As soon as they returned to the royal manor, several prefects came calling, all wanting to cultivate this rice.
They pleaded with the Princess Consort to teach them the method of planting high-yield rice. However, before the Princess Consort could reply, Fan Zehao dismissed them.
"The land in Qingjiang Prefecture was leased, and the Princess Consort spent a great deal of time researching this. If you wish to learn how to cultivate high-yield rice, you must lease the land to the Princess Consort and each household must send one person to work as a laborer. Once the lease term is up, the land will be returned to you, and you may cultivate it as you wish! If you agree, sign the contract; otherwise, disperse."
"Alternatively, you can choose not to lease the land. After the lease for Qingjiang Prefecture expires, the Princess Consort will freely impart the method to you. Tell them this!"
The prefects arrived with high spirits but left dejected.
When Zhao Jiaqi heard this news from Gao Wenbin, she smiled gently, her heart feeling warm.
Gao Wenbin, perplexed, asked her, "When the Princess Consort researched high-yield grain, wasn't it so that the common people in your fief could have enough to eat? Why, now that she has developed it, she is not teaching the common people how to plant it? Isn't this contrary to your original wish!"
She looked at Gao Wenbin. For him to ask such a stern question and articulate it so coherently, she had to answer him seriously.
"When I leased the land in Qingjiang Prefecture, it was a five-year contract. If I impart the method now, will I be responsible to the common people of Qingjiang Prefecture?"
In other words, everyone else would be planting rice, while the people of Qingjiang Prefecture would be watching, using their land for experimentation, and then being cast aside!
How could that be considered fair!
"If the common people in the fief cannot be treated equally, if one cannot balance the scales, can the Prince, as the parent official, still govern?"
"Guard Gao, can you tell me what should be done?"
Gao Wenbin was stunned by the Princess Consort's words. After much thought, he still maintained his stance, "The Princess Consort may be right, but this subordinate believes that since it is for the benefit of the common people, should their interests not be prioritized!"
After speaking, Gao Wenbin left, leaving Zhao Jiaqi alone to ponder.
Because of his words, Zhao Jiaqi ate and slept poorly for half a month.
If this continued, she would break down. On the verge of madness, she decided to return the leased land in Qingjiang Prefecture and not lease it anymore.
As Gao Wenbin had said, since the experiment was successful, why not let the common people cultivate it!
Wasn't her original intention for the sake of the common people?
As soon as dawn broke, Zhao Jiaqi summoned Xiao Qinghe, the prefect of Qingjiang Prefecture, and returned the leased land deeds to him.
Xiao Qinghe was confused. "What does the Princess Consort mean by this?"
"I have decided that I will not lease this land anymore. Starting next month, each village will send two intelligent and capable individuals to learn the method of planting rice, aiming to have all the common people learn it within this half-year. By next spring, they will be able to implement it, and they can strive to escape poverty and achieve prosperity, and have enough to eat and wear as soon as possible."
Prefect Xiao did not expect the Princess Consort to make such a decision. He was moved by the Princess Consort's selfless dedication. A person like her was truly rare in the Yun Kingdom.
"Princess Consort, by giving up the lease of this land, you are incurring a great loss. Have you not considered it carefully?"
Zhao Jiaqi shook her head firmly. "My mind is made up, and there is no further consideration. Please return and attend to it quickly. As for the rent paid this year, it will not be reclaimed; consider it as a penalty for breach of contract!"
After making this decision, Zhao Jiaqi felt a sense of relief. Although she was no longer cultivating the land, the crops planted were taught by her as well, which could be considered an achievement.
Fan Zehao did not understand his wife's decision, but he silently supported her as long as she was happy.
The capital, the Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.
Huangfu Jintao, looking at the letter from Gao Wenbin and learning of Zhao Jiaqi's decision, his eyes lit up, and his cloudy gaze gained a glimmer of light.
He held the letter and gave Zhao Jiaqi an evaluation: "Great wisdom disguised as foolishness."
Although it seemed like a loss of profit, she gained the love and support of the common people and saved many families.
He held the letter, his emotions stirred for a long time. For so many years, he had never met anyone like Zhao Jiaqi. If only she were a man... alas!
"Cough... Cough... Pfft..."
Huangfu Jintao coughed a few times and spat out a mouthful of blood, splattering the letter and the desk. Chief Eunuch Wang Zhanlin immediately stepped forward to wipe the blood from his mouth, saying with concern, "Does Your Majesty wish for this old servant to summon Qi Xuan into the palace?"
The Emperor shook his head. "It's nothing, I was just a little too agitated. I'll be fine in a moment, no need to make a fuss."
After a moment of contemplation, Huangfu Jintao had nothing particular to bestow upon the couple, so he gave a golden plaque of exemption from death. He handed it to Wang Zhanlin and said, "Deliver it personally. Tell Fan Zehao that he has not let me down."
Wang Zhanlin held the golden plaque, his heart filled with mixed emotions. "Your Majesty..."
He feared that after his departure, the Emperor would have no one close to attend to him. Wang Zhanlin was reluctant to leave and spoke his mind.
Huangfu Jintao also did not wish for him to leave. This person who had served him for most of his life was someone he was accustomed to. However, he had to let him go.
He took a box from under the desk and handed it to him. "Take this with you as well. Upon reaching the fief, hand it to Fan Zehao for safekeeping. You will stay by his side then. Only he can protect you in the Yun Kingdom!"
The Emperor's words... he was making arrangements for his final days!
Wang Zhanlin's old face was etched with lines. Trembling, he took the box. Without the Emperor needing to say anything, he knew what was inside!
Holding the item, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed three times to the Emperor. Tears streamed down his face, and after a long moment of choked sobs, he finally said with a voice choked with emotion, "Your Highness, please rest assured, this old servant will definitely deliver the item to the Prince."
"Go, take the Dragon Guards!"
Huangfu Jintao sighed inwardly. He knew this day would come, but he hadn't expected it so soon.
Wang Zhanlin left with five Dragon Guards. The Emperor announced to the outside world that Wang Zhanlin had gone to deliver an imperial decree and bestow a golden plaque of exemption from death upon Zhao Jiaqi.
Because the item was valuable, and also because Chief Eunuch Wang had gone to inspect the fief, his departure, while not attracting the attention of the ministers, did catch the eye of some people.
Everyone's attention was now focused on Zhao Jiaqi. This woman had once again created a miracle with high-yield grain. There were those who hated her, and there were those who admired her.
As for how the people of the capital and the entire country viewed her, she did not care.
In the royal manor, five accountants had finally settled the accounts of the Miracle Workshop and its shops after two months.
One could imagine how thick the account books were!
"Your Highness the Princess Consort, we, these humble subjects, have audited these accounts twice, and all the numbers match, not a single copper is out of place."
To expedite the settlement of the account books, Zhao Jiaqi had specifically hired accountants from other prefectures. Since they entered the manor, they had not left. They had been busy for so long, and it was indeed difficult for them.
"Thank you all for your hard work. Each person's wage is one hundred taels. Go to the accountant in the manor to collect it; I have already informed him."
When everyone heard that the wage was one hundred taels, it was seventy taels more than when they were hired. They were both surprised and overjoyed, and they quickly bowed their thanks.
Zhao Jiaqi waved her hand, urging them to collect their money and go home.
Currently, the more money she had, the less desire she felt to earn more.
Given the current situation, earning over twenty million taels a year was not a problem at all.