Chapter 194: Prince Wu Who Can't Stay Idle

The ninth year of Hongwu, the eighth day of the sixth month.

The sun had already become somewhat scorching.

Under the grape trellis in the rear courtyard of Wu Wang Fu, Guanyin Nu reclined on a soft couch, pinching a round fan in her hand and fanning intermittently.

Her lower abdomen was already slightly protruding.

This was her second child; compared to when she carried Huan Huan, it was much calmer, with no morning sickness, only drowsiness.

"Princess, have some sour plum soup," Xiao Zhu said, carrying a bowl of ice‑chilled sour plum soup over and gently placing it on the small table beside the couch.

Guanyin Nu gave a soft "hm" but kept her eyes closed.

Xiao Zhu pursed her lips in a smile and slipped away quietly.

In recent months, the Princess of her household had been taken by Prince Wu to roam everywhere—picnicking, lake‑going, mountain climbing, hunting—almost exhausting all of Yingtian Prefecture's surroundings.

Then last month it was discovered she was pregnant again; Prince Wu was sharply rebuked by the Empress, and only then did he settle down.

"Where is Prince Wu?" Guanyin Nu asked suddenly.

"Princess, Prince Wu went fishing; several princes have already left, and Prince Wu can't stay idle, so he went together with Brother Wang and the others," Xiao Zhu replied.

Guanyin Nu opened her eyes and, helplessly smiling, said, "He really can't stay idle."

As soon as the words fell, a clatter of footsteps came from the courtyard gate, accompanied by Zhu Yong's boisterous loud voice.

"Wife! Wife! Look what I brought back!"

Guanyin Nu propped herself up and saw Zhu Yong stride in like a comet, followed by Wang Gui, carrying several still‑flopping big fish.

After the few of them had just caught the fish, they circled Yingtian several times, hanging the fish on the horse's back; it looked even more impressive than a top scholar parading on horseback.

"Today I'm heading to Qinhuai River to fish; I caught several! Look, this one's the biggest, over three jin, and tonight the kitchen will stew it into soup for you," Zhu Yong said cheerfully, walking to the couch and pointing at the fish as if presenting a treasure.

Guanyin Nu, seeing his head drenched in sweat, took out a handkerchief and handed it to him, saying, "Wipe your sweat; you ran out in such scorching sun."

"Not hot, not hot; my skin's thick," Zhu Yong took the handkerchief and slapped his face haphazardly.

He squatted down, leaned close to Guanyin Nu's belly, and naively said, "Second child, dad caught fish for you; when you can eat, dad will catch more."

Guanyin Nu, both annoyed and amused, replied, "Only four months old—what could it hear?"

"It can hear; I talk to it, and it definitely hears," Zhu Yong said seriously.

Beside them, Wang Gui stifled a laugh, handed the fish to the approaching Xiao Ying, and then, knowing better, stepped back out.

Xiao Zhu and Xiao Ying also slipped quietly to the courtyard gate, leaving space for the husband and wife.

Zhu Yong sat at the couch's edge, lifted the bowl of sour plum soup, gulped a large mouthful, and said, "This sour taste is delicious; wife, have more."

"That was prepared for me," Guanyin Nu gave him a withering glance.

"I'll ladle you another bowl," Zhu Yong stood to do so.

"Enough, enough, sit down. Prince, you run out all day—have you got any proper business?" Guanyin Nu grabbed him and said.

Zhu Yong scratched his head and said, "Proper business... what proper business could I have? Brother told me to rest, and father also said I've been hard‑fought for over a year, so let me rest properly."

That was indeed true.

Since being recognized as a descendant of the clan, Zhu Yong has hardly been idle.

First, he followed Xu Da to fight Wang Baobao, then led Lan Yu to assault Bu Yu Er Hai, wiping out Northern Yuan.

Then he led troops to subdue the Nüzhen, and shortly after, eliminated Goryeo.

Finally he pacified the Western Regions, incorporating Wa Country into the Great Ming realm.

After years of campaigning back and forth, he truly deserved a rest.

"But I think you can't rest," Guanyin Nu said.

Zhu Yong laughed, "I just can't stay idle; if I don't move for a day, my whole body feels weak."

Guanyin Nu shook her head helplessly.

