However, the commerce in the Han Dynasty was not as developed as in the Song Dynasty, and as a county marquis, she didn’t have the means to do so.

Any increase in income would likely have to come from the emperor himself.

As for what she should do…

While Lu Yuan and Cheng Li were busy with their respective tasks, Qiao Yan held Qiao Xuan’s hand and spoke for quite some time.

However, she didn’t mention Qiao Yu’s death, only discussing the victories in suppressing the Yellow Turban Rebellion to comfort the old man.

Although Qiao Yan had the memories of her original self, neither she nor the original owner had much of a relationship with this grandfather, making it hard to say if there was any familial affection.

However, when she finished speaking, she saw Qiao Xuan’s hand, which she held, slowly return the grip as if infused with vitality.

This gesture touched Qiao Yan more deeply than any grandparent-grandchild bond could.

Of course,

despite making such a seemingly revitalizing gesture, Qiao Xuan didn’t fully awaken.

His hazy gaze lifted briefly to Qiao Yan’s face before quickly sinking back into a deep slumber.

Qiao Yan wasn’t adept at judging life and death, and could only estimate that, given the medical conditions of the Han Dynasty, he might live for another half month at most.

Only half a month…

Just as she was thinking about this, she suddenly heard Cheng Li ask, “What plans does Lord Qiao have now?”

After pondering for a moment, Qiao Yan replied, “It’s not so much a plan as it is to start farming.”

Although Cheng Li knew that Qiao Yan often took unconventional routes, he couldn’t help but be surprised by this decision.

But when he heard Qiao Yan say, “I hope Grandfather can see the new shoots before he passes away,” he vaguely sensed her intentions.

He bowed and replied, “Lord Qiao is wise.”

Whether she was wise or not was another matter.

Although the vegetable patch that Qiao Xuan had opened up under the backyard gallery was small, loosening the soil, planting new seeds, and tending to it was still physically demanding work after nearly half a year of neglect.

If Qiao Yan still had the physique she had when she first arrived here, she definitely wouldn’t have subjected herself to such hardship.

Fortunately, her current physique was still strong enough to support her in doing these tasks.

Dian Wei didn’t understand why Qiao Yan didn’t use his strength to do the work and instead chose to do it herself.

Before he could ask, Lu Yuan sent him out to run errands between Dongguo and Xiguo.

A voice came from the wall, quietly asking, “Is farming fun?”

Qiao Yan straightened up, wiped the sweat from her forehead, and followed the direction of the voice to see Fu Shou leaning on the wall, looking at her with curiosity.

The curious gaze of this child didn’t make her feel annoyed.

It lightened Qiao Yan’s somewhat melancholic mood, which had been heavy from witnessing the chaos at the end of the Han Dynasty.

She didn’t hesitate to smile at Fu Shou and asked, “Is climbing the wall fun for you? Aren’t you afraid of falling?”

“I’m not afraid,” Fu Shou replied seriously, his face earnest, “I had someone hold the ladder for me. I’m just curious.

This courtyard used to be very quiet, as if no one lived here, but now suddenly there are people.

Speaking of which, you haven’t answered my question yet.”

“It’s not a matter of whether it’s fun or not,” Qiao Yan replied, “If you wanted to prepare a gift for your parents, would you refrain from doing so because you thought it was hard?”

Fu Shou tilted his head, not quite understanding why Qiao Yan connected gift-giving with farming, but Qiao Yan was older than him and probably knew more, so she just replied to her question, “Of course not, I wouldn’t think it’s hard.”

Qiao Yan replied, “Well, that’s my situation now.”

Fu Shou glanced at the courtyard, which had already been thoroughly tended by Qiao Yan.

At that moment, as she glanced at her sister still holding farming tools, she felt that perhaps her father’s remark about “difficult to understand” made a lot of sense.

Before she could ask further, she saw her mother walking towards their direction in the courtyard.

She quickly nodded to Qiao Yan and hurriedly climbed down.

Qiao Yan shook her head with a smile and took the mustard seeds bought a few days ago from Lu Yuan’s hand and planted them.

During the Han Dynasty, there weren’t many varieties of vegetables.

Mustard seeds could sprout in twelve days and survive in the current ground temperature.

The name sounded better than garlic or onions.

This was her first choice. —

Compared to Qiao Yan farming in the western suburbs of the capital city, Emperor Liu Hong, who had undoubtedly received news of the Yellow Turban Rebellion gradually calming down, had a much easier time.

Though he didn’t indulge in the kind of palace life speculated by the common folk, creating some naked swimming pool or fragrant hot spring, he traveled in a carriage, enjoying the peak of luxury.

It probably lent some credence to the saying, “When the wind rises in the east of Luoyang, the fragrance wafts to the west.”

By late May, Luoyang had completely shaken off the lingering chill of early spring and was gradually becoming hot and restless with the summer approaching.

The residents near the city walls of Luoyang had to endure not only the summer heat but also the environment filled with water and animal waste due to the lack of special planning.

However, Liu Hong didn’t have to worry about such things.

He was now reclining on a soft couch under a tree, shielded from the sun by the shade.

Beside him was an ice basin, and a little yellow gatekeeper fanned the cool breeze from the basin towards him.

