Guang Bai looked up from the fields and saw the young lord holding Young Master Xie’s sleeve, the two of them strolling along the path.
Uh…
What was with the young lord’s peculiar posture?
Xu Hengyan felt there was nothing wrong with this posture; at least it was better than two grown men holding hands.
Xu Hengyan found that he increasingly didn’t know how to refuse her.
Who could resist those wronged, pleading eyes staring directly at them?
Xu Hengyan held her hand as they walked, checking the planting situation everywhere.
“Yan Yan.”
“Mm?”
“You were born into a life of luxury, and by rights, you should be ignorant of farming. Why are you so concerned with agriculture? And you specifically came to Ninghe to be a magistrate. With your starting point as the Duke of Wei’s heir, what position couldn’t you have?”
Xie Jiang had been curious about this for a long time.
“And you, a noble from a military family, why are you a magistrate instead of leading troops?”
“There are many like me who transition to civil official positions; I’m not the only one. His Majesty can also feel more at ease with us like this.”
“Oh—”
Xie Jiang drew out the sound.
Understood.
It was nothing more than the person cultivating immortality in Yuanyou Palace harboring suspicion.
He knew very well how their Xia family had obtained the throne.
So, he worried that others might emulate his father and grandfather and seize the dragon throne that their Xia family had barely warmed.
“What about your concern for agriculture? Do you want to be the father of grain for the Great Yu?”
Xu Hengyan hesitated, his brow furrowed slightly, as if recalling something.
Xie Jiang grew even more curious. “What’s wrong? Is it inconvenient to say?”
“No, it’s just I’m afraid you’ll feel uncomfortable after hearing it.”
“It’s alright, tell me, I’m listening.”
Xu Hengyan pondered for a long moment before slowly speaking, “It was something I personally witnessed two years ago when I went to quell a rebellion. Many people there couldn’t get enough to eat. One family had more than half its members starve to death, leaving only a man with two children. In the end, when there was truly no other way, he sold the youngest daughter for some grain and a piece of… lamb chop. The father and sons cried as they… ate…”
The last few sentences were spoken with extreme difficulty. As soon as he finished, Xu Hengyan’s eyes reddened.
Xie Jiang stopped as she listened, gazing at him. There was shock in her eyes, but not utter surprise. A layer of mist gradually formed in her beautiful eyes.
“Exchanging children for food?”
“Yes.”
At first, he hadn’t understood what was happening, but later…
Xu Hengyan was profoundly shocked, and from then on, a deep imprint was left in his heart, fueling his conviction to ensure the people were fed.
Seeing the gathering mist in her eyes, Xu Hengyan sighed, “I told you, you would feel distressed.”
“I’ve read stories like this in books before,” Xie Jiang said, her throat catching. She suddenly stepped forward and hugged Xu Hengyan, patting his back.
Unlike before, she didn’t cling to him. This time, Xie Jiang seemed to be comforting him. After patting his back once, she stepped back.
“One day, no one will starve to death. Yan Yan, your wish will definitely come true.”
This embrace, though brief, unexpectedly warmed Xu Hengyan.
Xie Jiang’s repeated assurances that his wish would come true increased Xu Hengyan’s confidence in the sweet potato yield.
“I’ll take your good words.”
“My mouth is blessed; whatever I say will come to pass.”
The two continued their stroll side-by-side through the fields.
“Are you planning to return to the capital tomorrow?”
“Yes, do you want to come along?”
“The sweet potato seedlings have just been planted. I’m not at ease.”
The successful planting of the sweet potato seedlings had temporarily resolved one concern, but another remained.
Xu Hengyan looked towards the continuous mountain range.
As long as the bandits of Huanglan Mountain were not eliminated, they could not relax.
Moreover, the more than three hundred bandits in Gangshi Town had been almost annihilated, with few escaping. Based on his understanding of the Huanglan Mountain bandits, they would absolutely not let it go.
Initially, they might have been too scared to act rashly, but after so many days, they should have recovered.
The next target of the Huanglan Mountain bandits would likely be Ninghe County, which he governed.
It was extremely difficult for them to enter the deep mountains to suppress the bandits, but if those bandits dared to descend the mountain, he would ensure they never returned.
Xie Jiang followed his gaze and asked, “Are you worried that after you leave, the Huanglan Mountain bandits will take the opportunity to retaliate?”
Xu Hengyan said, “It should be soon.”
Xie Jiang said, “I hope they can wait a few more days, until I return from the capital, before descending the mountain.”
Xu Hengyan chuckled, “Haven’t you killed enough?”
“Look how strange you sound. Killing bandits is never enough, especially this group on Huanglan Mountain; they are wicked and deserve to die.” She was, after all, the righteous Young Master Xie, and her persona as a valiant man must be maintained.
“If I can make it in time, I’ll let Young Master Xie lead the charge again.”
“Then it’s settled. I’ll send someone to greet the Huanglan Mountain bandits and tell them to sharpen their knives a bit longer and definitely wait for me to return from the capital before descending.”
Xu Hengyan stared at her intently, unsure if she was serious. Anyone else would have said it casually, but she was different; she was entirely capable of doing such a thing.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You’re not serious, are you?”
“Can’t I be?”
“It’s best if you’re not,” Xu Hengyan said earnestly. He knew it!
“Alright then,” Xie Jiang said reluctantly.
“You also need to be careful on your way back to the capital. The Huanglan Mountain bandits are elusive; you never know when they might appear.”
“Mm-hmm.”
“And try not to go too far with your auction. In short, you need to think long-term and not act impulsively out of momentary pride.”
“Mm-hmm.”
Xu Hengyan spent the entire day in the fields. All the sweet potato seedlings were planted, and he lingered, reluctant to leave, as if he could harvest a full granary of sweet potatoes the next moment.
Xie Jiang, her face covered by a wide straw hat, was sleeping in a tree. When Xu Hengyan came to call her back, the sleeping Xie Jiang suddenly swayed and fell.
Xu Hengyan, still some distance away, saw her fall from the high tree. He leaped forward with a tap of his foot.
As he narrowly caught her, the face-down Xie Jiang suddenly turned her head, blinking at him with a smile.
Xu Hengyan, angered, loosened his grip.
She was counting on him to catch her in time, wasn’t she!
What if he had reacted a moment too slowly!
Wasn’t she afraid of falling face-first and getting a bruised and swollen face!
Xie Jiang then fell squarely onto the ground.
She was stunned by the fall.
She blinked her large eyes dazedly, taking a long time to react.
Seeing her dazed state, Xu Hengyan felt a pang of guilt. He heard the thud of her head hitting the ground.
“Xu Hengyan! You, you, you actually dropped me?”
“I didn’t… I… Who told you to be so mischievous.” Xu Hengyan was somewhat guilty. He crouched down to look at her. “Are you alright?”
Not knowing if she had injured herself anywhere, as she remained motionless for a long time, Xu Hengyan helped her to sit up.
Xie Jiang looked like she was about to cry. “I’m not alright. My whole body hurts, my head hurts and I’m dizzy. Did I break it?”
Xu Hengyan quickly checked the back of her head. Pushing aside her hair, he indeed saw a swollen lump.
“It’s a little swollen, but thankfully it didn’t break… Can you stand up?”