Volume 1, Chapter 27: The Princess Actually Wants to Stay at Jiang Lin's House?

After finishing the hot pot, all the ingredients prepared on the table had been completely devoured. Zhu Yuanzhang and his son, Zhu Biao, rubbed their slightly distended bellies in satisfaction. They were stuffed to the point of bursting, especially the Emperor, who felt as though he were experiencing a delightful kind of agony. Just a few days ago, the imperial physician had examined him and noted that his health was not at its best, strictly advising him to control his diet and eat only until he was half-full. He had been doing quite well with that restriction lately, but this time, faced with such a delicious hot pot, he simply could not restrain himself.

As for Empress Ma and Princess Zhu Yourong, they were still engrossed in watching the show. Just then, Jiang Lin emerged from the kitchen carrying a platter filled with a variety of fruits: watermelon, pineapple, strawberries, dragon fruit, and more. "Everyone, have some fruit. It’s a great way to replenish your vitamins," Jiang Lin said, placing the platter on the dining table.

Hearing yet another unfamiliar term, Zhu Yuanzhang’s curiosity was piqued. "What are vitamins?"

"Vitamins are a general term for a series of organic compounds," Jiang Lin explained. "They are essential trace organic substances that humans and animals need to maintain normal physiological functions. Most living organisms cannot produce them on their own and must obtain them from food, and fruits happen to be rich in various vitamins."

Zhu Yuanzhang looked bewildered. "The things you people of the future study are truly bizarre. I can't understand any of it, so I'll just stick to eating the fruit!" With that, the Emperor turned his attention to the platter, immediately looking puzzled. There were several fruits on the plate he had never seen before. A watermelon with its red flesh and black seeds caught his eye; it looked so appetizing that it made his mouth water just to look at it. Unable to resist any longer, he picked up a slice and took a bite. As his teeth sank into the crimson flesh, the juice burst in his mouth. The sweet, refreshing flavor lit up his eyes, leaving him immensely excited.

"Delicious! What is this called?"

"This is a watermelon," Jiang Lin answered. "It is a fruit we people of the future have cultivated from the 'cold melon' (winter melon/citron melon)."

"What?" The Emperor could hardly believe it. He was certainly familiar with the cold melon, but that thing was barely edible; it was mostly white inside and tasted quite bland. Yet, the fruit in his hand was entirely vibrant red and tasted like a delicacy beyond compare. Empress Ma, Zhu Biao, and Zhu Yourong each picked up a slice as well, immediately exclaiming how delicious it was.

"I never imagined that a cold melon could taste this good."

"It’s so crisp and refreshing—this is incredible!" Empress Ma added with a nod of surprise.

Jiang Lin smiled and picked up a strawberry, handing it to the Empress. "Your Majesty, try this as well." The Empress took the strawberry and popped the whole thing into her mouth. The sweet juice burst instantly, and her face lit up with joy.

"Jiang Lin, what is this? It’s so tasty!"

"This is called a strawberry. It wasn't introduced from Russia until over two hundred years later. After more than a century of development, the planting area for strawberries has reached 100,000 hectares, making it the largest in the world!"

"What? You people of the future are truly amazing!" Zhu Yourong exclaimed, gnawing on a dragon fruit, her mouth completely stained red. Seeing the comical sight, Jiang Lin couldn't help but burst into laughter, doubling over until his stomach ached. The Emperor, Empress Ma, and Zhu Biao looked over and couldn't help but chuckle as well.

Zhu Yourong looked confused, her brows furrowed. "Hey, what are you all laughing at?"

"Look in the mirror and see for yourself," Jiang Lin said, handing her a mirror. When she took it and saw her reflection—her fair face smeared with dragon fruit juice—she couldn't help but laugh at herself. At the same time, she was shocked by the clarity of the mirror. The bronze mirrors she used at home were always dim and yellowish, providing only a vague reflection, but this mirror showed her face with startling detail. It was as clear as looking into still, limpid water. To what extent? She could even see the fine, soft hairs on her skin. Heavens! The future was truly advanced in every way compared to the Ming Dynasty; even a common, everyday mirror was vastly superior.

Noticing her astonishment, Jiang Lin realized that the Ming Dynasty still relied on bronze mirrors, and glass mirrors would not be introduced by Western missionaries until the end of the dynasty. "This glass mirror is made of the same material as the cups you used to drink water earlier. In the future, glass manufacturing is very mature and can be mass-produced, so it’s not particularly rare."

"Jiang Lin, then... can you give this glass mirror to me?" Zhu Yourong asked, acting coquettishly. Faced with the adorable little princess, Jiang Lin had no resistance.

"It’s just a mirror. If you like it, it’s yours."

"Yay! Thank you so much, Jiang Lin!" Zhu Yourong cheered with excitement.

"Alright, go wash your face; it’s covered in dragon fruit juice," Jiang Lin said with a gentle smile. She nodded, scurried to the bathroom to wash up, and returned to pick up the mirror again. She couldn't put it down, admiring herself from every angle, clearly enamored with her own reflection. *Ah, who is this beauty? Oh, it’s me!*

"Your Majesty, would you like to try this?" Jiang Lin asked, taking a bag of potato chips from the system space.

"What kind of delicacy is this?" the Emperor asked, puzzled.

"It’s not really a meal, just a post-meal snack," Jiang Lin replied with a wave of his hand.

Empress Ma took a chip and placed it in her mouth. "Chongba, it’s very good. I had a piece at Ying's yesterday. It's made from potatoes."

The Emperor tried one, and his eyes brightened. "Mmm, it's crispy and savory, with a hint of tanginess."

"That’s because it’s tomato-flavored," Jiang Lin explained.

Zhu Yourong leaned in toward Jiang Lin. "I want some too!" As she snacked on the chips, she suddenly remembered something. "By the way, Jiang Lin, do you have any more of those lollipops? You only had one yesterday, and you gave it to Ying, which made me drool with envy..."

"I do! Let me get you one." Jiang Lin retrieved a lollipop from the system space. Zhu Yourong took it, tore off the wrapper, and gave it a lick with her pink tongue.

"It's so sweet, and it has the scent of milk!" she exclaimed, delighted. She then popped the entire lollipop into her mouth, her cheek bulging. "Oh my, Jiang Lin, this place is wonderful. The food is great—there’s instant noodles, hot pot, all sorts of fruits and snacks, and we get to watch such interesting shows. I wish it could be like this every day." Her eyes sparkled with pure enjoyment.