EES - Chapter 21
Chapter 21
After that day passed, Song Ling seemed to have suddenly set down some heavy burden, her entire demeanor lightening considerably.
She clung even closer to Ji Wanshuang, practically posing as the Empress's little sidekick. From time to time, she would produce a manuscript she had copied from memory, presenting it like a treasure: "These are the original poems and essays that Liu Guanglin plagiarized" (all from other dynasties, of course). "This is the method for making XXX. I don't know if Your Majesty needs it, but to avoid forgetting, I've written it down first." "These are a few useful policies I can remember, blah blah blah."
One could say she was remarkably perceptive and sensible.
To An Lin, this counted as an effective way to stay visible, so she tacitly permitted Song Ling's habit of trailing after Ji Wanshuang.
A few days later, seeing that Liu Guanglin at the Ministry of Works had already produced the first prototypes of the irrigation waterwheel and curved-shaft plough, and noting that Song Ling had submitted quite a bit of material herself, An Lin summoned her once more and said, "Didn't you want to leave the palace for a trip? You may go out tomorrow on your rest day."
Song Ling was instantly overjoyed. "Really, Your Majesty?"
She no longer harbored any doubts about why Emperor Xuanming knew she wanted to leave the palace. Ever since her transmigrator identity had been discovered, Emperor Xuanming's omnipotence had been deeply rooted in her mind. After rejoicing for a moment, she suddenly remembered that facing off against Liu Guanglin alone might not be easy given his shamelessness. Thinking it over, she tentatively climbed a rung higher, thick-skinned, and held up two fingers. "Your Majesty is truly too kind! Um... well, it isn't safe for a girl to go out alone. Could Your Majesty lend me one or two guards?"
Don't be afraid. As long as you show your worth, he will be the most reasonable person to deal with. He has always favored capable people! Song Ling repeated these words to herself in her heart to steel her nerves.
An Lin gave her a half-smile. "Liu Guanglin is nominally still a court official, and he has just completed two highly useful agricultural tools."
"...Very well, this subject understands," Song Ling said, her shoulders slumping in disappointment.
Pretending not to notice, An Lin took the papers Song Ling had submitted steadily over this period. Focusing on one document detailing crop and livestock breeding methods that Song Ling had recorded but left somewhat vague, she said, "The cross-breeding method you wrote down to increase crop and livestock yields looks interesting, but the process is unclear. The officials at the Bureau of Agriculture may find it difficult to understand."
Song Ling murmured softly, "Actually, I only have a superficial understanding of it myself."
"But even your partial knowledge will greatly assist the Bureau of Agriculture in breeding improved seeds," An Lin encouraged gently. "How about this: there is a state farm near the villages outside Qiong'an, managed by the Bureau of Agriculture. Once you return from leaving the palace this time, visit the farm every two days. Bring this breeding methodology with you to assist their efforts. We will grant you a stipend equivalent to that of an Agricultural Officer. If you achieve results later on, I will formally appoint you to the position."
Song Ling, who had originally intended to refuse, felt tempted.
This was a civil service position! A civil servant of the Xuan Dynasty!
It wasn't exactly a guaranteed lifetime appointment, but who could turn down a chance to enter the system?
Moreover, the Emperor hadn't demanded she immediately perfect cross-breeding techniques. She wouldn't dare dream of that anyway. But if it was merely about using selective breeding to boost yields, Song Ling had at least gone through nine years of compulsory education. She knew Mendel's laws of inheritance and could calculate dominant and recessive traits like yellow round versus green wrinkled peas.
After all, Mendel's laws were the starting point of all breeding!
Under normal selective breeding, if one simply chose varieties with large ears, sturdy stalks, and heavy individual grains, conditions that indicated relatively high yield potential, and cross-bred them several times, they could eventually obtain a genetically stable, high-yielding superior strain.
There were also greenhouse cultivation, dwarf varieties, and farmyard manure to consider.
