Jiang Zhuozhuo went to bed quite early, but many people in the Order of Knights had yet to sleep.
Each Knight had their own duties, and not everyone went to help Jiang Zhuozhuo break ice holes and pound Tree Wheat.
Some of them, passing by and seeing those working hard to pound wheat on the frozen plains, couldn’t help but secretly mock: Thank goodness I have patrol duty, otherwise I’d have to join our little lord in this pointless farce.
Why go to so much trouble to hull and peel such low-grade grains that even commoners dislike eating?
But when the Mairen Rice was delivered to those who had helped make it, many Knights were drawn by the enticing aroma and almost lunged to snatch a taste. Heavens, how can the meat be stewed so fragrantly?
Those Knights who received the Mairen Rice were extremely vigilant, turning their backs protectively to stop others from grabbing it, and each wolfed down their share of the meat-scented dinner.
Not only was the meat fragrant, but the rice itself was so delicious it made them feel as if they’d returned to the warm embrace of their mothers. The neglect and longing from being unappreciated since childhood and forced far from home seemed to melt away.
Was this really the Guazui Gu they swore they’d never eat during the day?
No, it wasn’t. This was Tree Wheat!!
Her Highness’s naming is absolutely correct!
Tomorrow, they’d definitely help Her Highness pound wheat again!!!
The Knights who ate the Mairen Rice were so fired up they couldn’t sleep, and those who didn’t eat weren’t faring much better. The alluring scent lingering in the air made them feel like they could devour a whole giant elephant beast (the largest meat beast on the Eastern Continent).
Some, who were close with their comrades, shamelessly begged for a bite of Mairen Rice, and instantly regretted insisting they were busy when Vice-Commander Mei Yin sent someone to ask for volunteers.
Regret! Such regret!
Unable to sleep from the tantalizing aroma, everyone simply got up to train together.
Those who hadn’t eaten were determined to regain their pride in the training yard, only to find…those who had eaten Mairen Rice seemed especially strong tonight, at least twice as powerful as usual.
What was going on?
All the Knights were bewildered and uncertain.
Chief Knight Commander Jude had both groups line up for individual tests, and soon discovered that every single person who had eaten the Mairen Rice had gained a noticeable boost in strength.
“Continue training. Test how long the effect lasts.”
Jude made a prompt decision and gave the order.
The Knights trained from the moment the moon rose until it set in the west. Some had already collapsed from exhaustion, leaving only those who had eaten the Mairen Rice still standing firm, continuing to spar.
Jude was among them. As dawn approached, he let out a long breath, feeling the last traces of the Enhancement Effect in his body.
It lasted about five hours. If they could have this kind of boost every day, their training efficiency would greatly improve.
Over time, their physical constitution would grow ever stronger.
Jude knew that certain rare foods could grant all sorts of Gain Effects, but those required only the finest ingredients!
Could it be that the common Guazui Gu covering these hills, once processed, could become such a high-grade ingredient?
If so, then perhaps their remote, sparsely populated Woye Province had a real chance to develop!
Jude’s heart suddenly beat a little faster.
The reason they’d followed the ninth princess, whose spiritual sense had yet to awaken, to Woye Province was mostly because they had no better choice—unless they gave up becoming Royal Knights and switched to another career.
As Knights, of course they hoped their lord would be as strong as possible, and their territory as prosperous as possible.
Could their turning point have arrived so soon?
The always-calm Jude actually stayed up all night, waiting at the castle gate for Vice-Commander Mei Yin at the break of dawn.
A maid, rising early, was startled to see Jude standing there and quickly approached to ask if he had urgent business with Vice-Commander Mei Yin.
“Yes, please trouble you to inform Vice-Commander Mei Yin for me.” Jude answered politely.
The maid hurried inside to report to Mei Yin.
Mei Yin was always an early riser, busy drafting the day’s work schedule. When the maid said Jude was seeking an audience, she was a little surprised and got up to meet this Chief Knight Commander who rarely came to her on his own initiative.
Jude succinctly reported the discovery in the Order of Knights to Mei Yin.
