The Prince's Beloved Little Wife

Just as everyone was filled with anticipation and eagerly awaiting the delicious food, a series of hurried footsteps, accompanied by the reports of servants, broke the silence: "His Majesty the Emperor and His Majesty the Empress are coming together." These words were like a thunderbolt, and all the ministers were shocked and pale. Even the Emperor himself had come, which was enough to show how favored Princess Jing was in the royal family.

They hastily rose, straightened their clothes, and rushed out of the hall to greet him. Soon, an emperor in a bright yellow dragon robe, accompanied by a dignified and noble empress, slowly entered. Upon seeing this, the ministers immediately knelt and bowed with the utmost reverence, loudly proclaiming, "Your humble servants pay homage to Your Majesty and Your Majesty the Empress. Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!" Their voices were unified and resounded throughout the heavens.

"My esteemed subjects, please rise," the Emperor said, his voice gentle yet authoritative. He raised his hand slightly, gesturing for everyone to rise. The Emperor and Empress then entered the banquet hall first. The Crown Prince and several princes and princesses quickly stepped forward to pay their respects, but the Emperor smiled and waved, dismissing their formalities. Seeing this, the Grand Tutor immediately offered the Emperor the seat of honor, retreating to a lower position himself.

After the Emperor took his seat, he laughed heartily and asked, "Grand Tutor, what do you think of my daughter-in-law? Is she a pleasing child?" The Grand Tutor immediately nodded in agreement, "Your Majesty is absolutely right. Yao'er is indeed well-behaved, sensible, and extremely considerate. She is far superior to my good-for-nothing sons." Hearing this, the Grand Tutor's sons felt a pang of sadness, thinking that their father had neglected them after having a daughter. But then they thought again, having a younger sister as intelligent, clever, and well-behaved as Chen Mengyao was a blessing. Moreover, Mengyao was not only exceptionally beautiful but also incredibly intelligent and skilled in business. It was said that she already owned several shops, with a new one about to open.

Just as the Emperor and the Grand Tutor were engaged in lively conversation, a servant reported that the meal was ready. Upon hearing this, the Grand Tutor immediately rose and respectfully led the Emperor and Empress to the dining hall. The Crown Prince and others followed closely behind. Due to the large number of people, they were seated at four or five tables. The Grand Tutor naturally dined with the Emperor, Empress, and their children, while the Crown Prince's children were given a separate table, with numerous maids, servants, and attendants to serve them and ensure their comfort during the meal. The ministers sat with their colleagues with whom they usually enjoyed conversation, creating a harmonious and warm atmosphere.

As plate after plate of delicious-looking and fragrant dishes were served, everyone exclaimed in amazement. These dishes were not only visually appealing and fragrant, but also incredibly tempting. The table was laden with carefully prepared delicacies made from high-yield crops such as potatoes, sweet potatoes, and corn, along with a variety of vegetable dishes and a rich and diverse selection of meats. Each dish embodied the chefs' hard work and wisdom, allowing everyone to savor the delicious food while also experiencing the joy of harvest and the beauty of life.

Chen Mengyao introduced them to the names of various dishes made with corn, sweet potatoes, and potatoes. Her voice was gentle and full of enthusiasm, as if each dish contained endless stories.

"This is a golden corn pancake. The outside is crispy and the inside is soft and chewy. Every bite is full of happiness," she said, pointing to a plate of golden food.

"This is sweet potato puree, carefully ground to have a smooth and silky texture, sweet but not cloying, and it's a favorite among children." She gently stirred the sweet potato puree in the bowl, her eyes sparkling with tenderness.

"And this braised pork ribs with potatoes, the fragrant and tender potatoes and the savory pork ribs are perfectly combined, every piece of pork ribs is soaked in the aroma of potatoes, making it unforgettable." As she spoke, she picked up a piece of pork rib and showed it to everyone.

"Look at this dish over here, it's called corn chowder." Chen Mengyao walked to another dish, picked up a soup spoon and stirred it gently. The rich aroma of milk mixed with the sweetness of corn wafted out. "Fresh corn kernels are blended into a paste, then simmered in milk, and sprinkled with some diced ham to enhance the flavor. One sip is like sunshine warming your heart."

She then pointed to a uniquely shaped dish, "These are sweet potato balls. The sweet potatoes are steamed, mashed, coated with breadcrumbs, and deep-fried. They're crispy on the outside and soft on the inside, sweet and delicious, like tiny sweet bombs exploding in your mouth."

