Chapter 65: The Empress Dowager’s Passing & Xu Nian’s Crop Experiment

As Luo Jin’an stepped out of the Princess Consort’s chambers, he returned to the Artemisia Courtyard and issued an order:

“From now on, you will stay by Miss Xu’s side to ensure her safety. Report everything that happens around her to me via carrier pigeon.”

A shadowy figure emerged from the darkness, knelt on one knee, and responded, “Understood.”

Luo Jin’an opened a wooden box and once again took out the gifts and letters Xu Nian had given him. He read through them carefully, contemplating whether to send a letter in return. However, in the end, he put the brush down without writing anything.

Just then, Mo Bai hurried in.

“Your Highness, a report has arrived from Shengdu.”

Luo Jin’an took the letter and read it before letting out a cold laugh. “It seems some people can’t hold back any longer. For now, keep everyone away from me—I want to see just how far their reach extends.”

Mo Bai’s expression changed. “Your Highness—”

“No need to say more. Also, send word to Shengdu. They may proceed.” Luo Jin’an gently stroked the guqin beside him and sighed, “What a pity. I won’t be hearing any orchestral music for the next year.”

—

Shengdu, the Imperial Palace

Inside a palace in Shengdu, a young eunuch handed a food box to a female official, flattering her as he spoke:

“Palace Steward Han, you’ve been working so hard lately. This is a small token of appreciation from the servants below.”

The woman referred to as Palace Steward Han appeared to be only in her early twenties. She had a cold demeanor, merely nodding indifferently before taking the food box and heading toward the Empress Dowager’s sleeping quarters.

As she walked, all the palace maids bowed respectfully, a clear sign of her high status. Before she could step into Cian Palace, a young maid hurried over and curtsied.

“Palace Steward Han, Her Majesty the Empress Dowager has awakened and is asking for you.”

Palace Steward Han nodded again, but her pace quickened noticeably.

Upon entering the sleeping quarters, she saw an elderly woman with white hair and a frail, withered appearance reclining on a soft couch.

“Shuyi, light the incense for me.”

Following the order, Han Shuyi retrieved a block of incense from a box. As the delicate smoke spiraled into the air and entered the Empress Dowager’s nostrils, a sense of relief washed over the elderly woman, and she let out a slow breath.

The world knew that the Empress Dowager adored fragrant scents, but no one knew that she was dependent on Calming Incense—without it, she would be plagued by insomnia every night.

—

That night, silence enveloped the palace. No one noticed when the Empress Dowager, who should have been peacefully asleep, suddenly woke as if startled by a nightmare. Her eyes were wide open, her mouth agape as if trying to call for help—yet not a single sound escaped her lips.

—

With the bitter cold of winter fading and trees beginning to bud, spring should have been a season brimming with vitality. However, Cian Palace was draped in mourning white, shrouded in an atmosphere of deathly stillness.

The Empress Dowager’s passing was officially announced to the entire kingdom. All subjects were required to wear mourning attire for a full year.

The Xu family also set aside their vibrant garments and donned plain mourning clothes.

Xu Nian soon noticed that the two female instructors had become noticeably less strict with her over the past few days. She assumed it was because of the mourning period for the Empress Dowager.

With the extra free time, she turned her attention to her sweet potato seeds. It was now the season for spring plowing, and her father had been deeply preoccupied with the introduction of this new crop.

Because the grain seeds were limited, Xu Yaozu selected a village as a pilot site. Over the past few days, he had been visiting the village almost daily, feeling uneasy if he did not go.

As usual, he planned to visit Zhu Family Village today. When Xu Nian learned of this, she insisted on accompanying him. Initially, Xu Yaozu disapproved, but since no one understood the new crop and intercropping method better than his daughter, he eventually nodded in agreement.

However, this time, when she left home, Xu Nian was accompanied not only by Xiu’er but also by Liu Yun and Liu Qin.

“You two should stay in the carriage when we arrive,” Xu Nian advised. “The fields are muddy, and there’s no need for you to run back and forth with me.”

“Miss, you overthink. We were born into farming families; a little mud and water won’t scare us.”

Their words were only half true. While they had indeed come from farming backgrounds, they had been sent to the palace at a young age and had long lost their memories of their previous lives.

Seeing their insistence, Xu Nian did not argue further, but she still found their change in attitude toward her somewhat peculiar. She couldn’t pinpoint when it started, but she knew something had shifted.

Zhu Family Village was not far from the county seat. Xu Nian felt as though it had taken less than half an hour before they arrived.

The villagers were busy in the fields. When they heard that the county magistrate had come, they happily ran over to greet him and reported on the condition of the land.

Although the villagers were curious about why the magistrate had brought his family along, none dared to ask outright.

Looking at the rich, black soil, Xu Nian had to admit that Wansheng County was indeed a good place for the common folk.

She stepped into the fields and, seeing that the land had already been deeply plowed and loosened, nodded in satisfaction.

At that moment, after learning about the situation, Xu Yaozu called her back and addressed the crowd:

“This is my daughter. She has long studied agriculture and has developed a new planting method. I’ll have her explain it in detail. For this year’s spring planting, follow her instructions.”

Xu Nian stepped forward and spoke to the villagers:

“The primary crops in Wansheng County are rice and soybeans. The method I’m introducing is intercropping soybeans with a new crop—sweet potatoes.”

“Intercropping?” someone murmured.

*”That’s right. Intercropping means planting different crops on the same land in a scientifically planned manner to maximize land use and increase yield.

Not all crops are suitable for this method, but fortunately, sweet potatoes and soybeans are perfect companions.”*

She paid no mind to the skeptical looks from the crowd.

“Everyone knows how important this batch of new seeds is. You must follow my instructions carefully. I won’t claim that the harvest will multiply several times over this year, but I can guarantee a bountiful yield.”

Though many remained doubtful, they all nodded in agreement.

Xu Nian then carefully explained the entire process, from seedling cultivation and transplanting to intercropping techniques and key precautions. Meanwhile, Xu Yaozu instructed his subordinates to hire a group of village guards to patrol the fields.

Her throat was parched from speaking so much when suddenly, a cup of tea appeared before her. She looked up to see that Liu Yun had brought it over, while Liu Qin and Xiu’er were holding a cloth to shield her from the wind.

Xu Nian’s eyelid twitched. She had no idea when these three had arranged such a display. Feeling embarrassed, she grabbed the cloth and handed it to an elderly villager standing nearby.

“Use this to make yourself a new piece of clothing.”

After giving the necessary instructions, Xu Nian returned to the county office with Xu Yaozu, unaware that the people of Zhu Family Village had begun to discuss among themselves.

“I wonder if this method actually works. Can a wealthy young lady really know anything about farming?”

“Exactly! And she used such fine cloth just to block the wind. I bet she doesn’t even know what rice seedlings look like.”

“Enough, shut your mouths,” the village elder scolded, clutching the fabric in his hands. “The magistrate told us to do as instructed. If it works or not, we’ll find out soon enough.”

Hearing the elder speak so decisively, the other villagers, despite their doubts, dared not voice further complaints.

However, it wasn’t just the villagers who were skeptical. Even within the county office, some officials murmured among themselves, wondering if Xu Yaozu was just like the previous magistrate, Wu, promoting his daughter for the sake of her reputation.

Xu Nian, however, remained indifferent to all the doubts surrounding her. Her attitude, in turn, made the two attendants regard her with newfound respect.