Ch. 696..700: The Princess of Northern Land Chapter 696-700

Chapter 696: Chapter 696 Everywhere are Enemies (7)_1

Chu Suifeng returned home that evening, clearly fatigued after what must have been a long day at the Marquis Residence.

"Is the Dowager feeling any better?" Lin Ziyin asked as she served him dishes.

"She’s remaining constant, but should be able to withstand for a few more days." Chu Suifeng hadn’t had much appetite for lunch at the Marquis Residence. He felt annoyed by the people there and didn’t bother hiding it. Yet, they were all inconsiderate, running to him to claim credit for their work at every chance. As he saw the table laden with all his favorite dishes, the anger that had been building up over the day immediately dissipated, leaving him feeling renewed despite his exhaustion.

The winter’s cold forced the pair to retreat to their room early after they finished eating.

After freshening up, Lin Ziyin lay on the bed while Chu Suifeng busied himself with the paperwork left unattended on the table.

"I’ll be done shortly." Chu Suifeng looked at her staring at him, and warmth filled his heart. They were still newly wed, and yet he had been so busy lately he had neglected her. Fortunately, Ziyin wasn’t a petty woman!

With his lovely wife waiting for him, Chu Suifeng soon finished his official chores and handed them over to Congyi.

Once Congyi took the paperwork and left, Chu Suifeng quickly freshened up before settling down next to Lin Ziyin. "I’m sorry."

He tightened his embrace around Lin Ziyin.

Lin Ziyin wrapped her arms around him in acknowledgment of his concerns, "My Prince, The Dowager is indeed worthy of your efforts."

"Though, I still feel as if I have wronged you. The Dowager is the Dowager, and you are you." Saying so, he bent down to gently kiss Lin Ziyin’s cheek.

Their intimacy had grown immensely since their marriage.

It wasn’t long before their shared warmth increased, with Lin Ziyin soon being led into the delightful throes of passion.

"My Prince?" Once they had finished, surprisingly, Lin Ziyin didn’t fall asleep from exhaustion. Perhaps, given the unique circumstances, Chu Suifeng had held back somewhat.

"Hmm?" Chu Suifeng tightened his embrace around her, looking her way.

"Today, the ladies from various families visited, and I shared the news about hiring a female instructor." Lin Ziyin continued, mentioning the recruitment of female scholars – a matter she had already discussed with him.

"Not many responded, did they?" Chu Suifeng teased with a laugh.

"How did you know?" Lin Ziyin exclaimed, surprised.

"How could those pampered ladies and daughters ever willingly expose themselves to public view? Especially those from the aristocratic families, you expect them to give up their hand-delivered family privileges? They wouldn’t be content." Chu Suifeng replied, teasingly touching her nose, "Did you believe everyone would be as foolish as you?"

"You knew this and yet didn’t tell me beforehand?" Lin Ziyin voiced her disappointment.

She had been in the Northern Land for over two years now, but as she wasn’t originally from this era, she often inadvertently let her modern-day values guide her responses, revealing their shortcomings.

"You seemed so pleased when you spoke about it, I didn’t want to dampen your enthusiasm. With your status, you can do whatever pleases you. As I’ve said before, do as you like. What does it matter if others are unhappy?" Chu Suifeng claimed with a domineering grin.

Moved and feeling somewhat indulged, Lin Ziyin accepted this. After all, her husband was incredibly doting and what more could she ask for? "But both the ladies from the Mei Family and the Si Family have signed up. Won’t they resent me behind my back?"

"No, they won’t." Chu Suifeng began affectionately teasing her.

"I am having a serious conversation with you." Lin Ziyin stopped his mischievous advances, stewing in exasperation.

"In my view, what we’re doing now is indeed the most serious matter. We are husband and wife. Everything else can wait." The Prince displayed an irresistible charm.

"No." Lin Ziyin pouted indignantly, "If you don’t speak, I won’t be able to sleep."

Deflated, Chu Suifeng had no choice but to comply. He couldn’t bear the thought of Lin Ziyin losing sleep over this. "The Si Family, the Luo Family, and the Mei Family are all my loyals. For their respective heads, supporting me is of utmost importance and a matter of great honour. Rest assured, these two ladies willingly attending the school will not undermine their family’s standing, rather, it may potentially improve it." Chu Suifeng craftily explained.

Listening, Lin Ziyin couldn’t help but mull over his words, feeling like she’d learned yet another lesson.

"Today, I also hit Lin Wanwan." Suddenly recalling the other event of the day, Lin Ziyin confessed honestly.

"Who’s Lin Wanwan?" Chu Suifeng asked confusedly. As realization dawned on him, his expression changed sharply, "Did she bully you?"

Lin Ziyin found it hard whether to laugh or scold him. It seemed that despite Lin Wanwan having been in the house for three to four years, he hadn’t bothered to remember her name.

