Chapter 72
Upon learning new skills of postnatal sow care and pig crossbreeding technology in different regions, Xiao Chuchu started to chatter.
"The pigs in our future world grow quickly and heavily."
"The pigs in Jing Country are naturally raised without hormones, but the mortality rate is high. If scientific breeding methods can be applied, we can not only improve the taste of pork but also increase pork production!"
"Perhaps, Jing Country will have a unique industry chain—pork!"
"Cough, cough, cough!" Xiao Yunzhou choked.
Tears welled up in his eyes due to the coughing.
It couldn't be, really couldn't be.
His vast Jing Country, was it necessary to resort to this?
But when Xiao Chuchu thought of the taste of pork and roast duck, she drooled a bit.
Her mouth opened slightly, and she began to drool.
Xiao Yunzhou glanced at her and was captivated by his adorable daughter.
However, as an emperor, studying water disasters and plague remedies was considered caring for the country and the people. Researching postnatal care for sows, what was this all about!
And artificial egg hatching... how was he supposed to explain this to his ministers!
"Ah, the common people nowadays, it's hard to raise a pig in their homes. They are prone to get sick, and in the end, they lose both their wealth and their pig. It's so pitiful."
Xiao Yunzhou closed his eyes and let out a long sigh.
Ah, when the people are poor, Jing Country will not be prosperous.
He wanted to give the people a good life!
Xiao Yunzhou was about to call someone, his face pale, but soon Wei Zheng came to report.
"Your Majesty, Imperial Censor Hong Xing requests an audience. He asks when the Prince's vegetable washing experience will be considered complete."
Xiao Yunzhou's brow suddenly relaxed.
Hong Xing, the Queen's man?
These selfish factionalists, enjoying the court's salaries and the people's food, only knew how to scheme for the Queen and the Crown Prince!
In the end, they were just out for their own interests!
"Let him in." Xiao Yunzhou sneered.
These people were not as considerate of the public as he, the emperor!
"Subject Hong Xing pays respects to Your Majesty."
As Xiao Yunzhou’s gaze flickered, Imperial Censor Hong Xing entered and knelt immediately.
Without delay, Xiao Yunzhou helped him up with a smile.
His peripheral vision glanced at the pig-raising techniques recorded on his desk after listening to his beloved daughter. Xiao Yunzhou then addressed Hong Xing first.
"Hong, my beloved courtier, I was looking for you."
Hong Xing was taken aback.
Xiao Yunzhou put his hands behind his back, "As an Imperial Censor, you supervise the officials. Do you know what the people of Jing Country have been eating lately?"
Hong Xing was dumbfounded, what did he mean?
Xiao Yunzhou raised his head, "I heard from the Imperial Guards that ordinary farming households can't even afford a thin slice of meat for a meal. I was heartbroken upon hearing this, tossing and turning in my sleep!"
Hong Xing twitched the corner of his eye.
Why was the emperor bringing up this issue!
Since the founding of Jing Country, it was commonplace for farmers to complain about the lack of meat and for peasants to be less wealthy than the townsfolk!
Hong Xing frowned, "Your Majesty, do you mean—"
Xiao Yunzhou solemnly said, "I feel that some county magistrates and prefects are negligent in their everyday duties and do not care enough about the people's livelihood."
"Hong, my beloved courtier, from today onwards, I appoint you as the Pig-Raising Inspector."
What?
Hong Xing was dumbfounded and looked up in disbelief.
What inspector?
What was the emperor bestowing upon him?
Xiao Yunzhou turned around, looking at him with a subtle smile.
"I'm giving you three days. Visit the farmers and come back with a solution to increase the pork production and ensure every farmer can afford meat."
"???"
Hong Xing felt like he should have consulted the almanac before stepping out today!
Has the emperor gone mad, or has he lost his senses, or is it just his ears playing tricks?
"Your Majesty, I am an Imperial Censor..."
"Correct, an Imperial Censor who oversees all officials and speaks for the people. Now that the people cannot afford meat, shouldn't you figure out why?"
"Come up with a solution!?"
Hong Xing's vision went black.
