"May I report, Your Highness! I've come back from Mixian. From there, I've got lots of plants!"
Han Zhong put all of the plants he attempted to collect on the table. He evidently attempted to collect them in a large amount. He was dirty, shabby, and messy. And the plants he got were also dirty. Dust and dirt was still attached to the plants, some of them were even wet.
"Hey! Why do you put all plants down directly without cleaning it first?" Liao Zhan took out the herbs. "Your Highness, we are sorry for disturbing your comfort, let me clean these herbs first..."
"It's fine." Hurriedly preventing him, Zhu Su immediately approached the table. He observed the plants one by one. "Let me see the original forms. Wow, great! You have collected lots of them!" He took one of the plants. "I never see this one. What's it called?"
Han Zhong shook his head, looking apologetic as he replied, "I apologize, but I have no idea about it. And the local people don't even know its name either."
Zhu Su's eyes went round. He lifted the plant up high, surveying it more thoroughly. "So, it is a nameless plant?"
"Not only these. There are still many other plants whose names and functions are not known by the locals. Like this... this... then this... and this..."
Just as Zhu Su was about to observe those nameless plants, Rui entered the room. "Your Highness! I have brought all kinds of plants from Huixian. Not only Huixian, I have also climbed Mount Song." He was as dirty and messy as Han Zhong, and the plants he put on the table was just as dirty as Han Zhong's.
"Ah! It is Shijie, isn't it?" Zhu Su immediately took a plant he had recognized. "That's right, I remember that Shijie comes from Yazikou in Huixian." He then observed other plants. "But I don't know the name of the others. Can you tell me their names?"
"Sorry, Your Highness, I don't know," Rui shook his head, he was as regretful as Han Zhong.
"The locals don't know the plants' names?"
"They don't know."
"So many plants that grow in nature, but their existence still remain unidentified until now." No wonder so many food poisonings have happened. They don't even know the plants' names, moreover the functions. Then, it's indeed a very good idea to make this botanical garden. I will plant all of these, observe and research them, and after that, I have to give them names so that nobody will make mistake when identifying the plants.
To make the botanical garden, they should remodel a large part of the palace gardens. It got harsh protest from Zhu Su's two daughters.
"Fu Wang! Why do you move the roses to another part? The sun is very good here!" One of the princesses protested.
"It also gets enough sunshine there," Zhu Su replied. "Right now I am in need of this garden to do research."
"What?! You want to make a garden filled with wild plants?!" Another princess shouted, bewildered.
"I am doing the research which aims to avoid people from starving and dying of food poisoned due to lack of information. This is a very noble activity, and also interesting, Dear. Not only can we help people, we also gain knowledge for ourselves," Zhu Su tried to explain to his two daughters who were pouted. "Oh, well. Just take part in this research, then you'll realize how interesting this activity is."
The princesses turned agape.
"What?! Taking part in researching the wild plants and then get bitten by those nasty insects?! No way!"
"How can you say it is interesting and knowledgeable? This is not interesting at all. We aristocrats should do elegant activities, such as playing the harp, writing poems, or calligraphy. Those are interesting activities."
"That's right. Fu Wang, you are a Fan Wang, a very respectable imperial family member, but why must you do such thing? This is an activity being favored only by wandering healers and heretical alchemists!"
What the princesses said was very much the same as the words some officials once said, it immediately spurred Zhu Su's tension. He almost uttered swears words when he remembered that he would hurt his own daughters. In the end, he only took a deep breath. "Why are you just fond of enjoying the luxurious life of royalty? That's the real useless activity. Just take Hu Wang Fei as an example. She doesn't care about her status as Wang Fei, she is willing to have a discussion with commoners, enter the forest, and climb mountains. Being the aristocrat doesn't mean that you are allowed to live lavishly, in fact, the aristocrats' duties are actually heavier because we must set an example for the whole country!"
What actually became Zhu Su's intention was to guide his daughters not to be too spoiled, let them be willing to be good role models for the whole country. However, the result he hoped was totally the opposite. And it was triggered by his biggest mistake, that was, mentioning Hu Nayin which they hated.
"Hu Wang Fei is a really improper role model of noblewoman. She's ungraceful, she doesn't have a broad knowledge of art, literature, and music, and the most important, her feet aren't bound!"
"She doesn't bind her feet because she is a Miao! And she isn't from noble class..."
"That's the problem, Fu Wang! Are there any other princes or Fan Wangs who create a commoner as their consorts? No, only you!"
"I've wondered about it all this time. So many women are all around Ming, but why do you choose a consort from backward tribes? And you also choose a Miao woman. Don't you know that Miao women are known as terrible enchantresses?!"
"You, how dare?!..."
"Because of Hu Wang Fei, you are mocked all over Ming!"
"Who mocks me?! Even the Emperor agrees with me!"
"You don't know? All Fan Wangs question your decision, as well as the Fan Wangs' wives and other royal women. The appearance of Hu Wang Fei is mentioned as a defect of the Ming Empire family!"
"I don't want to hear about it anymore!" Zhu Su finally had his rage exploded. "Just now we only talk about the botanical garden, but why do you mock Hu Wang Fei right now? You don't want to participate in this research, it's okay. But don't bother this botanical garden. Okay, go away, don't bother me anymore!"
Zhu Su's face was flushed in anger, the two princesses were forced to close their mouths. Although they were very disappointed with this result, they did not dare to oppose their father. They left the garden, stamping their feet in annoyance. Leaving Zhu Su alone.
But even though he was alone, Zhu Su instead was very contemplated, very peaceful. Suddenly he felt tired of surrounded by so many people. Especially if those people always criticized him and even forbid him to do something based on various reasons. Social norms, religious teachings, the law of nation... those reasons that seemed good and virtuous on the surface but were actually poisonous, really squeezed him. Surrounded by these people, it was as if he was tightly bound by large ropes that even made him almost out of breath. By standing alone like this, he could breathe with great relief, and his body was light, free for everything. Very light... it seemed that he could fly... fly high into the sky...
Solitude made him very close to Nature.
The wide blue sky greeted him warmly... The breeze took his hand... the clouds winked and smiled at him... And the sun, cheered him on.
It is correct, O Healing Prince... you have made correct steps...
Zhu Su sharpened his hearing. It was a loud voice, but at the same time, it was vague to his ears.
Hold on... just a little longer...
It was his instinct that told him that he was hearing the Voice of Nature. Zhu Su took a deep breath, and intensified all of his senses. It's not easy to hear the Voice of Nature. Now Nature is willing to speak with me, I must listen carefully to Her!