Houcheng sighed softly, "Why did Lady Ye send you here?"
The maid whispered, "Lady Ye told me to help the Consort, to discipline anyone trying to... seduce... His Majesty."
"Did you carry out her orders?"
"Not yet..."
So, the Xie family's intentions were clear. Neither Cui Yi nor Baili Zan wanted innocent victims. Without any "seduction attempts," these maids' hands were clean.
Houcheng felt relieved, nodding, "You were forced. If I send you home, the Xie family will harm your families. But keeping you here makes me uneasy. Here's what we'll do: if you find someone in the military camp or city whom you like, you may marry. Those unwilling can collect this month's wages and leave freely. I'll tell the Xie family you're still working here, but from now on, you are free."
The maids exchanged glances, asking hopefully, "Is this true?"
Houcheng smiled, "Yes."
They burst into tears of joy, bowing gratefully, "Thank you, Lady!" and hurried off to pack.
Nongyue worried, "Isn't this risky, Lady? What if they report back to the Xie family?"
"No," Houcheng stroked Little Cuixian's head gently, "no one is born a servant. Forced by circumstances and threats to their families, they acted out of necessity. Lady Ye's harsh words likely hurt their pride. Who likes being called ugly?"
Nongyue sighed, "You're too kind and forgiving, which invites trouble."
Houcheng smiled, "Kindness is good, but kindness doesn't mean letting others bully you. Patience is key. Our primary enemy is the Emperor, not the Xie family. Once His Majesty achieves his goal, we'll settle scores with the Xie family."
Nongyue bowed, "You have great foresight, Lady."
A few days later, the royal guards found the "missing Consort." Cui Yi was away, so Houcheng and Xiaoqiu went to meet them.
Xie Yuchan disheveled and disoriented, stumbled down from the carriage, wearing tattered clothes covered by a greenish-gray cloak. Cao Qian followed the script, reporting, "Lady, we found the Consort in a dilapidated temple three miles outside the city, but..."
At the word "Lady," Xie Yuchan erupted like a spark igniting dry grass, screaming and lunging at Houcheng, "Changsun Houcheng! You shameless wretch! You'll pay for this!"
Cao Qian, standing between them, turned just in time for his elbow to strike Xie Yuchan's nose perfectly. The beautiful Consort screamed, blood gushing as she flew backward.
Houcheng: "..."
Xiaoqiu: "..."
Guards rushed to help Xie Yuchan stand, bloodied and furious, "You're all in cahoots!"
Cao Qian ignored her, continuing, "Lady, when I found the Consort, she was being assaulted by some ruffians. Though I arrested them, she had already lost her mind, attacking anyone in sight. I had no choice but to knock her unconscious and bring her back."
Two guards received the signal and struck Xie Yuchan unconscious.
Houcheng sighed dramatically, "Such a tragedy... Take the Consort inside and call a doctor. Keep this incident under wraps to preserve the Wu King's dignity."
Xie Yong rushed out upon hearing the news, shocked by his sister's state, "Yuchan? What happened? How could this be?"
Cao Qian repeated his story. Xie Yong's eyes widened, "Impossible! How could this happen... You..."
Houcheng sympathetically said, "The Consort suffered greatly. Rest assured, we'll find a doctor in Yanzhou to treat her."
Xie Yong, seething with rage, accused, "How could you do this to a defenseless woman? This is despicable!"
"Please don't jump to conclusions," Houcheng smiled, "when Lady Ye slandered me and tried to kill me, did she ever consider my innocence? Take your complaints to her."
Xie Yong stood dumbfounded. Houcheng turned to leave, "Xiaoqiu, prepare the northern courtyard for the Consort's recovery. No one is to disturb her without His Majesty's permission."
Despite Houcheng's instructions to keep quiet, word spread that the Consort had been captured and abused by bandits, returning mentally unstable. The news reached Xuanzhou, where Xie Xiao wrote a letter questioning Cui Yi. Cui Yi ignored it, tossing it to Baili Zan to reply, then went home hungry.
