Imperial Husband Chapter 95

Chapter 95

Li Jin raised an eyebrow and said meaningfully, "Lord Lan bringing up the Cheng family at this time must mean the Cheng family has exceptional qualities. Then the matter of contacting the Cheng family will be entrusted to you, Lord Lan."

"Yes, this official will persuade them." Lan Mingzhou nodded solemnly, then said with a hint of embarrassment, "However, the head of the Cheng family is a shuang'er. Your Highness would not look down on him for that, would you?"

Shuang'er have always held the lowest status in Da Xia, let alone one engaged in commerce.

Actually, the shuang'er from the Cheng family had managed a fairly convincing disguise as a man. His features were rough to begin with, and with a headband covering his forehead, no one would believe he was a shuang'er. 

The trouble began when the Zhang, Chi, and Lu families, green with envy over the Cheng family's rising fortune, somehow caught wind that the family head might be a shuang'er. They conspired together to lay a trap for him. Their scheme not only forced him to reveal his identity publicly but also sabotaged a significant business deal that was nearly finalized, costing the Cheng family dearly.

Consequently, those inherently prejudiced against shuang'er began using this as a pretext to act, gradually distancing themselves from the Cheng family.

This led to the Cheng family's decline.

Still, the Cheng family was once the foremost prominent family of Zhuzhou. Although greatly diminished, the connections accumulated over the years still grant them some face, preventing the Cheng family from being completely crushed.

Li Jin smiled. "Shuang'ers are also subjects of Da Xia. Why should I look down on them?"

"With your highness's assurance, this official is relieved."

When Lan Mingzhou brought up the Cheng family, he had also feared that Li Jin might object to their head being a shuang'er and choose not to work with them. Hearing Li Jin's reply, he could at least set half his mind at ease.

"By the way, before coming to Zhuzhou City, I stayed for a time in Liujia Village outside the city…"

Li Jin took the opportunity to tell Lan Mingzhou about the events in Liujia Village.

Of course, Li Jin kept the part about Ying Ziqi to himself. After all, Ying Ziqi's reputation was spotless at the moment—even if Li Jin spoke up, no one would believe him. Besides, he had only captured Jiang You and lacked any other proof. Knowing Ying Ziqi's character, not only would he deny any involvement, but he might even twist the situation to his advantage.

Therefore, Li Jin wasn't yet ready to let others know about capturing Jiang You.

"Your highness can rest assured. Regarding Liu Laicai and those who maliciously seized the village well, this official will investigate thoroughly, handle them impartially according to the law, and absolutely not let them escape punishment." Lan Mingzhou cupped his hands. "Also, you mentioned earlier capturing someone named Chen Manzhou. Is that true?"

The crimes of this Chen Manzhou were too many to list. When Lan Mingzhou first took up his post, because his name contained the same character "Zhou" (舟, boat) as Chen Manzhou, the people of Zhuzhou assumed he was connected to the criminal and pelted him with rotten eggs in protest.

"Yes. When we arrived, the people of Zhuzhou seemed to recognize him too…"

Since the matter was already out, Li Jin told Lan Mingzhou about the rotten egg incident that occurred not long ago.

"That sort of person deserves such treatment. Your highness, Chen Manzhou's crimes are heinous. After the disaster relief grain is successfully distributed to the common people, this official will immediately sentence Chen Manzhou to death." Hearing about Chen Manzhou's treatment upon entering Zhuzhou City, Lan Mingzhou's aggrieved heart finally found some balance. He then inquired, "Your highness, what is this 'sweet potato' you mentioned earlier?"

Somehow, ever since hearing Li Jin mention sweet potatoes, Lan Mingzhou had a feeling that the sweet potato was the key to solving Zhuzhou's famine.

"You are the Zhuzhou County Magistrate. The matter of Chen Manzhou is for you to decide; I will not intervene." Li Jin chuckled lightly. "As for the sweet potato, to be frank, I mentioned them in the hope that you, Lord Lan, could assist me in having them planted throughout Zhuzhou. I have calculated that by the time the people finish this batch of relief grain, the sweet potatoes should be nearly mature."

The amount of relief grain Li Jin brought this time is considerable. Coupled with the people having some stored grain, it wasn't impossible to survive the four months until the sweet potatoes mature.

Ultimately, the imperial court couldn't provide disaster relief endlessly. So Zhuzhou must learn to help itself to have a chance of survival. Otherwise, like the last batch of relief grain, once seized, the people truly had no choice but to wait for death.

Lan Mingzhou said bitterly, "But your highness, the court has regulations that fertile land can only be used for growing grain crops."

"I didn't say to use fertile land." Li Jin shook his head. "They can use dry fields to plant the sweet potatoes. This way, even if the harvest fails, the impact on them will be minimal. But if it succeeds, the people of Zhuzhou would no longer need to live in daily fear of food shortages."

"This… Alright. This official will do his utmost to persuade the people to use their dry fields to plant sweet potatoes." With Li Jin having stated it to this extent, how could Lan Mingzhou not agree?

Li Jin curled his lips into a smile. "Then I shall await Lord Lan's good news."

"Yes."

Lan Mingzhou nodded solemnly towards Li Jin.

The matter of planting sweet potatoes concerned the future of Zhuzhou’s people. It was the first task Lan Mingzhou undertook after pledging his allegiance to Li Jin, and he was determined to carry it out with the utmost care and precision to prevent any mistakes.

___

"A-Jin, has Lan Mingzhou left?"

