At night.
In a warm chamber within the Imperial City.
Emperor Liu Zhengyuan was listening to the report from Fang Hui, the Grand Steward of the Imperial Palace.
It was about Prince Liu Chengfeng, and also about the small shop called the Internet Cafe that had recently gained fame in the city.
The more he listened, the more surprised he became.
"So, from what you're saying, not only is Chengfeng addicted to that place, but others are too?"
"That's right. Many of them are academy students, and also children of wealthy and influential families. It's as if they've been bewitched!"
Liu Zhengyuan asked again, "What about the origins of that shop? And the identity of its owner?"
"Before, that shop was just an ordinary tavern. After the owner transferred it, he left Feiyun Country!"
"And the person who took over now, named Su Ran, his background is completely untraceable. It's as if he appeared out of thin air. However, one thing is certain: he is definitely not from Feiyun Country."
Fang Hui said, "Your Majesty, do you think we need to investigate that place..."
"No rush!"
Liu Zhengyuan waved his hand, pondered for a moment, and asked, "Chengfeng should be back by now, right? Where is he? At his residence?"
"He's back, he just returned from the Internet Cafe, but it seems he immediately took people to the Royal Garden!"
"The Royal Garden?"
Liu Zhengyuan was stunned, "In the middle of the night, what is he doing there? Cultivating?"
"This humble one doesn't know!"
Fang Hui also explained, completely bewildered, "My men followed him there and then came back to report to me. I then hurried to report to Your Majesty. Or, should I send more people to investigate?"
"No need!"
Liu Zhengyuan said as he stood up, "I want to go see for myself what this boy is up to!"
...
Meanwhile.
Inside the Royal Garden.
A group of servants stood blankly behind Liu Chengfeng, watching him work in the ground.
They first watched Liu Chengfeng destroy the flowerbeds and grass of the Royal Garden, then he swung a hoe and began to turn the soil. While turning the soil, he took out two bags of unknown liquid and mixed them into the soil.
Then he took out some colorful seeds.
During this process, Liu Chengfeng's luxurious clothes were already covered in stains, and his face, hair, and even his whole body were covered in mud. He didn't look like a prince at all.
"Your Highness, if you want to plant these seeds, let us help you!"
"Yes, there's no need for you to do it yourself."
Some people behind him felt their scalps tingle the more they watched, wondering what madness His Highness was up to. After watching for a while longer, they became even more restless and wanted to step forward to help.
"Don't move!"
But Liu Chengfeng reprimanded them sharply, saying with murderous intent, "If any of you dare to touch anything, I'll make you regret it!"
Everyone was startled and immediately stopped in place, not daring to step forward.
"You don't even know the cultivation methods, how could you possibly grow them!"
Liu Chengfeng muttered casually, then began to bury the seeds.
Although he was extremely familiar with every step of planting in the game, he was still cautious and dared not be careless at this moment.
It wasn't until the seeds were buried and watered.
Only then did Liu Chengfeng let out a sigh of relief, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and smiled. He was about to say that he could finally rest for a while.
"Your Highness, Your Highness, it's not good, His Majesty, His Majesty is here!"
But who would have thought, a servant ran over in a hurry, his face pale, and said.
"What!"
As soon as these words came out, the other servants were in a state of panic, scared stiff, their legs trembling uncontrollably.
"What are you afraid of?"
Liu Chengfeng, upon hearing this, was calm, "Follow me to see Imperial Father!"
At the entrance of the Royal Garden, Liu Zhengyuan, Fang Hui, and a few accompanying guards had just walked in when they saw Liu Chengfeng leading everyone to greet them.
However, when Liu Zhengyuan first saw Liu Chengfeng, who was as dirty as a mud figure, he frowned and couldn't help but scold him.
"What have you done to get yourself like this? As a prince, how can you be so disrespectful of your appearance?"
"Your Son is planting crops and grains!"
Liu Chengfeng said with a smile, without hiding anything, "Your Son knows that Imperial Father has been troubled by the grain shortage recently, so I wanted to help Imperial Father share his worries, and I thought of a solution, which I am currently trying!"
"Oh?"
Liu Zhengyuan was stunned when he heard Liu Chengfeng say this, feeling greatly surprised.
Although he didn't think Liu Chengfeng could really have any good solution, he still nodded with a look of relief:
"It's good that you have such a heart!"