In this comfortable atmosphere, he held a feathered arrow in his hand and casually shot it into a pot in front of him.

Seeing the arrow miss, he didn’t show any signs of annoyance.

However, when the arrow lightly tapped the edge of the pot, he suddenly called out, “Zhang, attend!”

Zhang Rang hurriedly approached Liu Hong.

Liu Hong looked up and saw Zhang Rang’s gaze filled with awe.

It wasn’t a pretense from Zhang Rang.

After all, he had only left the capital for a short time to deliver an imperial decree for Liu Hong, but Liu Hong had already made quite a few earth-shattering moves.

Whether it was ennobling Qiao Yan, who had made significant contributions during the Yellow Turban Rebellion, as the first-ranked marquis,

or publicly rebuking the Minister of Works, Yuan Wei, and promoting his wife, Lady Ma, to the position of Grand Astrologer,

or three days before Zhang Rang and Bi Lan arrived in Luoyang, announcing several acts of grace towards the Three Excellencies, all these moves, in Zhang Rang’s eyes, revealed Liu Hong’s political acumen.

Due to various reasons, there were more discussions with the Three Excellencies.

He had relocated from Beigong to Nangong.

His current attitude was clearly aimed at both suppressing and pulling together the three officials in the positions of Minister of Works, Minister of War, and Grand Commandant, thereby smoothing over the previous disturbances.

However, perhaps only Zhang Rang and others knew that Liu Hong’s favoritism was apparently not heartfelt.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have secretly consulted with Jian Shuo recently.

It was only because neither the financial resources nor the timing allowed him to continue those unconventional actions that he temporarily suppressed the idea of forming the Eight Schools of the Western Garden.

Zhang Rang cautiously asked, “May I know what Your Majesty commands?”

“Wasn’t my Marquis of Le Ping brought into the capital by you all? What has she been up to lately?” Liu Hong took another feathered arrow handed over by an attendant, tossing it while questioning.

Zhang Rang had been waiting for Liu Hong to ask this question.

The existence of Qiao Yan, a female marquis appearing after several hundred years, was already strange enough for Liu Hong to inquire about her activities seven days after her arrival in the capital.

However, upon reflection, it seemed that Liu Hong’s bestowal of this marquis title might not just be a contradiction to the officials of the court.

It wasn’t surprising that he only remembered now.

Zhang Rang bowed and replied, “Your Majesty, this humble servant heard from Liang Hu when he brought the invitation cards that she is farming in Lord Qiao’s residence.”

Liu Hong valued Liang Hu not only because he was from the Hongdu School Academy but also because he excelled in calligraphy, having learned from Shi Yiguan.

He was a master of the Eight-Part Essay.

His future scripts were hung in Cao Cao’s tent for daily viewing, and now, he was highly valued by Liu Hong, often sending his works for appreciation and reporting on the situation of his neighbors to Zhang Rang.

“Farming?” Liu Hong was momentarily surprised by this response, then smiled and said, “Why would my Marquis of Le Ping engage in such rustic activities?”

Zhang Rang replied, “It is said that when Lord Qiao was still able to get up, he opened a vegetable plot in the courtyard.

The Marquis doesn’t want her grandfather to see the courtyard overgrown and the vegetable plot abandoned before his passing, so she took it upon herself to dig and plant, hoping to show her grandfather new shoots in the courtyard, giving him hope for the future of Han.”

“Ah, I see…” After pondering for a moment, Liu Hong said, “Marquis Qiao is truly filial; it’s not easy to have such intentions.”

After Liu Hong threw a third arrow, Zhang Rang heard him ask again, “In your opinion, should I summon this Marquis of Le Ping for a meeting? Apart from refuting Zhang Jiao’s words, what else can she say to me?”

This question was not easy to answer.

Zhang Rang speculated on Liu Hong’s intentions, or he regretted it a little when he granted her the position of county marquis.

That’s why he temporarily refrained from meeting Qiao Yan.

But upon hearing about her farming at home, it slightly restored his favorable impression, and he entertained the idea of meeting her.

However, how should he phrase it…

Before Zhang Rang could speak, Bi Lan spoke up beside him, “Your Majesty, if you truly wish to see her, I’m afraid you won’t be able to today.”

Upon hearing this, Liu Hong became more interested and asked, “And why is that?”

Bi Lan replied, “I heard earlier that Marquis Qiao has rarely left her home in the past few days.

Today, she only stepped out because she wanted to admire the grandeur of the Lingtai, Mingtang, and Biyong from a close distance.

However, before she could even reach there, she was stopped near the gate of the Imperial Academy.”

“Who dares to stop a county marquis in the street?” Liu Hong raised an eyebrow.

“It’s the grandson of the Grand Commandant, Yang Xiu.

This young man, Yang, is talented and has heard about the Marquis of Le Ping.

He wants to compete with her.

Since the annual assessment is approaching on the first day of the sixth month, Yang Xiu has made an appointment with Marquis Qiao for a contest, seeking Master Xu’s comments on their performances this time.”

“Then what now?” Liu Hong sat up with keen interest and asked.

Bi Lan replied, “At this moment, those two have already gone to Master Xu’s place. However, as for the outcome… I truly do not know.”