Guan Zhiyue looked at Bilian's difficult appearance and did not force her anymore.

However, the other guards, after trying it out boldly, all felt it was pretty good, and one by one they were eager to try it themselves.

Before Li Qiji and the others had even returned, they had already finished eating the whole basin of fried locusts.

"Your Majesty, this stuff seems to taste better and better the more you eat it?" a guard said.

Guan Zhiyue said with a smile, "Of course! This stuff is high in protein! It's good for your health. Go and catch some more, and make sure to get the larvae to eat too!"

"Don't bother with the old ones. Just feed all the old locusts to the poultry."

Guan Zhiyue repeatedly gave her instructions.

Upon hearing this, the guards all nodded in agreement, and then they pulled up the fishing nets again to catch more locusts.

Actually, the reason these locusts swarmed here was because Guan Zhiyue sprinkled some spiritual spring water from her space onto the fishing net; otherwise, these locusts wouldn't have come!

This is the secret behind why Guan Zhiyue was able to attract so many locusts without preparing anything.

However, this secret was known only to her and Li Qiji; no one else knew it.

"Your Majesty, shall we go back first? Or shall we wait here for the Emperor and the General to return?" Bilian asked.

Guan Zhiyue thought for a moment and said, "Let's wait here! It'll be a good opportunity for them to taste the locusts too."

When Bilian heard that the Emperor, the General, and Lord Su were to eat locusts, she could already imagine what that scene would be like—it was absolutely disgusting!

She had absolutely no interest in this stuff; it was utterly disgusting. She had just eaten one, and it was so limp and gave her a creepy feeling.

Maybe she didn't get the crispy, caramelized flavor!

Bilian shuddered as she recalled the memory, and glanced at Guan Zhiyue, saying, "Your Majesty, let's find a place to rest for a while!"

"I wonder when His Majesty and the General will arrive."

Guan Zhiyue nodded and followed Bilian to sit down under a bare tree.

It's so hot! There's no shade from the trees, and the heat and sleepiness are driving Guan Zhiyue crazy.

"Bilian, I can't take it anymore, it's so hot! Go and get me some of the saltpeter we brought. I can't stand it anymore, this awful weather, I feel like I'm about to burst into flames."

Upon hearing this, Bilian quickly curtsied and took her leave, then hurried to the horse to retrieve the bundle it was carrying.

Guan Zhiyue sat under a big tree, raising her hand as a fan, fanning herself vigorously, but alas! The breeze from her hand had little effect, and the heatwave continued unabated!

About half a cup of tea's time later, Bilian came running back, panting and covered in sweat!

Guan Zhiyue said after seeing this, "My shameless bastard, you don't need to work so hard!"

"It's not that bad, it's not that bad."

Bilian held the bundle up in front of Guan Zhiyue and said with a smile, "Your Highness, you've suffered. Let's hurry up and make some ice."

However, those words really hit Guan Zhiyue right in the heart, it felt so good!

She took the bundle and asked Bilian to bring over two basins of water. Guan Zhiyue placed the small basin inside the large basin, and slowly poured the saltpeter powder into the large basin.

Using a twig picked up from the ground, I stirred the water continuously for about half an hour, and then the water in the small basin started to condense.

A thin layer of slush has already started to form in the middle.

Bilian looked at Guan Zhiyue with eager eyes as the water in the basin began to cool down.

Although she already knew about it in the Cold Palace, she couldn't help but applaud that her mistress could still make ice blocks in this desolate wilderness.

Guan Zhiyue laughed and said, "Don't tell anyone, our ice business in Beijing is still making money! We can't let anyone know about this method."

Bilian nodded in agreement!

Time passed by, and the three-person team that went to inspect the area finally returned under the scorching sun.

"Big brother, come here quickly!" Guan Zhiyue shouted loudly.

Guan Chengzhuo heard his younger sister's shouts and rode his horse toward where she was.

Following behind Guan Chengzhuo were Li Qiji and Su Xu. The three of them ran up to Guan Zhiyue, jumped off their horses, and saw a large basin of ice in front of Guan Zhiyue, the kind that was frozen solid.

"Good heavens, Yue'er, you're living the good life! You're actually sitting by the ice basin in this heat," Guan Chengzhuo said.

His brother didn't know she could make ice, so Li Qiji wasn't surprised anymore. Even if Guan Zhiyue suddenly disappeared right under his nose, he wouldn't feel anything at all.

Since he already knew where she was going, he could accept it as long as Guan Zhiyue's departure wasn't permanent.

"Your Majesty, this ice is quite good!" Su Xu said.

Guan Zhiyue laughed and said, "Of course! How about Su Dapeng sit down and rest for a bit?"

Guan Zhiyue looked up at Li Qiji and said with a smile, "Master, would you like to try some good stuff?"

Looking at Guan Zhiyue's smile, Li Qiji felt as if Guan Zhiyue was about to play a trick on him.

But he still stubbornly asked, "What is it?"

Guan Zhiyue was waiting for these words, and then called out to Ji Wu, who was standing to the side, "Ji Wu, bring over a basin of the fried locusts!"

Upon hearing this, the three were shocked. "Good heavens, they really have to eat bugs? Are these things safe to eat? Will anything happen?"

"Yue'er, is this really edible? Don't be..." Guan Chengzhuo said.

Guan Zhiyue laughed and said, "Big brother, don't worry, this stuff is definitely edible. If you don't believe me, ask Ji Wu, and also ask the guards over there who are catching locusts, whether this stuff tastes good or not."

Unexpectedly, Ji Wu, who was carrying a basin, said with a smile, "Hehe, I was a little scared of this at first, but the more I ate, the more delicious it became! You should all try it!"

The group looked at the golden-brown fried insects in the basin, lying in various shapes and positions, and were a little unsure where to begin.

Guan Zhiyue blinked her big eyes at the group, gesturing for them to eat quickly. Guan Chengzhuo, seeing his sister's eager gaze, gritted his teeth, stomped his foot, picked up a piece, and started eating.

He took a bite and exclaimed, "Wow, not bad! Crispy and crunchy, delicious and quite tasty." He then picked up another one and popped it into his mouth.

He also gestured for the two of them to try it.

Su Xu and Li Qiji shoved each other, and Guan Zhiyue picked up two and stuffed them into their mouths.

The two tried chewing it and found it quite good! They were very satisfied.

After swallowing one, Li Qiji slowly asked, "I wonder, Yue'er, what are your plans after the locusts are eliminated?"

Guan Zhiyue didn't mince words and said directly, "I plan to plant a second crop of rice. I just don't know if it's too late now."

Upon hearing this, the three realized that all rice crops are grown in one season, so where does the second season of rice come from?

Will this work?

Guan Zhiyue said, "Whether it works or not depends on whether we can finish dealing with the locusts within the next two days."

"Although it's a bit late for the second crop of rice now, if we hurry up, it should be manageable."

Li Qiji knew Guan Zhiyue's idea and immediately made a decision: "Let's do it this way. Tomorrow, mobilize everyone in the Four Yellow Continents. Once the locusts are eradicated, start cleaning up and then irrigating the farmland."

Both men clasped their hands in greeting and said, "Yes, Your Majesty, we obey!"