A Farm Girl: Three Acres of Fertile Land Can Be Exchanged for a Country

"There are no outsiders here, I won't tell anyone."

Yang Bainiu looked at her carefully for a few moments to make sure she wasn't joking before saying in a very low voice, "You know him much better than I do. If you want to know anything, just ask him. Why are you asking me?"

Wutong said, "I just want to hear your impression of him."

Yang Bainiu looked at the lanterns above his head, stroking his chin as he tried to recall the events.

"I first heard of him around the time he ascended the throne, about five or six years ago... Back then, people described him as incredibly powerful, becoming emperor at such a young age, and supposedly winning everyone's hearts without bloodshed, without even fighting a single battle. They said he was the chosen one, but..."

"But what?"

"After he ascended the throne, he implemented sweeping reforms. First, he taught everyone to read and write, hiring many soldiers to teach them village by village. That's when I learned to read and write and became an accountant. Then he came up with all sorts of weird new things, like engines, presses, bicycles, and even cars and guns... When these things came out, the people went crazy. If a family didn't have a few of these things, their daughters wouldn't even marry him! I heard that people in the north went up the mountain with guns to hunt tigers, hitting them every time, and the animal hides and meat were selling for incredibly low prices..."

Wutong asked, "Then how did it become like this?"

Yang Bainiu lowered his head dejectedly and muttered:

"Who knows... Maybe we were never meant to be so lucky, so this is our retribution."

Wutong felt a lump in her throat and sighed.

Yang Bainiu was also a little irritated. He fiddled with the food on the table and said, "I think I'll go out and come back after you finish eating."

Without waiting for Wutong's reply, he walked out.

He left the palace and walked along the corridor toward his assigned quarters, but as soon as he turned a corner, a tall man blocked his way.

Yang Bainiu thought it was a guard and stepped aside to make way. When he looked up, he realized that the person standing in front of him was actually Emperor Qianyuan, the master of this country. His legs went weak and he could not stand up.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty..."

Nanxing looked at him sternly.

"Why did you come out? Aren't you going to serve her meals? The palace provides you with food and drink, not so you can skip work."

Yang Bainiu trembled as he listened, feeling dizzy. Fortunately, he managed to steady himself by holding onto the wall, and in his panic, he managed to make up a lie.

"She doesn't want me to watch her eat, so I'll take her in later."

"You mean... me?"

"This servant..."

Nanxing gave him a cold glance. "It had better be true. If you dare to lie to me, you're dead."

Yang Bainiu nodded like a chicken pecking at rice.

Nanxing then asked, "What exactly is your relationship with her?"

Yang Bainiu truthfully replied, "She is a bodyguard in the escort agency, and I am an accountant. We just earn a living in the same place."

"But some people say that you slept in the same room back then, is that true?"

Looking at Nanxing's gloomy face, Yang Bainiu almost cried.

"At the time, I didn't know she was a woman... Everyone thought she was a man. We only slept in the same room, not in the same bed."

"Where does she sleep?"

"They slept on the floor."

"You want her to sleep on the floor?" Nanxing frowned.

Yang Bainiu was shocked, feeling like he was about to die. In a moment of quick thinking, he slapped himself.

"This servant was wrong, I will never dare to do it again."

Nanxing snorted, looking down on his despicable appearance.

Yang Bainiu lacked masculinity, seeing himself as no different from the eunuchs in the palace. While the eunuchs were adept at reading people and using their power to intimidate, he couldn't even speak properly, making him an unqualified eunuch.

Even so, he was still a man. Placing a man next to Wutong was merciful; he didn't castrate him, but threats were inevitable.

Nanxing took a step forward, while Yang Bainiu desperately retreated, shrinking back against a pillar.

"To tell you the truth, she is the woman I want, and she will definitely become my empress in the future." Nanxing gripped his neck, her five fingers slowly tightening, her gaze piercing. "If you dare to have any improper thoughts about her or try to interfere, even if you have ten lives, I will personally send you to the underworld, understand?"

Yang Bainiu's face turned ashen, his eyes wide open, and he stared at him for a long time without saying a word.

Nanxing found it strange, sniffed, and actually smelled a strong odor of urine. Feeling very annoyed, he let go of her hand and cursed, "Get lost."

Yang Bainiu clutched his crotch and stumbled away, leaving a puddle of water behind.

Nanxing felt nauseous and quickly left the area. He was thinking of going to his study to handle official business, but as he walked, he ended up outside the window of a side hall.

He dared not go in, fearing that Wutong would look at him coldly, so he could only peek inside furtively like a thief.

She sat alone at the table eating, munching half-heartedly, and seemed to have a poor appetite.

He would occasionally look up at the door, seemingly lost in thought.

What is she thinking? Could it be herself?

It would be better if she were, but it doesn't matter if she isn't. He has lost her for far too long, so long that he has lost all confidence that he can get her back.

This reunion was ordained by fate; even the heavens couldn't bear to see them separated. No matter what, he wanted to keep her with him forever.

What does it matter if you don't have yourself in your heart? As long as you have someone by your side, that's enough.

Nanxing instructed the guards not to let her eat cold dishes, then turned and left.

Wutong had been feeling something was off lately. Ever since Yang Bainiu went out for dinner that day, he not only changed his pants when he came back, but he was also like a completely different person. He wouldn't dare to talk to her anymore, no matter how much she tried to persuade him.

On the contrary, Nanxing came to the palace more and more frequently. Each time she came, the guards carried large bags containing either precious snacks or brand-new clothes and jewelry. On one occasion, they even set aside a day to take her to the palace stage to watch acrobatic performances.

The stage must have been built a long time ago, with its carved beams and painted pillars, it was very exquisite. There was also a poem on the two side porches: "How wonderful is the beautiful sound, the clear moon shines on its beauty."

The acrobats performed somersaults and teased the bears on the stage, drawing cheers from the spectators.

Wutong asked curiously, "Why don't you listen to opera, but watch acrobatics instead?"

In wealthy families, acrobatics were considered beneath their dignity, let alone in the imperial palace.

Nanxing rubbed his ears. "Opera is so cheesy and annoying. Acrobatics is much better. Walking on tightropes and jumping through fire hoops, you earn your living with real skills."

He took the silver tray from the guard and handed it to Wutong, saying, "Here, have some grapes."

Grapes have become a rare commodity these days, and they're practically priceless outside of the local market.

The silver plate paired with the purplish-red grapes looked so vibrant and tempting that it made one's mouth water.

Despite having such wonderful things right in front of him, Wutong had no appetite whatsoever and couldn't concentrate on the acrobatics.