Duan Yanhua, coming in from the door, spotted Song Jinzhao sitting in the corner at a glance. He quickly pulled Song Gaoli, who was trailing at the very back, behind him, and walked toward Song Jinzhao with a pleasantly surprised look on his face.
This humble official greets County Princess Linghui. Why are you sitting in the main hall?
Hearing the voice, Song Jinzhao looked up at Duan Yanhua. He was accompanied by seven young men, among whom was Song Gaoli.
I wanted to join the bustle, so I didn't go upstairs. Is Lord Duan bringing his students out for a meal?
Song Qiming had mentioned that Duan Yanhua had taken in many students and even housed quite a few in his residence. Presumably, these were them.
Sister Jinzhao. Song Gaoli smiled, his eyebrows twitching as he winked at Song Jinzhao. He had been startled when he learned she was titled a County Princess. If he hadn't been unable to leave that morning, he would have run to the Ye Residence long ago.
Song Jinzhao gave a slight nod in response.
The waiter standing to the side watched their exchange dumbfounded.
County Princess Linghui? The one who presented the miraculous crop yielding a thousand catties per mu?
The waiter's gaze landed on Song Jinzhao, his eyes full of adoration.
To think a County Princess was so low-profile. He hadn't noticed at all earlier, assuming she was just the daughter of some merchant who had just arrived in the capital, with no real status.
Seeing that Duan Yanhua had completely ignored them, the other six students stood frozen, unable to advance or retreat, awkwardly not knowing what to do.
Seeing that Song Shixue and Song Anhao were both present but Song Qiming was nowhere to be seen, Song Gaoli asked curiously, Did Qiming not come?
Song Jinzhao shook her head. He is reading at the residence and didn't come out.
Hearing this, Song Gaoli just wanted to press his lips together and sigh. He was already so outstanding yet still wouldn't relax. How were ordinary people like them supposed to feel?
Duan Yanhua really wanted to sit down and eat with Song Jinzhao and the others, but the food on their table was clearly almost finished, and they looked ready to leave. After careful consideration, he decided to bid farewell.
As he went upstairs, his peripheral vision remained fixed downstairs. This caused him to miss a step and nearly fall. Had Song Gaoli not pushed him from behind, he would have definitely planted his face onto the stairs and cracked his head open.
Once Song Anhao finished polishing off the rice in his bowl, Song Jinzhao called out to the waiter, Waiter, the bill.
The waiter bowed at least twice as low as when Song Jinzhao and her group had first entered, his neck almost level with the table.
In a respectful posture, he kept his head down, not daring to look directly into Song Jinzhao's eyes. His voice trembled slightly but was very clear, To answer the County Princess, it is a total of four taels and two mace of silver.
Song Jinzhao's fingers paused slightly as she reached for her coin purse. She placed the silver on the table. The food was delicious, but the price was truly steep, enough to cover a year's expenses for an ordinary family of three.
On the second floor by the window, Song Gaoli saw Duan Yanhua craning his neck to look out at the street, his eyes following Song Jinzhao's movements. Doubts inevitably arose in his heart.
Only when her figure was out of sight did Duan Yanhua withdraw his gaze. He said to Song Gaoli, Miss Song has been titled a County Princess. In the future, you must interact more with Song Qiming. I heard that Vice Minister Ye has also taught you. Tomorrow, as your teacher, I will take you to visit the Ye Residence.
The other six sitting nearby all looked at Song Gaoli. Aside from envy, a trace of jealousy sprouted in their hearts.
They originally thought that someone who came in at the bottom of the ranks would definitely be inferior to them. To their surprise, Song Gaoli actually knew Vice Minister Ye and had a deep relationship with the newly titled County Princess Linghui. They had underestimated him.
However, upon hearing this, not only was Song Gaoli unhappy, but the doubts in his heart grew even stronger.
Did he value him, or did he value Sister Jinzhao's power, or did he want to use him to get in touch with Lord Ye?
