The Melon Connoisseur

After the Milk-Fragrant Melons were once again sold out, everyone's attention focused on the watermelon Li Yuanzhao had cut open.

More than ten slices of watermelon lay there, still covered with traces of milky white liquid.

Zheng Qiao asked. "Your Highness, may I taste this melon?"

Li Yuanzhao, having sold two carts of watermelons clean, was in excellent spirits.

With a grand wave of his hand, he said. "Go ahead and taste it! Whoever wants some, help yourself!"

Hearing his permission, Zheng Qiao didn't hesitate to step forward and pick up a slice of watermelon.

Others behind him hurriedly followed, afraid of missing out.

When the watermelon entered Zheng Qiao's mouth, he closed his eyes to savor it carefully.

"Hmm... worthy of the name Milk-Fragrant Melon. There's indeed a rich, fragrant taste."

"Indeed, it truly has a milky fragrance. This is quite the eye-opener!"

"Why is the juice so peculiar? It's actually white. Shouldn't it be red?"

When someone asked this, everyone's gaze instantly focused on Li Yuanzhao.

Li Yuanzhao stood on the melon cart, unable to utter a word.

How am I supposed to explain? Should I tell the truth?!

Think of something! Quick!

After remaining silent for more than ten seconds, he gave up and turned to look at Fang Zheng.

Fang Zheng's face was filled with helplessness.

Even if you're going to lie, you should have prepared a story beforehand! You successfully sold the melons, but now you still need my help.

But a brother in need must be helped!

Fang Zheng put on a smile and pointed at a puddle of white "juice" on the ground. "This is melon milk!"

"Melon milk?! Nonsense! It's not an animal. How could a melon have milk?" someone immediately questioned loudly.

Fang Zheng's expression remained unchanged. "Because this is a pregnant melon!"

Holy crap! You dare to tell such an outrageous lie?

Li Yuanzhao's eyes nearly popped out in shock as he watched Fang Zheng maintain his composure while spouting complete nonsense.

He couldn't help feeling inferior.

Still far behind. I'm still far behind Old Fang!

Everyone discussed among themselves.

Pregnant melon? That's more ridiculous than seeing ghosts! How could melons get pregnant? Are there even male and female melons?

Fang Zheng continued confidently. "All things in the world are divided into yin and yang. Ordinary melons naturally follow this cosmic principle."

"While melons are divided into male and female, they're actually hermaphroditic. Only extremely rare melons become pregnant due to unusual circumstances!"

"I don't understand the specifics myself. Such things are extremely rare. Perhaps we should consult the imperial physicians."

Fang Zheng laughed coldly inside.

Go ahead and ask the imperial physicians.

The palace physicians absolutely wouldn't dare admit ignorance. Even if they've never seen such a thing, they'd have to make up a plausible explanation.

Otherwise, it wouldn't just be about losing their jobs...

"Utter nonsense! If it's a pregnant melon, there should be a melon inside another melon. The melon His Highness just cut open had nothing inside!" someone immediately realized and questioned loudly.

"The melon was picked, so it miscarried!"

"......"

"Even if it miscarried, the fetus should still be inside the womb! How do you explain that?"

"It dissolved into water and mixed with the milk. Don't worry about these details! This is a melon. How can you apply human concepts to melons? That's truly absurd!"

Everyone was speechless.

Indeed, it was absurd.

They had been too excited when buying melons and hadn't thought much about it. Why did they now feel like they'd been duped and fooled?

Thinking of this, the officials looked toward Zheng Qiao, who had been the first to buy a melon.

"Minister Zheng, you're skilled in medicine and reportedly have collected a lot of Celestial Immortal Tea. What do you think is going on with these melons? Is there anything about this in medical texts?"

Zheng Qiao stroked his beard thoughtfully while analyzing the situation in his mind.

The melons were definitely real. Since honey water couldn't be injected into melons, milk certainly couldn't either.

But pregnant melons? This was the first he'd heard of such a thing. Such oddities weren't mentioned in any books he'd read.

However, the world was full of wonders. Weren't the Celestial Immortal Tea and the eyeglasses Fang Zheng created also unheard of?

So Milk-Fragrant Melons must exist.

After a long while, Zheng Qiao slowly spoke. "This melon is truly extraordinary. I've consulted medical texts extensively but have never seen anything like it."

