Zhao Qingyan, who was checking the accounts at Huicui Pavilion, suddenly sneezed loudly, rubbed her nose, and...

"Which bastard is talking about me?"

After finishing her explanation, she continued checking the accounts. Little did she know, someone was eyeing her food.

The Empress was quite surprised to see the three pieces of peach in the small bowl.

After tipping the eunuch and testing for poison, I scooped up a piece and put it in my mouth. The natural fruity aroma of the peach combined with the syrup made for a truly perfect taste.

The sugar syrup, in particular, has a moderate sweetness that isn't cloying. It also doesn't have the off-putting smell of brown sugar.

After finishing her meal, the Empress was still not satisfied. Looking at the remaining soup in her bowl, she picked up the bowl and finished it off.

This is truly incredible for the Empress, who usually strictly controls her weight.

Then I looked at the glass bottle on the table, opened it and smelled it. It was a mixture of various floral scents, light and not strong.

The initial taste is rich, the middle notes are captivating, and the base notes are intoxicating!

I put a drop behind my ear and on my wrist. With a wave of my hand, a fragrant breeze wafted by. It smelled much better than incense.

The Queen was in a very good mood.

The Emperor tasted everything on his side, including the jar of white sugar.

Then his gaze settled on the two bundles of vermicelli. He ordered the cook to send the vermicelli, along with the recipe, to the imperial kitchen.

Tell them to deliver it once it's ready.

When Huang Shang looked at the things on the table now, they were no longer simple food, but silver, a lot of silver.

Everything on this table is closely related to people's livelihood.

Putting everything else aside, just looking at canned goods alone...

If we can use this canning method to store the fruit during its ripening season, will we still have to worry about not having fresh fruit to eat in winter?

And that white sugar, not brown sugar, it's white sugar.

It was actually made by my nephew's wife.

The fact that they can make such good white sugar means what? It means they have money coming in.

He would strongly encourage the cultivation of sugar beets and sugarcane in rural areas as long as his nephew's wife was willing to share the recipe.

The white sugar produced will then be sold to neighboring countries.

They traded sugar for their cattle, sheep, gold, silver, and furs.

The emperor's mind works incredibly fast. In a split second, he could come up with multiple ways to profit.

After the uncle and nephew finalized how to negotiate with Zhao Qingyan about buying the formula or the profit-sharing ratio for the collaboration, Han Xuri prepared to leave the palace.

At this moment, the imperial kitchen delivered the prepared vermicelli.

After tasting them, the two felt that the vermicelli was easier to store than potatoes and sweet potatoes.

If potatoes and sweet potatoes from the Divine Dragon Kingdom could be widely cultivated throughout the country, then large quantities of vermicelli could be produced and used as military rations, which would be feasible.

After another round of discussion, when Han Xuri was about to leave, he had an extra food box and a mahogany box in his hand, containing a pair of red agate bracelets.

Clearly, this was a gift for Zhao Qingyan. Of course, the Emperor also had his say.

"When you get back, ask that girl if there's any more canned food. That little jar isn't nearly enough."

Han Xuri kept a straight face, indicating that he understood, and then quickly left the Hall of Diligent Governance, afraid that he would not be able to control his laughter.

The Emperor naturally knew why that brat ran so fast, but did he care?

I don't care at all, as long as I can get him more delicious food.

Zhao Qingyan's eyes sparkled as she looked at the agate bracelet on the coffee table.

This thing was treasured by the ancients, but its price in later generations is not so good.

However, the color of this agate is really even, a gentle red.

Pick it up and wear it on your wrist; it makes your wrist look fair and beautiful.

Having admired it enough, he looked at Han Xuri.

"Brother, you must have already discussed the cooperation with the Emperor. Why don't you tell me about it?"

"Let's not talk about buying the formula outright, brother. Let's just talk about a revenue-sharing partnership."

Han Xuri knew this would be the outcome.

When he discussed it with the Emperor, he said that if they were to cooperate and split the profits, Zhao Qingyan would receive 20% of the profits, regardless of the method.

After listening, Zhao Qingyan shook her head.

"Brother, this profit-sharing ratio is not appropriate."

Han Xuri was getting a little anxious.

"This was proposed by my uncle, who said he could only give you a maximum of 20%."

Zhao Qingyan smiled.

"Brother, you misunderstand. What I said was inappropriate. It's not that I thought it was too little, but rather that I gave too much."

If I weren't supporting several children in orphanages, I would have given this prescription free of charge.

Unfortunately, I was under pressure, and I couldn't let those children suffer from hunger again just for the sake of some sentiment.

Whether it's a recipe for vermicelli, canned goods, or white sugar, I only want a 10% profit margin.

Of course, I have complete faith in my elder brother's character, and I trust my uncle even more. After all, I'm going to marry Xu Dongsheng someday.

Furthermore, I have more than just these few ways to make money.

Presumably, my elder brother has a long-term vision.

Well, Zhao Qingyan is both giving a warning and a stern talking-to.

I trust you, but you can't lie to me. You need to have a long-term vision, or I won't include you in my life anymore.

Han Xuri immediately understood Zhao Qingyan's purpose and quickly expressed that he would definitely not let his younger brother and sister-in-law down.

Of course, before leaving, they took several jars of canned fruit with them.

Naturally, all these things were taken to the princess's residence.

After the princess's death, the emperor did not reclaim her residence.

It's meant to be a place for my nephew to heal when he's tired or unhappy.

Naturally, as the former consort of the princess and the Duke of Huguo, he was expelled from the princess's residence when he announced his remarriage after the princess's death.

The current Duke's Mansion is still the old residence from when the old Duke lived there.

It occupies a considerable area, but it's a bit old.

The Duchess did not come from a high social class; she was a concubine's niece from the old Duke's maternal family.

It's unclear how these two fell in love, as the old Duchess was initially very opposed to the marriage.

After all, it's their own son. His first wife was a princess, and for no apparent reason, his second wife was an illegitimate daughter.

The difference is just too big.

But her son insisted, so she had no choice but to accept it.

After moving back into the Duke's mansion, the Duke seemed to have regained his confidence.

He lived a life of unbridled indulgence, not only marrying his cousin but also bringing back several concubines.

It was as if he was venting all the pent-up frustration he had felt when he was marrying the princess.

For some unknown reason, none of the concubines he married later were able to bear children.

Only after my cousin entered the household did she give birth to two more sons and a daughter.

However, these children don't seem to be very promising.

If it weren't for the fact that the young masters of noble families could skip the imperial examinations and become scholars, the Duke's two favorite youngest sons probably wouldn't even have had the chance to participate.

They were expelled from the Imperial Academy because they simply couldn't understand what the teachers were saying.

Therefore, he had no choice but to attend a regular private school.

Even so, when competing with the students who were only beginners, he was still at the very bottom of the class.

The master couldn't say much, so he could only hint that the two young men could abandon their literary pursuits and take up martial arts.

The Duchess was furious when she heard this and almost demolished the private school.