Chapter 27

Jiang Yuxun's body involuntarily shuddered.

Recalling how he had just presumptuously claimed a close relationship with Yingshang Chuan, a buzzing sound rang in his ears.

I knew it, Yingshang Chuan definitely heard me!

...At this moment, the typically unlucky Jiang Yuxun, amidst his embarrassment, actually felt a sense of relief.

If my luck were too good, it wouldn't feel like me.

"Thank you for Your Majesty's grace."

He slowly stood up to bow, somewhat laboriously picking up the renovation plan and retreating.

Just as Jiang Yuxun was trying to maintain his composure while walking out... he turned around only to heavily bump his ankle against a low table.

"Hiss—"

He instantly drew in a sharp breath of air, tears in his eyes, as he limped out in pain.

Fortune never comes in pairs, but misfortune does!

……

Affairs in the court were hectic.

Several hours later, after thoroughly inspecting the results of the farming work at the farm, Yingshang Chuan finally departed with the Xuan Yin Monitor back to Xianyou Palace.

Fortunately, he remembered that Jiang Yuxun still had some leave not yet taken.

After seeing off the Emperor, Jiang Yuxun could finally return to his room to catch up on sleep.

As he walked into the main hall, his steps suddenly halted.

"...What is this?"

Jiang Yuxun, slightly puzzled, walked over to the desk and gently picked up a small bottle from it.

"Bone Mending Powder" was lightly inscribed on it.

As Jiang Yuxun was absorbed in studying, Steward Liu of the estate suddenly appeared: "Young Master, are you injured?"

"Huh?"

Steward Liu leaned in closer, eyeing the small bottle in his hand: "Isn't that bottle in your hand a medicine for activating blood circulation, relieving pain, and reducing swelling from injuries?"

Jiang Yuxun slightly guiltily gripped the bottle tighter: "Yes... I accidentally hurt my ankle just now."

Damn it, he always seems to witness my embarrassing moments...

-

Despite having a rare three-day break, Jiang Yuxun wasn't entirely idle.

Simply put, his proposal that night was to turn the Jiang family's estate into an experimental base.

To gain the Emperor's support, a few words wouldn't suffice.

Apart from accompanying Yin Songquan for a survey by the riverbank, these past few days Jiang Yuxun had been confined to his room, drafting blueprints.

Overturned carts, thirsty crows, dragon-bone carts... The structures and working principles of these irrigation tools were imprinted in his mind through days of work.

By the time he returned to the palace, Jiang Yuxun's desk was piled high with these drawings.

……

Dusk at Xianyou Palace.

Gold and jade dazzled, and the fragrance of Luoqi filled the air.

Each year around the start of the hottest period in summer, the capital city holds a ceremony to celebrate the summer harvest, known historically as the "Year's Bounty Festival."

This year's festival was postponed due to the Yi River's dike breach, and it started during the peak of the scorching summer.

That night, court officials and nobles gathered in front of the Lanyi Hall in Xianyou Palace.

Most sat at the banquet, while a smaller group who had schemed during Ying Changchuan's feigned injury knelt on the ground, refusing to rise.

The somewhat shrill voice of Eunuch Sang echoed through half the palace garden.

—"He said, in light of the festive occasion and the peaceful passage of the Yi River flood season, the Emperor, after much deliberation, has decided to grant a general amnesty."

Hearing this, the kneeling criminals widened their eyes in disbelief.

Their previously pale faces quivered slightly, as if clutching at a lifeline.

The Emperor is not going to execute us?

Yingshang Chuan is known for his use of harsh punishments and strict laws, and just the charge of 'forcefully breaking into the palace' is enough for execution!

Now, those who were prepared for death were unexpectedly met with a decree of amnesty.

In that instant, not just these criminals, but even the other court officials seated at the desks were taken aback.

Zhuang Youli was still too young to enter officialdom.

But as a scion of a noble family, he too was invited to participate in the Sui Ren Meeting.

Hearing this, Zhuang Youli was also startled: "Why isn't the Emperor executing them?"

Jiang Yuxun whispered, "These ministers were no different from decorations in the court anyway. Killing them without touching their families makes little difference to His Majesty."

As they spoke, Eunuch Sang had already started reading the latter half of the imperial edict.

The death penalty may be avoided, but punishment is inevitable.

These ministers, suspected of treason, could not escape hard labor. However, the Emperor, considering past loyalties, still gave them a chance to repent and reform.