"Lin Wanwan is your Consort Lin." She tersely responded.

"Are you jealous?" Chu Suifeng asked excitedly. He had heard from Congyi that when a woman showed jealousy for a man, it could only mean she was deeply in love with him. With great satisfaction, he relished in the fact that he was finally witnessing this emotion from his wife.

Chapter 697: Chapter 697: The Jester(1)_1

Seeing his smug expression, Lin Ziyin was both amused and annoyed. Perhaps it was due to the lack of love in his childhood, after their marriage, Chu Suifeng not only liked to stick to her, but sometimes he would intentionally display a childish side.

However, Lin Ziyin was not annoyed by this behavior, considering it as small playful antics between husband and wife.

"I told you I hit Consort Lin, are you not afraid I’m causing you trouble?" To remind the complacent man, Lin Ziyin had to raise her voice.

"Humph, he is just a small fry. If Lin Haisheng dares to disrespect the queen again, this prince wouldn’t mind letting him stay in the Northern Land forever." Chu Suifeng threatened while hugging her. The first part of his sentence started seriously, but soon he reverted to his whimsical self, "My queen, you have a good eye. The husband you’ve chosen is not someone who can be easily provoked."

Seeing his self-praising manner, Lin Ziyin couldn’t help but burst into laughter, "Go to sleep."

He had to listen to his wife’s words.

Following that, he obediently held her and went to sleep.

After dawn, Chu Suifeng got up and hurriedly ate breakfast and left, Lin Ziyin woke up a bit late. The advantage of not having elders in the residence was she could laze in bed, she was very satisfied with this, as she didn’t like waking up early during the winter.

The weather outside was still very cold in the winter.

"Is it snowing outside?" Lin Ziyin saw that the outside seemed to be brighter than usually, so while dressing, she asked.

"Yes, it has already started snowing at midnight, but the snowflakes are not too big." Qiaoqiao efficiently hooked up the bed curtain.

"I’m afraid there will be a heavy snowfall by the afternoon." Lin Ziyin walked to the window and opened the curtain, small scattered snowflakes were indeed falling outside. It was unfavorable in ancient times as there was no weather forecast. They could only guess the weather through experience, which wasn’t good for their crops.

No, she must find an opportunity to discuss with Situ Gong or Mei Hanqing about establishing a climatology course in the Academy. Of course, climatology and modern weather forecasting are different, but if the students could become as dedicated as Professor Zhu Kezhen in modern times, keeping daily observations of nature, and recording them, she believed it would greatly help agriculture and sea voyages.

"In winter, Feng City often has heavy snow. Just when the sun comes out for a few days, it starts to snow again. Luckily, now we have heated walls and hot kangs, otherwise it would’ve been much colder." Qiaoqiao, who was also cold averse, grew up in the Capital City of Daqin. Although there was snowfall in Daqin during winter, it was much warmer compared to here. The snowfall lasts a shorter duration there as compared to Feng City, where during the winter, they scarcely see the sun.

"It’s just the people of Feng City who are better off. In the rest of the Northern Land, the common people are not well-off. Once everyone starts growing rice and corn next year, life will gradually get better." As Lin Ziyin looked at the snowflakes outside the window, she sighed.

"My queen, the lives of the fishermen near the sea have also improved. Whether they are salt workers or culture fishermen, no family lacks food or clothing. Even in this cold weather, they could stay warm at home, they have no reason to be dissatisfied." Hong Ying said, while placing the arrived food on the table.

"Although people live off the land or sea they live by, I think those who live by the sea should also not rely entirely on the sea for food. It would be best if they could grow crops a bit further from the sea." Lin Ziyin said.

"I heard that the land near the sea can’t grow crops." Lun Luo chimed in.

The land Mother and Qin Mother were older and more knowledgeable, they knew more about the conditions near the sea than the younger servants, "That’s true, crops can’t grow there. That’s why the fishermen have to trade seafood for grain."

Chapter 698: Chapter 698: The Jester(2)_1

"Really?" Qiaoqiao asked in surprise. To her, no matter how good the things in the sea were, they could not replace the staple food. Without crops, the days of the fishermen would be unbearably hard.

"Actually, it’s not completely impossible to cultivate," Lin Ziyin turned her head to say, "but it will take a few years to improve the soil in advance."

"Can the soil be improved?" Lady Qin asked curiously, and the eyes of several maids also fell on her.

"Of course." Lin Ziyin sat down to eat, "The coastal soil contains saline-alkali, which means it has a high salt content. You can neutralize some of the salt by using wood ash and lime, then rinse it with fresh water, and finally insist on improving it with earthy fertilizer. In a few years, the soil will change drastically, perhaps becoming a good place for rice cultivation because the temperature near the sea is higher than Feng City."

She explained in the simplest way what neutralization and improvement meant.

