Chapter 122: Concerning the State
Chapter 122: Concerning the State
When Emperor Hongzhi heard Liu Jian suddenly mention the Crown Prince growing melons in the House of the Crown Prince, he became furious once again.
Was the Crown Prince still tending to those melons? This wasteful child! The emperor thought he would stop his nonsense after a while.
Lately, national affairs had been busy, and Emperor Hongzhi had neglected the House of the Crown Prince. Now that Liu Jian brought it up, had the melon-growing matter already spread outside?
Emperor Hongzhi said in an angry, stern voice, “This rebellious son! He is too stubborn. He doesn’t listen to a single word I say. Just wait and see how I deal with him.”
Liu Jian took a deep breath and exchanged glances with Xie Qian and Li Dongyang. Then, he breathed out and said loudly, “Your Majesty, the melons… have been grown.”
The melons… have… been grown!
Emperor Hongzhi had been about to scold more. Zhu Houzhao sometimes disappointed him greatly. He was not young anymore. In two more years, he would be of marriageable age. Yet he was still so foolish.
However, when he heard that the melons had been grown, his face changed. He seemed unable to believe it and thought it was a joke.
Liu Jian naturally saw Emperor Hongzhi’s thoughts and said, “Your Majesty, I have personally tasted this melon. It was very sweet and delicious. I was thinking, could this melon really have been grown in the House of the Crown Prince?”
Emperor Hongzhi couldn’t help but shiver, and his lips trembled slightly.
The solemn dignity of The August Supreme was completely replaced by this sudden shock. He said, “Are you joking? How can melons be grown in winter?”
He remembered that he had beaten Zhu Houzhao severely for this very reason.
“I originally did not believe it at all, but I have tasted the melon. Seeing is believing.” Now, that melon was still in Liu Jian’s stomach.
Emperor Hongzhi had a very strange expression. “This… this… Could it be sorcery?”
“I am also very puzzled. I just feel this matter is of great importance.” Liu Jian looked deeply at Emperor Hongzhi, then continued word by word, “If it wasn’t sorcery, and melons could be grown, then… Your Majesty, this matter concerns the Imperial Realm.”
The Imperial Realm…
This statement had a basis. Why?
The State Altars relied on agriculture as their foundation. If melons and fruits, or even grains, could be grown in winter, how astonishing would that be?
In an instant, Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes, filled with doubt and shock, suddenly gleamed with a different light.
His expression gradually turned solemn. He couldn’t help but say, “Summon the Crown Prince and Fang Jifan immediately. Be quick, quick!”
The Warm Pavilion was stirred. The emperor and his ministers inside were all filled with anxiety and unease, yet also with an indescribable anticipation.
Was it truly a grown melon? Really?
Countless questions rose in their hearts.
Emperor Hongzhi appeared very anxious. He clasped his hands behind his back and paced back and forth in the Warm Pavilion. His face was red. He couldn’t help but say subconsciously, “My ministers, do you think it’s possible? What I mean is, could it be…”
When he said this, he saw the bewildered faces of Liu Jian and the other two. He couldn’t help but smile bitterly. Yes, what use was asking them? Probably even they knew nothing about this.
Finally, after everyone’s anxious waiting, Zhu Houzhao and Fang Jifan arrived belatedly.
But today, Zhu Houzhao no longer looked aggrieved.
He was beaming, even seeming a bit arrogant. Fang Jifan mostly knew that once the melons appeared, they would surely attract the Imperial Palace’s attention. He just hadn’t expected the palace’s reaction to be so swift.
As soon as the two arrived, Emperor Hongzhi blurted out, “Where is the melon?”
He was clearly still unable to believe it. Without seeing the watermelon with his own eyes, Emperor Hongzhi still had doubts.
After all… it was truly unbelievable.
Zhu Houzhao said without hesitation, “Reporting to Imperial Father, there is one more melon.”
Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes lit up. “Bring it. Let me see.”
Zhu Houzhao smiled. Last time, he was hung on a tree and beaten half to death. He still felt lingering fear. “Where is the silver?”
These three words were truly audacious.
Emperor Hongzhi’s face instantly darkened. “You…”
Clearly, Zhu Houzhao felt confident today. He said righteously, “This was grown with hard work. I spent countless effort. How can Imperial Father take it without asking? I have prepared the melon. If Imperial Father gives three thousand taels of silver, I will certainly present the melon.”
“…”
This time, it was Fang Jifan who was shocked. Others sold for ten taels, but to his own father, he sold for three thousand? Crown Prince… truly a talent. This… gave him great inspiration…
Emperor Hongzhi was enraged upon hearing this. “Zhu Houzhao, how dare you!”
The pain had not been for nothing. Zhu Houzhao still held a grudge. He directly knelt and said, “If Imperial Father wishes to punish me, I willingly accept.”
“…” This time, Emperor Hongzhi’s old face turned completely red.
This was absolutely mockery. Just two months ago, because of this melon matter, he had beaten Zhu Houzhao until he was covered in wounds. This fellow must be holding a grudge. Now he brought up the old matter again, repeatedly saying he was willing to accept punishment. Wasn’t this clearly poking fun at him?
Should he beat him again just because he grew the melons?
