Bashe held his horse-head fiddle. The mournful tune came to an end as he lowered his gaze and stepped back.
The officials in the hall were still immersed in that lingering sorrow of “searching for a husband in vain,” not yet fully coming back to their senses.
Then, the music suddenly shifted.
A new zither melody pierced the air.
Like a clear mountain spring washing over stubborn stone, it rang out sharp and bright—instantly sweeping away the previous gloom and grief.
The zither player’s fingers were clean and decisive, ten fingers flying across the strings.
Each note carried strength—full of scholarly spirit, yet also infused with the boldness of a wandering swordsman.
The swordsman beside them stood tall like a pine. Every movement was structured and precise—clearly far beyond an ordinary performer.
His sword flowers were dense and impenetrable, and the blade slicing through the air even produced faint whistling sounds.
Feng Zeyuan held her wine cup, her eyes narrowing slightly.
This music… this sword style…
It carried a familiar heroic aura deep in its bones.
And that posture, that temperament…
The more she looked, the more it seemed like…
【Host, stop guessing.】
The system’s voice carried a barely suppressed laugh.
【Those two—you know them too.】
“Know them?”
A flash of lightning crossed Feng Zeyuan’s mind.
That righteous “eliminating evil for the people” aura, the familiar harmony of zither and sword…
And that unique blend of scholarly refinement and martial spirit…
【Holy crap! Aren’t those the “Two Jiao” brothers from Yanmen Pass?!】
【Weren’t those guys growing potatoes at Yanmen Pass?】
【How did they end up in the Northern Summer Kingdom’s “beauty troupe”?】
【Were they kidnapped to become the old khan’s male concubines?!】
Feng Zeyuan looked utterly baffled.
【Wait, that doesn’t fit the timeline!】
【When I met them, the old khan had already been driven away with his tail between his legs!】
【Don’t tell me he fled and casually kidnapped them on the way?】
On the dance floor, the Qiao brothers sensed Feng Zeyuan’s intense gaze.
Their hearts trembled violently.
The prince recognized them!
Qiao the elder’s fingers trembled slightly on the strings.
The two of them, disguised as women, had nervously infiltrated the state banquet precisely for this moment!
To personally report to the prince the news that had kept them awake for several nights in excitement!
The potatoes were successful!
They really succeeded!
Three thousand jin per mu!
A divine crop that could feed the entire world!
Qiao the younger gripped his sword tightly, his heartbeat thundering.
They exchanged a glance. Instead of panic, a blazing surge of emotion rose in their chests.
Since the prince had already recognized them, they would go all out—using the most dazzling performance—to show her they had not failed her trust!
Qiao the elder took a deep breath and suddenly accelerated his fingers!
The zither sound transformed from a mountain stream into a rolling thunderclap, exploding through the hall.
Every note rang with force, carrying the joy of harvest from Yanmen Pass, and their gratitude and reverence toward the prince!
Qiao the younger flicked his wrist. His sword dance grew even more fierce!
The gusts from his blade made nearby candles tremble violently, nearly extinguishing them!
Every move and stance contained the battlefield-like intensity they had once imagined while training at Yanmen Pass.
Now unleashed, it carried a faint killing aura of war.
“Hiss—”
An official sucked in a sharp breath.
These were not delicate dancing girls at all!
They were clearly martial artists—wandering heroes!
Feng Zeyuan followed her sister’s gaze and also saw the two extraordinary “beauties.”
Elegant as pines, agile as dragons.
So… these were the Qiao brothers she had mentioned?
Why were they mixed into the Northern Summer envoy group?
And even disguised as women in the imperial banquet?
The system immediately threw out a data packet.
【Host, you’re overthinking it.】
【They came properly to give you a surprise!】
【The Qiao brothers harvested a second season of potatoes—yield exploded! Three thousand jin per mu!】
【They were thrilled and brought a whole cart of potatoes, rushing to the capital day and night to report.】
【On the way, they saw the Northern Summer delegation moving loosely and slowly, so they had a sudden inspiration and hopped onto their “ride.”】
【They even freeloaded several meals from them along the way!】
Feng Zeyuan silently gave them a thumbs-up in her mind.
