41 A sack of millet
What reward do you desire?
The civil and military officials waited early in the Chengming Hall, having received news that His Majesty and the Empress's biological daughter was returning today.
This biological daughter does not refer to the previous Princess Jiaolu. All the officials in the court knew from Princess Jiaolu's title and her marriage to the Xiongnu that this princess could not be the empress's biological child.
The morning court was bustling. Apart from Prince Yi, who was on his way to suppress bandits in the southwest, and Marquis Zhongping Zhang Tian, all the old guard who had followed His Majesty in conquering the country were present. They all wanted to give the Empress some face.
Among them, the ones who knew the most about how the eldest princess "went missing" were the Empress's sister, Marquis Quzhou, her brother-in-law Yuan Kuai, and Marquis Dingyuan, Wei Xin.
Back then, he strongly opposed the emperor abandoning Empress Zhang and her two children. Even if His Majesty had the world at heart, and even if he were just an ordinary prince, such an act of abandoning his wife and children would greatly damage his reputation if it were to spread.
If Your Majesty is fortunate enough to seize the throne in the future, and such a thing becomes known, then Your Majesty's ascension to the throne will also be met with condemnation from the people, and may even affect the overall situation.
However, the Prince of Yan came with overwhelming force. They had already prepared escape carriages and routes, but the Prince of Yan's army was incredibly fierce, and there were too many pursuers, and they were moving too fast.
At that time, the emperor, who had little experience in struggle, was indeed terrified. Wei Xing could actually understand the emperor's choice at the time. He was just a lowly servant who led his brothers to expand their power step by step. Many people came to join him after hearing the news. If he could not save his life, those who joined him would suffer a terrible fate.
Therefore, back then, in order to draw away the pursuers and to make the carriage run faster, His Majesty made that choice, which, although unethical, was the best choice at the time.
Furthermore, Empress Zhang, being sensible, tacitly approved of her husband's decision, saying, "My lord, there is no need to hesitate. If the three of us, mother and sons, can help you escape this predicament today, it will be our fate. Besides, you still have to lead your brothers to fight the Prince of Yan."
"Ah Ling." Chu Pei, still a minor warlord not recognized by the world, held his wife's hand. "I have wronged you and your three children."
"My lord, do not delay any longer. If in the future, we... please remember to avenge us. We, the brother and sister, are entrusted to you."
Chu Pei held back her tears and snot, "Don't worry, Ah Ling... From now on, Ping Gong and Ah Zhi will be left to me."
After saying this, the empress didn't look at her husband again, and without the slightest hesitation, she jumped out of the carriage with her two children in her arms.
He had witnessed Empress Zhang's resolute decision while riding his horse back then, and couldn't help but admire her courage.
After Empress Zhang jumped off the carriage with her two children, she did indeed delay the fierce attack of the pursuers for a moment, buying precious time for him to escape with the emperor.
Therefore, when Empress Zhang's people came to his residence yesterday to invite him to attend the morning court session today, he readily agreed.
He admired Empress Zhang, and that poor child, who was so young back then, managed to escape the Prince of Yan's pursuers and survive all these years of war, and it was truly remarkable that he was able to come back alive.
Regardless of Empress Zhang's ultimate goal, he was willing to come because of her sense of duty and courage back then.
He stood next to Qu Yan, who was also one of the founding heroes. Qu Yan had long since stopped concerning himself with politics and was focused on retiring and recuperating. "What wind blew you here? Why are you getting weaker and weaker?"
Qu Yan, with his sickly face, glanced at him sideways and said, "The same wind that blew you here." As he said this, it reminded him of the spirited times when they fought and worked together.
"Her Majesty the Empress has made such a grand spectacle today, it must be for more than just the princess's return."
He deliberately tested him. This man was the most cunning, but in poor health. He had been out of touch with worldly affairs for years. If it weren't for the Emperor and Empress's insistence on keeping him, he would probably have retired to the mountains.
"Qinghe, there's no need to test me. I know nothing. I'm just here today to repay Empress Zhang's favor."