"But these are all theories, and I have not actually practiced them."

"The princess has read many books and is knowledgeable." Qiaoqiao looked at her admiringly, "the methods you mentioned must work. The Prince and Mr. Situ will be very happy when they hear about it."

Having heard this, Lin Ziyin just smiled without further comment. However, she held some hope for coastal cultivation in her heart. After all, improving the soil a little distance away from the sea is not as difficult as imagined. Besides, a city needs its own agriculture no matter how well it develops.

Chu Suifeng arrived at the Marquis Residence early in the morning and headed straight for the old lady’s yard.

The gatekeeper naturally did not dare to stop him, and the men of the Marquis Residence did not dare to go out these days, but stayed in the old lady’s yard.

All the servants he met on the way quickly saluted and then avoided him. The aura around Prince Ling was intimidating to everyone who encountered him.

"Greetings, Your Highness." Li Yanran met him in the corridor leading to the old lady’s room and immediately saluted. She had learned her lesson and did not stare at Chu Suifeng boldly as she used to.

Chu Suifeng glanced at her coldly, then said softly, "Rise."

Li Yanran stood up as she was told and asked sadly, "Is grandmother not going to wake up?"

Her voice was choked with sobs and sorrow.

Seeing her mention the old lady, Chu Suifeng did not leave her immediately. "She might wake up."

What he didn’t say was that once the old lady woke up, it would be her last moment of clarity before death.

Li Yanran showed a mournful smile. "I’m afraid people will keep their distance after she wakes up."

Chu Suifeng remained silent, then, without looking back, he walked away with Congyi and the others.

Li Yanran looked at his hurried figure, her heart filled with resentment and anger, but against Lin Ziyin. She stubbornly believed that if it weren’t for Lin Ziyin, Chu Suifeng wouldn’t have completely ignored her as he did now.

"The official pays his respects to the Prince." The Marquis of Li immediately saluted when he saw him enter the room.

"How is she?" Chu Suifeng asked grimly.

"Still the same, no movement at all overnight. The medicinal monks have been waiting by her side." The Marquis of Li answered cautiously.

Chu Suifeng walked to the bed and looked at the pale face of the old lady on the bed, feeling a wave of pain in his heart. From his childhood, the woman on the bed had given him warmth with her slender body.

The once strong woman was now lying lifelessly on the bed. Scenes from their past life flashed before Chu Suifeng’s eyes from time to time, and his eyes couldn’t help but become moist.

The Marquis has been observing Chu Suifeng’s reaction. Seeing the sorrow and reluctance in Chu Suifeng’s eyes, his heart finally felt somewhat settled. No matter how dissatisfied Chu Suifeng was with the Marquis Residence, as long as the Prince had feelings for the old lady, he would never let the Marquis Residence be bullied in the future.

Chapter 699: Chapter 699: The Jester(3)_1

Just as Chu Suifeng was feeling helpless at the Marquis Residence, Prince Rui, Prince Chu, and Lin Haisheng, who were supposed to leave after the ceremony, unexpectedly received an imperial edict from the Imperial Court.

"The Emperor said, neither of you princes and Mr. Lin need to return to the Capital City immediately. Please ensure that the Northern Land’s tributes are delivered to the palace before the New Year," said the Special Envoy who brought the edict. It was the popular eunuch Miao from the Emperor’s side. When he arrived at the post station, he was dust-covered, indicating that he was in a hurry all the way.

"We are ten days away from the end of the year. Even if we leave now, it won’t be possible to get the tributes to the palace in time, right?" Prince Rui asked in surprise.

"Prince Rui, you have to hurry even it seems impossible," Eunuch Miao sighed. "As soon as you two princes left, the Zajia came rushing in; the Emperor has been quite unrest lately."

No one asked why the Emperor was in a bad mood. When the three of them left the Capital City, it was already in chaos.

Who could have expected that the goods transported from the Northern Land to various provinces of Daqin could disrupt the market? Chu Suifeng silently affected the economy of Daqin; his tactics were brilliant indeed. The Lin Family behind him, however, was a bit annoying.

With the New Year approaching, every family wanted to buy the best things. But they found out that some items couldn’t be bought even with silver.

Vegetable oil, seafood, various types of sauces, spices, roasted goods, sugar, even vermicelli, and bean products; whatever one desired was out of stock in the market. There was some at the restaurants, but they wouldn’t sell.

Women were causing quite a fuss, nagging daily that they couldn’t buy cosmetics, sweaters, and down jackets. For women who have stocks, it was okay. But for those who didn’t, they were in a rush. Once used to the cosmetics from the Northern Land, they didn’t want to use anything else.

Everyone was mainly panic; would they not be able to buy these goods from the Northern Land in the future?

