Chapter 430 - Meeting the Young Imperial Prince Again (2/2)

Yu Xiaocao shook her head gently, and disappointment filled the young prince’s eyes. However, Yu Xiaocao said firmly, “This humble servant is working hard in that direction! Your Imperial Highness, have you heard of the Yu Family from Tanggu Town?”

“Yes! My imperial father told me that the Yu Family has grown wheat that yields 600 catties per mu. If we can spread this across the country, then within three years, the people of the Great Ming Dynasty will have enough food and clothing. In addition, the world will stabilize! The Yu Family has really done an outstanding service to the Great Ming Dynasty!” The proud expression on the young prince’s face was quite adorable and funny. Xiaocao almost reached out her hand to squeeze his face.

“Many thanks for the praise, Your Imperial Highness! This humble servant will definitely do my utmost and strive to plant wheat that will yield 1,000 catties per mu! This humble servant will pursue this goal even until my death!” Yu Xiaocao solemnly expressed her gratitude.

The young prince looked at her in surprise and said, “So, you are a part of the Yu Family! Now that you have taken charge of the Imperial Plantation, can you guarantee that you can produce high-yield wheat that can also grow in the capital?”

“This humble servant can guarantee that I will only produce wheat with higher and higher yield rates!” Yu Xiaocao was confident in this aspect.

Su Ran waited quietly on the side. When he saw that the conversation had come to an end, he said, “Your Imperial Highness, the emperor is still waiting in Jinlan Pavilion for Official Yu. The emperor has some questions for her…”

The young prince waved his hands at Yu Xiaocao and said, “You can go visit my imperial father first to discuss your business. When you have free time, I will ask my mother to bring you to the palace to have a good chat with you!”

‘Are you only going to summon me to have a good chat with you? Young prince, your words do not reflect your true heart. Do you feel embarrassed to tell me directly that you want to eat the food I make?’ Yu Xiaocao didn’t say anything and only bid the young prince farewell. She followed Chief Steward Su Ran and soon arrived at Jinlan Pavilion.

“Little girl, you sure are brave to make me wait for so long!” Zhu Junfan looked at Yu Xiaocao with a faint smile on his face. Steam began to rise from the pot of water that was being heated on top of the clay stove. He lifted his slender hand and lightly picked up the dragon engraved Yixing clay teapot before he lightly poured the tea from the teapot into a cup…

Chief Steward Su Ran took the Yixing clay pot from the emperor. His posture when he was brewing tea was pleasing to the eye and his voice was like a clear spring as he said, “We had bumped into the young prince when we walked through the imperial garden. As a result, we were delayed for a moment.”

“After he recovered from his illness, his body has strengthened a lot. This is all thanks to Official Yu!” Zhu Junfan picked up the Yixing clay cup with a dragon carved on it, gently blew on the tea, took a small sip, and shook his head lightly. Even the best quality Da Hong Pao didn’t taste as good as the wild tea the little girl made. Could it be due to the multi-colored stone on her wrist? His gaze couldn’t help but wander towards the multi-colored stone on Yu Xiaocao’s wrist.

Suddenly aware of his stare at her wrist, Xiaocao only made matters worse by hiding her hand behind her back. She put on a fake smile and flatteringly said, “His Imperial Highness is blessed by the gods. Even if this humble servant didn’t help, his illness would’ve still been cured. I only helped the young prince by allowing him to drink fewer bowls of bitter medicine. This humble official does not dare to take credit for the young prince’s quick recovery.”

“Saving Wen’er from drinking all that bitter medicine is already a contribution. During the time when he was still ill, Wen’er had nagged for you more than once. He insisted on arguing with his imperial mother that all the physicians in the imperial palace cannot compare with your medical skills.” Zhu Junfan put down the teacup in his hand. The look in his eyes was unclear.

Xiaocao laughed dryly, “His Imperial Highness is overpraising this humble official. This official doesn’t dare to compare her skills to the imperial physicians. This would mean that I will offend all the imperial physicians in the imperial medicine bureau. In the future, if this humble servant has a headache or fever, none of the imperial physicians will be willing to help me!”

Su Ran glanced at her and thought, ‘Miss Yu, you cannot be too honest. You shouldn’t have said that even if you were thinking that! Are you saying that the young prince had caused trouble for you? Moreover, you don’t have the right to ask an imperial physician to personally go to your estate to treat you since you’re only a sixth-ranked official. Unless...the emperor grants it.’

Zhu Junfan motioned for Su Ran to leave and then he beckoned Xiaocao over. He pointed at the Yixing clay teapot and said, “With your medical skills, why would you need to summon a doctor to cure your fever or minor illnesses? You’re being too modest.”

He continued to talk, preventing Xiaocao from opening her mouth and acting modest, “Ever since I drank the tea that you brewed at Dongshan Village, the tea in the palace seemed to has lost its flavor. Come, help me brew a cup of tea so I can taste your craft again.”

Yu Xiaocao resigned to her fate and picked up the Yixing clay teapot. She opened the lid and tested the temperature of the tea inside the water with her hand. Then, she said, “For this type of tea, you can’t use water that is too hot. You should use water that is around 80 degrees. The first time you boil the water is to wash the impurities off of the tea. The tea will taste the best on the third and fourth brew.”

She knew only a bit about how to conduct a tea ceremony. She could only wash the tea awkwardly and pour another cup of tea for the emperor. Then, she instructed him to taste the tea.

Zhu Junfan took a sip of the tea, frowned, and said, “Are you trying to fool me? I want to drink the tea that I drank in Dongshan Village!” Did she really think he asked her to come here to perform a tea ceremony? He could grab any eunuch in the imperial palace, and they could perform a tea ceremony much more professionally than her. She really was uneducated!