Song Fei and Fang Mingjiang, armed with the waist token from Fan Zehao, led the Chief Executive Shi He and others directly to the Prefect. Without a word, they apprehended him and threw him into the dungeon. Song Fei was assigned to preside over the investigation.
Zhao Jiaqi, on the other hand, was quite delighted with the confiscation of property. She marveled at the countless treasures unearthed from the Prefect's storerooms, secret chambers, and underground vaults. The chests of silver alone, which were carted out, numbered over twenty, not to mention the jewelry and precious stones.
Faced with wealth, calligraphy, and jewels, Mei Shangwei could resist no longer and confessed. Once the matter was thoroughly investigated, it was directly handed over to the Dali Temple. With evidence, physical proof, and confessions gathered, all that remained was for the Dali Temple to pass judgment.
With this matter settled, Fan Zehao was in the newly purchased courtyard in Lingnan City, his table cleared, cursing Huangfu Xian. "You bastard! The imperial decree for abdication has been issued, yet he refuses to announce it or ascend the throne. This is defiance! He ran faster than a rabbit. If I ever catch him, I'll exterminate his entire clan!"
Zhao Jiaqi nearly spat out her water, casting a resentful glance at Fan Zehao.
Exterminating Huangfu Xian's nine generations was one thing, but if all of the Huangfu family were eliminated, who would then occupy the throne?
The matter was quickly resolved. The Prefect, the Governor, and the subordinate county magistrates were all dismissed and replaced by a new cohort, many of whom were scholars from humble backgrounds.
It is said that a new official makes three fires upon taking office. This time, the newly appointed Prefect ordered all the bailiffs and constables from the county yamen to head to Phoenix Mountain to search for any lingering bandits.
The Prefect spared no mountains within the jurisdiction of Lingnan Prefecture surrounding Lingnan City. Meanwhile, Fan Zehao and his wife had already set off.
Zhao Jiaqi's mood improved, and she would wander wherever her fingers pointed, be it a small path, a thoroughfare, or the countryside.
Walking along a country path, Zhao Jiaqi, perched on the back of a donkey, swayed her head leisurely. She would occasionally lecture Fang Mingjiang, the Minister of Personnel, about the patch of green weeds on the ground.
"See that grass? That's shepherd's purse. It's a type of wild vegetable. When it's tender, pick it, blanch it in boiling water, and use it as a filling for dumplings. The dumplings will be incredibly fragrant, far more delicious than dumplings made with pure meat!"
Fang Mingjiang rubbed his thinning hair, pondering the Empress's meaning.
After a long moment of contemplation, he asked, "Does Her Majesty the Empress intend to build greenhouses to grow these wild vegetables in winter?"
Zhao Jiaqi's eyelids drooped. She looked at Fang Mingjiang's head, noticing his slightly receding hairline, and shook her head in exasperation.
They say intelligent minds are not hairy. Fang Mingjiang's head was perhaps too full of thought. A wild grass that might be a delicacy in modern times was something respectable families in ancient times would not eat.
Zhao Jiaqi said earnestly, "As the Minister of Personnel, you should know about farming, what grows on the land, what grains look like, what wild grasses look like, what is edible and what is not, what is poisonous, and what can be used for medicine, and so on. You don't need to recognize everything, but at least know the basics!"
Fang Mingjiang let out a surprised "Ah." After recovering himself, he carefully considered the Empress's words. They made sense, and so he entered a mode of tireless, humble inquiry.
All along the way, Fan Zehao wore a dark expression, watching Fang Mingjiang repeatedly pestering his wife with questions.
Zhao Jiaqi nodded slightly when she heard Fang Mingjiang asking about rural customs, specifically about the generational practice of "releasing the mountains."
"There are many rules for releasing the mountains, especially concerning the tree stumps. No one is allowed to sit on them, no matter who they are. There are many explanations for this. The most common one is that the tree stump is someone's dining table, and sitting on it is a great disrespect!"
The matter of releasing the mountains was a distant concept for Fang Mingjiang. They, as scholars, did not believe in such superstitions, though they had heard it was rather mysterious.
"Does ginseng... run away?" Fang Mingjiang asked.
Song Fei and Fan Zehao both looked at Zhao Jiaqi. They too were curious about ginseng and why it had to be tied with a red rope when dug up.
It was said that ginseng over a hundred years old took on human form!
It could run and had developed sentience, like a child!
Not only the men were curious, but even Song Lan and her maids in the carriage lifted their curtains, waiting to hear her answer.
Zhao Jiaqi pressed her forehead. Who on earth had spread this misinformation and led them astray?
She explained to everyone, "Ginseng is a medicinal herb, a perennial plant. Ginseng does not run. Tying it with a red rope when dug up is a celebration, symbolizing great fortune and auspiciousness. Wild ginseng is extremely rare in the forest, and those who find it are lucky and can sell it for a high price. Thus, it is considered a happy occasion, hence the red rope."
"Ginseng is seed-propagated. If the ginseng flowers bloom and are not discovered, the seeds will be scattered around. After three to five years, they will emerge from the soil, sprout, grow leaves, and bloom..."
Hearing that ginseng seeds took three to five years to emerge from the soil after falling to the ground surprised them. They had thought it would sprout simply by digging a hole and planting it, then watering it.
"Your Majesty, if that's the case, then ginseng should be abundant. Why is it so scarce?" Chun Fen asked casually, unable to understand.
This question hit the mark.
Zhao Jiaqi explained, "After ginseng seeds land, they are not deeply buried. The ginseng root system grows about five centimeters below the surface. Unlike the roots of large trees that delve deep into the ground, if a large wild animal passes by and steps on it, the ginseng root will break and require repair. This process can take two to three years, or even three to five years."
"Even if it grows and sprouts, some small animals will nibble on it. This is why ginseng is rare!"
The unpredictable factors in nature were too numerous, making ginseng's scarcity normal.
Everyone gained some new knowledge.
Seizing the opportunity, Zhao Jiaqi also explained the growth environment of Reishi mushrooms. As they talked and asked questions, the journey was not lonely, and they arrived at the small town amidst laughter and conversation.
By then, Fang Mingjiang had filled a small notebook with copious notes. Recalling the Empress's words during the journey, he frowned and asked her a question as they entered the inn.
"Your Majesty is so knowledgeable about the growth environments of ginseng and Reishi mushrooms. Do you know how to cultivate them?"
His question stunned everyone into silence. Shi He, with one foot in and one foot out the door, had forgotten what he was supposed to do.
He stared blankly at the two of them.
Zhao Jiaqi nodded naturally, "Of course. It's not a difficult matter."
One could succeed with patience and perseverance, provided one was willing to put in the hard work and endure solitude.
Fang Mingjiang was tempted. It wasn't just him; Song Fei's mind was also abuzz with the idea. Perhaps successful cultivation could be more profitable than being an official!
Indeed, one became like those they associated with.
One by one, they had followed Zhao Jiaqi into the tofu business and had all become little money-grubbers, even abandoning the poetry they had diligently studied for years.