Seeing Shen Mingzhu awake, Shaoyao quickly brought in the food box and arranged its contents across the desk.
"Miss."
"Mhm, well done, Shaoyao."
After speaking, she glanced at her colleagues.
"Would you all like to share some?"
"No, no"
They still had much work to do.
Compiling historical records, drafting imperial edicts, organizing documents—none of these tasks were light, leaving no room for even a moment's slack.
Soon, cheerful sounds emerged from the room.
[Delicious! Delicious! This osmanthus cake is delicious! The plum blossom cake is tasty too! The red bean cake is even better!]
[Red beans grow in southern lands, / In spring, a few branches sprout. / I urge you to gather more, / For they best convey longing thoughts!]
Su Huaiyuan: Excellent poem!
After saying this, he picked up the purple jade wolf-hair brush beside him and swiftly recorded the poem Shen Mingzhu had just recited.
All Hanlin Academicians: …It seems Compiler Shen is immensely talented, casually composing a poem that could be passed down through the ages!
They had underestimated her earlier!
It appears she was hiding her brilliance!
What a sly one!
They've uncovered it now!
In an instant, their attitude toward Shen Mingzhu underwent a dramatic transformation.
After eating and drinking her fill, Shen Mingzhu prepared to go out for a stroll to retrieve the sweet potatoes.
Patting her bottom, she headed to the adjacent room.
"Grand Scholar Su, I think it's about time for today. I'd like to go out for a walk."
Su Huaiyuan looked at her with a smiling expression and said,
"Compiler Shen, feel free to do as you wish."
Shen Mingzhu smiled back at Su Huaiyuan, chatting with the System as she walked.
[Gua Gua, this Grand Scholar Su is quite nice, isn't he?]
[Host, he's alright, average at best, third in the nation!]
[Hahaha]
Clear, melodious laughter reached everyone's ears.
The entire Hanlin Academy was stunned!
Was that Compiler Shen laughing just now?
But her mouth didn't move!
Could that be Compiler Shen's inner thoughts?
Astonishing!
I can hear Compiler Shen's inner voice.
Indeed, someone whom the Jingyuan Emperor exceptionally appointed to an official position is truly remarkable.
Shen Mingzhu checked her system store; over these days, she had accumulated a total of 666 points.
[Gua Gua, 666 points—quite auspicious!]
[Host, 666 points can buy 66,660 sweet potato seedlings!]
Shen Mingzhu calculated: planting sweet potatoes on one mu of land requires 4,000 to 5,000 seedlings, enough to plant approximately 13 to 17 mu.
By then, she could still earn some points from gathering gossip and plant even more.
Having made up her mind, Shen Mingzhu went to the market without letting Shaoyao follow. She entered alone, wandered around, and returned holding a bundle of sweet potato seedlings and sweet potatoes.
"Shaoyao, I've bought some things and hired a carriage. Please help me send them back to the Marquis Estate. Give this note to Mother; she'll know what to do."
"Yes, Miss!"
Soon, the carriage returned Shen Mingzhu to the Hanlin Academy, while Shaoyao escorted the sweet potato seedlings and sweet potatoes back to the Marquis Estate.
The moment Shen Mingzhu purchased the sweet potatoes, the Jingyuan Emperor received the news.
"Official Shen, the Crown Princess has found the sweet potatoes and sweet potato seedlings!"
All ministers: …
So quickly!
"Hehe, the Crown Princess is truly remarkable, worthy of being Your Majesty's excellent daughter-in-law. This is a blessing for our Great Yan!"
Su Qingshan knelt with remarkable speed, his flattery delivered swiftly and accurately!
Clearly, it pleased the Jingyuan Emperor.
Shen Changyuan inwardly scorned Su Qingshan and hurriedly knelt.
"Your Majesty, I shall return to the estate and deliver all the sweet potatoes to the palace!"
The Jingyuan Emperor nodded.
Soon, the minor court assembly concluded!
At the same time, General Tian's residence was bustling with activity today.
Many officials had their servants deliver fruits, vegetables, rice, flour, oil, and large quantities of fabric to General Tian's residence.
Tian Xuezhou looked at the supplies piled up in the room and said happily,
"We've really struck it rich this time!"
Lady Tian was somewhat worried.
"Husband, what's going on? Why are so many colleagues sending gifts today?"
There's so much—how can we ever repay them!
Tian Xuezhou looked at his wife and said,
"Xiujuan, don't worry. These are all gifts from colleagues. We should just accept them. His Majesty knows about this too. From now on, you won't have to stay up all night embroidering handkerchiefs to supplement our household income!"
Lady Tian felt as if she were dreaming!
Not long after, besides fruits, vegetables, clothing, and fabrics, Changping Marquis Manor also sent over a considerable amount of cosmetics and jewelry.
"General?"
"It's fine!"
Tian Xuezhou comforted his wife.
Xiujuan had suffered so much following him!
First, they were in the harsh environment of the Northern Territory. Later, when he took up his post in the capital, she busied herself tirelessly without a word of complaint, while he had taken all this for granted.
He suddenly felt guilty toward the person who shared his bed.
"Xiujuan, things will only get better from now on!"
"Yes, I know, General."
A young couple, sincere in their affection, holding hands, growing old together!
At noon, Shen Mu personally visited the Hanlin Academy.
It was Shen Mingzhu's first day at work, and Shen Mu came to check on her daughter and bring her lunch.
Before long, the entire Hanlin Academy knew that Compiler Shen was her mother's little darling!
After Shen Mingzhu finished eating, Xie Qinghuan looked at her, hesitating to speak.
"Mother, what's wrong? If there's something on your mind, just say it."
"Did Shen Jiaojiao cause trouble for you again?"
Xie Qinghuan waved her hand and laughed,
"Not at all!"
Although Shen Jiaojiao was clever, Xie Qinghuan was the mistress of the Marquis Estate, and she still had the final say in the entire estate.
Shen Mingzhu patted her chest in relief. That was good!
She had been so scared, thinking that after just one morning away from her mother, her mother had been bullied!
"That's good then, Mother. What exactly is the matter?"
Xie Qinghuan said, "It's nothing, it's just that the sweet potato seedlings you had Shaoyao bring back were taken away by your father!"
"Father took them?"
Shen Mingzhu frowned.
[Host, Host, the sweet potato seedlings you brought back were all presented to the emperor by your father!]
[What!]
[This father is so unreliable! How could he give away my things without my permission? I spent all my points to buy those!]
Shen Mu took Shen Mingzhu's hand and quickly urged her to calm down.
"Mingzhu, all under heaven belongs to the king. Our family is loyal to Great Yan, so naturally, we must present any valuable items to the Emperor first."
"Ah!"
Shen Mingzhu was disheartened.
[Gua Gua, if I had known this would happen, why did I even bother? My beautiful mother probably doesn't even know that those were meant to be this year's military rations for my grandfather in the Northern Territory!]
She sighed inwardly.
[This year, Great Yan will be exceptionally cold, with temperatures reaching the historical Little Ice Age. The Northern Territory is already bitterly cold. Without enough food, clothing, and medicine, many commoners and soldiers will freeze to death. What will my grandfather do then?
When the Hu people attack, burning, killing, and plundering without restraint, how will our soldiers fight the enemy on empty stomachs!]
When Xie Qinghuan heard this, her face turned pale.
"Mother, what's wrong?"
Shen Mu's mind was in disarray as she said,
"I'm just a little worried, that's all."
"By the way, dear daughter, what was that your father took away?"
"Mother, it's a high-yield crop called Sweet Potato! But don't worry, I'll get another batch of seedlings later, and we'll plant them ourselves."