Su Luo increased the amount of money paid to the escort agency, and within three or four days, the soy sauce and chili peppers were transported to the capital.
In the capital city, A-Xu was in charge of managing Fu Man Lou most of the time, while Nangong Qing was either at the Prince's Mansion or the Imperial Palace.
Nangong Qing only came over after Su Luo's things arrived.
"Your Highness, look, this is the chili pepper that Lady Su mentioned. It's long and green. Can this thing even taste good?"
Ah Xu picked up a chili pepper to examine it; it didn't look appetizing at all.
However, Su Luo provided the recipe, so if I follow the method in the recipe, it should be edible.
"When has anything given by Luo Luo ever tasted bad?"
Nangong Qing sat in his private room, waiting for the chef to cook the chili peppers.
The batch of eggplants that Magistrate Jiang collected last year were all planted on the estate managed by the Grand Minister of Agriculture.
Some members of the royal family and ministers could still eat eggplant if they wanted to, but chili peppers were a unique treat for Fu Man.
Stir-fried green peppers with pork, braised green peppers with eggplant, tiger-skin green peppers, stir-fried green peppers with eggs, and so on...
The table was covered with dishes made with green peppers, their fragrant aroma filling the air.
The two of them took a bite; the chili pepper was juicy and spicy, but without the pungent smell of ground chili.
It's not that Nanning doesn't eat spicy food; it's just that they've always used a type of wild powder to adjust the spiciness of their dishes.
Although it doesn't smell very good, its spiciness can stimulate the taste buds. Adding it makes people eat bland and watery dishes.
However, Nangong Qing now feels that this chili pepper can completely replace the powdered chili, and the taste is even better.
"Your Highness, these chilies are delicious. Lady Su sent over fifty catties. Why don't we keep them for ourselves instead of selling them?"
Even if I ate fifty pounds of it, I wouldn't get tired of it.
Since returning to Beijing, whenever no one is around, Nangong Qing still makes Ah Xu eat at the same table with him; it has become a habit.
"I, the prince, never tire of this food, but what's the point of us hiding it away to enjoy such delicacies?"
"At tonight's banquet in the palace, I, the prince, will make sure this meal amazes everyone."
Having spent so much time in Yongle County, every single food Su Luo grew was worthwhile.
He deeply understood the hardships involved, and he wouldn't let Su Luo's efforts be in vain; she deserved the reward she was given.
"Your Highness, are you going to bring all the chili peppers to the palace banquet?"
Ah Xu asked uncertainly, feeling that he had finally found something delicious, but could only eat it once. Suddenly, he wanted to go back to Yongle County.
It would be so nice to have a good meal there before returning to Beijing.
"Take thirty catties, and we'll keep the remaining twenty catties for ourselves. We can also sell a few portions. If business is good, Luoluo will send more."
Su Luo originally intended to use these chili peppers for cooking at all the Fu Man Lou restaurants; she only sent them this time for them to try.
There will be more later, so Nangong Qing wasn't worried at all; once it was finished, it would be gone.
A royal banquet!
Since Nangong Qing had been away for three years before returning, this was a special welcome banquet that the Emperor had prepared for him.
The Emperor and Empress sat on a high platform, and below them was the Imperial Advisor. The Imperial Advisor was very tall, over 1.9 meters tall when he stood up, and he could fill the banquet table in front of him all by himself.
He had a full beard but was bald. He was stern and never smiled. His brown eyes always gave people a chill when they looked at him.
He exuded an aura of power; looking at him, he was even more frightening than an emperor.
Apart from the emperor's trust, he had no friends in the entire court.
Next were the seats for the princes, Nangong Qing, and the ministers of the court.
"Third brother, you've been traveling for so many years, have you gained any experience?"
Only the Emperor, the Imperial Advisor, and a few others knew that Nangong Qing had gone to see Fuxing; everyone else genuinely thought that Nangong Qing had gone on a trip.
"Your Majesty, I have come to deeply appreciate the hardships farmers endure. From spring planting to autumn harvest, every grain of rice and every vegetable we eat is the result of countless hours of hard work."
From this day forward, I vow that I will never waste a single grain of rice.
Nanning has always valued agriculture; only when agriculture develops well can the people have a future.
"Hahaha... Good, Third Brother, the fact that you can say these words now shows that you haven't wasted those three years of playing around; you've made progress."
Deep within the palace walls, the sons of royalty never pay attention to the sweat and toil of the common people; they believe that this is simply how things should be.
The emperor knew everything, but he just didn't say it.
"Congratulations, Third Prince, on being able to understand the suffering of the people. This is a good thing."
"Yes, congratulations, Third Prince."
"Congratulations, Third Prince..."
The emperor raised his cup, and everyone else followed suit.
"Third brother, you speak so well. I wonder if you have ever helped the people of Nanning with farming? Do you know about the Spring Equinox and Grain Rain, and the planting of grain?"
The person speaking was Nangong Jingming, Nangong Qing's elder brother, who was also the current crown prince and the empress's legitimate son.
What he hates most in his life is someone stealing his thunder in front of him. Even at a banquet to welcome Nangong Qing, he has to make sure everyone sees him.
"At first, I didn't understand either, but after meeting some people, I gradually came to understand..."
He thought of Su Luo. If he hadn't met Su Luo, he might never have understood these things.
"However, Father, agriculture is the foundation of our nation, and I have naturally done it myself. I have even carried cow dung. Fields where cow dung has been spread produce rice that is large, plump, and especially sweet..."
Nangong Qing spoke eloquently, and some ministers almost lost their appetite after listening to him.
Only a flicker of heartache crossed the emperor's eyes, which he quickly suppressed, and he asked only one question.
"Third brother, you've even shoveled cow dung before?"
Nangong Qing felt no shame at all; on the contrary, he proudly stepped forward and bowed to the emperor.
"Yes, Father, this second rice crop that shocked the court was grown using cow dung that I carried."
"this……"
Speaking of the second crop of rice, who in the court doesn't know about it now?
Surprisingly, Nangong Qing, a prince, ended up picking up cow dung.
"Third son, you've really grown up. You truly are my good son. Considering the two seasons of rice, you deserve some credit for it too, hahaha..."
The emperor was pleased, so Nangong Qing took charge of the banquet. Whether he wanted to watch dancing or join in the entertainment, the emperor granted his request.
After the dance ended, Ah Xu whispered something in Nangong Qing's ear, and then Nangong Qing addressed everyone present.
"Father, ministers, tonight is my welcoming banquet, so I cannot let you all come for nothing."
"I've recently discovered a delicious dish that I'd like everyone to critique, and that can also serve as a form of entertainment."
Seeing that the Crown Prince had quieted down, Nangong Jingyao looked at Nangong Qing with an expression of watching a show.
"Third brother, you've loved food since you were little. If you say something is good, then your second brother must try it."
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