【Talented. Absolutely talented.】
【That brain circuitry is basically on my frequency.】
【They even know how to hitch a ride to save time and money—this is safer than traveling alone to the capital.】
【If they ran into bandits, that whole cart of potatoes would’ve been gone.】
The system continued gossiping excitedly.
【They originally planned to contact you after arriving in the capital. But as soon as they entered, they heard the emperor was hosting a banquet for the Northern Summer delegation.】
【So they thought: why not go along with it? They disguised themselves as women and slipped into the performance group!】
【They wanted to give you a big “surprise” at the banquet!】
Feng Zeyuan listened to Qiao the elder’s explosive zither and watched Qiao the younger’s fierce sword dance.
Her chest felt warm.
A surprise?
This was more than a surprise.
This was heavenly rain at the perfect time!
【Perfect timing! Absolutely perfect timing!】
【The Yanmen Pass potatoes succeeded—that’s only the first step! The Great Xia is vast; feeding one region isn’t enough!】
【I was just worrying about finding the right people to promote potatoes across the entire empire.】
【The Qiao brothers are ideal—upright, passionate, experienced. They were born for this job!】
【“Potato Promotion Ambassadors”—it’s them!】
These thoughts crashed directly into the minds of the Qiao brothers.
Qiao the elder’s zither faltered—he struck a wrong note.
Qiao the younger’s sword slowed half a beat, nearly cutting off a lock of his own hair.
Promotion ambassadors?
They exchanged a glance, both seeing flames igniting in each other’s eyes.
They would never forget the moment they dug up the first potato in Yanmen Pass.
When the heavy, fruit-laden roots were pulled from the soil, they had knelt in the mud and cried uncontrollably.
That feeling of creating a harvest with their own hands—of feeding the people—was something no gold or treasure could replace.
They were willing!
They were willing to be “promotion ambassadors” and bring this hope to all of Great Xia!
The Northern Frontier Prince had voiced their deepest desire!
Their performance exploded in intensity.
Zither like a marching army, sword like a storm of killing intent—blending scholarly elegance with heroic spirit.
The court erupted in silent shock.
Prince Xiao Juechen crushed a walnut in his hand—turning it to powder.
Three thousand jin per mu?!
Minister of Revenue Chu Heng’s eyes were glued to the “dancing girls,” chopsticks frozen mid-air, mouth half open.
Potatoes?
What kind of divine crop was this?!
Feng Huai’an and Feng Zeyuan straightened their backs with pride.
Their daughter (sister) always achieved extraordinary merit for the nation without even trying.
Xiao Mingyu shrank into a corner, completely numb.
He turned to his attendant and roared in a low voice:
“THIS is the dancing girls you selected?!”
“This is what you called ‘soft and delicate and easy to handle’?!”
“The sword is practically dancing into my nostrils!”
The attendant trembled, full of grievance.
Your Majesty, we want to ask too!
They boarded saying they were your distant cousins!
Xiao Mingyu resolved that before returning, he would ask his father to send elite Great Xia troops to properly discipline his lax subordinates!
And… what exactly were potatoes?
They sounded very powerful.
He licked his lips and secretly glanced at Feng Zeyuan.
If he asked her for some… would she give them?
The performance ended. The Qiao brothers bowed and exited gracefully amid stunned gazes, disappearing to the side of the hall.
The banquet soon drew to a close.
Xiao Juechen waved his hand, signaling everyone to disperse.
He stood up, his gaze sweeping calmly across the hall, pausing briefly on Xiao Mingyu before turning away without a word.
That single glance, however, made Xiao Mingyu’s entire body erupt in goosebumps.
His legs went weak.
Almost crawling, he hurried after him—ready to confess his sins to his father.
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