They could delay their sentence by paying a fine.

Hearing this, Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but lower his head and laugh.

Yingshang Chuan really has a way of dealing with people!

The properties of the criminals were automatically confiscated, and in theory, they couldn't afford the fine.

Once they choose to perform hard labor, these ministers would automatically become slaves.

Coming from families that highly value reputation, they would pay the fines to save face, even if it meant their families had to pay.

The so-called "fines" imposed by Yingshang Chuan were exorbitantly high and required annual payments, amounting to a considerable sum.

Zhuang Youli nodded, somewhat understanding, and muttered softly, "Then what about their families? Isn't the Emperor going to deal with them?"

"...He should be."

Zhuang Yue and the original host's father, both born to common families and promoted through military achievements, were highly valued after the founding of the nation.

This clearly indicates that Yingshang Chuan definitely has such intentions.

As the sky gradually darkened, palace attendants busily lit lamps around.

The corner where Jiang Yuxun was located suddenly brightened.

Knowing full well it was a dilemma, but after Eunuch Sang finished reading the imperial edict, the convicted ministers were tearfully grateful for the Emperor's mercy.

Seeing this, Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but lower his voice: "To completely eradicate this issue, merely executing people is not enough."

Yingshang Chuan held absolute power over the empire's military and politics.

He could easily have executed these people, but the current state of Great Zhou couldn't withstand such turmoil.

Not to mention, all these problems originated from the official selection system.

……

"Ah—"

"It's so spicy!"

Lost in thought, Jiang Yuxun was suddenly brought back to reality as Zhuang Youli sitting beside him began to pant heavily.

He threw his cup onto the desk.

As the drink spilled from the cup, a gust of wind brought a wave of strong aroma.

"Ah Xun, what kind of wine is this? It's incredibly spicy!"

Only then did Jiang Yuxun realize that the banquet had already started while he was daydreaming.

—Long-handled bronze wine cups floated down the stream, available for any court official or noble to take as they pleased.

Jiang Yuxun hurriedly passed the untouched glass of water beside him: "This is strong liquor. Didn't I warn you beforehand that its taste differs from the usual wines?"

Zhuang Youli's face scrunched up: "I didn't expect the difference to be so drastic."

At this moment, similar exclamations arose from all corners of the Lanyi Hall.

"What kind of wine is this? Why is it so spicy?!"

"...I thought it was water, given its clarity and transparency."

"This wine has a wonderfully rich aftertaste—"

Unlike the young Zhuang Youli, those seasoned drinkers at the banquet soon discovered its exquisite flavor.

Excited murmurs spread across the ground in front of Lanyi Hall, instantly enlivening the Year's Bounty Festival.

Those who had tasted the wine were eager to have more.

But in less than half the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the wines floating on the stream were replaced with the more common spring wine.

A chorus of laments rose among the crowd.

-

Halfway through the banquet, Jiang Yuxun was called to the front of the stream.

Ying Changchuan, holding a golden goblet, smiled at the surrounding court officials: "This wine is brewed by Minister Jiang. If my lords seek to thank me for the drink, I'm afraid you're looking in the wrong place."

Immediately, everyone's gaze turned collectively towards Jiang Yuxun.

The moment of focus had finally arrived!

Ying Changchuan had little interest in the "Year's Bounty Festival." In previous years, he was either away at war or merely made a brief appearance.

This year's festival was delayed but not canceled, solely because the Emperor planned to introduce the strong liquor during the event.

"Such a fine product, naturally, should not be sold just to the soft-hearted."

Amidst the merry buzz of the feast, an inebriated Censor stepped forward to ask, "May I know how much Minister Jiang's wine costs?"

"Minister Jiang, with such a fine item, you shouldn't keep it to yourself!"

"Indeed," Zhuang Yue joined in, holding a half-filled cup, and half-jokingly said to Jiang Yuxun, "How can you not share such a fine thing with your colleagues? Why not bring out another jar?"

Before Jiang Yuxun could reply, Ying Changchuan slowly said, "Brewing strong liquor is no easy task. Minister Jiang only has this one jar today."

Jiang Yuxun: ...!

Ying Changchuan really knows how to tell a bold-faced lie.

These past few days, the imperial seal office had been fermenting various grains for wine as per his instructions, trying out distillation.

Now, their quarters were filled with distilled strong liquor, leaving no room to even stand.

The ministers echoed in agreement.

"I see..."

