The Emperor of Xiyun laughed and said, "After returning to the Capital from your place last year, I had already issued an order. Agricultural Officials in every region had informed the local farmers about this matter, and this year’s Xiyun will undoubtedly be better than last year."
Su Chengyu said, "If the Empress could come up with some more good things, the people of Xiyun would be even more fortunate."
An Jing laughed and said, "You and the Emperor really know how to scheme, aren’t you afraid that my husband will be angry?"
The Emperor of Xiyun and Su Chengyu immediately looked up at the sky, down at the ground, left and right but just did not look at Xiao Changyi.
Seeing the Emperor of Xiyun and Su Chengyu acting this way, Xiao Changyi decided. He would ignore these two for the next three months!
An Jing found it amusing, but still honestly confessed, "Father, I dislike the officialdom, detest the intrigue, and originally just wanted to live a simple life farming with Changyi. Initially, I didn’t even realize Changyi was the King of Eternal Victory, and I found out only after being married to him for a while."
"But since I am married to Changyi, I’ve decided to stay by his side for life, so no matter what his identity is, that will not change. And since you are Changyi’s relatives, you are also my relatives. You ask me to hold an office, so I will take it, no matter whether as a daughter-in-law or as a sister-in-law’s duty and intention, I will do it."
"However, I won’t be involved in the Agricultural Institute like when I was an official in Qilin County, you must have already known, I just held the post, and they even assigned One Person to be by my side. Fortunately, I didn’t go to the Agricultural Institute often, so that person didn’t have any effect on me and Changyi."
"To prevent such things from happening again, I really detest this kind of intrigue, I think it’s better for me to stay at home and focus on devising something beneficial for the people."
"By the end of last year, I had Meng Zhuqing clear a lot of land not far from our new home. I could work on projects there."
"I hope you would agree, Father."
Intrigues of officialdom are indeed unavoidable, the Emperor of Xiyun did not press further and agreed, "You relieve my concerns, and I am already delighted. Wherever you choose to relieve my concerns, I have no objections."
He believed his Yi Er would never betray him.
Therefore, he trusted her, his daughter-in-law, as well.
"Thank you, Father." An Jing was very happy that the Emperor of Xiyun agreed. She really did not want to be involved in any bureaucratic struggles.
Then, An Jing remembered something else, "Father, there is another matter I would like you to approve."
"It’s that if I and Changyi come up with something beneficial for the people at home, I’d like to speak directly to you." Since communication here is quite undeveloped unlike modern times with the internet and phones, if the process is followed and reported step by step, there’s no telling when it could get approved. It’s better to have some special privileges and report directly to the person in charge,
The Emperor of Xiyun laughed and said, "I thought it was something serious, but it’s such a small matter. If you and Yi Er come up with something, just come to the palace and talk to me directly. If I agree, I will issue the decree right away."
Just then, a eunuch reported, "Emperor, the lunch is ready."
"Quickly, bring Su Muchen and the others back." After saying this to Eunuch Fu, the Emperor of Xiyun then said, "Bring the lunch in."
After the lunch was all set up in the Jun Palace, Su Muchen and the four others were brought back by Eunuch Fu for the meal.