Chapter 248 (2/2)

”Ehh? Junyang, you seem to know quite an amount of details regarding her family's circ.u.mstances!” His younger cousin was the type of youth who turned a blind eye to the number one beauty in the capital, yet he knew so much about this little farming girl. If people claimed that there wasn't more to the story, even a fool wouldn't believe that!

Zhu Junyang nodded his head confidently, ”That little farming girl is also the adopted daughter of General Fang! When Lady Fang was in Tanggu Town, she often spent time chatting with my lady mother.”

Although Zhu Junyang's words provided a reason as to why he knew so much about this girl's family, Zhu Junfan still felt that his younger cousin had a different type of att.i.tude towards her. However, feelings and emotions weren't something that could be rushed. That little girl was only ten years old. Judging from his younger cousin's expression, he was pretty sure that he was still far from coming to a conclusion. 'Take your time, everything will become clear in the future!'

”Emperor, this official would like to go to Tanggu Town, I ask Your Imperial Majesty for permission!” Minister Liu couldn't be patient anymore and immediately kneeled down in front of the table. Someone was able to grow corn and do it extremely well. Minister Liu wished beyond reason that he could grow a pair of wings right now and fly to that person. He needed to figure out the right method to plant corn and write down all of the details!

Everyone had to admit that Minister Liu was truly an official who cared about the country and its people. He was the type of man who would never give up to complete his goal of bettering the world.

”Minister Liu, are you trying to steal this task away from me?” For some reason, Zhu Junyang didn't want Minister Liu to go there. He wasn't sure why he felt this way, but he thought it was because if the other man went, he would be taking the task away from him. That wouldn't do! He finally had a good excuse to go to Tanggu Town to accompany his lady mother, he absolutely could not allow the other man to steal this away from him!

There was another secret hidden within a corner of his heart; a secret that even he himself wasn't aware of just yet——if he continued to have this task, then he would be able to spend more time with her under a proper excuse.

Ps.h.!.+ Didn't you say that you were going to stay far away from her? The mind and the heart often had opposing desires, wasn't that right?

Minister Liu let out a flabbergasted noise for a while before he finally spoke, ”Royal Prince Yang, this old official isn't trying to steal your glory. I merely want to find out the proper method of planting corn as soon as possible…”

”Enough! You two can stop bickering!! Minister Liu, we know that you only have the people's best interest in your heart. However, this task was originally given to Royal Prince Yang to finish. The little girl and her entire family are also more familiar with him, so it's still better to leave the task to him.”

Since his younger cousin was interested in the girl, Zhu Junfan naturally had to create some opportunity for him ah! There was a common saying: 'familiarity breeds fondness'. The more time his younger cousin could spend with the girl, the more he'll understand the emotions of his heart. However, that little girl was really too young right now. His younger cousin had to wait at least five to six years before he could do anything! He had to wait! Emperor, was it really alright for you to take pleasure in your younger cousin's conundrum?

Minister Liu felt as if there was a cat scratching at his insides. He truly wanted to see with his own eyes how corn was grown. He stubbornly continued to ask for permission, ”Emperor, please give permissions for this official to go along with Royal Prince Yang when he next travels to Tanggu Town!”

”Alright! Permission granted!!” Zhu Junfan had a good understanding of the Minister of Revenue's stubborn personality. If he didn't let him go, the old man might become so anxious that he became ill. The fact that Minister Liu was very meticulous in his duties wasn't a bad thing!

The corn that Zhu Junyang brought back from Tanggu Town was a potent weapon against the officials who accused him of misconduct——this prince wasn't neglecting his duty to see his lady mother, this prince was managing official business! This prince only went to Tanggu Town to figure out the method of planting corn, being able to see my lady mother was only just a perk, that's all…

Royal Prince Yang, don't you feel even the tiniest bit ashamed for telling such a lie?!

Just as Zhu Junyang was about to leave the imperial study, his older cousin, the emperor, suddenly interjected, ”Junyang ah! Didn't you mention that the little farming girl's watermelons are ripe now? Did you bring any back?”

Zhu Junyang and all of the other officials within the study felt like there were black lines on their foreheads: Emperor, was it really alright for you to overtly demand goods from your officials?

Zhu Junyang glanced down and sternly said, ”This official rushed back here as fast as I could, so I naturally couldn't bring much over. The bodyguards who are still on the road will bring some watermelons over. Once the melons enter the capital, this official will personally send some over to you.”

It was okay to wait a couple more days as long as he got watermelon to eat! Zhu Junfan grinned contently and then waved a hand, hinting that the prince could leave now.

As he left the imperial palace, Zhu Junyang had a stormy expression on his face which made people want to stay away from him. Naturally, none of the other officials wanted to try their luck. However, Minister Liu could not be considered a man who went with the crowd. He scampered over and inquired, ”Royal Prince Yang, were you telling the truth when you said that the family grows vegetables at the start of spring and watermelons that can be eaten now?”

”Who would dare to lie in front of the emperor? Deceiving the monarch is a serious crime!” Zhu Junyang snarled back in a bad temper.