Chapter Nine: The Flower Cultivation Base

After receiving the 1,500 taels silver note from Zhao Guoji for selling flowers, Qin Mingyue took out 500 taels to keep as an emergency fund and gave the remaining 1,000 taels to Zhao Guoji, allotting 300 taels as a household subsidy.

“There are still 700 taels left. Big brother, you can build a greenhouse following the method I wrote down. It will be used specifically for cultivating flowers. I will provide you with the seeds, and if the money isn’t enough, I’ll earn more later,” Qin Mingyue said as she handed the 700-tael silver notes to Zhao Guoji.

“This... none of us have ever grown these before. If they all die, wouldn’t that be a shame?” Zhao Guoji hesitated.

“They’re just flower seedlings. I’ve written down the care instructions. You and our parents just need to study them carefully. Keeping these seedlings alive won’t be a problem. Besides, once the greenhouse is built, you can try planting some vegetable seedlings as well. Then you can rent a stall in the capital to sell both flowers and vegetables conveniently,” Qin Mingyue’s words struck a chord with Zhao Guoji.

Since leaving the Jia household, Zhao Guoji had been uneasy, fearing he wouldn’t be able to support his entire family. Now, Qin Mingyue had given him hope, and naturally, he was reluctant to give up.

The vegetable seeds and flower seedlings Qin Mingyue brought back had been nurtured with spiritual energy for a while, making them drought- and frost-resistant. With a greenhouse, it wouldn’t be difficult to survive the winter, though the survival rate might be somewhat lower.

This time, Zhao Guoji pushed a wooden cart loaded with goods out. The gatekeeper looked on disdainfully. “What’s your problem? Do you really think the Jia household belongs to you? Always coming here to mooch. Next time, if you do this again, just go back and be a servant. The household has to support you and your family even after letting you out!”

“Yes! Yes! There’s no other way. There’s barely any work to earn money in winter. This will be the last time, I promise. Our whole family has to rely on this to get through the winter. Please, big brother, have some mercy,” Zhao Guoji said nervously, as this time he had brought many things and worried about being searched.

“Fine, get lost quickly!” The gatekeeper weighed the few copper coins in his hand and, though they seemed few, was too eager to go drink to bother checking Zhao Guoji’s cart thoroughly.

“Master, Zhao Guoji went to the Jia household again and secretly brought a cartload of flower seedlings and vegetable seeds. Our men found a note written by that concubine from the Rongguo Mansion,” the steward reported the findings to Xiao Junchi.

“This paper details their winter flower-growing method. Have the household gardeners try it out. Keep monitoring them,” Xiao Junchi said with a hint of curiosity about Qin Mingyue. It was surprising that a concubine of slave origin had such skill, though that was all the interest he had.

“The Crown Prince’s men investigated the Zhao family. Our men helped clear their suspicion. Currently, the Rongguo Mansion’s concubine and the Zhao family haven’t been exposed. Any other orders, master?” the steward asked.

“Don’t let the Crown Prince find out yet. Clean up their tracks; they might be useful to us in the future,” Xiao Junchi replied knowingly. If the Zhao family were discovered, given the Crown Prince’s vengeful nature, their fate would be grim. The Rongguo Mansion would likely sacrifice the concubine to appease the Crown Prince’s wrath, leaving no chance of survival. But since they might still be useful, he was willing to lend a hand.

“Understood!”

“Fourth brother! I’ve come to see you!” Xiao Junji arrived at the Prince Gong Mansion with a cart full of gifts, making a grand entrance.

“Why do you have time to visit my residence today?” Xiao Junchi didn’t even shift his gaze. He already knew what his brother was up to.

“Fourth brother, I was wrong. I acted rashly and caused you to be punished by Father and confined for so long, unable to go anywhere. You must be frustrated! I’ve come to keep you company and cheer you up,” Xiao Junji said earnestly, apologizing as he leaned close.

“Will you come into conflict with the Crown Prince again?”

