Jiang Yuqing sent a message to Qin Jue and the Duke of Protector's Mansion, asking them to retrieve their respective seeds.
The one who came from the Duke of Protector's Mansion was the Crown Prince, Jing Yan.
At first, he didn't pay much attention to this little girl.
But when he received the seeds and saw the petite girl holding a book larger than her head, earnestly instructing him about the affairs of the estate, he realized that she had genuine skills and couldn't be treated like an ordinary child.
He saw her meticulousness and attention to detail when it came to sweet potato breeding—knowing when to water, how much to water, when to transplant, and how to manage the seedlings.
He understood that even such a young girl, appointed as a village lord, must possess remarkable abilities. She shouldn't be underestimated.
Indeed, if a small child like her is so knowledgeable about farming, one can only imagine the prowess of her father, Jiang Wenyuan.
It's no wonder he was promoted from an ordinary seventh-rank county magistrate to a count and then a marquis in just over a year.
His abilities and the value he has created are truly blessings for future generations. His noble titles are well-deserved and a testament to his achievements.
After the Crown Prince of the Duke of Protector's Mansion left, Jing Yan discreetly arrived at the Qing Prefecture Marquis Mansion. Jiang Yuqing circled around him a couple of times out of curiosity and then returned to her usual calmness.
It was Jing Yan who made her slightly nervous, prompting her to ask, "Qingqing, what are you doing?"
Tuanzi teased, "Nothing much. They said you're a Crown Prince, so I wanted to see if Crown Princes have an extra mouth and nose compared to ordinary people."
Jing Yan helplessly ruffled her small head and said, "Now that you've seen clearly, is there anything different?"
Tuanzi grinned and said, "Yes, you're more handsome than anyone else."
Jing Yan's face instantly turned red. "Little rascal, stop talking nonsense!"
"I'm not talking nonsense. Big brother is good-looking, a pretty little big brother!"
After playfully bantering for a while, Jing Yan said, "Li Deshun asked me to tell you that he plans to ask my father for leave in a couple of days to come and see you."
Tuanzi replied seriously, "If he's too busy, he doesn't need to make a special effort to come. I'll still be in the capital for a while, so he can come and see me when he has time."
Then, Tuanzi looked a bit disappointed and said, "It's a pity I can't enter the palace; otherwise, I could go and see him too."
Jing Yan said, "Who said you can't enter the palace?"
"Oh, really?" Tuanzi's eyes instantly lit up.
Jing Yan patted the little snail antenna on her head and smiled gently. "You've been appointed as a village lord, so according to the protocol, you should enter the palace to express your gratitude. It was fine when you were in Qing Prefecture, but now that you're in the capital, you can make a trip to the palace."
"Okay..."
After seeing Jing Yan off, Doctor Qiu returned.
Tuanzi asked about Yan Jijiu's condition and was pleased to hear that the wound was healing well. Today, as per her instructions, Yan Jijiu had started slowly walking while still in bed.
She knew that if Yan Jijiu's condition wasn't good, her master and senior brother wouldn't let her have such leisure.
I heard that Junior Disciple is going to enter the palace tomorrow, and Doctor Qiu just nodded in acknowledgment.
This matter is beyond his control, and besides, Junior Disciple is only entering the palace to express gratitude, with the Crown Prince there to receive him. There shouldn't be any issues.
Doctor Qiu came back just to pick up some things and then returned to the Imperial Physician's residence.
He still has to stay there for a few days to watch over the Chief Wine Steward's wound until it begins to heal. Then he'll return to the Marquis's residence. In the meantime, he'll observe the progress of his recovery and keep records.
This is his first surgical patient, and the accumulation of experience is crucial.
The next day, with the help of two maidservants, Jiang Yuqing put on her custom-tailored extra-small bright red court dress and adorned the court crown.
This thing was made with a golden frame adorned with pearls and gemstones, weighing at least a pound.
After putting it on, she felt like her delicate neck was at risk of being twisted at any moment. In short, it was inhumane and ridiculously heavy.
Zhao Housekeeper personally drove the carriage and took her to the palace gate. When they arrived, Jing Yan was already waiting there.
He had just finished attending court, still dressed in the Prince's court dress embroidered with golden dragons on a black background, and wearing a golden court crown.
The little bun supported his head with his hands and ran over happily, calling him "Big Brother."
Jing Yan watched as the little bun ran, holding his head. He felt a pang of heartache. The crown was too heavy. He would talk to the Emperor and Empress about making a lighter one for her.
Jing Yan smiled and said, "Let's go, the Empress is already waiting for you in the palace."
As he spoke, palace attendants brought two sedan chairs. They each sat in one, and the attendants carried them towards the Empress's Jiaofang Palace.
After about a quarter of an hour, they finally arrived at their destination.
The two of them got off the sedan chairs.
Jing Yan held her hand and step by step, they ascended the steps. But when they reached the entrance, Jiang Yuqing was stopped by the doorframe.
