Chapter 13: Days of Being Unable to Speak (3)

Actually, hearing that grain production had decreased due to natural disasters, Chu Yaoyao felt a heavy heart as well.

For the Great Qi to fall in just a few short years, it was due to a combination of natural disasters and man-made calamities; the nation was impoverished and the military was weak—every single factor was a fatal wound.

But if she wanted to implement large-scale planting of high-yield crops, this little bit wouldn't be enough.

【Other people's systems come with a built-in mall, why don't you have one?】

System:...

You can't even afford to upgrade, what kind of bicycle are you asking for? [Note: A Chinese idiom meaning "why demand more than what is reasonable"]

System: A Level 2 system can unlock the trading module. There will be two cross-plane trading opportunities per month, once in the middle and once at the end. However, the planes are randomized. I suggest the Host upgrade as soon as possible.

【Cross-plane trading?】

After using thirty points for the upgrade, twenty-five points remained. It seemed alright?

【Then let's upgrade.】

The system froze for a moment.

System: Host, are you serious?

You're being this easy to talk to this time?

【If you're unwilling, then forget it.】

System: Thirty points have been deducted. The upgrade is beginning now. The system will temporarily go offline. The upgrade is expected to take eight hours. Host, see you in eight hours~

Chu Yaoyao thought for a moment. 【I might as well bring it out.】

Emperor Qixuan's heart raced. *Give it to me, give it to me! Grain seeds with a yield of three thousand catties per mu, give them to me quickly!*

The Crown Prince looked on with anticipation. *Even if it's too late for this year, we can surely plant them next year, right?*

Chu Yaoyao crawled onto the bed and fumbled around under her pillow for a while.

Then, she pulled out a small booklet.

【Ta-da! The manufacturing process for glass!】

Emperor Qixuan felt a bit disappointed.

【We can't grow grain in a short amount of time, but we can start workshops! Wouldn't that give the common people an extra source of income?】

Chu You took the booklet and began flipping through it impatiently.

So the "glass" his sister was talking about was actually colored glaze.

It turned out the materials used to make glaze were everywhere, and they were so... cheap.

"Father?"

Emperor Qixuan leaned in to look as well. When he saw the raw materials, his breathing visibly quickened.

He was furious.

Those Nanyang merchants were going too far!

Such cheap materials, yet they sold them for such high prices!

He still remembered buying a glaze vase once, which had cost him ten thousand taels of silver at the time.

After his initial rage subsided, a thought occurred to him.

A business opportunity! A massive business opportunity!

At this moment, in the eyes of the father and son, this booklet was a pile of silver—no, a pile of gold!

Afterward, the father and son went to the Imperial Study and began a discussion regarding the future glaze industry of the Great Qi.

In the middle of the night, a small, suspicious figure appeared in Qionghua Palace, dragging a cloth bag.

Just as Chu Yaoyao opened the door a crack, she heard Chun Shi's voice.

"Little Princess, where are you going?"

By the faint light of a fire starter, Chu Yaoyao clutched her stomach and looked at her expectantly.

"Are you hungry? This servant will go inform Her Majesty."

【How can you do that?】

Chu Yaoyao grabbed her and shook her head.

【Imperial Mother worked so hard, taking care of me for a whole day and night. She finally managed to fall asleep; we absolutely cannot disturb her.】

Chun Shi crouched down to negotiate with her. "This servant will take you to the small kitchen to cook some porridge for you, alright?"

As she spoke, she prepared to go find a lantern.

【That's too much trouble. Watch this.】

Chu Yaoyao pulled out a flashlight. With a *click*, the path ahead was instantly illuminated.

"This..." Chun Shi was utterly shocked.

She took it and examined it closely, clicking the switch on and off repeatedly.

【Aiya, you're shining it in my eyes.】

Seeing the little princess cover her eyes, Chun Shi gave a sheepish smile and pointed the light elsewhere.

As the large and small figures walked along the road, Chun Shi's playful side took over. She shone the light here and there, causing their shadows to constantly grow and shrink, appearing and disappearing...

"Mon... monster..."

【Who called me?】

"A monster! Help!"

Chu Yaoyao turned around, only catching a vague glimpse of a figure running away at high speed.

【Who was it?】

When she turned back, she was startled by Chun Shi, instantly understanding the person who had screamed.

【Holy crap, that's terrifying. If I won't let you shine it on others, you'll just shine it on yourself, huh?】

Chun Shi moved the flashlight away from her chin and continued leading the way.

