to stop having any thoughts about the prince. As for Hui'er's marriage, it's time to consider it."

Madam Zheng was very reluctant, "You are worrying too much, old man. Our Hui'er has caught the princess's eye. Besides, who is more suitable for the position of the princess than our Hui'er?"

Zheng Bojian slammed the table and said in a sharp voice, "You woman with long hair and short knowledge, stop plotting against me. If the princess really values ​​Hui'er, why didn't she summon her alone? Today, the young lady from the Xu family was invited by the princess to have dinner with her."

Madam Zheng was so frightened by Zheng Bojian that she dared not say a word, but she had made up her mind in her heart to help her daughter ascend to that high position. Moreover, if her daughter was lucky enough, it was not impossible for her to become the mother of a country.

Zheng Bojian looked at Mrs. Zheng who lowered her head in silence, thinking that his words had been heard, but he didn't know that his wife had other plans in mind at this time.