Houcheng had been busy recently, rising earlier and sleeping later than Cui Yi. Except for meals, she was rarely at home, leaving Cui Yi feeling neglected and unhappy.
Today was no exception. Returning home, Cui Yi found several dishes on the table, with Houcheng sitting beside it, a hand warmer on her lap, reading a book. She barely noticed his return until he coughed.
"Reading what?" Cui Yi dragged a stool closer, peeking at her book.
Houcheng smiled, closing the book, "Nothing, just a geography book of Yanzhou. Let's eat."
Cui Yi grunted unhappily, "Why does the food seem worse every day? Call the cook."
"It's not the cook's fault," Houcheng served him soup, "Yanzhou is vast and sparsely populated, with scarce resources. Raising pigs is difficult here, and most meat comes from Xuanzhou. Locals mainly rely on imported meat."
Cui Yi frowned, eating reluctantly, "I'm going home to eat."
The book was originally priced at about a hundred copper coins per catty, but today it suddenly soared to eight hundred copper coins per catty, which is enough for half a month's meat expenses for the Prince's household. It's likely that Xie Xiao raised the price on purpose after knowing his daughter had been wronged, as a warning to the Prince not to mess around." Cui Yi was surprised and said, "Xie Xiao... indeed sent a letter." Chi Ying took a bite of the dish and asked, "What did the letter say?" Cui Yi blushed and stammered, "I didn't read it. All letters are handed over to the scholar for handling. If we can't afford meat, what will we eat in the future?"
"Don't worry, I have already planned everything. Let's finish our meal first," Chi Ying seemed completely unbothered, eating her simple meal with relish, while Cui Yi felt a mix of emotions, losing his appetite after a few bites. He slowed down with his chopsticks, and Chi Ying looked up at him, smiling, "If there's no meat, Your Highness won't eat?"
Cui Yi put down his chopsticks decisively, sighing as he caressed her cheek, "It's really unfair to make you endure such hardships by following me to this place." After leaving the capital for several months, Chi Ying's once smooth and jade-like skin had become rough due to the northern cold winds, her cheeks no longer as round and beautiful as before. With little Cui Xian still nursing, she hadn't slept well every night, and with her busy schedule during the day, dark circles formed under her eyes, making her look very haggard.
Chi Ying herself didn't seem to mind much. She casually tucked her hair behind her ear and smiled, "Your Highness, what are you talking about? They say 'marry a chicken and follow a chicken, marry a dog and follow a dog.' How could I enjoy myself while you suffer? Let's eat quickly. After the meal, I need to go outside the city."
"Why do you need to go outside the city?" Cui Yi asked curiously. "Spring is approaching, and we need to cultivate the abandoned farmland outside the city," Chi Ying picked up a piece of scrambled eggs with her chopsticks and fed it to him. Cui Yi opened his mouth and ate it. "The eight thousand soldiers who followed us here all came from the Western Camp and had experience farming in the capital. Now that we're in Yan Prefecture, although conditions are harsher, it's not impossible to farm. Someone needs to organize and assign tasks. The first year will be tough, but things will get better gradually."
As Cui Yi chewed on the egg, a bitter feeling rose in his throat. "Can't someone else do it? Just find someone who understands farming. As the Princess Consort, how can you personally go to the fields?" Chi Ying smiled helplessly, "Who should I send? The scholar is already overwhelmed with official documents and letters. With insufficient manpower, I, as the Princess Consort, have no choice but to roll up my sleeves and join in. Eat your own food; are you even younger than Xian'er, needing to be fed?"
"After the meal, I'll first check the land outside the city to see where we can plant and where we can't, then assign tasks to General Cao. The grains we brought from the capital are of the best quality and limited in quantity, so we mustn't waste them." Speaking of seeds, Cui Yi recalled when they were in Xuan Prefecture, he had been furious that she carried seeds instead of food or silver. In hindsight, food only lasted temporarily, while planting seeds ensured an endless supply. Chi Ying's approach was correct, but at the time, he was too angry to consider her feelings. During the period when Chi Ying went missing, Cui Yi almost couldn't sleep every night, constantly thinking about her expression of endurance when he scolded her, regretting it so much that he would bang his head.
