Xu Xingzhi: My Gift to the Common People

At Xu Manor.

"Xingzhi, good news!"

A middle-aged scholar, dressed in official robes, rushed into Xu Xingzhi's study.

"Zijing, what brings you here today?"

Xu Xingzhi smiled when he saw the man. He put down his brush, stopped practicing calligraphy, and greeted him.

A month of being idle at home had shown him the fickleness of human relations. The tea cools even before the guest leaves.

He was still the Director of the Seed Selection Department, but none of his subordinates had come to visit him; they had all become the Ninth Prince's sycophants.

On the other hand, Lu Zijing had visited him repeatedly, making Xu Xingzhi realize who his true friend was.

"Xingzhi, I admire your composure."

"Such a big thing happened, and you can still calmly practice calligraphy."

Xu Xingzhi was stunned by Lu Zijing's words.

"What happened?"

"Xingzhi, don't you know?"

"His Majesty, the Three Chancellors, and all the Ministers personally visited the Seed Selection Department."

His Majesty, the Three Chancellors, and all the Ministers went to the Seed Selection Department?

Xu Xingzhi's face instantly paled, sensing that something was terribly wrong. What kind of situation was it if he, the Director of the Seed Selection Department, wasn't even there?

Xu Xingzhi swayed, trembling slightly, feeling a great disaster was imminent.

Regret!

So much regret!

He should have just submitted his Request Retirement and retired to his hometown earlier.

Now that he had offended His Majesty, the Three Chancellors, and the Ministers today, it would probably be difficult to retire even if he wanted to.

But Lu Zijing's next words pulled Xu Xingzhi out of hell and back to the clouds.

"Xingzhi, your Seed Selection Department truly gained immense prestige in front of all the high-ranking officials today."

"The Ninth Prince presented the Sacred Emperor Rice, yielding seven hundred catties per mu—it's truly an auspicious sign!"

"What?!"

"Seven hundred catties per mu?!"

Xu Xingzhi's face was full of astonishment, his eyes filled with shock. His heart felt like it was being stirred by an invisible giant hand, whipping up a storm.

Wasn't the Ninth Prince cultivating rice that couldn't even bear grain? How did it suddenly yield seven hundred catties per mu?

Xu Xingzhi didn't understand!

He couldn't make sense of it at all!

"That's right, all the high-ranking officials witnessed it."

"The Ninth Prince naturally gets the main credit, but as the Director of the Seed Selection Department, you'll definitely receive your share of benefits."

"It's like that!"

Xu Xingzhi abruptly stood up, his movement so forceful that he knocked over the memorials on his desk.

The fallen memorial unfolded, revealing the three characters "Request Retirement." Besides the title, the content section was completely blank. Xu Xingzhi's memorial for Request Retirement had been in progress for a month, and he had only managed to write those three characters.

Lu Zijing was momentarily stunned when he saw the memorial for Request Retirement.

"Xingzhi, you want to Request Retirement? You can't do that; you're currently…"

Before Lu Zijing could finish, Xu Xingzhi picked up the memorial and laughed heartily. "Don't worry, Zijing, I was just writing it for fun."

"At sixty, it's precisely the age for me to achieve great things. How could I Request Retirement?"

Saying this, Xu Xingzhi tossed the memorial into the brazier.

Sizzle, sizzle—

It quickly burned to ash.

After some pleasantries, the two saw Lu Zijing off.

Xu Xingzhi calmed himself and took out his Agricultural School inheritance.

What he had once treasured as his Agricultural School inheritance, he now slammed heavily onto the ground.

"What good are you?"

"What good are you?"

"I studied you my whole life, and I still can't compare to the Ninth Prince."

"Sigh—"

Xu Xingzhi paced back and forth in his study.

He sighed at times, frowned at others, beamed with delight, or appeared deeply worried.

If one hadn't seen it, it would be hard to imagine that a person's expressions could be so varied.

After much hesitation, Xu Xingzhi finally showed a determined expression, made up his mind, and strode out of the study.

"Wife, bring out my Cloud Drunk."

Madam Xu looked curious, seeing her husband so eagerly asking for the Cloud Drunk.

"It's been brewing for thirty years, and you've never been willing to drink it, have you?"

"What's gotten into you today?"

"It's not for me to drink; it's a gift for the Ninth Prince."

Xu Xingzhi shook his head and said something that utterly shocked Madam Xu.

A gift?

Her husband, that blockhead, was going to give a gift?

She touched Xu Xingzhi's forehead, her eyes filled with concern and worry.

"Husband, are you feeling unwell?"

"Don't worry, wife, I'm perfectly fine."

"But you never bothered with gifts before. What's different today…?"

"Wife, you don't understand."

"Of course, I wouldn't bother with gifts for those sycophantic wretches."

"But today is different. I'm giving a gift for the welfare of the common people."

Xu Xingzhi exuded an aura of righteousness and integrity.

Madam Xu saw her husband shed his previous dejection, regaining his former unwavering resolve.

She wiped the moisture from the corners of her eyes and smiled with relief.

Ninth Prince's Manor.

When Fang Heng returned to the manor, Red knots hung on the stone lions at the entrance.

The entire Ninth Prince's Manor was adorned with lanterns and festive decorations.

Led by Yun Menglan, all the maids, eunuchs, and guards, both high and low, from within the manor, knelt in two rows and performed a grand bow to Fang Heng.

"Welcome, Prince, back to the manor."

Seeing this magnificent scene, a surge of pride welled up in Fang Heng's heart.

"Rise."

"Each of you will be rewarded ten taels of silver."

"Thank you, Prince!"

"Thank you, Prince!"

"Thank you, Prince!"

The thunderous cheers echoed through the manor.

Faces beamed with joy, and the atmosphere was lively.

"Aunt Yun, bring some fine wine; I'd like a drink."

"Understood, Prince!"

"'Prince' sounds good; say it a few more times."

"Prince! Prince! Prince!"

Yun Menglan's elegant and dignified voice echoed in his ears.

It made Fang Heng feel as comfortable as if he were sitting on a cloud.

"Prince" — that title sounds so good!

"Prince, I'll toast you."

Yun Menglan raised her wine cup, the amber liquid reflecting the shimmering brilliance in her beautiful eyes.

Fang Heng didn't take the cup, but chuckled instead.

"This cup isn't suitable!"

"Then I'll go fetch another…"

Just as Yun Menglan started to rise, she felt her soft waist being possessively embraced by Fang Heng.

With a gentle pull, her tall, voluptuous body fell into Fang Heng's arms.

Fang Heng looked down at the beauty in his embrace, his eyes tender, her brows like distant, misty mountains.

Beneath her moon-white palace dress, exquisite, graceful curves were hidden.

Compared to a young girl, she possessed a ripened fullness.

At the age of thirty, Yun Menglan was in the prime of a woman's life.

Yun Menglan was a little stunned, seemingly not expecting Fang Heng to make such a sudden move.

"How could a wine cup compare to your delicate lips, Aunt Yun?"

Fang Heng's tone was filled with innuendo as he extended his index finger and placed it on Yun Menglan's rosy red lips.

Yun Menglan's eyes trembled slightly, her pretty face flushed crimson, as vibrant as peach blossoms in February.

She hadn't expected to be teased by a boy she'd watched grow up.

She didn't resist either.

She was the Prince's personal maid.

When Consort Ning bestowed her upon the Prince, she already knew.

Her body would belong to the Prince, sooner or later.