Chapter 335: These Fruits Need No Washing

At noon, Guifei Niangniang entertained Lady Qiao in her own palace, with Jia Mei keeping company, and of course the emperor was also present.

He originally didn't want to come, but to observe Qiao Mai up close, he still went.

Thinking of the New Year's Eve banquet while eating his Meal, the Old Emperor kept looking for something to say.

"Lady Qiao, the method you performed that day of materializing objects out of thin air—was it a trick or a skill?"

"Both. A trick is also a kind of skill, isn't it?"

"Oh, then can you transform another one for me now?"

"That depends on what Your Majesty wishes."

"What can you conjure?"

"Fruit."

"What about the set of jewelry you gave to the Guifei that day?"

She found an unoccupied spot, selected a plain outfit from the space, disguised herself as a village woman with a pack on her shoulder, and walked along the Guan Dao.

"It seems the emperor needs to rest for a while."

"This is a snake apple, a type of apple; this is a sugar‑core apple; this is a butter apple. The flavors differ. If you want to know the taste, just cut it into pieces and try. Jia Mei, what would you like to eat?"

"Jia Mei, can you also pick one?"

The Guifei, seeing the mother‑in‑law dare speak to the emperor like that, was so frightened she didn't even raise her voice, yet the emperor wasn't angry—how strange.

Guifei Niang thought for a while and said, "I like apples, so conjure apples."

"Can."

"This is a green apple."

"Isn't this what he deserves? Our family contributed so many formulas, bringing you great benefits; I am a merchant, just following trade rules."

"Ah, Your Majesty, what are your thoughts?"

With a swift flick, he lifted another cloth, "This is a yellow apple."

"Unwashed?"

Qiao Mai finished speaking and ignored him, instead sharing mangosteens with Jia Mei; there were many kinds of fruit, and eating just one would already fill them up.

"Protecting my family or poking—still more than enough."

"Aunt, I like sweet fruit; as long as it's sweet I love to eat it."

Up to now, the spiritual consciousness has shown no change, and Ling'er's side remains quiet; since that incident, no man has harassed her.

"Then why did Lady Qiao give your husband a rival‑surname king?"

"You're not old either, only about fifty. The crown prince's position—older candidates don't work, so we cultivate younger ones; there will always be a suitable one. Historically, have emperors lived to great ages? Yes, but rarely; they're busy with state affairs. One cannot have both fish and bear's paw; life or power—it's all up to Your Majesty's own choice."

"Your Majesty, this is like a recipe, a steel formula; do you think a humble wife would understand?"

She probed with spiritual power; not far away lay a city, modest in size, likely a small Xiancheng.

There was no bride price demanded; she entered the city directly, and inside it was bustling, with some disaster victims resting on both sides of the Jiedao.

The Old Emperor, trying to get to the bottom of it, asked, "Are the fruits in your shop also conjured by you?"

Half a month flashed by; feeling uneasy, she left Jingcheng one night, following her spiritual consciousness to seek Yuan Jiaqi.

"That set of jewelry was originally worn on me; I intended to give it to my mother‑in‑law."

"The weather is dry and hot now; I want to eat melons. Could you conjure several kinds for me?"

The more he does this, the more he fears himself; let the Old Emperor guess, it truly burdens him at his advanced age.

Suddenly the Meal on the table lost its aroma; several people gathered around the table, and the emperor hurriedly ordered someone to wash the fruit.

If the emperor wants to see through me, then let him see well.

These fruits all come from the space; they contain Spiritual Energy, not only satisfy cravings but are highly beneficial to the body.

This place suffered a flood; the once‑flat road, after the water receded, became like this.

"Watch closely."

"I have found that staying at your house, even breathing is smooth, everything eaten tastes good, everything drunk feels comfortable; I suppose even sleep there would never bring nightmares."

"Hehe, bring up a table, place a few trays on it, and cover each with a large piece of Red Cloth."

Qiao Mai effortlessly conjured a type of melon on each tray; they were right before them, clearly visible, yet the three of them couldn't figure out any reason.

