Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved
Chapter 290: I’ll Take the Throne

Chapter 290: Chapter 290: I’ll Take the Throne

These plants had been planted in the most secluded corner of the Glazed Pavilion, and if they hadn’t bloomed, Murong Jiu really wouldn’t have noticed them.

Moreover, she found that there were not only light yellow flowers, but also light pink and light purple ones. However, they were not suitable for ornamental purposes because the flowers were not large and the leaves were broad and dense, enough to conceal the blossoms.

"Princess Consort, you may not recognize them when you look at them this way, but if it’s like this, you’ll definitely recognize them."

Lady Jing said with a smile, while taking out a small clump of snow-white cotton from a cabinet nearby.

"It’s White Fleeceflower Root! But isn’t this crop only able to grow in the Western Regions?"

Murong Jiu showed a look of surprise and was also very delighted.

She naturally recognized the White Fleeceflower Root because the nobility of Capital City had already been using cotton robes made from it to fend off the cold. These White Fleeceflower Roots had only started to flow into the Central Plains from the Western Regions in the past two years, but no one had tried to cultivate them.

Indeed, who would dare to casually plant unknown crops on their precious farmland? No farmer would take such a risk.

However, a wealthy merchant did try to plant them a couple of years ago, because the profits from White Fleeceflower Root were quite substantial. Bringing them from the Western Regions indeed incurred heavy transportation costs. Of course, the merchant failed to grow them, possibly due to incorrect timing.

Now that the White Fleeceflower Root could be grown in the Glazed Pavilion, it proved that this crop could also survive and be cultivated in the soil of the Central Plains.

The White Fleeceflower Root, also known as cotton, was what she had used to fill the cold-resistant clothes she sent to the army, and it had an excellent effect on warding off the cold.

Lady Jing also smiled happily, "Yes, we didn’t know what kind of seeds these were at first, so we tried planting them in a corner. Surprisingly, they’ve grown so well. These few clumps of cotton were picked a few days ago. We were planning to give you a surprise once we had gathered more."

"This is already a tremendous surprise. In the south, the clothing people use to keep warm is filled with reed flowers, catkins, dry grass, etc., and wealthy families can even use tiger and mink fur for their clothes. If we can grow cotton within the borders of Great Yan, people can be warm as well as well-fed," she said.

Peasant Official Kang exclaimed, "The Princess Consort is concerned for the welfare of all the people; truly a blessing for Great Yan."

Murong Jiu, feeling unworthy of such praise, humbly asked the senior peasant officials about when to plant cotton and other related matters.

Learning that it also needed to be sown and divided in the spring, she said, "We still have too few seeds. I will have the merchant convoy going to the Western Regions bring back more seeds before planting time."

"That would be wonderful. White Fleeceflower Root is actually not that delicate and difficult to take care of. It’s just that the divided planting is a bit troublesome since it needs to be transplanted together with the soil attached to the roots. The rest we’ll have to figure out as we go along. But since you have merchant convoys going to the Western Regions to purchase seeds, they might as well ask for any special instructions on what to look out for after planting, helping us to avoid some detours."

After all, planting dozens of plants and farming several acres are quite different matters.

Murong Jiu smiled and nodded in agreement.

Today, the sun was strong, and after being exposed for a while, the temperature in the pavilion rose quickly. The experienced senior peasant officials wisely instructed their subordinates to shade the pavilion top with straw mats and increase ventilation.

In the Glazed Pavilion, green beans are the easiest vegetable to tend. They grow continuously one crop after another. Recently, the most consumed in Prince Mansion has been green beans, whether stir-fried, stewed with meat, pickled into sauerkraut, or made into dried green beans.

Next would be water spinach, also known as hollow vegetable, as it likes moisture and heat but cannot withstand the cold. Growing a small patch in the Glazed Pavilion could last for a long time, regrowing just like chives after being cut.

Then there are the persimmons and cucumbers, which are very suitable for growing in the Glazed Pavilion, and their yield is not low either.