"I'm only giving you three days, after all, the New Year is fast approaching. I can wait, but the people cannot!"
"Alas—why has Master Hong fainted!" Wei Zheng's panicked voice rang out.
Xiao Yunzhou turned around and chuckled, his eyes narrowed.
"Send Master Hong directly to the farm to study the pork issue."
[My goodness! I just received a manual on postpartum care for sows, and the emperor is already having people research pork?]
Xiao Chuchu was so shocked that she even forgot to eat her melon in Wei Zheng's arms.
Xiao Yunzhou's smile stiffened on his face.
This is bad!
Is his daughter about to discover that he can hear her inner thoughts?
He was too careless!
If he had known, he should have had Wei Zheng carry her into the warm pavilion sooner.
Xiao Chuchu's delicate little face was all scrunched up in thought.
Xiao Yunzhou's heart ached at the sight.
It was all that damned Hong Xing's fault, the Queen's party!
He was so angry just now that he only focused on causing headaches for the Queen's party, doing some good for the common people.
He completely forgot about his daughter on the side.
Xiao Yunzhou felt his heart crumple along with his daughter's little eyebrows.
He gently wrapped one arm around her swaddling clothes, and with the other hand, he tried to smooth out her eyebrows.
"Wei Zheng, you did well... last night... you brought that little eunuch who has been farming for three generations and still cannot afford a piece of meat to serve in my study."
Xiao Yunzhou quickly improvised.
Xiao Chuchu's furrowed eyebrows relaxed at the sound of his words.
Her wet, black eyes turned to look at the respectful Wei Zheng, and they sparkled.
Xiao Yunzhou cleared his throat, "Thanks to your quick thinking, Wei Zheng, I remembered to address the issue of the common people's meat consumption today."
Wei Zheng opened his mouth.
Huh?
Xiao Yunzhou walked over and lightly kicked him, "Are you too happy to move? Look at your worthless expression! Don't just stand there, go and collect your reward!"
Huh?
Ah!
Wei Zheng was confused, but he had been serving Xiao Yunzhou since he was young.
He quickly knelt down, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"
"I didn't think this through, all credit goes to Your Majesty's wisdom!"
Xiao Chuchu let out a sound of realization and was completely reassured.
[So that's how it is.]
[It seems that whatever I draw from this lottery pool will manifest in reality in a way that conforms to this world.]
[Just like the plague remedy before, as soon as I drew it, the Imperial Hospital coincidentally developed it.]
Xiao Yunzhou heaved a sigh of relief when he heard this.
His back was covered in cold sweat.
"My precious princess, you should sleep now~ Daddy will sing you a lullaby~ okay?"
Xiao Chuchu slowly closed her eyes, sweetly falling asleep.
*
When Hong Xing left the palace after being assigned the task of investigating why the common people could not afford pork, his steps were heavier than ever.
What the hell, who can solve this?
Since ancient times, the people have been divided into rich and poor, noble and lowly.
Everyone can afford meat, in their dreams!
The emperor is deliberately messing with him!
Hong Xing is suffering in silence.
When he returned home, he called over a group of officials from the Empress's faction to discuss.
"The Emperor is probably planning something against the Empress and the Crown Prince."
The entire study room was taken aback.
"Why would the Emperor do this? What did he say to you today?"
Hong Xing shook his head in despair, looking at the officials.
"Gentlemen, we only have three days."
"Whether the power of the Empress and the Crown Prince can remain unscathed depends on these three days."
The officials immediately looked up anxiously, "Is the Emperor planning to thoroughly investigate Lord Tong's academy?"
"Did the Emperor find out that the Tong Family is involved in the private salt trade?"
"Is the Emperor going to audit the accounts of the Ministry of Revenue?"
Hong Xing twitched at the corner of his mouth, "No!"
Facing everyone's gaze, Hong Xing took a deep breath, "It's even more troublesome."
"?"
"The Emperor has tasked us with handling pigs."
"???"
"..."
"What?"
"Gentlemen, in three days, if the common people cannot eat pork, I'm afraid you and I will have to go home and raise pigs soon!"
"!!!"