Chapter 399 Five Years
In the first year of the Jiayuan era, Lu Xueyin focused on maintaining domestic stability. A large number of veterans returned home, and the people settled down, bringing peace and stability to the people of Ningguo. However, the treasury was depleted due to the need to accommodate the wounded, and the finances were tight, leaving Lu Xueyin still very poor.
In the second year of the Jiayuan era, Lu Xueyin deployed a 200,000-man army and began extensive construction of official roads. This initiative laid the foundation for Ningguo's future commercial prosperity. However, commercial development takes time, and Lu Xueyin still had no money this year.
In the third year of the Jiayuan era, the Ministry of Industry produced a series of practical and convenient agricultural tools and cultivated high-quality seeds, making a huge contribution to the development of Ningguo's agriculture. The popularization of agricultural tools and the distribution of seeds required silver, and Lu Xueyin was still a poor emperor.
In the same year, the first female minister of the six ministries was born. Shen Yihuan was appointed Minister of Works for her outstanding achievements.
In the third year of the Jiayuan reign, the nation celebrated with the announcement of Lu Xueyin's pregnancy. The mighty empire welcomed an heir, and the nation rejoiced. The following year, Lu Xueyin gave birth to a daughter, who was named Crown Princess. Raising children is notoriously expensive. To celebrate the birth of the Crown Princess, Lu Xueyin reduced corvée labor several times and launched the "Centennial School" program in Anzhou and Ningzhou. These two regions served as pilot programs, offering free schooling to children aged seven to fifteen. This program would later be expanded nationwide.
Another poor year.
In the fifth year of the Jiayuan era, the people of Ningguo lived and worked in peace and contentment, with agriculture and commerce flourishing. Lu Xueyin's initial investment finally paid off, and the treasury was overflowing.
Lu Xueyin finally escaped poverty and began to move towards prosperity.
This year is a very special year because according to the agreement, Prince An will be reunited with Lu Chenyang this year.
Since the New Year, Prince An has been writing letters to Lu Xueyin, fearing that she would forget about this matter.
Prince An didn't dare to urge Wang, so he only dared to harass Lu Xueyin and ask her to remind Wang.
Prince An wrote in his letter: "Your Majesty is Chen Yang's sister, my cousin's wife, and the monarch. You should consider the lifelong happiness of this subject."
Lu Xueyin threw the letter to Yan Xing: "Look, this is blackmailing me."
Yan Xing was holding his daughter and feeding her a snack. "You can only eat one piece. If you eat too much, you won't be able to eat dinner at night."
The princess blinked and called out, "Daddy." Then she held up two chubby fingers and bargained with him, "Two dollars."
Yan Xing's heart softened, and he compromised without saying anything: "Then two pieces."
Lu Xueyin said dissatisfiedly: "She is the Crown Princess, how can you spoil her so much?"
Yan Xing said subconsciously: "She is still young..."
Seeing Lu Xueyin frowning in displeasure, he quickly said, "Okay, I won't indulge her."
I've said this hundreds of times, but it's no use.
The little one had been the center of immense love and affection since birth, and Wang Shi, needless to say, treated the little one like her own darling. Lu Xueyin... had long since fallen out of favor.
Lu Xueyin shook her head helplessly.
Yan Xingdao said, "They haven't met in person in the past five years, relying solely on correspondence. Even so, their hearts are as solid as a rock, never wavering in the slightest. This proves their sincerity, and Mother won't object."
Wang Shi's attitude softened, perhaps because of the birth of her granddaughter. She no longer cared so much about her son and daughter (who would care about unfilial descendants when she had a more fragrant, softer, and sweeter little girl?). Wang Shi's attitude softened, and she no longer opposed them.
In the past five years, Lu Chenyang has done a good job in Yanhui Pass.
Yan Xing had a reason to send Lu Chenyang to Yanhui Pass. After signing a peace treaty with the Tatars, opening up trade would bring huge profits. Qian Yue now managed Yanhui Pass, but he had a shallow foundation. Unlike Gao Ming and Chen Songyuan, who had followed Lu Xueyin to conquer the world early on, those merchants treated him with disdain and did not take him seriously.
