The Farm Girl's Charismatic Fortune

At noon, Zhou's maid returned and told Zhou that a four-year-old girl from the Ruo Family in Xishui Village, Ruo Xuan, had been conferred the title of Commandery Princess by The Emperor.

Zhou stood there in a daze, aware that Xishui Village had only one Ruo Family and only one Ruo Xuan.

How could Ruo Xuan, that simple child, have been bestowed the title of Commandery Princess?

After her shock subsided, the sole thought in Zhou's mind was: had she not left the Ruo Family to remarry Zhang Ting, what would her situation be now? She would now be the great aunt of the Commandery Princess.

Filled with envy after this thought crossed her mind,

with the recent efforts to eradicate the remnants of the previous dynasty, barracks were recruiting soldiers these past two months. Zhang Ting had returned and informed her that Ruo Hai had enlisted and would soon rejoin the barracks.

Zhou now also understood that Yan Heng was not a subordinate of the Princely Heir but was the Princely Heir himself! She only learned of this during an outing with Zhang Ting when they happened upon him, and Zhang Ting paid his respects.

She had also learned that the Ruo Family had opened a bookstore, and those vast fields of flowers and herbs outside the East City Gate all belonged to the Ruo Family.

She could never have imagined that the Ruo Family would have a chance to turn their fortunes around—those bookstores were surely making silver. She sneaked peeks at them daily, and the saying 'a daily income worth a small fortune' seemed no exaggeration!

Now, with so many businesses, the Ruo Family was more prosperous than the Zhang Family.

Ruo Hai was always capable, and with Madam Liu's affair with the Princely Heir, who knows, he might be helped by that connection. With such a relationship, Ruo Hai might return to his official post in the barracks and lead troops to crush the remnants of the former dynasty.

Zhou was clear in her heart, Ruo Hai before his madness was a capable man, more so than her current husband. Should he make merits, there was a chance that his future ranks could surpass Zhang Ting's.

How could this be allowed? Ruo Hai's rank must not surpass Zhang Ting's, wouldn't that prove her remarriage was a mistake?

No way!

Absolutely not!

How could Madam Liu, that shameless woman, give birth to such an impressive daughter as Xuanbao?

Could an ordinary farmer's daughter truly become a Commandery Princess? Things couldn't be that easy! Even if there were merits, with Shaxi County being so distant from the capital, who knew onto whose head those merits would fall by the time they reached The Emperor?

She strongly suspected that Ruo Xuan was the biological child of the Princely Heir, and that it had been he who helped her obtain the position of Commandery Princess.

Zhou grew increasingly convinced her speculation was correct.

Pah! Does a bastard born of adultery deserve to be a Commandery Princess?

Her face filled with disdain, she suddenly had a thought—if The Emperor knew he had conferred the title of Commandery Princess on a bastard, would he charge them with the crime of deceiving the sovereign?

Ever since the loyal and brave general had been punished, the barracks were dominated by Yan Heng's words, and the officers promoted by Yan Heng were all mortal enemies of her own husband. Zhang Ting always came back saying he was overlooked in the barracks, and as long as Yan Heng was present, his hopes of becoming a general were dashed!

Would her husband have a chance for promotion if Yan Heng were punished by The Emperor?

Zhou's heart stirred with eagerness.

~

Ruo Family

After the villagers finished eating the feast, everyone left happily.

After the villagers had left, Eunuch Sun respectfully said to Ruo Xuan, "Princess Wuyou, The Emperor has also bestowed a plaque for the paper workshop. Shall it be hung up now?"

The folks of the Ruo Family were stunned to hear this, then filled with joy.

The Emperor had actually granted a plaque for the paper workshop too?

Madam Liu and Madam Jiang were still worried in their hearts that the Ruo Family lacked enough clout. Opening a bookstore had already offended some, and now launching a paper workshop would anger those two major noble families. Even though half the profits from the paper workshop were given to the Imperial Court, they remained apprehensive, as outsiders were unaware of this arrangement.