"Then the value of this wine must be quite high!"

"How much for a pot of this wine?"

Jiang Yuxun instinctively looked towards Ying Changchuan, who, having just told such a blatant lie, was likely aiming to inflate the price.

The sparkling ripples on the stream glistened in Ying Changchuan's eyes.

Not just Jiang Yuxun, but everyone at the banquet turned their gaze towards this.

The nobles of Great Zhou considered drinking an elegant affair.

In times when many commoners couldn't even afford enough food, wine brewed from grains was considered the ultimate luxury, symbolizing status and position.

Most importantly, influenced by the practice of sacrificing to the oracles, everyone from the high-ranking court officials to the common folk in the Great Zhou Dynasty had a tendency to consume "elixirs of immortality."

All to seek that dizzy, ethereal sensation, as if floating like immortals.

Yet now, just a sip of this wine could achieve that!

Yingshang Chuan casually twirled his wine cup, smiling as he gazed at Jiang Yuxun, and then suddenly said in a soft voice, "… Rarity breeds value."

As the emperor spoke, the court officials eagerly agreed, vying to be the most generous: "Your Majesty speaks the truth!"

"Rarity breeds value" – weren't those the words I slurred when I was drunk that day?

...Yingshang Chuan is definitely doing this on purpose, bringing up exactly what should not be mentioned!

Jiang Yuxun, who had never been a cunning merchant, pondered for a long time before tentatively asking, "Five... fifty thousand coins?"

Am I asking for too much?

"Coin," fully known as "Jiazhu Coin," was the common currency circulating among the people of the Great Zhou.

Based on the current market rates, fifty thousand coins could buy several acres of land near the capital, Zhaodu.

"Fine," Yingshang Chuan slowly put down his wine cup, looked around, and then said with a sense of entitlement, "Then let it be fifty thousand coins per pot."

Fifty thousand coins, for one pot?

Wait, I was thinking of the price per jar!

The grain production of Great Zhou has not yet increased, so naturally, it's not possible to distribute wine widely.

Raising the price and reducing the quantity to make it a true luxury item was the most appropriate approach.

But Jiang Yuxun never expected... Ying Changchuan to dare ask for an even higher price.

The court officials, wealthy as they were, were initially shocked at the price of fifty thousand coins per pot but quickly agreed, eagerly placing orders with Jiang Yuxun for the new wine.

Jiang Yuxun remained in a daze long after they had left.

"What's the matter, my minister?" Ying Changchuan looked down at the person beside him.

Jiang Yuxun stiffened, biting his lip as he voiced his inner thoughts:

"From now on, I fear there will be no more men of unblemished integrity in the Great Zhou court..."

A pot of wine for fifty thousand coins, and a jar can be divided into five pots...

The money was being made too quickly.

...To hell with being as pure as water and draining the cup dry!

In this moment, Jiang Yuxun suddenly understood the Prime Minister.

※

The first batch of wine was sold in just a few words.

Jiang Yuxun quickly invested the money he earned into the estate.

Even after covering his living expenses, there was still a surplus.

Looking at the balance in his account... Jiang Yuxun suddenly experienced the feeling of overnight wealth.

Meanwhile, Yin Songquan had completed the Yi River renovation project, which Jiang Yuxun presented to the Emperor.

The largest project on this land to date was officially underway.

The Emperor, accompanied by court officials, rode horses and stood on a mountain named Chunhao Mountain next to the royal residence, gazing far into the distance—

The scorching sun illuminated the earth from the horizon, causing the Long River to shimmer with golden waves.

The summer planting had ended.

Tens of thousands of river workers gathered on both banks of the Yi River, shoveling and breaking the ground.

In an instant, their efforts were thunderous, overwhelming the roaring waves.

Jiang Yuxun stepped forward and introduced, "Your Majesty, even with alterations, most of the Yi River's course will remain. Starting today, we will begin reinforcing the riverbanks, which is an urgent matter."

All eyes turned to him.

Jiang Yuxun continued, "The next step is to dig a diversion channel at the narrow part of the Yi River, and cut through the dam during the dry season, so the new channel can be connected."

The Emperor nodded slowly, then suddenly turned to glance at Jiang Yuxun, before abruptly whipping his horse and leaving the officials behind to descend the mountain, saying, "Let's go, descend the mountain for a look."

Jiang Yuxun immediately followed, saying, "Yes, Your Majesty!"