He, though famed as the world‑renowned Prince Wu, always seemed like a farmer who couldn't stay idle.

"By the way, wife, Brother sent someone today saying the potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes have grown nicely, giving me some free time to go take a look."

Zhu Yong recalled something and said.

Guanyin Nu's eyes lit up, "Oh! How big have they grown?"

"I haven't gone to see yet; how about I take you tomorrow?" Zhu Yong laughed.

"How could I go in this condition?" Guanyin Nu gestured to her belly.

Zhu Yong only then realized, hurriedly saying, "You're right; you rest, I'll go see, and tell you when I return."

If Mother found out he still dared to take Guanyin Nu out, it would inevitably result in another scolding.

……

Early the next morning, Zhu Yong set out on horseback with Wang Gui, Zhang Wu, Chen Heng, and several Imperial Troops, heading to a village outside the city.

The village was a designated experimental farm for new crops, covering over three hundred mu, jointly overseen by the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Works, with the Longxiang Army stationed around it, barring civilians from approaching.

When Zhu Yong arrived, the village was bustling.

On the field ridges, several officials in plain robes held notebooks, recording something, while many farmers in the fields were weeding and watering.

"Prince Wu!" a middle‑aged official shouted upon seeing Zhu Yong, and hurried forward.

Zhu Yong recognized him as Vice Minister of Works Chen Liang, who was in charge of the new‑crop trials.

"Lord Chen, how's the growth?" Zhu Yong dismounted and asked.

"Prince, please look..." Chen Liang led him to a patch of field.

The field was planted with potatoes; the green shoots were knee‑high and luxuriant.

"According to the planting diagram you gave, we cut the potatoes into pieces, leaving two eyes on each, and after planting they sprout in a month.

Now they're growing excellently; in two more months they'll be ready for harvest," Chen Liang said excitedly.

Zhu Yong squatted, turned over the soil, and could faintly see a few finger‑sized tiny potatoes that hadn't fully formed yet.

"What about sweet potatoes and corn?"

"Over here, Prince, please."

Chen Liang led Zhu Yong to another field.

The sweet potatoes are planted like rice seedlings; vines have already covered the ground, a sea of green.

The corn grows taller, almost as tall as a person; each stalk bears two or three ears, wrapped in tender green husks.

"Corn matures faster than potatoes. It should be ready for harvest in a little over a month, Prince. Look, these corn stalks are taller than a person; a mu of land can yield at least ten shi."

Chen Liang pointed at the corn field and said.

Zhu Yong nodded, reached out and peeled back the husk of an ear of corn, revealing neatly arranged golden kernels that looked delightful.

"When the corn is tender it can be boiled, when mature it can be milled into flour. Later, when harvested, we can send some to the palace so Imperial Father and Imperial Mother can taste the freshness."

Zhu Yong said.

"Yes," Chen Liang replied.

Zhu Yong walked around the manor again, looking at the sweet potatoes and a few other trial fields.

Potatoes were planted on fifty mu, sweet potatoes on fifty mu, and corn on one hundred mu.

The remaining land was planted with rice and wheat as a control.

Zhu Yong didn't understand what a control was, but he could see that those three new crops indeed grew better than rice and wheat.

"Prince, I have an idea," Chen Liang suddenly said.

"Go on."

"These three crops: potatoes are more cold‑tolerant, suitable for the Northern Region; sweet potatoes are more drought‑tolerant, suitable for mountainous areas; corn, however, tolerates poor soil, suitable for the northwest.

But we have not fully mastered each crop's habits yet; for example, whether potatoes grow better on sandy soil or black soil, how much water corn requires—these all need further trials."

Chen Liang continued, "I propose that next year each Bu Zheng Shi Si Official establish a trial field, planting the most suitable crop according to local soil and climate. Once we have gathered experience, we can scale up the promotion."

Zhu Yong thought for a moment, nodded, and said, "This idea is good. Have you told the Crown Prince?"

"I have drafted a petition and am about to submit it."

"Alright, submit it! The Crown Prince will definitely agree."

Zhu Yong patted Chen Liang's shoulder and said, "Do a good job. If these succeed, Lord Chen, you will become a meritorious official of Great Ming."

Chen Liang, flattered and startled, quickly bowed and said, "I dare not accept the credit; it is all thanks to the Prince's seed donation."