Chapter 89
Throughout the history of various dynasties, plenty of emperors expanded territory, but even the mightiest dynasties hadn’t managed to prevent starvation.
The key was that promoting food wasn’t just about breeding. It also involved how to promote it, where to promote it, and how to make the people accept it. These were no small challenges.
Li Er had been mum about how to reward Su Li, even until he left. This behavior puzzled even Empress Zhangsun, who understood him the most. Li Er was known for his generosity towards subordinates, and he usually rewarded them on the spot for their merits.
If Su Li were just an ordinary subject, Empress Zhangsun wouldn’t have said much about it. But as a consort and a member of the imperial family, Su Li’s position was different.
Moreover, Su Li had been chosen as a consort by Li Er and his wife as a form of compensation for a past incident. It would be a straightforward solution if Changle refused this marriage when she woke up.
However, Changle had recognized Su Li as her husband, and their relationship was so close that they were inseparable. Their bond was the envy of others.
Empress Zhangsun could sense that Su Li seemed to harbor resentment towards Li Er and herself from their previous experience. She felt that Su Li cared more about how Li Er and she viewed him.
Empress Zhangsun believed that if they truly treated him as family, any past unpleasantness would naturally fade away with time. By then, asking him to do anything or giving him something wouldn’t be an issue.
Li Er treated his subordinates with courtesy and respect, but this approach didn’t work for Su Li. Su Li wasn’t a common person, he was a consort and interacted with Li Er often. He knew Li Er too well to be awed by him like an ordinary person would.
Empress Zhangsun reminded Li Er to consider Su Li’s feelings and treat him as family. Li Er needed to acknowledge that gifts and compliments wouldn’t easily sway Su Li.
Li Er couldn’t help but sigh and said, “How could I forget? This divine food is like an elixir of immortality to me. But how to reward Su Li is actually a problem!”
Hearing a slight tone of complaint in Li Er’s voice, Zhangsun Wu Fei couldn’t help but be surprised, “Can rewards also be a problem?”
Reluctantly, Li Er let out a long sigh. Given his nature, he was always generous, rewarding those who deserved it. What Li Er hoped for the most was that Su Li would take the initiative to make a request.
As long as the terms were acceptable, Li Er would certainly be generous. However, Su Li gave him potatoes and sweet potatoes without asking for anything.
Failing to reward merit was not the behavior of a wise ruler!
Moreover, sweet potatoes and potatoes hold significant meaning, and their outcome was remarkable. If the reward was inadequate, Li Er himself would feel embarrassed.
Li Er found himself in a dilemma. But when it came to rewarding courtiers, there were only a few options. Promotions, titles, money, and beautiful women.
However, Li Er had been thinking in the Princess Mansion for a while and realized that none of these things could sway Su Li.
The promotion option could be ruled out. Li Er considered integrating Su Li into the military, but Su Li did not notice that idea.
Giving him a civilian title was also problematic. After all, not long ago, Li Er had personally bestowed upon Su Li the title of consort lieutenant, which caused a stir among the courtiers. Though the title of consort lieutenant didn’t entail real responsibilities, it was still a significant honor.
Due to this matter, Zhangsun Wuji had been discussing it with Li Er for a while, saying that the courtiers had reservations. Even if Li Er disregarded the opinions of the courtiers, Su Li was already a third-rank officer, so there wasn’t much room for further advancement in terms of rank.
Rewarding with money wasn’t feasible either. Changle had numerous assets, and money wasn’t an issue. Moreover, Su Li wasn’t a materialistic person.
Considering that he and Changle had been married for a while without spending much money, rewarding him with money seemed unnecessary.
Rewarding with beautiful women was an even less plausible idea. After all, where would a father-in-law give his son-in-law beautiful women?
Upon closer reflection, it seemed that this young man was truly unconventional!
He was just a peasant, selected as a consort, and his future was uncertain, yet he managed to handle it calmly.
Initially, when Li Er heard that Su Li was taking care of Changle without being asked, he thought the young man had ambitious motives, trying to climb the ranks through this relationship, and therefore he was putting on a show.
However, as time passed, Li Er realized that Su Li was genuinely trying to care for Changle. After rewarding Su Li, Li Er even asked the palace’s female officers about him. They informed him that Su Li had initially shown interest in the rewards, but after looking through them, he stored them in the warehouse and never mentioned them again.
During ordinary days, aside from being with Changle, Su Li spent most of his time in the palace kitchen, seemingly indifferent to fame and fortune. Even officers as principled as Wei Zheng at least aimed to leave their mark in history. But Su Li? There seemed to be no clear ambition.
Li Er confided his concerns to Empress Zhangsun, who eventually reminded him that Su Li wasn’t entirely without desires. Li Er suddenly realized what she meant.
“Changle?”
The couple echoed each other’s words.
Li Er laughed heartily, realizing he had a solution to the problem of rewarding Su Li. He already had a rough idea of how to do it.
Time passed day by day.
In the following days, as Su Li had predicted, Li Er didn’t visit the Princess Mansion much. He seemed consumed with his newfound passion for sweet potatoes and potatoes. Su Li heard that Li Er had even gone to great lengths to cultivate them, uprooting all the flowers, plants, and trees in the imperial garden to make space for them. He would personally tend to the crops, even standing in the fields during rain to protect them with an umbrella.
Li Er’s interest in sweet potatoes and potatoes had reached an extreme level. He would spend time gardening and cultivating them himself and even ask for advice on how to grow them effectively. Su Li found this amusing, as the emperor was getting his hands dirty for these crops.
Su Li also discovered that Li Er was no longer pushing Su Li to join the military. Instead, Li Er was interested in effectively cultivating sweet potatoes and potatoes. Li Er seemed to have taken Su Li’s advice about the crops being drought-resistant but not flood-resistant to heart. Whenever it rained, Li Er had people stand in the fields with umbrellas to protect the crops.
With Li Er occupied and no longer bothering him, Su Li finally found peace. After finishing his crossbreeding work, he began large-scale trials. He estimated that Li Er wouldn’t disturb him for quite a while.
In the meantime, Su Li resumed his days of closeness with Changle, spending most of their time together. Even Little Princess occasionally joined them for a meal or playtime, allowing Su Li to continue earning points. The points he accumulated grew significantly, making him feel satisfied.
He even bought the “Fixed Beauty Beads,” which had been pinned at the top for a while and gifted to Changle. Their close relationship continued, and they enjoyed each other’s company immensely.
During this period, Su Li also collected potions, which he gave Little Princess to improve her health. Her condition gradually improved, and she became healthier.
One evening, Changle sat at her desk in the study while Su Li stood behind her. A gentle breeze blew in through the half-covered window, causing the paper to rustle. Changle held a pen while Su Li supported her hand, helping her write something on the paper. The scene was intimate, and the couple was lost in their shared moment.
After a while, Changle smiled softly as Su Li held her hand, helping her write a short poem. The breeze brushed the paper as the words flowed smoothly. The poem’s verses were elegant and powerful, capturing their emotions and connection.
“Delicate clouds play tricks, stars carry sorrows, and the Milky Way stretches far in the dark.
Golden Wind and Jade Dew meet once, surpassing countless love stories in the mortal world.
Affection as tender as water, a perfect meeting like a dream, endure the journey back over the Magpie Bridge!
If our love is enduring, what matters if we spend morning and night apart?”
The verse beautifully captured their feelings and commitment to each other, a testament to their deep love.
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