The empire possessed a rather excellent system.
—The civil assistance system.
Whenever harvest season arrived, or during special circumstances when the common folk found themselves struggling due to a shortage of hands, they could apply for aid from the empire through this system.
After review, the empire would dispatch some "idle labor" from within the realm to assist them.
Normally, the ones tasked with this duty were soldiers.
But this time...
The unlucky ones turned out to be the officials.
The reason was remarkably simple.
Cedric, the current corps commander of the empire, had once complained in parliament:
“Why is it always my soldiers being sent off to do manual labor?”
And so, the head of the Evaluation Department stepped forward, patted his chest, and declared:
“Leave small matters like this to us!”
And then...
Their department head tossed the problem to his deputy.
The deputy dumped the trouble onto Section One.
And finally...
Kane, Chief of Section One, handed the task over to Section Three.
Thus, the ultimate victims were born.
—Section Three.
“Seeing you in person, I finally understand why the rumors are so exaggerated. Chief Li An, you truly are as handsome as they say.” Viscount Yorick stroked his graying beard, showing a warm, kindly smile.
Generally, when someone of Viscount Yorick's age called a young man "handsome," it didn't mean they were complimenting their looks. It was more akin to saying: “This young man looks quite capable.”
Even so...
“It's an honor to meet you,” Li An bowed respectfully.
“Please, stand up,” Viscount Yorick hurriedly said. “Isn't it only natural to bow to an elder who has served the empire his entire life?”
Hearing those words, the smile on Viscount Yorick's face deepened. Elders generally liked polite and humble young people.
“However... I'm afraid you'll have to bow quite a few more times today,” Viscount Yorick chuckled. “Because there are plenty of sweet potatoes to dig up.”
With that, Viscount Yorick handed Li An a wide-brimmed hat to block the sun, then turned and walked toward the sweet potato field.
The members of Section Three followed close behind like ducklings waddling after their mother duck.
“Lord Viscount,” Li An asked, “do you usually perform farm work yourself?”
“Hmm?” Viscount Yorick laughed. “I like to stretch my limbs every now and then. Besides, if I can personally verify the quality of the food, wouldn't I be more qualified to recommend it to others?”
Word had it that the Yorick family came from generations of farmers. Near the imperial capital, the Viscount Yorick family had engaged in agriculture for generations.
No matter how one looked at him, he didn't resemble a traditional noble. Instead, he seemed more like a kindly old farmer.
However, if one knew the value of the land he owned, their perspective would change completely.
Viscount Yorick was both a farmer and one of the largest landowners in the empire. Saying he owned thousands of acres of fertile farmland was practically a modest understatement.
“Remember, if you can leave a good impression on Viscount Yorick, your future will be much easier,” Kane had once reminded Li An.
This was indeed advice born out of goodwill. Unfortunately... it was useless.
Because in the future, after Elizabeth became Empress, she would directly confiscate all of Viscount Yorick's fertile lands, slapping him with a bogus charge of treason.
In the novel, the despair described when the land Viscount Yorick spent his entire life protecting was ruthlessly stolen away felt painfully real.
Thinking up to this point, Li An couldn't help sighing.
Better to just pretend I never thought about it.
“Isha,” Viscount Yorick asked, “is this your first time doing farm work?”
“I did a little with my parents when I was small,” Isha answered.
“Is that so? Then you're still a novice. Watch my movements closely.”
Viscount Yorick earnestly instructed Isha as if she were his own adorable granddaughter.
And Isha... true to her status as a genius who could make even the god of talent envious, mastered the technique after only a few tries.
“What an industrious girl,” Viscount Yorick nodded in satisfaction. “Have you ever considered marrying into our family?”
“Haha.” Isha lowered her head slightly. “My apologies, but I am not yet qualified to marry.”
“What a pity,” Viscount Yorick sighed. “Compared to you, my lazy son is worse than fertilizer in the field. He's not getting any younger, yet all he thinks about every day is gambling.”
“Perhaps your son has merely lost his way temporarily,” Isha said gently. “He will surely return to the right path one day.”
“Is that so?” Viscount Yorick froze for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. “Hahaha!”
Watching the two converse so harmoniously, a scene from the novel suddenly floated into Li An's mind:
“Elizabeth von Strode!”
“I will curse you from the depths of hell!”
“Until the day you stand before me, I will wait!”
“Wait for the moment to completely shatter you!”
“...”
As expected, it really is better to pretend I never thought about all that.
Li An quickly shook those thoughts out of his head, then resumed digging sweet potatoes. He usually processed documents every day, so suddenly engaging in physical labor made his body feel surprisingly comfortable.
“Indeed, people should exercise every now and then.”
Saying so, Li An swung his farm tool and brought it down hard.
And then...
Crack!
“Arghhh!”
The next second, Li An cried out in pain.
“Chief!”
Isha hurried over. Her work clothes were stained with dirt, and the tool in her hand was covered in mud.
“Are you all right?”
“I think I threw my back out. Taking a break should fix it.”
In truth, the injury wasn't serious. Li An just wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to slack off.
However... seeing Isha approach, he instinctively took a step back.
“Would you like me to help adjust your posture?”
“What?”
“I've learned a few healing techniques. If you don't mind, let me take a look,” Isha said earnestly.
She helped Li An lie down on a temporary bed set up under the shade of a tree. With the sunlight blocked out, Li An immediately felt much better.
Meanwhile, Isha wiped her hands clean first before gently pressing against Li An's back. Her fingers accurately pinpointed the sore spot.