Next, Chen Mengyao came to a cold dish. "This is cold potato salad. The potatoes are cut into thin strips, blanched, and then tossed with vinegar, chili, minced garlic, and other seasonings. It's refreshing and delicious, and the crisp texture is perfect for pairing with other meat dishes to cut through the richness." "There's also a delicious potato pancake here." Chen Mengyao brought out a plate; the potato pancakes looked incredibly appetizing. "They're made by mixing shredded potatoes with flour and frying them. It's simple yet flavorful, with a subtle potato aroma," she explained with a smile.

"And look at this cornbread." She picked up a small cornbread, "It's made with cornmeal, a refined way to prepare coarse grains. It's healthy and delicious, and it has the natural sweetness of corn."

"There's also sweet potato porridge." Chen Mengyao lifted the lid of the pot, and steaming hot porridge with a sweet aroma filled the air. "The sweet potatoes are diced and cooked together with rice. It's thick and creamy, good for the stomach and comforting, and especially suitable for breakfast."

"This is corn and shrimp fried rice." She pointed to a bowl of colorful fried rice and said, "Tender shrimp paired with corn kernels, stir-fried together with rice, have both the freshness of seafood and the sweetness of corn, making it extremely delicious."

Everyone listened with great interest, savoring the dishes before them while eagerly anticipating Chen Mengyao's next narration about the food. The atmosphere was warm and delightful. Chen Mengyao clapped her hands lightly to attract everyone's attention and said, "Look at this dish over here, it's called stewed beef with potatoes. The beef is tender and flavorful, and the potatoes have absorbed the meat juices, becoming soft and chewy. The combination of the two is simply a match made in heaven. Every bite is full of rich and mellow aroma."

She then walked to another dish, "This is braised pork ribs with sweet potatoes. After being braised, the sweet potatoes are fragrant and sweet, and the pork ribs become even more tender. The sweetness of the sweet potatoes blends into the pork ribs, creating a unique flavor." Then, she pointed to a delicate dessert on the table, "This is corn cake, made primarily from fresh corn flour. It's fluffy and soft, melts in your mouth, and the rich corn aroma spreads on your tongue, as if you're in a golden cornfield."

"Now I'm going to introduce a classic potato dish to everyone—stir-fried shredded potatoes with vinegar." Chen Mengyao said enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling. "Cut the potatoes into thin shreds, rinse them in water to remove the starch, then stir-fry them quickly in a hot pan with appropriate amounts of vinegar, salt, sugar, and other seasonings. The stir-fried potato shreds will be distinct, tangy, spicy, and refreshing—perfect with rice." As she spoke, she personally picked up some and placed them on the plates of the people next to her, indicating that they should try some.

"And this mashed potato salad, the potatoes are steamed and mashed, mixed with various diced vegetables, such as carrots and cucumbers, and then topped with a special salad dressing. It can be served as a main dish or as a great side dish, with a delicate and layered texture." Chen Mengyao then walked to another plate, "These fried potato chips are also not to be missed. The potato chips are cut to a moderate thickness and fried in hot oil until golden and crispy. Sprinkle with a little cumin or salt and pepper, and you'll get a satisfying crunch when you bite into them. It's a great casual snack."

As everyone listened, they nodded repeatedly, their taste buds seemingly already sensing the unique charm of these delicacies. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and joy as everyone immersed themselves in the delightful ambiance brought by the food.

Chen Mengyao walked to the next dish and introduced it with a smile: "Now let's look at this dish, stir-fried cauliflower with pork. The cauliflower is cut into small pieces and stir-fried with pork with alternating layers of fat and lean meat. The cauliflower retains its crisp texture, while the pork gains a rich meaty aroma." She then pointed to a dish next to her, "This dish is cabbage rolls with meat. Seasoned minced meat is rolled into cabbage leaves and steamed." "And what about the dish next to this one?" someone asked curiously.

Chen Mengyao's smile deepened, and she said cheerfully, "This dish is quite unique; it's called Sweet and Sour Shredded Cabbage. The cabbage is shredded into thin strips, and a sweet and sour sauce made with sugar and vinegar is poured over it, then sprinkled with sesame seeds for garnish. It tastes sweet and sour, and the shredded cabbage is crisp and refreshing. Every bite has a unique refreshing sensation, like a cool breeze brushing against your taste buds."

