Chapter 9 Uses of Saltpeter
After Qin Xiao left, Chu Jiubian made a list of the things needed and handed it to Xiao Xiangzi.
Xiao Xiangzi personally went to the Imperial Hospital and the Imperial Household Department, and after quite some time, he brought over more saltpeter and containers needed for making ice.
Yaotai Residence was full of Qin Xiao's men, so Chu Jiubian couldn't hide even if he wanted to. He directly ordered Xiao Xiangzi and the others to work with him.
The purification and cooling of saltpeter took a whole night, so everyone was busy until dark and still didn't know what Chu Jiubian was up to. However, no one asked any questions. Palace servants trusted by Qin Xiao were certainly aware of the importance of keeping their mouths shut.
As dusk fell, Chu Jiubian gave the cooling saltpeter one last check before preparing to wash up and rest.
Two young eunuchs, Xiao Jinzi and Xiao Yinzi, brought fire from the kitchen and lit the lamps in each room, and also burned herbs to repel mosquitoes.
Chu Jiubian was stunned for a moment before realizing that the Great Ning Dynasty didn't even have tinderboxes or candles; they could only light fires with flint.
Therefore, nowadays, saltpeter is really only used for medicinal purposes.
No wonder Xiao Xiangzi only found two baskets of saltpeter after all that effort; the reason was that the palace really didn't have that much in stock.
Saltpeter is used for more than just making ice; it is also needed for tinder, gunpowder, and fireworks.
If the mining of saltpeter were taken over by the imperial court, and the people were prohibited from collecting and selling it privately, then only the imperial court would be able to use saltpeter in the future.
Products made from saltpeter, except for gunpowder, could be sold. First, the powerful and wealthy made a fortune, and then the products gradually spread to the common people, resulting in a continuous stream of income.
After Chu Jiubian finished washing up, he lay down on the bed and thought to himself that Qin Xiao was really getting off easy.
However, the imperial court is not Qin Xiao's personal court. In the end, the young emperor will still be in charge. Chu Jiubian can just consider it an investment in the male lead.
While he was pondering these things, he was unaware that the capital was already in an uproar because of his two poems.
Leaving aside the pretentious literati, even officials of all ranks skilled in political maneuvering would gather with their advisors and retainers to critique and discuss these matters.
Scholars and writers naturally studied these two poems repeatedly, analyzing them from various aspects such as tonal patterns and parallelism, imagery and emotions, and finally came to the conclusion that "such poems should only exist in heaven."
In a short time, the names of the poet Li Bai and the scholar Li Qingzhao spread throughout the literary circles.
Some people exclaimed, "If I could personally pay my respects to these two immortals, I would have no regrets in this life."
Even those literati who once considered themselves renowned scholars and talented individuals have lost their moral compass and are no longer willing to pick up their pens to write poetry.
Unlike these talented scholars who were focused on their studies, the officials, both high and low, who were subservient to the bureaucracy, saw much more. Their focus was not on the two "immortals," Li Bai and Li Qingzhao, but on Chu Jiubian, who brought the immortal works to the human world.
Chu Jiubian's name had long been known to the public through the spread of his poetry.
Nowadays, almost everyone knows the name "Ninth Master".
Inside the Su residence, Su Sheng, the Minister of Revenue, stared intently at the thin paper in his hand, on which were copied the two poems that had spread throughout the capital within a few hours.
“This Ninth Young Master is truly an extraordinary person,” he said in a deep voice.
The strategist Fan He also said with a solemn expression, "Indeed. Qin Xiao played a good move."
After these two poems were published, everyone naturally had various plans in mind.
Initially, there were rumors that the poem was written by a scholar under Qin Xiao's command. But if he really had such a talent under his command, and more than one, then he wouldn't still be isolated and helpless in the court.
Just by looking at the line "There will be times when the wind will break the waves, and I will set sail to cross the vast ocean," you can tell that the person who wrote this poem had ambitions and could never be content to remain behind the scenes as a strategist.
Therefore, the poet Li Bai could never have been one of Qin Xiao's men.
Having ruled out this possibility, everyone can only believe that these two poems were written by Chu Jiubian.
If there were only one poem, "The Road to Shu is Hard," people might think that Chu Jiubian wrote it himself, but there is also another poem, "A Spray of Plum Blossoms."
Unless Chu Jiubian had experienced two different lives, he could not have written two completely different poems.
"Sir, why do you think the forces behind the Ninth Young Master would send him to the capital to stir up trouble?" Su Sheng asked.
Fan He shook his head and said, "I don't know. But we should try our best to win over such a force that has been lurking unnoticed for who knows how long."
Su Sheng nodded: "It seems we need to send another message to the Prince."
