The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

Before long, the servants nimbly brought out all sorts of fruits and exquisite pastries. Chen Mengyao carefully and patiently instructed them on how to prepare these delicacies. She spoke softly to them, telling them how to wash this fruit to preserve its original freshness, and how to skillfully cut that fruit to make it both beautiful and easy to eat. Under her guidance, the servants worked busily and orderly, some washing the fruit, others carefully cutting it, and finally placing plates of colorful and neatly arranged fruit in front of each minister.

Meanwhile, another group of servants carrying pastries also got to work. They carefully placed the fragrant and uniquely shaped pastries one by one in front of each minister's table, and, as instructed by Chen Mengyao, quietly introduced the unique flavor of each pastry and the best way to enjoy it.

When the ministers saw the dazzling array of fruits and pastries before them, their eyes widened involuntarily, their faces filled with amazement and curiosity. Most of these delicacies were things they had never even seen, let alone tasted. At that moment, they felt as if they were in a dreamlike culinary world, their hearts brimming with surprise and anticipation.

When the ministers finally tasted the delicious pastries and fruits, their expressions instantly became incredibly varied. It was a sense of complete satisfaction and pleasure, as if their taste buds had received an unprecedented level of enjoyment. They all secretly marveled at how wonderful the food was, and how blissful it would be to taste such delicacies often! Their goodwill towards Chen Mengyao immediately increased.

Prime Minister Su Lixin had heard his daughter, Su Jin, mention that she owned a skincare shop called "Yu Yan Fang," whose products were renowned for their effectiveness, attracting numerous wealthy women and young ladies. Having already developed a strong liking for Chen Mengyao, Su Lixin spoke first, asking, "May I ask, Princess, did you promote the cultivation of these fruits? If they can all be successfully grown, we will truly be blessed." Ouyang Han, seizing the opportunity, introduced Chen Mengyao, telling her that this was Prime Minister Su Lixin, the very same Su Jin's father whom they had discussed at Yu Yan Fang.

Chen Mengyao politely replied, "Lord Su, most of these fruits can indeed be grown. However, a few, such as strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupes, and kiwis, are not suitable for cultivation in the capital due to climate and soil conditions. The others can be tried. If everyone is interested, these fruits and vegetables will be available for sale in my soon-to-open department store. As for those interested in pastries, Prince Wen's upcoming dessert shop on Xihua Street will also sell them, and I will be responsible for providing him with the recipes."

Upon hearing this, the ministers present immediately began to murmur among themselves. Some ministers were delighted because their wives and daughters loved pastries, thinking that they would be very happy to be able to eat these delicious pastries often in the future; while other ministers were quite surprised that the county princess was so familiar with several princes, and even doing business with them.

Just as the ministers were lost in their own thoughts, a servant reported, "My lords, the Crown Prince, Prince Wen, Prince Duan, and Prince An have arrived with their families. The two princesses and their consorts have also come with their families, and the youngest princess has arrived as well." This news surprised everyone even more. Several princes, the Crown Prince, and the princesses gathered together—was it to support the future Princess Jing? If so, they absolutely could not afford to offend this Princess Jing. After all, Prince Jing alone was enough to give them headaches; if other members of the royal family were to back him up, it would be even more dire. Upon returning home, they would definitely remind their families not to cause trouble for Princess Jing, or the consequences would be unimaginable.

Just as everyone was speculating, the Crown Prince and his entourage entered the hall. Princess Yongle rushed towards Chen Mengyao, pouting, "Third Sister-in-law, I missed you so much! Is there anything delicious? I haven't even had breakfast yet, and I'm already here to see you." This scene left the ministers present dumbfounded. They hadn't guessed wrong; these princes and princesses had indeed come to support Princess Jing. Fortunately, they hadn't done anything to offend Chen Mengyao.

Chen Mengyao patted Princess Yongle's head helplessly and laughed, "You, you'll be of marriageable age next year, why are you still like a child? Look, isn't the table full of pastries? Take whatever you like." Seeing this, the other ministers all bowed to the Crown Prince and his entourage. After the Crown Prince dismissed their bows, the ministers eagerly offered the pastries to the little princess, praising their deliciousness. This scene made Chen Mengyao chuckle.

After the Crown Prince and his brothers and sisters took their seats, he smiled slightly and broke the silence in the room, his voice carrying an undeniable firmness: "I have brought you all here today to support my third sister-in-law. She is not only the apple of our royal family's eye, but also an irreplaceable lucky star for the entire Dongling Kingdom. When those high-yield grains are truly harvested, you will witness firsthand the immense contribution she has made—a truly awe-inspiring sight. Her wisdom and hard work have enabled grain production to reach new heights, adding endless hope to the nation's granaries."

