I’m the Farmgirl You Can’t Mess With
Chapter 1057 - Chapter 1057 Arrival

Chapter 1057: Arrival Chapter 1057: Arrival Editor: Atlas Studios The capital was much more prosperous than four years ago, and the people’s mental outlook was what had changed the most.

Although this place was also prosperous in the past, it had an extravagant aura reminiscent of a carnival before death.

After the establishment of Great Qi, the extravagance was slightly reduced, but the aura was still a little uneasy.

Four years ago, Mu Yangling could still feel that fear and unease on the streets.

But now, as the carriage drove on the streets of Lin’an City and she looked at the lively market outside, Mu Yangling could only feel exuberant vitality.

This time, Qi Haoran and Fan Zijin kept a low profile when they returned to the city.

They did not ask the Emperor to send someone out of the palace to welcome them.

Furthermore, the commoners in the capital often saw officials return to the capital to report their duties, even feudal officials.

Therefore, the commoners only took a few more glances at the scene of more than ten carriages entering the city together.

However, they did take a few more glances before quickly looking away and going back to doing what they had to do.

Recently, there had been more news about the royal family.

The Great Qi Times had just revealed that the Emperor planned to open the Imperial Grace Examinations again.

This time, the literary examination would be held together with the martial arts examination.

This was simply great news for martial arts practitioners.

It was said that the martial arts examination this time was different from the past; candidates who passed must first study at a martial academy and only after passing further assessments would they be granted military positions and allowed to serve as officials at court.

It was a little difficult for ordinary people to study, but they had the strength to possibly make it in the martial arts examination.

In any case, the exams did not cost money so they could always register first.

Who knows, they might get lucky and do well in the exam.

That being a feat that would bring glory to one’s ancestors, everyone was highly enthusiastic about this.

In contrast, they were not interested in the officials who were obviously entering the capital to debrief to the Emperor.

However, the spies guarding the city gate started to get into action upon seeing that Prince Rong and the Duke of Peaceful State had returned to the capital!

As this news swept through the capital like the wind, all the civil and military officials knew about it.

The civil officials felt their buttholes tighten and their stomachs shrink, all kind of nervous.

On the other hand, the generals were so excited that their eyes lit up.

“Prince Rong is back.

Do you think His Majesty will agree to our request to attack now?” “Let’s wait for another two days.

We have to let His Highness rest.” “This can’t wait.

If we wait any longer, we’ll miss the opportunity.” “It won’t.

With the sharp General Yuan and General Mu guarding the north, we’d have heard from the two of them if we had to act immediately.” The civil officials looked at the Minister of Revenue one after another, hoping that he could tighten his control of the national treasury and not let Prince Rong take away too much silver.

In the spring planting next year, they still needed to buy seeds, farming tools, and plowing oxens.

The Minister of Revenue lowered his head and thought to himself.

Prince Rong had already returned to the capital, and the Duke of Peaceful State had been sent to the Ministry of Revenue.

It was impossible for him to tighten the pockets of the national treasury.

Also, the war in the north would either start this winter or next spring.

Instead of trying to save on military expenses, it was better to think of saving money from other sources.

For example, the plowing oxen that the Ministry of Revenue imported from the royal cattle farm every year could be bought at a lower price, or perhaps bought on credit?

Ever since Princess Consort Qi’s cattle farm became an asset of the royal family, it was managed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, making it difficult for him to buy plowing oxen on credit.

In that case, he would rather the cattle farm continue to be under the Princess Consort’s ownership.

At least when he was in arrears, the Princess Consort wouldn’t come to him for it.

The Minister of Revenue did not know that Mu Yangling would indeed not ask him for money personally, but she could always get Qi Haoran to ask him for it.

Naturally, the Minister of Revenue had yet to realize this.

When he realized it a long time from now, he would no longer be the Minister of Revenue.

The group entered the inner city in a low profile manner and returned to their respective homes.

In a while, they still had to enter the palace to see the Emperor and stay for dinner in the palace.

Little Bear was best buddies with Little Treasure.

