Chapter 6
I also never thought that my brother was doing experiments on the farm. No wonder he often went out in recent years. I thought he went to have a party with his brothers.
My brother is a down-to-earth, patient man who cares about the people. He's truly the reincarnation of a god.
That day, my brother suddenly said to me, "The grain has been harvested, and the yield per mu is more than 350 kilograms." I stood up and asked, "How much? So much more?" You know, even in years of good weather, the yield was only more than 250 kilograms.
"Tomorrow, I will ask mother to go with us," said the elder brother. "Let's go together."
"Okay, brother, you are really awesome." The brother smiled happily.
I look at my brother with a surge of pride. He still has that baby fat, and looks so young. Maybe it's because he's a little fatter than he was back then. It's great that my brother is a bright young man now.
The next day, my mother was resting, so the three of us set off early. Well, my father had to take care of my newborn sister, so he couldn't go out.
My mother urged me to leave early in the morning and even dragged me out of bed. She almost left last night, but we all talked her out of it.
After getting on the carriage, I still couldn't help yawning and complained, "The food won't run away, why do we have to go so early?"
This statement provoked a lecture from his mother, who told him that grain production was related to people's livelihoods and was a major issue in the world.
Well, the whole family are upright people who are loyal to the emperor and patriotic. No wonder the emperor trusts them so much.
My father was indeed able to make money for the emperor. Even when promoting his own soap and other industries, he did not forget to give the emperor's aunt a 10% share of the net profits and put it into the national treasury. He was very selfless.
I think the Emperor's aunt must have appreciated this aspect of my mother's and allowed her to stay in the Ministry of Revenue. After all, having food at home means peace of mind. Money is confidence! Everything else that can be solved with money is no problem.
As soon as we got off the car at the farm, my mother ran to the granary without even caring about me and my brother.
When we got there, we saw Mother, ecstatic, muttering, "Great, great!" She then inquired in detail about the total yield from the several acres of land. Then, excitedly, she rushed out again, leaving my brother and me only able to catch sight of her figure in the dust as she rode away.
I helplessly asked my brother, "Has Mother forgotten us?" My brother remained calm, smiling as he walked towards the manor house. "She probably can't wait until tomorrow to attend court. Let's go and get some food. We should make do here for lunch."
I followed my brother closely and felt that even his back was glowing.
Sure enough, within two hours, a group of people arrived in a flurry. Seeing the figures ahead, my brother and I hurriedly saluted. The Emperor's aunt waved her hand, not stopping. "No need to be polite, no need to be polite. Let's go to the granary first." The princess gave me a hand, and my brother and I hurriedly followed.
The Emperor's aunt asked the same question again, and then asked in detail how it was done. My brother slowly and methodically explained the details of how to mix good seeds and make fertilizers.
The Minister of Agriculture also actively recorded all of this. After the grain at the granary was reviewed and the moisture lost during the last few days of drying was removed, the yield reached about 340 kilograms.
The Emperor's aunt was overjoyed and couldn't help but pat her brother on the shoulder, "Well done, you are worthy of being a child from the Jing'an Marquis' Mansion. You are all pillars of the country!"
The ministers were also chattering away. I took a deep breath and hurried over to distract the emperor. "Aunt Emperor, it's noon now. Why don't we have dinner here?"
The Emperor's aunt smiled so hard that her teeth were visible. "Let's go, An Lan lead the way."
And so, after a quick meal, everyone left in a hurry, and of course, this time they took my brother and me with them. After all, there were still many questions that needed to be asked in more detail.
It wasn't until dusk that the emperor let everyone go, leaving our family alone for dinner. The emperor's aunt asked my brother what reward he wanted. My brother calmly replied, "Being able to improve the lives of the people is the highest reward."
The emperor couldn't help but look at my mother and said, "Zilu, you are a very blessed person. But this time I must reward you. Your aunt has kept in mind all the improvements to farm tools and tax increases you contributed to the Ministry of Works."
My mother and brother repeatedly declined, but my aunt the emperor was also very persistent.
On the way back, I couldn't help but ask my brother, "Brother, what do you think the reward will be?" My brother glanced at my mother and said, "Probably some money or something." Although my mother had her eyes closed, she also spoke, "More than that."
My brother and I looked at each other, then we shut up and went back to our rooms to rest.
Sure enough, not long after my mother left court, the maid arrived with the imperial edict. "Master Yu, please take Master Yu to receive the edict," the maid said politely.
I knelt behind my brother and only listened to the imperial edict, "The Emperor, in compliance with the Will of Heaven, proclaims: The eldest son of the Marquis of Jing'an, surnamed Yu, whose family has inherited a noble character, is loyal and righteous, talented and virtuous, and cares about the common people. He is granted the title of a county lady, a fief of 100 households, and 1,000 taels of gold, and is allowed to meet in the court. I decree this."
My brother and I were both stunned. We had never expected Yun to appear before the emperor. I bet the court would have a heated argument about this.
"My Lady, please accept the order," the maid said gently. "I accept the order and kowtow to thank you for your grace." We knelt together.
"Miss Yue, please stay and have some tea before leaving." The mother was familiar with the maid and spoke.
"I won't stay, Master Yu. The Emperor is waiting for me. County Lady, the Emperor has sent me a message: from now on, if you have any matters, you can report them to the palace or the court. I will take my leave now."
Someone nearby handed over a purse and said, "I thank you for the reward, sir. It's such a happy occasion, and I'd like to share in the joy, so I won't refuse." My mother sent the maid out of the room, leaving my brother and me looking at each other in bewilderment.
