Chapter 182 Soap
The most easily obtained ones are soapberry and gleditsia.
Soapberry is mainly distributed in the southern region, while soapberry can be found everywhere. However, it is also a troublesome task to extract the saponins she needs from these things, and the amount she needs is extremely large, so natural soapberry cannot meet her needs.
Alternatively, you can use sodium salts of fatty acids, that is, soap, which is a more appropriate method.
The materials for making soap are easy to obtain, and the method is also very simple. It can be made by using natural oils and alkaline water and boiling them for a few hours.
Zhao Yuanxi introduced the method of making soap in detail to Han Chong and Shi Sheng.
As alchemy masters, the two of them were receptive to this technique.
Oil and alkaline water can be found in the kitchen. After Zhao Yuanxi ordered someone to bring them, he began to try it.
This was Zhao Yuanxi's first time rubbing soap by hand. He had more theoretical knowledge than practical experience.
Fortunately, she had enough patience and cooperated well with the other two. After several attempts, the soap gradually took shape.
The liquid in the pot gradually turned into a grayish-white viscous substance. As it was stirred with a wooden spoon, it took on the texture of cream. Zhao Yuanxi took a small portion and placed it in cold water. It instantly solidified and sank to the bottom.
She took out the solidified soap, rubbed it gently in her palm, and white foam appeared.
"Add some more salt water and continue cooking for a while." Zhao Yuanxi was in a good mood. She really deserves to be her!
Han Zhong carefully poured the salt water he had prepared into the cauldron. Looking at the layer of material that was constantly rising from the cauldron, he asked curiously, "Can this be used to remove all the impurities from the rubber?"
"You'll know if you try it."
Zhao Yuanxi poured the soap liquid that was not completely solidified into the pot of rubber liquid. Through constant stirring and agitation, the rubber particles were brought out by the foam, and the turbid liquid gradually began to stratify, and the impurities sank to the bottom of the pot.
Zhao Yuanxi resisted the urge to whistle and scooped up the precipitated rubber foam.
Han Zhong looked at the snow-white rubber foam and exclaimed, "The Queen Mother is truly a deity!"
Zhao Yuanxi: ...
Just think of it as him bragging about himself!
"Although the impurities in the roots have been separated, the rubber is still mixed with soap, so it needs to be washed several times."
Han Chong and Shi Sheng nodded repeatedly.
Shi Sheng couldn't help but ask, "Queen Dowager, what is the name of this technique?"
Zhao Yuanxi thought for a moment and said, "You can call it chemistry."
Han Zhong: "The science of manifesting things into form?"
This was the first time Zhao Yuanxi had heard someone explain chemistry this way. She laughed and said, "Not only that, your ability to turn stone into gold is also chemistry. Even burning charcoal is related to chemistry. Matter doesn't disappear, it just transforms from one form into another. The study of these changes is called chemistry."
The two of them felt a sense of power.
"The Queen Mother also studies chemistry?"
Zhao Yuanxi shook his head. "I just like farming. I only know a little bit about other things. Maybe I don't know as much as you do."
The two men looked embarrassed. Although they knew some techniques of refining medicine, most of these techniques were learned from their predecessors and they didn't know why.
The Queen Mother is too modest.
There are also things that they cannot understand or see, which arouse their interest.
Zhao Yuanxi saw that they were hesitant to speak and looked at him from time to time, so he asked with a smile, "Do you want to learn?"
"Please enlighten us, Your Majesty the Queen Mother." The two of them bowed in unison.
Zhao Yuanxi said seriously, "You can learn, but I hope you won't use these things to hurt others, and you're not allowed to use these methods to deceive people outside. If I find out, you'd better pray that you don't fall into my hands, otherwise - you'll have to watch out for your lives!"
Zhao Yuanxi was not joking with them.
Chemistry is different from the mechanical techniques of the Mohists. Mechanical techniques can only destroy enemies in a physical sense, but chemistry can kill people invisibly, and the degree of danger is not on the same level.
"We swear to heaven that we will never use this technique to commit evil. If anyone breaks this oath, we will die."
People in this era believed in ghosts and gods and would not take oaths lightly. They believed that if they violated their oaths, they would be punished by God. They would not break their oaths easily unless it was absolutely necessary.
Zhao Yuanxi helped them up. She did have the idea of ​​promoting the development of various disciplines in this era. Han Chong and Shi Sheng were the people she had selected, but appropriate warnings were still necessary.
"I will stay here for the next few days and teach you some basic principles. How well you can do this will depend on yourselves."
"Thank you, Empress Dowager."
Zhao Yuanxi talked about the periodic table and several common chemical reactions while they took notes.
After those who didn't understand were noted down, Zhao Yuanxi would explain them one by one. Sometimes Fusu and Ziying would also come to listen. Zhao Yuanxi included them in the discussion based on the idea that teaching one person is teaching, and teaching a group is also teaching.
Fusu Ziying felt dizzy after hearing this. He was originally sitting there upright, but when Zhao Yuanxi turned around, he saw that they had fallen asleep leaning against each other.
Ziying leaned his head on Fusu's arms, and Fusu lowered his head, closed his eyes and dozed off.
The little head moved little by little, like a chick pecking at rice.
Zhao Yuanxi laughed, motioned for the two to be silent, and whispered, "That's all for today! Go back and organize your notes."
Han Zhong and Shi Sheng leaned forward and said, "Yes."
Jang Geum held Ziying and Zhao Yuanxi held Fusu, preparing to take them back to the palace to let them have a good rest.
Fusu's sleep was obviously lighter than Ziying's. As soon as Zhao Yuanxi picked him up, he woke up and said nervously, "Grandmother, I can walk down by myself."
"It's okay, you can continue sleeping!" Zhao Yuanxi supported his head and hugged him tighter.
Fusu grabbed Zhao Yuanxi's clothes, looked up at his eldest mother, his eyes blinking, and rubbed against Zhao Yuanxi's arms with a smile. He found a comfortable position, rubbed his eyes, yawned, and closed his eyes uncontrollably.
Zhao Yuanxi looked at the soft little guy in his arms, and the corners of his lips curled up wildly.
The brazier in the room made a slight crackling sound. Zhao Yuanxi put them on the bed and took out the quilt to wrap them tightly.
Zhao Yuanxi couldn't help but poke the two little guys' faces.
Seeing the Queen Mother playing with the two young princes again, Jang Geum smiled helplessly and said, "The King sent something here today. Would the Queen Mother like to take a look?"
Zhao Yuanxi withdrew his hand with a lingering feeling, lowered the bed curtain, and slowly walked out of the inner room, whispering, "Why are you sending something here for no reason?"
It was neither a festival nor a New Year's Day, and she had everything she needed. She couldn't understand why Ying Zheng would give her something.
Could it be that he felt sorry for himself and wanted to make amends?
Jang Geum wondered, "Did the Queen Mother forget that your birthday is in three days?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