She then pointed to another plate, "And this is a cabbage omelet. Chop the cabbage and mix it into the egg mixture, add some flour and stir to make a batter, then spread it into a thin omelet. It has the savory aroma of eggs and the sweetness of cabbage. The edges of the omelet are slightly crispy, while the middle is soft. One bite, and you get a wonderful blend of textures—simple yet incredibly delicious." She added, "It tastes both sweet and savory, like the cabbage and the meat filling."

She picked up a plate of green beans and said, "This is dry-fried green beans. After being stir-fried, the outer skin of the green beans is slightly wrinkled, but the inside remains tender and crisp. With a little seasoning, it is fragrant and spicy." She then looked to the side and said, "Look at this cucumber salad. After the cucumber is shredded, it is mixed with minced garlic, vinegar, sugar and other seasonings. It is refreshing and appetizing, and it is a good dish to beat the summer heat."

Picking up a plate, she said, "These are pumpkin pancakes. The pumpkin is steamed, mashed, mixed with flour, shaped into pancakes, and then fried. They are crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with the sweet aroma of pumpkin filling your mouth."

Next, Chen Mengyao pointed to a dish and said, "This is water spinach stir-fried with garlic. The water spinach is fresh and green, and the unique aroma of the garlic is fully infused into it. Every strand of water spinach is coated with garlic flavor, making it crisp and delicious." She then pointed to another plate, "This plate is lettuce wraps with meat. Take a fresh lettuce leaf, wrap it with the special meat sauce, and you can enjoy both the freshness of the lettuce and the rich flavor of the meat sauce. The combination of meat and vegetables is just right."

Then, she continued, "This stir-fried bok choy with cured pork belly has the savory flavor of the cured pork belly permeating into the bok choy, while the bok choy absorbs the oil from the cured pork belly, becoming even more juicy and delicious. The combination of the two is simply amazing; every bite is a perfect blend of savory and sweet flavors." She picked up a little bit, put it in her mouth, and chewed slowly, a satisfied expression on her face.

She then showed another dish, "This is stir-fried romaine lettuce. Romaine lettuce is stir-fried with only a small amount of salt and olive oil, retaining its original fragrance. It's smooth and has a unique flavor." Finally, she picked up a small dish of lotus root slices and said, "This is sweet and sour lotus root slices. After blanching the lotus root slices, they are drizzled with a sweet and sour sauce made of sugar and vinegar. The lotus root slices are crisp, and the sweet and sour flavor is appetizing. It's a wonderful side dish."

She also introduced the unique flavors of dishes such as braised cabbage with vermicelli, bok choy and egg soup, eggplant casserole, and stir-fried eggs with chili peppers, as well as various meats, such as steamed sea bass, braised beef, poached chicken, and sweet and sour pork ribs.

After everyone listened intently to her detailed and vivid introduction, a brief silence fell over the room, followed by thunderous applause and waves of praise! People's faces showed a mixture of surprise and anticipation, their eyes fixed on the exquisite and tempting dishes. At that moment, these seemingly ordinary dishes seemed to be imbued with a magical power, radiating an irresistible charm.

Unable to contain their excitement any longer, everyone eagerly picked up their chopsticks and carefully reached for the delicacies on their plates, eager to be among the first to taste this unique flavor. For a moment, the entire restaurant was filled with the soft sounds of chewing, exclamations of wonder, and cheerful conversation, all blending together to create a beautiful "dining symphony."

The ministers thoroughly enjoyed the unparalleled pleasure brought by these delicacies, carefully prepared from high-yield grains. With each bite, the rich and mellow flavors exploded on their tongues, like a magnificent feast for the senses. As they savored the delicious taste, they couldn't help but exclaim: Who could have imagined that these ordinary ingredients could be transformed into so many wonderfully diverse flavors and dishes? It's truly breathtaking!

At the same time, everyone was surprised to find that the dishes made from these high-yield grains were not only incredibly delicious but also extremely filling. In no time, everyone was completely satisfied, their bellies round and full. At that moment, the gazes of the crowd towards Chen Mengyao were filled with admiration and respect; their eyes seemed to pierce through time and space, seeing the arduous efforts and selfless dedication this woman had made.

The high-yield grain varieties promoted by Chen Mengyao are like a ray of hope, illuminating the once bleak lives of the people.

At this moment, the ministers' respect for her surged like a tidal wave, impossible to suppress. This feeling stemmed not only from the practical benefits she brought, but also from her noble character of caring for the common people and sacrificing herself for others. They silently vowed in their hearts to give her more care and love, to protect her as if she were their most precious treasure, and to never allow anyone or anything to cause her the slightest harm.