For now, Emperor Hongzhi urgently wanted to see the truth. Finally, he said, “Fine, I will give you the silver. First, bring the melon.”
Zhu Houzhao was terrifyingly stubborn in some aspects. He said righteously, “First give the silver.”
Emperor Hongzhi’s old face could barely hold back. He wanted to get angry but didn’t know where the anger should come from. He could only endure and threw a glance at a nearby eunuch.
So the eunuch hurriedly went to fetch a stack of Great Ming Treasure Notes. After counting them, he handed them to Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao took the silver and grinned straightforwardly, even getting so excited his face flushed red. It had been a long time… since he felt so satisfied.
After receiving the Treasure Notes, Zhu Houzhao said, “My Companion Liu Jin is holding the melon waiting outside the Meridian Gate. Imperial Father can send someone to retrieve it.”
Three thousand taels was a painful amount for the frugal Emperor Hongzhi. If he weren’t so eager to see the melon and if the melon weren’t so important, Emperor Hongzhi would never have compromised.
Now… since the watermelon would soon arrive, he grew even more excited. He paced back and forth, appearing very agitated.
But after just a short while, hurried footsteps came from outside. Someone came in carrying a watermelon. Emperor Hongzhi was stunned. So… fast? It had only been a moment. The eunuch sent to get the melon probably hadn’t even reached the Golden River. How could he return so quickly?
Moreover, the eunuch who came was clearly not on duty in the Warm Pavilion. He looked familiar; he was actually from the Kunning Palace.
The eunuch held a melon and knelt. “Your Majesty, today the Crown Prince sent two watermelons into the palace. One was for the Grand Empress Dowager, and one was for Empress Your Highness. After the Grand Empress Dowager and Empress Your Highness tasted them, they praised them endlessly. Thinking of the Emperor in the Warm Pavilion managing countless affairs and toiling over state governance, they felt you were very hardworking. Thus, they ordered Your Servant to bring the remaining melon and present it for Your Majesty to taste.”
As he spoke, he raised a watermelon high with both hands.
“…” Emperor Hongzhi pulled a long face, staring fixedly at the eunuch. For a long time, he couldn’t speak.
A sharp light flashed in his eyes as he looked at Zhu Houzhao.
Zhu Houzhao shivered involuntarily, then quickly stuffed the Treasure Notes into his sleeve, indicating the transaction was done and no refunds.
Fang Jifan also turned his face away. It seemed the story’s development had a slight deviation from what he expected.
Emperor Hongzhi didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. But he took a deep breath and soon focused on the watermelon.
He hurried forward two steps to the eunuch and personally took the watermelon in his hands. This was the melon produced by the ‘Champion Marquis.’ It was somewhat larger than melons from other vines. Emperor Hongzhi’s eyes lit up. After carefully observing the melon, the brilliance in his eyes instantly became dazzling. “It was truly grown? It was truly grown?”
Perhaps for Zhu Houzhao, growing melons was a game. But for Emperor Hongzhi, for Liu Jian, for Li Dongyang and Xie Qian, it concerned the State Altars where agriculture was fundamental.
“Fang Jifan grew this, right?” Emperor Hongzhi raised his eyes and fixed his gaze on Fang Jifan.
He remembered that when he beat the Crown Prince, the Crown Prince desperately said that this was a melon he and Fang Jifan grew together. At that time, Emperor Hongzhi didn’t believe it.
Fang Jifan was someone who educated Tribute Scholars. How could he join you, this wasteful child, in nonsense? You, wasteful child, probably wanted to drag Fang Jifan in to take the blame.
But now, the situation was different. Since the melons were grown, in Emperor Hongzhi’s view now, Zhu Houzhao hadn’t lied back then. This melon was grown by Fang Jifan. No problem.
Fang Jifan said, “It was grown by me and the Crown Prince together. The Crown Prince gave up sleep and meals to take care of these melons.”
Zhu Houzhao initially felt that his beating had been for nothing when he heard his Imperial Father say, ‘Fang Jifan grew this melon, right?’ Fortunately, Fang Jifan spoke up for him, making him feel a bit better.
But then Emperor Hongzhi glared and said, “Where would the Crown Prince know about growing melons?” He originally wanted to press further.
But after thinking carefully, he dismissed the idea. Because Emperor Hongzhi was more concerned with, “Can the planting method be extended and popularized?”
Fang Jifan said, “Yes!”
With this two-word answer, Emperor Hongzhi immediately seemed overjoyed.
After the abnormal celestial phenomena occurred, the cold weather in the Northern Region would last at least five months, nearly half a year. For half a year, countless fields lay fallow. They relied on Jiangnan’s funds and grain for support. But the increasing number of Refugees was a serious problem for the imperial court.
And now… Fang Jifan’s method of growing melons in winter could greatly alleviate the disaster, couldn’t it?
Emperor Hongzhi stared intently at Fang Jifan. His voice trembled slightly. He took a deep breath and said, “Then… I ask you again, besides growing melons, what else can be planted?”
Fang Jifan said, “Most things can be planted. But… we still need to establish an Experimental Field in the Western Hills for trial planting first.”
“What is the cost?” Emperor Hongzhi narrowed his eyes. He was, after all, not someone out of touch with reality. He quickly realized the key issue lay in the cost.