The Emperor was also very annoyed. Following his instructions, the Imperial kitchen no longer used vegetable oil and other seasonings. But after tasting the flavorful dishes for a while, if the Emperor had to eat food cooked with lard that was tasteless, could he swallow it? Several chefs in the Imperial Kitchen had already lost their heads over this.

The remaining chefs were trembling every day, fearing that they might be next. It was not that their culinary skills were bad, but rather, no dancer can do anything without a stage. Without the right seasonings, oils, and ingredients, they couldn’t cook as well as they used to.

The Emperor, however, kept blaming the Imperial Chefs for all the problems.

At this time, rumors spread within the Capital City that some people were reselling goods from the Northern Land, and the merchants were arrested the next morning. Any sensible person would know that Chu Suifeng exchanged goods for grain, and the Emperor had decreed that no one was allowed to send even a grain to the Northern Land. Obviously, someone intentionally defied the decree. Could the Emperor not be angry? Then things got worse; many court officials, including concubines and even the Empress Dowager, were involved.

The dilemma was, the Emperor was angry, but he couldn’t arrest everyone because one is bound by the common law.

In the end, the Empress Dowager and the Empress made a fuss in front of the Emperor. The Emperor issued a decree that all goods from the Northern Land should be sent as tributes to the Capital City.

After Prince Chu read the content of the decree, he sneered in his heart.

The ministers in the court were all eyeing the Northern Land, hoping to get a share of the benefits there. But these people were all daydreaming. Why didn’t they think about it - could Prince Ling be someone who anyone could take advantage of?

 

Chapter 700: Chapter 700: The Jester(4)_1

The Prince was resistant to the Sovereign’s Edict. This resistance did not mean he opposed the Emperor’s decision, but rather like Chu, he firmly believed that Chu Suifeng would never agree to send any of the commodities from the Northern Land to Capital City as tribute.

After all, those goods were selling so well that they had become the money pot for Chu Suifeng. It would indeed be odd if Chu Suifeng was willing to give that up.

Both of them, who had secretly made up their minds, did not want to go to the Wang Residence to deliver the edict. Neither of them wanted to cross Chu Suifeng at this time.

"Eunuch Miao, since the Emperor sent you to the Northern Land, it shows his trust in you. Minister Lin was also appointed as a special envoy by the Emperor. So, you both should take the responsibility of conveying the edict," Chu Suiyun suggested, smiling.

"The Prince and I are only here as spectators. The ceremony has ended, and it would be unreasonable and inappropriate to deliver the edict at this point," the Prince immediately agreed with him. These two, who should have been opponents, now unexpectedly chose to stand on the same side.

Seeing them pass the buck so clearly, Lin Haisheng felt a pang of bitterness. He had heard that dealing with Chu Suifeng was troublesome, but it was not until he arrived in Northern Land that he truly experienced how challenging Chu Suifeng was. If Lin went to deliver the edict, Chu Suifeng would resent him for life. With resentment from Chu Suifeng, his daughter’s life in the Wang Residence would likely be incredibly challenging.

No, he must pass off this unfortunate task.

Just as he was thinking about how to, the unsuspecting Eunuch Miao readily agreed and even took it all upon himself. "Since the Emperor entrusted such an important matter to Zajia and Minister Lin, we naturally will manage it meticulously. However, we hope the Princes can provide some assistance on the trip home," he said.

As a result, Miao forcefully assumed the task that Lin Haisheng couldn’t shake off, which infuriated Lin. He wished he could clamp down on Miao’s mouth.

"Of course. The New Year is almost here, and if the Wang Residence handles things well, we can set off tomorrow. As for the journey, I am not afraid of the rush," the prince swiftly responded. He thought, so what if Miao agreed? Whether Chu Suifeng was willing was another matter.

Minister Lin, go accompany Zajia. The Emperor and the Empress Dowager are waiting for these tributes to enter the palace. Leaving a day earlier can alleviate the Emperor’s worries," Miao suggested. Despite Chu Suifeng’s power, he was confident. Not only was he a favored person in the Emperor’s eyes, but also many princesses in the capital gave him respect when they saw him.

What could a mere prince of a tomb do against him?

With the Edict, Miao forcefully tugged the unwilling Lin Haisheng towards the Wang Residence, like the proud rooster.

Averse as Lin Haisheng was, he dared not utter a word of refusal. He knew well how perverse those high-ranking Eunuchs in the palace were, especially considering that Miao was a favorite in the face of the Emperor. If he showed the slightest reluctance, perhaps Miao would slander him before the Emperor on his return.

When they reached the Wang Residence with their guards, Lin Ziyin was being surrounded by a group of women in the Residence.

To say they were surrounding her was, in fact, to say that they were following customs of giving their respects to her. After all, these women were concubines who had to serve tea to Lin Ziyin, who was the official wife.

All the women in the backyard, except for the convalescent Qin and the punished Ming who could not come, were dressed flamboyantly, trying their best to outshine Lin Ziyin.