"As for this talk of pregnant melons, I don't believe it. But what Fang Zheng said about all things being divided into yin and yang is indeed correct."

"Many medicinal herbs have this characteristic. Though generally cold in nature, there are always variants that exhibit opposite properties, or they can change their medicinal properties through processing."

"Melons follow the same principle. Melons are naturally cold, but seeing this melon grow out of season indicates it contains yang energy."

"As they say, extreme yin generates yang. From this, we can see that melon milk is the cold substance expelled as the melon turns yang!"

"If so, the melon flesh should be extremely yang, while the melon milk is extremely cold."

"Discard the milk and eat the flesh, and it will strengthen yang!"

!!

After his analysis, the officials immediately began an intense discussion.

Those who had bought Milk-Fragrant Melons were beaming with joy, while those who hadn't looked utterly dejected.

"Who would have thought! After Minister Zheng's analysis, it all makes sense!"

"To think melons can also be nourishing and strengthen yang! Today has truly been educational. Minister Zheng's insights are profound!"

"Fang Zheng understands the art of nourishment at such a young age. Do you think there might be even better things in Taoyuan County?"

"Thanks to Mother Nature's bounty..."

Guo Tianyang, who had been eavesdropping in the crowd, suddenly showed shock in his eyes!

Yang-strengthening melons! Amazing! I must ask my worthy brother for one to try sometime!

Nearby, Fang Zheng and Li Yuanzhao were still leaning against the cart counting money when they suddenly heard exclamations of amazement from the side and couldn't help but look over.

Li Yuanzhao wondered. "Old Fang, what are they so happy about? We made money, but we're not that excited."

Fang Zheng's expression was solemn. "I can't figure it out. These people might be plotting something devious, planning to report us!"

"By the way, Your Highness, when did you inject the milk into those melons? What if everyone gets sick from eating them!"

"Don't worry, I know milk spoils quickly, so I injected it this morning. The milk was also boiled and cooled, so there shouldn't be any issues."

Hearing this, Fang Zheng finally relaxed.

But he still needed to warn those colleagues. What if some fearless fool kept it for a few days before eating?

Their physical condition wasn't great, and they were old. They might end up dying in the latrine.

Fang Zheng called out from a distance. "Everyone! Everyone! Listen to me!"

"These two types of melons are extremely delicate! They spoil very easily. It's already been almost a day since we brought them from Taoyuan."

"Please eat them within two hours. Don't delay, or you might get an upset stomach!"

After hearing this, the group looked toward Zheng Qiao again, hoping for professional advice.

"Minister Zheng, is what he said correct?"

Zheng Qiao maintained a profound expression. "Indeed. Extreme cold and extreme yang in one body, if left too long, the two will conflict and reduce to ordinary substances. Eat quickly! But the melon seeds can be kept. They might be useful in medicine!"

"Alright, everyone, please return to your duties. We've spent too much time here."

At Zheng Qiao's word, the crowd dispersed.

Those with melons hugged them close, while those without crowded around melon owners, hoping to get a taste.

Inside the great hall, Guo Tianyang bent at the waist, standing beside Emperor Jing, constantly whispering something.

Emperor Jing slowly put down the memorial, his face showing slight anger. "Those two beasts! How dare they set up a stall selling melons in the palace? They've truly gone too far!"

"Your Majesty, these aren't ordinary melons. This servant personally saw them. They were pregnant melons, and the flesh can strengthen yang!"

"Minister Zheng himself said so, and he's skilled in medicine."

Pregnant melons? Yang-strengthening melons?

Emperor Jing looked at Guo Tianyang with suspicion. "What nonsense! Did you hear correctly?"

"This servant didn't miss a single word!"

"Confiscate all the melons from those two beasts! How dare they spread rumors in the palace!"

"Your... Your Majesty, there probably aren't any left. They're all sold out."

Sold out... Emperor Jing's face twitched slightly.

"Summon those two beasts to see me! If I don't teach them a lesson, they'll truly think they can do whatever they want! Also, bring my cane."

Guo Tianyang responded and scurried out of the hall in small steps.

Looking at Guo Tianyang's retreating figure, Emperor Jing fell into deep thought.

Yang-strengthening melons... interesting...