Chapter 153: Getting there first
Xiao Yanqing almost couldn't catch his breath, and his face was distorted for a moment.
He actually took the initiative to present the potatoes to his father!
Xiao Yanci looked at him with feigned confusion, "Sixth Brother, what's wrong with you?"
Xiao Yanqing gritted his teeth and asked, "When did you get this? Have you done any experiments beforehand?"
Xiao Yanci shook his head. "I accidentally tasted this today. It tastes great and is very filling. I also heard that it's easy to grow and can yield up to 3,000 kilograms per mu, so I immediately gave this good thing to my father."
Xiao Yanqing said anxiously, "You've only heard about it, and haven't verified it yet. How can you rashly send it to the emperor? What if there's something wrong with it?"
Xiao Yanci said as a matter of course, "I discovered something new and wonderful, and I'm offering it to the Emperor right away. What's wrong with that? The Emperor will send people to test-grow it, and that's not something I should worry about."
These words made Xiao Yanqing regret it so much that his intestines turned green.
Originally, he had the upper hand, but he was too conservative, wasting time and losing the credit that was within his grasp!
Unwilling to let his efforts go to waste, Xiao Yanqing spoke up, "Actually, I got this thing a while ago and heard all sorts of benefits, but hearsay is always false, so I didn't dare to believe it. So I ordered people to try planting it, and now it's not even harvest time yet, but I didn't expect Xiao Qi to get there first."
Xiao Yanci found it quite funny to see that he was obviously very frustrated and angry, but had to endure it.
He must have been furious.
Fortunately, I listened to Lu Zhiran and entered the palace as soon as possible, otherwise I would have missed the opportunity.
"So, I'm stealing Sixth Brother's credit?"
Xiao Yanqing was stunned, but in front of Emperor Defeng, he could only act like a friendly and respectful brother.
"You and I are both trying to relieve our father's worries and benefit the people. What does personal achievement mean? If these potatoes can truly be promoted in the Great Qi Dynasty and allow the people to have enough food to eat, then even if I don't want the credit, it will be worth it."
"Sixth Brother is so righteous. I, a common man, am truly ashamed of myself. Father, please credit my share of Sixth Brother's contributions. I don't think it's too much."
Xiao Yanqing: ...
His face twitched violently and he almost wanted to hit someone.
He said this with great righteousness, just to make his father look at him with more respect and get a share of the profits, but he didn't really regard the achievements as dirt!
Emperor Defeng took in the expressions of the two men and the corners of his mouth twitched slightly.
Xiaoliu's pretentiousness was completely thwarted by Xiaoqi's blunt and straightforward personality.
Giving Xiao Yanci a glare, Emperor Defeng said unhappily, "Look at your behavior. It's as if you've never seen any merit in your entire life. Okay, I understand this matter. All of you may withdraw."
Xiao Yanci said loudly, "Father, don't forget the reward you promised me."
Emperor Defeng said with disdain, "What merit or no merit? Wait until the potatoes are planted. Xiaoliu, do you have anything else to do?"
Originally, the Taichang Temple was responsible for ancestral worship in the Taimiao, but the Taichang Temple underwent a major purge last time, so the matter was handed over to the Ministry of Rites.
Xiao Yanqing is now on duty at the Ministry of Rites. He originally came here for this matter, hoping to take this opportunity to gain more favor in front of Emperor Defeng, but now he has no intention of doing so.
"I am here to pay my respects to the Emperor."
"That's all you need to do. I still have government affairs to attend to. If you have nothing else to do, please leave."
Emperor Defeng drove the people away, and Xiao Yanci stopped pestering him and quickly took his leave.
After being disturbed by him like this, Xiao Yanqing could not say anything he wanted to say to take advantage of the situation and could only leave with a stiff face.
After leaving the imperial study, Xiao Yanqing's face could no longer hold back and was filled with gloom.
"Seventh brother really has good tactics!"
"Thanks to my Sixth Brother for giving in, otherwise I wouldn't have been able to seize this opportunity. I would like to thank you, my brother."
Xiao Yanci deliberately stabbed him in the sore spot, and Xiao Yanqing vomited blood.
Adding fuel to the fire, Xiao Yanci turned and left. Xiao Yanqing looked at his back, his teeth itching with hatred.
Xiao Yanqing turned around and went to Yuxiu Palace. Seeing his ugly face, Concubine Li felt a pang in her heart.
"What happened?"
Xiao Yanqing's face was filled with anger. "We've been overtaken by that bastard Xiao Yanci again!"
He told her what happened in the imperial study, and Concubine Li was so shocked that she stood up.
"Is this true?"
Xiao Yanqing's face was filled with annoyance. "He personally claimed the credit in front of the emperor, how could it be false?"
Concubine Li's face was distorted with anger, "I knew that Concubine Rou and her son were born to be unlucky for us!"
Xiao Yanqing also took his anger out on Concubine Li. "I had originally suggested presenting this to Father as soon as possible, but Mother insisted on trying to grow it. Now, all the credit we had earned has been wasted!"
Concubine Li felt a lump in her throat.
"Isn't it just for safety's sake, mother? What if Zhao Shuning's words were false? If you just presented the gift to your father, wouldn't you be held accountable in the future? Who could have thought that Xiao Yanci would act so unconventionally?"
Concubine Li naturally felt regretful, but it was too late to regret.
She originally had high hopes for the potatoes, but now, she just hopes that all the potatoes will die in the ground.
But they dared not tamper with the trial planting arranged by Emperor Defeng himself.
The series of failures during this period made Xiao Yanqing feel restless.
He couldn't let the situation continue to develop like this, he had to fight back!
"Mother, I have a method that may be able to turn the tide."
"What method?"
Xiao Yanqing whispered his plan, and Concubine Li flatly rejected it.
"No! How can this be possible? How can I let you sacrifice yourself like this?"
A hint of determination flashed across Xiao Yanqing's eyes. "Those who achieve great things don't care about trivial matters. What does this little sacrifice mean?"
Concubine Li continued to shake her head. "You will be laughed at! This will become a stain on your life in the future!"
"Your son can no longer care about that, mother. Hesitation will lead to defeat. If your son doesn't act in time, I'm afraid Xiao Yanci will get there first. By then, it will be too late to regret!"
Hearing this, Concubine Li's last bit of hesitation was dispelled, but her heart was filled with pity for Xiao Yanqing.
"I'm sorry for wronging my son."
There was a determination in Xiao Yanqing's eyes to win.
"To achieve a great cause, any sacrifice is worth it! Mother, this matter requires careful planning to be accomplished."
Concubine Li calmed down, thought carefully, and then she came up with an idea.
"Let your sister handle this matter. She will act prudently and thoroughly, and nothing will go wrong."
Concubine Li immediately sent a message to Xiao Wanzhen, summoning her into the palace.
The mother and daughter planned for a long time behind closed doors and finally finalized the plan. Concubine Li finally felt relieved.
Only then did she notice the dark shadow under Xiao Wanzhen's eyes, and she began to ask.
A fierce and gloomy look flashed across Xiao Wanzhen's eyes. Concubine Li frowned, "Another argument with your husband? You may be a princess, but he is still your husband. You should bow your head appropriately and give him enough respect. Don't keep acting like a princess in front of him. Otherwise, over time, the couple will become estranged."
Xiao Wanzhen sneered, "It's because I gave him too much face that he dared to hook up with those little bitches behind my back!"
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