Rebirth: Phoenix Riding the Ninth Heaven

The Fourth Prince sat alone in the spacious, somewhat deserted hall. A long moment had passed. His brow furrowed, his gaze fixed on the horizon, his mind swirling like surging ocean waves. Time slipped by quietly, and before he knew it, the sky outside the window was gradually enveloped by dusk, approaching complete darkness.

The pig's trotter, who had been waiting nearby, saw the Fourth Prince lost in thought for a long time without moving, and couldn't help but feel a little worried, but he didn't dare to disturb him rashly. Finally, when night was about to fall, the pig's trotter cautiously stepped forward and said softly, "Your Highness, it's dark now, and it's time for dinner. Do you want to serve the food?"

Upon hearing this, the Fourth Prince slowly came to his senses from his deep thoughts. He raised his head and gazed out the window at the nearly pitch-black sky, his face expressionless as he said calmly, "Go and invite Master Baili here. I wish to dine with him."

Zhuti nodded in agreement, then turned and walked quickly towards Bailixi's residence. Before long, he arrived at Bailixi's door. He paused, straightened his clothes, and then raised his hand to gently knock on the door.

Baili Xi's slightly puzzled voice came from inside the room: "Who is it?"

Zhu Qi quickly replied, "It's me, Zhu Qi. The Fourth Prince invites you to dine with him in the front hall."

Just as he finished speaking, there was a slight noise from inside the door, and then the door opened, and Baili Xi appeared at the doorway. He smiled and said to Zhu Qi, "Since the Fourth Prince has invited me, I will go with you." After saying that, he took a big step and followed Zhu Qi closely, heading towards the front hall.

Baili Xi walked briskly into the spacious and bright hall. He quickly glanced around and saw the Fourth Prince sitting alone, quietly at the dining table. However, the food on the table was untouched, as if he was still waiting for someone to arrive.

Baili Xi thought to himself: "Why is the Fourth Prince here alone?" Full of doubts, he hurried forward.

The Fourth Prince looked up and saw Baili Xi. His face instantly lit up with joy. He waved his hand and shouted, "Come quickly! Master Baili, come and dine with me!"

Upon hearing this, Baili Xi stopped being coy and casually lifted the hem of his robe and sat down at the table with confidence.

Seeing him seated safely, the Fourth Prince reached out to pick up his bowl and chopsticks. With deft and graceful movements, he picked up the stir-fried cabbage closest to him and placed it in the bowl. He then turned to Baili Xi with a smile and said, "Don't be restrained. Feel free to add whatever you want."

Baili Xi smiled faintly and replied, "Thank you, Fourth Prince." He was already ravenous, his stomach rumbling from time to time. But even so, he maintained a certain composure, leisurely savoring the dishes closest to him. He savored each bite with relish, and though he seemed to be wolfing it down, his eating manner was still elegant and respectable.

The Fourth Prince watched with great interest as Baili Xi devoured his meal. Somehow, his initially irritated mood gradually improved. He had no desire to discuss other matters; he simply wanted to focus on the warm and peaceful meal before him.

So, the Fourth Prince said no more, but just accompanied Baili Xi wholeheartedly to enjoy the simple but delicious meal on the table. Although the meal was not luxurious and rich, it was just an ordinary five dishes and one soup - two meat dishes, three vegetarian dishes and a bowl of soup. But in this ordinary, there was a special kind of warmth and comfort.

After finishing his meal, Baili Xi slowly put down his bowl and chopsticks, casually glancing at the Fourth Prince. He noticed the Fourth Prince staring intently at him, a look that seemed to conceal a profound meaning. He calmly took his handkerchief and gently wiped the corner of his mouth. Then, with a casual air, he said, "Your Highness, if there's anything I can do for you, please feel free to ask."

When the Fourth Prince heard this, a faint smile appeared on his face. He looked at Baili Xi with interest and asked, "Oh? How do you know that I have asked you to come here to ask for something?" There was a hint of curiosity and temptation in his words.

Baili Xi shook his head slightly, sighed softly, and replied, "Your Highness is a member of the royal family, and you are usually busy with your duties. If there is nothing important, why would you summon me to dinner for no reason? Moreover, given Your Highness's wisdom, I am sure he would not summon me just for a meal. Therefore, I dare to guess that there must be something important that needs to be entrusted to me."

