Third-Rank Prince, Imperial Secret Realm

In the palace, along the grand avenue.

Consort Ning and Consort Shu walked side by side.

Their figures were graceful and enchanting, like two lotus flowers blooming on a single stalk.

Behind them, a group of palace maids and eunuchs followed.

"Sister Ning, did you see Noble Consort Zhuang's expression just now? Hehe, she really lost face today," Consort Shu chuckled, covering her mouth.

The thought of Noble Consort Zhuang's face, as if she'd swallowed a fly, made her unable to hold back her laughter.

"Noble Consort Zhuang holds great power in the palace. Sister, don't mock her in front of outsiders."

"Don't worry, Sister Ning, I know what I'm doing."

"And that Consort Min, always competing with you, Sister, but she should look at herself—she can't even bear a son."

"Not like you, Sister? You are truly blessed to have given birth to such an outstanding Prince. Even His Majesty praises him endlessly."

"And you, Sister, are truly discerning to have sent Ninth Prince to the Seed Selection Department."

"That's why he's had such a breakthrough today. He was quiet for so long, and then he astounded everyone."

Consort Shu's praise for Fang Heng pleased Consort Ning greatly.

How could a child born to her, Lu Wan'er, be anything less than excellent?

She completely forgot that just over a month ago, she had objected to Fang Heng going to the Seed Selection Department.

Consort Ning and Consort Shu chatted as they walked, and soon arrived outside Yaoguang Palace.

They happened to encounter Fang Heng, who was entering the palace and walking towards them, dressed in luxurious fur robes, as elegant as a jade tree or a sprig of orchids.

"Your son greets Imperial Mother, and greets Consort Shu."

Fang Heng bowed to the two women.

Consort Shu scrutinized Fang Heng, her curiosity evident in her eyes.

She seemed to want to strip Fang Heng bare and see how he was made, to be able to cause such a sensation.

"Sister, come in and sit for a while."

Consort Ning chuckled lightly, inviting her and interrupting Consort Shu's thoughts.

"Sister Ning, there's no need!"

"I'll take my leave first, so as not to disturb you and your son."

"Take care, Sister. Come visit again when you have time."

After Consort Shu left, the two returned inside, dismissing their attendants.

Consort Ning held Fang Heng's hand and asked eagerly, "Heng'er, tell me, what exactly happened today?"

Fang Heng knew his mother was anxious, so he picked out the important details and recounted them one by one.

After listening, Consort Ning's brows curved, her lips lifted, and a faint smile played on her beautiful face.

"I was worried that you wouldn't be able to endure the hardship at the Seed Selection Department."

"I never imagined, my son, that you would give your Imperial Mother such a big surprise."

"A while ago, I asked your uncle to help you smooth things over with the Divine General's Estate, but it seems that won't be necessary now."

After understanding the full story.

Consort Ning quickly realized that Fang Heng didn't need to go to the Divine General's Estate to gain experience at all.

The Ministry of Agriculture was Fang Heng's true fortunate place.

Soaring to success was right before his eyes.

"It's just a pity that the method for cultivating Sacred Emperor Rice must be handed over to the imperial court," Consort Ning said, a hint of regret in her eyes.

"Imperial Mother, there's nothing to regret."

"If the method for cultivating Sacred Emperor Rice were known only to your son, that would be a true disaster."

"Who knows how many people would want your son's life."

Hearing Fang Heng's words, Consort Ning smiled with relief.

"It was your Imperial Mother being greedy."

"Compared to one's life, handing over the cultivation method for Sacred Emperor Rice is nothing."

"His Majesty has seen all your contributions and will certainly not treat you unfairly."

"Imperial Mother, Imperial Father has already enfeoffed me as a Prince of a Commandery. As for the fiefdom, I wanted to discuss it with you, Imperial Mother."

Fang Heng pondered for a moment, then explained in detail.

According to Great Qian's system of enfeoffment for the imperial clan, a Prince of a Commandery's fiefdom was a nominal one, not a real territory. It could be said it wasn't important, but it was also quite important.

As a Prince of a Commandery, one only enjoys the corresponding stipend and holds no governing authority.

Therefore, for a Prince of a Commandery, the location of their fief is not important.

Many Princes of a Commandery will never set foot on the land of their fief in their entire lives.

However, if one can be promoted to Heir Prince, this fief can become a true enfeoffment.