Even if they knew that the people from the two great families wouldn't dare to confront the Imperial Court, it made it all too easy for those who wanted to target the Ruo Family.

Keep in mind, the children are still studying at the Academy!

Ever since the Ruo Family had suffered at the hands of the loyal and brave General Residence, both sisters-in-law had become fearful.

Now that the Emperor had bestowed a plaque on the paper mill, it was tantamount to a medal that spared them from death.

At least those who wanted to target the Ruo Family would think twice.

Evading troubles was inevitable, as they had blocked others' path to wealth, but the death-sparing medal from the Emperor and Xuanbao being conferred the title of Commandery Princess would definitely ward off many troubles.

Ruo Xuan looked towards the old Lady Xuanyuan, "Grandmother Xuanyuan, grandmother, shall we go and hang up the plaque now? Now is noon, and once the plaque is hung, our paper mill business will prosper day by day!"

Eunuch Sun was shocked by Ruo Xuan's words. The little Commandery Princess was only four years old, and she could already say 'prosper day by day'?

Moreover, not only could she speak well, but she also knew to respect her elders.

Being in the shadow of the Empress Dowager was a secret. Here in public, her status was the highest, so naturally he had to show deference to her.

But she didn't simply agree; instead, she turned her head to ask the two eldest elders for their opinion, and she spoke words of good fortune. Such upbringing, such cleverness, was truly rare!

No wonder the Empress Dowager doted on her so much, favoring her even more than the Little Princesses and Commandery Princesses in the palace, and even the Ninth Prince couldn't compare!

Throughout the meal, he saw clearly how the Empress Dowager constantly added dishes to the little Commandery Princess's plate, even more than she added to the Ninth Prince's.

And the Ninth Prince, he was just like a little eunuch serving at the side of the little Commandery Princess. Wherever her eyes went, his chopsticks followed, understanding her better than even the Empress Dowager.

What shocked him the most was that when the Empress Dowager added dishes the little Commandery Princess didn't like, she would just take a bite, turn her head, and put it into the Ninth Prince's bowl.

The Ninth Prince, who was so cold and aloof that he desired solitude, so clean that he had a mania for cleanliness, and who hated people coming near as if he wished to live alone, just ate the food the little Commandery Princess had tasted and didn't want!

Without any signs of disgust, he ate every bit!

Keep in mind, even when the Emperor and the Empress Dowager added dishes to his plate with their used chopsticks, he wouldn't give them face unless they used serving chopsticks!

Furthermore!

As the little Commandery Princess ate, with her lips glistening with oil and her chubby little hands reaching out in front of the little Prince, then the Ninth Prince, no, the Ninth Prince quietly took out a handkerchief and wiped her mouth and little hands clean!

He served her meticulously!

More carefully than he as an eunuch served the Emperor!

Old Lady Xuanyuan laughed, "Good! Let's hang the plaque when the sun is at its zenith, and from then on, our paper mill business will indeed thrive and prosper day by day."

Madam Liu took the opportunity to take leave of Granny Lei, "You have important matters to attend to, so I will head back to the city first."

Madam Liu was in high spirits today; his daughter and son-in-law's days were getting better and better, and his granddaughter was given the title of Commandery Princess, which was like a phoenix rising to the top of a tree!

His elder daughter was also expecting another child, and if it were a son, he really had no more wishes for this life!

Ruo Xuan hurriedly tugged at him, "Grandfather, let's go together!"

Ruo Shui, Granny Lei, and others also persuaded Madam Liu to go with them to hang the plaque, and after that, they could escort him back.

Madam Liu couldn't refuse, so he agreed.

So a large group of people proceeded in a grand manner toward the paper mill to hang up the plaque!

Inscribed personally by the Emperor, the eight bold characters read "National Wuyou Paper Workshop," exuding an intimidating and inviolable authority!