Chapter 70: The Capital, Here We Come

Jin Wenwen tried hard to compose herself and noticed Xu Feiyan hiding sneakily. She asked, “What’s wrong with you? Why are you hiding?”

Even Xu Feiyan, despite her innocence, would never tell anyone that she had scolded the King. She chuckled awkwardly and said, “That person looks strange.”

Jin Wenwen thought about pulling Xu Feiyan over to greet Bai Mucheng, hoping to find an opportunity to speak with him, but it seemed that this merchant’s daughter was too petty, hopelessly incompetent.

Tian Mi observed that everyone had learned the process, so she felt relieved and prepared to go pick oranges and lemons. She was craving some boneless chicken feet, something she hadn’t had in a long time.

Just as she was heading out, she saw Bai Mucheng walking toward her. Oh no! Tian Mi still felt a bit guilty when she saw him.

Just as she was about to turn and run, Bai Mucheng called out, “Your Grace, where are you headed?”

Tian Mi had no choice but to stop and smile. “Greetings, Your Highness. The mountains are steep and the roads long. What brings you here?”

Bai Mucheng smiled and said, “I came to see how you’re planting winter wheat. Are you going to use some kind of magic?”

He walked over to her and observed the plump, swollen seeds she had prepared. They really were quite different.

Tian Mi didn’t want to hear Bai Mucheng calling her “little fairy” again, and she felt a headache coming on. She didn’t want to engage with him.

Bai Mucheng asked again, “So, is this what you soaked yesterday? How did you do it?”

Tian Mi looked at him and said, “I’ve told you before, but you’re not allowed to call me ‘little fairy’ again.”

Bai Mucheng pointed at the villagers of Fengqiu Village who were busy at work and laughed, “If you don’t tell me, I can just ask them.”

Tian Mi gave him an exasperated look. It wasn’t worth arguing with him over such trivial matters. He’d come to her when he needed something; when that time came, she would bargain with him.

She explained the process to him.

Along the way, Jin Wenwen had been listening to Bai Mucheng call Tian Mi “little fairy,” and her mind was in turmoil. She quietly stepped away.

The esteemed Prince of the Kingdom was actually joking with a widow! Ever since the emperor ascended the throne, Bai Mucheng had become the most prominent figure in the capital. As the emperor’s legitimate son, he was outstanding in both appearance and ability, and he was still unmarried.

Countless women in the capital dreamt of marrying him—those with both beauty and talent, from good families. Among them, Jia Yuntang, the granddaughter of the Grand Tutor, stood out. The Grand Tutor was a paragon of the civil officials, and the emperor had a particularly favorable view of him. But Jin Wenwen had no such advantages, so she had hoped to use this opportunity to get close to Bai Mucheng. Yet, it was incredibly difficult even to get near him.

And now, here he was, seeking out a widow and behaving so familiarly with her!

Jin Wenwen felt hopeless. She had grown up in the royal residence, and he never seemed to notice her. But this widow, whom he had only recently met, could already capture his attention.

Men, they only care about looks!

Bai Mucheng was pleased that Tian Mi no longer asked him about any benefits for her. Hmph! What could the King lack from her?

He continued, “The road will be finished in a few days. How are things arranged on your end? It will be easier to transport potatoes to the capital by boat.”

Tian Mi thought her side was almost ready. New crops had been planted on the farm, and once they matured, they could be sent to the capital.

She nodded and said, “Yes, it should be ready soon.”

Bai Mucheng smiled gently. “Bring the children with you. Do they need anything?”

Tian Mi immediately became alert. The two children were something she couldn’t let anyone take. She couldn’t compromise on this.

“My children are fine, and I’ll take good care of them. There’s no need to trouble Your Highness.”

If he dared to take them, she would force him to provide proof. Everyone knew she was a widow.

Bai Mucheng chuckled, “What’s this? Little fairy, do you not recognize me when you put on clothes? The King hasn’t changed, and you certainly haven’t forgotten, have you?”

Tian Mi quickly glanced around. Thankfully, no one could hear them.

Bai Mucheng’s thick-skinned teasing made it hard for Tian Mi to handle. She turned to head toward the fruit trees, thinking, If I can’t fight him, at least I can avoid him.

Looking at Tian Mi fleeing in a panic, Bai Mucheng felt like he had won another round.

He was going to send a letter to the capital. If the winter wheat turned out to be good, they could have the Ministry of Agriculture test it with two farms.

