Traveling through time as a peasant girl to turn things around

Huang Bao sent the Demon Lord and his father back to ancient times, along with some New Year's gifts—wine. The Chai Mansion was short on staff, consisting of Jiaxing and his wife, and Li Ru. The only children at home were Chai En, Chai Shou, and Chai Lu, along with their cousins, Wangwang, who was called Chai Jia, and Mumu, who was called Chai Kui. The Chai Jings were stationed in the East China Sea, where they couldn't leave without someone. The fourth child trained the navy at Xiaowangzhuang, so he rarely returned home.

Demon Lord Ye Heng appeared in the hall, and Butler Ye came hurriedly, "Your Highness. I haven't seen you for a long time." He knelt down tremblingly. Ye Heng took a few quick steps forward to help him up and said, "Please stand up quickly. Don't kneel down at every turn in the future." After hearing this, Ye Ren said, "Thank you, Your Highness. I'm in good health and can still kneel down." Ye Heng: "Sit down and talk." Butler Ye: "Okay, okay." Demon Lord left the house.

Ye Heng and the housekeeper were the only ones in the hall. Ye Renwen told the prince everything he knew. Ye Heng hummed, "Anything else?" The housekeeper continued, "Some letters are in the palace, in the prince's study. As for the other shops and properties, I have put all the income of the year into the warehouse. The banknotes are in the prince's study with the letters. Please go back to the palace to have a look. The living creatures are also kept in the farms outside the capital, waiting to be killed when the prince returns." Ye Heng felt that he had a lot more free time, and did not forget to praise the housekeeper, "Well done, you go ahead and get busy. Try to let your subordinates do it. You just help take care of the palace." Ye Renwen: "Yes, I usually let Ankang and Fukang do the work and train them." Ye Heng: "Well, go ahead, you should rest more and take care of yourself." "Okay, I'll take my leave!" Ye Heng left the house and rode to the palace.

In the imperial study, the emperor said, "My royal brother is finally back. The New Year is just a few days away, and my royal brother is not a drinker." Ye Heng smiled, "It's not that my brother is back, he came to see you specifically." Ye Heng took out a few photos, handed them to his royal brother, and said, "These are your nephews and nieces. When will they be included in the family tree?" The emperor looked at them and said, "Let's include them together during the New Year ancestor worship." The emperor looked at the pictures and laughed, "I didn't expect that our Ye royal family finally has descendants. Good! Good! Reward! Reward!" Ye Heng nodded, "You must reward me for giving birth to children for me. Now I have five sons and three daughters. They haven't been included in the family tree yet." The emperor said, "It's time for a big celebration." Ye Heng: "No need for a big celebration. The children are too young. My brother and I can't bring them back. We will be gone in two years. It's not too late to come back together to hold a celebration in Daxing!" The emperor didn't say anything else, "Okay, as you said. However, my son is having a big banquet. Guibao also has a son, almost two months old. Ye Heng was overjoyed. "Double congratulations! How many months is your son, my brother?" The Emperor said, "Just about six months old. He and Guibao's son are four months old each. Let's write down their names at the ancestral memorial ceremony this time! Great news! We'll have a banquet at noon on the first day of the new year and celebrate for three days throughout the country!"

The two brothers discussed some state affairs! After dinner, Ye Heng rode back to the palace.

The next day, Xiao Mazi arrived at the Chai Mansion with a large group of guards and eunuchs. He read the imperial edict at the gate of the main hall of the mansion: "By the will of Heaven, the Emperor decrees that the Regent Princess has given birth to three children, five sons and three daughters, adding to the royal family! Special reward! Cloth, brushes, inkstones, paper, ten boxes of books. One thousand taels of gold."

The Emperor commissioned the Ministry of Rites to oversee the New Year's sacrifices. Ministers were given two days off before the Lunar New Year and returned to court on the seventh day of the first lunar month. On the first day, all officials, both high and low, gathered at the palace for a sacrificial banquet. A family tree was also compiled for the imperial sons. All their ancestors were gone, leaving the Emperor as the eldest, and one son, demoted to a commoner, was no longer in the capital. The royal family had nearly lost its lineage. Now, blessed by heaven, they had many more descendants. The Emperor held a three-day banquet at the palace.

The imperial edict sent waves of excitement through the capital, with the people excitedly spreading the news. Ever since seeing couplets plastered on the gates of the Chai Mansion during the Spring Festival, the common people gradually followed suit, with every household displaying red spring couplets during the Lunar New Year. This added to the festive atmosphere! Students would often compete to see who had the best handwriting, the most original couplets, or the most meaningful. The Ministry of Rites even posted a notice offering prizes for spring couplets. Every citizen of the capital could participate in this activity.

By New Year's Eve, Spring Festival couplets were posted on the outer walls of the Imperial College for a competition. Anyone could participate and vote. Prizes: First prize: 100 taels of gold, second prize: 50 taels of gold, and ten third prizes: 100 taels of silver, paid for by the Ministry of Rites.

More students from farming families participate in the couplet competition.

Ye Heng heard about this and told Butler Ye, "The top 200 will receive a reward. The Regent will pay for it, regardless of ranking. The top 200 will each receive 100 taels of silver." Butler Ye said, "Okay, okay. I'll have someone post it right away."

Counties and prefectures close to the capital flocked to participate in the couplet competition, writing their own couplets on the spot. The Imperial College staff collected them and posted them on the walls. This activity greatly increased people's interest in reading and literature, and more and more children attended school.