"Moreover, the wide variety of delicious fruits and vegetables are also the result of her hard work. With her skillful hands, she has made the people's dining table more colorful and no longer monotonous. The fresh vegetables and sweet fruits not only satisfy people's appetites, but also bring happiness and satisfaction to every family. She has made the people of Dongling Kingdom eat better and live a more fulfilling life."

At this point, the Crown Prince's gaze sharpened as he swept his eyes over every minister present: "You must all remember that she is the treasure of our Dongling Kingdom, and no one shall be disrespectful or humiliated by her. If anyone dares to act recklessly, I will be the first to not let them off lightly! I hope that you will set an example by restraining your families and subordinates to ensure that her safety and dignity are not violated in the slightest."

Upon hearing this, the ministers nodded in agreement, their expressions filled with respect and approval: "Thank you for your reminder and guidance, Your Highness. We will certainly keep it in mind. Since she has made such outstanding contributions to the Dongling Kingdom, we should naturally unite as one to protect her, fight alongside her, and contribute even more to the development of the nation. Let us join hands and create a more glorious and splendid tomorrow for the Dongling Kingdom!"

Upon hearing this, the Crown Prince smiled with satisfaction and nodded slightly. He then joined his ministers in a lively discussion and careful appreciation of the flavors of the pastries and fruits. Each person had their own unique taste: some favored the sweet and sour, unforgettable taste of strawberries; others preferred the rich yet refreshing flavor of bananas; still others adored the juicy richness of grapes, the soft and delicious texture of bread, or the delicate sweetness of cakes.

During the gathering, several ministers, whose wives and daughters loved pastries, shamelessly asked Chen Mengyao, "I wonder if Princess Jing could send some fruit and pastries with us when we return home, to satisfy my wife and daughter's cravings? They have a particular fondness for these delicacies." Chen Mengyao laughed heartily and generously replied, "That's easy! I've already prepared plenty. You can all take some home to share with your families. However, I must remind you not to indulge in the fruit and pastries now, lest you miss out on the more sumptuous dishes later. I dare say, you have never tasted such exquisite food before." Upon hearing this, the ministers, who were already craving food, all stopped what they were doing.

Time slipped away quietly amidst the laughter and chatter of the crowd, and in the blink of an eye, the family recognition ceremony began. The Grand Tutor and his wife sat at the head of the table, dignified yet kind. Servants served Chen Mengyao fragrant tea at the opportune moment, which she respectfully accepted. She knelt on the prayer mat and kowtowed three times devoutly to the Grand Tutor and his wife, saying, "Godfather and Godmother, please accept your daughter's bow."

Upon seeing this, the Grand Tutor's face beamed with joy, and he quickly said, "Good child, get up. From now on, you are the daughter of our Grand Tutor's family, and we will certainly record your name in the family genealogy." As he spoke, he personally handed her a heavy red envelope. Not to be outdone, the Grand Tutor's wife not only gave her a red envelope but also presented her with an exquisite box of jewelry.

Then, the Grand Tutor turned to his colleagues and announced loudly, "Thank you all for taking time out of your busy schedules to attend my family recognition ceremony. From this day forward, Chen Mengyao is the second young lady of our Grand Tutor's mansion. If anyone dares to bully her, don't blame me for being ruthless." Upon hearing this, the ministers quickly declared, "Grand Tutor, rest assured, how could we dare to bully the second young lady? She has made such great contributions to our Dongling Kingdom, we will naturally protect her and never let her feel the slightest bit cold." Initially, the ministers may have only spoken out of respect for the Crown Prince's authority, but after this interaction, they discovered that Chen Mengyao was indeed a person of excellent character, and their statements were all heartfelt sincerity.

The commoners who had entered with Ouyang Han left contentedly after witnessing the heartwarming scene of Chen Mengyao recognizing the Grand Tutor as her godfather. They vividly described the scene to their companions waiting outside, their words filled with admiration and joy for Princess Jing. The commoners, hearing this, were genuinely happy for Chen Mengyao. Carrying loads of pastries and fruits, they happily embarked on their journey home. They secretly vowed to return and properly thank Princess Jing, who cared so deeply for the people, once they had their high-yield grain.

After the family reunion ceremony concluded successfully, the Crown Prince and others presented carefully selected gifts. This care and warmth from the royal family and ministers once again deeply moved Chen Mengyao.