Consort Shu grasped the Emperor's warm, large hand, feeling a warmth in her heart. She shook her head, "This concubine is fine. Perhaps it's because I haven't had breakfast, so I'm feeling a bit weak and dizzy."
This was indeed a good excuse.
Though the Xuanwu Emperor's eyes were on the rice seedlings below, his peripheral vision was filled with Consort Shu's figure. Jiang Xinyue, taking advantage of walking at the back of the group, used the crowd as cover to observe them.
From a psychological perspective, the Emperor's subtle expressions, glances, and movements had already betrayed him.
He hid it well, but who could fool Jiang Xinyue, a professional in these matters?
The intimacy between people can be deduced from the way they look at each other.
Unable to resist caring, wanting to get closer, yet afraid of others noticing, he could only secretly make small gestures, deluding himself that no one would notice.
Others might not notice, but Jiang Xinyue wasn't just anyone. She was herself, a different kind of firework.
Her gaze fell on Consort Shu's face again, noticing that although she didn't resist the Emperor's touch, her eyes were disconnected from her actions, filled with pain and torment.
There was still time. It seemed Consort Shu hadn't opened her heart to the Emperor yet. The Emperor's efforts were one-sided!
Well done, Consort Shu. It would be best to torture him.
This dog of an Emperor pretended to be affectionate in front of her, acted as if he only favored Concubine Li, but in reality, the person he truly cared about was Consort Shu, his childhood sweetheart and cousin.
The Wu family was detestable, but he hadn't taken out his anger on the Wu daughters. Both of the Wu family's legitimate daughters had entered the palace as consorts.
Jiang Xinyue didn't feel discouraged. In this world, childhood sweethearts often couldn't compete with destined lovers. She, as the destined one, would push Consort Shu out of the Xuanwu Emperor's heart.
After all, since Consort Shu refused to accept the Emperor, she shouldn't mind if Jiang Xinyue picked up what she discarded, right?
Even if she did mind, it didn't matter. They were all the Emperor's women, each using their own abilities to achieve their goals. Jiang Xinyue could accept this kind of healthy competition in the workplace.
As long as she didn't love the Emperor and treated him like her boss, Jiang Xinyue didn't care who he loved or cared for.
The only thing she feared was that the Xuanwu Emperor might not play fair. In the future, when she and Consort Shu crossed paths, he might favor Consort Shu.
Then when it came time for her promotion... no, advancement in rank, she would have a formidable opponent.
Was Consort Shu a good person?
Uncertain. She'd have to observe more.
"Ah!"
Just as Jiang Xinyue was lost in thought about Consort Shu, Empress Zhu suddenly cried out and fell into the mud.
The Emperor's hand was hidden in his wide sleeve, holding Consort Shu's, so he couldn't catch Empress Zhu in time. He could only watch helplessly as she fell.
The two intertwined sleeves separated, and Empress Zhu thought she had imagined it, not paying much attention. She looked down at the small, blood-red worm wriggling on her calf and nearly fainted.
As the mother of the nation, it was her unique privilege as the Empress to join the Emperor in the fields, planting side by side.
She always took this seriously, so despite being from a noble family like the other consorts, she could maintain her composure while Consort Shu couldn't.
But this disgusting worm burrowing into her skin made her shudder. She couldn't bear it anymore and crawled towards the shore, trying to pull off the blood-red creature with her hand.
"Don't move!"
Jiang Xinyue rushed over in a few steps, grabbing Empress Zhu's hand. "This is a leech. It's specifically designed to suck blood. If you forcibly pull it off, it will worsen the bleeding."
As she spoke, she quickly picked up a shoe from the shore and said to Empress Zhu, "Your Majesty, please forgive me."
She rapidly tapped the shoe's sole on the spot where the leech was attached, making a "pat-pat" sound. Empress Zhu's calf turned red from the tapping, and she was about to lose her temper when she heard excited voices exclaim, "My lady, it really fell off!"
Moreover, because it wasn't forcibly removed, there was only a tiny wound on Empress Zhu's calf.
A farmer brought clean water to wash it, and couldn't help but praise Jiang Xinyue: "This lady seems to know a great deal about farming. Not only is she good at planting rice, but she even knows how to deal with leeches. It's truly remarkable."
Jiang Xinyue modestly waved her hand, "My father is the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. Our home may not have much, but the study is filled with various books. I learned all this from reading."
It was safer to claim she learned it from books. How else could she explain how a sheltered young lady from a noble family would know such things?
The Xuanwu Emperor's gaze softened as he looked at her. Together, they helped Empress Zhu to her feet. "Consort Zhen acted quickly to save you. Surely the Empress won't blame her?"
Empress Zhu felt embarrassed, but Jiang Xinyue had indeed saved her. During previous spring plowing events, she had seen officials bitten by leeches. Those unfortunate souls weren't as lucky as her; after a flurry of mishandled attempts to remove the leeches, their wounds wouldn't stop bleeding, and they nearly lost their lives due to infection.
She shook her head and smiled at Jiang Xinyue, "I should be thanking you. How could I possibly blame you?"
After this brief incident, the spring plowing continued.
By the time the plowing was finished, it was almost 10 AM.
The plow and whip were handed over to the Minister of Revenue and the Prefect of Shuntian Prefecture. The Emperor sat facing south on the plowing observation platform, with the princes and officials standing in their designated positions.
Next, the princes and officials took turns plowing. The princes made five furrows, the Nine Ministers made nine furrows, and the Prefect's staff carried blue boxes to sow seeds, while the elders followed, covering the seeds with soil.
When the ceremony was over, the Emperor went to the fasting palace. The Prefect and elders paid their respects. Thirty farmers carrying farm tools followed. After the farmers finished plowing the remaining unplowed fields, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites announced the completion of the ceremony. All officials offered their congratulations, and a banquet was held for the princes, ministers, and elders, while the farmers were rewarded with cloth.
Originally, the Minister of the Ministry of Rites should have announced the ceremony's completion, but he wisely gave this task to Vice Minister Jiang, allowing him to gain favor in front of the Xuanwu Emperor and Consort Zhen.
He only regretted that he was too old and hadn't been able to produce a beautiful daughter to enter the palace and win the Emperor's favor.
His daughters had all been married for many years, and his granddaughters were already of marriageable age. The youngest granddaughter, at sixteen, had gotten married last year.
Now at the ripe age of fifty-one, even if he wanted to provide the Emperor with another consort, he was powerless to do so.
During the meal, Jiang Xinyue was arranged to sit on the Emperor's left side, with Empress Zhu on his right.
This time, through her own abilities, she had caught the Xuanwu Emperor's attention, pushing Consort Shu aside.
If the Xuanwu Emperor didn't show his fondness for her, those farmers would think that the Emperor didn't favor a consort who was knowledgeable about farming, but instead cared for a consort who despised the dirt and toil of agriculture. They would believe the Emperor wasn't truly invested in farming and was merely putting on a show.
Aware of all these complicated matters, Jiang Xinyue ate the food the Emperor had picked for her with a blissful expression, her heart unmoved.
Consort Shu had a bird-like appetite. Even when she was in the palace, she didn't eat much. She only tasted two dishes placed in front of her by her maid, and after a few bites, she claimed to be full.
Jiang Xinyue, who was happily gnawing on a large chicken leg, felt awkward.
Should she keep eating? Or should she keep eating?
Surely the Xuanwu Emperor, that scoundrel, wouldn't think she was a pig compared to his true love, would he?
