Chapter 472 - 472 Had never seen such a shameless person before
472 Had never seen such a shameless person before
Shi Qingluo did not expect the emperor to be so supportive.
Not only did he grant her request, but he also demoted Liang Mingmin to Ordinary County Princess.
With the word “Ordinary” in her title, she knew that the emperor was deliberately disparaging Liang Mingmin. It was full of sarcasm.
He was also supportive of her goose.
Following that, the emperor wrote an imperial edict and conferred Shi Qingluo the title of Princess Fubao, which meant that she was very blessed and was Daliang’s treasure.
It just so happened to be a rank higher than Liang Mingmin’s title.
Shi Qingluo realized that the emperor was really smart.
If Liang Mingmin had not returned to Northern City by the time she returned to Heyang County, let’s see how she would use her status to make things difficult for her.
When the news of the conferment and demotion spread back to the northern border, Liang Mingmin would probably be angered till death, but just thinking about it made her feel comfortable.
Shi Qingluo kowtowed again to thank the emperor.
Only then did the emperor mention the potatoes. “There are many ways to eat these potatoes?”
Shi Qingluo was already prepared. She took out a book from her pouch and handed it over.
“Your Majesty, this is how to eat potatoes. You can let those in the imperial kitchen try it.”
By promoting the various ways of eating potatoes, it could also make the commoners’ meals more nutritious.
The emperor took the book from the eunuch and looked at it. He found that there were dozens of methods.
Potatoes, like corn, were both good stuff.
“Then let’s have a potato banquet today. I’ll invite all the ministers to have a taste.”
This time, Shi Qingluo had brought a few thousand catties of potatoes, so it was not a bad idea to keep a few dozen catties of potatoes for testing.
It would reduce the hassle of others doubting how potatoes tasted, their production rate, or how she was conferred a title.
At the same time, the emperor had also sent someone to invite the agriculture minister.
The agriculture minister arrived at the palace first with a face full of excitement.
Especially when he saw Shi Qingluo take out the potatoes from the sack that were attached to the vine leaves and roots, he was even more careful when he took a closer look at it.
I didn’t expect that a vine seedling could bear so many potatoes.
No wonder it can produce such a high yield.
After studying it for a long time, he came to the conclusion that it wasn’t face that potatoes would produce a high yield.
Then, he grabbed Shi Qingluo aside and talked to her for a long time.
Shi Qingluo answered his questions one by one, especially when she knew that as long as they were carefully taken care of, their yield could reach up to 5000 catties per mu. The agriculture minister’s eyes could not help but turn red.
He knelt in the direction of the heavens and bowed. “This is truly a gift from the heavens. The heavens must be protecting Daliang!”
He then excitedly talked to the emperor for a long time and confirmed that the potatoes were most likely high-yield crops.
The yield was much higher than the corn they had previously.
His excitement influenced the emperor. “Indeed, the heavens are protecting Daliang.
“Otherwise, how could such a high-yield crop be discovered by the goose king?
“It’s an immortal pet sent by the heavens to protect Daliang.
Because he especially liked to be in a Dumby, the emperor didn’t mind personally praising it.
By now, the agriculture minister knew that Shi Qingluo’s goose discovered the potatoes.
Now, he was looking at her with adoration, as if she was some kind of treasure.
It made Dumby feel a little uncomfortable, and it took a few steps away from him in disgust.
This two-legged monster’s eyes were too mushy, and it couldn’t stand it.
When the emperor saw this scene, there was a hint of a smile in his eyes.
As expected, the goose king was only willing to be close to him. It had good taste.
The agriculture minister didn’t care that he was being looked down on, he just wanted to worship Dumby.
He even suggested that Dumby and Shi Qingluo stay at the imperial farm for two years.
They might even be able to find more high-yield seeds for Daliang.
However, Shi Qingluo decisively rejected him.
What kind of joke was this? My goose cheated to be able to find the potatoes.
Only then did the agriculture minister look at Dumby regretfully, which made Dumby feel even more disgusted.
On the other hand, all the officials of the third rank and above had received the imperial edict to enter the palace for the banquet.
Everyone had some speculations.
This time, Shi Qingluo was most likely here to offer something again.