Mei Yin was shocked, losing her composure for once, and couldn’t help but confirm with Jude: “You’re saying the Mairen Rice prepared at Her Highness’s order has an Enhancement Effect on strength?”
Jude nodded. “Yes, I’ve checked it repeatedly. It’s definitely true.”
Mei Yin herself didn’t need to use strength in her daily life, so she couldn’t feel the Enhancement Effect.
But she did notice that she woke up more energetic than usual today.
Mei Yin quickly made up her mind and instructed, “Don’t spread this news for now. Immediately send people out to buy as much Tree Wheat as possible for storage. Even if there’s no Enhancement Effect, it can still improve everyone’s meals.”
“Yes!”
Jude accepted the order and turned back to the Order of Knights to gather people to purchase Tree Wheat.
Once Jude was gone, Mei Yin finally couldn’t help but smile.
Though she wished to stay away from conflict, she also hoped their territory could become more prosperous.
If life could be more comfortable, who would want to suffer hardship? For Woye Province, this was a tremendous opportunity. As long as they seized it, there was no need to worry about failing to thrive.
If Her Highness truly wanted to learn Alchemical Arts in the future, perhaps they could even afford to support her!
When Jiang Zhuozhuo woke up, she immediately heard Mei Yin sharing the good news.
A bewildered bird.
What was going on?
She’d only eaten Mairen Rice—how could there be an Enhancement Effect!
Jiang Zhuozhuo couldn’t help glancing at her bird claws. Would she become super strong after eating her fill too?
Could combining different ingredients produce different Gain Effects?
Ding!
She understood!
Jiang Zhuozhuo’s face lit up in sudden realization. “So that’s how it is!”
Mei Yin asked, “Has Your Highness thought of something?”
Jiang Zhuozhuo said, “It’s time to try making a sneaky bird-bird seafood tomato soup!”
Mei Yin: ?
A completely puzzled look.
Jiang Zhuozhuo gave Mei Yin a brief explanation.
“Stealthy Seafood Tomato Soup” is a famous dish from the Hyrule Continent. It’s cooked with sneaky conch and Hyrule tomatoes. After eating it, you not only gain ten hearts, but can also go into stealth for a full four minutes!
That means after eating it, you can sneak around like a bird for four minutes—no one can see you!
Isn’t that super fun?
Mei Yin nodded, then regretfully said, “I’ve never heard of the Hyrule Continent, nor seen either of those ingredients you mentioned.”
Jiang Zhuozhuo rolled over contentedly in the morning sunlight, happily replying, “That’s fine, I’ve never seen them either.”
It was a recipe from a game; it’d be stranger if anyone had seen them!
But if she analyzed it using this principle, Mei Yin’s mention of the Gain Effect was easy to understand: Tree Wheat might naturally have strength-boosting properties, and with the right cooking methods, this trait could be further enhanced.
According to Mei Yin, Gain Effect Cuisine had already appeared in the Royal Capital.
The problem was that the ingredients used in such dishes were usually extremely precious, and the corresponding recipes were rare. Only a handful of nobles had the chance to enjoy them, and those nobles often…had no need for these effects.
So all along, so-called Gain Effects were more of a gimmick, used to drive up the price of these dishes.
Undeniably, they were more delicious than ordinary cuisine, and nobles were willing to pay even if it was expensive.
Learning that Mei Yin had already sent people to buy Tree Wheat in bulk, Jiang Zhuozhuo finally got up, full of energy, to continue drafting blueprints.
Hydraulic Mill, let’s go!
Maybe she could even make some Strength Meat Buns—take a bite and instantly become super strong!
Mei Yin saw Jiang Zhuozhuo was so motivated and didn’t disturb her.
But when Mei Yin finished her work for the day and came to check, she found a little round bird sprawled motionless atop the blueprints.
As usual, only its belly was rising and falling.
Mei Yin sat at the table, concerned. “Is Your Highness hungry?”
The little round bird rolled over, drooping her head on the table. “The paper I chose is too big. Drawing is so tiring.”
