Fan Zehao returned from outside before he could speak and entered the front hall. He scanned everyone present before sitting beside Zhao Jiaqi.
Upon seeing this, Chen You immediately bowed to him, but Fan Zehao waved him off. "No need. Just answer the Princess Consort's questions truthfully."
When he hadn't arrived, these people weren't very nervous. But upon seeing the Prince, the county magistrate became flustered.
Gu Liqun dared not delay and immediately explained the reason for not planting. "Replying to the Prince and Princess Consort, it's not that I didn't allow the farmers to plant. It's that these people heard from someone that if the whole county planted this sweet potato, they wouldn't be able to sell it for a good price. This talk spread, from ten to a hundred, and the villagers thought it made sense, so they didn't plant."
Guangyuan County Magistrate, Xiang Hongliang, stood up and echoed Gu Liqun's words before the Princess Consort even called on him.
"Indeed. For this reason, I specifically summoned village heads from various villages and tried to persuade them with kind words, but it was no use. Finally, there were some unruly villagers who said that if they planted sweet potatoes and couldn't sell them, would the county magistrate compensate for the losses? Princess Consort, hear this. How could I dare force these people to plant?"
"Exactly. We county magistrates also have our share of grievances. We can't force them, so we let them be!" Changhe County Magistrate, Wang Hu, nodded repeatedly and finally spoke the truth.
They all chimed in, clarifying the matter.
"Since that is the case, why don't I rent the land from each village? I have already investigated, and the profit from one mu of land is about one tael of silver per year. I will offer a rental fee of two taels of silver per mu per year, for a five-year lease. I will also hire some villagers from the respective villages as long-term laborers to take care of the crops. Their monthly wage will be five hundred wen, but they must plant according to my methods. Esteemed county magistrates, do you think I can rent the land like this?"
Upon hearing this, everyone present thought the Princess Consort had gone foolish.
But then they recalled how the Princess Consort had turned Xikou Village into the richest village in the inner city, and they no longer thought she was foolish.
At that moment, some county magistrates felt this matter could definitely succeed. "Your subordinate believes it is feasible and not a difficult problem. After all, planting on their own land yields only one tael a year. The Princess Consort is offering double, so they should not refuse."
Seeing that everyone was uncertain, rather than speculate, it was better to act.
"You all have worked hard. Go back and relay everything I've said to the village chiefs. If they find it feasible, have them fill out a form. Later, have the village chiefs compile the forms and submit them to the county magistrates. They will be passed up layer by layer. I will review the situation first."
"As for Linyan County, you are developing very well now, so you do not need to participate in this matter."
The Linyan County Magistrate had been worrying about how to convey this matter to the village chiefs when he returned. He never expected that the Princess Consort would exempt their county from participating. It was truly a great joy.
"Yes!" Qiu Feng replied immediately.
The matter concluded here. Chen You led the county magistrates in withdrawing from the hall.
Once everyone had left, Fan Zehao helped his wife to the back garden for a stroll.
He placed a large hand on her pregnant belly and said, "The child is considerate of its mother, knowing not to bother you. This puts my mind at ease."
Zhao Jiaqi smiled happily. Thinking of the mischievous Yumeng, she became depressed again. "When I was pregnant with Yumeng, I didn't have severe morning sickness, but after she was born, does Yumeng seem considerate of me? If she doesn't drive me mad, I'll consider her filial!"
She looked down at her bulging belly and said with hope, "I hope these two children are not like their elder sister Yumeng when they are born, or I will surely cry my eyes out!"
Having a house full of boisterous little rascals jumping around would be a headache for anyone!
Fan Zehao did not think it was bad for his daughter to be lively. On the contrary, he felt that such a child was healthy. As a father, his wish was naturally for his children to be healthy, and other things came second.
"Don't be so strict with Mengmeng. Children are naturally playful and mischievous. It's already very good that she can learn so much now. I think it's enough to teach her some basic etiquette and the ability to distinguish right from wrong. As for other things like poetry, music, and needlework, there's absolutely no need to force her to learn."
This was the first time he had discussed Yumeng's studies with Zhao Jiaqi, and his words greatly astonished her.
Seeing his wife still in a daze, Fan Zehao, risking being hit by his wife, continued, "Did you make a single piece of clothing for me after marrying me? If you ask me, piano, chess, calligraphy, and painting, poetry and songs are all meant to please others. Girls in the pleasure quarters, pick any one, and they can do it. I say, learning the basics is enough."
Zhao Jiaqi blushed at what he said earlier. She couldn't do needlework, but her soul wasn't from this era. Her daughter, however, was born and raised in ancient times. Wouldn't it be embarrassing if she couldn't do needlework?
She didn't demand that her children master poetry, music, calligraphy, and painting, but at least they should be able to play a few tunes on each instrument and know the allusions behind the poems and songs. She only asked that her children be better than average, but not necessarily outstanding.
"You're spouting nonsense! From now on, you are forbidden to mess around with Mengmeng. If she can't become a refined lady, I will absolutely not let her become a female general. Running around with you practicing swords and spears, you've turned a perfectly good girl into a boy. What a disgrace!"
Zhao Jiaqi took a deep breath of fresh air in anger and slowly exhaled, finally calming her inner rage. She blinked and realized a very serious problem.
Hu Tou suddenly turned his head, met Fan Zehao's gaze, narrowed his eyes slightly, and asked ominously, "How did you know about the pleasure quarters? And you even know that the girls inside can play the zither and sing? When did you go, with whom? What did you do? Confess honestly!"
The string of questions caught Fan Zehao off guard. His eyes darted away, and for a long time, he didn't dare to meet his wife's eyes, for fear of accidentally implicating Brother Xie Kun.
"Which... I still have... I still have something to do. I won't accompany you... I won't accompany you."
Fan Zehao threw down his words and ran as fast as if a dog were chasing him, disappearing from the back garden in a few strides.
Zhao Jiaqi was annoyed. She casually plucked a flourishing peony, clutched it in her hand, and said hatefully, "You can dodge the beginning of the month, but I'll see if you can dodge the middle of the month, hmph!"
That evening, Gou'er came to report, "Princess Consort, His Highness has gone to the military camp to train the soldiers and arrange formations. He will be very busy for a while and will not return to stay. Please do not worry about His Highness!"
Lying on the chaise lounge, Zhao Jiaqi lifted her eyelids and snorted lightly. She instructed Xia Zhi, "Pack up His Highness's clothes and have Gou'er take them to him. Also, go to the brothel and find a few young and beautiful girls to send to him. Military training is hard, and this Princess Consort is worried about His Highness. I have specially arranged some girls for him to relieve his worries."
Gou'er and Xia Zhi heard this and stopped what they were doing. One dared not accept the order, and the other dared not go to the brothel. They stood rooted to the spot, unsure of what to do.
"With your courage, what can you do? You dare not even say a few words. When you go out, don't say you are from the Prince's Mansion. It's embarrassing enough!" Zhao Jiaqi said indignantly when she saw them both frozen.
She half-rose and summoned Gao Wenbin. "You go to the brothel and find four or five girls to send to His Highness!"