"Chu Chen, this glazed mirror is so miraculous. What price do you plan to sell it for at the merchant guild?"
Hearing the Empress's question, Chu Chen chuckled, "This item is quite extraordinary. With such a clear reflection, many nobles and even foreign dignitaries, if they have someone in their household who values beauty, no one can resist its allure."
"Therefore, I plan to price each full-length glazed mirror at ten thousand taels."
"Ten thousand taels? Hiss~ Does that mean with a hundred of these, one could earn millions? Isn't that a bit too expensive?"
Princess Xin Yue was utterly shocked. The funds in her princess's mansion, excluding imperial gifts, would take ages to accumulate such an amount.
Of course, this was partly due to her not yet being enfeoffed and not having acquired any properties. Otherwise, once enfeoffed or with properties, her income would be far more than the few hundred taels a month she currently had.
"Your Highness, you can't calculate it like that. This glazed mirror is not a consumable. Once purchased, it can be used for a long time. It's a one-time sale, so it naturally needs to be priced a bit higher," Chu Chen replied with a slight shake of his head. He explained a little and then added with a smile, "Moreover, nobles have broad sources of income and substantial monthly earnings. I believe they would be willing to buy one or two."
Princess Xin Yue nodded as if she understood, sighing internally that the item was too expensive, and she certainly couldn't afford it.
But it didn't matter. She could just act spoiled with her mother later. Her mother had money!
Princess Xin Yue entertained her little thoughts, casting a furtive glance at the Empress. To her surprise, the Empress seemed to anticipate her gaze and shot her an exasperated look.
The Empress spoke, "I knew you'd be eyeing my money again, you little rascal."
"Hehe~ Mother~"
Seeing her intentions exposed, Princess Xin Yue immediately resorted to her usual tactics.
The Empress helplessly tapped her smooth forehead and said, "You're already this old and still acting spoiled. Fine, I give up. I'll get you one later."
"I knew Mother loved me the most!"
Princess Xin Yue happily hugged the Empress and kissed her on the cheek.
The Empress feigned displeasure and chided, "We are outside, mind your reputation."
However, the smile in her eyes revealed her inner delight.
"I know~" Princess Xin Yue replied joyfully.
The Empress turned to Chu Chen and said with a smile, "Once these glazed mirrors are produced, don't rush to sell them. I will purchase ten first. Only sell the surplus."
"Your subject obeys!"
Chu Chen had no objections. The item could be mass-produced anyway; the high price was merely to maximize profit, not due to scarcity.
All the artisans involved in the manufacturing of the glazed mirrors, along with their families, were under military control and living within this earthen city. Coupled with the city's inherent defenses and the presence of ten thousand imperial troops stationed nearby, there was no concern about technology leakage.
Within the city, there were over thirty hidden cultivators in the Body Tempering realm, and overtly, a thousand Embroidered Uniform Guards in the Martial Disciple realm were stationed.
With such strength, even if the strongest cultivators in other countries, in the Foundation Establishment realm, were to come personally, they wouldn't be able to steal the technology.
"Since this item is so valuable to produce, its security must be arranged meticulously," the Empress instructed before leaving.
"Please rest assured, Your Majesty. Your subject has already made all the necessary arrangements," Chu Chen replied, waving his hand for the glazed mirrors to be carried away.
He then accompanied the Empress and Princess Xin Yue to inspect other factories.
The printing factory, as well as the textile and spinning machines, were not particularly interesting. The Empress and Princess Xin Yue had already understood the principles and marvels of these items last year.
They bypassed these directly and proceeded to the perfume factory.
As they approached the factory, the two women caught faint wisps of fragrance wafting from within.
Princess Xin Yue asked curiously, "Is this perfume some kind of food?"
"Uh~ Food? Of course not," Chu Chen replied, momentarily taken aback.
He mused inwardly whether he should also introduce cast iron pots, vegetable oil, and spices.
"Then what is it that smells so fragrant?" Princess Xin Yue's curiosity intensified.
Chu Chen smiled and ordered three small glass bottles of perfume to be brought. He took them, handed two to the ladies, and then uncorked one. He poured a little onto his hand and casually applied it to his arm.
Instantly, his arm began to exude the scent of peonies.
"This is? The scent of peonies! There's flower fragrance in this water! Is this perfume?" Princess Xin Yue sniffed, her nose twitching, marveling at the scent wafting from Chu Chen's arm.
"That's right, this is perfume. It's made using a special method that infuses floral scents into water. Once applied to the body, it can maintain the floral fragrance on the applied area for several hours," Chu Chen explained, holding up his arm so Princess Xin Yue could smell it more clearly.
The Empress's brow furrowed with delight. Although an emperor, as a woman, she also desired to always smell pleasant rather than unpleasant.
To be able to fill her body with fragrance so easily with such a perfume was simply incredible.
Previously, the Empress had ways to make her body smell fragrant, but those methods were not long-lasting, disappearing after at most the time it took for an incense stick to burn. The method was simple: bathing in a wooden tub filled with a large quantity of flower petals.
Thinking of this, the Empress asked, "Chu Chen, with your special method of making perfume, after application, if one walks and sweats, or is exposed to sunlight, will it still be effective?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, the 'several hours' I mentioned earlier includes walking and sweating, as well as exposure to sunlight. It will still last," Chu Chen explained. He added, "Of course, if there is strenuous exercise, or prolonged exposure exceeding half an hour in extremely hot outdoor conditions, the effect will be greatly diminished."
"However, for daily walking or light movement, it is fine. The effect will only weaken gradually over time, varying from person to person, until the duration ends."
Upon hearing Chu Chen's answer, before the Empress could say anything, Princess Xin Yue was the first to jump up with joy.
"Wonderful! This way, I'll smell fragrant all day long!"
At seventeen, she was at an age that cherished beauty and adornments. With such efficacy, Princess Xin Yue was overjoyed.
Her recent cultivated demeanor of composure and grace crumbled under the dual delight of the glazed mirror and the perfume. Fortunately, she hadn't reverted to her spoiled ways.
"I can already imagine it. Waking up in the morning, bathing, looking at myself in the glazed mirror to clearly see my peerless beauty, applying the perfume, then leaving the palace to find Shao Li Li and Chen Sheng Nan, showing off to them, making them so envious they'll be green with envy, crying and begging me to tell them how I did it! Hehe!"
Princess Xin Yue's mind was filled with visions of herself appearing even more beautiful and alluring before her friends, flaunting her charm.
The Empress and Chu Chen were once again speechless.
After a moment, Princess Xin Yue, having come back to her senses, lowered her head shyly as she noticed the two of them staring at her.
The Empress sighed for her daughter, then turned to Chu Chen and asked, "Will this perfume still be effective in winter?"
"Replying to Your Majesty, this item can be produced all year round. We only need to make some preparations before winter arrives," Chu Chen said with a slight smile, understanding her unspoken question.