This aligns with Zhao Jiaqi's intentions: "Okay, I also want to go east and see if we can diversify our agriculture."
Ever since she grew high-yield rice, the common people of the Yun Kingdom are now following suit, planting it indiscriminately without considering whether the land is suitable.
The price of rice is now lower than that of wheat, marking the lowest price for rice in history.
This has led to an abundance of Yun Kingdom rice, which is exported to other vassal states in exchange for wheat, balancing the Yun Kingdom's grain industry.
Returning to the inner city, they passed by her old home, Fish Landing Town.
They disembarked, looking at the familiar yet strange town. Both of them felt a mix of emotions—sweet, sour, bitter, spicy, and everything in between.
Zhao Jiaqi suggested, "Since we're here, let's go back to our ancestral home. We can recompile the family tree starting from my father's generation and find a good spot for a Fan family cemetery."
Although her husband doesn't speak of these matters, she knows that leaving the clan is a scar in his heart.
This matter needs to be dealt with sooner or later. Since they are here, they should settle it now, so he doesn't constantly feel like he has no ancestral roots or sense of belonging.
Fan Zehao held his wife's hand, a hint of a smile appearing on his stern face. "Alright, I'll listen to you!"
The six-year-old Fan Yao and Fan Sen were confused and didn't understand what their parents were saying!
"Dad, Mom, isn't our hometown in the inner city? Why are you calling this place home?" Fan Yao asked, his eyes, like Fan Zehao's, thick and bushy.
Fan Zehao ruffled his sons' heads. When they left, their daughter was only one year old. Now they were back, and not only had they had sons, but the boys had grown so much that they didn't even know where their grandfather was buried!
He was indeed an unworthy father!
Fan Zehao, pulling one son in each hand, walked towards the village, recounting a long story.
"In Fish Landing Town, there's a village called Nanling Village. In that village, there was a hunter..."
As he spoke with passion, the two children listened intently. By the end of the story, they realized it was about their father, but they were confused as to why their father seemed to have another father.
Fan Yao didn't understand and asked, "Dad, aren't Grandpa and Grandma in the royal palace in the capital? How can there be another Grandpa here?"
This question made Fan Zehao awkward.
Zhao Jiaqi quickly stepped in to answer her son, explaining, "That's because you have two grandfathers. One grandfather is buried here, guarding this land. The other grandfather is in the capital, protecting you!"
Fan Sen glanced at his parents. He was shocked to have an extra grandfather, but he didn't believe his mother's explanation.
Every family has one grandfather. How could they be so special as to have an extra biological grandfather!
Being intelligent, Fan Sen didn't voice his question, waiting to find the answer privately. But the single-minded Fan Yao wasn't so circumspect.
"Mom, if Grandpa has two, does that mean I have two dads too?"
Zhao Jiaqi was stunned on the spot. Fan Zehao's face immediately darkened, like a gathering storm. He promptly gave Fan Yao a sound beating.
Having been spanked, Fan Yao never understood why his father hit him!
Upon returning to the village, the new village chief didn't know what to do when he saw Fan Zehao returning with his wife and children.
It was his wife next to him who nudged him, and only then did he realize that Fan Zehao... no, the Emperor, had returned to the village.
The village chief, Fan Ziqiu, mimicked the way officials bowed to the Emperor in the opera house. He copied it with great flair.
With one hand lifting his hem, he took three steps left, two steps to the right, and then knelt on one knee, cupping his hands and shouting with full vigor, "Long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor, long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress, long live the Empress, long live the Empress!"
Not only were the two adults bewildered, but even Fan Yao and Fan Sen looked on dumbfounded.
"Village Chief, please rise!"
"I am traveling incognito, so there's no need for such formalities. I've returned this time only to pay respects to my ancestors and handle some matters. Village Chief, there's no need to make a fuss!"
The Emperor had spoken, and Fan Ziqiu dared not disobey. He nodded vigorously. "Yes, yes, yes, your humble servant remembers!"
He might have remembered, but the villagers knew that Fan Zehao had returned with his wife and children. Like a gust of wind, the news spread throughout the surrounding ten villages and towns within a day.
There was no help for it, as Nanling Village was producing talented individuals.
Not only had an Emperor emerged from Nanling Village, but also a second-rank great general who had married a princess. Even Fan Meichen, who was once considered the least promising, had married Li Chuang, and the couple was now prosperous, raking in money.
Those who had disdained Fan Meichen back then now regretted it immensely.
Returning to their own residence, the two children ran around the front and back courtyards, curious about such a rural dwelling.
When the Emperor and Empress arrived, the new Fan family patriarch learned of this. He immediately brought offerings, along with his three sons and three daughters-in-law, and came to visit.
Entering the house, he saw Fan Zehao, who had been away from home for many years. He subtly observed him, noticing a newfound nobility and a departure from his former rustic demeanor. He was no longer as silent as before, not even glancing at those around him.
"The new patriarch of the Fan family in Nanling Village, Fan Jianmin, along with his entire family, pays his respects to the Emperor and Empress. Long live the Emperor, long live the Empress!"
After a brief observation, he knelt on the ground and kowtowed. The people behind him followed suit.
In the living room, seven people knelt, making the spacious room feel somewhat crowded.
"All rise, Patriarch. Please, take a seat."
Fan Zehao was now too weary to utter the polite words of "no need for formalities" to those who knelt so readily.
It was useless; they would continue as they always had!
He hadn't sought out the patriarch, but the patriarch had come to him. This was perfect; he could settle the matter now.
Fan Jianmin handed the Fan family genealogy to Fan Zehao. "Your Majesty, last year, Fan Biao returned and added Your Majesty's family back to the genealogy!"
Fan Zehao and Zhao Jiaqi exchanged glances. Their eldest uncle had returned?
They were completely unaware of this matter and had never heard anyone mention it!
Fan Zehao looked at the thick genealogy. The names of his parents, himself, his wife, and their three children were written on it again. The paper was clean and neat, and the script was regular, clearly indicating meticulous effort.
"Fan Patriarch, this is not the original genealogy, is it? This is a newly written one!"
Fan Jianmin smiled so wide his gums showed, and he nodded rapidly. "Yes, yes, I rewrote it myself. It took over half a year to complete."
Fortunately, he had finished it. Otherwise, if the Emperor had suddenly inquired about it, he would have been in trouble.
However, seeing that the Emperor seemed pleased, this successful attempt to curry favor was purely unexpected.
Fan Zehao returned the genealogy to the patriarch. He did not appear happy or sad about being re-included in the family tree.
Grandfather Fan Zhang and Uncle Fan Fu had become mere memories in his life. He was no longer under their sway. The act of adding his family's names now was beneath him.
"Fan Patriarch, I have returned this time for two reasons: to build the Fan family ancestral hall and mausoleum, and for the matter of the Fan family genealogy. Since I ceased to be a descendant of the Fan family back then, let it end here. We shall establish a new one!"