Just as Guan Zhiyue was observing the water situation, Xiao Dezi ran in from outside, covered in sweat and his clothes were soaked.

Guan Zhiyue looked at the man and said, "Why are you running so fast? Is a ghost chasing you?"

Xiao Dezi flicked his whisk, panting heavily, picked up the teapot beside him, gulped down a large mouthful of water, and said, "Your Majesty, it's not just a ghost, it's a beautiful ghost!"

Upon hearing this, Guan Zhiyue became interested. She put down the notebook in her hand and looked at Xiao Dezi, saying, "What do you mean? Is the Emperor going to take a concubine?"

"No, it's just that the Emperor said he won't be coming tonight; we have guests tonight."

"Oh, who is it? That beautiful ghost?"

Xiao Dezi nodded and said, "Your Majesty, you have no idea how handsome that man is, just like our Emperor."

"I inquired with Eunuch Hua, and I heard he's the crown prince of some country!"

"What's your name?"

“Yuan something-su,” Xiao Dezi said.

When Guan Zhiyue heard that there were handsome men, she was a little disappointed that she couldn't see them. However, the thought that the Emperor wouldn't be coming to the Cold Palace for dinner tonight made her extremely happy.

"It's good that you're not coming, that's really good, we can eat by ourselves!"

"Alright, go learn how to peel potatoes from Bilian!" After shooing the person away, Guan Zhiyue started fiddling with the ice block again.

The palace has no shortage of ice, but the supply of ice is limited. Isn't this going to kill her?

Her cold palace is so big, and so many people need to cool down, yet she only gets a little bit of ice, a basin of ice, and the worst part is that it can't be eaten. Doesn't that make her feel terrible?

Guan Zhiyue shook her head, not wanting to think about it any further, and continued with what she was doing, experimenting again and again.

When Bilian came out of the kitchen, she saw Guan Zhiyue still squatting in front of the large basin containing the small basin, fiddling with something. Upon closer inspection, she saw that the water in the small basin had actually frozen.

After fifty-eight experiments, Guan Zhiyue finally found the correct ratio.

"Your Majesty, you, you~" Bilian pointed at the ice in the basin, then at Guan Zhiyue, her words somewhat incoherent, it was simply too amazing.

"See? I told you this thing was pretty good, didn't I? You didn't believe me? See? This is an ice cube."

"The water in this little basin is the water you boiled. It's clean. Try it and see if it's ice."

Bilian reached out and picked up the ice cubes from the small basin. She held them in her hand, then brought them close to her nose to smell them. She didn't dare to put them in her mouth, but they were really cold in her hand. It felt so good!

"Your Majesty, is this really edible?"

"Would I lie to you?" Guan Zhiyue casually picked up a piece and put it in her mouth. Instantly, a cool sensation exploded in her mouth. It was so refreshing! This is what you call cool!

"Hey, look, am I alright?" Guan Zhiyue melted the ice in her mouth and even twirled around to show Bilian that she was fine.

Bilian quickly scooped up another piece and put it in her mouth. It was incredibly refreshing; the cool sensation seemed to rise from the soles of her feet.

"Go and bring me the mung bean soup made from pomegranate, and I'll make you some mung bean popsicles. Also, go and get me a few more pairs of chopsticks."

"Alright!" Upon hearing that there was food, Bilian happily went back to the kitchen to find pomegranates. Her mistress was really amazing; she could do everything, and now she could even make ice. This summer, they wouldn't have to worry about running out of ice.

Guan Zhiyue is very satisfied with this!

So, can we bring back the popsicles from our past lives? And chilled watermelon? And chilled juice?

What else can we eat?

oops!

Guan Zhiyue stared at the bowl of ice, her mouth practically watering. She thought of so many delicious foods, all of which were related to ice, especially in the sweltering summer!

Summer, when you sweat with the slightest movement, is just so refreshing!

Guan Zhiyue was incredibly busy in the Cold Palace, making ice and potatoes, working like a busy little bee.

While everyone in the capital was excitedly discussing the high-yield grains grown by the Empress, somewhere on the border...

A small border town.

"Your Highness, we have received news from the capital."

"Oh, what is it?" The man opened his half-closed eyes and said in a nonchalant tone.

"It is said that the Empress has developed a method to produce grain with a yield of a thousand catties per mu, and her family has been granted titles because of it."

"Oh, such a strange thing? That's really rare. Do you know what kind of grain it is?" The man stood up from the recliner and asked with a curious expression.

The man in black replied, "It's rice."

"A yield of 1,000 catties per mu? Is the news correct?"

"It's absolutely true! I heard that one mu of land can produce about 1,500 jin of rice, and they also said that they raised some kind of fish. This harvest was a bumper one. Not only did they harvest tens of thousands of jin of rice, but they also harvested tens of thousands of jin of fish raised in the paddy fields."

"There are restaurants selling fish and meat in the capital and surrounding areas now, but the key is which member of the Lan family it belongs to."

"Hmph! What's so good about fish? It's all muddy and fishy, ​​who would go back to eat it?" the man said disdainfully.

The man in black said, "Your Highness, you don't know, this young master of the Lan family has somehow obtained several recipes for cooking fish. The fish cooked in his restaurant is absolutely delicious, without the slightest fishy smell!"

"There are so many people queuing up to eat fish, and I heard it's packed!"

The man stood with his hands behind his back, looking incredulous, and then said, "Go and find someone to inquire about how the Empress cultivates rice. If all else fails, steal some seeds and plant them ourselves next year."

"Your Highness's method is much better. If it really can yield a thousand catties per mu, then our army..."

"Stop talking nonsense, get back to work!"

"Alright, I'll go right away!" After the man in black left, the man plopped down in the rattan chair, reached for the purple clay teapot next to him, and gripped it fiercely in his hand, as if the teapot were his enemy.

"Hmph, Li Qiji, we'll see!"

——

The Cold Palace of the Capital.

Guan Zhiyue prepared a whole potato feast for everyone tonight, with pan-fried, stir-fried, deep-fried, and mixed dishes all on the menu. She also made a pot of potato and pork rib soup. Everyone ate with gusto, their mouths watering, exclaiming that the food was so delicious and incredibly filling. They wondered if they could eat it as a staple food from now on.

"Your Majesty, now that we have this, we'll never have to go hungry again."

"Yes, this is another high-yield grain!"

"Today, potatoes are selling for at least 10,000 jin (5,000 kg), just like the rice a few days ago!"

"Your Majesty, you are truly amazing! Let's toast Your Majesty with a glass of wine!" Liu Debao raised his wine glass and looked at Guan Zhiyue.

"Okay, let's drink!"

"Come on, cheers!"

The group ate and drank to their hearts' content, thoroughly enjoying themselves!