However, these are all vegetables, and what pleased Murong Jiu the most were the yields of crops such as sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn, especially the sweet potatoes and potatoes, which were astonishingly abundant.

Planting an acre of sweet potatoes could match the yield of several acres of rice and wheat.

Murong Jiu was certain that as long as these two crops were promoted in Great Yan, everyone could have enough to eat.

But the rulers, selfish and oblivious, were indifferent to people’s livelihood; she still needed to acquire more power to put her ideas into action.

But before she could speak to Jun Yuyan, he returned and told her something to be happy about.

"My father the Emperor has caught a cold and lacks the energy, so he has entrusted me with managing state affairs. On the day of spring plowing, I will have half of the Capital City’s farmers try planting sweet potatoes. If we don’t enforce it somewhat, it will be difficult to get all the people of Great Yan to plant these high-yield crops within a few years."

While Murong Jiu felt happy, she was also somewhat worried.

She was happy because he was right. If it was just up to her, even if she bought many good fields, that would be limited. Only by getting the people to plant and taste the benefits, would more tenants follow suit and the practice would spread from the Capital to everywhere else.

The worry was because the land was the foundation of the people, and with his actions, he could face many impeachments.

It’s known that after planting, fruits won’t be yielded overnight; it requires careful attention, fertilization, and watering.

She was afraid the common people wouldn’t see hope and become anxious, and his political enemies in the court would use this to attack Jun Yuyan.

Jun Yuyan laughed lightly, "If this is a major plan for the country and the people, a short period of criticism means nothing. If bearing some criticism can promote these high-yield crops quickly throughout the country, then I will gladly accept it."

Murong Jiu clenched her fist, "I will help you too. I will make the people see hope!"

Because of her enthusiasm, Jun Yuyan also felt a surge of energy. The court was not just about conspiracies but also about the livelihood of the people and the nation. However, the officials in the Capital did not understand the cold and hunger of the people, nor the direction of the country.

In the past, Jun Yuyan never thought he would one day be able to ensure that the people of the whole country had enough to eat and wear. During his military campaigns, many soldiers froze to death, but this was the situation in Great Yan—people at home could starve to death, let alone soldiers at war.

It was Murong Jiu who showed him the way and solidified his determination to fight for his rightful place.

The Emperor was not concerned with the people, perhaps not due to mediocrity, but because he was in such a high position, it was impossible for him to empathize with the common folk.

If that were the case, then he would take the throne.

To make Great Yan the formidable nation that Ah Jiu envisioned, only he could fulfill this wish.

...

With the Second Prince and the Third Prince ill, the Emperor’s recent cold was also severe, keeping him bedridden. He was unwilling to see the Empress, and Consort Jing was recovering from an injury, so it was Imperial Noble Consort Qi who stayed by his side to attend to his illness.

Imperial Noble Consort Qi remained as beautiful as ever, with exceptional features and a grace and dignity that age could not wither.

Furthermore, with her daily attendance to the Emperor, bringing him water and medicine without relying on others, the Emperor felt an additional fondness for her.

In this harem, apart from Consort Jing, only Lady Qi was truly devoted to him.

Perhaps it was the serious illness, but the Emperor was especially concerned about whether others’ affections for him were pure.

Consort Qin, six months pregnant, did visit a few times, but the Emperor told her to come less often, fearing she might contract the illness.

He still cherished Consort Qin, because the child in her womb could be his last.

Moreover, Consort Qin had a fall not long ago, and the child was unharmed, demonstrating the kid’s health and resilience; surely it was going to be a Young Prince.

However, the Emperor also knew that Consort Qin, being the Princess of the Western Regions, how could she have much genuine affection for an old Emperor like him? She was but seeking to solidify relations between the two states.

The Emperor didn’t mind; whatever Consort Qin wanted, he was not unable to provide.

At this moment, the Emperor did not yet realize that what Consort Qin wanted, he indeed could not provide.

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