"Little Princess, we've arrived."

Entering the small kitchen, Chu Yaoyao's gaze fell upon a stove for decocting medicine.

She signaled Chun Shi to light the stove. Once the fire was burning, she put the potatoes and sweet potatoes inside.

On the other side.

"Help!" Chu Yao was terrified and could only focus on charging forward.

"What is going on? Why are you shouting and screaming in the middle of the night instead of sleeping!" Emperor Qixuan grabbed him by the back of his collar.

Chu Yao hid behind Su Maowen, poking his head out and saying tremblingly, "Father, there's... there's a monster!"

"Nonsense! This is the Imperial Palace, where would a monster come from?"

"It's true! Your son saw it with his own eyes, right inside Qionghua Palace!"

Qionghua Palace?

Emperor Qixuan's brow was filled with worry.

"Send the Third Prince back."

Chu Yao grabbed Su Maowen's sleeve. "Father, can you let Chief Manager Su take me back?"

He didn't want a palace maid to do it.

Emperor Qixuan didn't think much of it, assuming he was just frightened, and nodded in agreement.

In the small kitchen of Qionghua Palace, Chun Shi used a long stick to poke the potatoes and sweet potatoes, occasionally adding a piece of charcoal to the stove.

Chu Yaoyao stared at the sweet potatoes as they gradually changed color, swallowing her saliva.

Chun Shi poked a sweet potato. "Little Princess, this one seems done."

"This servant will help you take it out. It's very hot, so we must let it cool first."

As the charred outer skin was peeled away, a rich, sweet aroma drifted straight into the nose.

【This is the smell! I missed this so much!】

Chu Yaoyao picked up a piece and started munching.

"Cough!"

Chun Shi was the first to react. Seeing the newcomer, she knelt on the ground nervously. "This servant greets the Emperor."

【What is the Tyrant Dad doing here in the middle of the night instead of sleeping?】

Chu Yaoyao turned around, revealing her little, soot-smudged face.

Emperor Qixuan couldn't help but chuckle. He reached out to wipe Yaoyao's mouth. "Instead of eating a proper dinner, you insist on sneaking food in the middle of the night."

Chu Yaoyao pursed her little lips and took another bite.

*Well, that was a waste of a wipe,* Emperor Qixuan thought helplessly.

"What are you eating?" Emperor Qixuan sniffed. *It's sweet? And smells quite good.*

"Would Your Majesty like to try some?"

The food was black; Emperor Qixuan didn't originally want to eat it, but Yaoyao was eating it quite heartily. Otherwise... maybe a try?

"Bring it here."

Emperor Qixuan was not as unrestrained as Yaoyao; instead, he took a spoon to scoop it up.

It... actually wasn't bad?

Chu Yaoyao gave him a triumphant look.

【Delicious, right? This is my favorite. I wouldn't even let anyone else eat it.】

*Favorite?*

Emperor Qixuan shook his head helplessly. Although the flavor was amazing, how could it compare to dishes made by the imperial chefs?

She was still too young; she hadn't eaten enough good things.

Despite thinking this, Emperor Qixuan's hand did not stop, taking bite after bite...

【Sigh, potatoes are better when they're fried, but since resources are limited, we'll just make do.】

*Clatter!*

The spoon in Emperor Qixuan's hand fell to the ground.

What?!

Potatoes!

Emperor Qixuan looked at the little child eating happily and clutched his chest.

Those were the high-yield seeds that produced three thousand catties per mu!

And she was just... roasting them and eating them?!

【What's wrong?】

【Is the Tyrant Dad actually this weak? He can't even hold a spoon steady?】

The freshly roasted sweet potatoes were a bit hot, so Chu Yaoyao pursed her lips and blew on them.

That aroma drifted into Emperor Qixuan's nose.

*Forget it. They're already roasted. Since it's a new variety, as Emperor, I must taste it first to check for poison.*

*This is also my responsibility to the people of Great Qi.*

With this thought, Emperor Qixuan took another piece.

*Mmm, truly fragrant...*

***

The Border of Great Qi

As night fell, Li Chengjing, who had been fast asleep, suddenly snapped his eyes open. He rose and drew his sword in one fluid motion.

His sword pointed at the newcomer. "Who are you!"

The newcomer removed the black cloth covering his face, revealing a familiar face.

Li Wanjing retracted his long sword, utterly bewildered.

"Brother Zhao?"

(End of Chapter)