"Chi Ying."
"Hmm?" Chi Ying focused on her meal. Cui Yi swallowed hard and sincerely apologized, "I was wrong to lose my temper with you in Xuan Prefecture. I'm sorry." Chi Ying smiled and picked up more food for him, "What happened? I've forgotten. Let's eat."
Cui Yi felt a mix of emotions, nodding and picking up his bowl to eat heartily.
---
After lunch, Cui Yi accompanied Chi Ying on a trip outside the city. Yan Prefecture was vast and sparsely populated, with long winters and short summers, limiting the annual harvests. Large tracts of land lay barren, with grass growing waist-high, making it impossible for carts to enter, forcing them to walk.
"Can crops grow in this place?" Cui Yi doubted, looking at the hard soil that even a hoe couldn't penetrate. Chi Ying squatted down, picked up a clod of earth, and rubbed it between her fingers, smiling, "If grass can grow, crops can too, though yields might be lower. We'll figure something out. Yan Prefecture is too cold; even in March, it's still snowing. Rice can't be planted now, let's start with wheat and wait until the weather warms up to plant rice."
After inspecting several plots of soil, they returned to the palace in their carriage. Chi Ying called everyone, including Bailing and Shao Yong, to gather. Even Nong Yue was included. When Cui Yi saw Shao Yong, he immediately thought of his sister and whispered to Chi Ying, "Why call him here? He's just a freeloader. Seeing him annoys me." Chi Ying poked his head back, "Everyone is busy. Why should he slack off? Sit properly; everyone is here."
In the hall, four seats were arranged, with scholars and military officers sitting separately. Bai Lichan arrived last, holding Peach Crisp. Seeing Shao Yong take the seat of honor, he didn't argue and sat in the lower seat. Peach Crisp jumped down lightly and meowed at Shao Yong, who reached out to pet it, but the cat ran away swiftly. Shao Yong's hand hung awkwardly in midair. Cao Qian, sitting opposite, remarked sarcastically, "Apart from the scholar, Peach Crisp only likes the Princess Consort. Anyone else who touches it gets scratched."
Peach Crisp walked to Chi Ying's feet and leaped onto her lap. Chi Ying stroked its back, and the cat lay down obediently, its fluffy tail sweeping across her hand. Chi Ying smiled, "Now that everyone is here, let's begin. Today, I've gathered you to discuss the biggest problem we face and share my thoughts. If anyone has opinions or better suggestions, feel free to speak up, including you, Nong Yue."
Nong Yue was flattered and bowed slightly, "Yes."
"Everyone knows that Yan Prefecture is located in the north, remote and desolate, relying on imperial aid yearly for survival. But now that His Highness has been demoted to serve as the governor of Yan Prefecture, the emperor will no longer care about our survival. To have enough food, clothing, and a good life, we must rely on ourselves."
As soon as Chi Ying finished speaking, Cao Qian eagerly interjected, "If the court doesn't provide food, we'll grow it ourselves! Yan Prefecture is so harsh that even the Northern Di people avoid it. Our soldiers have plenty of strength to use, perfect for farming. We did it in the capital; self-reliance ensures we won't starve."
"Exactly," Chi Ying nodded and continued, "But unlike the fertile land in the capital, crops here might grow slower than weeds. Besides farming, we also need to hunt. The meat prices in the city skyrocketed today for some reason. If we don't hunt, we'll have to eat vegetarian."
Though she said "for some reason," it was clearly directed at Shao Yong. They thought that without meat, the prince would have to fawn over the Xie family's daughter. However, Chi Ying wouldn't let that happen. If not for Ye Shi's actions, she might have pleaded for Xie Yuchan. But since the Xie family acted ruthlessly first, she wouldn't show any mercy. Xie Yuchan's title as a mad princess was set in stone.
Shao Yong remained silent, but Yang Qiong spoke, "Some soldiers in the camp were discussing sneaking into the mountains to hunt, but I stopped them. If His Highness orders it, it's different."
