Chapter 85: Since You're Already Here

Since they were already here, County Magistrate Lin still discussed with Lu Wanshun: "Since we're already here, why don't we get some more seeds to plant?"

Lu Prefect expressed his deep agreement.

Being wary of Yan Ze's status as the First Prince, the two of them did not dare to go over and interact with him.

Upon arriving at Shawan County, they saw Yan Ning picking up seashells by the river.

Yan Ning looked up, saw the two of them, and said with a smile: "County Magistrate Lin, I was just about to go find you. I missed you yesterday; has anyone planted those seeds?"

Lu Wanshun sighed: "There are people planting them, but it was only because I forced them to do it."

Yan Ning was stunned—forced to do it?

County Magistrate Lin recounted the situation of the past two days.

Yan Ning found it strange: "These people are truly odd; it's as if giving them seeds is the same as forcing them to plant."

"Even if they can't plant them on the back hill, they could just loosen the soil in their courtyards and plant them there."

Lu Wanshun was so angry he blew his beard and glared: "Forget it, ignore them. Next year—oh no, wait, by the end of the year they will know how good these seeds are."

County Magistrate Lin looked at Yan Ning with a smile: "Miss Yan, may we go take a look at your vegetable garden?"

Yan Ning knew what they were thinking; they were mostly there to ask for seeds.

However, giving these seeds away was fine; they weren't anything rare, and it would be nice to use them to return a favor.

Yan Ning brought them over and they saw red fruits hanging one by one. County Magistrate Lin exclaimed: "What is this? It's so beautiful. Is this color edible?"

They only knew that brightly colored mushrooms could not be eaten, but they did not know if this fruit was edible.

Yan Ning picked a few and placed them in County Magistrate Lin's basket: "In a while, I'll treat you to sugar-marinated tomatoes, and also stir-fried tomatoes with eggs."

The two of them began to salivate.

Walking further inside, they saw small chili peppers hanging on the branches. Unlike the shriveled appearance after being sun-dried, they looked quite cute hanging there.

Yan Ning said: "You should be able to buy the other vegetables elsewhere. In a while, I will give you the Chili Pepper Seed and tomato seeds."

Yan Ning picked a few extra tomatoes, preparing to let them take them to plant later.

Yan Ning went to find Li Dachu to make more dinner, requesting Hot and Sour Shredded Potatoes, sugar-marinated tomatoes, stir-fried tomatoes with eggs, and Spicy Rabbit Cubes.

The three of them sat on small stools, and County Magistrate Lin asked: "How should these tomatoes be planted?"

Yan Ning said: "Slice them, bury the slices in the soil, and wait for them to sprout. But after they sprout, you need to move them to a more spacious pot to grow."

The two of them each took a tomato, both preparing to plant them as soon as they returned.

The dinner was truly delicious.

At the very least, Lu Wanshun and County Magistrate Lin had never eaten such delicious Spicy Rabbit Cubes.

As expected, it really had to be chili peppers!

Lu Wanshun even joked: "The food here is so delicious, I even want to live here."

Yan Ning smiled: "Alright, if you resign from your post and come to me, I can guarantee you'll have Spicy Rabbit Cubes every meal."

Lu Wanshun did not take the bait and continued to bury his head in his meal.

Seeing how much they liked it, the next morning, Yan Ning slaughtered two rabbits and had Li Dachu make a pot of Spicy Rabbit Cubes for Lu Prefect and County Magistrate Lin to take back.

Li Dachu did not know why, but important figures often appeared here.

However, he just did his job of cooking the food; as long as the five hundred taels of silver per month were paid, it was fine.

Before they left, Yan Ning gave each of them a large package of Spicy Rabbit Cubes, wrapped in oil paper.

The two of them were very grateful.

On the way back, County Magistrate Lin said: "Young Miss Yan is truly a good person, even packing food for us. And those precious seeds, she gave them away just like that. That sugar-marinated tomato was truly delicious."

Lu Wanshun was also grateful in his heart; he said: "Recently, someone has been investigating them; we should help if we can."

County Magistrate Lin nodded: "I will keep an eye out."

Lu Wanshun even felt that the Yan family should not have been exiled to Lingnan at all; what good people they were, not hiding or hoarding any seeds they had.

Once they arrived at Shawan County, County Magistrate Lin had someone bring over a few large flower pots.

They filled them with soil, buried the tomato slices in the dirt, and waited for them to sprout.

Haicheng.

After Lu Wanshun returned, he heard from his subordinates that there were indeed two groups of people looking for the Yan family.

He immediately had them brought to the yamen for questioning; they were acting sneaky and did not look like good people.

Lu Wanshun found out those people were from Yangzhou, frowned, and warned them not to cause trouble in the city.

With Lu Wanshun's warning, the two knew they had alerted the enemy.

Furthermore, not being sure if the Haicheng Prefect was their backer, and since the common people do not fight with officials, they could only return to Yangzhou first.

On the other side, the First Prince's men had already arrived at Shawan County, asking everywhere about Green Plum Wine.

Before County Magistrate Lin could react, Huo Zhitong asked with a smile: "Are you officials looking for Green Plum Wine?"

Mu Tian looked him up and down: "You know the location?"

Huo Zhitong said with a smile: "I am ninety percent sure; why not go there and see?"

The three of them then took a boat to Chaoyang Village.

Huo Zhitong smiled obsequiously: "My lord, if I am not mistaken, it is them."

"I often see the Bai Family and Gu Family boats carrying wine jars from there to Haicheng."

Mu Tian took out a small Cotton Pouch and threw it directly to Huo Zhitong: "A reward for you."

"If we haven't found the wrong people, we certainly won't treat you poorly."

Half an hour later, the three of them arrived at Chaoyang Village.

It was a coincidence that when they arrived, the Ji Family was in the middle of moving Grape Wine onto a boat.

Huo Zhitong was overjoyed: "It's them!"

Mu Tian went straight inside with two subordinates.

Because he was dressed normally and it was broad daylight, the guards in the Watchtower did not take action.

Seeing a stranger, Yan Ning frowned; he did not look like a good person.

Mu Tian frowned and asked her, "Is the Green Plum Wine made by your family?"

Since they had already started moving goods onto the boat, Yan Ning could only say, "Yes, why?"

At this moment, Yan Ze saw from the window that his daughter was surrounded by three guys who looked like bad people at first glance, so he hurriedly put down his work and rushed out.

Yan Ze asked, "What are you here for?"

Mu Tian said with a cold face, "I am taking you to the Capital; following our Prince Duan is better than brewing wine here."

Yan Ze was startled: "Prince Duan?"

Yan Ning found it strange: "How is that, has Prince Duan ascended the throne now?"

Mu Tian hurriedly said, "You child, what kind of treasonous things are you saying?"

Yan Ze shielded his daughter and sneered, "The Imperial Uncle dares to have our family brought back to the Capital before he has even ascended the throne?"

Imperial Uncle?

Mu Tian opened his mouth and asked in shock, "Are you... are you the First Prince?"

Yan Ze nodded: "It is me."

Mu Tian was unable to react for a moment.

Yan Ze was very familiar with Prince Duan, who would travel from far away for several days just for a bite to eat.

Yan Ze did not make things difficult for him; he directly brought over some Green Plum Wine and also brought some new flavors, Pineapple Wine and Grape Wine.

Yan Ze asked, "Is this enough?"

Each of them took six jars of wine, making a total of eighteen jars for the three of them.

Mu Tian did not dare to stay long, after all, he had just said quite a few treasonous things.

When Mu Tian brought the wine to Prince Duan, he said that it was wine made by the First Prince.

Prince Duan was completely stunned.