She thought the threshold at home was already high enough, but she didn't expect the palace threshold to be even less friendly.
If she took one step forward, it reached her chest. What could she do?
She couldn't climb over it without regard for her image, and besides, she had that heavy thing on her head.
While she was struggling, her petite body suddenly rose into the air, and then she stood inside the doorway. Jing Yan had carried her in. The little bun looked at him gratefully.
Jing Yan couldn't help himself and gently pinched her rosy little cheek. Finally, with a calm expression, he held her hand again and said, "Let's go!"
Unnoticed by anyone, the hand that had pinched her cheek hung in his wide sleeve. Between his fingertips, he lightly twisted it. Hmm, it felt good. He could pinch it more in the future.
Empress Qin sat on the phoenix couch, wearing a black embroidered golden phoenix court robe, which accentuated her already stunning and dignified face.
From a distance, she saw her usually serious and aloof son cautiously leading in a very young girl, and couldn't help but show a hint of surprise.
When the two of them approached, Jiang Yuqing knelt down and paid her respects, saying, "Your daughter Jiang Yuqing pays respects to Empress Mother. May you live for a thousand, thousand, thousand, thousand years."
Damn it, the Qing Prefecture Marquis Mansion in the capital city was plain and simple, without even a nanny to teach etiquette.
She could only rely on her memories of watching TV in her past life to imitate the etiquette of noble ladies meeting the Empress.
She hoped she wouldn't make too many mistakes.
Even if she did, she hoped the Empress would go easy on her because she was still young.
"Get up quickly, the floor is cold."
Jiang Yuqing supported herself with one hand on the ground and held onto her coronet with the other, afraid it would fall off and embarrass her.
There was a saying in her past life, "Don't lower your head, or your crown will fall."
Reality proved that if she didn't support it with her hand, it would indeed fall.
Almost at first sight, Empress Qin took a liking to this beautiful and extraordinary young girl and beckoned her over, saying, "Child, come here and let me have a closer look."
Jiang Yuqing subconsciously glanced at Jing Yan and saw him nod slightly before walking to Empress Qin's side.
With just one glance, she was stunned.
In her heart, the barrage from the Ling Realm's Bai Xiaoshi went crazy, "Ah, Bai Xiaoshi, this little girl is so beautiful, so stunning. She meets all my aesthetic preferences, but unfortunately, she's already married."
The Spirit Vessel looked down on her disdainfully, saying, "Wake up, even if she wasn't married, you wouldn't stand a chance. Don't forget you're a girl. However, you can fantasize about her son."
"Tch!" The Lord of the Realm finally calmed down a bit.
Empress Qin took Jiang Yuqing's hand, her beautiful eyes filled with a smile. "Little girl, why are you suddenly so dazed?"
The little dumpling lowered her head shyly and said, "You're too beautiful. You're the most beautiful person I've ever seen."
Empress Qin burst into laughter and said, "You're beautiful too!"
The dumpling nodded heavily and boasted, "I also think I'm beautiful. Great minds think alike."
When these words came out, all the palace maids and nannies in the hall couldn't help but stifle their laughter. Empress Qin found it hilarious and thought this little girl was truly amusing.
"By the way, do you mean there are people who don't think you're beautiful?"
"There are," the dumpling said, "Qi Xiaopang from the east end of our village. Every time he sees me, he calls me Little Fatty. He mocks me, but he's much fatter than me."
The dumpling patted her slightly protruding belly and said confidently, "This isn't fat, at most it's baby fat. My mother said I'll slim down when I grow up a bit."
"And then? Did you let him off after he mocked you like that?"
"Of course not! I insulted him back."
"Oh, what did you call him?"
"I called him Squinty Eyes."
"Are his eyes very small?"
"Yeah, very small!" The dumpling extended her index finger, and her thumb pinched the finger to show a very thin gap. "Only this big."
"Aren't you afraid he'll hit you? You're so small."
The dumpling stood tall and said confidently, "His eyes are naturally small, so I can't lie and say they're big. Besides, he doesn't dare to hit me. I have seven older brothers!"
Empress Qin leaned against the backrest, tears almost streaming down her face. If it weren't for her concern for her image, she would have pounded the floor with her hand.
How could there be such an adorable and amusing little girl in this world? She truly was a little treasure.
Jiang Yuqing furrowed her brow and pointed to the crown on her head, saying, "Empress, can I take this off? I feel like my neck is about to break."
Empress Qin wiped away the tears that had welled up in her eyes with a handkerchief and waved her hand, saying, "Go ahead, take it off and feel relieved."
Immediately, a palace maid came over and respectfully took her crown, placing it aside.
Freed from the restraint of the crown, Jiang Yuqing instantly felt alive. It felt as heavy as a mountain on her head, really damn heavy.
Empress Qin pulled Jiang Yuqing into her embrace and carefully examined her.
She noticed a red lotus flower on the young girl's forehead, delicate facial features, and skin so tender it seemed like it would produce water with a gentle squeeze.
