Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 619: Meeting at the Banquet (1)
Nangong Xiu appeared genteel and frail, like a scholar who might be blown away by a mere breeze, yet unexpectedly, his martial arts prowess was incredibly formidable.
"Don’t worry, I will handle this matter carefully," Dugu Chen said, seeking to comfort his wife upon seeing the worry on her face.
"Yes." Her mood was subdued, not as bright and enthusiastic as before.
Seeing that his wife was still listless, he threw out a question to divert her attention, "Speaking of which, what are your plans regarding the Sunset Kingdom?"
"Well, the problem of infertile land is easy to solve, as long as the ground isn’t all shattered stones, there won’t be an issue. Even sandy soil can produce crops."
"You mean you want to go to the Sunset Kingdom?" Dugu Chen immediately tensed up, his eyes widening as he asked the person in his arms.
Feng Xuxu turned to look at him and nodded seriously, "This is the conclusion I came to after thinking it over all night since hearing Lou Qianyu’s words yesterday. For the sake of the diplomatic alliance and peaceful coexistence between the two nations, this is the best approach. Secondly, I don’t want to give them the method for high-yield rice cultivation. Since I can’t give it to them and can’t bear to watch so many people die, the problem must be solved at the root, which is the land. Nobody knows this matter better than I do, so it’s absolutely necessary for me to go."
After listening to her, he was silent for a long while. He was all too aware of his wife’s noble intentions; she feared that one day, the Sunset Kingdom might grow powerful and turn against them, especially in the current delicate balance of power between the two countries.
"If that is my wife’s wish, then I will accompany you."
"That won’t do. I’ll go alone. Just two more months until the New Year, and there are too many matters in the court; you can’t be running back and forth. Even if you go, you won’t be of help. Also, don’t forget to remind the Prefecture Governments to clear the silt from the rivers come early spring. I’ve already drawn up the blueprints for the reservoirs, but as for the specifics, I still haven’t worked it out. You need to find a reliable person from the Ministry of Works to review these plans. If they seem feasible, you must start preparing ahead of time."
After hearing his wife’s words and pondering them for a while, he felt deeply reluctant to let his wife travel such a long distance, but the matter was urgent, "Wife, I don’t want you to travel arduously. Let’s not go to the Sunset Kingdom; I will reject Lou Qianyu shortly."
Feng Xuxu glared affectionately at Dugu Chen, "Don’t be willful now; I will make the trip as quickly as possible, handle the matter, and then return at utmost speed."
"You really are going?"
"Yes, I can’t just stand by and watch the people starve. My conscience would weigh heavily on me."
Seeing that his wife had made up her mind and was determined to go, Dugu Chen didn’t say anything more, his arms tightly hugging her, his heart filled with reluctance.
Feng Xuxu nestled silently in his embrace, the first imminent separation since giving birth to their child, feeling equally unwilling to part. The two sat in silence in the Imperial Study, listening to each other’s heartbeat until nightfall, finally walking out hand in hand, shoulder to shoulder, heading towards Yangxin Hall.
That very night, as they lay on the bed, perhaps feeling guilty about having to leave for a while and likely being absent for the New Year with her beloved, Feng Xuxu’s heart was overcome with a sense of guilt towards him, and so she took the initiative, passionately inviting him, the moonlight outside bashfully hiding behind the clouds. After the passion, they fell asleep in each other’s embrace, without a word spoken all night.
The next day, when Dugu Chen mentioned his wife’s intention to go to the Sunset Kingdom, he nearly drove Lou Qianyu to excitement, causing him to almost knock over the teacup on the small table, "Brother Dugu, has the lady specified when she plans to depart? I... I need to make preparations."
Dugu Chen looked at him indifferently, his voice cold, "Nothing’s been decided yet. Brother Lou, please remain calm and stay in the palace for now, and wait for news."
