Protect Our Chief

As for the others, such as Jiang Zhuyi and those in the position of head steward, naturally they do not have such good treatment. They were directly thrown into the cells of the Inspectorate, while Mr. Yude received slightly better treatment by being allocated a clean, independent cell due to his distant ties to the Imperial Family.

...

During the same period.

In the Four Seasons Garden.

There was a lush orchard brimming with life. At the moment, the branches in the orchard were laden with clusters of golden fruits. These were Spirit Fruit Trees unique to the Wang Family of Daqian—the Golden Pineapple.

This kind of Spirit Fruit is extremely rare, and the Wang Family of Daqian traditionally does not sell it externally. It’s reserved for the enjoyment of the family members.

Beside the orchard, there was a small artificial Upper-Grade Spirit Field that had been temporarily requisitioned by their guest, Wang Shouzhe.

At this time, the Spirit Field was planted with superior spirit melons and vegetables, which had been cultivated and improved over generations. They were rich in Spiritual Qi, tender and juicy, whether stir-fried or eaten raw, they were exceptionally delicious.

However, growing spirit vegetables in an Upper-Grade Spirit Field provides less bodily nourishment than planting Spirit Rice, making it inefficient in terms of energy yield. Only wealthy Noble Families who are unconcerned with cost-effectiveness indulge in satisfying their appetites.

Nonetheless, for Wang Shouzhe, life is not just about filling the stomach; it’s about quality of life.

Upper-Grade Spirit Rice can greatly replenish one’s physical strength and vital energy, but it cannot replace the fresh taste of spirit melons and vegetables.

"Shouzhe, your planting talent is even beyond Zong’an." Prince Anjun picked a modified type of crunchy melon and began eating it with a "crunch, crunch" as he complimented while picking more melons to store in his Storage Ring. "Qiengrui loves melons; I’ll take some back for her."

Some?

Wang Shouzhe gave him a look of disbelief.

You’ve already picked over twenty in this short time.

"This Red Spirit Amaranth is nice, tender enough that it leaks water with a pinch of the nails." Prince Anjun licked his lips and eyed other spirit vegetables. "Yesterday, when I was freeloading a meal from you, I had a few bites—soft, tender, fleshy leaves, juice fresh. I’ll pick a few bunches for Qiengrui to try."

Pick a few bunches?

Wang Shouzhe’s cheeks twitched.

Wu Mingyuan, you’ve almost pinched all the Red Spirit Amaranth in this row, you know?

As a quasi-crown prince, is your family so poor? Not only do you come to his Four Seasons Garden to freeload meals, you always take some ingredients back with you. If there’s really nothing else to take, you even pack up the leftover Spirit Rice saying it can be fried into egg fried rice for a midnight snack.

Alas, a quasi-crown prince reduced to such a state is truly unmatched.

"Your Highness." Wang Shouzhe squatted by the fields, earnestly lecturing him, "You’ll be the Great Emperor in the future, you need some dignity when you go out. These dishes are not easy to come by ~ if you strip them all, what will I eat?"

"Shouzhe, you’re a guest at Duke Dingguo’s Mansion; how can you worry about food?" Prince Anjun’s old face turned red, placing down a few freshly pulled autumn radishes with embarrassment, "It’s just a few bites of your dishes, is it worth being so stingy? Once I become the Great Emperor, I’ll promote you to Inner Pavilion as Chief Minister, then you can deal with national affairs daily."

"Thank you very much~" Wang Shouzhe rolled his eyes in annoyance, "Then I’d be busy all day handling various issues for you? I don’t have that much time; find someone else soon."

"How about I make you a Duke, then? We’ll call it Duke Shouguo." Prince Anjun waved his hand generously.

That stance, as if the family’s dukedom isn’t worth much.

Moreover, he hasn’t even ascended the throne yet, and his skills at painting grand visions are becoming increasingly adept.

