The struggle for the throne among nine princes—I really don't want to be the crown prince.

Chapter 205 Father, please listen to my serious nonsense.
After having a meal at the Tong family's house, Shen Ye returned to Yuqing Palace in high spirits.

After all, by celebrating a birthday, he could easily earn hundreds of thousands of taels of silver, not to mention regaining Yarjiang'a's dozen or so estates in Xiaotangshan.

That's a huge profit!

Shen Ye wasn't worried at all about how many kilograms of sweet potatoes she could produce.

Although he never dug up the sweet potato field to look inside, he had visited the field many times to check on the growth of the sweet potatoes.

Based on the yield of sweet potatoes, he dared not say five or six thousand catties per mu, but three or four thousand catties was definitely not an exaggeration.

This is also the source of his confidence in making bets with others.

Just as he was taking a sip of tea in the study, Liang Jiugong rushed over and cautiously told him that the Qianxi Emperor was looking for him.

Seeing Liang Jiugong's troubled expression, Shen Ye had a guess in his mind.

He turned to Liang Jiugong and asked, "Did Father summon me this time because of the Tong family's birthday celebration?"

A hint of admiration appeared on Liang Jiugong's face, and he stammered, "Your Highness is wise, this servant dares not speak."

This is what makes Liang Jiugong so extraordinary!

On the surface, it seemed as if he hadn't said anything, but in reality, he had revealed Emperor Qianxi's attitude without reservation, and Shen Ye understood instantly.

He said that Emperor Qianxi was very unhappy.

Since Liang Jiugong was so perceptive and understanding, Shen Ye wouldn't put him in a difficult position.

He smiled knowingly at Liang Jiugong and said, "Old Liang, I will remember your thoughtfulness."

"Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness," Liang Jiugong said, bowing again.

After leaving Yuqing Palace, Shen Ye and Liang Jiugong remained silent, showing great tacit understanding.

In just a quarter of an hour, Shen Ye and Liang Jiugong arrived at the Qianqing Palace.

Emperor Qianxi was reviewing memorials when he saw Shen Ye enter. He didn't say anything and continued with his work.

Shen Ye knew very well that Emperor Qianxi's methods were nothing more than an attempt to intimidate him.

Shen Ye had experienced this tactic many times in his previous life; it was a common trick used by superiors to intimidate their subordinates.

He had a pretty good grasp of Emperor Qianxi's temperament, so after exchanging greetings, he casually picked up the teapot and refilled Emperor Qianxi's teacup with hot tea.

When Emperor Qianxi saw Shen Ye pouring water, he suddenly couldn't keep up the act anymore.

He threw down the pen in his hand and sneered sarcastically, "Oh dear, how could I dare trouble Your Highness to pour me water!"

"You're the God of Gamblers who went out to pay respects at a birthday celebration and then gambled away hundreds of thousands of taels of silver!"

"Your magnanimity is unmatched throughout history!"

Hearing Emperor Qianxi's sarcastic remarks, Shen Ye felt a surge of resentment in his heart.

However, on the surface, he still said sincerely, "Father, I know that it is improper to do such a thing on the 80th birthday of the Dowager of the Tong family, and it will cause controversy."

"But for the sake of all living beings, for the sake of fewer people starving to death during famine years, and for the sake of a more stable country, I am willing to endure all of this. What does it matter if I have to sacrifice my reputation!"

Emperor Qianxi's hand holding the teacup suddenly stopped, almost spilling the tea, and he was completely stunned!

He could accept that his rebellious son was clearly a lecherous man, yet he still grandly claimed that he was training his ability to resist temptation and learning more foreign languages—such absurd logic.

But this is clearly a gamble, why are you trying to control the country and its people?
Do you think your dad is getting senile?

Or rather, you feel that I, as your father, haven't disciplined you in a long time!
His anger, which was originally only seven-tenths, has now surged to ten-tenths.

"What a fine word about the fate of the nation! Crown Prince, tell me, how does this bet between you and Yarjianga relate to the fate of the nation?"

Emperor Qianxi said, word by word, "If you don't give me a clear explanation, then go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple and reflect on your actions for me!"

