novelaction Chapter 421 Cotton for Warmth
Chapter 421 Cotton for Warmth
"Ahem, I didn't mean it."
It was Murong Xun's first time apologizing, and to a clueless little woman no less, so he felt a little uncomfortable.
However, considering how aggrieved she looked after being bumped into, I decided not to argue with her.
Xue Ruanruan felt like her nose was about to fall off. She endured the pain, her eyes reddening, and looked at the imposing man in front of her, wanting to scold him but not daring to.
Her fear of him from her past life was ingrained in her bones. Although she sometimes showed him no respect and called him by his name, she still didn't have the courage to do anything audacious in front of him.
Seeing her clearly wanting to get angry but not daring to, Murong Xun couldn't help but smile slightly, forming a perfect arc.
This young woman may not show it on her face, but she's probably cursing him in her heart.
Looking across the entire Chu-Qin Kingdom, she was the only one who dared to be so disrespectful to him.
Now even the Empress Dowager has to be polite to him and doesn't dare to confront him directly, but she's getting bolder and bolder.
If it were anyone else, they would probably have been beheaded by now.
For some reason, he just couldn't bring himself to hurt her.
The man was tall and slender, and his jade brocade robe with cloud patterns made him look even more noble, like a high and mighty emperor.
The words, though meant to be an apology, gave off a sense of aloofness and disdain.
"If Your Highness has anything else to say, please say it all at once."
Xue Ruanruan touched her nose, which had been hurt from the impact, her tone revealing her resentment.
"Didn't you ask me for cotton seeds last time?"
Murong Xun's lips curled up, his dark eyes filled with laughter, knowing that this young woman was scolding him.
"You found it so quickly?"
Xue Ruanruan, who had been harboring resentment towards Murong Xun, suddenly widened her almond-shaped eyes, her face filled with surprise.
She never expected such a big surprise. She hadn't expected to find it so quickly, since in her previous life she had gone through many twists and turns and spent a lot of money to buy a pot of cotton from a merchant from the Western Regions.
After she brought it back to the manor, everyone said she was crazy, spending so much gold for a pot of flowers. Murong Luo, after hearing Shen Yuanxiang's gossip, flew into a rage at her.
She originally wanted to tell him about the benefits of cotton, but before she could even open her mouth to explain, Murong Luo interrupted her. After several such attempts, she lost the will to explain.
Later, when the space jade pendant was stolen, she also lost the opportunity to grow cotton.
Now reborn, she wants to seize the initiative and plant cotton on a large scale in the space. Whether it is woven into cloth, made into cotton clothes, used to stop bleeding, or pressed for oil, it will be beneficial to her in every way.
Even the capital city is experiencing continuous blizzards, not to mention the border regions thousands of miles away. I wonder if Father and Elder Brother have been found, and whether the supplies entrusted to Xiao Dongjia have reached the border.
Are you questioning my efficiency?
Murong Xun's expression turned solemn, his eyelids slightly lowered, and a chill emanated from his body.
"This humble woman dares not, Your Highness, please calm your anger."
Xue Ruanruan quickly knelt down to pay her respects, secretly blaming herself for being too careless and forgetting that this man's temper was extremely unpredictable.
"Get up."
Knowing he had frightened the person, Murong Xun felt a strange sense of pleasure, like teasing a pet, which made the person feel comfortable.
"Thank you, Your Majesty"
Xue Ruanruan broke out in a cold sweat, her face pale, but she cursed the other person in her heart again.
"Is Miss Xue insulting me?"
As if on purpose, Murong Xun looked at her with a half-smile, his dark, deep eyes flashing with a sharp light that seemed to see through everything.
"This humble woman dares not."
Xue Ruanruan became completely obedient, realizing that this man was not so easily fooled; he could even guess what she was thinking.
Of all people to provoke, she had to pick on this plague god.
Having finally been reborn, I must take good care of my life.
"I hope so. We haven't collected many cotton seeds yet. We'll make up for it when we collect more."
Murong Xun smiled, and his large, slender hand emerged from his sleeve, revealing a cluster of cotton seeds.
It really is cotton seed!
This allows for large-scale planting within a given space, and if the crops grow well, two harvests can be made before the end of the year.
Xue Ruanruan excitedly reached out to take the cotton seeds from his palm. Her slender fingertips touched the man's warm palm, and she trembled violently as if struck by lightning.
Her face flushed crimson, as if filled with blood.
Looking up at the other person, she felt that their dark eyes were like a bottomless abyss, almost burying her completely.
"Thank you, Your Highness."
Realizing she had been impolite, Xue Ruanruan quickly composed herself and gave the other person a proper bow.
Murong Xun remained silent for a long time, leaving her unsure of how to respond.
After a long while, the man's deep, hoarse voice was heard, "If you need anything in the future, just ask. As long as it exists in this world, I will find it for you."
Xue Ruanruan's tranquil heart was like a stone thrown into a still lake, causing ripples to spread.
"Yes, I know."
"Does this cotton really have a warming effect?"
The reason she told people to hurry up and search for cotton seeds everywhere was because she said it had the effect of keeping warm.
Currently, the Chu and Qin states are suffering from continuous snow disasters, and the people are starving and freezing. If there were something that could keep them warm, it could save many lives.
Even if it doesn't grow well this year, it won't be afraid of getting cold in winter.
"Yes, Your Highness is certain that this cotton has the effect of keeping warm. If Your Highness does not trust me, you can wait for some time. Once I have made cotton clothes, you will know its effect."
Xue Ruanruan's expression was serious and earnest, without the slightest hint of joking.
Murong Xun raised an eyebrow. He hadn't had high hopes, but he hadn't expected her to be so serious.
