Jiang Yuqing couldn't stay home with things on her mind. She told her elders at home that she was going to the capital.
Although the elders were reluctant to part with her, they knew they shouldn't block the child's path forward. They silently prepared luggage for her to take to the capital.
Jiang Yuqing assured the elders that she would come back to visit them when she had time off in the future.
After staying at home for another two days and taking care of some odds and ends, she walked out the door on the 20th day of the first month. The elders sent her off for quite a distance before heading back.
To avoid appearing in the capital too early and arousing suspicion, master and disciple traveled by carriage past two provincial administrations before returning to the capital city by flight.
When Jiang Wenyuan and his wife saw their precious daughter, they were utterly delighted. They asked how the trip went and if things were peaceful at home.
Jiang Yuqing said everyone at home was safe, and told them about the tea oil trees, which made the couple very amused.
There was now another source of income in their hometown that could directly or indirectly drive quite a bit of labor. Jiang Wenyuan was very pleased to hear it.
Jiang Yuqing didn't report any worries, keeping to herself the matter of slaying the snake and the evil daoist, so as not to make her family anxious.
That night, Lu personally cooked a full table of delicious food in the kitchen for the master and disciple to welcome them back.
Jiang Yuqing took out the monkey wine she brought for her father and brother, which made the father and son extremely happy.
Jiang Yuqing said, "When I went up the mountain to gather herbs, I happened to rescue a large monkey, the leader of a big monkey troop, very intelligent. This monkey wine was gifted to me in gratitude."
Although Jiang Wenyuan was happy, he did not forget about the family: "Is everyone at home okay?"
Jiang Yuqing said, "Yes, Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle all have some too."
"That's good then!"
After the meal, Jiang Yuqing followed her father and brother into the study. Jiang Yuchuan had already entered into government service, so there was no need to keep anything more from him.
Jiang Yuqing first told Jiang Wenyuan about the newspaper publication plans. As soon as Jiang Wenyuan heard it, his eyes lit up and he exclaimed it was feasible.
He immediately had his son write down the key points his daughter described. Moreover, if approved for the newspaper, the task would most likely fall to the Imperial Academy.
That place was the talent reserve for Da Xia's top scholars. There would be no shortage of people who could write well, so it would give them good practice while benefiting the newspaper.
After discussing that matter, Jiang Yuqing brought up another more important one. She placed the box she was holding on the desk and opened it: "Take a look at this!"
Neither her father nor brother were fools. Seeing what was inside the box, they immediately broke out in a cold sweat: "Dear, did you discover a gold mine?"
Jiang Yuqing nodded. "Yes. I found nuggets on the ground in the big monkey’s lair, so I deduced there must be a gold mine near where they live. I had the big monkey lead me to find it, and sure enough there was.
It’s in a large rocky mountain where the two rivers converge in our Qingzhou County and the neighboring Baichong County. I've drawn the specific location in detail and marked it."
As I know nothing about mining, I couldn't judge the reserves or quality. Experts will need to be sent by the court to survey it."
With Da Xia now building large batches of treasure ships needing money, Jiang Wenyuan was truly complexly emotional, not knowing what to say to reward his dear daughter who had brought news of yet another visible gold mine.
After quite a while he finally stood up and solemnly saluted Jiang Yuqing, "Jiang Wenyuan, on behalf of all the people under heaven, thanks the Princess Protector of the State!"
Jiang Yuqing didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "If I had known Father would be so courteous with me, I wouldn't have said anything!"
Jiang Wenyuan suddenly thought of something. "Dear, you didn't tell anyone else about the gold mine, did you?"
Jiang Yuqing said, "Only Master knows. It’s a major issue, so I didn't spread it around. Otherwise I would've sent you a carrier pigeon message already."
"Good then!"
Having gotten a huge matter off his chest, Jiang Yuqing did not continue cultivating in the spiritual realm. She returned to her own room in the house to have a good night's sleep.
The next day, before dawn, Jiang Wenyuan got up and went to the imperial court. After court adjourned, Jiang Wenyuan did not go to manage official business at the Ministry of Revenue per usual. Instead, holding a box, he accompanied the Emperor to the Imperial Study.
As soon as Emperor Xia Jing saw him like this, he knew there was something going on. He had the little eunuch offer Jiang Wenyuan a seat, and said, "I heard Qingbao has returned to the capital?"
"Yes, she only came back right before the city gates closed last night."
Emperor Xia Jing said, "When she has time, have her come to the palace more often.
Now that My daughters are all married off, the palace has not even a small child. It feels very empty.
She's a lively one. If she came, it would liven things up."
Jiang Wenyuan politely agreed, but privately complained:
Oh I see, now that Your daughter is married out, you've set sights on my precious darling!
I only have this one beloved troublemaker. If she busied herself frequently in the palace, wouldn't my home become empty? Wishful thinking!
But he didn't forget the real matter amidst his complaining thoughts.
The Emperor understood with one glance. He sent out all the palace attendants except Li Deshun.
Only after everyone had left did Emperor Xia Jing finally say, "Go on, what’s the good news this time?"
Jiang Wenyuan didn't beat around the bush. He first talked about the newspaper matter. After hearing it, Emperor Xia Jing also felt it held great promise.
"Let's do this - leave that memorial first for the ministers to review. We'll reconvene in three days to discuss it together. If there are no issues, we'll proceed!"
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
"What about the other matter? It would not warrant My dismissing the attendants!"
Jiang Wenyuan placed the box he brought onto the imperial desk and opened the lid. "Your Majesty, Your Highness, please take a look!"
The Emperor realized it was gold ore in one glance, and was greatly shocked. "Where did this come from?!"
Jiang Wenyuan relayed to him the same story his daughter had told, trimming it down a bit.