Xuan Yin Supervisor was momentarily stunned, then hurriedly followed down the mountain.

At the foot of Chunhao Mountain, there lay a recently constructed settlement.

Part of it was residences for the craftsmen, while the other part was new homes for the common people displaced due to the construction.

These houses, uniformly built by the government, though merely simple courtyards, were many times better than the melon sheds along the Yi River.

Ying Changchuan and Jiang Yuxun arrived just as a group of villagers were using ox carts to move their furniture and food to their new homes.

Seeing this, the Emperor suddenly stopped and looked on with interest—

Although the new homes were not far from their old ones, the villagers had nonetheless undergone a relocation due to the Yi River project.

Yet at this moment, there was not a hint of displeasure on the faces of the families; instead, they were beaming with joy.

Even the relatives helping with the move were full of envy: "...Had I known this day would come, I would have built my house by the Yi River too. Now, not only do we have new homes, but we'll also be able to earn money from the Yi River!"

The villagers on the ox cart couldn't help but laugh, casually responding: "This is all thanks to young Master Jiang!"

Hearing this, a little girl sitting at the back of the cart asked with slight confusion: "Mom, Dad, we don't know how to fish, can we really earn money from the Yi River?"

The woman laughed and pulled her into her arms, fanning her with a reed fan as she softly said:

"How could that be false? Once the Yi River is repaired, we'll live right next to the new channel. Remember, no matter the season, you must walk along the riverbank daily to check for any damage or decay, and report it immediately to the officials if needed."

The little girl pouted: "But I don't know how to do that."

"In a few days, craftsmen will come to teach us," the woman said, wiping sweat from the girl's forehead. "We'll learn to patrol and protect the riverbanks."

The ox cart slowly came to a halt.

The family hopped down from the cart, turning back to grab their belongings.

While helping them with the grain, a relative added: "Once the Yi River becomes navigable, families like yours living along the river and responsible for its upkeep will receive a share of the profits each year. This is much better than just farming!"

His words were filled with unmistakable envy.

The little girl nodded, half understanding.

Hearing this, the Imperial Seal Supervisor who came along couldn't help but look at Jiang Yuxun with admiration.

Although they were not directly involved, they had heard of Jiang Yuxun's arrangement for dedicated personnel to manage the river maintenance and his plan to share profits with the local people.

Different from before, the wellbeing of the Yi River's embankments and navigation would now be closely tied to the lives of the riverside residents.

Knowing they could earn money from river-related tasks, they would surely perform their duties with diligence and care.

Faced with such admiring gazes, Jiang Yuxun felt somewhat embarrassed and averted his eyes.

He quickly glanced at the sky and then turned to Ying Changchuan to change the subject: "Your Majesty, it's the hottest time of the day now. There's little shade along the Yi River, so to avoid heatstroke, perhaps we should head back."

The midday sun rendered Jiang Yuxun's complexion especially fair.

Beads of sweat formed on his forehead, glistening under the sun's rays, and his dark, luminous eyes squinted slightly.

It seemed like an unusually hot day.

-

Ying Changchuan tugged at the reins.

The dark-colored warhorse neighed softly in response.

Just as he was about to turn around, he coincidentally overheard a familiar name—

The man of the house turned his head to look at his relative, tapping his forehead as he said, "What did young Master Jiang say again..."

Young Master Jiang?

The Emperor slowly raised his hand, signaling the Imperial Seal Supervisor to stay where he was.

Nearby, a woman moving dishes replied earnestly, "Young Master Jiang asked us to view the matter from a different perspective."

Her tone not only became unexpectedly elegant, but even her intonation lifted slightly—clearly imitating Jiang Yuxun.

This is not good!

On horseback, Jiang Yuxun suddenly felt a chill down his spine.

He instinctively tightened his grip on the reins.

The woman cleared her throat, turned to look at the Yi River, and said, "Young Master Jiang said that from now on, this river is not only His Majesty's, but also ours. We must cherish it properly."

Imperial Seal Supervisor: !!!

...Those words from Master Jiang are too dangerous!

Hearing this, the Imperial Seal Supervisor, who had just been looking at Jiang Yuxun with respect, suddenly turned ashen-faced.

His gaze shifted to the Emperor, trying to gauge his reaction.

It seems like His Majesty is frowning.

Save me...

Jiang Yuxun's body swayed, nearly falling off his horse.

Convincing ancient commoners to relocate was not an easy task, as they deeply valued their ancestral lands.