In the middle were deep Cheyun Yin marks, obviously left by pulling heavy loads; Qiao Mai sighed, she was a worry‑filled fate.

"Truly capable people don't care about these; capable people all yearn for freedom—vast skies and boundless seas?"

"Has the court distributed the Jingjie yet?"

Qiao Mai smiled and glanced at the emperor; this Old Fox was doubting herself, let him be, she wouldn't admit it—what could you do anyway.

"This is Kirin watermelon, thin skin with red flesh, very sweet; in this weather you must want it chilled, this melon is cool. This is Golden melon, your favorite; this is Hami melon, this is White Jade melon, this is Horned melon, this is sweet melon, this is papaya—though it lacks much flavor, sliced into strips like a simple cold platter it's decent and has a nourishing effect."

"Yes, everyone covets this spot; it's good, really good, but it's just too tiring."

"I heard Lady Qiao's martial arts are very high?"

Arriving beneath the Cheng Men, there were no disaster victims in sight; the gate was open, quiet and desolate.

The mother and daughter opened their little mouths, "Oh."

After a moment, Qiao Mai conjured several items for her: first mangosteen, which is extremely sweet, then mango, followed by lychee, cherry, winter jujube, and Longan.

The emperor was baffled; such a saying existed? How could he not know? In the whole world, who dares to negotiate terms with him? Only she—truly skilled and daring, fearing nothing.

"Fine, I don't want to explain further; if you want it washed, let someone wash it."

"What's wrong with that?"

Qiao Mai, carrying a bundle, squatted in front of a disaster victim's house.

The variety of fresh fruit left Jia Mei dumbfounded.

"It's issued, it's issued, the silver is also issued."

"Lady Qiao, from now on Jia Mei will be the only daughter‑in‑law of the Qiao Family, right?"

The farther we go following our spiritual awareness, the more disaster victims appear; fortunately, where there are many victims, it seems relief grain has been distributed, which shows Yuan Jiaqi is not far from her.

The three of them swallowed saliva, watching Qiao Mai lift each piece of Red Cloth and introduce a type, and they were very shocked.

In the south it's just about right; the high ground is fine, but the low ground is all puddles, the clothes never dry.

Living anywhere is hard, she shook her head and sighed.

"Can it become something else?"

It left the Old Emperor speechless; somehow this Imperial Palace seems like her Back Garden.

She walked toward the Xinan Fang, taking a deep step then a shallow step slowly.

The Emperor listened to this, pondering its meaning, "Lady Qiao does not covet wealth and power?"

"Wow, these fruits don't seem to be in season yet."

High officials have arrived above, arranging disaster victims with the County Magistrate in batches; we came late and are at the back.

"Then why are you still here?"

Beifang is fine; that one‑plus month was the tide.

"Rui'er, the chance last time was given to the Empress; this time you come, I will watch."

After returning from the Imperial Palace, the rain in Jingcheng kept falling nonstop, and we don't know how Xianggong's disaster relief is going in the south.

The Old Emperor ate with great pleasure, having long forgotten the scene just now of the two of them drawing bows and crossbows in the Yushufang.

"I think that once the heir is chosen, I will take the Noble Consort to live at your house; would that work?"

Everyone else is overly restrained; she, on the contrary, is breezy and light, chatting and laughing merrily!

Qiao Mai smiled, moved the melons elsewhere, and covered several trays completely with Red Cloth.

She swiftly lifted a piece of Red Cloth, flashing a heap of bright red, "These are red apples."

"I see."

Flying all the way, constantly complaining, he was cool, stuffy, hot, and damp.

"Your Majesty, these fruits need not be washed; they can be eaten directly."

"Then where can we collect the Jingjie?"

"Ahead, after two Lukou, turn right and keep going; on the left is an imposing Dameng with the characters 'Xian Ya' on it, where the high officials of Jingcheng are."

"Thank you!"

Qiao Mai bowed, got up and headed to the County Magistrate's Office; at that moment a long queue was outside the County Magistrate's Office, and Qiao Mai used Teleportation to appear inside.

(End of chapter)