He looked out into the northwest through the wide-open window of his study.
The silver moon cast a shimmering white light across the ground.
In the small courtyard of the inner residence, a young girl in her prime stood gracefully, holding a rough, yellowed piece of paper between her slender fingers. On it, in beautiful handwriting, was copied the poem "A Spray of Plum Blossoms".
A young maid with her hair in two buns hurried in from outside the courtyard. After greeting her, she reported, "Miss, Miss Zhao, the third daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, just sent an invitation, inviting you to attend a poetry appreciation banquet at your residence early tomorrow morning."
A look of surprise appeared on Miss Su's pretty and bright face: "That's great! I was just worried about not having anyone to discuss this with."
The head maid beside her held her hand and said with a smile, "Then Miss, please rest well. We'll go first thing tomorrow morning."
The young ladies and wives in various courtyards in the capital also received invitations one after another, all from acquaintances, inviting them to appreciate the poems.
Meanwhile, in the east courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation, Xiao Xiangzi was reporting to Qin Xiao what he had seen and heard that day.
"Just now, when I went to help you prepare saltpeter and containers, Little Tiger from the Imperial Kitchen, Little Peach from the Imperial Garden, and Aunt Haitang from the Bureau of Clothing approached me." Xiao Xiangzi presented a few small gold beans to Qin Xiao and said, "They gave these to me, only saying that I have now been given a good job and they want to befriend me. They didn't say anything else."
"Well done," Qin Xiao said.
Xiao Xiangzi hurriedly replied, "This servant is terrified."
Qin Chaoyang saw him out of the study, returned all the little gold beans to him, and gave him a few extra gold melon seeds, saying, "Take these for yourself, keep an eye on things, and report back if anything happens."
"Yes." Xiao Xiangzi left the east courtyard with a big smile and skipped and hopped towards the main courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
At the main gate, Eunuch Hongfu looked up at the high-hanging silver moon in a daze, but when he sensed someone approaching, he immediately looked in that direction, his eyes cold and sharp.
When he saw that the person who came was a familiar figure, the fierce look in his eyes disappeared.
"Master." Xiao Xiangzi ran up to Eunuch Hong and put the gold beans and melon seeds he had just earned into the other man's palm with a grin. "These are what I earned today, and there are also rewards from the master. The master even praised me."
Hong Fu Gonggong always had a kind and gentle appearance, but now, looking at his disciple in front of him, his smile became even more loving and genuine.
He stuffed all the gold back into his disciple's small purse and said, "Keep it safe, but don't spend it recklessly. Save the money for your retirement."
"Disciple understands." Xiao Xiangzi smiled, his eyes crinkling and his dimples deepening. "Then I'll be going now, Master. I'm afraid the young master will look for me tonight."
Seeing his reaction, Eunuch Hong couldn't help but remind him again, "Remember, His Majesty and the Lord are our masters."
"I understand, Master. I'll remember." Little Xiangzi said goodbye to his master and ran off happily.
Eunuch Hong watched his figure disappear at the end of the palace road before smiling and looking up at the bright moon once more.
His usually hunched back straightened when no one was around, displaying his integrity, but a hint of sadness gradually appeared in his eyes.
The eunuch, though only in his thirties, had eyes like those of an old man, which made his figure appear desolate and frail, blending into the moonlight in solitude.
After a long time, until the moon was high in the sky, a faint cry of a child came from the main courtyard behind them.
He then transformed back into the thoughtful, kind, and cheerful Grandfather Hong he was during the day.
Hong Fu walked quickly back into the courtyard and entered the main hall.
The palace servants serving in the main hall were rushing out to find him. When they saw that he had arrived, they immediately said in a tearful voice, "Eunuch Hong, His Majesty just had another nightmare and has been crying ever since he woke up."
"Understood." Hong Fu walked towards the inner hall without stopping. "Go and boil a bowl of goat's milk, and add more sugar."
"Yes." The palace servants immediately went to prepare, while Hong Fu had already entered the inner hall.
The palace servants serving in the inner palace all tried to make themselves as inconspicuous as he arrived, not daring to raise their heads.
On the large dragon bed, a little boy dressed in a pure white silk undergarment was hugging a quilt, his hair disheveled, his round eyes and nose red from crying.
Upon seeing familiar faces, the child immediately cried even more pitifully.
Hong Fu felt a pang of sadness, quickened his pace, knelt down on one knee by the bed, and gently wiped the little emperor's tear-streaked face with a handkerchief.
"Your Majesty, don't be afraid, this servant is with you," Hong Fu coaxed softly.
Baili Hong sobbed, his small, sweaty hands gripping Hongfu's, and choked out, "I...I want my uncle."
