Chapter 21, come out, Potato!
Cui Yue rubbed her temples, feeling excruciating pain, and a damp, musty smell lingered around her nose.
Her memories gradually returned, and she recalled what had happened before.
The identification in the imperial court, the silence of the civil and military officials, and the murderous intent in Empress Dowager Yuanhua's phoenix eyes!
Finally, she and the eldest prince were about to be imprisoned in the imperial prison like two stray dogs, but they were rescued by a stranger in black on the way!
Cui Yue's face instantly turned ashen.
Something felt off!
In her previous life, her affair with the eldest prince was only discovered a year later. Although it caused a huge uproar, they were already powerful and influential by then, and they weren't in such a sorry state!
Most importantly, the four-year-old Empress Yu Zhaoning clearly died in that accidental fall into the water in her previous life!
In this life, she not only lived well, but also became the beginning of all the changes!
Could it be...?
An absurd thought arose in Cui Yue's mind.
Could it be that the little brat has also been reborn? Is he back for revenge?
snort!
Cui Yue's lips curled into a cold smile.
So what if I was reborn!
She was only four years old when she died in her previous life. What did she know? The only person she could rely on was her grandmother, who was also a time traveler!
But Cui Yue is different!
This time, she was reborn and awakened the "Charming Woman" conquest system!
If you successfully win over your target, you can gain their favor and make them work for you!
Now, the Great Yu Dynasty can no longer tolerate them.
However, this is precisely an opportunity!
She can accompany the Crown Prince to the Yan Kingdom! The Yan Kingdom's national strength is in no way inferior to that of the Great Yu Kingdom!
[Ding! System mission issued: First target to pursue – Emperor Yan! Please travel to the Yan Kingdom as soon as possible and approach your target!]
As the system notification sounded in her mind, Cui Yue's smile grew even more confident, and she proudly raised her chin.
The Emperor of Yan?
Just what I wanted!
She quickly composed herself, adopting a pitiful and panicked demeanor, and gently nudged the unconscious Crown Prince beside her.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, please wake up!"
"We...we were rescued, but we don't know where we are. What should we do? Waaah..."
The eldest prince, Yu Jingchuan, slowly woke up and the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was Cui Yue's tear-streaked face.
Instead of showing pity, he was enraged, shoved her away, and roared, "You wretched servant! How dare you betray me in court! I'll kill you!"
Cui Yue rolled her eyes inwardly.
Kill me? Brother, look at our current situation! We're like a pair of star-crossed lovers. If we fight each other again, we'll be meeting the King of Hell together tomorrow!
Her face showed panic, and she immediately knelt down to defend herself.
"Your Highness, you have misunderstood Yue'er!"
"In that situation, the Empress Dowager and that little empress clearly wanted us dead! If Yue'er hadn't said that, we would both have been killed on the spot!"
"Yue'er, that's a strategic retreat! It's to protect us!"
She spoke with tears streaming down her face, her words filled with genuine emotion.
"Why don't we simply abandon our identity as residents of Dayu and head to the State of Yan? That's your true home!"
"Your Highness, the Emperor of Yan is your biological father!"
These words struck Yu Jingchuan like a thunderbolt, leaving him utterly stunned.
His eyes widened, he grabbed Cui Yue's shoulder, and shouted angrily, "What nonsense are you spouting! My father was the late Emperor of Great Yu, how could I possibly be the son of the Emperor of Yan?!"
Cui Yue sneered inwardly, but on the surface she appeared to be wholeheartedly thinking of you.
"If Your Highness does not believe me, you may simply examine your undergarments!"
"Isn't there an embroidered iris mark on the inside of that garment? That's the national flower of Yan! It was specially prepared for you by the Emperor of Yan!"
Yu Jingchuan, with a hint of disbelief, pulled open his collar.
really!
Inside the lining, there is a delicate iris embroidery.
He froze, his face ashen.
"It's actually true!"
Seeing this, Cui Yue immediately seized the opportunity and stepped forward.
"Your Highness, think about it, we were both on the verge of death, how could we possibly have escaped from the heavily guarded palace? It must have been Emperor Yan who sent people to rescue us!"
"Going to Yan now is the best choice! You are the Emperor of Yan's own son, and he will never let you wander outside! Perhaps, you can even regain your noble status as a prince!"
Yu Jingchuan's face turned pale and then flushed, his mind in turmoil.
If he stayed in Yu Kingdom, he would be a traitor hated by everyone, a stain on the royal family, and might be assassinated by that old hag Yuan Hua one day.
But if we go to the State of Yan...
Just like Cui Yue said, perhaps it really can lead to a bright future!
He took a deep breath and finally made up his mind.
