Chapter 49: The Princess's Grace

“Steward Sun, is what you're saying true? Is Her Highness truly reducing our rent to twenty percent?”

“And we don't have to pay back the grain we borrowed last year?”

“You aren't just tricking us, are you?”

“Steward Sun, say something!”

Sun Qing shoved Old Man Zhang into the arms of Zhang the Eldest. Ignoring the questioning tenant farmers, he turned and asked urgently, “Manager Song, are you injured?”

At the critical moment, it was Song Kai who had tackled Old Man Zhang, using his own body as a buffer beneath him.

Song Kai was a hereditary servant of the Protector General's Manor. Having learned a few moves from the manor's personal guards since childhood, he had only sustained minor superficial wounds that would heal after a couple of days of medicinal wine.

Sun Qing breathed a sigh of relief. Song Kai was a manager provided as part of the dowry from the Princess's maternal family; his status was far beyond that of a mere manor steward like himself. If anything happened to Song Kai under his jurisdiction, the Princess would likely not show him any mercy.

*It's all because of these people who believe every rumor they hear,* Sun Qing thought, gritting his teeth. His fury was directed entirely at the tenants. “All of you, shut up!”

Having never seen Steward Sun lose his temper so violently, the tenants instantly fell silent, watching him with wide, anxious eyes.

Sun Qing roared, “I will repeat this one last time: Her Highness has bestowed her grace by forgiving the grain you owed from last year. Starting from next year, Mingxia Manor will only collect twenty percent in land rent.”

He glared at Old Man Zhang. “Her Highness is so benevolent, yet what more are you dissatisfied with that you would seek death?!”

“It doesn't matter if you want to die yourself, but if you anger Her Highness, not only will she withdraw her grace, but she will also severely punish everyone in Mingxia Manor!” He pointed at the dozens of tenants present. “Are all two hundred and sixty-three people in Mingxia Manor supposed to suffer because of you?!”

Old Man Zhang trembled, unable to speak.

Zhang the Eldest handed his father over to his wife and knelt on the ground, kowtowing incessantly. “Steward, please calm your anger! My father only heard rumors and thought Her Highness was raising the rent, which is why he lost his mind and tried to kill himself.”

“I beg the Steward to be magnanimous. Considering my father is old, please let him off this once.”

The crowd felt uneasy, but none dared to plead for mercy—especially the one who had first speculated about the rent increase, who shrank behind the others, not daring to show his face.

Recovering his senses, Old Man Zhang pushed his daughter-in-law's hand away and knelt on the ground. “Steward Sun, this old man was blinded by rumors and misunderstood Her Highness. I am willing to accept any punishment, I only beg that you do not implicate the other innocent tenants.”

The tenants began pleading for mercy one after another, even dragging the culprit out from the back of the crowd.

“It was him! It was Wang the Scoundrel just now! He said he was worried the Manager called us here in such a hurry because there was a new master, and the new master would raise the rent!”

Under Steward Sun's furious glare, Wang the Scoundrel began slapping himself wildly. “Steward Sun, have mercy! How could I have known the new master was Her Highness? If I had known, I wouldn't dare slander Her Highness even if I had the courage of a tiger!”

“It's just that... yesterday I heard the gossips from the neighboring manor saying their new master had raised the rent to fifty percent, so I...” He fell silent under Sun Qing's murderous gaze.

“You actually dared to associate with those ruffians from the neighboring manor!” Steward Sun snapped a willow branch from a tree and whipped him fiercely. “I told you not to learn bad habits! I told you not to be a slacker! I told you not to speak recklessly!”

Wang the Scoundrel didn't dare dodge, taking over a dozen lashes until Song Kai stepped in to stop him. “The sun has already set; let us discuss the urgent matters first.”

Sun Qing responded, panting heavily.

Song Kai stepped past him and helped the kneeling father and son to their feet. His voice was kind and gentle. “Mingxia Manor has a new master. Her Highness was concerned that you all might feel unsettled, so she bestowed this grace to put everyone's minds at ease.”

“Mingxia Manor now belongs to Her Highness. Only when Mingxia Manor prospers can Her Highness prosper. You have more life experience than us, Elder; surely you understand this principle.”

Old Man Zhang nodded through tears.

“Rumors cannot be trusted, and gossip should not be heard. In the future, if anyone hears anything, you may come to Steward Sun or me to ask for clarification. Steward Sun and I will certainly explain things to you patiently.”

Song Kai continued, “If there is a misunderstanding, it is best to clear it up. Her Highness cherishes you, so you must also cherish yourselves. Your good days are yet to come.”

Old Man Zhang was filled with guilt and immense gratitude, leaving him speechless.

Song Kai turned and looked down at Wang the Scoundrel, whose face was swollen like a pig's head. “Her Highness possesses a heart of mercy, yet you twisted it. Do you realize that slandering a Princess of the current dynasty is a crime punishable by the execution of your entire clan?”

Wang the Scoundrel was truly terrified, his face smeared with tears and snot. “I won't do it again! I'll never do it again!”

“Since this is your first offense and you were ignorant of the law, you shall be spared the death penalty. However, while you may be spared death, you cannot escape punishment,” Song Kai said. “From this day forward, for one month, you are ordered to construct irrigation ditches without pay. You will work from dawn till dusk. If you are lazy or negligent for even a single day, you will be locked up and sent to the yamen immediately!”

“Yes, yes, yes! I certainly won't be lazy!” Having escaped death, Wang the Scoundrel was willing to agree to anything.

Tenant Elder Tian asked, “May I ask, Manager, when you speak of constructing ditches, is Her Highness planning to build them for the manor?”

“Indeed,” Song Kai said. “Most of the land in Mingxia Manor is far from the rivers. Her Highness, sympathizing with the difficulty of your farming, has specially drawn up plans to build irrigation ditches. Before the spring planting next year, new farming tools will also be distributed!”

Elder Tian's eyes filled with joy. “Thank Her Highness! Thank Her Highness!”

The tenants present were extremely excited and expressed their endless gratitude.

“I called you here today to discuss the construction of the ditches,” Song Kai said. “They must be completed before the spring planting next year. I am afraid you will not have much rest this winter and next spring.”

“Of course, of course!” the tenants agreed one after another.

Seeing that the tenants were finally on board, Steward Sun's expression improved significantly. “Her Highness said that winter and spring are naturally times for farming families to rest and recuperate. Working during what should be a rest period is, therefore, considered labor.”

“Her Highness will pay you wages according to market rates!”

*Splash!* Like a drop of cold water into a hot oil pan, the tenants instantly erupted.

“Then this winter, we won't have to go to town to find work?”

“At market rates, if it's ten copper coins a day, we could earn at least for two months. Wait, how much was it?” a tenant asked, patting young Li.

Young Li gestured on the ground for a long time. “About six hundred copper coins!”

*Wow! Six hundred copper coins!* They couldn't earn that much even if they worked in town for three months.

The tenants began asking questions all at once.

“When does it start?”

“In three days. Steward Sun and I just went to town to order stone bricks and stone pipes; they will arrive in three days.”

“How much is the daily wage? Is it paid daily?”

“Between ten and fifteen copper coins, depending on the difficulty of the work. More for heavy work, less for light work,” Song Kai said. “You will have one day of rest every ten days, and you will be paid for the rest days.”

The tenants repeatedly declared that they didn't need any rest.

Song Kai acted as if he hadn't heard them.

Pushed to the very back of the crowd, Wang the Scoundrel was filled with profound regret.

He was going to have to work for an entire month for nothing!

(End of Chapter)