Leng Jinyu’s face instantly darkened upon hearing this voice. How could this old fox have such a keen sense of smell? He was coming to the Cold King’s manor for a meal, only to run into an old fox.
“Your Majesty, your imperial palace is brimming with delicacies. Would you even spare a glance at such humble home-cooked dishes?” Leng Jinyu teased the Emperor.
“Li’er, my girl, look at what your father is saying! You’re truly infuriating me!” The Emperor, whose hands were clasped behind his back, immediately withdrew one and pointed at Leng Jinyu.
“Father Emperor, please don’t hold it against my father. We’ve only just served the dishes. Why don’t you join us for the meal?” Leng Ruoli said, her delicate red lips curving into a beautiful arc.
“Hmph! My girl, do you think your Father Emperor is such a petty person?” The Emperor, pleased by Leng Ruoli’s words, said proudly. His deep, phoenix eyes met Leng Jinyu’s, he raised his eyebrows slightly, a flicker of triumph flashing in his gaze.
“Yes, yes, yes, Father Emperor is the best.” Leng Ruoli said helplessly.
Afterward, Leng Ruoli and Jun Mohan arranged for the Emperor to sit next to Leng Jinyu.
“Father Emperor, Father, let’s eat!” Leng Ruoli said to the two men with a smile.
With that, both the Emperor and Leng Jinyu picked up their chopsticks. Simultaneously, their chopsticks moved towards the pot of spicy beauty trotters on the table. Their chopsticks clashed instantly. They glanced at each other, and both withdrew their hands. Then, in a similar fashion, they both reached for the pot of chopped chili fish head. Their chopsticks clashed again. They looked at each other once more, then quickly withdrew their hands and put down their chopsticks.
“Your Majesty, do you have a problem with this subject?” Leng Jinyu asked, his teeth grinding audibly.
“I was about to ask you the same thing! Do you have something against me?” The Emperor retorted, glaring at Leng Jinyu.
“How would this subject dare?” After speaking, Leng Jinyu rolled his eyes at the Emperor twice.
“Alright, Father Emperor and Father, you two stop bickering. The dishes on the table are getting cold. Let’s eat quickly.” Leng Ruoli reminded them helplessly. She picked up a pair of serving chopsticks and placed a piece of pig trotter and a large portion of fish head into each of their bowls.
“Father Emperor, Father, let’s eat,” Leng Ruoli called out sweetly.
Only then did the two old men cease their quarrel.
“Li’er, my girl, I heard from Han’er that you’ve been cultivating new crops recently. If you succeed, it will greatly benefit the people of the Tianwu Kingdom, is that right?” The Emperor suddenly changed from his previous frivolous demeanor to a serious expression.
“Yes, Father Emperor, but large-scale seedling cultivation is not yet possible. We can only proceed step by step,” Leng Ruoli nodded and replied earnestly.
“So, are the yields of these crops you’re cultivating truly high?” The Emperor asked, his tone concerned.
“Father Emperor, crops like the sweet potatoes and potatoes I’ve cultivated are very easy to grow. As long as the land is fertile and you weed diligently, you will get a good harvest. It’s not as troublesome as planting rice,” Leng Ruoli explained simply.
“That would be truly wonderful. Every winter, a large number of people in the northern part of the Tianwu Kingdom starve to death. I truly hope that in the winters to come, no one will be starved or frozen to death.” The Emperor said with a heavy tone. When he was young, he had personally experienced the taste of nearly starving to death while leading his troops in battle amidst snow and ice. Therefore, he would never forget those days, when the soldiers were so hungry that they ate…
“Father Emperor, these things cannot be rushed. The seedlings of these crops need to be cultivated slowly,” Leng Ruoli explained to the Emperor again.
“Father Emperor naturally understands that. Li’er, my girl, do you still have any of that… sweet potato and corn in stock? Father Emperor wishes to have a taste on behalf of the common people. Heh heh…” The Emperor changed the subject, suddenly speaking shamelessly.
The next moment.
“……”
Leng Ruoli, Jun Mohan, and Leng Jinyu all turned their gazes towards the Emperor simultaneously, leaving them speechless. They found the Emperor’s behavior utterly indescribable.
Sensing their gazes, the Emperor felt a bit awkward. He was, after all, the ruler of a nation. Why hadn’t he been more mindful of his image just now?
To alleviate the Emperor’s embarrassment, Leng Ruoli quickly came to his rescue.
“Father Emperor, I do have some in stock. Since you wish to taste them, Li’er will go and steam a large basin of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn for you all to try.” Leng Ruoli smiled sweetly, a hint of playfulness in her smile.
She then hurried into the small kitchen that Jun Mohan had specially built for Leng Ruoli in Hanchen Garden. From her spatial dimension, she retrieved a large basket of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn, and steamed them in a large pot for them.
It took Leng Ruoli more than half an hour to steam this large pot of mixed grains. She picked out a large basket of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn and brought them out to place on their dining table. She also left plenty in her kitchen’s large pot for her two maids, Ye Ying and Yin Chen, and their guards to try. At the same time, Leng Ruoli specifically selected a few good ones for the Emperor to take back to the palace for the Empress Dowager.
At that moment, when the Emperor saw the large basket of sweet potatoes, potatoes, and corn that Leng Ruoli had placed on the dining table, his eyes lit up.
“Li’er, my girl, which one of these is the sweet potato, which is the potato, and which is the corn?” The Emperor asked, bewildered, looking at the contents of the basket. He didn’t recognize any of the items Leng Ruoli had brought out.
“Father Emperor, Father, this one with red skin and yellow flesh is sweet potato. This one with yellow skin and yellow flesh is potato. The rest, in ear-shaped form, are called corn. How about I get you a sweet potato to try first?” Leng Ruoli explained carefully to the Emperor and Leng Jinyu.
“Ah, my Li’er is truly capable. You’re much more accomplished than your father. You understand everything. No matter what happens in the future, your father won’t have to worry about you being wronged or going hungry.” Leng Jinyu sighed, his nose stinging, and his eyes reddened unknowingly.
“Father, please don’t overthink future matters. First, try the sweet potato my daughter steamed for you.” Leng Ruoli said, looking at Leng Jinyu with a smile.
“Alright, Li’er, your father understands.” Leng Jinyu eagerly took the peeled sweet potato that Leng Ruoli handed him, saying with a beaming smile.
And so, the four of them ate heartily that night until they could eat no more.
As night approached, Jun Mohan, accompanied by several guards, personally escorted the Emperor back to the imperial palace. Before leaving, the Emperor distinctly remembered to take the grains Leng Ruoli had packed for the Empress Dowager back to the palace for the elder to taste.
As for Leng Ruoli, she intended to personally see Leng Jinyu back to the Leng General’s manor, but Leng Jinyu refused.
“Father, shouldn’t Li’er escort you back?” Leng Jinyu asked with a frown.
“Li’er, no need. Your father hasn’t had any alcohol tonight and can walk back himself.” No matter how Leng Ruoli tried to persuade him, Leng Jinyu was insistent that Leng Ruoli not escort him.
Leng Ruoli had no choice but to agree.