Chapter 293: Entering The Capital
Translator: Henyee Translations Editor: Henyee Translations
County Magistrate Shen had not been in office for long, so it was not convenient for him to leave for a long time. However, the new rice seeds were very important, so the Emperor felt that he had to meet him.
Xiaoxiao was not worried at all. She knew best what was going on with the rice seeds. When County Magistrate Shen wrote the memorandum, he specifically said that he did not know if the next batch of rice would have high-yielding characteristics. He did not set a trap for himself.
The envoy from the Imperial Capital also knew that the two of them were going to receive the reward, so he was still quite polite to them.
Of course, this courtesy was different when facing County Magistrate Shen and Xiaoxiao.
County Magistrate Shen was the disciple of the Great Confucian Lu Chen and the youngest top scholar in the history of Great Xia. He had a bright future and no one would offend him. Ning Xiaoxiao was just a farm girl, so it was fine as long as he had given her enough face.
However, the more they traveled with them, the more the envoy felt that something was wrong.
Logically speaking, ignorant farmers should be anxious and excited when they found out that they were going to the capital, but Miss Ning ate and drank as normal. Occasionally, she would pluck grass, dig a seedling, play with it, and throw it away. She was not nervous at all along the way. Sometimes, she was even calmer than County Magistrate Shen.
What made them even more puzzled was that County Magistrate Shen came from a good family and his wife’s family was rich. It was fine that he spent a lot of money, but why did Miss Ning not seem to be inferior to Lord Shen?
She had to buy anything interesting on the way, as if she had never considered the price.
It would have been fine if she only bought some girls’ toys. Along the way, she actually bought books the most.
The envoy was puzzled. He only found out from the county magistrate that this young lady had a brother who was studying. Moreover, he was actually Great Scholar Lu’s disciple. He immediately valued her more.
Xiaoxiao did not notice this at all. After walking out of Xijiang County, it was as if she had discovered a new continent. She could not store all the food and drinks in front of so many people, so she ate as much as possible. After eating, she would guess the cooking method. No matter how delicious it was, she would never let the space use ingredients to identify it.
She was a very professional person. Other people’s recipes were developed through their hard work. If she cheated, what was the difference between it and plagiarism?
Even if she tasted the formula with her tongue, she would never use it for commercial purposes or tell others. At most, she would make it herself when she was hungry.
As she wanted to eat too many things and there was limited space in her stomach, she distributed all kinds of food and snacks to the people around her. This action seemed ordinary, but it made the guards along the way have a good impression of her. They enthusiastically told her about the local customs along the way.
Xiaoxiao returned the favor. During a break on the way, she made a roasted lamb for everyone. The cumin fragrance wafted for hundreds of miles, attracting many passersby to stop.
Xiaoxiao did not shy away and introduced it generously. “This is the new way of eating that our Xijiang County has recently developed. Many people like this now. There’s also the green prawns caught in the Dusk River. The meat is tender and fresh, and it’s more delicious than river prawns.”
She even cut some out for passersby to try.
Those who had eaten were full of praise. They even expressed that they would definitely go to Xijiang County to take a look when they had the chance.
Xiaoxiao continued, “If you can’t travel far, you can also go to the Li Family’s shop near home and buy ready-made seasonings to make at home.”
Yun San was amazed by his future mistress’s ability to do business wherever she went. With admiration and guilt towards her, Yun Er and his other brothers ate more than half of the lamb leg.
Relations between people were often established in one meal. If one meal was not enough, it would be two meals.
Anyway, when they arrived at the Imperial Capital, the accompanying guards had long lost their sense of distance from Xiaoxiao and were very familiar with her. They kept calling her “Little Sister Ning” and “Little Girl Ning”. Meanwhile, the envoy in charge of announcing the decree secretly pointed out some of the Emperor’s preferences.
What they could say and what they could not mention anything. Xiaoxiao and County Magistrate Shen understood what His Majesty wanted to know about the rice seed.
County Magistrate Shen was actually as worried as the Ning Family that Xiaoxiao was too young and it would be inappropriate for her to meet His Majesty. But now, it was so good.
The city gate of the Imperial Capital was many times higher than that of Xijiang County. The envoy looked at Xiaoxiao proudly. He thought that he could see the shock on her face—just like the many people who had first come to the Imperial Capital. Who would have thought that she would only use her hand to block the sunlight and say appreciatively, “Wow, so high and mighty.”
Her tone was like that, but it didn’t seem to be the case.
The envoy gave up on thinking and sped up towards the Imperial City with 120,000% seriousness.
It wasn’t that Xiaoxiao looked down on the majestic city gates of the Imperial Capital, but she had seen modern skyscrapers and walked on the majestic Great Wall. She had already given him face by praising just now.
However, she also understood that as a farm girl, she should not appear too calm. Hence, when the envoy brought them outside the Imperial City, Xiaoxiao still pretended to be ignorant. The palace in the Imperial City was majestic and imposing. It was indeed something she had never seen before.
Satisfied, the envoy went to report and asked the two of them to wait for the summons. County Magistrate Shen asked Xiaoxiao, “Are you nervous?” Xiaoxiao nodded vigorously. “Yes!”
But why did County Magistrate Shen think that she was lying? He shook his head and threw away the idea. How could it be possible? She was just a little girl, so how could she not be nervous when she met the Emperor the first time she came to the capital?
He thoughtfully took out something from his pocket. “Here, this is the Heart Cleansing Dew given by genius doctor Gongsun. If you feel dizzy, take two breaths before you go in.”
Xiaoxiao understood. It probably meant the same thing as the medicated oil. It was used to refresh her mind.
She also took out an oil paper bag from her pocket and returned the favor. “Here, this is the pea flour cake we bought by the roadside just now. It’s almost time for dinner. Do you want to eat some first?”
County Magistrate Shen was speechless.
As a serious official, County Magistrate Shen thanked her and rejected her politely. Xiaoxiao had to finish the three pea flour cakes in small bites and commented, “It’s a little dry and a little sweet. Unfortunately, there’s no tea.”
Sigh, it was a pity that there was no milk tea shop like her “So It’s You” by the roadside. Otherwise, wouldn’t it be very beautiful to take away a cup?
County Magistrate Shen stood straight and waited for the Emperor’s call. Two hours passed.
It was not that the Emperor deliberately ignored them, but he was furious when an urgent report came from the border just now that more than half of the rations transported had been burned.
When the eunuchs finally came out, Xiaoxiao and County Magistrate Shen also saw the ministers running out of the Hall of Diligent Government with sweat all over their foreheads. They were so focused on going home that they did not notice Xiaoxiao and County Magistrate Shen.
After walking into the Hall of Diligent Government, Xiaoxiao lowered her head the entire time according to what the envoy had taught her. She definitely did not peek at the Emperor out of curiosity.
County Magistrate Shen answered the Emperor’s questions. Before they came, they had already described Mr. Yuan’s appearance, what he said, and how he left the rice seeds.
The Emperor was unsatisfied. “In that case, he’s an otherworldly expert who views gold, silver, and power as dirt..”
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