Rebirth: The Journey of an Heiress-Chapter 1601 - 2: The Grand Finale (Part 2)

"In the past, after harvesting the wheat fields, most people would burn the stalks as firewood. Though straw is flammable, it doesn’t burn as well as firewood. People believe that applying organic fertilizer enriches the soil, but... Shanru thinks that instead of doing so, fermenting straw with organic fertilizer to use as manure is the real way to enrich the land."

Bai Qingyan nodded: "Good... if this time you increase the harvest of the rice paddies and also the wheat fields, then you will have done a great service for the people."

If Zeng Shanru truly succeeds, such a contribution... would deserve a title of nobility.

In this way, Nanny Tong would also see the fruits of her labor.

Zeng Shanru hurriedly responded: "Shanru is simply doing what is my duty; I dare not take credit for it!"

"By the way, Shanru also met Mr. Qin, who once recovered from his injuries at our Bai Mansion. Mr. Qin, upon hearing that the eldest daughter had reclaimed the Yan Kingdom, seemed to have anticipated this outcome. However, Mr. Qin is busy overseeing the canal construction and cannot spare the time to congratulate the eldest daughter personally, so Shanru was asked to convey his message... saying that the eldest daughter is destined to be a wise ruler ushering in a golden age, and he holds deep admiration and respect."

Bai Qingyan nodded, only regretting that... a great talent like Qin Shangzhi was only willing to build canals for Zhou, and not to be used by her.

Loyal ministers do not serve two masters, this too was Qin Shangzhi’s choice, and she was helpless.

Seeing the eldest daughter’s expression of regret, Zeng Shanru quickly pushed out the redwood box by his side, smiling: "I didn’t have the chance to return to Dadu City in time to celebrate the birthdays of the two young masters. Now, busy with the wheat field matters and unable to leave, I boldly ask the eldest daughter to bring the birthday gifts I prepared for the two young masters back!"

The gifts Zeng Shanru brought were not anything expensive, but rather a pair of high-quality colorful hibiscus, with a silky luster and purity. He considered carving a pair of seals for the two young masters someday.

Little did he know, during the two young masters’ birthdays in March, he couldn’t make it back in time. Now, unable to return to Dadu City with the eldest daughter, he could only ask Bai Qingyan to take the gifts back. At least it was his intention.

"A Yan and I also missed the two children’s birthday." Bai Qingyan couldn’t help but feel regretful. Her mother’s letter mentioned that during the grabbing ceremony... Kangle grabbed a pen in one hand and a small bow in the other, while Xile initially grabbed a golden abacus, but upon seeing Bai Qingyun, she dropped the abacus to grab Bai Qingyun’s hand.

Xiao Rongyan also felt regret, yet... when the family reunites, they will never have to part again, which pleased Xiao Rongyan. He gently held Bai Qingyan’s hand, his thumb caressing the back of her hand: "In the future, we can celebrate many, many more birthdays with the two children, making up for what we missed."

Zeng Shanru lowered his eyes, smiling. It seemed their big girl had finally come through the hardship!

No one knew whether their young lord assumed the identity of the Ninth Prince of Yan for the eldest daughter or if... he was originally the Ninth Prince who descended for the eldest daughter.

No matter what, Zeng Shanru could see that this young lord cherished and loved their eldest daughter, which put the loyal servants of the Bai family at ease.

On the first day of the fifth month in the third year of Yuanhe, the Emperor of Zhou arrived in Dadu City.

The Empress Dowager Zhou and King of Xing intended to lead the ministers and officials to welcome him at Wude Gate.

Having lost his youngest legitimate grandson, Commandant Lu turned white-haired overnight, looking visibly unwell and aged by at least ten years.

It was through this incident that he understood... the pain of the generations of men from the King of Zhen’s household, who all perished on the battlefield for the country. He then realized the Bai family’s unwavering desire for a unified nation.

The Bai family had sons who died in battle for generations, just as when the current Emperor was still the eldest daughter of the Bai family, saying at a palace banquet... that the Bai family, a venerable military household for a hundred years, did not sacrifice their lives for military merits and power. The ancestral hall of the Bai family is filled with honored tablets of those who died for the protection of the nation!

At first, Commandant Lu only felt sympathy for the Bai family, but now, with his own son killed in battle, he understood the piercing, heart-wrenching pain. Applying this to others, he recognized the arduous path the Bai family had walked to this day.

Before dawn, Commandant Lu put on his official robe, aided by his eldest son and grandson, Lu Yuanqing, stepping over the study threshold, preparing to head to Wude Gate, only to see his granddaughter, Lu Fenglang, not wearing her official attire but dressed in plain clothes.

"Fenglang? Why are you not in official attire?" Commandant Lu frowned at Lu Fenglang and asked.

Lu Fenglang’s eyes were red, her body so thin it seemed just skin and bones, the oversized clothes draping over her, devoid of her former vitality. She knelt, bowing to Commandant Lu and her father, and said: "War has broken out in Dongyi Kingdom, King Hancheng and the naval soldiers perished in battle. It was all due to Fenglang’s stubbornness and self-conceit that led to this disaster! Fenglang... must go to the Emperor to confess her guilt."