CHAPTER 194: CHAPTER 194: REGRETTING IT TO THE CORE

194 Regret to the Point of Turning Stomachs Green

Zhao Zhitong’s round, bright eyes, shimmering like grapes, were fixed on Gongsun Wan. Her innocence was utterly endearing.

Gongsun Wan couldn’t help but be amused by the adorable young girl. This little one had managed to catch her attention with her fiery, direct gaze.

She laughed and asked, "So, does it carry hope and a scent, too?"

Zhao Zhitong replied, "Yes, yes, exactly! Fertile soil provides abundant crops, and with plenty of food, the farmers are ensured survival. That’s why the scent of the soil is the smell of hope for farmers."

Gongsun Wan paused briefly at that before laughing heartily. This little girl was indeed clever. She nodded and said, "Mm-hm, quite right. Your words are indeed wise."

Then she curiously inquired, "So, the vegetables your family sells are all grown here?"

Zhao Zhitong nodded eagerly. "Yes, yes, our whole family works together to grow them. The seeds are the largest and finest ones hand-picked by my mother. My father and elder brother prepare the land, while Sister Yaya and I water the crops. Xiao Ge is in charge of fertilizing..."

She prattled on ceaselessly, her childish voice making it difficult to doubt her words.

Gongsun Wan nodded thoughtfully. A child, barely five years old, was unlikely to lie. From what it seemed, Zhao Dong’s vegetables were indeed grown using this common method.

Perhaps Master Hui Neng was correct: those who could cultivate such vegetables were under divine protection.

The emperor was very pious toward Buddhism. Since she ascended the throne, at least three royal temples had been erected.

Master Hui Neng was highly trusted by the emperor, a man of high morals and reputation. When the emperor was still a concubine to the previous emperor, Master Hui Neng had predicted that she, with her unique potential, would, three generations later, inevitably replace the Xiao Clan and establish her own dynasty.

Later, the master’s predictions turned out to be accurate. Those with knowledge of these secrets within the palace highly respected his words.

Gongsun Wan heard some rumors about this matter. Thinking about it now, it seemed very likely that the Zhao Family might indeed be under divine protection.

Otherwise, why was Zhao Dong’s family the only one capable of growing these medicinal vegetables?

At this point, Zhao Zhitong remained unaware that her innocent words had helped her family evade a great predicament.

In the meantime, Sun Mei had finished preparing a feast.

Tasting Sun Mei’s cooking, Gongsun Wan’s eyes sparkled, and she praised it lavishly. No wonder Prince Liang had been so taken with a simple farm woman’s cooking. Sun Mei’s culinary skills could compete with those of the royal chefs!

After a delicious meal and a basket of radishes, Gongsun Wan left the residence satisfied. Before leaving, she conveyed the emperor’s secret decree, making Zhao Dong the official royal farmer.

In other words, while supplying the Guang Ju Restaurant with medicinal vegetables each month, they must also prepare a portion for the emperor.

Of course, Zhao Dong could only accept the order and express his gratitude.

The flurry settled once the official from the palace and message-bearing Wang Fuhai left, bringing tranquility back to the Zhao Dong’s Residence.

The peace, however, did not last long. Not long after the ancestral rites were over, villagers flocked to the gates of the Zhao Dong’s Residence to marvel at the imperial plaque.

The village patriarch and elders did not attend. After the royal proclamation had been read by Gongsun Wan, they regretted their actions bitterly.

At that moment, they were gathered in the Ancestral Hall, discussing how to win Zhao Dong back.

The Elder paced back and forth within the hall before letting out a heavy sigh. "Sigh! Our patriarch, you have been remiss this time. How could you have agreed so readily to Zhao Dong’s expulsion from the clan?"

The Fourth Elder snorted. "Elder, you are blaming the patriarch now, are you? When it was proposed that Mrs. Wang’s son should be the one to officiate the rites, didn’t you agree faster than anyone else?"

"Would the patriarch have compromised and agreed to Zhao Chun officiating the rites if it weren’t for your insistence? If he hadn’t agreed, the matter of Zhao Dong’s expulsion wouldn’t have occurred!"

The Elder glared furiously back at the Fourth Elder. "So, now you’re blaming me? When I agreed before, it was for the good of the Zhao Clan too!"

"Zhao Chun’s family has been the most successful among us. His son is about to enter the Official School, and his future prospects are promising. When I agreed, it was for the honor of the Zhao Clan..."

The Fourth Elder interrupted, "And when the patriarch agreed to remove Zhao Dong’s name, he was also thinking about the honor of the Zhao Clan. Moreover, you all agreed to expel Zhao Dong from the clan."

The Elder responded, "Who could have predicted then, that Zhao Dong, who always kept a low profile and didn’t even manage to father a son, would unexpectedly gain the emperor’s favor!"

Just as the two of them were about to come to blows, Three Elders intervened and stopped their fighting. He said, "Enough! Enough! What’s the use of arguing now?"

The Fourth Elder snorted, closed his mouth, and turned away.

The Elder paced angrily a few more times before sitting down in a huff.

Only then did Three Elders speak again. "Our priority isn’t to assign blame. We need to think of a way to make amends and persuade Zhao Dong’s family to come back."

The other clan members agreed, nodding their heads in unison.

"Yes, yes. Zhao Dong must remain a member of the Zhao Clan!"

"That’s right! Zhao Dong has always been soft-hearted and kind. We should go and comfort him. If that doesn’t work, we can apologize. Regardless of the method, Zhao Dong’s family must return to the Zhao Clan!"

"I concur, the imperial plaque bestowed by the emperor should be hung in our Ancestral Hall. It is unheard of to have it on the door of a residence!"

Listening to the chorus of agreement, the patriarch sighed and then spoke, "You all seem to think that Zhao Dong is the same person from before, but he isn’t."

"We previously supported Mrs. Wang’s family and wronged Zhao Dong’s family. We even chose to abandon him in order to support Zhao Chun. Zhao Dong naturally resents this. Even if we go and apologize now, he may not come back."

"What should we do now? Perhaps we can employ threats and persuasion..."

The elders of the clan began discussing shameful strategies.

They were only considering the honor of the clan, failing to notice the shamelessness of their conduct.

Only when the patriarch firmly commanded that nobody could approach Zhao Dong concerning this issue were they finally silenced, though many of them were clearly dissatisfied.

The patriarch then solemnly said, "Previously, because Zhao Chun’s son was destined for greatness, we showed favoritism toward Zhao Chun, letting him lead the ritual in Zhao Dong’s place. We even agreed to have him expelled from the clan for Zhao Chun’s sake."

"Now, seeing that he has the emperor’s favor, we run towards him again. Aren’t you afraid that once this gets out, it will humiliate the Zhao Clan! Honor can be reclaimed. But once face is lost, it will truly be disgraceful."