"Tian Daren, there's no need for such formal courtesy."
Yun Shu gave a helpless smile and added, half-jokingly, "This matter hasn't even been settled yet."
"Even if it does not come to pass, just this yield of five thousand jin per mu is already a divine gift enough to bring prosperity to the people of Tian Sheng!"
Tian Daren was overcome with emotion. Tears streamed down his weathered cheeks. "This humble official's ancestors were mere peasants. My father, in his youth, lived through the famine years.
At that time, even roots and tree bark had already been gnawed clean. My great-grandmother starved herself to death just so the children could have the last scraps of food.
When things became truly desperate, my grandfather nearly agreed to trade my aunt to another household—so they could exchange children and eat each other's sons.
If not for the court's relief grain arriving just in time…
Even though each person received no more than a bowl of watery porridge a day, at least we had something to survive on.
Yet my aunt still did not make it. The night before, she had overheard my grandfather's plan and fled in terror. But she hadn't gone far before a group of desperate, starving refugees…"
His voice caught mid-sentence.
"My father was just a child. When he heard my grandmother wailing that night, he was so terrified he fell ill.
To keep him alive, my grandparents gave him nearly all of the porridge they received each day.
In the end, both my grandfather and grandmother starved to death. Only my father survived, rescued by a kind old estate master who took him in and made him a study attendant for his grandson.
My father was fortunate. When he followed the young master to the academy, one of the tutors noticed he had a gift for study.
The old estate master, moved by the chance to form a virtuous bond, allowed my father to study formally.
My father knew how rare the opportunity was. He studied harder than anyone.
But for those of humble birth, the road to officialdom is always more treacherous than for the sons of noble clans. My father's talents were limited as well. In the end, he rose only to a sixth-rank provincial governor.
When I was young, he often told me his lifelong wish was that no one under heaven would ever starve again.
He could not fulfill that dream. So when I entered officialdom, he passed that hope on to me.
But I… I too lacked the ability to make it happen."
He lowered his head, sorrow rising in his chest.
"I thought that, when my time came, I would have no face to meet my father in the afterlife.
Never did I expect… never in this lifetime did I think I would live to see this day!"
Tian Daren lifted his sleeve and wiped his tears.
What had begun as an emotional stumble to his knees, he now turned into a proper, formal bow as he straightened his posture and respectfully saluted Yun Shu.
"This humble official offers gratitude on behalf of the common people of the realm. Thank You, Your Highness, for saving the masses."
"…"
Wait a moment. Her Imperial Father was still right here.
Even if he had never shown signs of jealousy before, wasn't this kind of open declaration a little too direct?
What kind of emperor would enjoy watching the heir apparent outshine him in popularity right before his very eyes?
Yun Shu instinctively glanced toward Emperor Xuanwu, only to see his expression completely devoid of displeasure. On the contrary, his face radiated pride, as though basking in shared glory.
Yun Shu was briefly speechless.
"Well then, when it came to magnanimity and vision, Father Emperor truly stood above the rest. It really did make one wonder just how useless the deposed crown prince had been all those years ago. With such a strong hand of cards, how had he still managed to play them into a pile of muck?
As Yun Shu marveled and grumbled internally, her movements remained swift and fluid. She hurriedly stepped forward to help Lord Tian up.
"Tian Daren, you've already brought the mood to its peak. If we keep this going and then head over to the tomato fields, the emotion won't be able to go any higher. Wouldn't that just be awkward?"
Tian Daren: "?"
Emperor Xuanwu: "??"
Come now. The mood was right there. Was it really so difficult to say something moving?
Must she ruin it on purpose?
Even Yun Chuhuan, who had been on the verge of getting swept up in emotion, found himself stuck mid-breath.
Thankfully, Tian Daren quickly caught the deeper meaning behind Yun Shu's words.
"Your Highness… do You mean to say that the yield from the tomato fields surpasses that of sweet tudou?"
"A bit higher, yes."
Thinking it best to let everyone be astonished all at once and spare the need to repeat the shock later, Yun Shu smiled easily and said, "Around ten thousand jin per mu."
Thud!
Tian Daren, who had just gotten back to his feet, went weak in the knees again and collapsed in a kneeling heap.
"Ten… ten thousand?!"
Yun Shu: "…"
They soon arrived at the tomato field. As expected, the group immediately resembled country folk entering a grand manor for the first time. They wandered about, touching this plant, peering at that vine, eyes full of wonder.
Yun Shu kindly offered a suggestion.
"After picking one, you can eat it straight away to taste it. There's no harm in that."
"Eat it directly?"
A minister studied the tomato in his hand with curiosity.
"I had thought it was a grain crop. But is it… a fruit?"
"You can eat it as a fruit or cook it into dishes. Whichever you prefer."
Yun Shu nodded and casually explained, "This Princess had the kitchens prepare cooked dishes earlier. But if any of you wish to try it raw, now would be a good chance."
"Delicious!"
Even as Yun Shu was still conversing, Yun Chuhuan had already acted. Without hesitation, he plucked a plump red tomato, wiped it against his sleeve, and bit into it with gusto.
The juice burst forth, perfectly balanced between tart and sweet.
Thumb raised high, Yun Chuhuan mumbled through his mouthful, "So good! Just… a bit too juicy..."
Caught off guard by the sudden rush of juice, it drenched his hand and splattered his chest.
Grimacing slightly, Yun Chuhuan dabbed at his robe, but the sight only made the surrounding ministers even more delighted.
"This one item alone fills the belly and quenches thirst. How marvelous! Truly remarkable!"
With Yun Chuhuan setting the example, the rest soon followed. One by one, the ministers picked tomatoes and tasted them. A few were more cautious, but even they couldn't avoid getting juice on themselves. Yet not a single frown was seen.
Their faces beamed with uncontainable praise.
"For something with such high yield, even a poor taste would be tolerable.
But it turns out to be so refreshing and delightful. Had I not witnessed it with my own eyes today, this old official would never have believed such a wondrous thing existed in the world.
The people of Tian Sheng are truly blessed!"