Tianliangyuan

Chapter 428 A Lucky Star? An Auspicious Omen?

However, Xu Zhaozhao still had to express her gratitude and respect to the Empress; otherwise, she would be completely ungrateful!

Xu Zhaozhao gritted her teeth. Fine, she'd swallow this bitter pill for now. There's plenty of time for us to work out in the future!

When your Qu family came begging to me!

It has to be said that Xu Zhaozhao was really angry.

It wasn't until she felt discomfort in her abdomen that she used her supernatural abilities to soothe it, and finally, she felt better.

Noticing the sweat on Xu Zhaozhao's forehead and the slight change in her complexion, Granny Yu quickly asked with concern, "Is Your Highness feeling unwell? Should we call the imperial physician?"

Xu Zhaozhao took a deep breath, shook her head, and signaled to the nanny not to make a fuss.

"It's nothing serious. It's probably because the babies were fighting inside me and kicking me."

Madam Yu and the old lady were initially worried after hearing what Granny Yu said, but now that Xu Zhaozhao spoke, they understood.

"It's hard enough to be pregnant with one child, let alone twins! I've already thanked you, now go back and rest."

All the rewards have been moved to Jinxiu Garden. Since Duke Xie Xiaolin has not given any orders, everything belongs to Xie Zheng and Xu Zhaozhao.

Kobayashi felt a pang of jealousy, but she knew she had no right to speak.

But she spotted the bolts of silk from afar and secretly thought that she would definitely mention it to the old lady when she had the chance, since Jinxiu Garden didn't lack such things anyway.

Xu Zhaozhao is currently enjoying immense popularity. Even if she doesn't go out, there are more and more rumors about her circulating outside.

The most common saying is that she is a lucky star. She brought good fortune to her father and brothers when she was still in her maternal home, and now that she is married, she brings good fortune not only to her father and brothers, but also to her husband.

In short, it's as if they're exaggerating Xu Zhaozhao to the point of portraying her as a celestial being descended to earth.

This is not going in the right direction!

Xu Zhaozhao quickly realized that someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes.

This is an attempt to portray herself as a femme fatale who brings ruin to the country.

Don't be fooled by their current self-proclaimed lucky charm status; once things get out of control, the rumors will take on a different meaning.

For example, such a powerful lucky star should rightfully become a royal consort.

For example, someone who is considered a lucky star but has never entered the palace to accompany the emperor should be killed.

……

Once things take this turn, it's very difficult to stop them.

If anyone else had thought of this, their expression would have changed drastically, and they would have been filled with fear.

But who is Xu Zhaozhao?

She's not afraid of these schemes and tricks!

Are we going to wage this propaganda war in front of her?

Haha, that's courting death!

No one knew that the next day, Xu Zhaozhao and Xu Junting went to the Imperial Estate together to discuss the cultivation of some grain seeds and new vegetable seeds.

After Xu Zhaozhao left, Xu Junting ordered people to guard the fields that were specifically used for trial planting.

After that, he calmly went about his business, unhurriedly, until after dinner, when he took a stroll in the garden.

Such things happen from time to time, so the servants here are used to it. They are mainly afraid of delaying Master Xu's cultivation of new grain seeds, which is a major event that will benefit future generations and cannot afford to make the slightest mistake.

The next morning, Emperor Yong'an was convening a court meeting with his ministers, but the main topic of discussion was how to bestow titles and rewards.

"Your Majesty, Lord Xu Junting, the Baron of the Founding County, is requesting an audience outside. He looks anxious, as if something major has happened."

"Xuan!"

Xu Junting practically ran in, and upon reaching his seat, he hurriedly bowed: "Your Majesty, this morning I discovered something in the Imperial Estate, but I dared not make a decision on my own. This morning I consulted the Chancellor of the Imperial Academy, and learned that the creature growing in the garden resembles a Lu Duan. I believe it to be an auspicious omen, but this creature grows in the garden, and its color is a golden hue that I have never seen before. I humbly request Your Majesty's wise judgment!"

Emperor Yong'an was startled, leaning forward with a somewhat out-of-control expression: "What do you mean by its shape?"

"Your Majesty, it resembles the Lu Duan, the auspicious beast of legend."

These words left not only Emperor Yong'an but also the other ministers completely bewildered.

when did it happen?

How could such a thing exist?

If they remember correctly, shouldn't this creature have become extinct?

Oh, no, Xu Junting was talking about a plant whose fruit looks like a *luduan*.

Emperor Yong'an could no longer remain seated and immediately ordered arrangements to be made for him to travel to the imperial estate.

The emperor and his ministers went there in a grand procession, and sure enough, they found a patch of land surrounded by layers of people, as if afraid that someone might accidentally step on a blade of grass.

"Your Majesty, please look, this is the place."

Apart from Emperor Yong'an, the other high-ranking officials who were qualified to approach also watched this scene in disbelief.

On the vine that was originally growing melons, a strange-looking fruit had suddenly appeared.

Moreover, all the others are white and green, but this one is gold.

Upon closer inspection, everyone noticed that the vines connecting the fruit were also gradually turning golden, becoming even more golden the closer they got to the strange melon.

Emperor Yong'an was a wise ruler, not someone who could be easily fooled.

Soon, someone came forward to check.

Soon, the grotesque melon, which had been washed three times, still lay there with its pure golden color, proving that it had not been colored by someone.

Besides, this melon is significantly larger than the others, almost the size of the other two.

Are the officials from the Imperial Medical Bureau present?

Two middle-aged officials approached: "Your humble servants are here."

"Go check it out."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

How do I check this?

They were actually just as confused.

But since His Majesty has issued the decree, they have to go forward and investigate.

Touching it here and tapping it there, I was on tenterhooks, afraid that I might crack the melon open and get my head chopped off.

The two tried to find the answer, but ultimately to no avail.

While everyone was wondering whether or not to pick the melon, Emperor Yong'an was actually thinking much more.

The Luduan is an auspicious beast, but it only resembles it in appearance, and it is actually a melon. So, is this a revelation from heaven?

Just as everyone was hesitating, the golden gourd—no, it should be called the Luduan gourd—swayed a few times on its own, and then, along with its vines, escaped the large vineyard and rolled straight toward Emperor Yong'an's position.

When the melon reached Emperor Yong'an's feet, right next to his dragon robe, it remained still.

This strange phenomenon stunned everyone.

This melon really did it all by itself, right in front of everyone!

No one touched it; it simply left the melon patch and rolled to His Majesty's feet. Doesn't that say something?

Qu Shiji and Cui Xuanming exchanged a glance and immediately bowed deeply: "Your Majesty is wise and benevolent, may Heaven bless the Great Prosperity!"

The other officials also realized what was happening and quickly followed suit, bowing their heads and saying, "Your Majesty is wise and benevolent, may Heaven bless the Great Prosperity!"

In the entire imperial estate, only this one fruit grew, and anyone who has seen a description of the Lu Duan or a portrait of it can immediately tell that this thing resembles the Lu Duan and there is absolutely no possibility that it is fake!

Emperor Yong'an glanced at the crowd, then burst into laughter: "Good! Good! Good!"