Feng Zexuan pinched the green camellia fruit between her fingers, rubbing its rough skin with her thumb.
A crack had split open at the top of the fruit, revealing the glossy seeds inside.
【System, this thing is good stuff!】
She muttered inwardly to the system.
【The oil pressed from this? That’s basically the Hermes of cooking oils!】
【Packed with unsaturated fatty acids—great for beauty, skin care, and anti-aging!】
The system froze for a second.
【Host… this camellia fruit is that valuable?】
【Way more than valuable!】
Feng Zexuan weighed the fruit in her palm.
【But I didn’t expect there to be camellia trees here.】
【There are!】
The system immediately pulled up a map.
【Dayun Village, Ge Village, Huangniu Village a few kilometers away… every household grows them!】
Feng Zexuan narrowed her eyes.
【But it’s not even camellia seed harvesting season yet, right? We’d still have to wait over half a month for the fruits to naturally fall.】
【Friendly reminder, Host—】
The system’s tone suddenly turned gleefully malicious.
【In half a month, there’ll be continuous rainstorms for dozens of days. This year’s camellia seeds are probably going to rot on the ground!】
Feng Zexuan turned to glance at the military tents in the distance.
【They arrived too late. Even if I throw them into the space now, they won’t keep up with the learning progress…】
Her eyes suddenly lit up.
【Then why not—】
【Have everyone follow this prince and help the farmers harvest camellia fruits instead!】
The system immediately began shamelessly flattering her.
【Host, your brain works fast!】
【It’s all physical labor anyway. What’s the difference between farming inside the space and picking fruit outside?】
Inside the tent—
Xiao Che, Li Jingyan, Lu Zheng, and Su Yan exchanged bewildered glances.
Space?
Learning progress?
Picking camellia fruits?
What in the world was she talking about?
The Northern Suppression Prince’s inner thoughts had always been random and confusing, but this time they were especially incomprehensible.
Right then—
The tent curtain lifted.
Feng Zexuan strode in wearing a black martial outfit, a flexible sword hanging at her waist.
Tall and sharp, every movement she made carried the crisp decisiveness unique to someone from the military.
“Greetings, Northern Suppression Prince!”
The four commanders cupped their fists in salute.
Feng Zexuan waved casually.
“At ease.”
She sat in the main seat and crossed her legs.
“You’re here looking for His Majesty, right?”
Xiao Che, commander of the imperial guards, stepped forward.
He was broad-shouldered and stern-faced, though anxiety showed clearly on his face.
“Indeed. May I ask where His Majesty is now? We’ve searched for half the day without finding even a trace of him…”
“His Majesty is doing very well.”
Feng Zexuan interrupted him.
An expression of perfectly measured admiration and emotion appeared on her face, her tone so sincere that even she almost believed herself.
“His Majesty is currently in nearby Ge Village, leading the civil and military officials in helping villagers harvest camellia fruits.”
Silence fell over the tent.
Huge question marks practically appeared over all four heads simultaneously.
The emperor?
Leading the court officials?
Into a village?
To pick fruit?
Lu Zheng was straightforward by nature and couldn’t hold back.
“Your Highness, but it’s not even time to gather camellia seeds yet, is it?”
He scratched his head.
“My hometown is Sanshui Village nearby. The fruits haven’t even ripened and fallen yet. Shouldn’t it still take another half month or so?”
Feng Zexuan’s expression turned solemn.
She stood up and paced with her hands behind her back, looking every bit like someone burdened by the nation and its people.
“You’re right.”
“But His Majesty received news that there will be an unusually long rainy season in half a month.”
“We can’t wait for the fruits to fall naturally anymore.”
She paused and swept her gaze across the four men.
“To reduce the common people’s losses, His Majesty decided to organize an early harvest.”
“That’s why he personally led the civil and military officials into the villages to experience the farming season firsthand.”
At this point, she sighed softly.
“His Majesty truly cares for the people, and all the officials responded enthusiastically as well.”
“For the past few days, they’ve been rising before dawn and working until late at night, climbing trees on the camellia mountains to harvest fruit…”
She shook her head.
“That scene… tsk tsk, deeply moving.”
【Yes, exactly like that!】
Feng Zexuan secretly praised herself inwardly.
【I’m making up nonsense with a completely straight face—even I’m starting to believe it!】
【Besides, farming inside the space isn’t that different from harvesting fruit outside anyway!】
【Both are physical labor!】
The four exchanged silent glances.
Xiao Che’s eyelid twitched.
Li Jingyan’s mouth stiffened slightly.
Lu Zheng looked utterly dumbfounded.
