Ye Jiu's original attire actually passed for decent in this town, but in the eyes of the fastidious Prince Jing, those clothes were hardly different from rags, unworthy even to wipe his tables with.
Regrettably, the girl's hair was simply tied into twin braids without a hint of decoration, a detail Prince Jing took note of.
After all, Prince Jing was a man, not given to the delicate considerations often afforded by women.
So, when he had ordered clothes to be prepared, he had forgotten about the hair ornaments.
Prince Jing was unaware that Ye Jiu had always been indifferent to her attire, thinking that comfort was paramount and disliking the clutter of accessories that made one resemble a walking jewelry stand, jangling with every step.
"You're here, please have a seat." Prince Jing spoke first. After Ye Jiu sat down, he continued, "I'm not sure what you like to eat, so I had the kitchen prepare a bit of everything. This town's resources are limited, and there aren't many delicacies, so please make do for now. Once we return to the capital city, I'll have someone properly replenish you."
Gazing upon the lavish spread of dishes, Ye Jiu remained composed, though her heart felt otherwise.
If the meal before her wasn't considered lavish, then what were all those things she had been eating before?
While Ye Jiu was lost in thought, someone came to serve her rice, placing it respectfully in front of her before stepping back.
It was her first time being served in such a manner, and she wasn't quite used to it.
But, having been influenced by modern culture, she wasn't too out of her depth.
Noticing that nobody was serving Prince Jing, Ye Jiu suddenly stood up and, before anyone could react, she moved her stool closer to his side.
Then Ye Jiu, carrying her own bowl, sat next to Prince Jing and took the initiative to serve him porridge, placing it before him, "Father, please eat as well."
With her eyebrows raised in mirth, Ye Jiu brought a brief moment of solace to Prince Jing.
He had thought the events of the previous night would upset her for days to come, but to his surprise, she had calmed down far sooner than expected.
While sipping her porridge, Ye Jiu suddenly asked, "What happened to those assassins from yesterday? Why did they come to assassinate you, Father?"
With a twisted smile, Prince Jing's laughter carried a hint of sarcasm, "Their aim wasn't to assassinate a leisurely Prince like myself. I can't fathom which unscrupulous scoundrel was behind this, ordering them to douse all the red sweet potatoes with a poison that caused them to blacken and rot. Fortunately, I had already transported many away before the new year, or they would have succeeded in not only causing me to fail my duty but also in ruining such fine goods. If the sweet potatoes became extinct, it would truly be a tragedy for the common people."
Those men were after the red sweet potatoes, and at that moment, Ye Jiu felt relieved that Prince Jing was present. Otherwise, the person sought out by the assailants could have been her.
Smiling at Prince Jing, Ye Jiu said, "I might be able to get some more red sweet potatoes, it just depends on whether you need them, Father."
Without giving it much thought, Prince Jing replied, "Naturally, the high yield of red sweet potatoes makes it a boon for both country and people. But, aren't all the harvested sweet potatoes from your estate already here? Where could you possibly get more?"
Ye Jiu teased, "You seem to have forgotten who first discovered these. If I could find them once, naturally I can do so again."
True to her word, Prince Jing nodded in agreement.
However, looking at Ye Jiu, Prince Jing knew that the girl probably had conditions to negotiate.