Go to the Imperial Ancestral Temple to reflect? Is that a place for humans? Shen Ye is currently enjoying a blissful time with Cao Min and Nian Xinyue, and has no intention of going to the Imperial Ancestral Temple alone. Going to that desolate place would mean saying goodbye to happiness forever.

He then said seriously, "Father, you should still remember the sweet potatoes that I tried to grow, right?"

"How could I forget this?" Emperor Qianxi said leisurely, "That's a miraculous crop that can yield two thousand catties per mu!"

Ignoring Emperor Qianxi's teasing, Shen Ye said seriously, "Father, I'm not joking. I think the yield of these sweet potatoes can really reach more than two thousand catties."

"This sweet potato is drought-resistant, easy to grow, and doesn't take up much good land, yet it has a high yield."

"Although the sweet potatoes grown from it can cause bloating if you eat too much of them, and the taste is also very unpleasant when ground into flour."

"However, its advantage is that it's plentiful and filling!"

"Once it is promoted, it can save many more lives in years of famine."

"Your subject knows its benefits, but most ordinary people don't know them. Even if we try our best to promote it, it will be in vain if some local officials don't pay attention to it."

"However, if I can win several hundred thousand taels of silver from this bet, then this matter will surely spread quickly throughout the seven southern provinces and sixty-three northern provinces."

"At that time, the high-ranking officials will be concerned about the bet, but the common people will be concerned about the sweet potatoes that yield more than 2,000 catties per mu."

"They will then proactively plant more sweet potatoes to cope with years of disaster."

"The main point is that if one person does multiple things, then one more life can be saved. If ten people do multiple things, then ten more lives can be saved... If ten thousand people do multiple things, then ten thousand lives can be saved!"

"As the Buddha said, if I don't go to hell, who will?"

"For the sake of all the people under heaven, your son is willing to ruin his reputation!"

Shen Ye spoke these words with such conviction that even Emperor Qianxi was moved. However, he quickly shifted his focus to the sweet potatoes.

"You mean, you're sure that the sweet potatoes you're trying to grow can yield more than 2,000 jin per mu?" Emperor Qianxi asked in a deep voice.

Shen Ye nodded and said decisively, "Although I haven't dug it up, based on various records and what the old farmers have said, I think there's absolutely no problem with two thousand catties."

"If Father Emperor does not believe me, you may come with me to supervise the arrest!"

"The sweet potato vines are starting to wither now. In two or three days, we can start digging them up!"

Seeing how confident Shen Ye was, and recalling the bet he had made with Yarjiang, Emperor Qianxi immediately believed him to some extent.

He stared at Shen Ye for a long time, thinking about the scenario of yielding two thousand catties of grain per mu. He said with a hint of solemnity, "Your Highness, let alone two thousand catties per mu, even if it is only one thousand catties of sweet potatoes per mu, I will remember you for a great achievement."

"If the sweet potatoes can yield a thousand catties per mu, then I will cover all the money you lost!"

"If you don't have a thousand catties, then stay in Yuqing Palace and study for me for a year."

Shen Ye curled his lip upon hearing this, thinking to himself, "You old rascal, you make it sound so high and mighty, as if you're really thinking of me, but in reality, you haven't contributed anything!"

Shen Ye rubbed his hands together and said with a smile, "Father, if I lose, I will honor my bet and bear all the expenses myself; if I win, then could Father grant me one request?"

Emperor Qianxi understood perfectly well what the Crown Prince was thinking. He immediately snorted and said, "Alright, let's talk about what you're thinking after the sweet potatoes are dug up."

"Get out of my way!"

Just as Shen Ye said, the news of his bet with Yarjiang was spreading like wildfire in the capital, and through the fast track, it even reached Tongzhou immediately.

That sweet potato field became the focus of attention for thousands of people.

Amidst this attention, news spread through the palace that Emperor Qianxi would personally visit the sweet potato field planted by the Crown Prince in three days to see if it would yield a bountiful harvest!

　The third update is here today! Because many readers have commented that 2,000-word chapters don't provide a good reading experience, I've decided that starting next month, each chapter will be 3,000 words. One chapter at 10 AM and one at 8 PM, making the total word count the same as three chapters. Please continue to support me!

　　Also, August is coming, please give me your first monthly vote of August!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)