Counting them up, Song Ling realized she actually possessed quite a bit of knowledge regarding breeding, much of it subconsciously absorbed during her long educational journey from childhood to adulthood.
Her confidence suddenly surged!
Having come to terms with this realization, Song Ling no longer tried to decline the Emperor's arrangement and seized the opportunity to join the civil service.
Satisfied, An Lin acted swiftly, drafting the imperial edict right then and there.
In truth, she had previously ordered the Bureau of Agriculture to conduct selective breeding just like the Bureau of Livestock. However, matters of agriculture and animal husbandry could not rely solely on her remote directives from the court. The efficiency and results would be too slow.
Setting aside the issues of comprehension and execution among lower-level Agricultural Officers, both fields inherently required individuals knowledgeable in the subject to personally engage in farming and breeding before tangible results could be seen.
Had she not worried about splitting Song Ling's attention and causing her to fail at both ends, An Lin had originally planned to have her visit the Bureau of Agriculture on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Sundays, and the Bureau of Livestock on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays.
Otherwise, would she end up having Liu Guanglin raise pigs again?
Juggling multiple thoughts, An Lin finished drafting the edict. Just as she prepared to let Song Ling take it and leave, Wang Xiuwen entered to report, "Your Majesty, General Qi's bandit-suppression force has returned and arrived in Qiong'an. General Qi requests an audience outside the palace."
So one of the two Gold-Tier Ministers who had left had finally returned!
Facing a beloved minister, An Lin certainly had no reason to refuse the audience. She cheerfully replied, "Granted. Have him come directly to the study to see me!"
Wang Xiuwen accepted the order as usual. In a good mood, An Lin put down her brush, glanced around, and noticed Song Ling was still in the study. She told her, "Very well, you may return now. Tomorrow, go collect a palace exit token and leave on your own."
However, upon hearing the title General Qi, how could Song Ling possibly walk away!
General Qi. In the Xuan Dynasty, only one person could be called General Qi: Qi Donghan.
The man crowned with the title of the Xuan Dynasty's God of War, one of the realm's twin pillars of civil and military prowess, and naturally, her ultimate crush.
She really wanted to catch a glimpse! Just one look!
Song Ling screamed silently in her heart.
But she had already tried climbing that ladder once before, only to be ruthlessly rejected by Emperor Xuanming. For the moment, Song Ling lacked the courage to ask, "Your Majesty, may I stay for just a quick glance at General Qi? I promise I won't eavesdrop on your conversation." So she could only take the edict obediently and withdraw from the study.
An Lin cast a sidelong glance, observing the girl's ever-changing yet easily readable facial expressions, and thought: Transmigrator Two definitely suffers from a bit of expressive hyperactivity.
Once Song Ling exited the study, she began dawdling.
The path from outside the palace to the Emperor's study and the path from the study to Resting-Crane Hall were the same route. Song Ling believed that if she lingered here a little longer, waiting until General Qi passed by, she would surely get her chance to take a peek.
The young eunuch guiding her curiously watched Song Ling dawdle along this path, even attempting moonwalk-like steps. His expression gradually turned strange, looking at her as if she were some sort of oddity. Still, since Song Ling had recently made quite a few appearances before the Emperor, the young eunuch maintained his politeness and asked, "Miss Song, are you feeling unwell?"
"Ah, yes, yes, yes! My feet are a bit uncomfortable. Could you let me stand here and rest for a moment?" Song Ling quickly played along.
The young eunuch looked somewhat troubled. "Noble figures constantly pass this way. How about I support you and help you walk a bit further?"
That would completely defeat the purpose of dawdling!
Forced to feign immobility due to discomfort while deflecting conversation, Song Ling finally reached the point where she couldn't stall any longer. Just then, she caught sight of a tall figure emerging faintly ahead.
