【Oh no, I have to start making up lies again, sigh! I really want to break this habit of boasting～】
The ministers: No, don’t change it!
“I recognize it, Your Majesty. I read about it in a vernacular storybook. It’s called corn. You dig a hole in the soil, bury it, water it, and add some organic fertilizer. I’ve heard it takes about two to three months to grow.”
“Good, good, good. Then you assist the Minister of Public Works in growing this corn.”
“Um, Your Majesty, I’ve never farmed before.” After saying this ingratiatingly, her Inner Thoughts sounded: 【What a ridiculous joke! In my previous life, I lived comfortably without worries. From the age of three when I started my education until my death, I was always in school working. Everyone called me ‘Teacher.’ How could I have ever farmed? In this life, I have a doting father who buys me storybooks every day and gives me delicious food. I absolutely refuse to farm. This lady wants to stay beautiful～】
Everyone was shocked again. Ji Yingying was actually a teacher in her previous life? She must have been highly educated, so why are her Inner Thoughts so unrestrained?
“It’s fine. Just answer the Minister of Public Works if he has any questions.”
“Alright, that’s easy to handle.”
With the food issue resolved, someone else stepped forward and said, “Your Majesty, since the food problem is solved, winter is approaching. In previous winters, the death toll has been high. Now, with the flood, this winter’s toll will likely be even higher.”
【Yes, yes, winter is the worst. I really hate winter. In winter, I don’t even want to go outside. In modern times, with down jackets, cars to go out in, and heating, I still didn’t like going out, let alone in ancient times. Ancient times lack heating, down jackets, and even warm quilts!】
And then…
There was no “then,” because Ji Yingying had leaned against a pillar and fallen asleep again. This skill was something no one present had mastered, after all, she had lived through over a decade of student life and knew how to lie flat and avoid the teacher.
“Little Ji, my minister…”
“I am here, Your Majesty.”
“Do you have any ideas for this winter?”
【Damn Emperor, you have so many ministers, why do you keep picking on me? Be careful, or I’ll expose all the women who’ve cuckolded you～】
“Ahem～” Why is this young lady so vindictive? The capable should do more work!
“I believe Little Lord Ji is truly remarkable. She even recognizes corn seeds. She must be a person of great learning and talent!”
“Yes, yes. Yesterday, I submitted a memorial criticizing Little Lord Ji. For that, I apologize here and now.”
Suddenly, everyone began praising Ji Yingying, which made her swell with pride.
【Of course! Don’t forget where I come from—the 21st century! It was an era where we could reach the moon and explore the deepest oceans. We had everything we wanted, unlike now, where a journey of over ten kilometers takes half a day. Back when I went to work at school, it was also over ten kilometers, but it only took about ten minutes, and I still thought it was too far. Sigh! I worked hard and struggled for ten years, finally about to enjoy retirement, and then in the blink of an eye, I was back to square one～】
【These people have good taste. It’s a pity they’re quite useless, tsk～ It’s all because of the era. After all, it’s still backward. If given another hundred years, with dynastic changes, who knows, maybe things would slowly develop.】
Clang! The Emperor’s cup fell and shattered. Everyone’s hearts trembled at the sound. Could such an era really exist?
In the entire hall, Ji Cailiang was probably the calmest one.
“Heh, my hand slipped. Little Ji, my minister, continue.”
“Alright, collecting duck and goose feathers, then through washing, sterilization, drying, sorting and screening, filling and sewing to make down jackets and down quilts. These things are very warm, and can also be used for…”
【Floor heating, wait, is it called floor heating?】
Ji Yingying couldn’t quite remember the structure of the northern kang bed.
“Can be used for what?”
“Can’t remember what it’s called, probably called floor heating. Don’t remember how to make it either. Your Majesty will need to experiment yourself. Basically, build a bed-like structure inside the house, hollow it out and connect it to the kitchen. When cooking in the kitchen, the smoke from burning firewood will pass through this bed to exit, and the bed will become warm. Yes, that should be how it works.”
