Madam, three months have passed. That fermentation process you mentioned should be complete by now.
It wasn't just Feng Feng and the others; Qin Shaozong had also kept the composting matter in mind at all times.
When he said this, Dai Li was eating breakfast.
The steaming noodle soup gave off a mist that clung to the woman's long, dark eyelashes, as if coating them in a layer of moisture. As she slowly raised her eyes, that bright glint seemed to fall into her pitch-black pupils, accompanied by the radiant ripples that spread as she curled her lips into a smile.
You only asked about the composting date once before. I thought you weren't in a hurry, Dai Li teased him with a smile.
It involves the granaries and the livelihood of the people. As the governing official of the North, I am naturally anxious. Though Qin Shaozong spoke of being anxious, his expression was remarkably peaceful. He picked up the teapot and refilled Dai Li's half-empty cup. But I have complete faith in you, Madam, which is why I haven't asked much about it.
As he poured her tea, Dai Li subconsciously brought her index and middle fingers together and tapped the table twice lightly.
Qin Shaozong paused. After setting down the teapot, he mimicked her gesture, tapping twice. What does this mean?
Dai Li: ...It means thank you.
Qin Shaozong tapped again. Is this popular where you come from?
It's derived from an old story passed down through the generations. Seeing his keen interest, Dai Li knew without guessing that he would ask, so she simply explained, In the past, there was an emperor known as Qianlong who went on an incognito inspection tour. While chatting with his ministers in a teahouse, he casually poured tea for a subordinate. Because the teahouse was bustling with people, the minister couldn't kneel to thank him for his imperial grace. In a moment of desperation, he used two fingers as legs, bending them to show gratitude. Later, this story spread, and over time, the bent fingers evolved into a simple finger-tapping gesture, meaning a silent thank you.
Qin Shaozong sighed in admiration, How interesting. If there's ever a chance, I'd truly like to accompany you to see your Peach Blossom Spring.
Forget it, you wouldn't get used to it there, Dai Li said without a second thought.
Qin Shaozong frowned in confusion. Why? I have always had an infinite fondness for your homeland.
You now control several states in the North. Do you know what this kind of behavior is called in my homeland? Dai Li's expression turned solemn. Amassing troops to build personal power—that's warlord behavior! In a place where the people are the masters, you'd be overthrown and executed on the spot.
Qin Shaozong: ...
It was rare to see such a conflicted and speechless expression on this man's face. Feeling quite pleased, Dai Li picked up her jade chopsticks, scooped into her bowl, and quickly finished the rest of her noodles.
They did indeed need to visit the fields today. After breakfast, Dai Li and Qin Shaozong led their people and rode out of the city.
A heavy snow had fallen last night, leaving deep drifts along the road to the farmlands. Under normal circumstances, recklessly riding a horse through it could easily result in a broken horse leg.
However, before the two arrived, Mo Yanyun and the others had roughly cleared the path, so Dai Li and Qin Shaozong enjoyed an unimpeded journey.
Three months had passed. The original two round compost heaps had multiplied like rabbits breeding madly. In what seemed like the blink of an eye, the fields were covered with mounds.
Dai Li arrived at the very first farmland—Field Number One.
Mother. Qin Yanzhou had also arrived early.
Not only him, but Qin Qinian and Shi Rongyue were also there.
Qin Hongying was, after all, married into the Shi family and had more children than just Shi Rongyue. Shortly after her nephew's coming-of-age ceremony, she returned to Nanyu Commandery, leaving only her daughter in Yuyang. Before leaving, she specifically pulled Dai Li aside for a long chat, asking her to look after Shi Rongyue.
Dai Li had never raised a daughter. Aside from occasionally calling Shi Rongyue over to chat with the little girl, she mostly just let her play with the three young masters of the estate.
A sixteen-year-old child would only be in their first year of high school in modern times. They were bound to be playful, and she couldn't just keep her locked up.
As the composting project gradually unfolded, Shi Rongyue also frequently tagged along to the outskirts.
The young girl was born into a prominent family but was not spoiled. Right now, wearing a pair of brown deerskin boots, she was stepping into mud puddles as she followed behind Qin Yanzhou. After Qin Yanzhou greeted them, she also bowed to Dai Li. Madam Dai.
Dai Li dismounted her horse. How long have you all been here?
Qin Yanzhou knew she usually slept until she naturally woke up, so he said, Only about half an hour. Mother, what should we do next?
Dai Li: Spread the compost heaps open so we can take a look.
A group of military officers received the order and began working vigorously with large shovels.
In the early stages of composting, every time the heaps were turned, Dai Li would have people add bone meal and other materials. Later, when these materials ran out, several empty sacks were left sitting there.