As soon as Little Bear reached home, he hurriedly rummaged through his luggage and took out the gift he had prepared for Little Treasure.

Thanks to Little Bear and Little Treasure’s pigeons, the children and princes had been in constant communication via letters.

They were close like Little Bear and Little Treasure.

The frequency of letters ranged from one letter a day to two or three letters a month for the less close ones.

Of course, they would not simply ask boring questions like “How have you been recently?” Instead, it was because Mu Yangling would give them homework from time to time after she finished teaching them some history.

Often, they would need to form teams and do a challenge.

Mu Yangling divided the group of children into groups by drawing lots.

The two sides took turns.

Little Bear would supervise the implementation on his side, while Little An and the others would line up to draw lots, and their team members would be decided depending on the number they picked.

On Little Treasure’s side, Little Treasure was in charge of supervising the implementation.

Sometimes to make things simpler, the children in Guangzhou were considered one team, and the children in the capital were considered another team.

While it was more convenient to communicate with the teams split this way, the first method obviously tested the children’s ability to communicate with written words.

Now, the children’s writing was not inferior to that of the court officials.

Qi Xiuyuan and Qi Haoran agreed that this was all thanks to Mu Yangling.

Qi Xiuyuan was very interested in the history stuff that Mu Yangling told the children about.

He had once suggested that Mu Yangling compile this into a book, but she had no intention of taking away Teacher Sima Guang’s credit.

Teacher Sima Guang was the one who wrote the “Comprehensive Mirror in Aid of Governance”, and she was just riding on his work.

Most importantly, she told the children stories in vernacular.

Sometimes, she even added personal emotions as needed, which was a big taboo when writing history books.

Moreover, please forgive her for not being good at the Classical Chinese language, so she could only tell stories to the children.

It was better not to write books lest she misled the readers.

All in all, the children had worked with each other before.

They had been both competitors and partners, so they were very familiar with each other.

Little An and the others had all brought gifts for their friends.

Seeing that Little Bear had taken out the gifts, they quickly went to organize their things.

The children were all very rich now as they earned massive profits from the music box and pearl business.

Even Little Bear and Little Treasure, who spent money like water, had a small surplus.

Hence, they weren’t at all stingy when buying gifts for their cousins.

Therefore, when they packed up and were about to enter the palace, the children filled two carriages with gifts.

The corners of Mu Yangling’s lips twitched.

Feeling that this was too ostentatious, she negotiated with the children.

“Shall we send these gifts into the palace with the tributes tomorrow?” The children shook their heads in unison, indicating that they had already discussed it with their friends who were now eagerly awaiting their gifts.

How could they break their promise?

Qi Haoran carried the twins out and said, “Just bring them along.

Anyway, these things have to be checked by the Internal Affairs Department.

When they’re done checking, they’ll send them in.

They won’t be entering the palace with us.” Qi Haoran stuffed the twins into the carriage and brought his family to Fan Zijin’s house to wait for them.

This was the time of the day where there were the most officials coming and going in the palace.

Everyone looked over in surprise when they saw a few carriages enter the palace.

A guard said in a low and excited voice, “It’s Prince Rong.

Prince Rong has returned to the capital.” Only then did they know that it was Prince Rong and the Duke of Peaceful State’s carriage.

The civil servants and generals looked at the carriage rack enviously and went about their business.

When Qi Xiuyuan heard that his younger brother and cousin had entered the palace, he closed the memorial and smiled.

“That’s all for today.

Ministers, go back and discuss it first before reporting to me.” The ministers looked at each other and knew that Prince Rong and the Duke of Peaceful State had entered the palace.

They bowed and left, while Qi Xiuyuan left Rong Xuan behind.

Yan Du, who was walking out, did not stop walking, but his eyes darkened.

Having fought alongside the Emperor back then, Rong Xuan is different to the Emperor than the rest of them, after all.

Qi Xiuyuan said to Rong Xuan with a smile, “Do stay and have some afternoon tea with us.

Having only entered the city in the morning, they still have to pack their luggage and prepare to enter the palace.

I’m sure they didn’t eat much.

You haven’t seen them for many years, right?”