Chapter 165: The Only Moment the Couple Can Communicate Calmly

Night fell over the earth, and Chen Yan, as usual, finished dinner with Gao Yang and Xiao Sizi.

After playing with Xiao Sizi for a while, he washed up by himself and returned to his own room.

He closed the door, looked around, saw the candlelight flickering behind the screen, heard a faint trickle of water, and didn't pay much attention.

Following the routine, he went to the large jar by the window to inspect, and was delighted to find that the thing, unsure whether it was a Potato, seemed to have sprouted.

A small green leaf broke through the soil, growing vigorously.

"Tsk tsk, that old Taoist Li Chunfeng didn't fool me; he really got it right."

Chen Yan clicked his tongue in amazement while carefully examining the sprouted leaf.

At first glance, it indeed looked a lot like a Potato.

Coupled with Li Chunfeng's words, he was about ninety percent sure this was a Potato.

Thinking of the Potato's staggering yield, he couldn't help but smile sincerely.

Ancient Potatoes were certainly inferior to modern ones, but even the basic yield was far higher than wheat's.

For the common folk of this era, the appearance of the Potato would undoubtedly go down in history; calling it a heavenly omen would not be an exaggeration.

"Now that's a true treasure..."

Chen Yan lowered his head, stared earnestly at the tiny leaf, and couldn't help murmuring.

"What treasure?"

From behind, Gao Yang's lazy voice came; Chen Yan turned his head, stared blankly for a moment, then said nothing.

He didn't know whether it was because they were getting more familiar or Gao Yang's nature was simply like that; anyway, she was privately... hmm, how to put it.

Unconcerned with trifles, I guess.

She had just finished bathing, draped a sheer violet veil over herself, and dared to appear before him.

Any other woman, even facing her own husband, would certainly not be so uninhibited.

Seeing Chen Yan give no reply, Gao Yang said irritably, "I asked you a question—what treasure did you just mention?"

"Also, what exactly have you buried in here? Why keep it inside the house?"

"It's a grain seed," Chen Yan decided to say, lest Gao Yang one day act on a whim and toss it away.

"Grain seed?" Gao Yang showed some interest, moved close to him, and curiously looked at the tiny leaf on the soil.

"What grain seed is so important to you?"

Since marrying into the Bo Mansion, she had naturally encountered many of Chen Yan's novel inventions.

As a Princess of the Imperial Family, Gao Yang's eye for detail was never lacking.

In her view, many items from the Bo Mansion could fetch a fortune instantly if taken out, and some might even benefit the common folk.

Leaving other matters aside, even the Bo Mansion uses a special paper for sanitary purposes.

Yet Chen Yan never paid attention to those things; only this so-called grain seed was placed in the room.

Gao Yang naturally felt curious.

Chen Yan said seriously, "You wouldn't know what grain seed this is even if I told you; when it grows you'll see. The only thing I can tell you now is that it's a grain seed that can yield a thousand jin per mu."

"So, no matter how you act later, you must never joke with it, or I'll truly lose my temper with you."

After that remark, Chen Yan thought he would at least see Gao Yang's shock, if not further questioning.

But he didn't expect Gao Yang to look at him with a stare as if he were a fool.

Chen Yan: "......"

"No, what kind of look is that?"

Gao Yang glanced at the leaf, sneered, "Chen Yan, did the sun fry your brain?"

"A thousand jin per mu?"

"Do you know the current highest yield per mu of millet in the Tang Dynasty?"

She replied irritably, "Just over three hundred jin!"

"And that's on the best fields, with perfect weather, no locust or pest disasters, achieving that yield."

"What gives it that right?"

"What? Is this grass the son of Heaven himself?"

Chen Yan: "......"

He had expected Gao Yang to doubt, but she outright didn't believe it.

But on reflection, it's reasonable; since ancient times the staple grain yields have been that high, and now telling people this seemingly insignificant thing could outproduce the top millet by several times.

Anyone else would probably not believe it either.

"I'm too lazy to explain further; just remember not to touch it."

Chen Yan warned her, then walked to the bedside, sat down, and stripped off his clothes and shoes to rest.

Time will prove everything.

Even if he explained further and no one would believe, he'd rather wait until the Potato sprouts so Gao Yang can see it with her own eyes.

Then she'll understand how slap‑in‑the‑face today was.

Gao Yang chuckled, paid no mind to Chen Yan's words, and didn't intend to move the large jar.

She likewise looked forward to the Potato sprouting, and then the scene where it didn't yield a thousand jin per mu, slapping Chen Yan's face.

Seeing Chen Yan truly preparing to rest, Gao Yang hurried over, cleared her throat, and said.

"Husband, we… should attend to serious matters now~"

Chen Yan suddenly felt two smooth, slender lotus‑like arms wrap around his neck, the fragrance of orchids drifting into his nostrils, a few damp strands of hair brushing his face.

He opened his eyes with a wry smile: "How is it, I've become a husband again?"

"Am I not a turtle‑born bastard, a mad‑hearted scoundrel?"

Oh dear, that was just this morning's thing, it's long past. Gao Yang hummed and hawed: "Couples argue at the head of the bed and make up at the foot."

Hurry up, hurry up.

Chen Yan held her face as she leaned down, pushing it back: "Don't make noise, I want to rest."

I don't want to go over mountains and ridges to discuss life with you in reverse.

Gao Yang immediately became displeased, provoking: "You wouldn't be scared, would you?"

Chen Yan: "......"

Well, there's no true heart-for-heart exchange; it's all speed for sound.

Mmm......

(To avoid being accused of padding word count, I'll omit the next twenty thousand words.)

After a bout of sweating like rain, Chen Yan and Gao Yang happily took a bath.

Just as he blew out the candle, preparing to rest, Gao Yang darted into his embrace like a lively little fish, skillfully catching his arm to use as a pillow, her long legs naturally wrapping around.

She nestled in her husband's embrace, her voice filled with indescribable contentment: "I heard the imperial elder brother came today; you really have to go to Weinan County to be the county magistrate, can't you change that?"

Only at this moment after a day could they talk peacefully.

So Gao Yang intended to have a good talk with Chen Yan.

Hmm, can't change it; your Father Emperor has already decided, even the eldest son of Cai Duke, Du Gou, has been sent to assist me—where's there room to change?

Chen Yan slightly shifted his head toward her, leaning on his wife's head: "Don't worry either; this might be the most suitable position for me."

Your Father Emperor values me greatly, giving me great authority; once I go there, the whole Weinan County will be under my sole decision.

It just so happens I also don't want to stay in Chang'an; going there is fine, and when we have free time we can go out for a stroll, enjoy the spring.