As summer arrived, digging for lotus roots became a joyous occasion in the village.

Lotus roots lie deep in the silt, tender and crisp, delicious whether stir-fried, mixed, or pickled in salt. However, in order to ensure a bountiful harvest of lotus roots, the villagers were particular about the timing of this task; it should be neither too early nor too late, and they must take care not to damage the delicate stems...

Xing Bing rolled up his sleeves, personally leading people into the pond.

A group of retainers shouted encouragement from shore, and those new to the village, having never eaten lotus roots before, found it both novel and astonishing to see the normally stern and upright Xing Bing covered in mud and as merry as a child...

"Are lotus roots really that tasty?"

"Naturally."

Some asked, others answered.

"But it’s not just for the sake of eating..."

"Then for what?"

Last year, the mistress led them to relocate to the village in Huaxi. With food scarce and times tough, the pond full of lotus roots managed to survive because so few ate them, preserving them through the years of disaster and filling their bellies, offering great assistance...

Those who had followed Feng Yun from early on all remembered this, but couldn’t articulate the reason, simply saying:

"Consider it a blessing from the heavens."

Newcomers seemed to half understand, while old residents’ faces beamed with smiles.

For a moment, the cheers grew louder, earth-shaking, setting the whole village abuzz.

Who wouldn’t want something that can both be admired and eaten?

Villagers came one after another, seeking Alou for seeds.

Alou generously said, "Not right now, come back after the Start of Autumn. If you wish to plant, you can first prepare your pond, cultivate the pond mud..."

Knowing that the Village Chief’s wife was generous with her knowledge, the villagers left joyously and began asking about planting lotus roots.

Alou scratched his head, as a few words wouldn’t cover it, so he called over Sister Xu.

"All the farming in the village is overseen by Sister Xu. If there’s anything you don’t understand, just ask her."

Sister Xu, who had been watching her husband dig for lotus roots, laughed heartily at the call, "I’m just a village woman; I don’t know much, everything was taught to me by the mistress hand-by-hand. If you want to learn, when we’re ready to plant seeds after the Start of Autumn, pick a day and come over, I’ll explain all at once..."

The villagers were moved.

Knowing that the child by Feng Yun’s side was the Emperor, they didn’t dare approach too closely, instead bowing from a distance to express their gratitude.

Yuan Shangyi was also deeply touched.

Grasping Feng Yun’s hand, he suddenly asked in a low voice,

"If all the subjects under my rule could live as happily as those in Huaxi, would I be a good Emperor?"

Feng Yun paused,

This question was hard to answer.

When people are starving, all they want is to be fed.

Once everyone is fed, their pursuits become different...

She said, "An emperor who could achieve this has been rare since ancient times. If Ayuan can do this one day, then he’ll be a good Emperor."

Yuan Shangyi nodded.

Quickly, the child constructed his own logic.

"So, if the mistress were Emperor, could she not achieve that?"

Feng Yun nearly leapt in alarm, almost putting her hand over his mouth.

"How can governing a village be equated with governing a country?"

The child’s eyes, pure and innocent, obviously didn’t intend to set a trap for her.

Feng Yun smiled as she held his hand.

"The sun is getting strong; let’s go back inside."

With many people around, Feng Yun did not wish to invite trouble.

Chunyu Yan heard this and laughed, casting a brief glance at Feng Yun.

"Didn’t I say this was a hot potato?"

Yuan Shangyi had not heard the earlier conversation—he didn’t understand what Chunyu Yan was talking about. Obediently, he bowed and let Feng Yun lead him away from the pavilion.

Feng Yun cast a glance at that fellow who loved to stir up trouble.

"I’ll come to Yun Village later to settle accounts with you."

A double entendre?

Chunyu Yan curved his lips, well aware that the "settling of accounts" she referred to was the fee for the Princely Heir’s meal and also for speaking out of turn just now; yet devoid of any ambiguity, he couldn’t help but repeatedly mull over those two words...

Later.

He rose lazily, his gaze following that gracefully retreating figure.

Her slender shoulders were held back straight, her face beaming in the rising glow of dawn, every word and laugh fitting perfectly. Before leaving, she did not forget to bow goodbye to the villagers gathered at the other end of the pond to watch the lotus root digging.

Feng Twelve, 𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

How did you master the art of being both alluring and carefree?

And he...

On one hand, his heart itched unbearably.

On the other, he loathed her so much that he wanted to strip her skin, draw her sinews, and bite off a chunk of her flesh to allay his anger...

He chuckled suddenly, "Later is good..."

Perhaps later, under the cover of candlelight, desires could be indulged...

Having not vented for many days, he yearned for an outlet.

-

Evening.

With the summer heat fading, the village was filled with delicious aromas.

With the Young Emperor present, Feng Yun instructed that their meal be served by the south window of the study.