"Hehehe, it was just a casual chat."
In addition to these founding heroes of the Jin Dynasty, newly appointed court officials such as the Sima and Gao families were also present.
Today, the Empress sat on the Phoenix Chair to the left of the Dragon Throne.
The emperor's chief eunuch announced in a loud voice: "Princess Yuan Chu is here to enter the palace for an audience!"
All eyes turned to the young woman who walked in through the entrance of the hall; the hall was so quiet that only the sound of her footsteps could be heard.
Qi Gu slowly walked past the ministers who stood ramrod straight on both sides. Their gazes swept over her more or less, but Qi Gu kept her eyes straight ahead and walked slowly forward.
The ministers saw that the young woman's face vaguely resembled the emperor's, her eyes were just like the empress's, she was dressed in a simple peach-colored blouse, and most importantly, she was carrying a bulging sack on her shoulder.
Wei Xin gestured to Qu Yan with his elbow, "These are local specialties brought for us."
Qu Yan observed that the young woman had clear and bright eyes. As she entered the hall where civil and military officials stood in awe and the emperor and empress were solemn and majestic, she showed no signs of tension or panic. Her steps were steady, and Qu Yan thought to himself that she had some of the demeanor of Empress Zhang.
I thought this girl, who looked no different from any other peasant girl, was quite extraordinary to have come to this solemn hall carrying just a burlap sack.
Unexpectedly, what was also unusual was Sima Hong behind her. This youngest head of the Sima family, who was usually aloof and arrogant but whose talent was unmatched, actually followed behind her in a protective manner.
The court officials never expected that some people thought Empress Zhang was so terrifying that she even rallied the Sima family to create momentum for the princess's return.
Some people, however, thought more deeply: Did this mean that the Sima family was already aligned with the Empress and the Crown Prince, and therefore the position of Crown Prince was...?
With a "thud," Qi Gu put the sack on her shoulder on the ground, then knelt down. "Your son, Yuan Chu, pays respects to Father Emperor and Mother Empress. May Father Emperor and Mother Empress enjoy eternal happiness and live a thousand years!"
"rise"
"rise"
Qi Gu stood up, her body upright and straight, her hands placed in front of her. What was inconsistent with her attire was her meticulous manners and the demeanor that did not seem like someone who had lived in the countryside for more than ten years.
Sima Hong, who was standing to the side, did not return to his rightful place after performing the courtier's salute.
Wei Xin couldn't help but say to Qu Yan beside him, "Zilie, look at this couple standing in front of the palace, they do have a well-matched feel to them. I'm afraid Empress Zhang is going to make Sima Xiuyuan her son-in-law."
Although Qu Yan did not concern himself with court politics, he was in the capital and had heard some things about it. He also admired Sima Hong quite a bit. When the Sima family chose a wife for their clan, they naturally wouldn't care whether she was a princess or not. No matter how powerful Empress Zhang was, she couldn't control the Sima family unless Sima Xiuyuan himself was willing.
Qu Yan didn't want to answer the talkative Wei Xin, so he remained indifferent, keeping his eyes down and his mind focused.
Sima Hong clasped his hands together and said, "Your Majesty and Empress, I was ordered to bring the princess back to the capital. Fortunately, I have fulfilled my mission. Now, I return the pearl to you!"
"Hahaha! Good, good! Xiuyuan has rendered a great service this time. I hereby appoint you as the Left Minister of Works, reward you with a thousand gold pieces, and bestow upon you a hundred acres of fertile land!"
Qi Gu stood aside. She understood that Sima Hongda did not have to enter the palace with her. Otherwise, in other people's eyes, he would be seen as willingly becoming her bodyguard, and some people might even speculate that he was siding with the Empress and being driven by her.
But because he was Sima Hong, no one would think that way.
But he did it anyway; he was... standing up for her.
Qi Gu looked at Sima Xiuyuan. He preferred white clothes and rarely wore black clothes, but his official robes were black. The black clothes made his ethereal temperament become more arrogant and his whole person more sharp.