Liu Zhengyuan had recently been planning to vigorously develop the country's agriculture and encourage more people to cultivate, even if the land was barren, planting more would always result in more survival.
And Liu Chengfeng, as a prince, personally taking the lead, would naturally serve as an example to others.
Thinking of this, Liu Zhengyuan smiled slightly, feeling much more cheerful: "Alright, you go bathe and change first, then come find me, I have something I want to ask you!"
Liu Chengfeng, upon hearing this, showed hesitation: "Imperial Father, Your Son still needs to stay here to cultivate the crops I just planted, I can't leave."
"Still planting?"
In the middle of the night, has he really become addicted to planting?
Liu Zhengyuan originally wanted him not to rush, but suddenly he thought of another question.
That is, why did Liu Chengfeng come to the Royal Garden to plant?
Liu Zhengyuan's expression changed slightly, as if he realized something, and he couldn't help but walk quickly into the Royal Garden.
"This... this..."
However, as soon as he entered and saw the scattered remains of flowers and plants dug out from the ground, his body trembled, and he felt as if his heart was bleeding.
Liu Zhengyuan was usually quite frugal, but as an individual, he always had some favorite things, so he had put a lot of effort into creating this Royal Garden.
Especially since planting was not easy in Feiyun Country, he had even spent high prices to buy precious soil and flower seeds from other places.
But now, everything was destroyed.
Liu Zhengyuan wanted to get angry, but then he thought that Liu Chengfeng's intentions were good after all, so he forcibly suppressed his anger, took a deep breath, and couldn't help but question him:
"You can plant, but why did you destroy my garden?"
However, Liu Chengfeng didn't feel there was anything wrong: "Your Son just needs good soil. Don't worry, my crops are not ordinary. They only need one day to mature and be harvested. When that happens, I'll plant the flowers for you again, and besides..."
"Slap!"
Before he could finish speaking, Liu Chengfeng felt a warmth on his cheek, he had been slapped, and he was a bit confused: "Imperial Father, why are you hitting me?"
Liu Zhengyuan at this point couldn't help but curse, "Not only am I going to hit you, I'm going to kick you too!"
Saying that, he kicked Liu Chengfeng's backside a few more times.
"Ouch, Imperial Father, I'm telling the truth, don't hit me, they really can be grown..."
Upon hearing this, Liu Zhengyuan's lungs were about to explode with anger. This unfilial son, this unfilial son! He doesn't study hard at the academy all day, skips class to go to that Internet Cafe, and now in the middle of the night, he demolishes his favorite Royal Garden and is still talking nonsense.
Matures in one day?
Pull them out and replant them tomorrow?
I'll beat this rebellious son to death.
However, despite his words, Liu Zhengyuan's rationality was still intact, and he didn't hit too hard, merely venting his dissatisfaction.
After blowing off steam, he asked again, "Do you know your mistake?"
"Imperial Father, these crops that Your Son planted can really mature in one day. If you don't believe me, I'll grow them and show you tomorrow!"
"Absurd! At this point, you still want to trick me?"
"Imperial Father, this is absolutely true."
Seeing that Liu Chengfeng was still unrepentant at this point, Liu Zhengyuan was both angry and annoyed, so he finally left him with a warning.
"Alright, I will wait for you to send these mature crops tomorrow. If not, hmph..."
After speaking, he turned and left.
At this time, Fang Hui stepped forward and kindly advised Liu Chengfeng, "Your Highness, I think you should go back obediently now, and then actively go to His Majesty tomorrow to admit your mistake, and this matter will be over!"
However, Liu Chengfeng had no intention of leaving, grumbling, "Why leave? Why apologize? I still need to watch my crops. When they mature tomorrow, it's not yet certain whether Imperial Father will apologize to me, or I will apologize to Imperial Father!"
Fang Hui: "..."
The other servants also exchanged glances.
In the time that followed, sure enough, they saw Liu Chengfeng guarding the plot of land he had planted, not leaving it for a single step.
And every once in a while, he would go water and loosen the soil for those crops.
His behavior was simply as bizarre as could be, and the more they watched, the more abnormal they found him to be.
They even began to suspect whether His Highness had lost his mind?
Thus, it continued from deep night to early morning, and then from early morning to dawn, and the next day arrived.