Chapter 345: Chapter 216 New Paper_3
The Fourth Prince said, "I’ll save your lunch for you."
"But I still need to trade food with Zheng Zhengshi..."
"I’ll have Wei Mian help you with the trade." The Fourth Prince patted Zhao Yao on the back, "Don’t keep Father waiting, quickly follow Mr. Sun."
"I know." Zhao Yao reluctantly went with Sun Kui.
Seeing Zhao Yao’s unhappy little face, Sun Kui inwardly smiled helplessly: If others learned that the Emperor summoned them, they would be eager and excited, or perhaps fearful, to go to the Imperial Study. Only the Tenth Prince looks so unwilling. To the Tenth Prince, meeting the Emperor is not as important as having lunch.
Zhao Yao followed Sun Kui to the Imperial Study and indeed saw Eunuch Han and Ding Luo there.
"Greetings, Father."
The Emperor raised his hand slightly towards Zhao Yao, his tone unusually gentle, "Rise." As he spoke, he lifted a new piece of paper in his hand and asked Zhao Yao, "Is this the new paper you had the Shangfang Officers make?"
"I just made some suggestions to have Ding Luo and them replace the papermaking materials with bamboo, straw, or things like vine bark." Zhao Yao said honestly.
"You little rascal, how did you come up with using bamboo and straw for papermaking?"
"Father, you could say it was a sudden whim."
The Emperor slightly raised his left eyebrow, "A sudden whim?"
"Yeah, I thought that the paper we use now is made from bark, rags, and old fishing nets. So why couldn’t it be made from other materials?" Zhao Yao said, "For example, using good bark, vine bark, hemp bark, or even bamboo. Isn’t bamboo also used to make cloth? And it makes such strong cloth, so why can’t it be used to make paper?"
"If bark can make paper, why can’t straw? You won’t know unless you try," Zhao Yao continued, "Actually, you can try other things too. As long as it’s from trees or plants, it might just work."
The Emperor and Sun Kui were stunned; they hadn’t expected Zhao Yao to come up with it this way.
Sun Kui marveled inwardly: The Tenth Prince truly is clever.
"Trying won’t kill anyone, so why not give it a shot."
The Emperor laughed heartily, "Hahahahaha, indeed, you are my son, you’re smart."
Hearing this, Zhao Yao grumbled inwardly: The sly Father is actually praising himself, such shamelessness.
"You little rascal, what do you want?"
Zhao Yao looked at the Emperor in astonishment, "Father, you want to reward me?"
"Yes, anything you want, I’ll give it to you."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Yao not only wasn’t grateful but also looked vigilant.
"Father, what are you up to?" Suddenly wanting to reward him, there must be no good intentions from the sly Father.
The Emperor was amused by his youngest son’s cautious demeanor, "What, can’t I reward you?"
Standing by, Sun Kui silently complained inwardly: Your Majesty, who’s to blame for often teasing the Tenth Prince before, now making him wary of you? You clearly want to reward the Tenth Prince but are misunderstood as having bad intentions.
Your image in the Tenth Prince’s mind really is... lacking.
"Can I refuse?" Zhao Yao increasingly felt the Emperor had bad intentions.
The Emperor was shocked that his youngest son so disliked his reward, his face turning livid with anger.
"You little rascal, how dare you refuse my reward!"
Eunuch Han and Ding Luo were astounded, unable to believe Zhao Yao refused the Emperor’s reward.
Zhao Yao looked at the Emperor, pouting and muttering, "Who knows what bad scheme you’re up to."
"What did you say?" The Emperor didn’t hear Zhao Yao’s words clearly.
"I don’t want it!" Zhao Yao suddenly said loudly, "I don’t want you to reward me with anything!"
The Emperor stood up in a huff, striding over to Zhao Yao and pulling him into his arms, pinching his chubby little cheeks firmly.
"You little rascal, you have the nerve to refuse my reward."
Zhao Yao said with determination, "I don’t want it..." Before he could finish, his small mouth was tugged forcefully by the Emperor.
"You may not want it, but I’ll give it to you!" The Emperor twisted his youngest son’s little face into various strange shapes, "To piss you off!"
Sun Kui saw the Emperor’s childish actions and complained inwardly again: Actually, Your Majesty is more like a child.
"Why are you like this? I said I don’t want it, yet you’re forcing it on me." Zhao Yao’s face was pained from the pinching, causing him to angrily reach out to grab the Emperor’s face.
"If I give it to you, you must take it, you’re not allowed to refuse, or I’ll spank you," the Emperor threatened, then bent down and bit his youngest son’s little face.
This little rascal’s face was as red as an apple, irresistible to take a bite.
Zhao Yao’s little face got a bite mark from the Emperor, making him grab the Emperor’s hand and bite it hard.
The Emperor, hurt by the bite, pinched his youngest son’s small mouth, scolding, "You little rascal, are you a puppy?"
"You’re the one who bit me first." The sly Father is the dog!
"I bit you, so what?" Finishing, the Emperor bent down again to bite Zhao Yao’s adorable little face.
Sun Kui: Your Majesty, even with others around, can you not consider your image?