"Your Highness, just as you predicted. His Majesty's decree has already been issued. Jiangquan County and Pingshan County have been reassigned to Liangzhou as a reward for Your Highness's military achievements and your contribution of the blueprints," Shishu reported respectfully, standing to the side as she looked at the woman with her hands clasped behind her back.
"My imperial father…" Jinyang gazed out the window at the red plum blossoms in full bloom. Her exquisite features were as cold as carved ice, her tone laced with both mockery and sorrow.
Outside, snow fell silently.
The maid lowered her head, lips pressed tightly together.
Your Highness risked her life on the battlefield, surviving by the narrowest margin—yet it was still worth less than a small Pingrao County.
"It matters not. My objective was Jiangquan and Pingshan to begin with. Have Zhuifeng take my token and seal off those areas. Make sure no one else notices."
Compared to the fertile, prosperous Pingrao, the nearby Jiangquan and Pingshan Counties were unbearably poor—remote wastelands where even grass struggled to grow. To most people, they would be nothing but a hot potato.
But to her, they contained what she truly wanted.
She had used Pingrao as a decoy, claiming she favored its scenery and mild climate and requesting it as her reward. As expected, her father was deeply wary, afraid she might scheme there, and instead granted her the nearby Jiangquan and Pingshan Counties.
"Your Highness, a message has arrived from Jinzhou."
"Read it."
"Qin and Lu have resolved to follow Your Highness and will travel to Liangzhou after the New Year with the Gu family head. Additionally: Jade Pool Immortal Bath is bringing in vast sums daily and has excellent prospects. The Gu family head has decided to open branches in other prefectures next year."
Hearing this, the frost in Jinyang's expression softened slightly. She spoke quietly, "It seems he is not only uncanny at farming, but also a veritable treasure trove."
Seeing her mood improve, Shishu presented another letter with both hands. "Your Highness, this came along with the report—a private letter from the Gu family head."
Jinyang took it. Shishu caught the faint curve of her lips—just that small movement, blooming with elegance in the light, seemed to dispel the winter chill.
"Your Highness, if the Gu family head were to learn about the assassination at the city gates—"
Jinyang, who was reading the letter, lifted her eyes and glanced at her lightly, her tone edged with warning. "Have them seal their mouths."
Shishu, who had grown up alongside the Grand Princess since childhood, rarely felt playful, yet she could not help teasing gently. "Even if we say nothing, the Gu family head will eventually see the scars on Your Highness's body. She will find out sooner or later. When that happens, she may be angry with Your Highness."
How could Jinyang not know that she would be angry—angry at her recklessness, at her risking herself? She would likely cry in pain and distress.
Jinyang pressed her lips together. After a long pause, she said softly, "I know. When the time comes, I will tell her the truth."
Shishu turned her head slightly and smiled to herself, genuinely happy for Her Highness. At last, Her Highness had someone who could treat her wounds and cherish her.
…
After packing their belongings, Qin Ke and Lu Youqing hurried back to Qinghe Village. By then, it was already the eleventh lunar month. Traveling was harder than before, and winter days were short, with darkness falling early.
As a result, it took an extra day to get home.
Before the carriage even reached the gate, Chu Yi and Shi Wu had already caught their familiar scent and came running to greet them from afar.
As soon as Lu Youqing stepped down, Chu Yi and the others leapt into her arms, tails wagging like fans.
"All right, all right—we're back," she said.
She could never resist their affection. Their warm tongues licked her palm, ticklish and damp. Laughing, she stroked their heads.
When they were younger, they could still curl up in her arms. Now they had grown so large—up to her waist—that she could no longer lift them.
Only after calming the little ones did she manage to free herself.
As she directed Han Qi to unload the luggage from the carriage, Lu Youqing turned to Li Nanqiao and said, "You've been away from home for many days. Your mother must be worried. Go back and see her first, and rest at home for a few days."
Li Nanqiao truly did miss home. Since birth, she had never been away for so long. She didn't refuse, picked up her bundle, and headed home.
Lu Youqing began arranging matters at home, while Qin Ke could hardly wait to check on the fields.
When he asked, Pei Xiu seemed well prepared. She took out a ledger and handed it to him.
Qin Ke flipped through it—indeed worthy of a steward capable of handling matters single-handedly for the Gu family. The ledger clearly recorded every detail from the two months he had been away: who tended which greenhouse each day, how much water was used, when charcoal fires were lit, how much fuel was consumed, and more.
"According to the planting instructions you left behind, the potatoes have reached maturity. I had people dig up one plot a few days ago. The potatoes are oval in shape and pale yellow in color. However, since no one has seen potatoes before, we waited for your return before proceeding further," Pei Xiu reported as she stood by.
Before leaving, Qin Ke had copied the useful parts of the cultivation manual that came with the system seeds and left them with Pei Xiu so she would have guidance.
"And how are the greenhouses?" he asked.
"The chives are already mature and can be harvested for the first time. However, knowing you were about to return, we waited for your decision. As for the tomatoes you mentioned, they have borne fruit, but they are still green. The chili peppers have ripened according to the instructions, but their color is extremely vivid—no one has dared to try them."
The villagers working in the greenhouses were extremely curious about the chili peppers and tomatoes, but none dared to secretly pick and taste them, fearing they might be poisonous.
They were cautious about unfamiliar plants.
Qin Ke nodded in understanding.
The pungent flavor and bright color of chili peppers could easily be mistaken for poison by first-time tasters. As for tomatoes, when they first appeared, they were also considered ornamental plants, long believed to be toxic berries. Only after someone dared to eat them did tomatoes finally make their way onto dining tables.
"The expenses for charcoal and workers' wages for the greenhouses are all recorded here," Pei Xiu added, placing another ledger before him.
Qin Ke found the traditional numerals in the accounts difficult to read and planned to give them to his wife later. He only flipped to the last page to check the remaining balance.
The greenhouses truly were money-eaters. Fortunately, his family's finances were solid—otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to sustain them. Thankfully, the crops were about to be harvested, and income would soon follow.
Moreover, Gu Lanxi had said that the dividends from Jade Pool Immortal Bath would be delivered monthly, which would be another considerable source of income.
"I'll go check on the potatoes first thing tomorrow and then arrange for the harvest. Sister Pei, you've worked hard during this time," Qin Ke said.
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