Chapter 912: Chapter 18: Thank Goodness I Have You (Final)

"Those seeds you brought are excellent. When spring arrives next year, I will immediately order people to clear the wasteland and plant crops. In the past, Beiyang often harassed Zhao Country’s border areas, wasn’t it because there was nothing to eat? When Consort Hui was alive, she didn’t arrange for the common people to produce, and the fields everywhere were desolate. I have already rectified the pastoral and agricultural sectors, and such things will not happen again," Mu Yuanxiu spoke of the future.

Li Yuzhu leaned against him, "Yuanxiu, everything will be fine in the future."

"Yes, everything will be fine." Mu Yuanxiu wrapped his arms around her, resting his chin on her hair bun, smelling the fresh fragrance of her hair.

Li Yuzhu closed her eyes, "Fortunately, I have you with me, Yuanxiu."

"Luckily, I have you, Yu Zhu."

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At night, the palace feast was held as scheduled.

Li Yuzhu changed into the Empress’s attire pre-prepared by Mu Yuanxiu.

The two arrived at the main hall, hand in hand, with radiant spirits.

The civil and military officials, as well as Zhao Country’s envoys, were already seated.

Li Xing’an, the Imperial Uncle, was also the head of the Zhao Country’s diplomatic mission this time.

He sat at the upper left near Mu Yuanxiu and Li Yuzhu.

Knowing his identity, many had come to toast him.

Li Xing’an responded with an awkward smile.

Imperial Uncle?

Wasn’t he ready for this?

Someone shouted, "The Emperor and Empress are here!"

The officials hailed long live the Emperor.

Li Xing’an stood up with them to greet the dignitaries.

Mu Yuanxiu smiled lightly, "Please rise, my dear ministers." Seeing Li Xing’an, he smiled again, "Rise, third brother."

Li Xing’an looked up at Mu Yuanxiu, who had once been less vocal and easily bullied. Now his demeanor had completely changed.

Obviously still the same young man from back then, not much had changed in appearance, but his gaze carried an undeniable majesty.

"Thank you, Emperor." Li Xing’an, inexplicably polite to him.

Mu Yuanxiu gently raised his lips, smiling warmly.

The wine at the palace feast was plentiful, and the activities were lively.

The songs and dances at the banquet were unlike anything from Zhao Country, and Li Xing’an, forgetting the discomfort of the unfamiliar Beiyang environment, focused on watching the performances.

Guoguo dressed as a young man, sat alongside Baili Rui, eating while chatting softly.

Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu sat at the head, and the two children sat by their side.

Young and curious about everything, they saw intriguing foods and dances, completely forgetting the loving parents beside them. The two kids watched with wide eyes, deeply focused.

.

The feast continued until halfway through the second watch before dispersing.

By then, the children had already fallen asleep in their elder aunt’s arms.

Returning, Mu Yuanxiu and Li Yuzhu carried one each back to the palace.

In the night sky, snowflakes flew, and in their arms, the children slept soundly.

Li Yuzhu and Mu Yuanxiu exchanged smiles; having each other in this life was enough.

.

The next day, Mu Yuanxiu hosted a small banquet alone in his chambers, inviting Li Xing’an, Guoguo, and Baili Rui.

It was a family gathering, and Mu Yuanxiu and Li Yuzhu wore simple clothes.

After enjoying the meal and drinks, Li Yuzhu took Guoguo and the kids to play.

Mu Yuanxiu and Li Xing’an, along with Baili Rui, discussed state affairs.

Mostly, Li Xing’an and Mu Yuanxiu spoke, while the younger Baili Rui listened.

Mu Yuanxiu knew that among the Li family members, Li Xing’an cared the most for Li Yuzhu.

Partly because their ages were close, and partly because of similar temperaments, they got along the best.

This time, Li Xing’an came himself, showing his concern for Li Yuzhu.

Mu Yuanxiu took the initiative to share his future plans.

Such as rectifying the border areas between the two countries and opening trade routes.

He would reward Beiyang’s people for farming to prevent them from becoming raiders and harassing the Southern Land of Liangzhou City.

Finally, he addressed Li Xing’an’s main concern, saying whenever Li Yuzhu wished to return to Zhao Country, arrangements would be made for her and their children to return.

Monthly letters would be sent to Baili Mansion in Liangzhou City to report on Li Yuzhu and their children’s situation, which Baili Mansion would then forward to the Zhao Country Capital.

With such arrangements, Li Xing’an was naturally assured.

Li Yuzhu turned back, smiling, "Third brother, don’t worry so much. I’m not a little girl anymore, I’ll take care of myself."

"Here isn’t like Zhao Country," Li Xing’an reminded.

"But Yuanxiu isn’t just anyone, he is Yuanxiu," Li Yuzhu looked at Mu Yuanxiu.

Her Mu Yuanxiu, the only one in the world.

Seeing the couple exchanging glances, Li Xing’an sighed on the surface, but felt reassured inside.

After all these years, Mu Yuanxiu had indeed been very good to Li Yuzhu.

There was never a single thing that made him uneasy.

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Li Xing’an stayed in the Beiyang Capital until after the New Year, then he took Guoguo and Baili Rui back to Zhao Country with peace of mind.

Mu Yuanxiu sent Grand Tutor Fei and his entourage to escort them to the border between the two countries before the Beiyang people returned.

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Here is the translation:

After the new year, Li Yuzhu became busy.

Although spring starts late in Beiyang, and spring plowing cannot begin until the end of March.

But by inspecting the farmland in advance, arrangements can be made ahead of time.

