Reborn as the Crippled King's Beloved-Chapter 559: Breathing Hard to Calm Down for a Long Time

Chapter 559: Chapter 559: Breathing Hard to Calm Down for a Long Time

The breeding program Murong Jiu spoke of was exactly what was interrogated from Wang Yingluo after she was poisoned by the Devil Sea Flower.

In their era, the reason for the high grain yield, aside from pesticides and fertilizers, was primarily breeding.

There were even specialized agricultural universities.

As seeds went through generations of breeding improvements, they got progressively better, not only yielding more but also significantly improving in taste.

Take the Cold Melon, or watermelon, for example. Today’s watermelons have many seeds; and though they are sweet, they aren’t as sweet as in later generations, nor are they sufficiently red. Through improved breeding, they became redder and sweeter, and even larger in size.

Some grains could also be crossbred.

All of these required a long time for improvements.

Murong Jiu thought Lady Jing was an excellent candidate; she could form her own team, dedicatedly focusing on this task.

Lady Jing was meticulous and diligent, and she had the capability in this area; she was simply the best choice for now.

Under Lady Jing’s curious inquiry, she shared her plans.

Upon hearing this, Lady Jing became excited and anxious.

"I’ve read many agricultural books that talk about breeding improvements. Unfortunately, it spans a long time, through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, flowering, pollinating, harvesting seeds, improving generation after generation. Good seeds will be retained for further breeding as planting seeds. Sadly, very few people have the patience for this."

"Yes, through dynastic changes and various wars, many people are still struggling for food. Ultimately, it’s because the era is not stable enough to allow farmers to calmly engage in breeding improvements. But now, Great Yan is stable, everything is progressing in a good direction, and the Imperial Court values it, our agriculture will also develop in a good direction."

After listening, Lady Jing nodded vigorously and said to Murong Jiu:

"Your Majesty, I will definitely work hard on this and will not disappoint you or Your Majesty!"

Murong Jiu smiled and held her hand:

"Don’t put too much pressure on yourself. I believe you will do very well, but this is a lengthy process. We don’t need to rush. One day, Great Yan’s land will be filled with the fine varieties you and your disciples have cultivated."

"Certainly, we will!"

Lady Jing felt full of fighting spirit and wished she could start the task right now.

However, it was still midsummer, and for harvesting seeds, they had to wait for autumn.

She felt that the most important thing for her to do now was to follow Her Majesty’s instructions: form a team of Peasant Officials mentored by her to take over her current position and then dedicate herself to Her Majesty’s breeding project.

Although it was a drawn-out affair, it now had a new sense of hope.

And this hope was significant concerning the livelihood of Great Yan and the welfare of all its people.

Even if she remained unknown, she was willing to undertake more meaningful tasks.

Chang Chonghai saw a different brilliance in Lady Jing’s eyes, a kind of radiance that was truly dazzling.

He too had his "mission"; to protect Your Majesty and Her Majesty was beneficial to the state.

Only Your Majesty and Her Majesty were the foundations of Great Yan.

Her Majesty had originally asked him for three years of protection, but what was three years? It wasn’t enough. Thirty years wouldn’t be enough as long as he still had the strength; he would keep protecting them.

Protecting them was protecting Lady Jing’s dreams.

...

"Hong Yi, what do you wish to do? Have you decided?"

After returning to the palace, Murong Jiu asked Hong Yi.

Hong Yi shook her head, "Previously, I thought I wanted to be like Lady Jing or Lady Lou, to do things that men can do but women can equally do, and to live a life that is truly thrilling. But now, I feel that being by your side is the best. I can learn a lot, and perhaps when I have truly accumulated enough, I might have other plans."

Murong Jiu said with a smile, "Stop calling yourself a servant, although the equality spoken of by Wang Yingluo is an empty promise, I think that this world indeed needs equality. You do not need to place yourself in the position of a servant but rather as a subordinate, or even in an employment relation, then it is truly equal on a personal level."

"But that would be too disrespectful to you, and those palace maids and eunuchs below will become increasingly presumptuous. I don’t think such self-reference is that unequal, because imperial authority is supreme," Hong Yi insisted.

She thought strict rules were necessary; otherwise, wouldn’t even the Imperial Family not be taken seriously?

"That is why we need to improve the laws. His Majesty is already amending the laws. Although it can’t be done overnight, over time, people will adhere more to the law rather than to the words of those in higher positions."

Wang Yingluo always says they are the old feudal lords,—Feudal in that people adhere not to the law but to the powerful.

In the long run, this is disadvantageous to the people.

Living only for several decades, since Murong Jiu has become the Empress of Great Yan, she must not limit her vision to the present.

If one day the Imperial Family is abolished, what will become of her descendants? They would only be completely eradicated.

Just like those histories of the past.

After a change of dynasty, the descendants of those emperors seldom survived, and even if they did, they lived in hiding with indescribable hardships.

But if the imperial power is suspended, and society can still operate, then even if the Imperial Family becomes merely a symbol, it won’t be arbitrarily abolished, and can be permanently passed down.

Just like the royal families of other countries mentioned by Wang Yingluo, which continue to exist today.

However, this cannot be changed in a short time; she and Jun Yuyan must pave the way for their descendants.

The two of them were unlike the emperors of the past because they were aware of future developments; they had to safeguard their descendants, and it might take decades to do these things.

As her thoughts churned, she looked towards Hong Yi and smiled, "Alright, when you decide to change, you can change the way you address things, no rush, take your time. Our Great Yan will only get better. Stand by my side and witness it with me. However, since you currently have no other plans, I would like to confer an official position upon you."

Hong Yi said in surprise, "You want to confer an official position on me? But besides fighting, what else can I do?"

"I have discovered your talent in training soldiers, I appoint you as the head of the female Imperial Forest Guard within the palace, with the rank of Deputy Commander, only under Su Kai. How do you feel about this?"

Hong Yi was utterly shocked, "Your Majesty’s intention is to form a squad of female Imperial Forest Guard in the palace?"

"Exactly, I’ve had this idea for a while now. The Frontier Pass is stable, but sooner or later the enemy will invade. Commander Su Su Kai intends to train in the Borderlands, and indeed he has the talent of a General. His Majesty and I are preparing to station him there next year."

Hong Yi understood that the position of Commander of the Imperial Forest Guard was vacated and she had just gained the trust of Your Majesty and the Emperor.

"But, Guard Chang is more suitable than I am..."

Murong Jiu shook her head, "He does not have the ambition to make achievements; he retired years ago and now he only wishes to ensure the safety of His Majesty and himself. But you are different, in my view, ambition is not a bad word, and in you, I see your potential. You dare to strive and act; you will definitely be fit for this position."

After hearing this, Hong Yi found it difficult to calm her breath for a long time.