Then, they heard that the emperor had demoted Princess Zhen to Ordinary County Princess, and conferred Shi Qingluo as Princess Fubao, and even bestowed her big goose as the goose king.
He had even rewarded Dumby with a death-exemption medallion.
This made all the ministers dumbfounded.
What was going on? What was the emperor doing?
It was already too much for Shi Qingluo to be conferred a title of a princess, not to mention the fact that he rewarded her goose with a death-exemption medallion. This was too outrageous.
It was also because of this that all the third-rank yushi all rubbed their fists and wiped their palms, preparing to speak to the emperor when they entered the palace to stop him from acting so recklessly.
Then, they were all welcomed into the banquet.
There were eight dishes on each table, and potatoes were used as the main or side dish.
As soon as they sat down, there were indeed imperial censors (yushi) who expressed their dissatisfaction with the imperial edict that the emperor had just issued and proposed alternative suggestions to this matter.
Especially when they saw that Shi Qingluo had actually brought a big goose to the banquet, they felt that it was even more outrageous.
The censorates and other courtiers kept saying that it was against the rules and would like the emperor to retract his order.
Old Master Liang and the others looked at these people as if they were old monks watching the clowns performing on stage.
According to their understanding of the emperor, and with Shi Qingluo playing such a big game the moment she returned, these people would most likely be slapped in the face very soon.
Sure enough, after they had talked for a while …
The emperor calmly shared about how Dumby had found the potatoes, how the old immortal had appeared in Shi Qingluo’s dreams, and how the agriculture minister had confirmed that the potatoes were a high-yield crop.
Hearing the emperor say that one mu of potato could produce three to five thousand catties, even the ministers who were not familiar with general affairs were shocked.
Isn’t the yield too high?
Then, some people raised their doubts, and they were all directed at Shi Qingluo, accusing her of forging the production quantity and so on.
Shi Qingluo said, “The agriculture minister will be planting the potatoes in the imperial manor. If you don’t believe me, why don’t we make a bet?
“If the potatoes don’t have such a high yield, I’ll ask the emperor to strip me of my title.
“And if the yield is really that high, you can remove your official’s hat,” she added.
“How is it? Do you guys dare to make a bet?”
The officials who had confidently thought that Shi Qingluo was lying now looked as if they were being strangled.
They didn’t dare to…
Shi Qingluo pursed his lips. “If you don’t say anything, that means you don’t dare to. What a coward.”
Among these people, she didn’t know how many of them were related to Prince Jin, from the previous dynasty, or simply those who didn’t like her.
That was why she didn’t care if she offended them and she didn’t need to give in to them. If she had to scold them, she would scold them. If she had to despise them, she would despise them.
As expected, these words caused their expressions to change.
One of the officials jumped out and pointed at Shi Qingluo and hollered, “Impudent, you’re simply too impudent. This is the imperial palace, where does a village woman like you have the right to speak?”
Shi Qingluo raised an eyebrow. “I’m Princess Fubao now. Why don’t I have the right to speak?
“If we’re talking about ranks, I’m even higher than you, who is a third-ranked official.
“You’re the one who’s being presumptuous by jumping up and down and gesturing in front of a high-ranking princess.”
She turned around and glared at the emperor, trying to criticize the official. “Your Majesty, he is dissatisfied with you.”
The furious official had never seen such a shameless person before.
“Your Majesty, I dare not.”
Shi Qingluo said beside him. “You don’t dare, but not that you are satisfied.
“That means you’re dissatisfied with the emperor and doubt his wise decision. No wonder you’re so emotional in front of everyone here.”
She acted as if she was taking advantage of the emperor’s power and snorted. “It’s also because His Majesty is a wise ruler and is kind to you. Otherwise, an unloyal and unfilial minister like you would have been thrown into prison long ago.”
He was definitely not siding with the emperor, so she could do it without worry. Perhaps she could even give the emperor a knife and give him a way out.
These words were an eye-opener for everyone present.
Shi Qingluo was indeed eloquent. She could even associate this with insubordination, disloyalty, and unfilial piety.
Furthermore, she was not only bold, but also a little arrogant, to criticize the officials who had targeted her in front of the emperor!
However, everyone was more concerned about the emperor’s attitude.
They all looked at the emperor, who was sitting at the main chair and playing with a wine cup with an unfathomable expression.