It was a young military officer. Presumably, he had already removed his armor before entering the palace, but his black inner combat attire remained unchanged, accentuating his upright posture. Beneath sword-like eyebrows, his eyes shone like cold stars. Merely watching him stride forward conveyed an imposing aura that rushed toward her.
The palace attendant guiding him lagged noticeably behind, forced to jog to keep up.
However, Song Ling, having transmigrated into this world, had certainly witnessed many grand scenes. Thus, upon seeing Qi Donghan, her initial reaction was not to be intimidated by his aura and avert her gaze like the young eunuch beside her. Instead, she stole a quick glance. Ah, another glance. Her heart swelled with excitement and joy.
Ahhh! General Qi Donghan in his youth was actually a tall ponytail young commander just as she had imagined. This wave, this wave is a dream come true!
Moreover, General Qi was roughly the same age as Emperor Xuanming. By rights, he had already undergone his capping ceremony and could be considered a young man, yet he still carried a youthful spirit. Wasn't he the epitome of human ideals!
Mmm, satisfied! If she could also catch a glimpse of Qiancai, her idol, she would truly die without regrets!
The little figurine in Song Ling's heart clasped its hands over its chest and lay down peacefully.
Qi Donghan, striding briskly toward the Emperor's study, paid little attention to Song Ling, who stood by the roadside with her emotions wildly fluctuating. Upon reaching the study, he paused somewhat unaccustomedly, remembering the proper protocol to request Wang Xiuwen to announce him. Only after hearing the voice from within call out "Enter" did he step inside.
As he walked in, Qi Donghan's mind was still wrestling with what attitude he should adopt toward Junming, who was now the Emperor.
Qi Donghan, who had entered officialdom straight from a military background, naturally had a father who was also a military man, a First Rank General Pacifying the State. Back when the late emperor still reigned and Junming was merely an unfavored prince, Qi Donghan had entered the palace alongside the sons of other civil and military officials to be selected as a companion reader. At around seven years old, the moment he entered the palace, he stumbled upon the Second Prince ordering palace maids to be beaten to the brink of death. Unable to bear it, he rescued the maid, infuriating the Second Prince. The prince ordered his men to capture and discipline him, but none could lay a hand on him. Ultimately, Qi Donghan struck the prince's knee with a small stone, sending him tumbling. In short, due to various incidents, the young Qi Donghan did not become a companion reader for the Crown Prince or the Second Prince, but instead was assigned to Junming, the Third Prince.
Even after Junming no longer needed a companion reader and was expelled from the palace by the Emperor to establish his own residence, the correspondence between Qi Donghan and Junming never ceased. If anything, they interacted more frequently than they had within the palace walls. Qi Donghan even served as wingman, helping to cover for Junming's secret meetings with Ji Wanshuang.
They were essentially childhood companions who grew up together.
However, two years ago, the two of them suddenly fell out over an incident and entered a cold war. Qi Donghan could barely recall what the matter was now, only remembering it was something trivial. He did not know that Junming had deliberately instigated the argument to ensure the dragged-in transmigrator could successfully assume the identity without arousing suspicion. At the time, he had simply found it baffling.
Initially, after calming down, Qi Donghan acknowledged that the argument was Junming's fault. Yet, hoping to salvage their friendship, he proactively offered a way out and softened his stance. Junming, however, kept his doors closed and refused to see him.
Qi Donghan himself was a highly proud man. After being rebuffed several times, his temper flared, and he simply swept his sleeves and stormed away from Junming's residence.
And so, both men stubbornly refused to bow first, resulting in two years without a single meeting or word exchanged.
Who would have known that one day, a former friend would suddenly ascend the throne as Emperor?
Qi Donghan's current feelings were complicated. Extremely complicated.
Stepping into the study, Qi Donghan conducted himself with official decorum, paying respects according to ministerial etiquette. "Your servant Qi Donghan greets Your Majesty."