“Well... I’m not sure. The Crown Prince is truly arrogant. I just can’t hold back!” Xiao Junji’s frank answer didn’t surprise Xiao Junchi. Knowing this stubborn mule well, he wouldn’t give up so easily. Such a fiery temper was more a liability than a blessing.

“Hurry up and take your pile of gifts away, or I’m afraid I won’t be able to leave Prince Gong’s mansion until the New Year,” Xiao Junchi said, pointing at the gifts.

“Don’t! Fourth brother, I promise to behave myself for a while so you can have a peaceful New Year. Humph! It’s Father’s favoritism that punished you just because I overshadowed the Crown Prince. He should have punished me instead! I’m the one who brought the flowers, so why take it out on you? And to say you’re extravagant, just look at how much silver the Eastern Palace spends monthly—probably enough to buy countless flowers! It’s infuriating!” Xiao Junji grew more agitated, seeming ready to pick a fight with the Crown Prince again.

“You’re always idle and just know how to stir trouble. What kind of conduct is that? Father’s favoritism toward the Crown Prince didn’t start yesterday. If you can’t even tolerate this, how can you stand your ground at court? You’d be better off leaving the capital soon. With your brain, you can’t outplay the Crown Prince,” Xiao Junchi said helplessly about his undisciplined younger brother, preferring him to be far away from trouble.

“No, I’ll stay to help you, Fourth brother. Leaving now is out of the question,” Xiao Junji quickly corrected himself, afraid his brother would take him seriously.

“What help can you offer? At least don’t be a burden to me. Go back and stop being a nuisance,” Xiao Junchi replied dismissively.

“Alright, I’ll come see you again in a few days,” Xiao Junji accepted defeat and left Prince Gong’s mansion shortly after.

“My men have escorted Prince Sheng back,” the steward remarked, watching his master’s awkward expression, knowing he cared about Prince Sheng.

“Fifth brother’s temper is too reckless. Knowing I’m under house arrest and still carelessly came to visit, he’ll probably face many accusations after today,” Xiao Junchi said with a headache. He had to assign someone to watch over his foolish younger brother tomorrow.

Zhao Guoji returned home pulling a heavily loaded cart, shut the door, and gathered his son, daughter-in-law, and parents to discuss matters.

“Your sister still thinks of us? That’s rare. We used to see her as proud and looked down on us slaves. Now that the family’s living like this, it’s all thanks to her maneuvering in the household. Eldest son, you can’t neglect your sister anymore!” Old Zhao said emotionally, clutching his son’s arm.

“Father! Am I that kind of person? As long as I have breath, I won’t let my sister fend for herself. Otherwise, what kind of man would I be?” Zhao Guoji swore, calming his parents before slowly explaining the plan to build the greenhouse and grow flowers and vegetables.

“This method will probably cost a lot, and our little Tiger still has to go to school!” Zhao Guoji’s wife was the first to object. Though she knew the younger sister’s intentions were good, this money concerned their son’s future and was not to be touched lightly.

“Alright, no need to touch Tiger’s schooling funds. Look, these are the earnings from the flowers your sister sold. She gave us 400 taels, and there are 700 taels for building the greenhouse. We’ll keep 100 taels for Tiger’s education and invest the remaining 300 taels into making the greenhouse bigger. How about that?”

The Zhao family was stunned by Zhao Guoji’s bold move, staring wide-eyed at the silver notes.

“Goodness, pinch me! Are there really 1,000 taels sitting right here on the table?” They hardly believed their eyes, as if dreaming.

“It’s real, truer than pearls. Look at you, such small ambitions!” Zhao Guoji proudly boasted, refusing to admit that his initial timid acceptance of the money was just like his wife’s.

“Enough. Two people can’t sleep in one bed and act so differently. Let’s quickly handle what your sister instructed. Maybe this is her fallback plan. If we’re going to do it, let’s do it well,” Old Zhao was clear-sighted. At their age, having food and clothing was enough, but he still worried about the daughter still in the household. If she was doing well, she wouldn’t have thought about a fallback so early.