Under the Emperor’s control, the news of God-given corn seeds soon spread throughout the capital and spread to other places.

A man of destiny, the destined heir to the throne, has put all the previous rumors to rest.

If he was not a real heir, how could God give him a seed?

When the common people heard that the improved seeds could produce thousands of kilograms per acre, they couldn’t help but get excited.

Some people ran outside their gates and knelt to thank God and the emperor.

They just hope that after the imperial family grows corn next year, everyone can plant it in all prefectures.

The Emperor did not deliberately hide the existence of the Old Priest. After all, there was nothing to be afraid of a person who was no longer in the world.

It can also enhance the credibility of God-given seeds.

Therefore, the story about The Old Immortal Priest in Xiaxi Village spread throughout the whole of Daliang.

Gradually, many people came to offer incense from other places.

Four days later, several carriages entered the capital.

Mo Qingling received the news and went to the city gate to pick up people in person.

He looked at Xiao Hanzheng and smiled: “You’re finally here.”

He further invited: “I have a courtyard in the capital. While you are in the capital, please stay at my place first.”

Just as Xiao Hanzheng was about to speak, Master Hou, who got off the carriage from behind, spoke first: “I also have a yard in the capital. They can live with me.”

He was Xiao Hanzheng’s teacher. When students come to the capital, of course, they have to live with him.

He added: “By the way, I want to introduce to him some of my old friends, and also his three senior brothers.”

As soon as Mo Qingling heard this, he knew that Master Hou wanted to expand Xiao Hanzheng’s connection.

He said with a smile: “It’s naturally best for Jinyu to go to Master Hou’s Mansion.”

Fei Congjun, who originally wanted to invite Xiao Hanzheng and his wife to the Fei Family’s Mansion, stopped doing so after hearing what they said.

Mo Qingling thought for a while and said: “You go to Hou Family’s Mansion to freshen up, and then follow me into the palace to pay homage to the Emperor.”

Xiao Hanzheng cupped his hands to Mo Qingling: “Okay, I’m sorry to trouble you, Young Master!”

Fei Congjun returned to the Fei Family’s Mansion, while Xiao Hanzheng and his wife went to Master Hou’s residence in the capital.

Master Hou’s wife has passed away. He has a son and two daughters.

His son was working as a governor in another place, and his family members were also there.

Both his daughters were married long ago.

Hence, the house in the capital was only guarded by some servants.

Master Hou asked the housekeeper to arrange for Xiao Hanzheng and his wife to live in the guest courtyard next to the main courtyard. This also represents a kind of attention.

Xiao Hanzheng and the others freshened up and followed Mo Qingling into the palace.

Because they sent a notice in advance, they met the Emperor smoothly.

The Emperor was in the Qinzheng Hall.

This was equivalent to the study room where the Emperor worked.

After entering, the three of them immediately saluted.

“Greetings to His Majesty!”

The Emperor put down the memorial in his hand and looked up at Xiao Hanzheng and Shi Qingluo.

Both of them were very good-looking and had outstanding temperaments.

Those who didn’t know thought they were young masters or young ladies from certain aristocratic families.

However, the Emperor was not surprised. Firstly, he had informants in Nanxi County, and secondly, he felt that Xiao Hanzheng and his wife, who had caused a lot of commotion, could not be too ordinary.

Otherwise, they will let him down.

He raised his hand and said, “Sit down!”

He first looked at Shi Qingluo with a smile and asked: “I have received your master’s wishes. I will send someone to burn incense for your master on my behalf.”

Shi Qingluo was a modern soul, so she did not tremble when she saw the Emperor.

She smiled slightly and said: “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor thought that she was indeed an apprentice trained by an experienced Taoist. She was indeed extraordinary.

He added with a gentle look on his face: “The God-given corn, after it is planted in Daliang, can fill the stomachs of most people. This is a great achievement.”

He changed the topic and asked: “What reward do you want?”

