Chapter 46

Ying Changchuan paused for a moment, and the quietness settled in the rear hall.

Jiang Yuxun instantly became alert, recalling the incident when Lou Zuo sent a gift to Ying Changchuan, which ended up displeasing him.

...Could it be that besides disliking officials who prioritize personal interests over public duties, Ying Changchuan was also looking to curb the trend of gift-giving?

If that were true, then he had unwittingly walked into the lion’s den.

The fine snow hidden beneath the peony petals melted into droplets, falling onto the table with a "plop."

Ying Changchuan also lowered his gaze in that moment, his eyes falling on the gap between the flower branches as he softly said, "Beautiful."

"…That’s good, that’s good." Jiang Yuxun immediately relaxed, involuntarily fiddling with the flower petals.

Seeing this, Ying Changchuan curiously asked, "What’s the matter?"

Jiang Yuxun answered honestly: "I thought Your Majesty disliked the practice of gift-giving and bribery."

His tone was incredibly sincere, and he spoke the word "bribery" with utter smoothness.

As soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Yuxun himself widened his eyes in shock.

—Damn, why did I blurt out "bribery" just like that!

Would Ying Changchuan overthink it?

The light scent of the peonies mixed with the stronger fragrance of the dragon's blood incense in the rear hall, adding a hint of sweetness to the air.

On the other side of the flower, Ying Changchuan fell silent for a few seconds, then slowly furrowed his brow.

Bribery and corruption are the untouchable taboos for every emperor.

Jiang Yuxun instinctively clenched his hands.

Just when he thought he was about to perish in silence, Ying Changchuan finally looked at Jiang Yuxun with a half-smiling expression:

"Does my dear official think a pot of flowers can bribe me?"

"What does a mere flower mean to the Emperor, who possesses the wealth of the four seas?"

Jiang Yuxun then had a sudden realization, "That's true!" After a moment, he couldn't resist his curiosity and earnestly asked the Emperor, "Then, what does Your Majesty like?"

Ying Changchuan didn't respond but simply raised his eyebrows and looked at him.

Realizing his position, Jiang Yuxun quickly averted his gaze and guiltily sipped some hot wine.

He used the act of drinking to cover his mouth.

Curiosity killed the cat.

If I say any more, Ying Changchuan might really suspect I have intentions of bribery!

-

The alchemists from the Listening Heaven Pavilion were arranged by the Emperor to stay in a palace named "Juan Yue" within the Xianyou Palace.

The creation of gunpowder and firearms was kept a strict secret.

To this day, those at the Listening Heaven Pavilion still didn't understand the Emperor's intention in summoning the alchemists, and others were even more in the dark.

Worried about attracting too much attention and suspicion, Jiang Yuxun had only visited Juan Yue Palace once since returning to Zhao Du.

It wasn't until before the New Year that he went there again with the Emperor.

The alchemists of Listening Heaven Pavilion were also slaves; they learned the art of alchemy from a young age and rarely interacted with the outside world.

They were completely flustered upon seeing the Emperor, stumbling over their words and manners.

"To answer Your Majesty, when we first started learning alchemy... our master had instructed us never to combine sulfur with saltpeter."

Jiang Yuxun's direct superior, the Minister of the Imperial Treasury, Fei Jin, was also responsible for the manufacture and storage of weapons and equipment.

He too had accompanied Ying Changchuan to this place today.

Hearing this, Fei Jinyuan couldn’t help but interrupt to ask, "Wait, what do you mean by 'three yellows'?"

"Uh…" The alchemist called upon grew even more nervous, "It refers to sulfur, realgar, and orpiment."

Seeing him trembling while speaking, Jiang Yuxun finally couldn’t hold back and added, "If they are mixed in a sealed crucible, it will generate a lot of heat and gas, leading to an explosion of the crucible."

"Exactly!" The alchemist sighed in relief, simultaneously wiping the sweat from his forehead with his sleeve, "The raw materials for making gunpowder this time are sulfur, charcoal, and saltpeter."

With someone else taking the lead, the alchemist spoke more smoothly and coherently.

The furniture in Juan Yue Palace had been removed, and now the hall only contained alchemy equipment.

"I see…" Fei Jinyuan nodded thoughtfully while stroking his beard.

