From cute to empress

Chapter 244: Spring Breeze and Rain Nourishes the Heart

Mr. Tian's hesitant expression made me even more certain that Zhen Youcai's departure wasn't as simple as I'd assumed. But I suppressed the turmoil in my heart. The most important thing now was the important matter at hand. I took a deep breath, turned to Mr. Tian, ​​and said sincerely, "Mr. Tian, ​​you misunderstood. I'm not here today to pursue any past matters, but to change the status quo."

Confusion washed over Mr. Tian's wrinkled face, evidently confused. I smiled faintly and pointed to a lush green rice paddy not far behind me. "I've brought you new farming techniques, hoping to free everyone from the generations-old toil of toiling in the earth." I waved behind me, and the agronomist, accompanied by several assistants, approached, carrying a variety of farm tools.

Old Farmer Tian gazed at the unfamiliar farm tools, his cloudy eyes gleaming with curiosity. Seeing this, I took the initiative and picked up a hoe from the ground. "Uncle Tian, ​​why don't you let me try?" I imitated him, clumsily wielding the hoe. One stroke, two strokes... Sweat quickly soaked my clothes, and I finally understood the hard work of farmers. At first, Old Farmer Tian just watched quietly from the sidelines, but then he couldn't help but step forward and give me some advice. "Empress, you have to hold the hoe handle firmly and apply force evenly..."

I listened attentively, studied diligently, and gradually, I felt the power of the land and the sincerity of Mr. Tian. He no longer treated me like a high-ranking empress, but rather like his own child, patiently teaching me. As the sun set, our day's work finally concluded. Sitting on the edge of the field, I watched the agronomist demonstrate the latest irrigation technology, and an unprecedented sense of hope rose in my heart.

"With these, we'll definitely have a good harvest next year!" a young farmer said excitedly. However, a middle-aged man in the crowd, somewhat portly, shook his head. "This new technology looks promising, but what if the harvest isn't good? Won't we lose everything?" I looked in the direction of the voice. The middle-aged man also saw me. He was startled at first, then lowered his head, as if trying to hide in the crowd...

I stood up and walked over to the middle-aged man. He hurriedly knelt and saluted, "I am Wang Fugui, your humble servant, and I pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress."

"Mr. Wang, there's no need to be so polite. What you just said represents the voice of many people." I said in a gentle tone, trying to dispel his concerns.

Wang Fugui secretly looked up at me, then at the villagers around him, and then hesitantly said, "Your Majesty, this new technology, we...we have never seen it before. What if...what if..."

"What if the harvest isn't good? All our investment will be wasted, right?" I expressed his concerns. Wang Fugui looked up at me in surprise and nodded quickly. I looked around and saw that many people had similar worries on their faces.

I understand that the biggest obstacle to the spread of new technologies isn't the technology itself, but rather people's deeply held beliefs. I smiled faintly and spoke aloud, "Fellow villagers, new technologies do carry certain risks, but the greater potential is for a bountiful harvest! I can assure you, in the name of the Empress, that the court will support anyone willing to try new technologies! If any losses occur, I will also bear the corresponding responsibility!"

As soon as I finished speaking, the crowd erupted in warm applause and cheers. Wang Fugui was so moved that tears streamed down his face. He fell to his knees with a plop, "Your Majesty is wise! Your Majesty cares for the people, and you are our good empress!"

It was late, but I couldn't sleep. A palace maid brought me a letter from the frontier, written in Zhen Youcai's handwriting. I eagerly opened the envelope, the familiar handwriting coming into view. His care and encouragement seemed to ring in my ears. In the letter, he inquired in detail about the promotion of new technologies and wrote, "...I believe you will overcome difficulties and lead the people to prosperity. Mengmeng, you are like the warm spring sun, melting the ice in the hearts of the people and illuminating me..."

My cheeks couldn't help but flush as I read this. Putting the letter down, I walked to the window, gazing at the bright moon in the night sky, a mixture of emotions welling up in my heart. The truth behind Zhen Youcai's departure, like the night itself, remained shrouded in mystery.

The next morning, I arrived at the meeting hall, full of energy, ready to discuss the promotion of the new technology with the county magistrate. However, I waited for a long time, but the county magistrate did not show up...

"Your Majesty, the county magistrate has been waiting outside for a long time." The maid's voice interrupted my thoughts. I raised my eyebrows in confusion. The county magistrate was not waiting for me in the meeting room. Could it be...

I hurried out of the palace and saw the county magistrate, dressed in his official uniform, pacing anxiously in the courtyard. Seeing me, he hurriedly knelt and saluted, "Your Majesty!"

