Her own people would naturally be favored.
"Then I want to hear what matter requires this consort to make decisions for you. Get up and speak!"
Bailu rose and returned to her original position, slowly narrating her family's predicament from beginning to end, detailing every bit. Zhao Jiaqi's brow furrowed slightly as she listened.
"I understand. You are the daughter of an official family, falsely accused by your father, your father and brothers exiled, and the women of your household sold into servitude. You wish for this consort to help your family overturn the injustice, is that right!"
Bailu, with tears in her eyes, nodded repeatedly, "That is the meaning of it, Your Highness Consort. My father is truly innocent!"
"Why did you not speak of this when you were in the capital, but only now, after a year in this fief?"
These few maids were the first she bought when she first entered the capital, and they had been with her for over two years. Not speaking then, but only after leaving the capital and entering the fief, confused her.
Bailu's expression was awkward, "This servant dared not speak, for she did not know the Prince and Princess. After more than two years, knowing that the Prince and Princess are not bad people, only then did she dare to speak the truth."
This explanation was plausible.
Moreover, during their time in the capital, Fan Zehao was still in the General's manor, with few visitors coming and going. Bailu did not serve beside her personally, so it was reasonable that no one recognized her.
However, overturning a case was no small matter, especially concerning the Emperor.
"This matter of yours is rather tricky. If true evidence cannot be found, let alone overturning the case, it will be difficult for you to even survive. Have you thought it through clearly?"
Bailu's lips were tightly pressed, and she nodded resolutely, "This servant has thought it through clearly. Even if I die, if it can provide an opportunity for my family to clear their name and wash away their grievances, I am willing!"
"Foolish girl, if you die first, how will you know if your family's grievances have been cleared?"
Bailu was speechless. In her haste, she had forgotten this.
Zhao Jiaqi took a deep breath, "This matter cannot be rushed. We must proceed gradually. On one hand, people will be sent to find evidence. On the other hand, the Prince and I are in the fief and cannot return to the capital to do anything. Otherwise, we will alert the enemy and our efforts will be in vain!"
"Consort, have you agreed to this servant's request?" Bailu asked, her voice trembling with excitement.
"This consort can only say, do one's best, and leave the rest to fate."
Although she had not heard the consort personally say it, Bailu understood the implied meaning.
Bailu was truly grateful to the consort this time and knelt down to kowtow and express her gratitude. In one day, the same person knelt before her twice, which still made Zhao Jiaqi a little unaccustomed.
"Are there any other family members who can be redeemed? Write down a list, and this consort will provide the silver to buy them back."
"Yes, this servant's mother was sold into the home of the Minister of Works to be a laundry woman. There is also a younger sister, named Bai Rui, who is a low-ranking maid in the home of the Minister of Personnel. I am unsure how she is doing now! As for the male members of the family, they have all been exiled and cannot be redeemed."
"I understand. You may return now. I will inform you when there is news!"
Bailu rose and retreated. Zhao Jiaqi sat in a chair in the front hall, deep in thought for a long time. Bailu only said that her father was wronged, but did not mention by whom. If she acted rashly, it might be unwise.
She picked up her brush and wrote two letters. One was to Zhou Qiangwei, asking her to inquire about the Bai family's affairs for her. The other letter was written to the Imperial Noble Consort, asking her to find a way to bring the mother and daughter of the Bai family to the fief.
In the evening, Fan Zehao returned from his work, sighing.
"They say old ginger is spicier, and it's true. Li Yi has suffered a great fall!"
Zhao Jiaqi's forehead was full of question marks, his words were incomplete.
"What happened to Li Yi? He is now Fan Laoda's brother-in-law."
He snorted, took off his robe and threw it over the screen, saying, "If it weren't for Fan Xiaofeng, I wouldn't bother with the Li manor's mess."
Zhao Jiaqi frowned and did not respond, waiting for him to pour out his woes.
Indeed, Fan Zehao did not disappoint her. He complained with an unhappy tone, "Didn't Li Ben, that old fox, pretend to be sick? Guess what? He was faking it! Li Yi thought his meager skills could defeat his father? He truly underestimated his father!"
"Today, Li Ben secretly contacted several major stewards and sidelined Li Yi. It is said that Li Yi is under house arrest today, and Li Ben is in charge of the Li manor again. He came to see me at the yamen today, told me about this matter, and all the businesses have returned to his management. He looks very pleased with himself."
After listening to this melodramatic event, Zhao Jiaqi said, "They say that without cunning, there is no merchant. Li Ben truly embodies the meaning of this saying. You must be careful when dealing with them next time, don't get yourself trapped!"
Hearing this, Fan Zehao scoffed, "I'm not afraid. If they dare to play tricks on me, I'll let them taste the fate of the Ji manor. But speaking of which, confiscating the Ji manor was quite exhilarating. If any of them dare to provoke me, why not have another go!"
Zhao Jiaqi threw a washcloth at him, glanced at him, "You are truly boring. Quickly wipe your face clean and go to sleep."
After washing up, he held the washcloth and chuckled foolishly. He wiped his face haphazardly, then threw the washcloth into the basin. Taking three steps at a time, he jumped onto the bed eagerly, ready to sleep.
In mid-July, the experimental paddy fields in Qingjiang Prefecture were harvested. The paddy field fish were also harvested, weighed, and then distributed equally among their own restaurants.
The paddy field fish were delicious, with a unique flavor compared to fish from rivers.
Once the paddy fields were accessible, Fan He organized the long-term laborers to harvest. At the edge of the paddy field, Fan Zehao held an umbrella for his wife, letting her watch to her heart's content, lest she itch to work in the field.
Zhao Jiaqi grabbed a handful of rice stalks from the edge of the field. They were heavy, with plump grains. She nodded in satisfaction.
"By my estimation, the yield per mu of land can reach six hundred catties!"
Zhao Jiaqi looked at the rice stalks in her hand and roughly estimated the weight, which was just a guess.
Six hundred catties?
Fan Zehao's jaw dropped, stunned, "Six hundred catties? Wife, are you joking? It would be remarkable if one mu of land could produce three to four hundred catties."
"I was just guessing. Whether it can reach this amount, we will know after the harvest is complete, but I think it should be about the same!"
The couple discussed in hushed tones. Gao Wenbin, however, kept this shocking news in his heart.
If one mu of land could produce six hundred catties of rice, he must report this matter to the Emperor. Once this high-yield rice was planted throughout the country, the number of starving people would be reduced by more than half.
He looked at the unremarkable consort again, and admiration arose in his eyes. What kind of family could raise such a woman.
The thousand mu of paddy fields took more than a hundred people three full days to harvest. After weighing, the total yield was over seven hundred and ten thousand catties, averaging seven hundred catties per mu, which was a full double the previous yield.
When the servants reported the numbers, Fan Zehao and the others were stunned, their souls having left them for a long time, staring blankly.
Zhao Jiaqi was quite satisfied with this yield. Given the existing conditions, producing seven hundred catties of fine grain was a cause for celebration.
"The trial planting of rice this year has been successful. Next year, we will expand production!"
Fan Zehao said, "Not just expand production, but plant all the land."
Having tasted the benefits, he was eager to improve agriculture. This kind of planting was very profitable. If all the land in the fief was planted, they would become the largest grain producers in the entire Yun Dynasty.
With both business and love flourishing, after nearly a year of hard work, the remaining days would be spent lying down and earning money.