Of course, if it's true, that would be wonderful. It can then be widely promoted, so that people won't have to endure the cold winter anymore.
"Just wait a few days?"
Murong Xun immediately noticed the unusualness in her words. According to the normal seasons, even cotton could only be planted next spring, when the snow melted and the weather warmed up.
With snow covering the fields and the biting wind blowing, the land is frozen solid. How can cotton be planted under such conditions?
As far as he knew, cotton was not cold-resistant.
"Yes, Your Highness need not inquire how I did it; simply wait quietly for the outcome."
Seeing the doubt in Murong Xun's eyes, Xue Ruanruan immediately dismissed his idea.
Although she knew that Murong Xun would not deceive her, and would not covet her treasures like that despicable Murong Luo.
The lessons learned in her past life were too painful for her to easily reveal the matter of the spatial dimension.
Apart from her closest relatives, even Murong Xun had to undergo her investigation before making a decision.
"Very well, I will not interfere with anything further and will only wait for the results. If cotton can be successfully grown, you can name your terms."
This was the biggest concession Murong Xun could make, and it also showed his extreme trust in her.
"Is Your Highness truly telling the truth?"
Xue Ruanruan's eyes suddenly lit up, and she stared intently into those dark and deep eyes.
Her slender, porcelain-white fingers slowly tightened, as she tried her best to suppress the excitement in her heart.
If she can name any conditions, can she ask for a get-out-of-jail-free card?
May the Xue clan live in peace and stability for generations to come.
"Since I have made a promise, I will never go back on my word."
Murong Xun glanced at her indifferently, put his arms behind his back, and looked up at the bright and clear sky.
The sky, which usually looks gloomy, seems different now.
"Then Your Highness, please wait for the results. Within ten days, I will surely be able to grow cotton."
Even after her rebirth, she is still frequently awakened by nightmares, the scenes in which are so realistic that she almost cannot bear them.
Because the Xue clan's fate was inextricably linked to her.
The guilt was suffocating her; she was desperate to save her people from the danger.
Murong Xun's promise reassured her that as long as she made good use of the space, she could ensure the safety of her clan and the General's Mansion for life, which was simply too good to pass up.
"Very well, I await your good news."
After saying that, he walked straight towards the front yard.
Xue Ruanruan, wearing a bright red cloak, followed closely behind, the two of them separated by exactly two steps.
The ground was covered in white snow, and the red and black colors against the white backdrop were breathtakingly beautiful.
Murong Xun had a tall and straight posture and long strides. When he saw that she couldn't keep up, he would deliberately slow down and wait for her.
The surroundings were covered in white snow, and two figures walked slowly forward, one in front of the other.
In the front courtyard of the General's Mansion, Old Madam Xue looked at her granddaughter, who had been gone for a long time, and her eyes were filled with anxiety.
I wonder where my little darling has gone. She hasn't come back yet, and it's almost time for the banquet to start. All the guests are waiting, and it's driving me crazy with worry.
Just as he was about to call Granny Fang to go find someone, he saw two figures, one in red and one in black, walking out of the backyard.
When they finally saw the face of the black-clad figure, they were so startled that they jumped up from their chairs.
It was the Regent!
A look of doubt flashed in Madam Xue's cloudy eyes. Why would the Regent go to the backyard?
"Is the old lady feeling unwell?"
Princess Lingjun looked at the old lady who had suddenly stood up, her expression worried.
"It's alright, I just suddenly remembered that I forgot to tell you something. Granny Fang, go to the backyard and see how the dishes are prepared. Once the guests are seated, we can start serving the dishes."
"Yes, Madam, this old servant will go to the backyard to take a look."
Fang Mama accepted the order and quickly walked out of the side hall.
The main hall was filled with laughter and chatter as guests drank tea and talked, occasionally praising the tea.
Seeing that Master Jin had drunk his fill of tea, Headmaster Ren couldn't help but remind him that if he was full, he wouldn't be able to eat any more dishes.
Master Jin suddenly awoke with a start, pushing his teacup aside and secretly blaming himself for being too careless. He shouldn't have been so captivated by the aroma of tea in the General's Mansion that he had forgotten how delicious the dishes inside were.
Seeing his appearance, Master Wang smiled faintly and remained silent.
Ever since I tasted Miss Xue's cooking that day, I haven't been able to forget it and have lost my appetite for other foods.
My stomach has been empty for the past few days, all for the sake of having a big meal today.
The tea at the General's Mansion is excellent, but the old clan chief has agreed that we can take some back and savor it later.
The food at the General's Mansion is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
Xue Ruanruan returned to the side hall and quietly instructed Luoxue to ask the Regent if a banquet could be held.
The moment Murong Xun appeared, the main hall, which had been filled with laughter and chatter, fell silent.
The imperial son-in-law Xu Ye was not afraid of his brother-in-law, but the two had completely different personalities and had rarely sat together over the years.
"Let's begin the banquet."
Murong Xun pretended not to notice everyone's change in expression and said coldly.
"Yes, Your Highness, I will have the dishes prepared immediately."
The old clan chief, suppressing his fear, his hands trembling slightly, instructed the servant to go to the kitchen to tell them to start serving the dishes.
Just as the servants cleared away the tea set and fruit plate from the table, they saw servants and maids lined up in two rows outside the courtyard, carrying trays as they came from the kitchen.
The first dishes served were six cold dishes that Xue Ruanruan had personally prepared yesterday: seafood marinated in a special sauce, refreshing double crisp, cold beef salad, garlic pork belly, spinach and vermicelli, fried peanuts, and cold eggplant salad.