Although imperial edicts were unquestionable, and the populace had to comply regardless of their desires.

But Jiang Yuxun didn't want to intensify the discord between the common people and the court.

He was concerned that others might misinterpret his words.

A few days ago, amidst his busy schedule, Jiang Yuxun personally visited various villages, carefully discussing the pros and cons with the villagers.

...Jiang Yuxun had forgotten what exactly he had said that day.

However, such words could probably not be spoken by anyone other than him.

"Your Majesty..." Jiang Yuxun hesitated for a moment, then immediately dismounted from his horse.

Ying Changchuan's features were deep-set; the midday sun cast shadows over his eyes.

Jiang Yuxun couldn't discern the Emperor's expression, nor did he know if Ying Changchuan was angry.

The Emperor asked indifferently, "Did you say these words, my minister?"

Jiang Yuxun couldn't deny it: "...Yes, I did."

He quickly explained, "As the ancients said, 'The people are the foundation of a country; with a stable foundation, the country is at peace.' Not to mention... I believe that Your Majesty, the common people, and the Great Zhou Empire are inseparable and should not be discussed as separate entities."

The leader of the Imperial Seal Supervisors, Qi Ping Sha, bit his lip and suddenly said, "Right, uh... Now the common people share the benefits of the Yi River with His Majesty. Just like these surrounding farms and ponds, they belong to both the people and His Majesty."

His smooth talking somewhat eased the tension among the others.

Atop his dark warhorse, the Emperor's brows gradually relaxed.

Not far away, the family finished moving their belongings into the house.

Suddenly, a hush fell over Chunhao Mountain.

As the words ended, Jiang Yuxun could only hear the pounding of his own heart.

It's over, why isn't Ying Changchuan speaking?

Did I truly provoke his ire...?

Jiang Yuxun had no ulterior motive, but the Emperor's mind is unpredictable—who knows what he might think?

After a long pause, Ying Changchuan finally said softly, "My minister remains consistent as always."

His tone was incredibly calm, without a ripple, making it hard to discern his emotions.

Jiang Yuxun's heart sank.

As the echo of those words faded, the family they had seen earlier emerged from their house again.

The man struggled to get the ox cart moving towards a nearby tree.

He was about to unload the cart when he looked up and saw a group of unfamiliar figures not far away.

The man hesitated, then tentatively called out, "Is that young Master Jiang?"

"Young Master Jiang, what brings you here!"

Hearing the man's voice, the others who had just gone inside rushed back out.

"It really is young Master Jiang!" the woman exclaimed joyfully, "Won't you come in for a sit? Oh, let me go fetch you some water!"

Concerned about getting them involved, Jiang Yuxun quickly interjected, "No need—I insist you go back to your home."

After the initial surprise subsided, the family belatedly realized that there were several strangers accompanying Jiang Yuxun.

...Though they had never met these individuals, the distinguished aura they carried was clearly not that of ordinary people.

They exchanged glances, bowed to Jiang Yuxun from a distance, and then hurried back into their home.

In the height of summer, even the breeze was hot.

Jiang Yuxun instinctively lowered his eyes to avoid the glaring sunlight.

"Let's go."

The dark black warhorse took a couple of steps in place at that moment.

It then turned and headed towards the official road.

The Imperial Seal Supervisors hesitated for a moment before quickly following: "Yes!"

The sound of horse hooves echoed along the entire official road.

But just a few seconds later, the warhorse suddenly neighed and stopped in its tracks.

Jiang Yuxun instinctively looked ahead.

He looked up just in time to see the Emperor dismounting from his horse.

Ying Changchuan slowly stopped walking, standing about half a meter away.

The river breeze brought a faint scent of dragon's saliva fragrance.

He smiled somewhat helplessly, looking down before turning his gaze to Jiang Yuxun: "Why are you still standing here, my minister?"

Ah?

Jiang Yuxun was momentarily stunned, realizing... aside from genuinely being angry, could it be that Ying Changchuan was also partly trying to scare him?

Reason told him that Ying Changchuan was the Emperor.

But with this thought, amidst his nervousness, Jiang Yuxun couldn't help feeling somewhat indignant.

The dark warhorse, as if understanding human nature, saw Ying Changchuan stopping and walked up to join him.

Coincidentally blocking the harsh sunlight.

The Emperor paused, then slightly raised his tone, asking softly:

"Aren't you leaving? Young Master Jiang."