The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

Ouyang Han followed Eunuch Zhang, who had delivered the imperial decree, back to his palace. He told Eunuch Zhang to wait in the main hall while he went to fetch Chen Mengyao from the palace. Upon hearing that an eunuch had come to deliver the decree, Chen Mengyao thought, "Ouyang Han is really quick; he's already secured credit for me so soon." She straightened her clothes, and only after confirming everything was in order did she follow the servants out to receive the decree.

As she entered the hall and was about to kneel to receive the imperial decree, the eunuch Zhang, who was announcing the decree, said, "His Majesty has granted you the exemption from the kneeling ceremony, and from now on, you will not need to kneel when meeting His Majesty or members of the royal family. You can receive the decree standing up." Hearing this, she couldn't help but look at Ouyang Han with gratitude, thinking: It must be thanks to him. He's so thoughtful. I hate kneeling all the time. He's so considerate of me.

The eunuch then unfolded the imperial edict and read aloud: "By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: I have heard that agriculture is the foundation of a nation, and seeds are the foundation of agriculture. Good seeds are the cornerstone of agriculture and are vital to the nation's lifeline. Now, Chen Mengyao has contributed high-yield seeds, a great blessing to the nation and its people. The seeds Chen Mengyao presented were found elsewhere. He spared no effort, searching far and wide, and finally obtained these superior seeds. These seeds are of high yield and excellent quality, bringing significant benefits to agricultural production. In recognition of his merit, I hereby bestow upon him a thousand taels of gold, countless jewels, and a courtyard next to Prince Jing, to commemorate his achievement. I hope he will continue his efforts, bringing more and better seeds to the nation and benefiting the people. At the same time, I also hope that all subjects will take Chen Mengyao as an example, work diligently, and contribute their strength to the prosperity and strength of the nation. So be it!"

After the eunuch finished reading the imperial edict, he continued, "I also hereby issue an oral decree summoning Chen Mengyao to the palace for an audience tomorrow." He then handed the edict to Chen Mengyao, who quickly thanked him. Ouyang Han instructed a servant to give Zhang Gonggong a bag of silver, saying, "Thank you for your trouble, Eunuch." Zhang Gonggong accepted the silver, saying, "Thank you, Your Highness. It's no trouble at all; it's my duty. I will now return to the palace to report." He then went back to the palace.

Chen Mengyao relaxed only after the eunuch left. It was her first time facing people from the palace, and she was genuinely a little nervous. She quickly said to Ouyang Han, "Your father wants to see me tomorrow. How should I explain where my superior seed came from? And what should I wear to see him?" Ouyang Han quickly replied, "As for clothes, I'll go shopping with you later and see if there's anything you like. As for the grain, just say you bought the seeds by chance from a traveling merchant from a very far country. That merchant said it's a high-yield crop, and because he wasn't sure if it was true, he asked us to test it first."

Hearing how thoughtful Ouyang Han was, Chen Mengyao's impression of him improved even more. Having been here for two days without going out, she said, "Okay, take me to a clothing store to look at some clothes." So Ouyang Han took Chen Mengyao out shopping. Once outside, Chen Mengyao was captivated by the bustling streets.

The atmosphere in the capital was lively and harmonious. The carriages of nobles and the pedestrians of ordinary people passed by in an orderly manner. Shop signs swayed in the wind, and various hawking cries mingled together, creating a vivid picture. The streets were bustling with activity, filled with all kinds of signs and banners, and people thronged around, making it a lively and bustling place.

The streets and alleys of the capital were filled with all sorts of food stalls, their aromas irresistible and enticing. The vendors' calls rose and fell, creating a bustling and prosperous scene. Seeing this, Chen Mengyao couldn't help but swallow hard; there were so many delicious things to eat here. Ouyang Han found her reaction somewhat amusing and said to her, "Go ahead and buy whatever you want to eat. Don't be shy here; just be yourself."

Chen Mengyao thought this man was so sweet. So she stopped worrying about her image and bought whatever she hadn't tried before, even sharing some with Ouyang Han. Ouyang Han didn't refuse and picked some up to eat too. Of course, Ouyang Han paid for it.

Chen Mengyao often ate with one hand in each hand, her mouth greasy as if she hadn't eaten in a long time. Her table manners were anything but elegant, but Ouyang Han still watched her eat with a doting expression, finding this kind of girl much more adorable than those pampered young ladies from wealthy families who always maintained a certain air, afraid to eat or do anything—too pretentious. He didn't like them at all; otherwise, he wouldn't have remained unmarried for so many years. Perhaps Chen Mengyao's arrival was a gift from heaven, and Ouyang Han was deeply grateful to the heavens for sending such a lively girl to his side. Chen Mengyao was engrossed in her meal, completely unaware of Ouyang Han's thoughts.

Chen Mengyao didn't stop eating until she was completely full. However, she still had quite a few left, so she found a secluded corner and stored them in her spatial storage. She then grabbed a pack of wet wipes to wipe her mouth before tossing them into the trash can inside her storage. Ouyang Han asked, "Are you full? Can we go buy clothes now?" Chen Mengyao nodded and obediently followed him. Seeing her hands, Ouyang Han couldn't resist grabbing them and pulling her forward.

Feeling the warmth from her palm, Chen Mengyao felt a comforting warmth in her heart; it had been a long time since she had felt someone hold her hand. Soon they arrived at Caiyunshang, the largest clothing store in the area. Stepping inside, Chen Mengyao was immediately drawn to the various styles of clothing before her.

The clothes racks were overflowing with colorful garments, from simple cotton to luxurious silk. Not only that, but also many exquisite accessories, such as necklaces, bracelets, and earrings, shimmering with dazzling light. The shop assistants warmly greeted them, introducing the store's newest clothes. Ouyang Han gazed tenderly at Chen Mengyao, smiling as he asked, "Which one do you like? Feel free to try it on." Chen Mengyao nodded excitedly and began to choose.

Chen Mengyao was overwhelmed by the many beautiful clothes she saw, but finally chose a few uniquely styled dresses in refreshing colors. She went into the fitting room to change, and when she came out, she looked like a completely different person, even more radiant and beautiful. Ouyang Han's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help but exclaim, "So beautiful!" The shop assistants echoed her sentiments.

Next, Chen Mengyao selected some matching jewelry to perfect her overall look. After paying, Ouyang Han and Chen Mengyao left Caiyunshang. They strolled down the street, attracting frequent glances from passersby. Ouyang Han looked at the beautiful woman beside him, his heart filled with joy, and decided that he would take her shopping for clothes more often in the future.

Seeing that it was still early, Chen Mengyao continued shopping, and couldn't resist buying any new and interesting things she saw, until she finally got tired of shopping and went back with Ouyang Han.