His mood became excited with the alchemist’s words — if this substance could be used militarily, it could instantly collapse the enemy forces!

As the Minister of the Imperial Treasury, Fei Jinyuan was also concerned with a very practical question, "Then how can we maximize the power of these three raw materials?"

The alchemist nodded eagerly, "We, we have been researching this issue recently."

As a modern person, Jiang Yuxun was very familiar with the formula "one part saltpeter, two parts sulfur, three parts charcoal."

In reality, the most potent mixture for gunpowder is ten percent sulfur, fifteen percent charcoal, and seventy-five percent saltpeter.

However, to avoid suspicion, he didn’t directly share this ratio with the alchemists but instead guided them to experiment in this direction.

Seeing the Emperor slowly nodding, Fei Jinyuan finally grunted in affirmation, bringing the topic to an end.

When the alchemists arrived at the Xianyou Palace, they had no idea what they were there to do.

Therefore, they brought all their belongings.

Now, these items filled the hall, creating a lively scene.

There were common alchemy cauldrons, as well as less familiar items like the 'Hua Chi' and grinding tools.

Fei Jinyuan, having never seen such things before, asked while walking, "Mr. Jiang, what is this below? Why does it smell so sour?"

—The alchemists were too stammering, so Fei Jinyuan directly turned his question to Jiang Yuxun, who seemed much more knowledgeable.

"To answer Minister Fei, this is the 'Hua Chi', and inside it is concentrated vinegar. Alchemists use it to dissolve metals and stones."

Jiang Yuxun, who worked in a museum in his previous life, was very interested in these artifacts.

Most of the items in Juan Yue Palace were familiar to him from his time at work, so he knew them well.

The rest, he had inquired about and understood during his last visit.

After explaining their uses, Jiang Yuxun thought for a moment and then gave an example, "For instance, before water-method alchemy, alchemists first dissolve saltpeter in vinegar."

When it came to his area of expertise, Jiang Yuxun always had much to say.

His eyes shone brighter as he spoke.

"I see..."

Just as Fei Jinyuan finished speaking, the Emperor, walking at the front, suddenly stopped, turned around, and said with interest to Jiang Yuxun, "My dear official seems to have quite a study in alchemy."

Fei Jinyuan, standing slightly behind him, was startled by the Emperor's words and involuntarily looked towards Jiang Yuxun.

This is bad, the Emperor despises the Listening Heaven Pavilion, and by extension, detests the art of alchemy.

It seems Mr. Jiang’s words have just touched the Emperor's sore spot...

Thinking this, Fei Jinyuan's palms instantly broke out into a cold sweat.

He couldn’t help but feel worried for Jiang Yuxun.

Jiang Yuxun quickly explained, "To answer Your Majesty, I don’t understand alchemy, I am merely interested in these instruments."

While speaking, he cautiously raised his eyes to gauge Ying Changchuan's expression.

The Emperor lightly raised his brows, "Is that so?"

Jiang Yuxun, with a clear conscience, replied, "Indeed, it is."

Unlike the cautious Fei Jinyuan, there was not a trace of fear on his face.

After speaking, Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but add softly, "...Your Majesty can't scare me this time." He laid bare Ying Changchuan's ploy right there.

The hall suddenly fell silent.

Does Mr. Jiang realize what he's saying?

The Emperor's legitimate questioning can hardly be called intimidation.

Hearing this, Fei Jinyuan almost collapsed to the ground in fright.

However, the Emperor seemed not to be angry: "Intimidation?"

"Yes, if Your Majesty truly suspected me, how could I stand here calmly? I would have likely been taken to the Xuan Yin Monitor for investigation by now," Jiang Yuxun muttered softly, "I’m not easily frightened anymore..."

Just kidding, fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on me.

I've learned my lesson well; such things are not to be repeated!

Hearing this, Fei Jinyuan was almost too scared to breathe.

The Emperor has always been serious and focused on state affairs, never allowing personal emotions to interfere with government matters. How could he have time to intimidate a subject?

How dare Mr. Jiang speak so recklessly in front of His Majesty!

Is this how he usually speaks to the Emperor?

This is far too bold…

As a subject, Fei Jinyuan shouldn’t speculate about the Emperor's intentions, but he couldn’t help but quietly glance at the Emperor's expression.

Who would have thought...

