After hearing her gossip, all the civil and military officials went crazy.

Chapter 27 Bad News and Good News

The system continued its self-destructive act, saying, "Host, I feel like your Crown Prince seems a bit sexually frustrated; he's even got pimples. Are all men his age already married with children?"

Fang Lingchu almost lost her composure.

Fortunately, they arrived at the study. Fang Lingchu deliberately slowed down, composed herself, and burst into laughter inside.

After laughing inwardly, I pretended to straighten my clothes and then went inside.

Even Minister Fang couldn't bear to look.

He and the Crown Prince had just entered when they heard their daughter's thunderous laughter.

Then I looked up and saw that she looked like a young lady from a prestigious family.

This stark contrast made him, as the father, feel truly ashamed.

To pretend in front of the Crown Prince is simply suicidal.

The Fang family, a long-standing clan, is in dire straits.

The Crown Prince, however, was quite fond of Fang Lingchu, finding her lively and adorable.

If Minister Fang and Fang Lingchu knew what the Crown Prince was thinking, they would definitely say: Sure enough, those with love in their minds are all filtered through a lens.

Indeed, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and Xi Shi (Xi Shi's nickname) only sees eye boogers.

Fang Lingchu and the other person asked, "System, why are they looking at me like that? And what's with the Crown Prince? He seems to really like me."

The system said: "[This might be the look of love in your eyes?]"

Fang Lingchu wanted to roll her eyes again.

[Will you die if you don't spout nonsense for a day? If you keep saying things like this, I'm starting to mistakenly think the Crown Prince likes me.]

The crown prince felt a mix of nervousness and delight. Did she know?

The system apologized: "Okay, okay, I won't say anything more."

Minister Fang strategically took a sip of tea and asked, "May I ask what brings His Highness the Crown Prince to the Fang residence?"

When Fang Lingchu heard her father say this, she looked up at him in surprise, as if to say, "Father, you don't even know why the Crown Prince is here?"

Minister Fang seemed oblivious to Fang Lingchu's subtle actions, waiting for the Crown Prince to continue.

I have heard that Master Fang is a skilled painter, and I would like to ask him to paint something for me.

Fang Lingchu glared at her father, then took the things from the Crown Prince's hands.

Upon opening it, I found a slightly yellowed piece of paper with a picture of a heroic female general on it.

The female general is very young. Perhaps because the painting has been displayed for a long time and has been frequently touched, some parts are severely worn.

Fang Lingchu looked up and asked, "Repair it or paint a new one?"

Minister Fang pretended not to see Fang Lingchu's actions.

Anyway, one of them is a crown prince and the other is a princess; he can't say anything about their identities, so whatever.

The Crown Prince smiled and said, "It's my eldest brother's birthday in a few days. It would be best if it could be repaired then. If not, I'd appreciate it if Xiao Chu could help me paint a new one so I can send it to my eldest brother."

Fang Lingchu, not noticing the change in the Crown Prince's address, asked, "How long?"

She had some prior knowledge of calligraphy and painting restoration, but it required advanced technology, which she hadn't tried before.

She has the tools, but she doesn't know if they'll work.

The Crown Prince, ignoring Fang Lingchu's attitude, said, "My eldest brother's birthday is in three days."

Fang Lingchu pushed the painting back and said, "Three days won't be enough to fix it."

The Crown Prince did not take the painting from Fang Lingchu's hand, and continued, "Then, Xiaochu, could you paint another one for me?"

The Crown Prince's tone remained gentle, even showing a hint of doting affection.

At this untimely moment, the system's voice rang out: [I'm in trouble, Xiao Chuchu.]

He even deliberately spoke in a high-pitched voice.

Fang Lingchu was instantly disgusted, goosebumps rising on her skin. [Guagua, are you crazy? Why are you suddenly talking like that?]

Because of the system's actions, Fang Lingchu didn't reply to the Crown Prince's words in time.

He quickly apologized, saying, "Please forgive me, Your Highness. I was just lost in thought. You want me to paint another one for Your Highness? Yes, I will send it to the Eastern Palace the day after tomorrow."

The crown prince nodded and said, "Alright, then..."

Before the title could be uttered, Fang Lingchu interrupted, "Your Highness, please just call me Lord Fang like everyone else."

Fang Lingchu's meaning was clear: they could only have a subject-subject relationship.

When Fang Lingchu interrupted the Crown Prince, Minister Fang had already figured out what kind of dead law Fang Jiajiu was.

The Crown Prince simply looked at Fang Lingchu quietly.

Minister Fang quickly pulled his daughter aside to apologize, saying she was courting death for speaking to the Crown Prince like that.

Fang Lingchu realized what she had said, but she didn't regret it. If she had to marry the Crown Prince, she would rather die than live a life worse than death.

"Please forgive me, Your Highness."

Fang Lingchu said she was sorry, but did not admit her mistake.

He really wanted to ask her, "Do you hate yourself that much?"

But I also know that now is not the time to ask that question.

The Crown Prince helped the two men up and said, "Lord Fang, you flatter me. Besides the portrait, I have another question for you, young Lord Fang."

Both of them breathed a sigh of relief when they heard him change how he addressed them.

Fang Lingchu smiled and said, "Your Highness, please feel free to give any instructions. I will do my best as your humble servant."

Fang Lingchu helped her father up and sat him down before returning to her seat to answer the Crown Prince.

The prince clapped his hands, and someone brought in a potted plant from the doorway.

It's not quite a flower, because it only has leaves, just two small leaves. It looks like it's dying.

The prince took the item and placed it on the table, saying, "I obtained this from a foreign merchant. It looks like a stone, so I put it in a pot as an ornamental stone. I never expected it to sprout."

The Crown Prince glanced at the composed Fang Lingchu, not having heard her thoughts, and continued, "Today at court, I saw the drawing that Minister Fang gave to His Majesty. It looks somewhat similar. I wonder if Minister Fang recognizes this object?"

Fang Lingchu looked at the object and asked the system, "Guagua, do you know what this is?"

Then he replied to the Crown Prince, "Your Highness, please allow me to take a look."

When the Crown Prince and Minister Fang heard her ask about Guagua, they were relieved. They had come to see her not to ask about her, but mainly to talk about the expert Guagua by her side.

The system said: "Which do you want to hear, good news or bad news?"

Fang Lingchu thought for a moment and said, "[Good news, right?]"

The good news is that the prince is holding potatoes.

Fang Lingchu stood up in surprise, quickly went to the table, and examined it carefully.

When the Crown Prince and Minister Fang heard that it was potatoes, they were so happy they almost forgot to breathe.

This is a grain yield of a thousand catties per mu, something that can change the fate of millions of people.

The system, seeing Fang Lingchu's excitement, didn't want to dampen her spirits, but...: [Host, calm down, there's some bad news.]

Upon hearing the system's words, the Crown Prince and Minister Fang's hearts jumped into their throats.

Fang Lingchu calmed down and asked, "What's the bad news? Is it possible that there's only one potato left, and it's about to die?"

Upon hearing Fang Lingchu's words, both the Crown Prince and Minister Fang were somewhat displeased.

While we shouldn't be superstitious, we also shouldn't say things like that, what if it really disappears in the end?

The system excitedly exclaimed, "Host, you're so smart! I admire you more and more!"

Upon hearing the system's words, Fang Lingchu returned to her seat, not even glancing at the plant.

(End of this chapter)