Ch 102: The Malevolent Monster Just Wants To Farm

Daji entered Zhaoge along with the gifts presented by the Yousu tribe. As part of the tribute, she followed the emissary of the Yousu tribe and was presented to Emperor Xin at Yuntai.

At Yuntai, besides Emperor Xin, there were many ministers present. The news that the Yousu tribe was presenting a beauty had already spread throughout Zhaoge, so many ministers were curious, casting glances at the woman behind the emissary, who was dressed in exquisite silk and wore a veil.

Some ministers also subtly observed the mysterious Mr. Jiang, seated near the head of the assembly. No one knew his true identity, but many had seen him when they first joined the court. Even after all these years, his appearance had not changed, leading to speculation that he was an extraordinary person. His exceptional beauty was also acknowledged by all, though his imposing aura made it impossible for anyone to harbor disrespectful thoughts.

Curious to see how the renowned beauty Daji from the Yousu tribe compared to Mr. Jiang, many ministers awaited her reveal.

Jiang Lin remained unfazed by the glances. He had never hidden his extraordinary nature, and with Ao Bing’s inherently striking appearance coupled with decades of unchanging youth, he was accustomed to the various looks he received. In recent years, he had rarely appeared in large gatherings, but this time, he was curious about how the famous Daji from the The Investiture of the Gods would truly look.

Emperor Xin was also curious. After all, who wouldn’t appreciate a beauty who could bring joy just by being looked at?

Even though Yuntai was a place for feasting, it was grand and majestic. Daji, nervous yet determined, knelt before the emperor, her delicate voice trembling as she spoke, “Daji of the Yousu tribe pays her respects to the great king.”

“Rise,” came a low, young voice.

As she stood, she couldn’t resist a quick glance upwards. Unfortunately, the emperor’s face was hidden behind his ceremonial headpiece, revealing only a tall figure.

Emperor Xin examined Daji briefly. Despite the heavy ceremonial attire, her graceful figure was evident, and her voice, as sweet as a yellow oriole, was very pleasing. Intrigued, he commanded, “Remove your veil.”

Taking a deep breath, Daji smiled shyly and gently lifted her hand to remove the veil, revealing her radiant face.

She could feel many eyes on her. With her confidence bolstered, she lifted her head slightly, her expression more charming.

A few moments later, the young emperor’s voice broke the silence. “Truly a stunning beauty, rare to behold.”

Hearing the emperor’s approval in his voice, Daji felt more at ease. Growing bolder, she raised her eyes to look ahead, only to find herself momentarily stunned.

Jiang Lin’s seat was right below Emperor Xin, and Daji, who had been nervous and only glanced quickly earlier, naturally hadn’t noticed anyone else. But now, with a sweep of her gaze, Jiang Lin, seated in a very prominent position, caught her eye.

With just one glance, Daji’s heart sank. Seated so close to the emperor, this person must be a noble in Zhaoge. If even the courtiers were so strikingly handsome, how could Emperor Xin, who sees them daily, have any interest in other beauties?

At that moment, the extraordinarily handsome young man seemed to sense her gaze and looked over at her. His eyes were as clear as ice, seemingly able to see through to one’s very soul. Daji hurriedly lowered her gaze.

Emperor Xin, after observing the beauty, was not disappointed and, as expected, decided to take her into his harem. However, what Daji didn’t know was that after the banquet at Yuntai, Emperor Xin specifically called Jiang Lin aside.

“Sir, were you perhaps interested in that Daji?” It was evident that he had noticed the way Jiang Lin looked at her.

Jiang Lin nodded, not seeing any need to hide it. “I was a bit curious.”

Emperor Xin then cheerfully offered, “She is indeed beautiful. If you like her, I can give her to you.”

Jiang Lin was taken aback. “There’s no need. My interest isn’t of that nature.”

Emperor Xin was puzzled. “She’s a beauty from a defeated tribe. What else could be of interest to you besides her looks?”

Jiang Lin smiled. “It’s nothing. I just heard about Daji’s reputation from others before and was curious to see what she looked like in person.”

“I see,” Emperor Xin replied. “Are you sure you don’t want her?”

Jiang Lin firmly declined, “There’s no need.”

Emperor Xin quickly lost interest in the topic and, with newfound enthusiasm, said, “Let’s talk about something more important. Sir, the cotton seeds you gave me have been growing in the palace for a while, and yesterday, the first flower finally bloomed! Also, after many experiments, I’ve discovered that spreading ashes from burnt plants on the soil can increase the yield of sweet potatoes!”

As he spoke of this, his entire demeanor brightened, making him look nothing like the stern and composed young emperor from the court. Instead, he finally seemed like a young man with some youthful vigor.

He certainly didn’t show this kind of excitement when discussing Daji.

It was obvious that, in the eyes of the young emperor, farming was far more important than beauty.

Jiang Lin thought to himself that it wasn’t intentional. He had merely taught A Shou some farming as a side note; who could have guessed that A Shou would find his true passion in it?