It was fortunate that it was the agricultural off-season, otherwise the sacks would definitely have been scavenged.
The nine-foot-tall mounds were quickly leveled. Dark brown, sand-like fertile soil poured out and was spread over a large area.
It's truly magical. It was clearly reeking before, but now it hardly smells at all, Qin Qinian said in surprise.
He and Qin Yanzhou had previously volunteered to turn the compost heaps a few times. The mixed stench of cow and pig manure was enough to blow the top off a person's skull, but now there was barely any odor.
Dai Li smiled. Once fermentation is complete, it naturally doesn't stink. Let them dry out a bit more in the daylight today, and then we can bag them up when the sun is about to set.
Bag them? Madam, why not just leave this fertile soil directly in the fields? Qin Shaozong asked.
Whether it was slash-and-burn or fire-tillage and water-weeding, the fertilizer was always left in place; there had never been a step to extract it.
Before sowing, one mu of land uses at most one shi. Dai Li looked at the spread-out manure heaps. This single mu of land had four large compost heaps piled on it, and each heap weighed at least a few tons.
Only one shi is needed before sowing, and later topdressing requires diluting the fertile soil. From any angle, it's impossible to just leave it directly in the field, Dai Li explained.
Qin Shaozong's pupils contracted slightly. Only one shi?
A single compost heap was about several dozen shi, which meant it could cover several dozen mu of land.
He gazed out over the fields. Mound after mound stood on the farmland. At first glance, they looked completely ordinary, and many of them had not yet finished fermenting, still carrying a stench that ordinary people would find unbearable.
But Qin Shaozong knew that these mounds of dung and dirt, which ordinary people found repulsive, would turn into soft gold in the fields after the coming spring, vigorously supporting the growth of the crops.
If there were no severe droughts or insect plagues, by next autumn, this endless stretch of farmland would yield a vast, brilliant expanse of gold. Whenever the wind blew, the scent of wheat would drift, and golden waves would flutter and ripple outward, seemingly without end.
Qin Shaozong felt as if he could hear the swaying of the wheat ears and smell the rich fragrance of the wheat.
Invisible scrolls of scenery unrolled before his eyes.
Farmers harvesting wheat in the fields grinning from ear to ear; ox carts traveling endlessly through the countryside, each piled high with mountains of wheat.
The large granaries in the commandery stuffed to the brim, with agricultural commandants and field-protecting officers coming one after another to report that there was insufficient granary space, requesting the construction of new ones.
When spring comes next year, we will distribute this organic fertilizer to the farmers. Plant a single seed in spring, harvest ten thousand grains in autumn. Next autumn is bound to be a golden season of abundant harvest. Seeing her son pick up a shovel, Dai Li also joined the ranks of those bagging the fertilizer.
"When the wind rises, the crops thrive, and the carts are filled with bountiful harvests. If that day truly comes, the people of Yuyang, the North, and even the whole world should thank you, Madam," Qin Shaozong said solemnly.
"It's just organic fertilizer. Being able to improve the seeds is what's truly remarkable..." Dai Li looked at the distant sky, her tone full of nostalgia.
In the sky, it was as if vast fields of rice ears, taller than a person, appeared. An old man wearing a straw hat leaned against a rice stalk, smiling as he enjoyed the shade beneath the heavy ears of grain.
"Qin Yanzhou, come compete with me and see who can pack more!" a young boy's voice rang out, full of fighting spirit.
The young man's voice wasn't as loud as his, and it was unclear what he said. The two of them quickly went their separate ways, each holding a shovel, and then began shoveling the fertile soil with all their might.
Dai Li could not help but smile.
Winter passed and spring arrived. When the frozen rivers slowly began to flow and the earth gradually revealed its original colors, the tail end of the bitter winter finally slipped away.
Lichun, the Beginning of Spring, had arrived.
Lichun is the first of the twenty-four solar terms, marking the start of spring. All things come back to life in spring, and there is no farmer who does not look forward to its arrival.
And this year's Lichun was undoubtedly special. In the vast lands of Yuyang, if you grabbed any old person, weakling, woman, or child at random, who wouldn't know that their Marquis of Wu'an was getting married?
As early as seven days ago, during the meal times of morning and late afternoon, all the major eateries in Yuyang Commandery opened up endless banquets.
Whether one was a commoner, a merchant, or a noble, as long as they came to dine at the eateries, they did not need to spend a single silver coin. All expenses were covered entirely by the Marquis's estate.
In addition to the endless banquets, at a side gate of the Marquis's estate, sweet treats were specially distributed to children under the age of ten. As long as a child sang a festive limerick while taking a stroll around the city, they could return to claim a handful of snacks.