The Heir Prince's true fief will be precisely where their original fief was located.

Thus, when one is a Prince of a Commandery, the location of the enfeoffed territory determines the true fiefdom when one becomes an Heir Prince or a Prince of the First Rank.

This is why the fief is important.

Of course, according to the ancestral laws of Great Qian, An Heir Prince's fief belongs only to the Heir Prince themselves and cannot be passed down to descendants, similar to a lifetime peerage.

Only a Prince of the First Rank can pass down their fief to their descendants.

Moreover, with each generation, the peerage will be reduced by one rank.

A Prince of the First Rank becomes an Heir Prince, and an Heir Prince becomes a Prince of a Commandery.

After three generations, the peerage will be removed, and the fief will be reclaimed by the imperial court.

Want your family's fief to remain?

Then each generation must render meritorious service to Great Qian.

This was also an ancestral instruction left by Great Qian's Grand Ancestor, intended to encourage imperial clan members to strive for progress and not become parasites.

"My son, what are your thoughts?"

Consort Ning raised her head, looking at Fang Heng.

She knew her son had a strong will, as evidenced by his decision to join the Seed Selection Department.

Therefore, she didn't immediately voice her own opinion.

"This son wishes for the fief to be enfeoffed within the Imperial Secret Realm."

"The Imperial Secret Realm?" Consort Ning's willow-like brows furrowed in a rhetorical question. "Why not enfeoff it in the Seventy-Two Commandery of Great Qian?"

"The Seventy-Two Commandery is the homeland of Great Qian, cultivated for ten thousand years, with fertile land and a dense population."

"If it were to become a true enfeoffment in the future, it would be a rich land requiring no further development."

"Although the Imperial Secret Realm is rich in resources, it's inconvenient to develop and ultimately cannot compare to the Seventy-Two Commandery."

In Great Qian, there was a hierarchy of disdain among different lands.

Yujing City disdained the Seventy-Two Commandery, and the Seventy-Two Commandery disdained the various secret realms.

It was like the Age of Discovery, where the mainland disdained the colonies.

If Fang Heng's ambition was merely to be an ordinary prince, then having his fief enfeoffed in the Seventy-Two Commandery would naturally be excellent.

It's just that...

"Mother Consort, this son has taken a liking to the mineral resources in the Daishan Secret Realm, and I would trouble you to speak to Father Emperor about it."

"Mineral resources?"

Consort Ning's pretty face froze for a moment.

Then, she suddenly reacted, her expression changing.

"My son, are you planning to follow the Path of Puppetry?"

Among the many Daoist schools, the one that consumes the most mineral resources is the Puppet Master.

When Fang Heng expressed interest in the mineral resources of the Daishan Secret Realm, Consort Ning subconsciously thought of the Puppet Master lineage.

Fang Heng didn't hide it, nodding.

"Mother Consort guessed correctly; this son does indeed have the idea of following the Puppet Master lineage."

Consort Ning patted her smooth forehead, her gaze at Fang Heng filled with exasperation.

Her son was simply too much of a handful.

Having achieved such great merit in the Seed Selection Department, by rights, following the Spirit Farmer lineage should have an immeasurable future.

Why did he suddenly change his mind and want to follow the Puppet Master lineage?

"Mother Consort, I beg you."

"You... you're going to wear Mother Consort out."

Consort Ning said, annoyed.

But she only had this one son.

Since Fang Heng wanted to follow the Puppet Master lineage, she naturally had no choice but to help.

Following the Puppet Master lineage, you say?

To be precise, Fang Heng's true objective was somewhat different from the Puppet Master lineage.

Hybrid Rice has been developed.

Naturally, Ammonia Synthesis will also need to be put into production.

Once Ammonia Synthesis is sorted, can Fertilizer be far behind?

Fertilizer differs from Hybrid Rice.

Hybrid Rice cultivation is dispersed, but a Fertilizer factory, concentrated in one place, would surely attract covetous eyes.

Even if not outright covetousness, mere sabotage would be enough to give Fang Heng a headache.

This is also why Fang Heng chose the Imperial Secret Realm.

The Imperial Secret Realm is not located in Great Qian itself, so it doesn't attract as much attention.

It's suitable for quiet development and gradual progress.

If a Fertilizer factory were placed in Yujing City, it would be far too conspicuous.