Whenever Mu Yuanxiu was done with his governmental duties, he would accompany Li Yuzhu out of the city to inspect in a carriage.

The various seeds that Li Yuzhu brought could be planted across thousands of acres of farmland.

Besides grain seeds, there were also essential plants like cotton and flax.

Once the fields were chosen and the types of seeds were planned out, Mu Yuanxiu began arranging people to plow the soil come February.

In March, when the frozen ground thawed, the seeds were sown into the land.

The farmers in Beiyang did not cultivate much land; after harvesting wheat and other grain crops, they would leave them fallow, growing grass and primarily relying on grazing.

In terms of farming experience, the people of Beiyang couldn’t compare to those in Zhao Country.

The hundred farmers sent by Li Xingsheng to Li Yuzhu proved useful.

Li Yuzhu assigned them different tasks.

These were skilled workers; Li Yuzhu only needed to instruct them briefly, and they managed the fields exceptionally well without much further trouble for Li Yuzhu.

Going to the farm is tiring work.

Once the seeds were sorted, Mu Yuanxiu didn’t let her go anymore and appointed an official as the agriculture officer to handle errands for Li Yuzhu.

Every three days, he would report the situation in the fields to Li Yuzhu.

Although Li Yuzhu didn’t go to the fields, she wasn’t idle either.

She had already stored a large amount of medical equipment in her space.

Mu Yuanxiu knew of her space, and she generously took them out to hand over to the Imperial Hospital, where she frequently organized the physicians to learn how to use these new surgical instruments.

The Imperial Hospital then arranged to distribute the equipment to medical offices in various places and arranged personnel training.

Additionally, Li Yuzhu gathered the midwives from each city.

She handed them booklets on childbirth, educated them on childbirth knowledge, and informed them how to achieve better prenatal and postnatal care.

Like the doctors in Zhao Country, the doctors and midwives in Beiyang were astonished by Li Yuzhu’s teachings.

But unlike when she was spreading knowledge in Zhao Country, Beiyang people feared her as Empress, and no one dared not listen.

Once the educational booklets were distributed, results were quick.

In less than half a year, over a dozen childbirth accidents in the Beiyang Capital were avoided.

By autumn, the test fields Li Yuzhu cultivated showed promising results.

Some crops that had never been seen in Beiyang were harvested in the fields outside the city.

Mu Yuanxiu was overjoyed and ordered regions to expand the cultivated areas.

Moreover, rewards were given for farming; families with grain production exceeding the previous years received tiered incentives.

Those studying medicine with fewer incidents also received incentives.

All these were the blessings brought by Li Yuzhu and the new Emperor Mu Yuanxiu.

Merely two years later, every household throughout Beiyang had stored grain and meat.

People had extra money and grain and began renovating their homes.

This winter, not a single person in Beiyang froze or starved to death at home.

The people of Beiyang turned the stories of the two into songs, widely sung.

The news reached the Zhao Country Imperial Palace.

The Wei Family reminisced about the days when Mu Yuanxiu and Li Yuzhu were children.

She sighed to Uncle Li, "I thought since those days that these two children were different from others; it seems my intuition was right. Look, how well they’ve governed Beiyang."

Uncle Li observed the map of the two countries’ territories and praised, "Their lives are going well; the Emperor can sleep soundly too."

The Wei Family glared at him, joking, "You say as if the Emperor sleeps less regularly. The Emperor hasn’t reviewed a single document today, right? All matters large and small have been handed over to the second son and his wife, haven’t they? They’ve been complaining for a long time."

Uncle Li coughed lightly and retorted his wife with a serious face, "This is called nurturing the next generation; surely, the Emperor can’t labor all the time while the young people always play? What if one day I suddenly pass away, and they have no coping ability; wouldn’t they be scrambling?"

The Wei Family gave him a sharp look, "In broad daylight, speaking of passing away? Not afraid of bad luck."

Uncle Li didn’t pay heed; he was considering which day to "pass away" to let the second son take over.

But Li Xingsheng was truly cunning.

No matter what fake death, fake illness, fake injury tricks Uncle Li tried, they couldn’t fool Li Xingsheng’s eyes.

"Father Emperor, the throne was something you fought for yourself; now that you’ve taken it, you have to sit properly. If you dare play tricks again, I won’t do this Crown Prince role; Father Emperor can pick someone else!" Li Xingsheng warned coldly.

Li Xingmao returned to Zhen An Prefecture as Prince Xiao Yao.

Li Xing’an spent his days traveling with his lady.

His Emperor father tried several times to offload responsibility.

Everyone treats him like an easy target, hoping to work him to death governing the country while they enjoy themselves?

No way!

Every day he’s so busy reviewing documents, there’s no time to talk with Ling Yuezi, and his son and daughter don’t recognize him anymore; yet, his father wants to slip away?

Don’t even think about it.

Li Xingsheng discovered his once handsome appearance was now aging; seeing his own father grow younger over time, he was quite annoyed.

That’s bullying!

Uncle Li was truly afraid his second son might leave too, and could only honestly say, "Your father just... just wants a vacation; it’s not as serious as you say."

"Father Emperor, have you seen any Emperor with vacations? Get working!" Li Xingsheng tossed a pile of documents onto Uncle Li’s desk and walked away, sleeves swaying.

Never mind, today he gave himself a day off, and went back to his mansion to accompany his wife and children.

Those documents can be left for anyone who wants them.

Uncle Li sighed, well, the throne he fought for; no matter how hard, he’ll have to bear it.