In the past two days, he has also been thinking about what to reward the two of them, but he can’t make up his mind.

The Emperor had a relatively good impression of Xiao Hanzheng and his wife.

The things they offered like cement and corn have benefited the country and the people.

The most important thing was that this god-given seed came just in time and solved the trouble of those rumors for him.

If the reward is too high, it will be too eye-catching.

The Emperor knew very well that behind the glory there was danger.

He had read Xiao Hanzheng’s policy essay sent by his eyeliner and thought he was a talent, and he wanted to cultivate him for himself.

Now there were some irreconcilable conflicts between the aristocratic families and the imperial family. The Emperor wants to promote a group of officials from poor families, break some of the monopolies of the aristocratic families, and suppress the big families.

If the reward is too high, Xiao Hanzheng will be suppressed by the family.

Xiao Hanzheng was too weak now and had limited resistance. This was not what he wanted to see.

However, if the reward is too ordinary, it will appear that he doesn’t pay attention to the God-given seeds.

So this reward gave him a headache.

In the end, his niece came up with the idea and asked him to ask Xiao Hanzheng and his wife what they wanted.

He thought this method was good, as long as it is within his bottom line, it doesn’t matter as long as it satisfies both of them.

It was also a good time to test how the two of them will choose after suddenly getting such a big opportunity, and whether it would be necessary for him to reuse Xiao Hanzheng in the future.

Shi Qingluo was a little surprised that the Emperor asked this, but it didn’t matter.

She smiled calmly and replied: “This is a god-given seed prepared by the master for the Emperor. This commoner lady only planted it to fulfill the master’s wish, so it is not considered a great achievement.”

The Emperor said firmly: “Although it is your master who deserves the most credit, you also deserve a lot of credit. I allow both you and your husband to ask for a reward.”

When Shi Qingluo heard what he said, she was no longer polite.

“Can the Emperor reward this commoner lady, with a village with mountains on the outskirts of the capital?”

In the future, when her husband passes the imperial examination or becomes an official, they will have to go to the capital to live.

A village in the mountains on the outskirts of the capital was not only expensive but also impossible to buy without some power.

So it would be better to get this as a reward. If she asks for this, the Emperor won’t think she is arrogant.

The Emperor was stunned for a moment: “You want a village with a mountain?”

This request was too simple.

This apprentice was not a greedy person, very good!

Shi Qingluo thought about it again and said tentatively: “It would be better if there is also a hot spring.”

At Hot Spring Village, she can soak in hot springs in autumn and winter, and plant some vegetables and fruits around it. She can also eat fresh vegetables in winter.

The Emperor laughed and said, “Okay, then I will reward you with a village with hot springs and mountains.”

He heard before that Xiao Hanzheng’s wife likes mountains, but he didn’t expect it to be true.

This request was too low. So he would ask his people to go to the suburbs of the capital to choose a large villa with hot springs and reward it to Shi Qingluo.

Then he looked at Xiao Hanzheng and asked: “What reward do you want?”

Xiao Hanzheng could see that the Emperor was determined to reward them, and of course, he also wanted to test him.

So he didn’t show any pretense. He thought about it and said: “Your Majesty, can this student take a look through the examination papers of the imperial examinations in recent years?”

The Emperor was stunned again, “You want to read the examination papers in recent years to prepare for the upcoming imperial examination?”

Xiao Hanzheng said truthfully: “This is one of the reasons. This student wants to compile a test booklet according to the questions on the previous annual examination test.”

The Emperor asked puzzled: “Test booklet?”

Xiao Hanzheng explained, “Based on the original question types and content of the previous annual examination test, I wanted to imitate some similar questions.”

Then he spoke about his wife’s ideas and the thoughts he had instilled in a way that the Emperor could accept.

Shi Qinglou’s eyes, which were sitting on the side, lit up as she listened. So is the ancient version of the “five-year simulation of the three-year college entrance examination” about to be born?

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