Chapter 1221: Plan
Editor: Henyee Translations
It was nearly March, and the climate in Jiangnan was steadily warming. The flora began to bud, and the melodious songs of orioles filled the air. The atmosphere was imbued with the fresh and invigorating scent of spring, evoking a sense of burgeoning life and vitality.
Qiao Xuan possessed a unique affinity with the power of wood, and this time of year heightened her connection to it even more.
As spring approached, her superpower seemed to flourish at an accelerated rate.
Within her personal realm, she already controlled an impressive expanse of 600 mu of land for cultivation, and this domain was rapidly expanding. She estimated that by the end of this spring, her territory would exceed 1,000 mu.
With 1,000 mu at her disposal, she could cultivate crops twice a year, yielding bountiful harvests with minimal effort. It was the coveted golden land every farmer aspired to possess.
The mere thought of it filled her with happiness.
She made the decision to dedicate her land to cultivating various grains, particularly rice and wheat, which would be stored in her s.p.a.ce’s storage room for emergencies.
Although they couldn’t consume all of it themselves, the East Palace might have a use for the surplus. With the support of the Yuezheng Family and Zhao Shu, both skilled businessmen, these grains could be presented as commodities whenever the need arose.
As emissaries of the Crown Prince from the East Palace, they approached the Yangzhou County Magistrate directly, requesting accommodations at the relay station. This arrangement would facilitate the organization and sorting of their collection of rare books and ma.n.u.scripts, far more convenient than staying at an ordinary hostel.
Shao Yunduan cherished his wife deeply, and his position wasn’t an official appointment from the court. Therefore, he intended to take his wife on a journey to the south to enjoy the scenery. As long as the Crown Prince didn’t object, n.o.body would question their decision. Unless, of course, Qiao Xuan did something untoward on their journey, which seemed highly unlikely.
With only a modest number of servants at home, having his wife accompany him would ensure his daily needs were well looked after. It was a perfectly reasonable arrangement.
However, Shao Yunduan and Qiao Xuan had no intention of inconveniencing the Yangzhou magistrate. Following their discussion, Qiao Xuan accompanied Lixia, Liqiu, and Sun Bai to a reputable hostel where they reserved a private courtyard.
Meanwhile, Shao Yunduan led his two colleagues to the Yangzhou governmental office. His colleagues chose to stay at the same hostel with the rest of the entourage. Shao Yunduan commuted to work each day, regularly coordinating with Qiao Xuan regarding their stay at the hostel.
Qiao Xuan selected the finest establishment in Yangzhou, known for its impeccable service, which alleviated any concerns about their accommodations.
Once everything was arranged, Sun Bai set out to locate Sun Qian. They had their own discreet means of communication, sparing Qiao Xuan the need to inquire further.
Shao Yunduan antic.i.p.ated that the prefect of Yangzhou would host a banquet in their honor, an invitation he did not decline. He didn’t plan on returning home until the evening, leaving the arrangements to be made by the group.
“We’re on the waterfront, and Yangzhou is such a picturesque place. It’s marvelous! Let’s take a leisurely stroll and return after dinner,” Qiao Xuan proposed with a smile.
Lixia and Liqiu eagerly nodded in agreement.
Their boat journey had been smooth, but after more than 20 days aboard, they couldn’t help but feel some physical discomfort. Upon arriving at their destination, they weren’t fatigued; rather, they experienced stiffness and discomfort in their bodies. A walk outdoors would be just the remedy they needed.
Qiao Xuan changed into attire befitting a young woman from a prosperous southern family and led her companions out into the afternoon. Although they didn’t venture too far, they were eager to explore Yangzhou at their own pace.