Chapter 159 People's Farewell
Zhang Quan was enjoying the cool air in the corridor of the side hall. Zhao Tong brought a chair for him to sit on, while the other officials from the Ministry of Rites had to stand. He drank his cup of cold tea and observed the palace calmly, then sighed heavily. (Previous chapter has been replaced)
The confidant behind him couldn't help but complain: "This tea tastes bitter, and you're using this to entertain guests?"
Zhang Quan frowned and scolded, "How dare you! Prince Zhao drinks this kind of tea, and you're acting like a spoiled brat!"
The confidant shrank his neck after being scolded and dared not say anything.
Zhang Quan picked up the teacup and took another sip. He couldn't help but frown. The bitter taste in his mouth reminded him of the scene he had just seen - Xiao Ji was standing barefoot in the mud, with his trouser legs rolled up to his knees and mud spots on his arms.
"You guys..." Zhang Quan shook his head and sighed, "Think about this piece of land, and then look at the color of your Highness's skin. For the past three months, His Highness has suffered here, and you guys can't even drink a sip of tea."
Your Highness is able to endure such hardships, and this character must have caught the attention of Your Majesty. No wonder Your Majesty has changed his mind.
The officials behind him looked at each other, lowering their heads in shame. The courtyard was silent for a moment, with only the rustling of the wind through the sycamore trees.
At this moment, there were figures in the main hall. Everyone looked and saw a handsome man and a beautiful woman walking out together.
The setting sun shone on them, and it was so bright that they could not look directly at it, just like the word "Zhao".
Zhang Quan hurriedly stood up and walked forward. Only when he got closer did he see the couple clearly.
He couldn't help but hold his breath - this was the true demeanor of a royal family, completely different from the young boy who was planting rice just now.
Xiao Ji wore a moon-white brocade robe, a shimmering jade belt at his waist. Although his steps were somewhat unnatural, his robe still fluttered as he walked. The material was embroidered with silver thread, with dark patterns that were faintly visible in the sunlight, making him look even more elegant and extraordinary.
The girl next to him was wearing a light green silk dress, a simple high bun, a Huasheng and a few pearl hairpins, which made her look extremely beautiful.
"I pay my respects to His Royal Highness Prince Zhao and the Concubine."
Qingwu didn't notice anything wrong, but Xiao Ji frowned. However, he finally restrained himself and said nothing. After a brief greeting, he took Zhao Tong, Yuzhu and Nanny Xia out, leaving Fugui and Baozhu to pack up the items in the palace and transport them to the capital.
However, I didn't expect that hundreds of people were already crowded outside the door. Looking around, I saw young and old, big and small. I was afraid that all the people in Hedong Village were here.
Most of them were still covered in mud and holding seedlings in their hands, but their eyes were fixed on the direction of the palace gate, which made Zhang Quan, who was standing behind Xiao Ji Qingwu, feel nervous.
He quickly stepped forward and asked, "What are you all...doing here?"
Although these people were well clothed, they all looked pale and thin. Zhang Quan knew that some unruly people would take advantage of their numbers to cause trouble and rob people.
The head of the village immediately stepped forward, holding a coarse cloth bundle in his hand: "Don't be offended, sir, the villagers are here to see you off."
While Xiao Ji and Qing Wu were washing up, they had already quickly gone to inform the head of the village. The head of the village knew Xiao Ji's identity and had anticipated this day, so he immediately gathered the villagers to see Xiao Ji and Qing Wu off.
Firstly, they were truly grateful to Xiao Ji for signing the Hedongtian Contract and leasing the land to them for free; secondly, they wanted to build a relationship and ask these two to remember their Hedong Village more so that the lives of the villagers in Hedong Village would be better in the future.
However, when he saw Xiao Ji wearing such a spotless brocade robe, the village head couldn't help but shrink his hand holding the bundle. He didn't know whether to give it to him or not. He thought the prince would not be interested in it.
But just as this thought came to his mind, the bundle had already been taken by Xiao Ji. He held the bundle in his arms without any hesitation. The roughness of the linen bundle was in stark contrast to the delicate brocade.
Not only that, a middle-aged woman squeezed out from the crowd. She was more robust than the other women in the village. She held a roll of cloth in her arms and handed it to Qingwu, "I heard that widows can also rent two acres of land for free. It was you who proposed it, Madam... My husband passed away two years ago..."
She wiped away her tears and said, "I am capable, but I don't have much land, not enough to raise a child. With Madam, two more acres of land will be enough for my child to eat and drink. This fine cloth was woven by me. I know Madam doesn't think much of it, but it is a token of my love. Please don't despise it. You can even give it to a maidservant."
Qing Wu's eyes welled up as he solemnly took the roll of fine cloth and said, "This cloth is so finely woven, how can I bear to give it to others? I must make some clothes to wear."
The woman smiled upon hearing this, her dark face rubbing against the hem of her clothes with her rough fingers. "I'm glad Madam doesn't mind..."
Seeing this, more villagers came forward to offer their gifts, including Fugui and Baozhu who followed behind to see them off. Soon, Zhao Tong and Yuzhu's arms were filled with various local gifts.
Zhang Quan stood by, stunned. He had never seen the people bid farewell to a nobleman so sincerely, nor had he seen a prince cherish the people's gifts so much.
However, Xiao Ji not only accepted these worthless things, but also bowed to the people, "Thank you fellow villagers, Ji has also been taken care of by the villagers during these days, and I will reciprocate and become rich."
He called out, and Fugui, holding a piece of dried meat, immediately stood up and said, "You and Baozhu will keep two days' worth of food, and the rest of the food will be distributed to the villagers."
At first they thought they would have to live in the palace for a long time, so they bought half a year's supply of rice, flour, grain and oil, which is now just the right amount to use as a return gift.
How could the villagers dare to accept it? They were unwilling to accept it, but Xiao Ji said: "Only by reciprocity can there be long-term relations? Don't you want me to come again in the future?"
Hearing Xiao Ji addressing him as "I", Zhang Quan and other officials from the Ministry of Rites were even more surprised and felt a little uncomfortable. After all, when Xiao Ji addressed them, he still used "This King".
The people didn't notice this, only focusing on the second half of the sentence. Xiao Xing, who was beside her brother, couldn't help but ask, "Really? Will the young master and the mistress really come back?"
Of course, Xiao Xing's attention was mainly on Qingwu. She remembered that Qingwu saved her and Qingwu was her savior.
Being stared at by the little girl's expectant eyes, Qingwu's voice couldn't help but choke up a little. "Of course... at least, at least when the rice is ripe, we will definitely come back to see everyone."
Although she had only lived in the palace for a short time, the days she spent there were undoubtedly the rare relaxing and comfortable times she had in all those years. After being betrayed by her family, she found someone she loved and loved in this palace...
But the sun was setting and time waited for no one. Zhang Quan came out to play the "bad guy" and asked Xiao Ji and Qing Wu to get on the carriage and return to Beijing quickly. Now, without Xiao Ji and Qing Wu saying anything, the villagers had spontaneously made way for them.
The couple walked in front, the officials from the Ministry of Rites walked in the middle, and the villagers followed at the end. They stayed there and watched them go until they got on the carriage.
Standing on the tall carriage, Xiao Ji turned around and looked at the people. To be honest, he had seen thousands of soldiers in the army, and being seen off by a hundred or so people was far from shocking. However, those pairs of eyes staring at him made him feel indescribably blocked in his heart.
He asked himself, he hadn't given these people too many favors, just a little land and three years of tax exemption, which was far less than the rewards he had given them casually. But with just these, had they remembered it firmly in their hearts?
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