Especially under the huge profits, many businessmen inevitably take the risk and start smuggling. This is because they do not care about money, and the more money they make, the more energy they have to spend.
After Lu Chenyang arrived, all the problems were solved. He was Lu Xueyin's biological brother, and his status was obvious. Anyone who saw him had to behave themselves, and those merchants no longer dared to play dirty tricks. Lu Chenyang was Qian Yue's supporter, and he was also humble and eager to learn, and he didn't use his status to dictate to Qian Yue.
Qian Yue was very grateful to Lu Chenyang, especially because Lu Chenyang was talented and well-read, exactly the kind of scholar that Qian Yue admired the most. The two got along very well and soon became close friends.
During these five years, the two had worked very well together, and Lu Chenyang had achieved his ambition. Qian Yue would always praise Lu Chenyang every time he wrote to Lu Xueyin, saying that he was worthy of being the top scorer in the Sixth Imperial Examination.
Every time Lu Xueyin wrote back to him, she would humbly say, "He does have some abilities, but he also has shortcomings. You should encourage each other and work together."
Lu Xueying turned around and told Wang about this, and Wang was also very proud.
Lu Xueyin thought for a moment and said, "Then take Anle to the Cining Palace and tell mother about this."
Anle is the name of the Crown Princess, and this is also Lu Xueyin's wish for the people of the world.
To Wang, her granddaughter is a golden ticket to immunity from death, and people like Lu Xueyin and Yan Xing have to take a back seat.
Anle blinked, then stretched out her hand towards Yanxing: "Hold me."
Yan Xing loved his daughter so much that he picked her up with one hand and walked towards the Cining Palace.
When Wang saw little Anle, her eyes curved with smiles. She reached out and held the child in her arms: "Anle is here. Are you missing your grandmother?"
Anle snuggled in her arms and nodded obediently, "Yes."
Wang kissed the little girl's cheek lovingly, then looked at Yan Xing: "Why are you carrying Anle here at this time? What's the matter?"
Yan Xing smiled flatteringly at Wang, "Nothing can be hidden from mother." He said carefully, "It's been five years this year. Xue Yin wants to ask Chen Yang to return to the capital to report on his work in a few days."
Officials posted abroad who returned to Beijing to report on their work generally had to be reassigned, unless there were special circumstances. Lu Chenyang's future destination would require further arrangements.
Yan Xing and Lu Xueyin wanted to promote this matter in a tactful way, but now Wang is no longer the woman who didn't understand state affairs. Now she is the empress dowager and has some understanding of the state affairs.
So she sneered and said, "After returning to Beijing to report on my work, the next step is to go to Lingnan, right?"
Yan Xing was slightly surprised, then smiled shyly: "Mom, this... this can also go to Lingnan."
Wang was so angry that she clenched her fists and was about to hit him, but Yan Xing did not dodge, so Wang did not hit him in the end.
Yan Xing said righteously, "If mother is angry, just beat me to vent her anger."
Wang said, "Why would I hit you? You only brought this up to me because of Xue Yin." She sighed, "It's been five years. Since we agreed back then, I won't break my promise. I accept it."
Five years have passed, and the two haven't seen each other, yet they still love each other, never changing. What else can she say about such feelings? She also understands that separation is inseparable, so why should she be the bad guy?
Wang said, "I won't stop them. As for his father... I will also find a way. Anyway, they are not returning to the capital." She let out a long sigh: "Never mind, never mind. I am old and can't worry about so many things. I will take care of our little Anle in the future and I won't care about those things!"
Wang held Anle in her arms, and Anle rubbed her cheek affectionately, "Grandma, Anle loves you."
A smile appeared on Wang's face.
Wang was forced to agree, knowing she couldn't win against her own son. After five years, she didn't want to force Lu Chenyang to marry and have children.
Lu Xueyin calculated the time and thought that Yan Xing and Wang had almost finished their conversation, so she also came to the Cining Palace.
As soon as she came in, Wang turned her back, obviously still dissatisfied with her.
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