On Yu Chongshan's birthday, because he had to attend the morning court and handle official duties, the banquet was set for the afternoon.
As a result, Yue Fuguang stayed up late reading novels on her system for most of the night and felt perfectly at ease sleeping in until noon the next day.
Quite a few guests attended the banquet. Yue Fuguang noticed that, apart from the emperor, all the visitors were the same ones who had come on the day she was formally adopted.
With the emperor absent, the atmosphere was noticeably livelier. Everyone chatted and laughed, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
The happiest of all was undoubtedly the birthday star himself, Yu Chongshan, who kept fondling the gift at his waist that he had been thinking about for days.
His granddaughter, perhaps seeing that he wore the jade pendant she had given him last time every day, had now gifted him an even more beautiful one.
As Yu Chongshan felt the warm, smooth texture of the jade and the ancient, intricate patterns carved into it—though he couldn't make out what they depicted—the white wine he drank tasted sweet.
[Master, it seems the old master really likes the Peace Talisman pendant you gave him.]
'Of course he likes it. While mortals can't see that this Peace Talisman is inscribed with protective arrays, capable of ensuring safety even against attacks from the most skilled masters in this world, the pendant itself is also made of spirit jade. How could ordinary precious jade compare?'
Yu Chongshan's heart stirred. So this Peace Talisman could truly protect one's safety. He had thought it was merely a piece of supreme quality jade, and that his granddaughter was very thoughtful to give such a treasure to an old man like him.
He never imagined it was spirit jade. Although he didn't know the difference between spirit jade and their ordinary jade, it was certainly no common item.
And now, on top of that, it could ensure safety... Yu Chongshan stroked the pendant at his waist reluctantly. He probably couldn't keep hold of it. Should he return it to his granddaughter?
Such a fine thing shouldn't fall into the hands of outsiders!
Outsider Emperor Mingxi: Minister Yu, am I really that kind of emperor in your heart, one who would seize a subject's cherished treasure?
However, a Peace Talisman... I'll trade you the finest items from the imperial treasury for it, guaranteed to be a fair deal!
The clever little darling Yue Fuguang certainly knew this. So she deliberately said, "Grandfather, this jade pendant is a birthday gift I personally picked for you. It holds special meaning.
You mustn't just stash it away in the storeroom to collect dust.
Let's be clear, you have to wear it every day. I'll check. If you lose it or aren't wearing it, I'll be angry—the kind that can't be easily soothed!"
Hearing Yue Fuguang's words, Yu Chongshan instantly felt as refreshed as if he had eaten a mouthful of icy watermelon on a hot summer day.
With Fuguang's statement, it was more effective than holding the Imperial Sword. Even His Majesty wouldn't be able to ask him for it now.
Emperor Mingxi, who had come incognito: Could Fuguang be saying this to guard against me? Am I... am I really that kind of person?
Although, but... the Peace Talisman is indeed tempting, but I'm not someone who has never seen fine things!
The Crown Prince following behind Emperor Mingxi: Whether you are that kind of person or not, do you really have no self-awareness at all?
Which of the so-called treasures in your treasury is made of spirit jade? Which can compare to a Peace Talisman inscribed with legendary arrays?
The Crown Prince silently sniffed the air. Besides the strong scent of 'sour grapes' emanating from his father, there was also the delicious aroma of wine and dishes.
He could have been sitting inside drinking freely, but his father had made him arrive late.
Entering at this hour, just think how awkward it is, how surprised the Yu family must be!
The Crown Prince silently cried out in his heart for what felt like the umpteenth time, Eunuch Qian, please come back! I can't do your job, I simply can't!
Emperor Mingxi waved his hand, stopping those who wanted to announce his arrival. He led the Crown Prince towards the direction of the Moonlight Pavilion.
Yu Chongshan and Yue Fuguang soon learned that the emperor had taken the Crown Prince to the Moonlight Pavilion.
Soon, a table of steaming hot dishes and wine, identical to those at the main banquet, was laid out in the small hall of the Moonlight Pavilion.