Furthermore, there was a piece of news that the farmers of Yuyang found hard to believe: it was said that this Madam Dai, whom their Marquis was about to marry, had developed a type of fertilizer. Using it could significantly increase crop yields, up to fifty percent. Every farming household could go to the local government office to receive a bag of fertilizer for free.
This fertilizer was considered a celebratory gift from her to the farmers of Yuyang for her wedding.
There was no need to mention the farmers' astonishment, ecstasy, and skepticism. In short, after this event, the discussions about Dai Li in Yuyang Commandery reached a whole new level.
Seven days before Lichun, cart after cart of betrothal gifts and dowry were simultaneously pulled into the Qin estate by horse-drawn carriages.
Dai Li's identity was no secret. She did not come from a prominent family, and even her parents were no longer alive. Anyone with a discerning eye could tell that those boxes of eye-catching and magnificent treasures were not prepared by Dai Li herself at all.
The carriages formed a long, winding line like a dragon, stretching out for a great distance and appearing in the city day after day. The onlookers went from initial surprise and shock to becoming numb and accustomed to it, until finally, only sighs of admiration and envy remained.
As for the prominent families in Yuyang, the astute ones who noticed the carriages entering the Qin estate on the first day immediately ordered their servants to prepare a generous gift and send it over.
They used the pretext of congratulating Dai Li, without mentioning Qin Shaozong.
The Qin estate, which usually did not accept gifts, gladly accepted them this time. Seeing this, the other prominent families quickly followed suit. For a time, brocade box after brocade box and chest after chest of treasures flowed into the Qin estate like water, all becoming part of Dai Li's dowry.
In the Great Yan Dynasty, the bride and groom were not allowed to see each other for seven days before the wedding. During these seven days, Dai Li was initially unaccustomed to not having someone act as her bed warmer at night, but she got used to it after two days.
It was a rare moment of peace and quiet.
Obviously, this peace did not last long, because Lichun arrived in the blink of an eye.
The auspicious time for the wedding was around noon. The Qin estate and the Marquis's estate were both in Yuyang Commandery and not far apart. Therefore, Dai Li only woke up slightly earlier than usual today, avoiding being dragged out of bed before dawn to put on her makeup.
The Great Yan Dynasty was similar to the Qin and Han eras; important occasions emphasized solemnity and dignity, thus favoring the colors black and red.
Dai Li's wedding dress was black and red. The shoulders and sleeves were carefully outlined with gold and silver threads to create gorgeous auspicious cloud patterns. Amidst the clouds, dark golden phoenixes spread their wings, soaring through the mist and clouds, looking incredibly lifelike.
It was a long robe with wide sleeves. The waist ornaments changed from their previous casual style, using multiple jade pendants spliced together into a long set of jade hangings to weigh down the hem of the skirt.
After changing clothes, her hair had to be styled and her makeup applied.
In this era, there was no tradition of wearing a phoenix coronet for weddings; ladies mostly wore dangling hairpins. The hairpin on Dai Li's head featured gold as the base, strung with white pearls, and intertwined like osmanthus branches, made exactly to the highest specifications.
Sunlight shone in through the window, making the entire inner chamber extremely bright. The lady sitting in front of the vanity had already finished her makeup. She looked as radiant as the spring sun, her cloud-like hair thick and lustrous. Her black and red wedding dress was as passionate as fire, yet carried a solemn and majestic aura.
As she slightly lowered her head, the back of her neck was as white and smooth as congealed fat, seemingly enveloped in a hazy, soft glow. It complemented the white jade on her hairpin perfectly, making her exceptionally beautiful.
Dai Li looked at herself in the mirror and felt very unfamiliar. She frowned, and the beautiful woman in the mirror, dressed in splendid attire, also frowned. She turned her head, and the person in the mirror followed suit.
The old woman doing her hair and makeup saw Dai Li frown and felt a jolt of fear, thinking she was dissatisfied with something. "Madam is as beautiful as a heavenly flower; you should smile more. Looking across the entire North, and even the whole world, one cannot find a lady more gorgeous and enviable than you, Madam."
Another old woman quickly chimed in, "Yes, a few days ago, cart after cart of large chests flowed into your honorable estate like water. Who in the world doesn't know that the Marquis treats you as preciously as his own eyeballs?"
A match between families of equal social status was never just an empty saying.
Even in a powerful alliance between prominent families, there would not be such a grand display as Qin Shaozong's, where he seemed to want to announce to the whole world that he was taking a wife.
Dai Li sighed, "We'll see."