Cui Yi said gravely, "In previous years, Yan Prefecture's tributes were mainly bear bile and sable fur. Ordinary hunters struggle alone, but General Xu led his men to successfully capture large game."
"General Xu?"
"Former Governor Xu Chong, who retired early this year."
Chi Ying nodded, having missed meeting this nearly sixty-year-old general. She heard Cui Yi mention him, "Did you chat happily with him? Did you talk about hunting?"
Cui Yi replied expressionlessly, "The Emperor prefers sycophants and manipulators. General Xu was straightforward and didn't cater to the Emperor's tastes, so he was stationed in Yan Prefecture. I relate to him."
"General Xu... never mind, it didn't happen," Bai Lichan seemed to want to say something about Xu Chong but decided against it. Instead, he changed the topic, "Winter in Yan Prefecture lasts until late March. The crops planted this spring won't mature until September, but our grain reserves are running low. We still have plenty of silver..."
In other words, they needed to buy food, but where? Yan Prefecture bordered Gan Prefecture and Xuan Prefecture. Gan Prefecture suffered constant warfare, making it difficult to purchase food. Xuan Prefecture, controlled by the Xie family, could easily manipulate grain prices.
Chi Ying smiled meaningfully, "We definitely need to buy food, but first, we need to investigate local grain prices. Who's willing to go?"
Shao Yong calmly responded, "No need for such trouble. Yan Prefecture lacks supplies; His Highness just needs to write to my father. Xuan Prefecture is rich in fish and rice, selling rice at eighteen copper coins per dou, cheaper than even the Jiangnan states."
Bai Lichan laughed, "Young Master Shao, being a wealthy young master, you still know the rice prices in your hometown after being away for over a year. Impressive."
Shao Yong glanced at him, "Just being prepared." Bai Lichan chuckled but said nothing further. Whether it was preparation or premeditation, everyone understood.
Nong Yue suddenly asked, "Is Dongchang far from Yan Prefecture?"
Dongchang was a vassal state of Chu, similar in size to Yan Prefecture, located on three sides by sea, enjoying perpetual summer. Cui Yi knew the geography well, "Not far, just cross Mount Amador."
Nong Yue suggested, "When I served Consort Duan, I heard Dongchang was also rich in fish and rice. Why not buy grain there?"
"Great minds think alike," Chi Ying smiled, "His Highness is now the Emperor's thorn. Although Young Master Shao's father is His Highness's father-in-law, openly aiding His Highness might invite criticism. Better not burden him. Dongchang, as a vassal state, trades frequently with Chu. Buying rice there is straightforward, and their merchants won't refuse business."
She gave Nong Yue an approving glance. Shao Yong chuckled unhappily, "Since Her Ladyship already has a plan, why ask for our input?"
Chi Ying pretended not to notice his annoyance, still smiling, "Collective wisdom, right? If Young Master Shao's father can provide some grain to help His Highness through the crisis, great. Otherwise, His Highness won't force him. We need a backup plan. Please write a letter asking for a loan with one-tenth interest to be repaid next year."
Shao Yong was stunned; Chi Ying wanted to borrow, not buy. Buying meant Cui Yi was passive, but borrowing made Xie Xiao passive. As the father-in-law of a prince, refusing to lend grain would be embarrassing.
Buying involved money control, risking losses. Borrowing meant fair exchange. Borrow one shi, repay one dou extra. No tricks involved.
"Bai Lichan and Young Master Shao are esteemed advisors. Now, the food issue for ten thousand soldiers falls on you two. Please do your best. Use your eloquence to procure as much grain as possible."
Chi Ying's trap was fully laid. Both Bai Lichan and Shao Yong were guest scholars, but Bai Lichan had always been favored. Now, with the army starving, both were tasked with securing food. Shao Yong, wanting to prove himself, had no choice but to accept the challenge.
He had to bring back more than Bai Lichan. One buying with silver, the other borrowing empty-handed, clearly unfair. Shao Yong gritted his teeth but agreed reluctantly.