As Tian Mi went to pick fruit, Jin Wenwen had already composed herself and joined her. Xu Feiyan, relieved that Bai Mucheng had left, asked, “Sister Tian Mi, is the King gone? You scared me to death!”

Tian Mi replied, “Yes, he’s gone.”

Jin Wenwen, picking oranges, casually asked, “What did the King come for?”

Tian Mi was trying to calm herself when she noticed Xu Feiyan sneaking around like a thief, so she asked, “What’s going on? Why are you hiding?”

Even if Xu Feiyan was naive, she wouldn’t tell anyone that she had just scolded the Prince of Ding. She laughed awkwardly and said, “That man looked strange.”

Tian Mi wanted to take Xu Feiyan to pay respects to Bai Mucheng and find an opportunity to chat with him, but this merchant’s daughter was so petty, like a useless lump of mud that couldn’t be propped up.

Tian Mi looked at everyone else, who were now well-versed in things, and felt relieved. She was preparing to pick some oranges and lemons for the evening’s meal. She hadn’t had chicken feet without bones for a long time and was especially craving them.

Suddenly, she saw Bai Mucheng walking towards her. Oh my! Tian Mi still felt a little guilty when seeing him.

She was about to turn and leave when Bai Mucheng spoke, “Princess Changfeng, where are you going?”

Tian Mi had no choice but to stop and smile, “Prince Ding, how have you been? The mountains are high and the roads are far, what brings you here?”

Bai Mucheng smiled, “I came to see how you are growing the winter wheat. Are you using some sort of magic?”

He walked over to look at the plump, swollen seeds in the water and was truly impressed by how different they were.

Tian Mi, who was tired of being called “little fairy” by Bai Mucheng, rolled her eyes. She didn’t want to engage with him.

Bai Mucheng asked her, “Is this the batch you soaked yesterday? How did you do it?”

Tian Mi looked at him and said, “I told you, don’t call me ‘little fairy’ anymore.”

Bai Mucheng pointed to the villagers of Fengqiu who were busy, laughing, “If you don’t tell me, I can always ask them.”

Tian Mi rolled her eyes at him. There was no point in wasting words over such trivial matters. He would always come to her when he needed something, and then they could bargain later.

She then explained the process to him.

As Tian Mi spoke, Jin Wenwen, who had overheard Bai Mucheng call her “little fairy,” was almost bursting with disbelief. She quietly left.

The mighty Prince of Ding, who was the center of attention in the capital after the emperor ascended the throne—handsome, talented, and yet unmarried—was here joking with a widow? Jin Wenwen had heard of him, but she had no advantage. She thought following him to win his favor would be her chance, but even getting close to him was difficult.

And yet, now he was here, finding a widow and being this familiar with her?

Jin Wenwen felt despair. She had grown up in the Wang family, and he never noticed her. But a widow he had only just met could steal his attention.

Was it really just about looks?

Bai Mucheng was satisfied that Tian Mi no longer asked him what benefits he was getting from their interaction. Hmph! The Prince of Ding could never lack benefits from her.

He continued, “This road will be finished soon. How are your preparations? It will be easier to transport potatoes to the capital by boat.”

Tian Mi considered her progress. The farm had been planted with new crops, and when they were ripe, they could be transported to the capital.

She nodded and replied, “Mm, it’s almost ready.”

Bai Mucheng smiled warmly, “Take the precious ones with you, do they need anything?”

Tian Mi immediately became alert. Those two precious ones were something she couldn’t touch, and she would never back down on this.

“My children are fine. I will take care of them, there’s no need to trouble Prince Ding.”

If he dared to snatch them, she would demand proof. Everyone knew she was a widow.

Bai Mucheng smiled and said, “What’s this? Are you not recognizing me just because you’ve put on some clothes? The Prince of Ding hasn’t changed, you surely haven’t forgotten, right?”

Tian Mi quickly looked around, thankfully, no one could overhear them.

Bai Mucheng’s thick skin made Tian Mi hard to resist, so she turned to leave, ready to pick fruit. She couldn’t fight, but could she not avoid it?

Looking at Tian Mi fleeing in a panic, Bai Mucheng felt that he had won another round.

He planned to send a letter to the capital. If the winter wheat really worked, the Ministry of Agriculture would take two farms to try it out.

When Tian Mi was picking fruit, Jin Wenwen had already calmed down and was picking with her. Xu Feiyan, relieved she hadn’t seen Bai Mucheng, asked, “Sister Tian Mi, has the prince left? You scared me.”

Tian Mi replied, “Mm, he’s gone.”

Jin Wenwen casually asked, “What was Prince Ding doing here?”