Chapter 212
Thinking carefully about Emperor Mingxi's words, she felt that boosting the morale of the common people was a good point. As long as there was no chaos, fewer people would die.
Of course, she wasn't someone who just made empty promises. "Your Majesty, my lords, please come this way."
Yue Fuguang led the crowd to another warehouse, which contained about a hundred bags. She opened one and said, "This warehouse stores the seeds of grain crops like sorghum, soybeans, rice, and wheat."
"Are... are these really all..." Emperor Mingxi and the officials were a bit dizzy from this massive, unexpected windfall that had suddenly dropped into their laps.
"They are all seeds. I wouldn't dare say how excellent they are, but their yield will definitely be higher than what the people of Great Yan are currently growing."
The seeds sold in the System Shop were all original strains, so there was no fear of them failing to acclimatize. Out of modesty and caution, she spoke very conservatively.
Everyone's mouths fell open into wide O shapes. It was no wonder they were so surprised. They truly hadn't dared to imagine that, besides the three high-yield crops they had been dreaming of day and night, they would unexpectedly stumble upon such a good thing today!
This was especially true for Emperor Mingxi. He hadn't even started to play the pity card yet, and the Little Immortal Lord had already bestowed so many blessings upon Great Yan!
With a voice that was both authoritative and trembling, Emperor Mingxi called out, "Crown Prince!"
The excited crowd, including the Crown Prince, was jolted awake by Emperor Mingxi's voice. Xie Zhiyan bowed and replied, "Imperial Father."
Emperor Mingxi didn't look at him. Instead, he gazed at Yue Fuguang with deep gratitude and said, "Thank the Junior Preceptor on my behalf for her life-saving grace toward Great Yan and its people."
Everyone silently nodded in agreement. His Majesty was right. Was it not a life-saving grace? If it weren't for her, the lifespan of Great Yan would have already started its countdown.
The Crown Prince accepted the order. After his personal eunuch helped him straighten his robes and crown, Xie Zhiyan bowed deeply and solemnly to Yue Fuguang, declaring loudly, "Xie Zhiyan thanks the Junior Preceptor on behalf of my father. I thank the Junior Preceptor on behalf of the people of Great Yan."
Following the Crown Prince's bow, the officials behind him also bowed down, and even the members of the Yu family were remarkably among them.
Of everyone present, the only ones still standing straight were Emperor Mingxi and Yue Fuguang.
She accepted the gestures openly and naturally, without dodging or evading. As she watched him solemnly bow three times, her mind was quite active: With this posture, if the Crown Prince were holding three sticks of incense, it would look even more...
Before she could finish her thought, the System's voice rang in her ears. [Master, mind your persona, your persona! You are currently a subject. Being thanked and bowed to by a future monarch, shouldn't you act a bit more terrified and overwhelmed? Look at your expression, isn't it a bit too calm? It looks exactly like how you act when a group of minor immortals greets you.]
"Uh... I suppose it is a bit, but I don't know how to make a terrified and overwhelmed expression! Little Zhu, even though I've lost my memories, how many people in heaven or on earth could make me act like that?"
[What Master says is right. As long as you are happy. But if these people suspect your identity...]
"Junior Preceptor, may this humble official take a look at the seeds inside?"
Wang Shouchen hurriedly spoke up. He was a little afraid to hear what the Divine Artifact would say next, feeling that it wouldn't be anything good.
The crowd cooperatively looked toward the bags of seeds, their eyes full of eagerness, completely failing to notice anything wrong with Yue Fuguang accepting the full formal bows from the Crown Prince and themselves.
"Of course you may. Please, feel free to look," she said, handing Wang Shouchen a small booklet. "Lord Wang, this is a seed manual. If there's anything you don't understand, you can follow the steps written inside."
But they shouldn't ask her, because she wouldn't know even if they did.
"Little Zhu, look, they don't think there's anything inappropriate about me accepting their bows."