Seeing Baili Xi's frankness and extraordinary intelligence, the Fourth Prince secretly praised him. He stopped beating around the bush and went straight to the point, "To be honest, I've recently received news from the Great Khan of the Northwest that there's a food shortage in their territory, and the situation is extremely critical. I've been thinking about it, and I'd like you to help me with some advice on whether we can raise some more food support from other places. My eldest and second brothers in the capital did send a batch of food and money, but in recent months, their contributions have been decreasing. Now facing this drought, I'm really worried about whether we can survive safely! That's why I called you here, hoping you can help me solve this problem."

Baili Xi listened quietly to the other party's words, then slowly lowered his head. A hand gently stroked his chin, his brow furrowed slightly, and he fell into a brief moment of contemplation. After a moment, he raised his head, his gaze firm and calm, and spoke: "The money and food sent by the company and Prince Er are dwindling. This is not a good solution! Although the current priority is to deal with the famine, this is by no means a long-term solution. In my opinion, we must take a two-pronged approach.

First, we must mobilize all available resources. Whether it's food, shelter, or daily necessities, we must strive to provide everything we need. Your Highness will personally oversee this matter to ensure it goes smoothly. Second, we can't rely solely on external aid. We must find ways to find fast-growing and cold-resistant foods for the local people. This way, even without sufficient external aid, the people won't starve. Fourth Prince, do you know of any foods that have a fast growth cycle and are cold-resistant? As long as the people can fill their stomachs and see hope in life, they will naturally avoid such impulsive and irrational actions."

The fourth prince Chen Sheng frowned and shouted anxiously, "Where can we find it? We must find those foods with short growth cycles and quick maturity as soon as possible!" He paced back and forth, his expression becoming more and more solemn.

Baili Xi, who was standing by, observed this and after a moment's thought, said, "Your Highness, regarding the food you mentioned, I actually know of a species. It's not only delicious, but also grows extremely fast."

When the Fourth Prince heard this, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He quickly stepped forward and asked, "Tell me! What exactly is it?"

Baili Xi no longer hesitated and quickly replied, "It's a kind of wood ear mushroom. They only need to be kept in a moist environment and will mature in just half a month."

When the Fourth Prince heard that it would take so little time, hope instantly ignited in his heart. He asked in disbelief, "How can mushrooms grow so fast?"

Baili Xi nodded confidently and replied, "That's right, Your Highness. This is indeed true. However..." He paused for a moment, looking troubled as he continued, "However, these are just dishes, not staple foods."

After hearing this, the Fourth Prince waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "It doesn't matter! Even if it's just vegetables, as long as it can fill the stomach and prevent people from starving to death, it's fine."

The Fourth Prince looked at Master Baili with some trepidation. After a moment's hesitation, he cautiously asked, "Master Baili, where exactly can one find these miraculous seeds you speak of?" Baili Xi smiled faintly, a flicker of reminiscence in his eyes, as he slowly recounted a journey to a small village where nearly every household specialized in mushroom cultivation, possessing unique and extensive experience in cultivating this fungus.

The Fourth Prince grew increasingly excited as he listened, and suddenly he shouted, "Zhu Qi! Zhu Qi! Come in quickly!" Following his call, Zhu Qi rushed into the room like a gust of wind and respectfully asked, "Your Highness, what do you want to hear from me?" The Fourth Prince pointed at Baili Xi and said to her impatiently, "Zhu Qi, Master Baili just told me about a place where you can get wood ear and mushroom seeds. He also gave me detailed directions and information. Please listen carefully."

Baili Xi then unreservedly shared all the information he knew with Zhu Qi, including the specific location, routes, and so on. The Fourth Prince, on the side, repeatedly instructed Zhu Qi, emphasizing, "This mission is crucial and must not be taken lightly. We must procure the necessary seeds as quickly as possible and find a way to hire experienced farmers at high salaries. Remember, you must not bully them; you must treat them politely and sincerely invite them to help. Furthermore, we must properly arrange the daily needs of the farmers and their families, providing them with financial subsidies to ensure they have no worries."

Zhu Qi listened attentively to the Fourth Prince's every word, nodding frequently to show her understanding. When he finished, she responded solemnly, "I will faithfully follow your instructions, Your Highness, and fulfill my mission. I will gallop back safely with the people and seeds. Please rest assured, Your Highness!" With that, she turned and hurried off, ready to embark on this journey filled with both challenges and hope.