Su Yan lowered his eyes to hide his amusement.
So that was it.
So His Majesty and the officials disappearing for three days was because the Northern Suppression Prince had dragged them into some mysterious place to farm?
“Experiencing farm work?”
“Deeply moving?”
Your lies really do come without even blinking, Your Highness.
But what could they do?
All they could do was cooperate.
The four immediately switched to expressions of being “deeply moved and immensely honored.”
“His Majesty is wise!”
Su Yan spoke first, his acting flawless.
“To care for the people so deeply—we are truly filled with admiration!”
“Long live His Majesty!”
The other three followed suit.
Feng Zexuan nodded in satisfaction.
【Mm, these new leeks seem pretty enlightened.】
She slowly added:
“Oh right, His Majesty hasn’t forgotten you latecomers either.”
“There are enough people over at Ge Village already, so this prince will personally lead the team to Dayun Village.”
The four commanders were all hot-blooded men who cared deeply for the common people.
The moment they heard there was work to do, they immediately perked up.
Xiao Che quickly asked, “May I ask when we depart, Your Highness?”
“Tomorrow at mao hour.”
Feng Zexuan instructed them.
“Rest well tonight and conserve your energy.”
“Harvesting camellia fruits is exhausting work. Don’t embarrass this prince when the time comes.”
“Yes, Your Highness!”
The four commanders answered in unison.
After giving her instructions, Feng Zexuan turned and left the main tent with a carefree swagger.
Outside the tent—
【System, do you think they believed me?】
【Host, judging by their expressions, they believed seventy percent and doubted thirty percent.】
【Doesn’t matter!】
Feng Zexuan hummed cheerfully.
【Once I drag them into work tomorrow, they’ll get used to it eventually.】
She returned to her own tent and went into the space to enjoy a beautiful night’s sleep.
The next day—
Just before dawn.
Feng Zexuan brought Feng Zekai along, riding horses loaded with thirty brand-new woven bamboo waist baskets to the meeting point.
Xiao Che, Li Jingyan, and the other twenty-eight men had already assembled there.
Every single one of them stood tall and energetic, worthy of being elite imperial guards.
Feng Zexuan pointed at the baskets and sacks strapped to the horses.
“One basket and ten sacks per person.”
“Tie the basket around your waist. Once it’s full, dump the fruit into the sacks.”
“Yes!”
The guards distributed the tools in an orderly manner.
Once everything was handed out, the thirty-man group set off grandly toward Dayun Village with bamboo baskets on their backs.
【Tsk tsk, look at Xiao Che’s huge build paired with that tiny bamboo basket…】
Feng Zexuan snickered inwardly.
【That contrast is adorable!】
【And Li Jingyan—a refined pretty boy who loves perfume powders—is now carrying a basket like some charcoal seller entering the city!】
【As for Lu Zheng, don’t even mention him. With that goofy look and this outfit, he’s basically playing himself!】
The facial muscles of the four commanders walking ahead twitched uncontrollably.
They wanted to refute her.
But the facts were there.
They really were carrying bamboo baskets and had ten sacks hanging from their waists…
It really did look ridiculous.
The moment they stepped into Dayun Village—
The news spread through the village like wildfire.
Not long after, Village Chief Ge Ming rushed out leading a crowd of half-grown children and sturdy men carrying hoes.
The clattering of pots and pans mixed together with endless greetings.
“The Northern Suppression Prince has arrived!”
“Quick, quick! Bring out all the eggs from home!”
“I’m going to slaughter a chicken!”
Several young women and aunties crowded forward carrying rough porcelain bowls, insisting on stuffing hot tea into their hands.
The enthusiasm nearly overwhelmed these usually cold-faced guards.
Xiao Che accepted a tea bowl awkwardly, completely at a loss.
Li Jingyan had his sleeve grabbed by an auntie, his face turning red.
Lu Zheng grinned foolishly, not knowing what to say.
Su Yan politely thanked everyone with perfect composure.
Feng Zexuan declined the villagers’ invitations to slaughter chickens and sheep for a feast.
She immediately switched into “production brigade leader” mode.
Pointing toward the tallest mountain in the distance, she declared:
“That camellia grove over there has the best growth. I’ll leave it to all of you!”
The mountain path was steep.
But beneath the feet of these elite imperial guards, it felt like flat ground.
With just a few leaps, they climbed the high slope without even disturbing their breathing.
Feng Zexuan, Feng Zekai, and Xiao Che were left far behind.
The three walked leisurely at an unhurried pace.
Suddenly—
A rustling sound came from the waist-high grass ahead.
Feng Zexuan abruptly stopped walking.
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