Empress Qin thought this way and indeed acted on it, getting hold of Jiang Yuqing's face, which felt smooth and elastic to the touch.
At this moment, the young girl opened her large grape-like eyes and tilted her head curiously, looking at Empress Qin. She was truly adorable, melting people's hearts.
There were princesses in the imperial harem, but both of them were raised by their mothers to be like wooden dolls.
They were dignified, but completely devoid of any vitality. Empress Qin didn't feel close to them, so she naturally didn't like them, only maintaining superficial relations with them.
But this young girl was different. She truly found her way into Empress Qin's heart. Unlike her own wretched son, who, despite his young age, was indifferent and uninteresting, not fun at all.
She suddenly thought that the young girl was alone in the capital, so why not bring her to her own palace and take care of her? The more she thought about it, the more feasible it seemed.
She softened her tone and said, "I heard Yan'er calling you Qingqing, so I'll call you Qingqing too!"
Little did she know that before the person involved could speak, her wretched son immediately objected with a stern face, "No! Choose another name!"
Empress Qin was shocked. She knew he was infatuated with this young girl, but she didn't expect him to be so possessive that he wouldn't even allow the same name to be used.
Empress Qin provocatively looked at her son and said, "What if I insist on calling her Qingqing?"
"Mother!" Jing Yan's eyes turned cold, his words carrying a warning.
"Tsk, how boring!" Empress Qin looked at her somewhat annoyed son, feeling very dissatisfied. Indeed, sons were just here to collect debts, while the young girl was adorable.
"Fine, from now on, I'll call you Qingbao."
Empress Qin couldn't help but pinch the little bun on Jiang Yuqing's head, using a tone that resembled the wolf grandmother coaxing Little Red Riding Hood.
"Oh, Qingbao, you must find it dull being alone in the capital. As for me, most of the time I'm alone too. Why don't you come to the palace and live with me as a companion?"
Jiang Yuqing didn't expect Empress Qin to like her so much, to the point of inviting her to live in the palace. Although she was curious about life in the imperial palace, the free-spirited Jiang Yuqing decisively refused.
"Empress, I can't. I'm going to the countryside tomorrow."
"Why are you going to the countryside?" Empress Qin furrowed her brow. "You're so young, are you going to do farm work?"
Tuanzi nodded, "Yes. His Majesty has rewarded our family with a 3,000-acre estate. Father said it would be a waste not to cultivate it. I brought high-yielding grain seeds from Qingzhou, and we will start planting seedlings in a few days."
At that moment, a dignified and solemn voice sounded at the entrance of the hall, "What planting seedlings? Tell me!"
A man, standing at a towering height of eight chi (a unit of length in ancient China, approximately 23.1 centimeters), donned a dark blue robe with embroidered golden five-clawed dragon motifs. He wore a winged crown adorned with nine golden dragons and black deer leather boots. With the aura of a dragon and the eyes of a tiger, he exuded awe-inspiring majesty—it was none other than Emperor Xia Jing.
Everyone in the hall hastily rose to their feet and paid their respects.
Jiang Yuqing also prostrated herself on the ground, shouting, "Long live Your Majesty!"
In her heart, she couldn't help but complain about the burdensome class system that required constant kneeling and how tiresome it was.
Despite her complaints, she still had to kneel.
Emperor Xia Jing raised his hand slightly and said, "Please rise!" Then he took his seat in the main position next to the Empress.
Emperor Xia Jing turned to Jiang Yuqing and said, "You are Jiang Wenyuan's youngest daughter, right? You mentioned something about planting seedlings. Tell me about it."
Jiang Yuqing was somewhat curious about the Emperor, but she wasn't intimidated. In a clear and melodious voice, she replied, "It's about the estate you bestowed upon my family, the 3,000-acre grand estate. We are going to plant seedlings, using the high-yielding grain seeds I brought from Qingzhou."
Emperor Xia Jing carefully examined the little girl, thinking of asking her a few questions, but she seemed too young. In the end, he couldn't resist and said, "Has your father sent reliable people?"
With confidence, Tuanzi patted her chest and said, "It's me!"
Emperor Xia Jing furrowed his brow and said, "You? You little girl? This is simply absurd. It would be a waste of those grain seeds!"
His tone revealed a hint of anger. He thought to himself that Jiang Wenyuan had only been a Marquis for a few days and was already acting recklessly.
Indignant, Tuanzi retorted, "No, it won't! I know what I'm doing! You are the Emperor, the highest official in the world. You should know that a tiger's offspring doesn't become a dog."
The Emperor couldn't help but chuckle at her fiery response and said, "A worthy daughter of a tiger indeed! Since you put it that way, I'll test you. If you can't answer correctly, I will punish you and strip your father of his Marquis title."
As soon as the Emperor finished speaking, Empress Qin and Jing Yan grew anxious and exclaimed, "Your Majesty! (Father Emperor)!"