"Forget it, there are only two Dukes in the country, both with meritorious efforts in helping Emperor Xuan Du establish the country. If you casually make me a Duke, I fear someone would curse me every day." Wang Shouzhe waved his hand, looking uninterested.

"Shouzhe, you don’t want this, and don’t want that." Prince Anjun sized him up and down, surprised, "Are you perhaps considering becoming a King of a Different Surname?"

After speaking, he genuinely pondered seriously.

"Actually, it’s not impossible. According to ancestral system, if a Noble Family’s merits are substantial enough, they can be made a King."

"That’s enough, Your Highness, you’d better take care of yourself." Wang Shouzhe said unhappily, "Since Prince Kang stepped down this time, the plan to subdue the Southern Border Barbarian Gu Race will likely fall on you. You should be careful; failing would be a joke."

Having been with Prince Anjun for a while, his shamelessly hidden personality gradually revealed itself, especially with his brazen vegetable-stealing ways, which somehow resembled the shamelessness of Your Majesty.

"I’ve already thought out the plan for subduing Southern Border." Prince Anjun confidently picked a handful of tender greens. After stuffing them into his ring, he said with bright eyes, "This battle is sure to win."

"Didn’t expect Your Highness to have grown quite a bit recently." Wang Shouzhe now looked on him with newfound respect, "What brilliant plan is it? Tell me."

"The plan is simple, I’m recruiting you as the grand military strategist." Prince Anjun waved his hand confidently, "With you accompanying me in the expedition, we can’t lose."

"..." Wang Shouzhe turned his head sideways with disdain, "I’m only good at farming, no time to accompany you to battle. Once I’m done with this batch here, I’ll go back to accompany my wife in farming and living, think over your plan by yourself."

"Shouzhe, Shouzhe, you can’t leave me unattended. At worst, I’ll let you win a few games of chess in the future."

"No way, I have my own family affairs to attend to. Leave the military strategist position to someone else." Wang Shouzhe shook his head like a rattle.

While the two were talking.

Commander Xiang, one of the Inner Guards, walked over familiarly.

However, unlike the previous few times, this time he was holding the Saint Decree.

"The Great Emperor decrees that Wang Shouzhe must enter the palace to see the Emperor immediately, without error, thus decreed!" After Commander Xiang finished announcing, he folded the Saint Decree and looked at Wang Shouzhe with a smile, looking quite proud.

Saint Decree?

Wang Shouzhe raised his brow.

This time it wasn’t a hint, nor an excuse to commend.

However, seeing that the Emperor had issued a clear decree for an audience, this time he really had no excuse to refuse.

"Your subject accepts the decree."

Wang Shouzhe respectfully accepted the Saint Decree and, according to the customary practice, slipped Commander Xiang a Gold Note for his trouble.

"Patriarch Shouzhe, Your Majesty wants to see you very badly." Commander Xiang whispered, smiling, "Luckily you accepted promptly, otherwise the Emperor said, ’If that Wang Shouzhe still dawdles, just send the Inner Guards to bind him and drag him to Zhuozheng Pavilion’."

"Hehe~ When the Emperor summons, how could Shouzhe dare not go?" Wang Shouzhe smiled calmly, as if the person who had previously refused several times wasn’t him, "Commander Xiang, please wait a moment. I’ll bathe and change, then accompany you in entering the palace to meet the Emperor."

"No need for bathing and changing, just come with me now. The Emperor is quite impatient; he said ’immediately’."

"Alright, then I’ll pick some fresh spiritual vegetables and fruits to bring along. Since the Emperor has welcomed An Ye and the five little wolf cubs for a while, it wouldn’t do to visit the Emperor empty-handed."

"The Emperor said ’immediately’! Patriarch Shouzhe, don’t make me resort to force."

"Fine, then the melons, fruits, and vegetables that Prince just picked, I’ll borrow them for now."

"..."

Prince Anjun perspired coldly; apparently, his shameless actions earlier were all in vain, turning into picking for Wang Shouzhe.

...