[Master, that's only because we are in the mortal realm. If we were back on our Lingxu Mountain, ordinary minor immortals wouldn't even be able to catch a glimpse of you, even if they wanted to.]
"You said it yourself, this is the mortal realm. We can't set our expectations too high. There isn't even an Earth Immortal here."
Wang Shouchen took the planting manual with both hands, carefully tucked it into his robes, and then gave Yue Fuguang another solemn bow. "This humble official thanks the Junior Preceptor!"
Although he had a thousand words of gratitude in his heart, when they reached his lips, they only formed a simple thank you.
"Little Zhu, do you think I should dodge now to fit my persona?"
[There's no need. Your official rank and grade are already higher than his. As for your age, the sum of the ages of everyone present wouldn't even match your immortal age...]
"Little Zhu, that's enough. You may take your leave!"
After looking at the plump, large grains of the various seeds, everyone's face was filled with smiles. Wang Shouchen's old face wrinkled into a smile so wide it resembled a blooming chrysanthemum.
Even with the bumpy carriage ride on the way back, Yue Fuguang was the only one who felt the journey was arduous.
Therefore, when it was time to part ways, Emperor Mingxi, his smile undiminished, asked Yue Fuguang if there was anything she wanted.
She told Emperor Mingxi quite bluntly, "Your Majesty, please have the Ministry of Works repair the road leading to my estate. The round trip is far too bumpy."
"These are trivial matters. Is there anything else?" Lu Qi had told him earlier that the Ministry of Works had produced quite a lot of cement and stone slabs. They had originally intended to pave the road to the royal villa, and all the other materials were ready. But now, it seemed they would have to prioritize the Junior Preceptor.
"Also, renovate the houses on the estate." As she spoke, Yue Fuguang took out a blueprint from her sleeve, though it was actually from her storage ring.
"Renovate it according to this layout plan. As for the cost, just deduct it from the payment for the seeds."
Lu Qi took a look and his eyes lit up. He said loudly, "Junior Preceptor, the Ministry of Works will definitely get this job done well for you."
Then, looking a bit embarrassed, he added, "It's just that... could our Ministry of Works use some of the fixtures shown in this drawing?"
He pointed to the flush toilets and showerheads in the various rooms on the blueprint and asked, adding, "Our Ministry of Works will definitely use the best materials to make them for you."
Yue Fuguang understood. The blueprints produced by the System included not only the overall layout plan but also some detailed drawings.
Especially for items that did not exist in this world, the drawings were incredibly detailed. By following the blueprints, there was no fear that they wouldn't be able to produce something similar.
After receiving his repeated assurances, Yue Fuguang smiled and said, "Lord Minister, you may take them and use them. If His Majesty likes them, the Imperial Palace can also be fully equipped with them."
Hearing their conversation, Emperor Mingxi also became curious and took the blueprint. After only a few glances, he immediately took a liking to the matching fixtures inside.
"My beloved minister Lu, make a few first to test the results. If it works, the palace will be refitted alongside the Junior Preceptor's estate."
Yue Fuguang suddenly thought of the Bright Moon Pavilion where she lived and added, "Also the Yu Manor, Lord Minister, please don't forget."
"This humble official naturally would not dare to forget." Despite suddenly receiving so much more work, Lu Qi didn't find it troublesome at all; instead, he smiled very cheerfully.
It was a good thing that the nobles had needs! This meant that their Ministry of Works was valued by His Majesty and the Junior Preceptor, which would elevate the Ministry's status among the Six Ministries.
Speaking of connections, who among the Six Ministries was closer to the Junior Preceptor than they were? Her grandfather was right here in their department!
Seeing his granddaughter fighting for their family's benefits, Yu Chongshan naturally felt very warm in his heart. He had already begun calculating that he should find a few of his trusted aides to handle the construction of Yue Fuguang's estate and the road.
Their craftsmanship was excellent, and they were respectful to him as their superior. These people would definitely put more effort into his granddaughter's affairs.
...
"Your Majesty! This subject risks death to remonstrate! This matter is absolutely unacceptable, Your Majesty!"