Chapter 320: What’s So Great About It?
Xingnong didn’t have much time left in the Jin Kingdom, but she felt the full kindness of the people and the commoners here, so she wanted to do as much as possible for the people of this country.
Previously, when Chu Tiankuo was here, she and he had chosen the fields and barren mountains where the formations were to be laid out.
The Jin Kingdom was the most powerful of the four kingdoms, with vast territory, abundant resources, fertile land, and a sparse population, taking advantage of all the geographical advantages.
Therefore, the Jin Kingdom’s imperial fields were very large, with tens of thousands of *mu* of imperial fields near the imperial capital alone. Besides, every city had imperial estates, which could guarantee the granaries of the national treasury. Because of this, the Jin Kingdom’s taxes were also the lowest among the four kingdoms. Of course, in this dynasty where productivity and production levels were very backward, the lives of most of the Jin Kingdom’s people were only slightly better than those of other countries, but there were still many poor people who suffered from hunger and cold every year.
After all, the powerful, landlords, and wealthy merchants held most of the land in their hands.
Xingnong chose one thousand *mu* of land and five barren mountains or hilltops in five directions to set up the Four Seasons Formation. She led Old Master Xu and a large group of formation masters, as well as many imperial farmers, and countless commoners to set up the Four Seasons Formation.
After the one thousand *mu* of land and the five hilltops were set up with the Four Seasons Formation, they could guarantee the supply of vegetables for the people of the entire imperial capital all year round.
The five mountains had already been developed, and they were developed in the form of terraced fields, invisibly adding hundreds of *mu* of land.
The commoners and ministers were all very excited when they saw this method! Which city didn’t have barren mountains? It turned out that barren mountains could also be turned into fertile land!
Xingnong unreservedly taught the principles and mysteries of the Four Seasons Formation to Old Master Xu and other great formation masters. The Jin Kingdom Emperor had decreed that in the future, Old Master Xu and other great formation masters would lead these people to set up such a Four Seasons Formation in the imperial fields of major cities to ensure the supply of vegetables for the people of each city all year round.
In addition, the Four Seasons Formation that Xingnong had set up in the Youth Formation Master Competition had begun to show results. The fruits and vegetables there were growing particularly well, so Old Master Xu and other formation masters were all learning very seriously. This was a major event that benefited the country and the people.
They were all prestigious formation masters. If they could build a Four Seasons Formation in every city of the Jin Kingdom during their lifetime, so that the people could have fruits and vegetables to eat all year round, they would definitely leave their names in history. Who wouldn’t want to do such a thing?
After all, when a person reached a certain height, what he cared about was no longer money, but fame.
By the time Xingnong finished working on the Four Seasons Formation, it was already July.
Chu Tiankuo, with a grand wedding procession, had already entered the territory of the Jin Kingdom and had settled down at the post station outside the city tonight. He would enter the city to welcome his bride tomorrow morning.
The Jin Kingdom Imperial Palace was bustling with excitement these days. The entire palace was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and even the people of the entire imperial capital joined in the fun, with every household decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, just like the New Year, even more lively than when the Crown Prince married his consort.
Tomorrow Xingnong would get married, and today was the day to add makeup.
As the only princess of the Jin Kingdom Emperor, there was no shortage of people who wanted to curry favor with her. Xingnong sat in the main seat, and at this moment, the hall was full of people, surrounded by large and small sandalwood boxes, all of which were makeup gifts sent by the imperial family’s wives and noblewomen. Every item taken out was a treasure of extraordinary value. If they were sold, the silver would be enough for an ordinary family to spend for several lifetimes.
This time for adding makeup, everyone took out the best treasures from the bottom of their family chests.
The room was full of people, and outside the courtyard, there was a long line of noblewomen adding makeup to Xingnong.
This was only the situation inside the palace. Outside the palace gate, there were also many commoners lining up in a long line to add makeup to Xingnong.
People without rank or with insufficient rank could not enter the palace, so they could only add makeup to Xingnong outside the palace gate.
✿✿✿
They all left after placing their things outside the palace gate.
Most of the makeup gifts given by the commoners were pieces of cloth, copper basins, pillowcases, small jewelry, and the like. Very few people gave food. Everyone knew that it was not good if something happened to the food sent into the palace.
When Prince Shengping’s family arrived at the palace gate in a carriage to enter the palace to add makeup to Xingnong, they saw many commoners bringing things to add makeup.
Princess Consort Shengping said with a smile, “Princess Xingnong is truly loved by the people.”
She glanced at her daughter. Songya was a talented young formation master and the only princess in the royal family. She was also deeply loved by the people. When she got married in the future, many commoners would come to add makeup. After all, when her daughter had her birthday, there would also be commoners who would send congratulatory gifts.
However, this child had high standards, and it was unknown when she would get married.
Prince Shengping was very happy to see this. In his heart, Xingnong was his second daughter. How could he not be happy that his daughter was deeply loved by the people? He said with a smile, “That girl Xingnong is very capable. Those high-yielding grains and the Four Seasons Formation are a blessing to millions and generations of people. How can she not be loved by the people? From ancient times to the present, this king has seen for the first time so many commoners come to add makeup when a princess gets married.”
Princess Shengping was a little sour. When she had her birthday, there were also commoners who left congratulatory gifts outside the Prince’s Residence, but there were only a dozen or so, far from this many.
She looked at the commoners coming and going on the street, pursed her lips, and couldn’t help but mutter in a low voice, “They’re all worthless things. What’s so great about it!”
Prince Shengping and Princess Consort Shengping were both stunned for a moment when they heard this, and then they looked at their daughter in disbelief, as if they didn’t understand how these words could come out of her mouth.
Prince Shengping always coaxed his daughter with a gentle voice. After coming back to his senses, he frowned and said in a heavy tone for the first time, “What nonsense are you talking about? You don’t even understand the basic principles of being a princess and a subject?”
Princess Consort Shengping always had a good temper and would not lose her temper no matter how big the matter was. At this moment, her delicate eyebrows were also furrowed, and she said earnestly, “Songya, what you said is wrong. Although the things the commoners add to the makeup are not valuable, the people’s goodwill is priceless! If you don’t cherish the people’s goodwill, the people will not support you. Weren’t you very happy when commoners gave you birthday gifts before?”
Princess Shengping also knew that she had said the wrong thing. She lowered her head and said in a low voice, “I know, I just said the wrong thing. The commoners’ things are naturally precious, and I was happy to receive them for my birthday before, but I didn’t receive so many, and I felt a little lost, so I said the wrong thing.”
She just couldn’t stand seeing so many commoners giving things to Xingnong.
Why had she done so much for the people over the years, but Shen Xingnong came back for a few months and got more love and support from the people?
However, after today, Shen Xingnong would no longer stay in the Jin Kingdom. From then on, the Jin Kingdom would no longer have a princess, only the Crown Princess of Chu.
And she was still the only royal princess of the Jin Kingdom. The people of the Jin Kingdom would only remember her, and her imperial brothers would still only dote on her, so she would endure it for now. After enduring it for more than ten hours, she would be out of sight and out of mind!