He helped Cui Yue up, a hint of guilt in his eyes: "Yueyue, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you."
Cui Yue immediately threw herself into his arms, nuzzling her head against his chest, her voice soft and sweet.
"Yueyue is not afraid. As long as she can be with Your Highness, Yueyue is not afraid of anything! She will never abandon you, even in life or death!"
Yu Jingchuan felt a warmth in his heart, and his doubts vanished.
He patted Cui Yue's head and said in a deep voice, "In that case, there's no time to lose! We must set off immediately and not let the people of Dayu catch up!"
"Um!"
Cui Yue nodded emphatically.
Taking advantage of the fact that no one was around, the two quickly disappeared into the shadows on the outskirts of Beijing.
…
Meanwhile, on the other side of the capital, inside the imperial palace, the lights were on full display, and the atmosphere was much more cheerful.
Yu Zhaoning was sitting on her grandmother Yuan Hua's lap, happily swinging her two short legs.
With a thought, she opened the system panel using her mind.
[Super Potato Seed, Come Out!]
In the blink of an eye, a pile of round, muddy potatoes appeared out of thin air in the open space.
Yuan Hua was used to this scene and simply pinched his granddaughter's cheek affectionately.
Lin Xiang stood to the side, his face still showing that aloof expression, but the curiosity and shock in his eyes were impossible to hide.
This is what His Majesty meant...
Potato?
Yu Zhaoning slid off Yuan Hua's lap, ran to the pile of potatoes, waved her little hand, and was full of heroic spirit.
"Summon the Grand Minister of Agriculture and the agricultural officials! I have an auspicious omen to bestow upon them!"
Soon, a group of agricultural officials, led by the Grand Minister of Agriculture, were urgently summoned.
When they arrived, they were all dumbfounded when they saw the strangely shaped lumps of mud on the carpet.
Da Nong Si was an honest old man. He carefully walked forward, squatted down, picked up a potato, turned it over and over to look at it, and even smelled it under his nose.
A pure, earthy smell.
He looked up at Yuan Hua with a blank expression: "Empress Dowager, Your Majesty..."
"What, what is this? I am so ignorant, I have never seen anything like it before."
Yu Zhaoning was unhappy.
She walked over with her short legs, put her little hands on her hips, puffed out her little chest, and announced in a childish voice.
"This is called a potato! It's an auspicious gift from heaven to our Great Yu! It yields 3,000 catties per mu! It can feed all the people!"
[Hmph! A bunch of ignorant fools! This is good stuff!]
French fries, baked potatoes, mashed potatoes, mashed potatoes... Slurp! My mouth is watering!
[Especially the French fries that Grandma mentioned, dipped in ketchup, so crispy and delicious! Once I get the tomato seeds, I'm definitely going to eat my fill!]
As Yuan Hua listened to his granddaughter's heartfelt words, he couldn't help but smile.
Tomato sauce isn't difficult to make, or you could just have the imperial kitchen prepare it.
Lin Xiang lowered his eyes, and the corners of his mouth were slightly upturned.
fries...
What is it? Although I don't know what it is, judging from His Majesty's words, it seems to be an unparalleled delicacy.
But those agricultural officials didn't know that!
After hearing Yu Zhaoning's words, they looked at each other, their expressions strange.
Three thousand catties per mu?
Is Your Majesty talking in your sleep?
It should be noted that even in a year with favorable weather, the yield of millet, which has the highest production rate, is only about 300 jin per mu!
This dark, muddy lump of mud can produce three thousand catties? That's pure bragging!
One of the bolder agricultural officials couldn't help but mutter under his breath, "This thing doesn't look very appealing, and it's covered in mud. Is it really edible? Could it be poisonous?"
These words immediately ignited Yu Zhaoning's little firecracker.
"You actually don't believe me!"
The little empress puffed up her cheeks in anger, looking like a little pufferfish.
"Fine! Since you don't believe me, then I'll convince you!"
She turned to the head eunuch at the door and shouted, "Summon the Imperial Kitchen! Have them prepare all these potato samples into delicious dishes for me! Today, let's have a potato feast right here! Let all my beloved ministers have a good taste and broaden their horizons!"
Yuan Hua smiled with narrowed eyes and elegantly picked up his teacup.
"Since it is His Majesty's decree, my dear ministers, please stay and taste these potatoes."
She then looked at Prime Minister Lin and said gently, "Prime Minister Lin, you should stay as well. You can dine with me and His Majesty."
Lin Xiang bowed and said, "Your subject obeys the decree."
His gaze fell on the round potatoes, and his heart was filled with anticipation.
Why would His Majesty treasure this previously unheard-of crop so much?
Is it really that delicious?