Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 265: The Princess Consort’s Water Broke!

Murong Jiu hurriedly had Chang Chonghai invite his wife in.

Lady Jing indeed had a face filled with joy.

Upon entering, she paid her respects to Jun Yuyan and Murong Jiu, and then immediately said, "Princess Consort, yesterday’s heavy snow was truly an auspicious sign. Today, in the Glazed Pavilion, several crops have blossomed!"

"Which crops?"

"We’re not sure which crops they are, the Peasant Official had me come to inform you because we only planted seeds that day, and we don’t know what they are. They are not like sweet potatoes, potatoes, or peanuts which have fruits— even the old Peasant Official couldn’t recognize them."

"They might be chili peppers, beans, or some kind of melon or fruit. In any case, this is indeed a cause for celebration. If they can flower, they can definitely bear fruit! You all have worked hard, day in and day out, tending to the pavilion. I see that you, Lady Jing, have gotten a bit tanned; be sure to wear a hat. Don’t mind if straw hats look unsightly; at least they can provide some shade from the sun."

Murong Jiu was aware of their hardships; when they had just planted the seeds initially, she often visited, including during transplanting and splitting roots—she hadn’t missed any of that. Unfortunately, since she had not long seen the redness of dawn, Jun Yuyan would never let her go out now. Otherwise, she really wanted to go and see for herself.

She looked over at Jun Yuyan, who indeed gave her a look that said she couldn’t go.

"The Princess Consort is right, we must wear hats. It’s alright now, but come summer, your face will peel from the sun," said Chang Chonghai to Lady Jing.

Lady Jing glared at him: "Are you saying you dislike me for being tan?"

Chang Chonghai quickly waved his hands: "Even if you’re tanner, I still love you. It’s just that I feel pity for you."

Lady Jing’s cheeks turned red, and she glared at him again, not ashamed to speak such foolish words in front of the Prince and Princess Consort.

Murong Jiu and Jun Yuyan exchanged a glance, covered their lips with handkerchiefs, and chuckled softly. Who would have thought that a burly man like Chang Chonghai could speak such sweet nothings so smoothly—it was clear that he often spoke to Lady Jing this way.

She said, "Indeed, too much sun isn’t good. You should take more care, Lady Jing. Long-term sun exposure not only darkens the skin but can also lead to sunspots and prematurely aged skin. I wouldn’t want you to end up looking unsightly because you were taking care of the Glazed Pavilion for me. Just so happens, I have some nourishing cream here. Take it with you and apply it morning and night."

Lady Jing hadn’t been aware of these detrimental effects, and now she was thoroughly concerned; she could no longer take it lightly.

Everyone desires beauty.

After offering her thanks, Lady Jing gave a detailed description to Murong Jiu about the appearance of the flowering crops, the colors of the flowers, and when the old Peasant Official planned to pollinate, filling Murong Jiu with anticipation for the eventual harvest.

If the harvested crops include chili peppers, that would be excellent.

She had heard that chili peppers were spicier than cornus officinalis and most importantly, their yield could be much higher. She had tasted dishes made with chili powder from dried peppers and found them to be tastier and more to her liking compared to dishes with cornus officinalis.

Moreover, crops like sweet potatoes and potatoes had all been successfully cultivated; flowering and fruiting were just a matter of time.

The flowering of several crops today was a very good omen.

In the coming spring, they would be able to apply what they had learned to plant these crops on a large scale across the land of Great Yan, allowing the common people to have enough to eat.

After Lady Jing left, Jun Yuyan, seeing her happiness, smiled and instructed Manager Lin to distribute reward money to everyone who had taken care of the Glazed Pavilion, including the old Peasant Official and Lady Jing, and even Xiao Qin was included.

Murong Jiu snuggled in Jun Yuyan’s arms, imagining the day when the lands of Great Yan would be full of high-yielding crops, and everyone would have enough to eat and wear.

"When people have enough to eat and wear, they might even have some spare money. Perhaps, they can become enlightened like Lady Jing. I’ve realized that as long as people can read and write, they won’t be utterly ignorant. Of course, this excludes those who have become foolish from too much reading," she mused.

On hearing this, Jun Yuyan pondered for a moment, thinking even further ahead:

"Ah Jiu is right," said the Princess Consort. "If everyone could read and write, communication between people would become much more convenient. The more ignorant a society is, the more backward it becomes. A country’s prosperity depends not on a select few, but on every citizen. When the people are wealthy, the nation is wealthy. When the people are strong, the nation is strong."

Murong Jiu’s eyes sparkled with admiration.

Jun Yuyan chuckled, unable to resist pecking her on the eye, before continuing,

"Actually, I also feel that merchants being regarded as the lowest among the scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants isn’t a good thing."

"Oh? Why do you say that?"

"Because merchants are also the lifeblood of a country. Look, you allowed Manager Chai to open up so many trade routes. Wherever the merchant convoys go, the local people are inevitably more prosperous than other places. That’s the benefit brought by the merchandisers. Only when roads are open and merchants are thriving in trade can the wealth of a region begin to circulate; otherwise, it remains stagnant. Great Yan, or perhaps any country for that matter, needs such circulation for the nation to grow richer."

Hearing this, the smile on Murong Jiu’s face grew even brighter.

"Yes, I also think that’s true! How much can the common people earn just by farming? They need to be given more to do, to increase their incomes, so that they will spend money and get Great Yan’s finances flowing. Won’t the Imperial Court also be able to tax the merchants more? It’s a win-win situation!"

Jun Yuyan looked at her animated face and kissed her of his own accord, then whispered in her ear, "Ah Jiu, with you, how could Great Yan not prosper? I will ensure your ambitions are realized, and make Great Yan the ideal nation of your heart."

In that moment, it was as if Murong Jiu could hear her own heartbeat.

For his word alone, she would surely do everything in her power.

She said, "My husband, it is the people’s good fortune to have you in Great Yan."

Other princes cared only for supreme power, but he alone cared for the welfare of the common people and state affairs.

Perhaps her rebirth was heaven’s way of helping Jun Yuyan achieve a prosperous era and become an emperor for the ages.

...

The expected due date for Murong Jiu was around the 20th of the twelfth lunar month, just before the New Year.

Before entering the twelfth month, on the 29th day of winter, which is Little Cold, right after welcoming the God of Fortune and having some glutinous rice, Murong Jiu suddenly went into labor.

This time it wasn’t just spotting; her water had broken.

Just as Jun Yuyan had stepped into the newly established side study, Murong Jiu began to experience contractions. They came on suddenly and unexpectedly. Before she could cry out, the little wolf howled, alerting Jun Yuyan to return.

Jun Yuyan was very composed, but a hint of anxiety could be seen in the depths of his eyes. His beloved woman was about to give birth, and no matter how confident he was, it was natural to feel tense.

Although Chun Tao and Hong Yi were also nervous, everything had been prepared well in advance. They quickly and efficiently called out orders, summoning the necessary people and getting things organized.

Divine Doctor Zhai was already nearby, arriving swiftly.

As soon as General Fu and his four sons heard the news, they arrived even faster than the midwives.

The four midwives also promptly began their examination.

"Good heavens, it’s almost crowning! How can it be so quick!"

The midwives were shocked, but did not panic. They coordinated and divided tasks, and one of them even pushed the still-present Jun Yuyan out of the room:

"Prince, the delivery room is full of bloodshed. You’d better go out!"