Unlimited estates for rural beauty-Chapter 390 The Emperor’s Selection (4)

"Sister Mei, this isn’t the watermelon that our region produces," Baihe spoke up to clear Mei Lenglei’s confusion.

Feng Xuxu nodded. The watermelon looked similar on the surface, but it wasn’t as sweet or large as their own. However, this watermelon was much cheaper than the ones from their region, costing only five hundred coins per catty.

As Feng Xuxu enjoyed the watermelon, she couldn’t help but lament. In just two or three short years, people had already cultivated a second generation of this fruit. If she didn’t open up new channels, she feared that she too would have to lower her prices along with those fruit peddlers.

After finishing the watermelon, she went to check on the baby, seeing their big eyes gazing around, ceaseless curiosity brimming within.

"May the princess be auspicious," Nanny Jiang greeted with a curtsy.

"Please rise. How are the children?" Touching the small hands of her son and daughter, Feng Xuxu noticed their grip had grown stronger than before, making her exceedingly happy.

Seeing Feng Xuxu’s mood, Nanny Jiang chuckled and said, "Both the Princely Heir and the Commandery Princess are doing well. Over the past half-month, they have become more active. Everything seems new to them, and their strength has indeed increased. They are growing up quickly."

Feng Xuxu picked up her son from the cradle and bounced him gently, noticing he felt heavier than before. In the past, they would be asleep when she visited, but since they had turned one month old, they seemed to sleep less than usual.

The little Commandery Princess, with her round eyes, watched Feng Xuxu holding her brother but not her. She pouted and started crying with a loud "wah," her cries echoing throughout the grand hall.

Feng Xuxu hurriedly put down her son to pick up her daughter, but her son became unhappy and joined in the commotion. She was in such a panic, with one child in her arms and unable to lift the other from the cradle, that she broke out into a sweat.

Dugu Chen returned to his residence after finishing his work. From afar, he heard his beloved children crying and dashed into the bedroom. Seeing Feng Xuxu, all the frost on his face melted away.

Feng Xuxu cradled her daughter, swaying back and forth, softly cooing. Dugu Chen took his son from Nanny Jiang and quietly soothed him. Each holding a child, they played with them for a while. When they saw the children were sleepy, they finally left.

In the evening, Eunuch Shi brought a royal decree to the Prime Minister Residence.

"Prime Minister, this is the decree for a marriage grant. Please call out your daughter to receive the decree."

Xiao Yiran nodded his head and turned to his wife, "Go, bring Jiazhen out to receive the decree."

As soon as Madam Zheng heard this, she was stunned. She turned and instructed her maid, Bi Rui, to find her daughter.

After a while, Bi Rui returned, tiptoeing to whisper something into Madam Zheng’s ear. Zheng Qianye’s face instantly turned ashen.

Xiao Yiran frowned, "What’s the matter? Where is Zhenzhen?"

"My lord, Zhenzhen has gone out to buy something and hasn’t returned yet," Madam Zheng replied, her forced smile hiding the sweat in her palms.

Xiao Yiran glanced at his wife, who looked unnatural, but said nothing. Turning to Eunuch Shi, he exclaimed, "Eunuch, my young daughter isn’t here right now. Perhaps you could sit in the courtyard for a while. I’ll send someone to look for her immediately."

Eunuch Shi pondered for a moment, then nodded, following the Prime Minister into the yard to rest briefly.

Xiao Yiran pulled Zheng Qianye aside, his face stark with severity, "Where is Zhenzhen? Tell me the truth."

"My lord, Jiazhen has run away from home," Madam Zheng said with a pained expression, twisting the handkerchief in her hands.

"When did this happen?"

"I don’t know exactly. Bi Rui just found out when she discovered something in Jiazhen’s room—that’s when we learned she had left," she handed over a piece of paper Bi Rui had found in Jiazhen’s boudoir.

Xiao Yiran unfolded it and read the brief message, "Daughter vows never to enter the palace. I will go out for a while and return after the selection is over. Father, Mother, I am unfilial for causing you worry."

Xiao Yiran summoned the butler and all the house servants, beginning a widespread search throughout Capital City, but Zheng Qianye stopped him.

"My lord, we should look for her quietly. If you search so broadly, it will lead to wild speculation and could harm Jiazhen’s reputation."

Xiao Yiran, after hearing his wife’s words, nodded and instructed the butler to discreetly search without drawing attention.

Half an hour passed, and Eunuch Shi was still waiting. With a frown, he asked Xiao Yiran, "Prime Minister, do you think you can quickly find your daughter to read the decree? I have to return to the palace to report back, you see..." 𝒻𝑟ℯℯ𝑤𝑒𝑏𝑛𝘰𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝒸𝑜𝘮

"Yes, yes, but you see, my daughter, being mischievous, has not yet returned. I am truly anxious," Xiao Yiran shook his head, speaking with a helpless tone.

Seeing the situation, Eunuch Shi thought he might as well wait a bit longer.

After some time, the butler returned. Xiao Yiran raised an eyebrow at him, and the butler shook his head, clearly indicating that they had not found her.

Xiao Yiran looked up at the darkening sky and let out a silent sigh. He felt a slight comfort and a trace of unrest—comfort that his daughter wouldn’t have to enter the palace, and unrest over fears that his naive girl would be mistreated alone outside.

Although Eunuch Shi didn’t know what the master and servant were up to, he understood one thing: Xiao Jiazhen hadn’t been found. His face darkened a shade, and he stood up, shaking off the dust from his sleeve, "Prime Minister, since Miss Xiao is not here, perhaps you can receive the decree on behalf of your daughter."

"That... Eunuch Shi, I think I should personally attend the court instead," the Prime Minister replied.

Eunuch Shi gave him a sidelong glance, huffed, and left.

Xiao Yiran just watched coldly and then turned to his wife Zheng Qianye, saying, "Arrange everything at home. Keep sending people out to search from the butler’s side. Remember to send a message to Zhennan Princess to see if she’s there."

"My lord..." Madam Zheng clutched at him, her face full of worry.

"Don’t worry, I’ll be fine. At worst, I’ll be dismissed and go back to the countryside to farm," he reassured his wife, then boarded the residence’s carriage to follow Eunuch Shi to the palace.

Madam Zheng, pondering left and right, felt as though her husband wouldn’t return. She went back inside to write a letter, hurriedly delivering it to Prince Mei Residence in fear.