Currently, the Qin Dynasty is facing a shortage of grain and forage. They can only purchase provisions from other regions. However, it's possible that other countries are also suffering from famine and short of food. So, they have to find other solutions to this problem.
The ministers began to whisper to each other. But half an hour had passed, and they still hadn't come up with any feasible plan. The emperor started to look worried.
Mu Fengqie had been quietly thinking. There were countless kinds of food in modern times, but even if she was asked to invent them, she couldn't do it.
After all, those things were grown from seeds, and Mu Fengqie wasn't an expert in this field. So, she was willing but unable.
Images of staple foods like flour, corn, and sweet potatoes kept flashing through her mind. Suddenly, some familiar scenes came to her mind.
She remembered that when she went to Tianlin to seek help from Jin Yinhua, she seemed to have seen corn and sweet potatoes on the way. At that time, she was quite surprised to find such crops there, but she didn't think much of it.
Since Tianlin had these things, there was a chance that the Qin Dynasty had them too. Maybe these foods just hadn't been widely known yet. If they could find these crops, they would surely be able to solve the current problem.
Thinking of this, Mu Fengqie's knitted eyebrows relaxed, and she felt a sense of enlightenment. "Your Majesty, I have a plan. I'm not sure if I should share it."
Lou Mingkou sneered. "General Mu is a woman, and she grew up in the countryside. Her words may not be trustworthy. Your Majesty, please think twice."
Lou Mingkou didn't really doubt Mu Fengqie. She was known for her resourcefulness, and it was very likely that she had a good idea. So, he didn't want Mu Fengqie to shine.
Although they hadn't found out Jing Xunce's true identity yet, Lou Mingkou had a hunch that Jing Xunce's background was extraordinary. Lately, there seemed to be an invisible force opposing him, and he suspected that this person was Jing Xunce. But he just couldn't find any evidence.
The emperor was extremely worried and at his wit's end. He didn't care about many things at this moment. When he heard that someone had a solution, he immediately broke into a smile.
"Just speak your mind. I'm eager to know what good plan you have, my dear minister." The emperor looked at Mu Fengqie expectantly.
Mu Fengqie spoke with great confidence. "Your Majesty, I need the Four Treasures of the Study."
"Someone, fetch the Four Treasures of the Study."
All the ministers present were curious about what Mu Fengqie was up to. They all started to wait patiently. Jing Xunce was also filled with doubts.
Like the other ministers, he didn't have a solution to this problem. He was quite surprised that Mu Fengqie seemed to have one. He had always known that she was smart, and now he was even more looking forward to the surprise she was about to bring.
The eunuch quickly brought the writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone. Mu Fengqie quickly drew two kinds of food on the paper and then handed the blueprint to the emperor.
The emperor frowned when he saw the strange-looking plants on the paper that he had never seen before. His expectation faded a bit. "Is this your solution? What are these? I've never seen such oddly-shaped things."
The drawing of the sweet potato was okay. Mu Fengqie had drawn it from the seedling stage to the fruit. But the drawing of the corn was a bit more abstract.
"Yes, these two things are my solution. Your Majesty can send someone to look for them now. With these two things, we can solve the urgent problem." Mu Fengqie said calmly.
When the ministers saw what Mu Fengqie had drawn, they burst into laughter. Even Lou Mingkou joined in the mockery. Some of them even openly sneered.
"What can a woman know? It's just a woman's opinion. How dare she act so presumptuously in front of the emperor? She's really courting death."
"These strange-looking plants that she saw somewhere are not even worth mentioning to the emperor. This is a crime of deceiving the emperor!"
Facing the accusations from these ministers, Mu Fengqie rolled her eyes. These old men didn't know the real value of these things. They only knew how to talk big but didn't accomplish much in real matters.
Yuan Yuhan had been staring at Mu Fengqie's drawing. He felt that the things in the drawing were very familiar, but he just couldn't remember where he had seen them. However, he was sure that he had seen them before.
"Your Majesty, although we've never seen these plants in the drawing, they are actually very useful. I know some adults don't believe me, but other adults also don't have a solution. So, why don't we give it a try?" Mu Fengqie scanned the crowd with her eyes and said slowly.
Although the emperor was still a bit unsure, he really had no other choice. "Fine, just do as you said and look for them."
After leaving the palace, Mu Fengqie could hear some people whispering about her. But she didn't care at all. She knew that when these things were found, these old men would be ashamed of their words.
"Zhanzhi, I seem to have seen the plants in the drawing. I'll go with you to look for them." Yuan Yuhan ran out and caught up with Mu Fengqie and Jing Xunce.
"You've seen them too? Where did you see them? Was it in the Qin Dynasty?" Mu Fengqie asked excitedly.
If Yuan Yuhan knew, it would be much easier. Although it wasn't the corn harvest season, it was still like discovering a new world.
"Maybe it was at the border. I can't remember exactly where, but it was probably near the Tule Tribe at the border."
Yuan Yuhan searched his memory. He still clearly remembered how surprised he was when he first saw the corn. He wondered why that big yellow thing grew on a long stalk.
Mu Fengqie already had a plan in mind. "Since the Fifth Prince has nothing to do, why don't you accompany me? You still need to investigate the imperial jade seal. It's almost time to find out the truth. So, don't leave the imperial city."
"There's no need for me to go in person. The people from the Dark Pavilion will look for them." Jing Xunce looked at Mu Fengqie unhappily.
He just couldn't rest assured that Mu Fengqie would go alone. The last incident had taught him a hard lesson. So, he would never let Mu Fengqie go alone again.
Mu Fengqie frowned. Her purpose of going there was not just this. She wanted to find out the whereabouts of Bei Moxue. Since Bei Moxue hadn't returned to Beiming, Mu Fengqie had to find out where she had gone. She also wanted to investigate whether Beiming was lying or if Bei Moxue just didn't go back.
Bei Moxue was a huge threat. Mu Fengqie would never allow such a big threat to endanger her and her loved ones.
"Only if I go in person can I tell what's edible. If we make a mistake, people will die. Moreover, the people from the Dark Pavilion can protect me and the Fifth Prince. I'll surely be safe."
Mu Fengqie knew that Jing Xunce would never feel at ease letting her go far away. But if he knew her real purpose of this trip, he would definitely not let her go.