This was his blatant protection and explicit statement that she, the princess, was someone he had brought in and approved of.
Qi Gu didn't feel happy. Sima Hong did all this only because of his guilt and desire to make amends for the arrow he shot in his previous life. If it were in his previous life, she would have jumped up with joy and hugged Sima Hong tightly.
But in this life, she doesn't need it. She doesn't need his guilt or his attempts to make amends. They will return to dust, and his guilt is none of her business. That's his problem. He wants to wash away the regrets of his past life, and she won't play along.
She died in her past life, and she doesn't need any compensation in this life. She will fight for what she wants herself, and she will no longer force what doesn't belong to her.
Sima Hong nodded slightly to Qi Gu and returned to his position as Situ Ling.
Qi Gu pretended not to see it and continued to stand upright, waiting for the Emperor and Empress to ask her questions.
"Yuan Chu has suffered. However, I saw you carrying something in just now. What is it that you had to bring in personally?"
Qi Gu calmly replied, "Father, this is a gift I brought from the countryside for you and Mother."
The Queen asked with great interest, "Oh, what is it?"
Qi Gu bent down, opened the burlap sack at her feet, and scooped out a handful of golden millet. "It's millet that I grew myself."
The courtiers behind her, watching the princess from the countryside holding plump grains of millet in her hands, seemed to smell the aroma of the millet.
The eunuch presented the millet in Qi Gu's hand to the Emperor and Empress. Chu Pei reached out, grabbed a handful, rubbed it in his palm, and smelled it.
Chu Pei smelled the aroma of millet and wheat. “Yuan Chu, you are very good. You have gone through many hardships, but your will is firm and unyielding. You have not failed to live up to the style of your mother and me. Back then, I was also in a tyrannical dynasty with heavy taxes and natural disasters. We couldn’t afford to eat, so I decided to lead the people in an uprising just to have a full meal.”
Chu Pei was a sentimental person. Seeing Qi Gu, who had abandoned her gorgeous clothes and was dressed in plain clothes to pay her respects in the palace, evoked memories of the hard days when he was still in Yu County.
Emperor Yuan of Jin forgot the grudge he held against his wife and children years ago, and leaned forward to ask, "Is this the millet and wheat you planted? Can it increase the harvest by 20% or 30%?"
Qi Gu nodded, "Yes, the improved yield of millet and wheat is the result of Master's hard work and research over the years."
He valued this daughter even more than before, saying, "Excellent, excellent! My Yuan Chu, what reward do you desire!"
“Father, my master saved me during our escape years ago. Over the years, I have been following him to plant and cultivate millet and wheat seeds. These high-yielding millet and wheat seeds are not my achievement.”
"Oh, right, I remember now. Xiuyuan mentioned before that there was another person named Li Shi who came to the capital with you. Is that him?"
Qi Gu replied, "That's right."
The Empress, standing to the side, looked at the Crown Prince. Qi Gu, who answered fluently and behaved with grace and poise, knew that even without the title of princess, she could still receive a reward based on her millet and wheat cultivation skills.
The Empress recalled how Qi Gu had protected her adoptive father that day. Today, this bag of millet was specially prepared by Qi Gu for her adoptive father, Li Shi. The Empress felt a complex mix of emotions.
She grew up so well away from her negligent parents.
"Your Majesty, Mr. Li Shi is so talented that he can solve the urgent crisis facing our Great Jin Dynasty. Moreover, he saved Yuan Chu, so he should be richly rewarded!" How could the Empress not grant her daughter's filial wish?
Looking at the golden, plump ears of wheat, Chu Pei naturally agreed, "Imperiale General Li Shi is hereby appointed as a Grand Master, granted a three-courtyard residence in the capital, one hundred taels of silver, and two qing of fertile land!"
"Your subject thanks Your Majesty for the reward on behalf of your master!" Qi Gu knelt down, sincerely expressing her gratitude.
[Author's Note]
I was a bit rushed today, so there might be some bugs. I'll catch them when I have time.
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