"Xinzhu, you're here." The person who had been sitting behind the desk quickly walked over, lightly supporting his arm. His demeanor was intimate and natural, as if the two years of estrangement had never existed. "Why do you bother with so many formalities with me? Come, come, sit over here and talk!"
Qi Donghan raised his eyes and met An Lin's smiling face.
Not seeing each other for two years, how could he seem like such a different person?
Did becoming Emperor change him that drastically?
Qi Donghan remained standing, his dark, bright eyes fixed unblinkingly on his old friend's expression. Instead, he saw the other sigh helplessly. "Do you still hold onto the conflict from two years ago, Xinzhu? We... I know I was wrong. I was unreasonable. I owe you an apology, Xinzhu. Please forgive me?"
Qi Donghan's expression instantly turned bizarre. "Where on earth did you learn to speak like that?"
"Hmm?" An Lin, wearing the Chibi Emperor's face, looked utterly innocent.
"...Forget it." Unsure of what to say, Qi Donghan closed his eyes and sighed.
However, with this little scene, the awkwardness of not knowing how to face his old friend was silently dissolved. Qi Donghan reverted to his previous demeanor and decided to address business first.
"This bandit suppression went smoothly. The stronghold housed over two thousand people. Aside from the bandit chief and his second and third lieutenants, we captured fifteen hundred alive. We seized two hundred thousand taels of gold, and the stronghold contained one hundred mu of privately owned land. I left several units to guard the site. Once nearby prefectures and counties send personnel to take over, we can withdraw." Qi Donghan reported the results one by one.
An Lin's eyes lit up instantly!
Two hundred thousand taels of seized gold! Plus one hundred mu of land!
These two details were the first things that caught the attention of the impoverished emperor whose treasury was empty.
This could be considered the first influx of funds into the treasury since An Lin transmigrated. All other times had been nothing but expenditures, expenditures, and more expenditures.
In this instant, a wave of emotion nearly rose in An Lin's heart.
Her Gold Card Warrior actually takes the initiative to generate revenue for my treasury, expanding sources and increasing income. This is absolutely fantastic!
Originally, An Lin had only been coaxing Qi Donghan because of his dazzling stats and the Chibi Emperor's pleas. Now, her fondness for him skyrocketed to the maximum, becoming exceptionally sincere.
However...
"Where did a mere bandit stronghold acquire so much gold?" Despite her joy, An Lin did not overlook the suspicious point. "I recall the bandit chief was originally a murderer from Quxian County. Before his arrest, he fled into the mountains and became a highwayman. The rest were either local ruffians or kidnapped farmers. Could they have amassed this much gold relying solely on a few years of road robbery?"
"That is precisely what I intend to report." Qi Donghan's expression turned grave. "After leading my troops to occupy the stronghold, I searched the chief's quarters and uncovered several letters."
Saying this, he took several letters from his robe and handed them to An Lin. Only after she took them and began reading did he continue. "These are communications between certain merchants and the bandit stronghold. Those merchants provide the stronghold with silver annually, then inform the chief of the whereabouts of rivals or targets they wish to eliminate. The stronghold then handles the elimination for those wealthy merchants. Furthermore, I also found this at the stronghold."
Qi Donghan opened his palm, revealing an appointment warrant.
It designated the Prefect of Yunzhou Prefecture. The date was over a year before An Lin's ascension, likely issued by the late emperor.
However, finding this warrant in a bandit camp indicated that the appointed official had likely been ambushed and murdered before even reaching Yunzhou Prefecture.
"Yunzhou Prefecture again..." Looking at the two documents, An Lin's earlier joy over the treasury's inflow dimmed slightly. Her gaze turned thoughtful. "It seems those colluding with mountain bandits are not just wealthy merchants, but also that prefect who has forcibly occupied the Yunzhou Prefect seat for over a decade."
