Chapter 386: Bringing Joy to the Palace
Chapter 386: Bringing Joy to the Palace
Queen Qi asked this question to divert her attention elsewhere; she didn't genuinely seek an answer.
Although Heaven favored this child, she couldn't let Sui act capriciously and cause difficulties for Se Sui.
There were many things they could figure out how to prepare on their own; there was no need for Sui to waste such good fortune and opportunities.
In fact, Queen Qi soon regretted asking.
Just as she prepared to shift the topic to something else, Sui eagerly raised her hand and suggested, "I know, I know! Wash them clean and steam them!"
This was the simplest way to prepare them.
Moreover, it was a method to make them a staple food.
However, potatoes were not as filling as coarse grains, and they didn't satisfy hunger for long.
Nonetheless, their yield was indeed quite high. They could be mixed with other staples or even served as a vegetable.
The advantage of potatoes was their versatility; they could be either, depending on the need.
Hearing Sui's suggestion to wash and steam them, Queen Qi paused, struck by a thought.
Yes, that was the simplest way, and she had overlooked it.
Watching the pig devour the potatoes with apparent relish, and seeing that it showed no signs of discomfort even after eating for a while, Queen Qi had already dispatched Autumn Concubine and Doctor Liu to test if the potatoes were toxic. She now instructed the kitchen to steam a few to sample.
Although they marveled at the yield of this new crop, a few potatoes made little difference.
Over three dan of potatoes—why should they care about a few?
Upon Queen Qi's order, Autumn Concubine quickly made the arrangements.
Sui and the others continued to watch the pig eat.
Although the pig's eating manner might appear a bit rude, it was somehow stress-relieving to witness.
Especially for the children who hadn't seen much of the world, they stood atop the wall, captivated by the sight.
Finding the smell a bit overwhelming, Queen Qi guided the children to the other side to play, not wanting the scent to linger and end up irritating them. "We harvested quite a lot of potatoes. Shall we go weigh them?"
Sui found the suggestion intriguing and immediately cheered, "Yes, let's go!"
The group of children quickly shifted their attention from the pig to the potatoes.
Around three mu of potatoes had been harvested by now, and after weighing them three times, the final number was somewhat startling.
Over three dan.
King Qi didn't even want to hear about the 'extra'.
Just hearing 'three dan' was enough to astonish him!
He thought about how this was the result of the careful tending they had provided on their manor.
If the care hadn't been so meticulous, and if the land hadn't been of such fine quality, then three mu would still yield around two dan, wouldn't it?
And one mu would yield over six dan?
With such productivity...
If potatoes also tasted good...
With these thoughts, King Qi felt so excited he wanted to jump up.
Queen Qi arranged for the potatoes to be steamed.
Just as King Qi's excitement reached a peak where he could barely remain seated, the steamed potatoes were ready.
The servants tasted them first.
Although the potatoes had been eaten by the pig and the sheep, and examined by Doctor Liu, they remained cautious due to this being a new species.
What if the toxicity only manifested later?
What if the raw ones were edible, but the cooked ones toxic?
Thus, after cooking them, they still proceeded with caution and had people test them.
These potatoes resembled a wild, unimproved variety, and their texture wasn't yet fluffy and sandy. Instead, they carried a hint of toughness.
In other words, their texture wasn't particularly appealing.
However, they weren't unpleasant to eat, either.
Freshly harvested potatoes generally had a decent flavor and texture.
King Qi also tasted them.
He felt that compared to those coarse grains, the texture of potatoes could even be considered good.
After all, they didn't irritate the throat, and they were quite edible. How could they not be considered good?
Sui's mother, Queen Qi, had also tried some.
Sui and the other children each had a taste as well.
Sui thought it tasted pretty good.
Compared to the wild vegetables she had eaten before, these were much tastier.
Moreover, freshly steamed potatoes were warm and comforting, making her feel much better.
Sui happily nodded, "These are delicious."
Seeing Sui's delighted expression, the system quietly suggested, "They're also tasty stir-fried as a dish. There are many ways to cook them, so explore and experiment."
Sui listened intently, deep in thought. After a while, the young child still couldn't quite understand, so she rushed into her mother's embrace, "Mother, I have an idea! We can cut them into strips and stir-fry them!"
Queen Qi listened, then asked doubtfully, "You mean cut them into strips and stir-fry?"
Sui digested the system's suggestion, then nodded uncertainly.
While the children might be unsure, Queen Qi thought that they, as adults, should be able to figure it out themselves.
Queen Qi instructed Autumn Concubine to make arrangements, while King Qi couldn't sit still and prepared to go to the palace.
There didn't seem to be any rain on the way, so the potatoes could be left there temporarily.
If King Qi went to the palace to report this good news, perhaps the palace would send someone to reweigh them.
The potatoes' skins were very tender, easily damaged with the slightest force.
Not wanting to ruin the delicate potatoes, Queen Qi gestured for someone to keep watch, choosing not to move them.
King Qi soon departed for the palace.
After the initial excitement, Sui and the others turned their attention to fishing.
In his eagerness, King Qi rode off on horseback.
As it happened, the Emperor was considering sending someone to summon King Qi to the palace.
Hearing that King Qi had taken the initiative to come, the Emperor even sighed, "What a coincidence that he came at this time. Oh dear!"
The Emperor also intended to send for Celebration King, but after some thought, he hesitated and temporarily set aside the decision.
King Qi rushed in to deliver the wonderful news.
The Emperor didn't know what had transpired, but upon hearing King Qi mention potatoes yielding three stones per mu, he was so astonished that he nearly dropped the paperweight!
He could no longer maintain his composure as a sovereign, exclaiming, "What? How much?"
King Qi beamed, his eyes crinkling with joy, "Three stones! My precious Sui is amazing, isn't she? Hey, these are all seeds that Sui brought back, which we planted and carefully tended. If we hadn't been so meticulous in our care and if the land hadn't been of such fine quality, three mu would still yield around two stones, wouldn't it? And one mu would yield over six stones?"
His words made sense.
If they hadn't recognized the species, most people wouldn't have bothered planting them.
But Sui and King Qi had come across each other, and their meeting was mutually beneficial.
Thinking about this, the Emperor's emotions were complex.
Seeing that the Emperor seemed less excited than he had anticipated, King Qi grew curious and asked, "Are you not happy, Your Majesty?"
The Emperor sighed in resignation, "Of course I'm happy. How could I not be? I'm so happy that I want to go see for myself immediately. But..."
At this point, the Emperor hesitated, then pushed a stack of documents toward King Qi, "Why don't you take a look first? But don't get too worked up; some things are negotiable, and there's room for discussion and compromise."
For the first time, the Emperor found himself at a loss for words, unsure how to comfort his dear younger brother beforehand.
Seeing the documents pushed toward him and the Emperor's troubled expression, King Qi's heart sank with a foreboding sense.
(End of Chapter)
Chapter end
Report