【I vaguely remember looking up this information before, but the specifics… I really don’t recall.】
“Good. Zhang Siyuan, you’re responsible for researching this floor heating. If you don’t understand, humbly consult Little Lord Ji. Make sure it’s arranged before winter comes.”
“I accept Your Majesty’s decree.”
“As for collecting duck and goose feathers, Ji Cailiang, you’ll be in charge. If you don’t understand, ask your daughter.”
【Asking so many questions without offering any rewards. Next time they ask, I won’t answer – I’ll play dumb～】
The Emperor snorted coldly. Everyone knew the national treasury was poor, yet they still wanted rewards? None, absolutely none.
“Any other matters to report? If not, court is dismissed!”
“Your son has matters to report.”
Ji Yingying, who had already stepped out, pulled her foot back. The Crown Prince had been silent all morning and was finally speaking up.
“This is what your son discovered in Xinhe County. Please review it, Father.”
The memorial was presented – it was about the pork issue.
“Your son found that the pork in Xinhe County is much more delicious than that in the capital. Your son didn’t notice before, until yesterday when comparing capital pork with Xinhe County pork.”
【Of course it is! That’s where I live. Given how much I love eating pork, how could I not make it taste better?】
“Minister Ji, what’s going on here?”
“Replying to Your Majesty, this is the castration method proposed by Little Lord Ji. Castrating pigs makes their meat more tender and improves the taste. After verifying this method, I submitted a memorial reporting it.”
Just hearing this made the situation clear.
“Excellent! Those damned fools actually dared to conceal this and not report it!”
“Little Minister Ji, would you care to explain?”
【Explain? Explain what? My father understands this. If I could speak, I would have told him long ago. After all these years, who in Xinhe County doesn’t know about this?】
“Your Majesty, my father understands this matter.”
“In that case, Ji Cailiang, have your people teach the technique to the Ministry of Works. The Ministry of Works will promote it going forward.”
“I obey Your Majesty’s decree.”
With this matter concluded and no other memorials to present, morning court ended. Ji Yingying headed straight home.
She had been talking a lot all morning and was tired from standing.
【Oh my! Even modern People’s Congress meetings with their huge conferences provide seats. This damned morning court makes us stand. If I stand too much, won’t my calves get thicker and more muscular?】
【I’m miserable, so miserable! I used to think the Crown Prince had it bad, but he’s not miserable at all～ He’s much better off than me.】
The Crown Prince following behind couldn’t help but laugh.
“Little Lord Ji”
“Yes?” Ji Yingying bowed as she responded, then turned to see it was the Crown Prince. She said pitifully: “Your Highness!”
“It’s me. Is Little Lord Ji tired?”
“Hehe, hehe, not tired, not tired at all. It hasn’t been that long standing – nothing compared to all of you.”
“Let me escort you out of the palace.”
“Hehe, alrighty!”
[As expected of the Crown Prince—handsome, warm-hearted, and most importantly, morally upright. The Crown Princess really married well!]
Crown Prince: …………What does “the Crown Princess married well” mean? Shouldn’t it be “the Crown Princess married a good husband”?
After leaving the palace, the carriage was already waiting.
Just as Ji Yingying was about to clumsily climb into the carriage like a dog, the Crown Prince stopped her.
“Little Lord Ji, I have some silver here as your reward.”
Ji Yingying glanced at the banknotes—five thousand taels! Hehe~ She reached out to take them with flattering eagerness: “Thank you, Your Highness. You’re truly beautiful inside and out! Rest assured, from now on I’ll follow your lead. Whatever you ask me to do, I’ll do it—as long as it’s not illegal, I’ll obey without question.”
[Haha, only a fool would turn down easy money! I’ll worry about future consequences later. This is perfect to heal my wounded heart.]
“Go on, head back now.”
“Ah, Your Highness is such a good person!” Ji Yingying said while boarding the carriage. The carriage was already stocked with food, so she started eating immediately. Once full and satisfied, drowsiness set in.
When the carriage arrived at the gate, Nanny Xia noticed no one had emerged for a long time. Lifting the curtain, she found Ji Yingying fast asleep.