Ying Yuan pushed the door open and entered, finding Lan Mingzhou already gone, presumably off to attend to matters.

"Mhm." Li Jin nodded, then picked up the teapot to pour a cup of tea, gesturing for Ying Yuan to sit down. "A-Yuan, have you finished writing the reply?"

Originally, Ying Yuan was discussing matters with Li Jin and the others, but later a letter arrived from the palace, requiring an immediate reply, so Ying Yuan left first.

"Father Emperor refused."

As Ying Yuan sat down, he lowered his head, feeling an indescribable gloom.

Although Ying Yuan already knew Ying Zhengjing wouldn't agree, he didn't expect the refusal to be so blunt.

"Is it about building the reservoir?"

Li Jin had previously suggested to Ying Yuan building a reservoir to alleviate the drought. Unfortunately, Ying Zhengjing merely thought Ying Yuan was acting recklessly. The reply not only refused but also reprimanded Ying Yuan, saying he was neglecting his proper duties.

Ying Yuan nodded. "Mhm."

"It's alright." Li Jin gently ruffled Ying Yuan's hair. "Since His Majesty believes what you wrote in the letter is impossible, why don't we draw a result diagram to show His Majesty?"

"Draw?"

Ying Yuan hadn't expected Li Jin to say this and was momentarily stunned.

"Wait a moment."

Li Jin acted immediately, taking out a sheet of white paper and beginning to sketch using specially made charcoal.

In modern times, Li Jin had specifically studied sketching. Thus, this drawing included villages like Liujia Village and the surrounding mountains. Simultaneously, Li Jin also drew the reservoir. It was so vivid and lifelike that Ying Yuan's eyes widened in amazement.

Ying Yuan had seen various types of paintings, but the realistic style Li Jin employed was a first for him.

Li Jin set down his charcoal and looked up with a smile at Ying Yuan.

"A-Yuan, what do you think of this painting?"

"It's… excellent…" Ying Yuan nodded dazedly, then asked puzzledly, "But why have I never heard before that you could do this, A-Jin?"

"It is merely a small personal pastime, unworthy of formal halls and far from being comparable to the works of great masters."

"But I think you paint better than them."

Ying Yuan, in daily life, had often been called vulgar and ignorant of painting by those so-called 'great masters' Li Jin mentioned, but he truly couldn't see what was so special about those paintings.

On the contrary, it was Li Jin's painting that he liked at first sight.

Li Jin shook his head amusedly. "You can say that here with me, but don't say it outside."

Li Jin, as the heir of the Prince of Dingbei, because he could often enter the palace, had attracted much envy. If his painting skills were to spread, many might cause trouble for him openly or covertly.

"Mhm." Ying Yuan nodded, indicating he would remember. "Then I'll write to Father Emperor again. But A-Jin, why won't you let me say this idea was yours?"

Li Jin rolled up the painted scroll and handed it to Ying Yuan. "Because you need to gain His Majesty's attention more than I do."

Times are different now.

With Crown Prince Ying Ziheng stripped of his position, the path to succession opens for the other princes. It is easy to imagine that those who have long awaited his fall will not let go of such a rare and opportune moment.

The Emperor will certainly begin secretly assessing them to choose a suitable successor.

Therefore, when Li Jin learned that Ying Yuan had written to Ying Zhengjing about the reservoir, he did not retrieve the letter. The reservoir was a major public works project that would benefit the people—a meritorious deed for their own time and a lasting benefit for future generations.

If successful, Ying Yuan would undoubtedly display his capability in the eyes of the Emperor.

Furthermore, Zhuzhou, where they were stationed, suffered from persistent drought and was far from an advantageous post. Even if Ying Yuan sent reports, the other princes would likely assume his letters were merely complaints about the difficulties in Zhuzhou, written in hopes of an early return.

"A-Jin, how about writing it like this?"

With Li Jin having explained to this extent, Ying Yuan didn't dwell on the issue further. Instead, he handed the letter he just wrote to Li Jin for review and advice.

"This part needs changing, try your best…"

___

Crash.

As soon as Zhang Zhiheng returned to the Zhang family, he furiously smashed the teacup handed to him by a maid into pieces. "Damn that Lan Mingzhou! He actually caused me to lose a sum of silver for nothing. This isn't over between us."

Chi Zhen gnashed his teeth. "Indeed, Master Zhang is right. We cannot let this matter rest like this."

Lu Wentao's expression was also very unpleasant. "Master Zhang, Master Chi, since Lan Mingzhou is unrighteous, we shall show him no benevolence. Let's raise the salt price and see what he can do then."

If before they merely wanted to suppress Lan Mingzhou, now they want to directly eliminate him.

"Good, I agree." Hearing this, Zhang Zhiheng nodded. "When people ask why the salt price has risen, we'll pin it all on Lan Mingzhou. Let's see how he handles it this time."

"Right, let's do that." Lu Wentao also nodded in agreement, though he considered more than Zhang Zhiheng and Chi Zhen. "However, did you notice those three people sitting beside the yamen courtroom today?"

Chi Zhen, puzzled for a moment, immediately remembered. "The yamen courtroom? Right, there were indeed three people. Could it be… they are people sent by the Lan family?"

"Impossible. The Lan family already detests Lan Mingzhou deeply. They even asked us to give Lan Mingzhou a hard time, they definitely wouldn't come." Zhang Zhiheng shook his head dismissively. "I think they're just insignificant people."