Looking back now, did Duan Yanhua really accept him as a student because of that poem? Or were there other reasons?
After leaving the Moon Gazing Tower, Song Jinzhao strolled around the vicinity for quite a while. Song Shixue asked, Sister, are you thinking of buying a shop?
The family's businesses were all in Anyang Prefecture. If they were to reside permanently in the capital, the expenses would be high, and they would definitely have to find a way to make money.
Song Jinzhao nodded. Let's first see what the commoners in the capital like and how the market is. We'll go to the broker in a few days.
By the time they returned to the Ye Residence, Ye Liangyu had already taken Song Qiming out.
Having played for several hours, Song Anhao grew sleepy as soon as he returned to his room. He simply took off his outer coat and slipped under the covers to sleep.
Song Jinzhao and Song Shixue sat on the chairs outside the room, discussing a few ancient prescriptions left behind in ancient medical texts.
The Ye Residence did not have many servants, and with Ye Liangyu as the sole master, there wasn't much work. Most of the time, it was exceptionally quiet.
Osmanthus trees were planted everywhere in the residence. It was currently their blooming season. With a light breeze, the fragrance wafted over, far richer than what they had eaten at noon, making it feel like they were soaking in an osmanthus bath.
The rustling sound of shoe soles scraping against the stone-paved path entered the courtyard. Xuetuan, who was eating meat, lifted its head, while Lanxi and Qingshuang turned to look.
The gatekeeper was breathing rapidly, his voice a bit breathless. County Princess, Lord Dong from the Court of the National Granaries is outside requesting an audience.
Song Jinzhao raised her head. Which Lord Dong?
Gatekeeper: Lord Dong Yuanbin, the Chief Minister of the Court of the National Granaries.
Let him in. It was probably regarding the planting of potatoes.
As soon as Dong Yuanbin, dressed in his official uniform, stepped into the courtyard, a hoarse roar from Xuetuan scared him so much he didn't dare to move a muscle, his eyes wide as brass bells.
Why would there be a tiger in the Ye Residence? And not locked in a cage, was it going to eat someone?
Xuetuan! Song Shixue shouted a reprimand. She stood up, walked over, and grabbed the soft flesh on the back of its neck, giving it a good rub.
My Lord, there is no need to be afraid. Xuetuan is very well-behaved and doesn't bite.
Dong Yuanbin stared at the white tiger acting spoiled like a dog at Song Shixue's feet.
To think a fierce beast had two faces. It didn't bite people, more likely, it just didn't bite her.
Giving Xuetuan a wide berth, he walked up to Song Jinzhao and bowed. This humble official greets County Princess Linghui. At the morning assembly today, the Emperor placed the matter of planting potatoes under the charge of my Court of the National Granaries. I have come today to ask the County Princess for guidance on how to plant them. Are there any areas that require special attention?
Song Jinzhao pushed the ledger she had just brought out from her room toward Dong Yuanbin. This is the growth record of the potatoes from sowing to maturity. In the winter, inside the vegetable greenhouse, one must constantly monitor the temperature to prevent the cold from freezing and damaging the stems and leaves. Otherwise, not only will the potatoes fail to grow, but they will also easily rot.
Dong Yuanbin nodded while committing Song Jinzhao's words to memory. There were only so few seeds; if they rotted in the ground, the Emperor would chop off his wretched head.
Also, eating potatoes that have turned green or sprouted will cause poisoning. I have written the antidote prescription at the very back, but it is best not to eat them at all. If consumed in excess, there might not be enough time to save them, and it could lead to death.
Dong Yuanbin nodded vigorously. At the birthday banquet yesterday, Song Jinzhao had described the symptoms of those poisoned crew members, and he had taken it to heart then.
Please rest assured, County Princess Linghui. When we have enough seeds for the commoners to plant, we will definitely remind them repeatedly.
He opened the record and began to read it word by word, asking Song Jinzhao whenever he encountered something he didn't understand. He didn't leave until Ye Liangyu and Song Qiming returned from outside.