After hearing it, the Emperor was so happy he exclaimed, "Qingbao really is a blessing star of my Great Xia!"
He happily paced about the room several times. Facing Li Deshun, he ordered, "Summon the Minister of Public Works!"
Li Deshun gave an acknowledgment. He promptly sent someone to summon the Minister of Public Works.
After arranging for the right person, the Emperor continued listening, prepared to hear more from Jiang Wenyuan. But then he addressed commands to Li Deshun again: "Didn't the Imperial Household Department recently put out new batches of jewelry and ornaments? Go select the finest pieces to send to Qingbao.
Also, there’s still those two bolts of Shu lingxiao silk, send those too. Come to think of it, that hot spring manor near Qingyu Mountain on the western outskirts is also pretty nice. Give that to her as well!"
Jiang Wenyuan immediately knelt to decline such heavy rewards on his daughter's behalf!
But Emperor Xia Jing happily said, "These are all things Qingbao deserves."
Soon after, Minister of Public Works Wen Wuji came trembling in. The old gentleman was already over sixty. He had petitioned to resign last year. But as Emperor Xia Jing still hadn't found good enough replacements, the old Minister could only bear continued hardship for a period longer.
Hearing that gold was discovered again in Qingzhou, the old minister was utterly delighted, needless to say.
Of course he also understood that before investigations, this matter must not be leaked to outsiders. Therefore, no matter who later tried to inquire of him, he would pretend utter ignorance.
Upon returning, he secretly selected the most capable mining experts under him. Bringing Jiang Yuqing's map and a team, they disguised themselves as merchants heading for Qingzhou.
Around this time, Jiang Yuqing was everywhere looking for Bai Xiaojiu.
Her mother said ever since she left the capital last year, Bai Xiaojiu seldom came home. On its infrequent returns it would only check if she came back. Seeing she hadn't returned, it would leave again. It must have a new home out in the mountains and wilds.
Not having seen it for so long, Jiang Yuqing quite missed the big tiger. She decided to go look for it.
So on the excuse of pill concocting, she returned to her room. After sticking on an invisibility talisman, she flew straight to the cave of that mother tiger she had been to last time.
There were no tigers inside the cave. Jiang Yuqing called out several times all around, but got no response. It must have gone quite far away.
She could only spread out the aura of her Wood Spirit bloodline. As soon as Bai Xiaojiu sensed this aura, it would surely know she had come looking for it.
Sure enough, not long after, the loud roar of a tiger that shook the forest rang out from afar.
After waiting a bit more, the bushes up ahead intensely shook as something extended lightning-fast toward her.
Then an enormous white creature burst out the bushes, pouncing to knock her down.
Bai Xiaojiu pressed down on her, wildly licking for a while, covering Jiang Yuqing's entire head and face in tiger slobber.
After it finished licking, its throat emitted low growls, accusing her: "Why didn't you take me when you guys left home, did you not want me anymore?"
If the big tiger Bai Xiaojiu was aggrieved, looking like a three-year-old child, Jiang Yuqing almost thought that she was a scumbag who had abandoned her family.
"How could that be?" Jiang Yuqing quickly explained to it: "Before Xiaoshi and I set off, we had come here to look for you, but we discovered that you seemed to have found a companion. How could I, as Xiaojiu's owner, interfere with its budding romance? So Xiaoshi and I left."
"Really?"
"Of course it's true! Why else would I have been able to come directly here as soon as I returned? If you don't believe me, ask Xiaoshi, it can testify."
Bai Xiaoshi immediately nodded.
Although the tiger was a bit silly, it was still very cute. In any case, it was her little brother, so when it needed comfort, she still had to pamper it a little.
Bai Xiaojiu was clearly very satisfied with this explanation. All the irritability on its body instantly disappeared, and it became that happy tiger again.
Jiang Yuqing pushed away its big paws and climbed up from the ground, waving a cleaning spell over herself, finally restoring herself to a clean state.
At this moment, the dense forest in front rustled again, and then another big and three small four tigers sprang out.
As soon as Bai Xiaojiu saw them, it immediately went up and nudged them. Jiang Yuqing immediately understood that these four were Bai Xiaojiu’s family.
Jiang Yuqing's wood spirit body was inherently attractive to animals. With Bai Xiaojiu's mediation, the few tigers became acquainted with Jiang Yuqing in no time.
Especially the few half-grown tiger cubs, thanks to adequate nutrition, were round and truly adorably cute.
After playing with them for a while, Jiang Yuqing took some prey from her spirit world and threw them to the tigress and cubs, preparing to go home. She did not intend to take them with her.
It wasn't that she couldn't afford to raise them. It was just that they grew up in this mountain forest and belonged here. She did not intend to interfere too much with them.
Not interfering was the best protection for them!
Jiang Yuqing asked Bai Xiaojiu if it wanted to go back home with her, but Bai Xiaojiu thought about it and still refused.
Rather than staying idle all day in the Duke's mansion, it would rather stay with its wife and children to protect them.
This behavior was very manly.
Jiang Yuqing highly praised its beautiful ethics of loving family, wife and children. She told it that if it missed her, it could come back to see her at any time, and the door of the Jiang mansion would always be open for it.
On the way back, Bai Xiaoshi rarely complimented Bai Xiaojiu: "I didn't expect it to have such a responsible side. I thought it would abandon the tigress and cubs to come back to the capital with us!"
Jiang Yuqing proudly said: "Our Xiaojiu has always been great!" She then felt quite emotional. "Although I was reluctant to part with it. But Xiaojiu is a tiger after all, the king of the forest. The mountains and forests are where it ultimately belongs. I should feel happy for it!"
She paused and then said: "I hope that everyone around me has a good outcome."
