Chapter 1484: Her Highness the Princess (30)

“Oh… then keep up the good work. The old farmers are full of praise for you, Second Brother-in-law. They all say you learn everything after being taught just once.” Tang Guo's face was filled with admiration. “It seems Second Brother-in-law is indeed a clever man.”

Receiving praise from Tang Guo in front of everyone made Lü Qing feel much better.

“That's right. I never expected Second Brother-in-law to be this capable,” Tang Zhi chimed in.

Yun Buxiu joined in as well. “Second Prince Consort was born with wisdom. Whatever he learns, he learns quickly. Mere plowing is hardly enough to stump him.”

After the three finished speaking, they exchanged glances before continuing to sing Lü Qing's praises.

After lunch, the old farmers came to drag Lü Qing away again.

Next came digging holes and planting.

Lü Qing carefully memorized every step, planning to secretly pocket some seeds when the time came.

That was because many of the crop varieties in the farming grounds simply didn't exist outside.

The royal family guarded everything here closely. Ordinary people could never enter.

Once he got his hands on the seeds, he would never return to this place again.

But when it came time to plant, he stared blankly at the handful of seedlings the old farmer handed him.

“Second Prince Consort, watch carefully. Like this humble commoner—place the roots of the seedling inside, then cover it with soil, and that's all.”

Lü Qing hesitated before asking, “Why are we planting seedlings? Shouldn't we be planting seeds?”

“We're planting vegetables right now,” the old farmer explained. “After ten days or half a month, they'll be ready to harvest and eat.”

“But vegetables have seeds too, don't they?”

“The environment here isn't suitable for raising seedlings. The seedlings are brought in from elsewhere.”

Lü Qing's expression darkened.

So after all his hard work, he still didn't even know where the seeds came from?

“Imperial Brother, these lychees are especially sweet today. Where were they brought from?”

Tang Zhi glanced at Yun Buxiu. “The National Preceptor brought them.”

“Oh, from the National Preceptor?” Tang Guo finally shifted her gaze toward Yun Buxiu.

Yun Buxiu immediately smiled. “Does Your Highness like the lychees?”

“I do.”

“Then shall I have someone deliver some more to the Princess Manor another day?”

“That will do.” Tang Guo peeled a lychee and ate it without refusing. “They'd better be sweet. If they aren't, I shall punish you.”

“I guarantee they'll be sweet.”

Only then did Yun Buxiu finally breathe a sigh of relief.

At least the princess was willing to eat his lychees and talk to him. She no longer only spoke to him to ask what tomorrow's weather would be.

That counted as progress, right?

System: That's all you're aiming for?

Tang Guo wasn't worried in the slightest that Lü Qing might steal seeds. Raising those seeds into seedlings required specific temperatures and conditions. It wasn't as simple as a mere scholar like Lü Qing imagined.

By the time these crops spread throughout Northern Xia, even if Lü Qing managed to obtain seeds, they would be useless. He wouldn't gain any profit from them. All his efforts would be in vain.

At the current pace, the entire kingdom could be supplied with these crops within a year.

As for superior seeds, she had plenty.

Watching Lü Qing squat in the field planting vegetable seedlings, his face roasted bright red by the sun, delighted her to no end.

Yun Buxiu sensed Tang Guo's joy, and it seemed to stem from Lü Qing. More accurately, she became happy whenever Lü Qing was miserable.

So she truly disliked Lü Qing now?

For several days in a row, Lü Qing suffered under the relentless torment of the old farmers.

He wanted to take a break, but every morning at dawn, Tang Guo would arrive at the farming grounds, have soft cushions brought over, and sit beneath the shade of a tree while watching everyone work.

He had made a promise in front of Tang Guo, and with her watching, he simply had no face to slack off.

In only a few days, Lü Qing had become thoroughly tanned.