Hong Fu smiled gently and said, "Alright. This servant will help you get dressed."
The west courtyard of the Hall of Mental Cultivation.
A faint but hurried footstep came from outside the main room. The person in the bedchamber suddenly opened his eyes and got up from the bed. He drew the long sword from beside his pillow and looked out the door with his dark eyes.
"Who?" His voice was not hoarse at all, as if he had just woken up.
A young eunuch's voice came from outside the door: "My lord, His Majesty has arrived."
Qin Xiao paused, then grabbed a coat and put it on before walking outside.
He put down his long sword before leaving the palace.
He left the palace and before he even stepped out of the courtyard, he saw a small figure running towards him by the moonlight.
Qin Xiao took two steps forward, picked up his little nephew who had run up to him, and lifted him above his head.
The little boy, who had just been crying uncontrollably, was immediately amused, kicking his little legs in the air and calling out "Uncle, Uncle."
Hong Fu had already sensed the situation and dismissed all the servants. He himself did not approach the courtyard, but stood guard at a distance from the gate.
Qin Xiao lowered Baili Hong down a little, letting him sit in the crook of his arm, just as he had done countless times before.
Baili Hong clutched his clothes with her small hands and sniffed.
"Crying again?" Qin Xiao unceremoniously pulled up the child's clothes and wiped his snot.
Baili Hong immediately burst into tears, choking back sobs, and said, "Uncle, I miss Mother."
Qin Xiao wiped away the child's tears with his rough fingertips and said, "Uncle misses her too."
The child's tears fell even harder: "Mother, has Mother really become a fairy? Is she really watching over me from heaven?"
But in the past, whenever he shed tears, his mother would feel very sorry for him and would stay with him. Why is it that now, after he has cried so many times, his mother does not come to find him?
"Is that what Hong Fu told you?" Qin Xiao asked.
Baili Hong nodded his little head.
My uncle said that my mother was dead, just like my maternal grandparents and great-grandfather. He would never see them again, nor would he ever see my mother again.
But Grandpa Hong told him that his beloved relatives had all gone to heaven and become immortals, and that they were watching over him and protecting him.
Looking into the child's pitiful eyes, Qin Xiao swallowed back the cold words that were on the tip of his tongue.
However, he didn't say anything about becoming an immortal. Baili Hong wasn't an ordinary little prince, but the emperor. He had to be stronger and more mature than ordinary children.
But after all, he was just a three-year-old child who had lost his mother, and he couldn't bring himself to upset him when the other child was crying so hard that snot bubbles were coming out of his nose.
So Qin Xiao changed the subject, saying, "Remember the person who fell from the sky yesterday?"
Baili Hong's attention was indeed diverted, and he said in a choked voice, "God, God Brother."
Qin Xiao couldn't help but glance at the courtyard gate, wondering what Hong Fu had been teaching him every day, since the emperor was always talking about gods and immortals.
“He’s not a god. You can call him Chu Jiubian from now on,” he corrected.
Baili Hong nodded: "Ninth Brother".
Qin Xiao corrected him again, "You are the emperor, you can't call him brother."
"Oh." Baili Hong nodded obediently.
Qin Xiao: "He has some fun things there. I'll take you to see him tomorrow. But you have to sleep well tonight, otherwise I won't take you to play tomorrow, and I'll make you eat an extra egg yolk, understand?"
Like uncle, nephew Baili Hong inherited many of Qin Xiao's good qualities, such as a photographic memory and a willingness to learn.
However, he also inherited some of Qin Xiao's shortcomings, such as being a picky eater.
When Baili Hong heard that he was to eat an extra egg yolk, he immediately covered his mouth with his little hand, shook his head in fear, and then nodded.
Qin Xiao chuckled and put him on the ground: "Alright, go back to sleep."
"Okay, Uncle will sleep too." Baili Hong bowed to Qin Xiao in a proper manner, then wobbled his short legs and walked back.
Hong Fu bowed to Qin Xiao from afar, and then followed Baili Hong away.
Qin Xiao watched the two figures, one large and one small, walk away and let out a soft sigh.
Today, Chu Jiubian said that he could see something good this morning, something that could help him solve his financial difficulties in a short time.
Qin Xiao was already slowly teaching Baili Hong about these things, so it wasn't a big deal for him to bring people to see Chu Jiubian tomorrow.
I slept without any dreams.
Chu Jiubian slept until dawn and then woke up naturally.
As soon as he opened his eyes, a familiar mechanical voice rang in his mind: "Good morning, host. Congratulations! Your faith points have reached fifty. You are expected to break one hundred today. Please keep up the good work."
Chu Jiubian sat up abruptly.
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