The Crown Prince's chopsticks seemed to have eyes, heading straight for a particularly attractive piece of braised pork belly—three layers of meat and five layers of fat, glossy and tempting.
Emperor Mingxi: This son has no sense of propriety at all. Can't he see that piece of braised pork was also eyed by his father?
He also began to miss Eunuch Qian, who had gone home for a 'funeral'. If Old Qian were here, he would have surely secured the best piece of meat in the bowl for him!
Crown Prince: In the face of delicious food, there is no distinction between father and son. Whoever picks it into their bowl first gets it!
The accompanying high officials, including the Six Ministers, who were having another meal: Understood. The braised pork... we won't eat it... we won't touch it!
With wine and food consumed to satisfaction, Emperor Mingxi said, "The Yu residence's bowls and dishes are rather too plain. Crown Prince, when you return to the palace, have your mother send a batch of tableware to the Yu residence."
"Yes, Father!"
Everyone present: If you think the Yu family's dishes are too small and don't hold enough food, just say so directly. What do you mean 'too plain'? These intricate patterns are quite beautiful, how are they plain?
If this is considered plain, then the ones in our mansions might as well be used as dog bowls.
Emperor Mingxi paid no heed to his ministers' silent criticisms. The bowls were small, he hadn't gotten enough of his favorite dishes, so they must be replaced with larger ones. He would be back next time!
The group, having eaten and drunk their fill, strolled towards the greenhouse under the bright moon hanging high in the sky, walking off their meal on the thin layer of snow beneath their feet.
This place had become a must-visit spot for them. A trip to the Yu residence felt incomplete without coming here.
Actually, there wasn't much to see in the greenhouse at this time. In preparation for Yu Chongshan's banquet, the vegetable garden had been nearly picked clean, except for a special section left for Yue Fuguang.
Under the light of several glass lanterns hanging from above, the entire greenhouse floor showed only a faint layer of light green. This was what Minister Wang, along with Wu Yong and Feng Tang, had newly planted for Yue Fuguang just yesterday.
These gentlemen understood the greenhouse better than Yue Fuguang, who only knew how to eat.
The only thing they didn't recognize was what was planted in the seven or eight large porcelain vats that had appeared here a week ago.
At first, they didn't pay much attention, thinking they would ask Yue Fuguang when they had time what was planted and if they needed help watering it.
Later, seeing someone else watering them, they forgot about it. In the following days, seeing the plants sprout and even form white buds, they guessed these must be a new variety of flowers.
That the Junior Mentor was fond of plants and flowers was known not just within the Yu residence, but was no secret in the Danyan court either.
Seeing the Junior Mentor present today, Senior Minister Wang Shouchen finally had the chance to ask, "Junior Mentor, what variety of flower is planted in these large vats? I've never seen it before."
He asked casually, his words inquiring about the vats, but his eyes were fixed on the fresh vegetable before him, said to be called 'pumpkin'.
The Junior Mentor said this vegetable would climb and vine, bear fruit prolifically, had a high yield, and could be planted anywhere around houses without being picky about soil.
Though called a vegetable, it could also be used as a staple food during famine years, and it was sweet—an absolute boon for farming families who might only taste sweetness a few times a year.
The only drawback was that it wasn't very suitable for long-term storage.
However, for Minister Wang Shouchen, this wasn't a major shortcoming.
So, among all the vegetables in the garden, he was most concerned about the growth of the pumpkins, wishing he could check on them several times a day. He had already secured an agreement with the Junior Mentor to keep a few for seeds.
Yue Fuguang had no objection. She only liked to eat pumpkin cakes, which wouldn't require many of these large, elongated, yellow pumpkins.
Seeing that someone had finally asked her about this, Yue Fuguang's lips curved into a smile, which she quickly suppressed. She crouched down alongside Minister Wang to inspect the growth of the pumpkins.
In a tone even more nonchalant than his, she said, "Minister Wang, that thing you mentioned... that's called a potato. It's a vegetable, not a flower!"
