"Grand Commandant, you...this...I..." Zhao Gao stammered for a long time, unable to find the right words to comfort his wicked husband.

The wicked man waved his hand, "I won't make things difficult for you, little Kara. Your Majesty, just say what you want to say."

Although Zhao Gao didn't understand what 'Little Kara' meant, he could tell that the wicked husband didn't intend to take his anger out on him, and his heart immediately settled down.

"Grand Commandant, His Majesty said, don't forget the unification of the world. You can leave a little loose end, add some finishing touches," Zhao Gao said sinisterly.

"Little tail, is it ready?!"

The wicked man's lips curled up slightly, revealing a sly smile.

He's very skilled at this!

Therefore, this mission to the State of Chu will not be too boring.

"Zhao Gao, go back and tell the King that I, the Grand Commandant, understand. I will leave this 'little tail' just right." The wicked man's tone was firm, revealing an unquestionable confidence.

Seeing this, Zhao Gao knew that his task was complete, so he respectfully withdrew.

After he left, the wicked husband fell into deep thought, like a statue. "We can't afford to completely break ties, but we also have to leave a loose end... It's like having a fishbone in our throat, or a thorn in our back!"

He pinched the bridge of his nose, a slight sense of irritation rising within him, like a pebble thrown into a calm lake. "Forget it, I'll just take it one step at a time. What's the point of worrying about this now?"

Having made up his mind, he stopped thinking about these troubling matters, got up as if relieved, and went out alone to head to the salt and sugar workshop.

After strolling around for about fifteen minutes, the wicked man finally arrived at the salt and sugar workshop.

Upon seeing the wicked man arrive, the guards at the gate immediately bowed and said, "We pay our respects to the Grand Commandant!"

The wicked man waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for formalities, and walked directly into the workshop.

The workshop was steaming, and the busy figures of the workers could be seen in and out of the steam.

The wicked man strolled slowly through the busy production line, his gaze sweeping over every corner, his sharp eyes lingering on the equipment made by the Mo family.

"Grand Commandant, I am honored by your presence. I have not been able to greet you properly." A voice interrupted the wicked man's observation. He turned around and saw a middle-aged man who was smiling broadly as he approached.

"No need for formalities. I've come to see how the workshop is operating. Who are you?" the wicked man replied indifferently, his gaze still wandering around.

"Your Excellency, I am Cao Zhen. Please rest assured that production is proceeding normally. The quantity and quality of salt and sugar meet your requirements." Cao Zhen said as he led the wicked man deeper into the workshop.

"I heard that white sugar has already started mass production. Can you develop other varieties based on this?" the wicked husband suddenly asked.

Cao Zhen was taken aback, then realized what he meant. “Grand Commandant, we have a special kind of candy here, made with the finest honey and sugarcane juice. It has a unique flavor and is very popular among the ladies and young women of Xianyang.”

The wicked man's lips curled into a slight smile. "Let me have a taste!"

Cao Zhen nodded in agreement, and hurriedly went to the counter, picked up a plate of freshly made sugar cubes, and presented them to her wicked husband.

The wicked man's eyes fell on the sugar cubes on the tray, his eyes narrowed instantly, then he picked up a piece and put it in his mouth, squinting his eyes as he savored it.

"Hmm...it's definitely something special!"

The candy was sweet and had a hint of honey and floral aroma, already reminiscent of later candies, though the flavor was a bit monotonous.

It just goes to show that our ancestors' wisdom was absolutely brilliant, they were just a little lacking in some ideas.

Seeing the satisfied look on her husband's face, Cao Zhen's heart immediately relaxed. "Grand Commandant, is the taste satisfactory?!"

The wicked man opened his eyes, first nodding in praise, and then said, "The only drawback is that the taste is a bit monotonous. Could you add fruit pulp to make fruit-flavored candies to make the flavor richer?"

Cao Zhen's eyes suddenly lit up. He hadn't really thought of that before. Then he said with a hint of disappointment, "To be honest, Grand Commandant, I was the one who suggested developing these honey candies. But after all, I am an official... I dare not do business like a merchant. I only produced them in small batches and did not dare to continue developing in this direction."

Um?

Upon hearing this, the wicked man once again turned his scrutinizing gaze to Cao Zhen, not expecting that this fat man was actually quite talented. "This Grand Commandant must now criticize you a bit."

"What's wrong with officials? What's wrong with merchants?"

"Is this sugar currently being produced by the government?"

Cao Zhen, unaware of her husband's intentions, quickly nodded, "Such things should not be left to the hands of ordinary people to refine; naturally, they should be kept in the hands of the government."

The wicked man continued, "The original intention of developing this candy was for the benefit of the people. Based on this, more flavors were developed, the people enjoyed it more, and the court also made money. What's wrong with that?"

"To be honest, you not only did nothing wrong, but you also made a great contribution!"

As he spoke, the wicked man raised his hand and patted his shoulder, "Go ahead and do it boldly, and I will ask the king for credit for you later."

Cao Zhen's chubby face flushed with excitement, and he stammered, "This...this humble official thanks the Grand Commandant. I will certainly do my best to make more flavors of candy and earn a lot of money for the court."

"Ah, that's more like it!"

The wicked man chuckled, then said, "Coincidentally, I, the Grand Commandant, am on a mission to the State of Chu to escort the bride and present betrothal gifts on behalf of the King. I'll give you two days. Can you develop fruit-flavored candies?"

Without the slightest hesitation, Cao Zhen straightened her chest and said firmly, "This matter is not difficult at all. In fact, it is similar to the process of making honey cubes. Two days will be enough."

"good!"

His confidence greatly impressed the wicked man, who immediately said, "Good! With such confidence, how can anything not be accomplished? Officials of Qin should be like you, and then Qin will surely become rich and powerful."

Cao Zhen chuckled foolishly, her heart pounding with excitement at her wicked husband's praise. She felt an inexhaustible supply of energy and couldn't wait to fulfill his demands right now.

The wicked husband reiterated, "Remember, the taste absolutely must be perfect!"

Cao Zhen nodded solemnly, then asked curiously, "Grand Commandant, please forgive my intrusion, but what do you need these fruit-flavored candies for, and how many do you require?"

Upon hearing this, the wicked husband laughed and said, "The king's marriage is a joyous occasion. How could I go to the wedding without wedding candy to add to the celebration?"

"As for the quantity... naturally the more the better. When I enter the Chu Kingdom, I will distribute these sugars to my fellow Chu people."

"It's good for them to taste this delicious food. Once they've tasted this sweet flavor, I guarantee they'll never forget it."

As he spoke, the wicked man revealed a cunning smile, "Isn't this the best advertisement? Although we can't directly destroy the Chu Kingdom right now, we can still reap their wealth."

"Rather than leaving this money for the Chu nobles to squander, it's better to put it into the Qin treasury!"