"Do you know what you are saying?" the Empress asked with a gentle smile, her voice soft.
"This humble one knows," Chu Chen lowered his head. "This humble one would rather make a mistake than do nothing."
"This humble one knows that everything I have is given by Your Majesty. Without Your Majesty, I am nothing," Chu Chen suddenly raised his head. "Therefore, this humble one is willing to do his utmost to repay Your Majesty's kindness in recognizing my potential!"
"Even if it means making a mistake?"
"Your Majesty is magnanimous..." Chu Chen hesitated for a moment, then continued, "This humble one believes that as long as I am loyal, Your Majesty will not take my life."
The Empress suddenly smiled slightly. "You have a bit of cunning."
"It's a pity you are a eunuch. If not, I might have considered bestowing the title of驸马 (fù mǎ - consort to a princess) upon you," the Empress said with a hint of implication.
Chu Chen's heart stirred in surprise, but his expression remained unchanged. "This humble one dares not hope for more. To be able to accompany Her Royal Highness the Princess is more than enough."
The Empress nodded slightly. "Since that is the case, how about I give you a task?"
"Please command, Your Majesty!" Chu Chen immediately replied loudly.
"The land of Yun Yue Kingdom is somewhat barren, and its finances have always been difficult. Neighboring countries also eye Yun Yue Kingdom covetously. Do you have any way to resolve my financial worries?"
Chu Chen hesitated for a moment. "Replying to Your Majesty, this humble one believes we can encourage trade, dump goods onto neighboring countries, and earn their wealth. With a decrease on their side and an increase on ours, the predicament will resolve itself."
"Earning the wealth of neighboring countries, you say it so easily and simply," the Empress chuckled softly. "How specifically should it be implemented? Tell me in detail."
"This humble one has two methods, one long-term and one short-term."
The Empress's attention was immediately drawn. "What about the long-term? And what about the short-term?"
Chu Chen smiled slightly and slowly revealed his answer.
With the promotion of the curved-shaft plow and the waterwheel, coupled with the farming methods previously proposed by Chu Chen, Yun Yue Kingdom's grain production would undoubtedly see a significant increase.
Within the next few years, Yun Yue Kingdom's grain supply would be in surplus.
Therefore, Yun Yue Kingdom could sell grain at low prices and exchange it with neighboring countries for mulberries, hemp, and silk.
Once the people of the neighboring countries began to focus on growing cash crops, their grain lifeline would naturally fall under Yun Yue Kingdom's control.
When a country's most critical grain lifeline is held by another, what threat can it pose?
In just a few years, it would be annexed by its neighbors.
This method, though seemingly simple, was actually unsolvable.
Unless they also possessed the curved-shaft plow and the waterwheel.
But how could the Empress allow these things to be easily disseminated?
In less than three to five years, and at most seven to eight years, Yun Yue Kingdom would be able to easily defeat other countries and become the hegemon of the region!
The Empress's eyes flickered. "And what about the short-term?"
"That would naturally be to utilize goods, dumping them into other countries, extracting vast amounts of foreign wealth. With a decrease on their side and an increase on ours, the predicament can be resolved."
"Dumping goods..." the Empress shook her head slightly. "I don't think Yun Yue Kingdom has anything that can be dumped onto other countries."
Chu Chen grinned. This was his opportunity!
"This humble one has considerable experience with ingenious crafts. I beg Your Majesty to grant me some time, and I am certain I can produce an answer that will satisfy Your Majesty!"
"So that's what you were waiting for," the Empress said with a half-smile. "Since that is the case, I shall give you time."
"I shall see what surprises you can bring me."
...
"Xiao Chenzi, Xiao Chenzi, what did Mother say when she called you over?" Princess Xin Yue asked curiously, looking at Chu Chen who was busy at work.
"What are you doing now?"
Seeing Chu Chen busy boiling oil and adding strange liquids to it, Princess Xin Yue asked curiously, "Are you preparing to make ice again?"
"This is a good thing," Chu Chen smiled slightly, taking out the solidified substance from the pot and cutting it into small pieces with a knife.
"It smells so good!" Princess Xin Yue's eyes lit up. "Is this a pastry that can be eaten?"
Princess Xin Yue was very tempted and wanted to try it herself.
But glancing at the preparation process beside her, she hesitated.
"Can... can this be eaten?"
"Of course not!" Chu Chen smiled. "This is for washing!"
"Washing?" Princess Xin Yue looked skeptical. "Don't lie to me. I know you used lard to boil these things. How can something boiled with lard be used for washing?"
"Won't it just make you dirtier the more you wash?"
Chu Chen laughed heartily. "Your Royal Highness will know once you try. How would this humble one dare to deceive Your Highness!"
That's right, what Chu Chen held in his hand was the transmigration artifact that allowed countless transmigrators to get rich and accumulate their first pot of gold: soap.
The chemical principles contained within soap were simple, and the preparation process was extremely straightforward.
The alkaline solution formed by ash and lime reacted with oil through esterification. After a series of treatments, soap could finally be produced, along with crude glycerin.
Yes, it was the glycerin from which nitroglycerin was derived.
With a little processing, it could be turned into a powerful explosive.
However, Chu Chen did not intend to develop explosives.
Firstly, they were too dangerous, and secondly, their utility was limited.
This world had cultivators, and on the battlefield, cultivators were the true main force.
Before a systematic industrial base emerged, the power of explosives was limited, and their lethality against cultivators was questionable.
Although Chu Chen did not intend to develop gunpowder-like substances.
But this did not mean that the byproduct, glycerin, had no other uses.
While nitrated glycerin could be a violent explosive, by adding a little appropriate cold boiled water, it could yield a cosmetic that kept the skin moisturized in winter.
Because glycerin is hygroscopic, it can absorb moisture from the air to keep the skin hydrated.
However, pure glycerin could not be directly applied to the face. Overly pure glycerin would not only absorb moisture from the air but also from the skin on one's face.
As long as the ratio was controlled, glycerin was also a skincare miracle.
Both women and men have little resistance to items that can make them more attractive.
Chu Chen added essential oils extracted from flowers to the soap, giving it a floral scent.
After washing with soap, the floral scent would linger for a long time without dissipating.
And the product made from glycerin could keep the skin moisturized at all times, with a rosy complexion.
It was no exaggeration to say that in this era, with this duo, you would be the most dazzling person on the street.
Princess Xin Yue hesitated for a moment, then finally decided to try it herself.
Following Chu Chen's method, Princess Xin Yue tentatively applied the soap to her hands, rubbed them gently, and then washed them off with clean water.