When Mother returned, we all went to Father's room. My brother went over to entertain his sister, while I sat at the table. Mother glanced at my brother and said, "I'm sure the Emperor and Empress will regret not arranging a marriage for you and the Crown Princess. This way, the Third Princess will have a good chance." My brother said nothing, and I couldn't help but feel a little worried.
My father glanced at my brother and said, "Please delay it as much as possible."
It seems that my brother had discussed the marriage with our mother and father at some point, or perhaps my father saw that my brother was indifferent to the marriage.
My brother has always been aloof from outsiders, which they may not notice, but we can all see it clearly. He is especially not interested in women.
After we left, I kept wanting to say something but stopped myself. My brother sighed and said, "Come on, go sit with me. The sky hasn't fallen yet, so don't overthink it."
I deeply regret that I'm so much younger than my brother and can't even stand up for myself. Fortunately, we were born into an open-minded and happy family. Mom and Dad never demanded anything of us, but always offered silent support for our ideas and actions.
After closing the door, we were alone. I couldn't help but ask anxiously, "What should we do, brother? What if the emperor issues an order granting us a marriage?"
I walked around the room, "That fool of the Third Princess was already impatient, and now it's even more so. It's all that fool's fault. She's such a naughty kid, and she still wants to marry you. She didn't even look in the mirror."
My brother saw me whirling around, muttering about attacking the Third Princess, and he burst out laughing. "You're still in the mood to laugh?" I couldn't help but speak a little harshly.
My brother couldn't help laughing at this point, and I had no choice but to sit at the table, chin in hand, and watch him laugh.
After a long while, he finally stopped laughing and wiped away the tears of laughter, which made me even more speechless.
"Why are you panicking? First, the imperial edict hasn't come down yet, which means there's still plenty of room for maneuver. Second, the Third Princess isn't the type to force anyone to do anything. Since I've already refused, she'll definitely try to get my consent first. Third, no matter what, we're also the Marquis of Jing'an's Mansion, and the Emperor can't force us. Fourth, if all else fails, I'll take you with me to marry him. I'll never let you lose your brother."
After saying that, I laughed for a long time. What could I do? I could only say, "Then it's settled. You must take me with you."
As I said this, I couldn't help but laugh. At this time, my brother started to tease me, "Lanlan, you don't like me, do you? We are siblings now."
I pretended to be intimate and moved forward, "Yes, brother, you can see that I like you very much. Why don't you wait for me for a few years and we can just make do with each other." By the way, I grinned and chuckled a few times.
My brother also pretended to be polite and stepped back, "I'm not an orthopedic surgeon."
I was shocked, "Brother, you know a lot." My brother rolled his eyes at me, and we looked at each other and couldn't help laughing.
No matter what the world situation is, my brother and I can always rely on each other and stick together through thick and thin.
At this time, the scene we imagined also appeared in the palace.
"Third brother, how about the Queen Mother granting you a marriage with An Ran?" The Emperor looked at the Third Princess and said, "Don't you like him?" In the Queen Mother's palace, the Emperor talked with the Third Princess after dinner.
The Third Princess's ears flushed red. She hadn't expected the Queen Mother to ask such a direct question. She was very emotional, but she still said, "I asked An Ran before, and she doesn't want to get married."
"Of course men don't marry, you silly child." The Queen couldn't help but speak, "If you like, then let your mother propose. There's no reason for them to refuse."
The Third Princess murmured, "I...I'd better try to fight for it myself. Oh, Mother, Queen, and Father, please don't worry about it. I'll go ask it myself."
The Queen looked at her and shook her head, "You are such a loser."
The emperor thought for a moment and said, "Let's put it off a little longer. Since we have this intention, I don't think Zilu will marry Anran off so easily."
......
A few days later, the Third Princess came to my house to look for me. I didn't know what she was talking about, as she was eighteen and I was twelve. There was nothing much to talk about. Although I used to get into trouble with her when I was little.
I grumbled at her, and he scratched his head with a goofy grin, which only irritated me further. I stormed out and told Zhixia to inform my brother. Then I sat back inside, and we both drank our tea in silence. A moment later, my brother arrived, leaving the servants waiting outside.
The Third Princess stood up, smiled foolishly and greeted, "An Ran."
My brother politely saluted, and I couldn't help but roll my eyes. As soon as my brother sat down, the Third Princess glared at me. I pretended not to notice, remaining motionless. There was no way we could be alone in a room together.
"An Lan," the Third Princess couldn't help but say, "Sister Chenxi, do you have something to ask me?" My brother interrupted the Third Princess. The Third Princess glanced at me and finally spoke, "An Ran, last night the Queen Mother asked me if she wanted to grant us a marriage."
I couldn't help but ask, "You agreed?"
"No, no, I want to ask you something first." The third princess waved her hands.
My brother spoke gently, "What I told you last time wasn't a lie. I really don't plan on getting married. At least, not now."
The Third Princess hesitated, "But how can you not get married?"
I quickly replied, "Why can't she not get married? My family can support my brother for the rest of his life."
"Lanlan." My brother glared at me, maybe he thought I was impolite, so I pouted.
"But the law states that men cannot marry after the age of 20, and if they are over 18, they will be fined," the Third Princess said formally. Yes, for population reasons, the law mandates marriage. If a man doesn't marry after the age of 20, the state will force him to marry.
My brother thought for a moment and said, "Maybe I'll change my mind later."
As the Third Princess left, she asked me sadly, "Is it because your brother doesn't like me that he disagrees?"
I glanced at her and said, "You're overthinking it. When it comes to getting married, my brother treats people equally and doesn't like all women out there."
I touched my chin and said, "But you're definitely not my brother's type. He probably likes someone more mature."
Hearing this, the Third Princess became even more sad.
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