“Here?”
“Mmm...”
A warm surge of energy poured into him. She had actually infused magic into the treatment.
His tense muscles gradually relaxed, and the pain slowly dissipated.
“How does it feel now?”
Li An stretched a little. It truly felt a lot better.
“It feels quite a bit better.”
“Then please continue resting.”
With the treatment complete, Isha picked up her farm tool again and returned to the field.
Under the sun, clear beads of sweat trickled down her busy neck. Viscount Yorick had handed out baskets to everyone.
However... by noon, Isha's basket was already filled to the brim, while Li An... had only three or four sweet potatoes.
Damn it.
Viscount Yorick never said this was a competition to see who could harvest the most sweet potatoes, did he?
If they compared numbers once this was over... that would be troublesome.
If I knew, I wouldn't have chosen this tool. It's ridiculously hard to use.
The empire didn't pay much attention to developing agricultural tools, which resulted in Li An and the others using ancient, outdated tools that defied human ergonomics.
This indirectly caused Li An, who had never used such a tool before, to work at an excruciatingly low speed.
“I can't go on like this.”
Saying so, Li An walked over to his bag and pulled out his secret weapon—a gardening hoe.
This was a high-grade tool he had paid a hefty sum to have a blacksmith custom-make. He had originally planned to sell it after fleeing the empire; it was a luxury item far ahead of its era.
However, just as he was preparing to use it...
“Ah...”
“I can't do this anymore!” Sushia's voice drifted over.
“Why am I doing this kind of work here?”
“It's not even my field!”
“Why do I have to labor under the scorching sun?”
Sushia—the woman who spent every day slacking off in the office—was clearly incapable of handling labor of this intensity.
“Sushia, where are you going?”
“I quit! I'm going home!”
With that, she walked straight out of the sweet potato field.
“You can just do that?” Li An stared in disbelief. “Isn't she afraid of the Hounds?”
Be that as it may, those who left were gone. Li An picked up his hoe again and resumed digging sweet potatoes.
This time, every time the hoe sank into the soft soil with a crisp sound, it brought him an immense sense of satisfaction.
At this rate... I can still turn things around! As long as I...
Time flew by, and the sun gradually sank toward the horizon. Li An's basket was finally full.
Having confirmed he wouldn't lose to Isha, he began looking for her.
A breeze blew through the sweet potato field, causing her long golden hair to flutter. The final ray of setting sun pierced through the clouds, shining onto the girl's face before slowly fading away.
Li An looked at her, a strange feeling suddenly welling up in his heart.
What was she thinking? Born into royalty, yet rejected by her own flesh and blood. Forced to conceal her true identity. Now... simply digging sweet potatoes in silence, gazing at her mud-stained hands. How did she truly feel deep down?
Li An walked over without speaking a word.
Isha sensed his presence and turned around.
“Chief.”
Then, she let out a bright smile.
“Look! This sweet potato is huge!”
She held up a sweet potato larger than her own face. That look on her face made it seem as if it were the most precious harvest of the day.
“How about we secretly eat it?” she whispered, a hint of playfulness in her voice.
“I suppose we could.”
Night fell, and the day's work came to an end.
“Thank you for your hard work today, everyone,” Viscount Yorick said with deep feeling. “To be honest, this was merely the selfish request of a lonely old man. Thank you for accompanying me.”
“I'm not afraid of making a fool of myself by saying this... Seeing that the empire still has officials like you makes me feel that the future isn't entirely dark.”
At this point, Viscount Yorick's expression suddenly turned solemn.
“As a loyal subject of the empire and a descendant of the First Guardian's bloodline, I, Yorick Theslon, hereby swear this oath.”
“No matter what Li An Adolf requires of me in the future, and no matter how difficult it may be, I will fulfill one request. This oath I shall honor in the name of my ancestors.”
“...”
Li An froze.
“Lord Viscount?”
Yorick grasped both of his hands.
“The empire today is overrun with corrupt men. They are lazy, greedy, and know only how to take.”
“But you are different. Since arriving here, you haven't uttered a single complaint. For a farmer, that alone is enough to earn my trust.”
“Perhaps it is too early to say this... but please, save this empire. The empire needs you.”
...
Li An didn't reply right away, merely wetting his lips.
After leaving the domain, he could no longer recall what he had said in response back then.
A few days later.
“Today's snack is sweet potato.”
“But yesterday was sweet potato too.”
“And the day before yesterday.”
“There are still plenty of sweet potatoes sent by Viscount Yorick.”
“Tomorrow, I'll make sweet potato stew. Please eat every bit of it. Wasting food is forbidden.”
Li An looked at the sweet potatoes, a look of exhaustion on his face. No matter how delicious something was, eating it every single day would make anyone grow tired of it.
Cough, cough!
Suddenly, Li An choked. He waved his hand frantically.
“Water!”
Isha hurriedly handed him water. After gulping it down, Li An finally recovered.
Just then, the office door opened, and a woman who was unexpected yet entirely within reason made her appearance.
“Didn't you say you quit?” Li An looked toward the doorway.
Sushia gave an embarrassed chuckle. “Thinking carefully... this actually seems like the best job around. So... could you let me come back?”
Li An remained silent for a moment.
“Fine. But go clean the toilets first.”
“...”
Sushia puffed out her cheeks.
“Understood.”
With that, she stomped out of the office in a huff. Looking at her retreating back, Isha couldn't help but softly smile.
Rate on N.U.