He said, “This cotton isn’t just for looks. Keep nurturing it, and when it withers, you’ll see its real value.”

Emperor Xin didn’t fully understand, but he trusted Jiang Lin’s expertise in farming more than anyone else’s, so he nodded in agreement.

“As for the plant ash,” Emperor Xin continued, “I’ve already gathered the ministers responsible for agriculture to first try it on the royal lands. If it indeed increases the yield, we will promote it throughout all of Shang.”

Meanwhile, Daji had been deeply troubled recently.

She arrived at Zhaoge as a peace offering from the You Su clan, with the purpose of winning Emperor Xin’s favor to quell his anger towards You Su. Ideally, if she could gain his favor, it might even bring some benefits to her clan.

Indeed, she was a rare beauty, one of the most outstanding in the entire harem. Emperor Xin did not dislike her either; on the first night she entered the palace, he favored her, and he continued to visit her palace frequently afterward, never withholding the rewards she deserved.

But that was all.

Daji felt that while Emperor Xin looked at her with affection, it was the same kind of affection one might have for a beautiful and precious flower—appreciative, but without any sign of obsession.

She thought, “Ah, the task the gods have given me seems quite difficult to accomplish. The king doesn’t seem to be in love with me at all; in fact, I don’t feel that he treats me any differently from the other beauties.”

However, Daji still had a bit of ambition. After all, what young beauty entering the palace wouldn’t have a little ambition? She actively socialized with the other beauties in the palace, trying to gather information.

Daji was not a particularly clever beauty; her intentions were quite straightforward, and the other women in the palace could easily see through them. Yet, Daji often felt that the other women looked at her in a strange way, almost as if they pitied her or felt some sort of melancholy.

But when it came to discussing the king’s preferences, none of them were honest.

Daji made friends with a beauty who was skilled in dance, and they, being of similar age, quickly developed a sense of camaraderie. When Daji asked about the king’s preferences, the dancer sighed and said, “The king’s greatest preference? It’s farming.”

Daji thought this sister was not being truthful and decided she didn’t want to be friends with her anymore.

But soon she realized that the other woman hadn’t been lying.

The place where the king most frequently appeared, aside from the inner hall where he handled state affairs, was a palace called He Gong.

Daji learned this a month after entering the harem.

He Gong wasn’t off-limits to others, so one day, Daji dressed up meticulously, even bringing along some delicate pastries, and gracefully made her way to He Gong.

When the guards saw her approach, their expressions seemed somewhat complicated.

However, Daji paid no attention to the gazes of the attendants.

When Emperor Xin heard the attendant’s report, he raised an eyebrow. “Daji? Let her in.”

Daji carefully lifted her exquisite skirt and cautiously entered the palace gate, only to be—

Stunned like a statue.

This He Gong was unlike any palace she had ever seen. From the outside, all she could see were the red lacquered doors and walls that were higher than those of other palaces—it was especially large. Daji had assumed it must be some important royal site.

But as soon as she entered, the view opened up wide—how could it not? He Gong used to be an abandoned, cold palace. After Emperor Xin ascended the throne, he had all the old buildings inside demolished, the floors removed, and the clutter cleared away, leaving nothing but bare land.

All the land had been divided into neat, square plots, each planted with different crops.

This was Emperor Xin’s playground. He had another, even larger farm outside of Zhaoge, but since he was the emperor and couldn’t often leave the palace, he created this space within the palace to indulge in his hobby.

As for the farm outside of Zhaoge, it was naturally managed by Jiang Lin. Both were very happy with this arrangement.

Daji stood there, holding her delicate food box, wearing her new embroidered shoes. But the ground beneath her was wet soil, and she had no idea how to step forward.

What shocked her even more was that she saw Emperor Xin not far away.

In Daji’s eyes, Emperor Xin only had two looks: dressed in his regal attire, exuding an aura of authority that made it impossible to look at him directly; or undressed, with a handsome and alluring appearance that left her captivated.

But now, the emperor had taken off his formal robes, wearing the simple gray tunic of a commoner, with straw sandals on his feet as he squatted in the dirt. Even his usually tightly bound hair was tied up casually with a cloth strip—he couldn’t have looked more laid-back.

“Beloved consort,” Emperor Xin called out to her with a wave, “Did you come to see me for something?”

His gaze fell on the food box she was holding. “Did you bring food? Is there soup? I’m feeling a bit thirsty.”

Daji: “…”

“N-no,” she stammered, flustered to the point of being unable to speak clearly, “These are snacks I made myself.”

Hearing they were snacks, Emperor Xin lost interest and instead asked with a smile, “Did you come to help me with the farming?”

Daji: “…”

She didn’t dare say no, so she bit her lip and replied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Emperor Xin found it amusing and said deliberately, “It’s perfect timing. This plot of land has been infested with pests lately. The guards are too clumsy to handle them properly. I’d feel more at ease with someone who’s more careful.”

P-pests? Daji felt like she was about to faint.