The old women were astonished, not understanding where her melancholy came from, but the affairs of nobles were not something they could comment on.
Dai Li had no elders present, so the tradition of bidding farewell to her parents before marriage was omitted.
She sat quietly in the room holding a round fan. The ice-cold golden handle of the fan, after being held for so long, had absorbed some warmth. Listening to the approaching sounds of commotion outside, Dai Li's state of mind—which had remained undisturbed since the wedding preparations began and throughout the past seven days—suddenly experienced a slight shift in this moment.
The sounds of the commotion were like tiny pebbles thrown into a lake, stirring up ripples that spread from near to far.
"Mother, he's coming soon," Qin Yanzhou came in from outside. Today, he wore a sapphire blue robe, his ink-black hair tied high within a jade crown. His handsome features were slightly less aloof than usual.
Before today, Qin Yanzhou had referred to Qin Shaozong as the Marquis of Wu'an, calling him directly by his title. But today, he used the word "he."
Dai Li acutely sensed a difference in her son's tone. She patted the seat next to her, "Zhou Zhou, sit."
Only Nianxia and Bipo were in the room, so they couldn't be considered outsiders. However, Qin Yanzhou looked at Dai Li's spread-out skirt, shook his head, and simply knelt down by her feet.
Nianxia and Bipo exchanged a glance and quietly exited the room.
With only mother and son left in the room, Qin Yanzhou said awkwardly, "Mom, I'm a bit unaccustomed to the idea of becoming a family with him in the future."
Dai Li guessed that her son had been hiding these words for a long time and truly couldn't hold them in any longer. She raised her hand and touched the jade crown on the young man's head. "Qin Changgeng may not be the easiest person to get along with, but he is definitely not a petty man. Zhou Zhou, you can just treat him as an ordinary elder."
On the streets of Yuyang City.
Qin Shaozong rode upon the Crimson Wyrm, looking absolutely radiant. Today, he was dressed in a long robe of black and red, wearing a brand-new headdress. The Crimson Wyrm beneath him had been specially washed the day before, and every strand of its mane shimmered in the sunlight.
He rode at the very forefront. Behind him followed a host of robust cavalrymen, all equally dressed in new attire, along with a horse-drawn carriage adorned with red silk on all sides.
The corners of Qin Shaozong's lips curled upward. Riding forward into the brilliant, warm sunlight, he carried an invincible, triumphant aura, even though he had been entirely stripped of his weapons.
"The Marquis of Wu'an looks exceptionally spirited today!" The commoners in the crowd craned their necks to watch.
"Ha, he is taking a wife, after all. You would be just as spirited in his shoes. By the way, I heard that later on, the Marquis's estate will be tossing out wedding favors. We absolutely cannot miss that."
"What an extravagant display. Counting today, it has been eight days, hasn't it? The expenses of these eight days could probably bankrupt a minor noble family entirely. Rumor has it that Lady Dai has a soul of snow and the spirit of a flower, possessing the beauty of the Moon Goddess herself. It seems nine out of ten of those rumors are true."
"You have heard about the fertilizer matter too, right? If those things truly can increase grain production by a large margin, then I would say these betrothal gifts are nothing at all. Abundant harvests and surplus grain for every household—that is a merit worthy of having temples built in her honor!"
"That is true."
...
The whispers drifted over. Qin Shaozong casually glanced over and met the man's eyes.
Their eye contact lasted but a fleeting moment, exceptionally brief, breaking away in the blink of an eye without a single bystander noticing. Qin Shaozong continued to ride forward, while the man from moments before went on talking about the fertilizer amidst the dense crowd.
Before long, the bridal procession arrived at the main gates of the Qin estate.
Dai Li had no other relatives. The main gates of the estate were surrounded by ring upon ring of commoners, but they merely watched; no one dared to block Qin Shaozong's path.
With his black and red robes fluttering in a crisp arc, the man dismounted his horse with practiced agility. He led his men straight inside, advancing completely unhindered, until—
He hit a wall right in front of her room.
A tall, elegant young man stood at the doorway, striking a pose that clearly said, "If one man holds the pass, ten thousand cannot breach it."
Qin Shaozong raised an eyebrow, but before he could speak, Qin Qinian, who had accompanied him, excitedly stepped out of the ranks and quickly rushed forward.
"Father, let me do it! Let me take him on!"
The moment the boy's words fell, Qin Yanzhou spoke: "Compose a poem to invite my mother out."
Qin Qinian immediately slammed on the brakes. He retreated just as quickly as he had advanced. "Sorry, Father, I am no good at poetry. I cannot do this one. You will have to invite her yourself."
Qin Shaozong: "..."