Geographically, Yunzhou Prefecture corresponded roughly to the Shu region of An Lin's past life, a natural land of abundance, perfectly suited to farming. Coupled with those meddling merchants, the money embezzled by the Yunzhou Prefect must have reached astronomical figures. Conversely, the common people of Yunzhou lived in dire hardship.
An Lin's gaze fell quietly upon the physical map hanging in the study.
She wanted to suppress another wave of bandits. She wanted to confiscate households to replenish the treasury.
"Xinzhu, We plan to reclaim control of Yunzhou Prefecture within two years," An Lin stated.
Qi Donghan responded decisively. "Give me the troops, and I will seize it for you."
"No, a direct assault is not feasible at present," An Lin thought for a moment and shook her head.
The Yunzhou Prefect and those major merchants had controlled the prefecture for too long. A sudden attack would cause the common people to suffer first. Moreover, even if they conquered Yunzhou after heavy losses, the citizens, already tormented by the merchants' arbitrary manipulation of prices, would face a sudden market collapse. The losses incurred would be far too great.
An Lin had long devised a method to ensure a smoother transition and minimize market disruption once those merchants were gone. She was simply waiting for the right opportunity.
Hearing An Lin mutter terms like "market collapse" and "market regulation" that he did not understand, Qi Donghan was puzzled for a moment before letting them pass. He stated directly, "Then, if military command is needed, just leave it to me."
"Good, it shall be done." An Lin snapped back to attention and smiled. "Since you successfully suppressed the bandits this time, brought back so much illicit wealth, and uncovered the collusion between the Yunzhou Prefect, wealthy merchants, and mountain bandits, you have rendered great merit. I will promote you from Regimental Commander to Infantry Commandant. Work hard. I am already eager to confer upon you the rank of Grand General."
This was a genuine sentiment from An Lin's heart.
"Should I say 'As you command' then?" Qi Donghan chuckled softly, a touch of pride flashing across his spirited face.
...
After conversing with Qi Donghan and seeing him out, An Lin sat back at her desk. She switched the simulator map to the treasury view to check the newly acquired two hundred thousand taels of gold. As she began worrying about calculating the funds needed to screen improved seeds for agriculture and livestock, and to distribute irrigation waterwheels and curved-shaft ploughs across various prefectures, counties, and villages, the Chibi Emperor, who usually did not appear unless necessary, suddenly popped up.
His expression was hard to describe.
"What's wrong?" An Lin asked casually.
"Why did you speak to Xinzhu like that?" The Chibi Emperor had been holding it in for a long time before finally blurting it out. "It sounded so weird."
"I said so many things. Which one are you referring to?"
"...[I know I was wrong. I was unreasonable. I owe you an apology, Xinzhu. Please forgive me?]" The Chibi Emperor struggled to repeat the sentence. "I would never speak like that. What if Xinzhu notices something is off?"
"It's fine, isn't it?" An Lin smiled brightly and nudged the Chibi Emperor aside from his standing spot, tapping the map location he had been blocking. "I'm coaxing your friend for you, okay? Although it's not something you would say, it's something I can say. Rest assured, I know what I'm doing. Your system won't let anyone discover that I'm not you."
The Chibi Emperor froze for a moment, his confused eyes transforming into simple dot eyes, much like in a comic.
An Lin smiled without speaking.
Silly child, haven't you realized that your system deliberately blurs illogical inconsistencies? When it comes to familiarity, Wang Xiuwen should be the one more acquainted with Junming. She had intentionally shifted her gaze to look at the simulator's map in front of Xiuwen so many times that even a blind person could have noticed.
Watching the Chibi Emperor's expression shift from bewildered to thoughtful, An Lin said nothing else. After studying the map for a while, she asked directly, "When can the Empress be invested? Do I need to host a palace intrigue competition?"
"There does not seem to be a fixed format. As long as one stands out in a particular aspect, it should suffice," the Chibi Emperor replied.
An Lin listened thoughtfully, then suddenly conceived of a mischievous idea.
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