Chapter 312 - Chapter 312: Easy to Use
Chapter 312: Easy to Use
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Over the years, which families has the emperor visited?
None. He hasn’t visited any family but chose to visit Mr. Yuan’s house, bringing a princess. Any discerning person could see what was going on.
Upon hearing this, Princess Jiamei’s mother, Consort Rui, immediately had someone gather information about Mr. Yuan’s family. It turned out Yuan Haichuan was currently engaged in marriage negotiations.
As the emperor’s close confidante, Consort Rui quickly understood his intentions.
Regarding her future son-in-law, she was pretty satisfied. Although he held only the sixth rank, he showed great potential. Moreover, Mr. Yuan was highly favored by the emperor, and the Yuan family had a good reputation.
Early in the morning, Consort Rui dressed up her daughter.
Princess Jiamei’s title was earned because she had been beautiful since childhood and had a good personality. The old emperor cherished her, hence the title.
The emperor was quite pleased with her appearance today.
They set out in a carriage, with Princess Jiamei and the emperor disguising themselves to leave the palace.
Arriving at the entrance of Lucky Garden, Princess Jiamei alighted first, then helped the old emperor down. She displayed no airs of a princess but resembled an ordinary father-daughter pair. This was precisely why the emperor liked her.
The gate was wide open, and the servants quickly came forward to greet them.
“Is this the distinguished guest our mistress arranged to meet?”
The emperor was taken aback. It seemed Mr. Yuan did not publicize his visit, and he became even more satisfied with him.
“Indeed.”
“Please come inside; our master and young master are waiting in the living room.”
The steward led the way while someone hurriedly went to report.
Yuan Jiaqi came, quickly bringing his son to greet them. The group entered the living room, and the emperor took a seat at the top, with Yuan Jiaqi and his son sitting below after paying their respects.
“Where is your wife?”
“We heard you were coming, so she’s in the kitchen overseeing.”
“Hmm, then take me for a tour of your house?”
“Sure.”
The emperor glanced at Yuan Haichuan. Seeing his upright posture and handsome appearance, he was pleased with his future son-in-law.
He then looked at his daughter, equally satisfied. Comparing the two, he felt it was a perfect match.
Unlike the previous incident, where the emperor had to use his authority as the ruler, this time, both were unmarried, one handsome and the other beautiful. Wasn’t this a perfect match?
If they still hesitated, he would decree the marriage forcefully. Hmph!
The group continued their tour at Lucky Garden. The emperor listened to Yuan Jiaqi’s explanations and glanced at the young couple following them.
“By the way, Yuan Haichuan?”
“I’m here!”
“Jiamei is behind us and can’t hear clearly. Introduce her to her surroundings.”
“Sure.”
The emperor didn’t discuss his thoughts on the potential match with his daughter, but Qiao Mai had informed her son. Knowing Yuan Haichuan’s personality, he wouldn’t pay much attention without a proper introduction.
Similar to his father, Yuan Haichuan wasn’t interested in women and could be described as a bookworm. If not for the marriage arrangement, he wouldn’t have taken charge.
The previous visit had been too rushed. This time, the emperor decided to spend a day at their house.
He inquired about this and that.
“Why is a high-ranking official like you raising chickens at home? It seems there are no chicken egg sellers in the capital.”
“My wife said many families save up eggs for a long time before selling them.
They are not fresh. With the chickens she raises, we can have fresh eggs. Moreover, the eggs have a different taste from others.”
“Oh, then send some to the palace for me later.”
“I dare not. Many people dislike me. If something happens to the eggs, I won’t be able to explain.”
“You sly one. Just send them; you won’t be held responsible if anything goes wrong.”
Yuan Jiaqi couldn’t help but roll his eyes internally, thinking, “He’s so greedy for a few eggs! But well, if it’s my wife’s creation, it must be exceptional, and the emperor is no exception.”
“Wow, can such small birds lay eggs too?”
“These are quails. Although their eggs are small, they lay plenty, and their nutritional value is even higher than chicken eggs.”
“Alright, send some to the palace for me.”
Yuan Jiaqi saw through the emperor’s intentions. Under the guise of a matchmaking visit, he had come to his house for a feast. If he had known earlier, he would have prepared porridge and pickles for lunch.
The emperor indulged in the abundance of food, picking and choosing freely.
Yuan Jiaqi wouldn’t dare to entertain such thoughts if not for Qiao Mai.
Yuan Haichuan also introduced to the princess carefully. Jiamei listened attentively and was fascinated.
Old Master and Mistress Wang didn’t come. They disliked the emperor. They were getting old and didn’t want to get involved. After having an early lunch, they returned to Bichun Garden to check on the ongoing renovations.
In the backyard, they naturally didn’t encounter Old Mistress Wang. They enjoyed the scenery and watched the small animals. The emperor didn’t miss any opportunity.
“I saw many strange plants in your garden.”
“Those aren’t strange plants. My wife dug up the lawn and planted medicinal herbs instead.”
“Can your wife practice medicine?”
“A bit. She grows medicinal herbs to sell. She calls it space utilization.”
The emperor smirked. “She’s also fallen for money?”
“Hehe.”
Yuan Jiaqi didn’t argue. Whatever the emperor said was the truth.
“Oh, do you keep deer?”
“Yes, these are musk deer. These small animals produce excellent medicinal herbs.”
“Are those to sell too?”
“Yes.”
The emperor swallowed and didn’t say anything else. He moved to the side of the martial arts practice field and pointed to some strange devices.
“What are these?”
“These are for fitness. They’re suitable for adults, children, and the elderly.”
“I want to see your kitchen.”
“Please come this way.”
Qiao Mai wasn’t in the kitchen at this time; she was reading a book in her courtyard.
Upon entering the Qiao family’s kitchen, the emperor realized that his imperial kitchen was nothing compared to this.
Everywhere was spotless, and everything was heartening to see. The emperor observed the icehouse, the warehouse, the chefs, the quality of the tools, and the ingredients.
He felt bitter. “Did your wife buy these kitchen tools from overseas?”
“Yes, one of her friends frequently goes abroad. The round trip takes about half a year.”
“Can I get a set of these kitchen tools? They’re so beautiful. The chef used one of those things, and the ingredients immediately turned into fine shreds.”
“That’s a grater for shredding and slicing. It’s useful.”
“And this one?”
“This is a peeler to peel apples.”
“Oh, your kitchen tools are ingenious. Can 1…?”
“I don’t know if my wife still has any. I’ll ask later.”
“Hmm.”
Yuan Jiaqi didn’t want him to keep looking. “Shall we rest in the living room?”
“Finished with the tour?”
“Yes, about one round.”
“Alright, I’m tired too. Brew a pot of your best tea for me. Don’t hide anything, okay?”
Yuan Jiaqi almost shouted, “As long as you don’t ask or request anything, I’ll provide it!”
In the living room, the servants had laid out a table with snacks and fruits.
Seeing these fruits, Princess Jiamei was astonished. “It’s November now. How are these fruits still so fresh? I’ve never seen many of them before.” Yuan Haichuan sighed inwardly, resigning himself to explain.
“This one is called green mano, a type of grape. Princess, please try some.” He picked one and handed it to her.
The princess blushed and accepted it, taking a bite. “It’s delicious and not sour at all. I suppose it’s not from our Ming Dynasty?”
“I don’t know. My mother brought them.”
“And this?”
“This is mangosteen, exceptionally sweet. The inside of the fruit looks like garlic cloves, and it’s as white as cotton. Do you want to try it?”
“Yes.”
At this moment, the emperor took a sip of tea and let out a long sigh.
“This tea is good.”
“As long as you like it!”