Why did she pick paper as big as the whole tabletop!
She’d never finish it, never finish at all.
Birds really shouldn’t aim too high!
Mei Yin: ?
Was it necessary to look so utterly defeated over such a small matter?
Mei Yin smiled and replaced the paper with several smaller sheets for Jiang Zhuozhuo.
Jiang Zhuozhuo perked up again. “Let’s make stone grinders and millstones first. Otherwise, we’ll have to wait for the Hydraulic Mill to be built before trying any new recipes.”
Drawing up plans for stone grinders and millstones was much simpler than for the Hydraulic Mill. Jiang Zhuozhuo sketched for a while, and soon the blueprints with dimensions and materials marked were finished.
Mei Yin looked at the vivid drawings of the stone grinder and millstone and sincerely praised her. “Your Highness draws wonderfully.”
Jiang Zhuozhuo wasn’t the least bit arrogant, humbly replying, “Just basic skills.”
If she couldn’t even draw something this simple, she’d have failed out of art school by now!
Mei Yin took the blueprints to arrange for people to make the stone grinder and millstone.
Life in Woye Province was very peaceful, with many people’s days rarely changing. Only at the northernmost harbor did the occasional novelty occur.
A little round bird mingled in the dockside square, listening with great interest to the Seagull Sailors returning from afar as they boasted and chatted.
When the cargo ships docked, some sailors would even set up stalls at the temporary market on the pier, selling all sorts of foreign goods they had smuggled back.
After wandering around the castle a few times, Jiang Zhuozhuo quickly became a regular at this makeshift dockside market.
The sailors from Woye Province brought back fresh news from all over, like the love-hate story between the Eighth Princess, who had hatched just half a year before Jiang Zhuozhuo, and the empire’s future Chief Knight Commander.
That powerful prodigy, long destined to become Chief Knight Commander and the empire’s solid shield, had always been held in high regard by Her Majesty the Empress and grew up as childhood friends with the Eighth Princess. Their bond was undeniably deep.
Everyone had assumed he’d follow the popular Eighth Princess to her fief, but he was suddenly sent on a secret mission and just happened to miss the chance to be chosen as her Knight.
Who knows what fate awaits these star-crossed lovers!
In this era where entertainment was scarce, gossip of this sort was already top-notch conversation material. The sailors gestured wildly and told their stories with animated faces, while the listeners cheered and urged them to report back with any new developments.
Jiang Zhuozhuo listened with relish, joining the other birds in urging the sailor to bring back more stories next time.
Hearing this unfamiliar chirp, quite a few birds turned their heads to look at her.
Jiang Zhuozhuo chirped back at them in confusion.
What’s wrong?
Can’t outsiders listen to your gossip?
All Bird Tribe are family—don’t be so stingy!
Seeing that Jiang Zhuozhuo looked like a harmless little round bird, the others turned their heads back and urged the Seagull Sailor to share more tales from his long voyages.
The Seagull Sailor said, “I’ve been telling you stories for so long, now it’s your turn to tell me what’s new in Woye Province. Didn’t we get a new lord here? Have you seen our new lord?”
A bird replied with a laugh, “Speaking of our lord, she really is something special!”
The little round bird pricked up her ears, curious what was so special about herself.
Other birds chimed in, “Yeah, you just got back so you wouldn’t know. Our lord is truly special—she actually likes eating Guazui Gu!”
“That’s right, lately her Knights have been out buying Guazui Gu all the time!”
“And she even issued an official Government Decree forbidding that name—now it has to be called Tree Wheat. Listen to that, what a weird name? Hahahahahaha.”
Laughter is contagious. For a moment, all the birds gathered around the Seagull Sailor burst out in peals of laughter.
Everyone was having a great time—except for the little round bird, who was puffed up with indignation.
What’s so funny!
Tree Wheat isn’t weird at all—it’s clear and easy to understand!
How outrageous!
Just you wait, I’ll have Mei Yin open a super expensive bun shop at the docks, so you can smell it but not eat it. The aroma will drive you mad!
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