Chapter 71 The Prince Who Failed to Revolt
When He Fei and Jia Jia returned to the imperial manor, the treasures bestowed by the emperor piled up like a mountain, and even the carriage could not fit them all. The convoy slowly drove into the manor, and the servants were busy carrying the rewards.
The envoy from the Wude Division rode up, halting in a cloud of dust. He respectfully greeted Zhang Xiaojia, "Princess, Princess Wen Miaoyin's husband is not dead. This case has been taken over by our Wude Division. We will give her an explanation in a few days. I hope your Highness will not interfere in this matter."
Zhang Xiaojia nodded slightly, a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes: "By the way, please give me an explanation as well. This princess is also quite interested in this matter."
The Wudeshishi nodded in agreement, then lowered his voice and said, "Also, the time traveler in prison requested to see you. She said she had something important to report."
Zhang Xiaojia pondered for a moment, then readily agreed: "Okay, I will go see her tomorrow."
The Wudeshi envoy bowed and said goodbye, then rode away on horseback. Zhang Xiaojia watched his back disappear into the dust, then returned to the manor with He Fei.
As soon as they entered the room, He Fei couldn't wait to pull her over. They smiled at each other and then immersed themselves in the passion of making love.
Zhang Xiaojia felt that the medicinal bath made the male body better and made him last longer during sex...
He Fei went to court.
Zhang Xiaojia finished his meal leisurely and went to the prison of Wude Sishi.
When Liu Wen saw Zhang Xiaojia, why didn't she listen to Yu Yu saying that she was punished by the emperor to guard the imperial mausoleum for three months?
Zhang Xiaojia saw the jealousy in her eyes at a glance.
Zhang Xiaojia saw through the jealousy and resentment in Liu Wen's eyes. She sat down gracefully, looking calm and composed, and said slowly, "Tell me, what do you want to see me?"
Liu Wen took a deep breath and patted her cheeks, as if to cheer herself up. She mustered her courage and said eagerly, "County Master, I will make a kind of soap for bathing. It is better than any bath products on the market now."
Zhang Xiaojia's eyes flashed with interest when he heard this, but he quickly regained his composure. "Oh? Tell me, what ingredients are used?"
Seeing that Zhang Xiaojia seemed interested, Liu Wen felt a glimmer of hope in her heart.
She quickly said, "This soap has a unique formula. I can make a lot of money for you. As long as you let me out of prison, I will definitely help you make a lot of money."
Zhang Xiaojia raised her eyebrows slightly and looked at Liu Wen with a half-smile: "Oh? You are quite confident. But why should I trust you?"
After Liu Wen mentioned the ingredients for making soap, Zhang Xiaojia's face showed no interest at all.
Zhang Xiaojia said calmly, "During the Song Dynasty, a synthetic detergent appeared. Natural soapberries were crushed and ground, mixed with spices and other ingredients, and made into orange-sized balls. They were used specifically for washing the face and bathing, commonly known as "soap balls." This was used by the royal family.
Sun Simiao's "Qian Jin Yao Fang" records that bath beans are made by drying pig pancreas, grinding it into a paste, mixing it with soy powder and spices, and then making it into bean-shaped detergent after natural drying. It is used specifically for removing dirt during bathing. This is still used by high-ranking officials and nobles.
Sugar is added to the pig pancreas during the grinding process, natural pure alkali replaces soy flour, and animal fat is added. After mixing thoroughly, it is pressed into balls or blocks. People often use it for washing and cleaning, and it is called "pancreas." The cheapest one costs 200 wen, which is enough for a family of five for two years.
Liu Wen was startled when she heard Zhang Xiaojia's words and quickly explained, "County Lady, animal fat is indeed needed to make soap, but it doesn't waste too many resources. Moreover, its value far exceeds the cost and can bring huge profits..."
Zhang Xiaojia interrupted her coldly, a hint of disappointment flashing in her eyes. "So, you told me that the soap you made didn't require pancreas or animal fat, and I was a little interested. But now it seems you're just wasting my time."
Liu Wen's face turned pale in an instant. She opened her mouth but didn't know how to defend herself.
Zhang Xiaojia had already stood up, looking down at her. "People all over the world toil day and night to get enough food. They can barely even guarantee basic food and clothing. How could they be willing to spend money on such extravagant things? Your recipe may be profitable for ordinary merchants, but for the emperor and this county lady, it is nothing more than encouraging extravagance."
She paused, her eyes sharp as a knife. "The people can't even get enough to eat, and yet you still want to use large amounts of animal fat to make your so-called soap? Do you know that this fat could be used to make food and feed more people? You are so narrow-minded."
Liu Wen was speechless after hearing these words, filled with shame and regret. She lowered her head and said in a weak voice, "County Lady, I...I know I was wrong."
Zhang Xiaojia snorted coldly and turned away. "Reflect on your actions. If you are truly capable, you should think about how to improve the welfare of the people instead of promoting extravagance for your own benefit."
In Zhang Xiaojia's eyes, her so-called "money-making plan" was nothing more than a trivial trick.
Zhang Xiaojia came with full of expectations, but in the end he had to leave with deep disappointment.
She knew very well that if large-scale production could be achieved, it would have a huge boost to the economy of the entire region.
After all, only when sufficient food supply is guaranteed can we further promote development and progress in all aspects.
However, the reality is cruel.
If people can't even afford to eat and live comfortably, and they're constantly busy trying to make ends meet, how can they possibly devote themselves to business? Under these circumstances, businesses will inevitably be severely suppressed and restricted.
Depending on where you stand, you will think differently.
Money is just a number to her.
The emperor arrived at the imperial farm in a grand procession, accompanied by officials from the three provinces and six ministries. They stood in the fields, their eyes fixed on the potatoes He Fei had planted over the winter. In the fields, tenants were busy digging potatoes, and the fragrance of the earth mixed with the scent of fresh potatoes filled the air.
The emperor leaned over slightly and casually picked up a freshly dug potato. He weighed it and a flicker of approval flashed in his eyes. "Jingwen, this potato is quite large. It seems your method of overwintering is indeed effective."
He Fei bowed respectfully and replied, "Your Majesty, these potatoes are very cold-resistant. As long as they are properly managed, they can produce a good harvest even if they are planted over the winter."
The Minister of Revenue stepped forward and carefully examined the potatoes the tenants had dug up. He then instructed the accompanying officials, "Go and measure the harvest from one acre of land to see how much there is."
Several officials immediately took tools and began to measure the fields, and instructed the tenants to pile up the potatoes they dug. Soon, all the potatoes in the one acre of land were dug out and piled into a small mountain.
The Minister of Revenue personally went forward to count the potatoes, and then reported to the emperor with a look of surprise: "Your Majesty, this one acre of land has a full 400 kilograms of potatoes!"
Everyone was shocked when these words came out. A trace of relief flashed in the emperor's eyes, and he nodded in praise, "Excellent! Excellent! These potatoes are not only cold-resistant, but also have such a high yield. If they are promoted, the problem of food and clothing for the people of the world will hopefully be solved."
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