Quick Transmigration: Why did you provoke him? He's love-struck!

Five years later.

The first snow of the winter fell in Beijing.

Yan Zhen led his men back to the palace from the planting experiment area on the outskirts of Beijing, and all he could see was a blanket of snow.

For the past five years, Yan Zhen has spent half of each year outside the palace, representing the court to provide disaster relief wherever a disaster strikes.

When there was nothing to do in other places, she would spend her days at the Agricultural and Sericultural Bureau, where she and a group of agricultural officials would study how to plant different crops according to the different climates of each region, so as to enrich the variety of grains and increase yields.

For the first two years, Emperor Jin thought she was just messing around and trying to find something to do to keep herself busy so she wouldn't have time to overthink things.

However, in those two years, she left the palace three times in a row. She handled almost every disaster that came her way, including earthquakes, floods, and plagues.

Rumors gradually spread among the people that the Crown Princess in red was a celestial maiden descended to earth to help the Great Jin Dynasty overcome these hardships.

Emperor Jin was initially quite displeased by these rumors, but over the next three years, the Agricultural and Sericultural Department, under Yan Zhen's supervision, developed high-yield rice and introduced potatoes, sweet potatoes, and cotton from foreign vassal states. These crops greatly improved the living standards of the people of Jin.

The people no longer go hungry, and can wear cotton-padded clothes and be covered with cotton quilts in winter. The national treasury is also gradually becoming fuller. In the past few years, the internal strife that would break out every now and then has been almost completely quelled.

Emperor Jin, having witnessed the many blessings Yan Zhen had brought to the Jin Dynasty, couldn't help but ponder whether this woman from the Xiao family could truly bring good fortune to the Jin Dynasty.

Yan Zhen returned to Yihua Palace, where a tall figure came out from the inner hall to greet him: "Aheng."

It's Xiahou Chuan.

He's been going to Yihua Palace a lot lately; even when Yan Zhen isn't there, he'll wait for her there.

"Second Prince," Yan Zhen said, taking off his snow-covered cloak and handing it to Green Pearl, "You came to see me today not to ask for a drink again, did you?"

"No drinking today, but I'll show you a novel little gadget." Xiahou Chuan magically produced a small wooden bird from behind his back, turned a mechanism on its wings, and the wooden bird suddenly flapped its wings and took flight.

One circle, two circles, three circles.

The little bird flew around Yihua Palace several times without stopping.

Yan Zhen's eyes showed a hint of surprise.

Xiahou Chuan has loved tinkering with wood since he was a child, and he has made many strange and wonderful little things. Whenever he develops something new and interesting, he is always the first to send it to Yihua Palace.

Xiahou Chuan observed her reaction and said proudly, "Don't underestimate this little thing; it can fly up to twenty miles away."

Yan Zhen asked curiously, "What is its driving force?"

Xiahou Chuan explained, but Yan Zhen was still confused. However, that didn't stop her from having other ideas: "Can we make it land in the designated location? If so, we could send a few to the army, disguise them, and use them to send messages in an emergency."

Raising a homing pigeon is very expensive, and homing pigeons cannot fly in extreme weather such as rain, snow, and thunderstorms. If this thing can replace the homing pigeon, it would be a good choice.

Xiahou Chuan was stumped: "It can only spin in place or fly straight in one direction. After all, it's an inanimate object and can't stop at a designated location."

Yan Zhen could understand; this wasn't the information age, and it was already quite impressive that Xiahou Chuan could research something like this.

"I can only borrow this for two days," Yan Zhen said.

"Don't talk about lending or not, take it if you want it." Xiahou Chuan called the bird back from the air and placed it in her hand, saying generously, "I have many more of these little things in my mansion. If you are interested, come to my mansion and I will show them to you."

Yan Zhen automatically filtered out his invitation: "Okay, we'll talk when I have time."

A hint of sadness flashed in Xiahou Chuan's eyes, but he quickly smiled again: "Your birthday is in a few days, what gift would you like?"

Yan Zhen played with the wooden bird in his hand: "This one will do, I like it very much."

"That's not very sincere." Xiahou Chuan glanced around furtively, and seeing that the palace servants were all busy with their own things, he whispered, "The Ministry of Revenue proposed to Father Emperor to lift the curfew, open night markets, and encourage trade. Father Emperor agreed, and the night market in the capital will open in the next few days. On the night of your birthday, shall we sneak out for a stroll?"

Yan Zhen became interested: "Okay."

Xiahou Chuan was delighted and wanted to say something more, but Zi Ying came in with a nanny: "Princess, Aunt Minyue from the Imperial Concubine's palace has arrived."

After bowing respectfully, Min Yue explained her purpose: "Princess, the Imperial Concubine requests your presence."

Yan Zhen nodded: "Okay, I'll be right there."

Min Yue consciously withdrew from the inner hall, and Yan Zhen looked at Xiahou Chuan: "I have to go to Yongchun Palace, I'll entertain you another day."

Xiahou Chuan's eyes dimmed slightly. Just as Yan Zhen turned to go into the inner room to change his clothes, he suddenly called out, "Aheng."

Yan Zhen paused in his steps.

"It's been five years since the Emperor passed away. It's understandable that the Consort still remembers him. Do you still harbor feelings for him as well?"

Yan Zhen turned around, his brows furrowing slightly: "What do you want to say?"

“He is gone, and those who are alive must move on,” Xiahou Chuan said. “No matter how much you mourn your brother, he will never come back.”

Yan Zhen remained silent.

Xiahou Chuan stepped forward, his tone urgent: "I know you are deeply devoted to your elder brother, and you have served the Great Jin all these years to make up for his untimely death, but..."

“I’m not doing this for him, I’m doing this for myself.” Yan Zhen interrupted him, “Second Prince, you’re being narrow-minded.”

Xiahou Chuan didn't believe it: "If it weren't for the shock of your brother's death, why would a young lady like you keep going to disaster areas to suffer? Ah Heng, it's been five years, you should let it go."

Yan Zhen looked directly at him, her eyes sharp: "Put it down, and then what?"

Xiahou Chuan felt inexplicably less confident under her gaze: "Of course, I'll return to the palace to live a life of luxury. Tending to the fields and doing rough work is not something a noble lady should do..."

Yan Zhen had lost patience to continue arguing with him: "What the Second Prince says is true, I will consider it carefully—Green Pearl, give it to the Second Prince."

Xiahou Chuan: "..."

Yan Zhen changed out of his light Hu clothing, put on palace attire, styled his hair, and headed to Yongchun Palace.

Over the years, the Imperial Concubine would occasionally invite her to Yongchun Palace for a short visit.

The two women, from different generations, one having lost her son in middle age and the other having lost her husband before even getting married, didn't have much in common when they sat facing each other. The imperial concubine often stared at her in a daze.

Yan Zhen knew that the Imperial Concubine was seeking psychological comfort from her.

Over the years, she has always used the title of "Crown Princess" when she travels outside.

As long as a new crown prince is not established, when others talk about the crown princess, they will still think of the former crown prince, Xiahou Jin.

Upon arriving at Yongchun Palace, I found that the decorations were much more understated than they had been five years ago, with dark colors dominating the space. At first glance, it looked like the residence of an unfavored concubine.

But the reality was quite the opposite. After recovering from the initial grief of losing her son, the Consort rallied her spirits and managed all affairs of the six palaces in an orderly manner.

Having managed the harem for many years, Consort Gui had worked hard, if not meritorious. In addition, Emperor Jin felt somewhat guilty towards her, so although she had lost her child, she had never fallen out of favor.

She remained the most respected woman in the harem besides the Empress.