Chapter 328: Poisoning if Eating

Xia Miaoyuan looked at the reactions of the officials and was worried.

[Strange, strange. When the Tenth Uncle just returned to Daxia from a foreign country, the reactions of the officials were much more intense than this. ]

[What happened today? ]

The King of Jin introduced corn with great enthusiasm. As he spoke, he also sensed the strange atmosphere.

But after all, he was in the Golden Palace, and it was a critical moment to introduce exotic crops. Even if he noticed something strange, he could only pretend not to know and continue talking.

After introducing the corn, he picked up a washed potato from another basket and held it up to introduce it to the officials.

"This, the locals call it potato."

"This thing can be used as food. It can be eaten after steaming. It has a soft texture and a slightly sweet taste."

"In their place, poor people just steam or roast this and eat it to fill their stomachs."

"The key to this thing is that it has a very high yield. It can grow even in a water shortage."

"Therefore, potatoes can save lives in years of famine."

"If we plant potatoes everywhere in Daxia, then the number of people who die of starvation every year will be reduced a lot."

Having said this, King Jin smiled at Xia Zhengqi: "Your Majesty, I've finished."

After that, King Jin stepped aside and stood respectfully.

Xia Zhengqi nodded approvingly, then stood up and said, "My dear ministers, the King of Jin has just introduced these three crops one by one."

"I wonder what you think of these three crops?"

Xia Zhengqi's tone was full of joy, and his voice was cheerful and pleasant.

The civil and military officials below seemed to be silencing, and there was silence.

Xia Miaoyuan frowned slightly, scanning the ministers below the stage, and his heart was beating even louder, [What are these ministers thinking? ]

[Ah, last night I thought that today's court would cause a sensation. I didn't expect it to be like this. Xia Zhengqi

secretly bit his back teeth and cursed in his heart: Usually you like to talk to each other non-stop, and ignore the etiquette of the court. Now, everyone has become a gourd without a mouth.

Xia Zhengqi's face was a little angry, but it was difficult to lose it, so he continued to encourage: "Everyone, speak freely, you can say anything."

His eyes scanned the ministers, and finally fell on his brother-in-law Xiao Licheng, "Xiao Siqing, you speak first."

Seeing that no one took the initiative to speak, Xia Zhengqi could only call out names.

In this case, of course, it would be more reliable to call out the names of his own people.

Xiao Licheng was a little surprised, but he quickly calmed down, "Well, I think these exotic crops are very good, very good."

Xia Zhengqi continued to call out names, "What do you think, Minister Wei?"

The Minister of Rites Wei Sanchuan nodded and said, "Very good, very good."

[No way, why are my uncle and Lord Wei so perfunctory? ]

[It feels wrong! ]

Xia Miaoyuan was still thinking wildly, and Xia Zhengqi called out the third name, "What about Lord Yan?"

Grand Scholar Yan Wenjing replied respectfully, "I think these exotic crops are all treasures, and we should pay attention to them. Promote their cultivation throughout Da Xia as soon as possible!"

[Lord Yan, this sounds like a high-scoring answer, much better than the previous two. 】

Xia Zhengqi nodded approvingly to Yan Wenjing, and finally felt better.

At this time, the prince stood up and said, "I also think that these three exotic crops should be popularized and planted as soon as possible in the future. If they are planted on a large scale, they will play an important role in the development of Daxia."

Xia Zhengqi smiled at the prince with satisfaction.

"My dear ministers, what Lord Yan and the prince said just now is what I think in my heart."

"I have decided to give the first batch of fruits grown in the cultivation garden as a reward to all the dear ministers present."

"My dear ministers, take these home and feed them to the whole family. After eating, you must write down your feelings and return them to me."

Xia Zhengqi originally thought that as long as he said that these rare things would be given to civil and military officials, they would be very happy.

However, he did not receive thunderous voices of thanks, but awkward silence.

Most of the ministers looked embarrassed.

After a while, only a few ministers spoke up to thank the Lord for His grace.

At this time, Xia Zhengqi could no longer bear it, and he asked in a cold voice: "Ministers! Can you tell me, what do you mean today?"

"Don't you want these rare exotic fruits?"

The ministers looked at each other and lowered their heads slightly.

Xia Zhengqi's eyes scanned the ministers back and forth, and just caught the white-bearded Chen Yushi, and exchanged glances with the ministers beside him.

"Chen Yushi, I saw you winking at the ministers beside you just now. Tell me, do you not want to try these exotic fruits?"

Chen Yushi was stunned: "Reply...Reply to the emperor, I...I dare not try these things..."

[What? Don't dare to eat?] Xia Miaoyuan's eyes widened in surprise.

Xia Zhengqi was also surprised: "Why not? These are all foods commonly eaten by foreign people!"

Chen Yushi lowered his head and stammered: "No reason, I just haven't eaten them and I dare not eat them..."

[How is it possible? There must be a reason. 】

Xia Zhengqi frowned. After thinking for a moment, he looked at his brother-in-law: "Xiao Siqing, you don't dare to eat it either?"

Xiao Licheng nodded slightly embarrassedly: "Your Majesty, I really wanted to try it, but recently..."

Xia Zhengqi lowered his face: "It's okay, just tell me what you want to say."

Xiao Licheng let out a sigh and said: "I'd better tell you the truth. There are rumors recently that these exotic fruits are poisonous. People in Da Xia cannot eat them. If they eat them, they will be poisoned."

[No way! There is such a rumor! ]

When Xia Miaoyuan heard his uncle say this, he felt it was ridiculous.

[Oh my god! It's poisonous? Who came up with this?]

[People in its place of origin have been eating it for hundreds and thousands of years without any problems. Could it be that it has become poisonous when it came to Daxia? Xia Zhengqi frowned: "

Chen Yushi, just now you said you dare not eat it, is it because of this?"

Chen Yushi smiled and said: "That's right, Your Majesty."

"My minister is also eager to gain, looking forward to tasting it, but the rumors have become more and more powerful recently."

"Considering the health of me and my family, I dare not try it!"

Xia Zhengqi's face was already a little angry. He sat on the dragon chair, pointed at the officials below and asked: "Just because of a few rumors in the market, you are like this?"

"You, the ministers of Da Xia, actually believed such nonsense."

"These are what foreigners eat almost every day. They eat every day and are not poisoned. Now that they are introduced to our Da Xia, they become poisonous?"

"This is totally irrational!"

At this time, the Minister of Industry Niu Baijin stepped out and said loudly: "Your Majesty, you don't know. These foreign things are indeed inedible to us Daxia people!"