"No need for formalities. Mr. County Magistrate, why don't you go to the meeting room but wait for me here?" I asked straight to the point.

The county magistrate looked embarrassed and stammered, "Your Majesty, I... I believe that the promotion of new technologies requires further consideration, so..."

"Take a long-term view? Can the people's food and clothing also wait?" My tone became a little stern. How could I not hear the evasion of responsibility in the county magistrate's mind?

He was so frightened that he immediately knelt on the ground. "Your Majesty, please forgive me! I didn't mean to be negligent. It's just that this new technology is unheard of. If I promote it rashly, if something goes wrong, I simply cannot bear the consequences!"

"If you can't handle it, how can I possibly handle it?" I stepped closer, looking him in the eye. "You're the father and mother of this land. You should empathize with the people's suffering! I'm determined to promote new technologies so that the people can live a better life. As an official appointed by the court, instead of supporting me, you're obstructing me at every turn. What are your intentions?"

My tone was so sharp that the county magistrate broke out in a cold sweat, but he didn't dare to argue. I took a deep breath, suppressed my anger, and spoke more slowly. "New technologies do carry risks, but we can't let the fear of failure hold us back. I will share these risks with the people and will give you my utmost support. I hope you understand that everything I do is for the people and for this country!"

The county magistrate was overwhelmed by my determination. He said in a trembling voice, "Your humble servant... Your humble servant understands. Your Majesty, please rest assured that your humble servant will do his utmost to cooperate with the promotion of new technologies!"

I nodded and was about to discuss the specific plan with him when suddenly, the weather changed, the wind blew violently, and raindrops as big as beans poured down without warning.

"Your Majesty, it's bad! A rainstorm is coming!" The guards came running to report in a panic, "Several experimental fields outside the city are located at a low altitude. I'm afraid..."

My heart sank. This sudden downpour was undoubtedly a huge test for the experimental fields, which had just been sown. This new technology was facing its first challenge, and I had to lead everyone to overcome it together!

"Pass the order down, prepare the horses! Head to the experimental field!" I said with a firm tone and a sharp gaze. I quickly jumped on my horse and galloped off into the wind and rain...

The rain blurred my vision, and the cold raindrops hitting my face only added to my anxiety. The sound of horse hooves echoed across the empty fields, and my heart beat faster and faster to the heavy rhythm.

Arriving at the experimental fields, the sight before me was heartbreaking. The fields, once teeming with life, had become a swamp. The newly sown seeds had been washed away by the rain, and the muddy water had caused the ridges to collapse in places, resulting in devastating losses.

"Your Majesty, what should we do?" The accompanying officials were pale and at a loss as they looked at the scene in front of them.

"Why panic? Natural disasters are merciless, but we can't just sit there and wait for death!" I suppressed my anxiety and shouted, "Immediately summon all officials and farmers to the county government office to discuss this matter!"

In the evening, the county hall was brightly lit, but the atmosphere was unusually solemn. I sat in the main seat, looking at the worried crowd below, feeling a mixture of emotions.

"Your Majesty, this rainstorm came suddenly, and the experimental fields are low-lying, so they suffered serious damage!" Old Farmer Tian said with great sorrow. He has been farming for generations and has a deep affection for the land. How can he not be heartbroken to see his hard work going to waste?

"Doctor of Agronomy, tell me, is there any way to remedy the situation now?" I turned my gaze to the silent Doctor of Agronomy who was standing aside. He was the best agricultural expert in the country and my greatest support in promoting new technologies.

He pondered for a moment and then said, "Your Majesty, the most serious damage this time is poor drainage, which has caused waterlogging in the fields and submerged the seeds. If we want to remedy the situation, we must dredge the ditches as soon as possible to lower the water level. At the same time..."

Before he could finish his words, he was interrupted by a sharp voice. "Dredge the ditches? Easy to say! These are hundreds of acres of fertile farmland. How long will it take to dredge them? Besides, the rain hasn't stopped yet. Even if they dredge them, they'll still be flooded the next time there's a downpour, won't they?" The county magistrate spoke, his face gloomy and his tone clear with resistance.

"The county magistrate is right. The most important thing now is how to prevent this from happening again!" I said firmly. "Doctor of Agronomy, please continue. Are there any other ways to completely cure the flood?"

The doctor of agronomy raised his head, a glint in his eyes. "Your Majesty, even before I came here, I noticed that this land is low-lying and prone to waterlogging. I think..." He paused, pulled out a roll of blueprints from his bosom, and slowly unfolded them. "We can..."

I took the blueprint and examined it carefully. The crisscrossing lines outlined a brand new drainage system. My eyes fell on a detail, and a thought occurred to me, "You mean..."