The Lucky Heiress

Chapter 598: Chapter 598: Princess of the Jurchen_1

Behind the woman were a dozen or so experienced-looking followers, giving the impression of martial artists with remarkable skills.

As Wei Ruo was examining her, the woman was also scrutinizing Wei Ruo.

Her gaze was straightforward and explicit, laden with intense curiosity and scrutiny.

“So you are Queen Rui? I don’t see anything particularly special about you!” The woman puckered her lips in comment.

“What were you expecting me to be, especially different?” Wei Ruo asked.

“I’ve encountered some surprising sights around here and heard numerous stories about you. They say you’ve managed to completely revitalize this area in just three months. That made me believe you to be an extraordinary individual.” The woman explained.

“And then?” Wei Ruo asked with interest as she looked at the woman.

“So… Do you plan to just shout at each other at the gate? Are you not going to invite me in for a sit-down?” The woman’s smile overflowed with confidence and was tinged with a touch of mischief.

“Your identity is still unclear and potentially dangerous. Welcoming you inside might bring me a lot of trouble. Why would I want to do something so troublesome for no reward? You may say whatever you wish out here.” Wei Ruo replied.

“You have a point,” the woman mused, “currently, I am the one seeking help from you, so it is indeed necessary for me to clarify my intentions first, to assure you that I mean no harm.”

Listening to the woman speak, Wei Ruo found that she seemed quite different than what she had initially thought.

The woman began her introduction, “My name is Zhe Ta, and I’m the daughter of the chief of the Yehe Tribe.”

The woman continued, “Recently, I’ve heard from the merchants who trade between our territories that an impressive person has arrived in Jiliao. This person introduced farming to the local people, specifically a crop with a high yield. This has ensured food for everyone, rejuvenated the locality, taken in refugees, and adopted orphans.”

“I was quite curious so I came to see for myself. Once I arrived, I found that the situation far exceeds what I had imagined. I have snuck into Jiliao in the past disguised as a merchant and back then, the situation was a lot worse.”

“In just three months, you’ve brought about such substantial changes. If I were to give you three years, I couldn’t even imagine what you might accomplish. That’s why I wanted to meet you.”

Zhe Ta expressed to Wei Ruo the reason she wanted to see her.

Weir Ruo was somewhat surprised. When she came out to meet this woman, she thought this woman came to bring trouble.

“You wanted to meet, and then?” Wei Ruo asked.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“I wanted to learn from you and hope that you could supply some potato seeds for me to take back and distribute to my tribe for cultivation. If this crop can really bring such a significant yield, it could solve our tribe’s food shortage issues.”

Weir Ruo had a changed perception towards this princess of the Jurchen, but she kept a cool face, asking: “Why would I assist an enemy that’s eyeing our Great Empire with covetous intent? Fatten you up only for you to turn around and attack our Great Empire. How would you explain that?”

“The Jurchen consists of many tribes, not all of them harbor aggressive intentions towards your Great Empire. At least, the Yehe Tribe under my father’s leadership does not. Rather than invading your land, I’d prefer our tribe to be clothed and fed well.”

After hearing Zhe Ta’s explanation, Wei Ruo contemplated for a while, and then laughed.

“Why are you laughing?” Zhe Ta asked.

“I’m laughing at your naivety.” Wei Ruo replied.

“You think I’m naive? What about you? Aren’t you doing the same thing? Why can you, but I can’t?” Zhe Ta countered.

She raised her head high, her gaze filled with confidence and determination.

After locking eyes with her for a moment, Wei Ruo smiled and continued: “I don’t just give away my things to anyone.”

“You’re welcome to state your conditions.” Zhe Ta said.

“I have many demands,” Wei Ruo replied.

“Then, state them all!”

“You seem quite determined.”

“Of course, otherwise, why would I come here in person?”

“Then my first demand is: you have to cultivate potatoes on my farm.” Wei Ruo said.

“You want me to plant potatoes?” Zhe Ta appeared surprised.

A follower by her side protested angrily, “She is our princess, how can you give her such tasks?”

“It’s alright if you don’t wish to. You may leave. You may be a princess of the Jurchen Tribe, but I am also Queen of the Great Empire. Your status does not grant you any advantages here.”

Having said that, Wei Ruo was about to turn around and head back.

“Wait, I accept your demand,” Zhe Ta yelled out.

“Let me be clear, I need you to do the planting yourself. You have to work in the fields personally and do everything yourself. Your guards are not allowed to do it for you.”

“Of course!”

“Alright.” Wei Ruo turned to Zhang Yi, “Guard Zhang, please take Princess Zhe Ta to the southern farm.”

“Understood.”

Zhang Yi led the group away.

Xiumei watched them go with vigilance.

Once they were gone, Xiumei shared her worries, “Miss, they initially came for the potato seeds. What if they steal them while they’re farming?”

“Let them steal. I never intended to hold onto the seeds forever. They would have been made available to them sooner or later.” Wei Ruo replied.

Weir Ruo never hoarded any seeds. All the seeds produced in her space were eventually released unconditionally to the public, and the potatoes were not going to be an exception.

“Miss, are you planning to give our seeds to the Jurchen people? They are the ones who captured Brother Xiaoyong and hurt the Prince.” Xiumei didn’t hold a good impression of the Jurchen people.

“The Yehe tribe was not the one who captured Xiaoyong last time and there are many commoners among the Jurchen people. Just like there are officers and commoners in the Great Empire, there are Jurchen commoners, and they are the same as our commoners.”

“Miss, your attitude towards the Jurchen seems different from your attitude towards the Japanese Pirates?”

“Yes, indeed. The Jurchen were living on that land all along. Any friction at the border can be seen as the natural result of two neighboring countries. But the Japanese Pirates came from far away to loot our resources and harm our people.” Wei Ruo explained.

She paused briefly and added, “If Zhe Ta proves to be as she says, coming here for the welfare of her people, I’d be happy to share the potato seeds with her. In fact, I would give her all the seeds of my high-yield crops.”

Weir Ruo continued, “However, I cannot be sure whether she’s telling me the truth, so I deliberately made that harsh demand. It’s not only a test of her sincerity but also her ability.”

Xiumei nodded, “I see, I understand now.”