Ying Changchuan was not as angry as he imagined.

Instead, he gently nodded, "I understand."

“……”

Fei Jinyuan: ???

No way, was His Majesty really just trying to intimidate Mr. Jiang?

He couldn’t help but pinch his thigh hard.

"Hiss—"

Ouch!

Am I not dreaming?

……

Ying Changchuan had grand plans, nearly mobilizing all the alchemists from the Listening Heaven Pavilion.

Testing the gunpowder proportions was not difficult for these experienced alchemists.

And finding the optimal ratio was just the first step in weapon production.

Leaving a small group to continue the experiments, Jiang Yuxun organized the others to compile all the alchemical knowledge that had been passed down orally as master to apprentice in the Listening Heaven Pavilion.

By now, they had compiled a book.

After confirming the progress of the book with Ying Changchuan, Jiang Yuxun and the alchemists headed to the open space behind Juan Yue Palace to demonstrate the power of gunpowder.

Although still a prototype, when the fuse was lit, the bamboo tube instantly burst with a loud bang.

Like thunder splitting the quiet of deep winter, awakening the icy springs in the gorges.

Leaving a lasting impact on all who witnessed it.

-

An hour later, in the main hall of Liuyun Palace.

Having witnessed the power of gunpowder firsthand, Fei Jinyuan immediately shared his ideas with the Emperor.

"I believe we can use this gunpowder in conjunction with catapults. Crafting fireballs to be hurled into the midst of Zhe Rou's troops will shatter their formation in one fell swoop!"

The Emperor, holding a teacup, slowly nodded, indicating him to continue.

Fei Jinyuan, a veteran of the battlefield, spoke with authority: "The pride of the Zhe Rou people lies in their cavalry and warhorses. Startling the horses would swiftly crush their morale."

Compared to the more challenging control of explosions, catapults combined with fireballs are not only easier to make but also possess tremendous power.

—This combination was also among the earliest forms of firearms in history.

Hearing this, Ying Changchuan gently swirled his teacup and suggested nonchalantly, "We could also add tung oil."

Tung oil is highly flammable, and fireballs made with it can quickly spread flames and increase the area of attack upon reaching the enemy.

"Yes, Your Majesty!" Fei Jinyuan paused for a moment, then promptly noted down Ying Changchuan's suggestion.

Fei Jinyuan was not a native of Zhao Du; he hailed from Lu Wei City to the north, from where one could reach Zhe Rou's territory in less than two hours on horseback.

During the previous dynasty, Zhe Rou frequently invaded from the south.

Although Fei Jinyuan’s family had left Lu Wei City early, many of his relatives and friends perished in those raids and massacres.

He still harbored deep resentment against Zhe Rou.

At this moment, Fei Jinyuan was eager to see the day when firearms would come into existence!

※

After a heavy snowfall, the grand New Year's feast finally arrived.

Jiang Yuxun considered the peony as his "surprise" gift for the Listening Heaven Pavilion.

Since it was meant to be a surprise, it definitely couldn't be revealed in advance.

The night before the palace banquet, after everyone in Xianyou Palace had retired, Jiang Yuxun led the Xuan Yin Monitor team to the greenhouse to move the peonies, which were in full bloom, over.

The New Year's Day grand feast was held in the front hall of Liuyun Palace.

Although there were heating facilities here, it couldn't compare to the greenhouse.

While moving the flowers, a member of the Xuan Yin Monitor anxiously asked, “Mr. Jiang, will the peonies be alright if left here overnight?”

“Don’t worry, it’s just one night, it won’t be a problem," Jiang Yuxun reassured while adjusting the position of the flower pots, "I’ve inquired about this. Peonies go through twelve growth stages, and these flowers have already passed the most fragile wind-bell stage. They are in the initial and full bloom stages. Even if left outside, the impact won’t be as big as imagined.”

Recently, Jiang Yuxun had learned a lot about flower cultivation from Aunt Zheng Yu.

He had already asked her about this concern raised by the Xuan Yin Monitor.

Hearing this, the Xuan Yin Monitor breathed a sigh of relief.

Jiang Yuxun continued, "Moreover, peonies naturally bloom in March every year, and they might also encounter snowy weather then."

The others nodded in agreement, "That makes sense."

The floor of Xianyou Palace was covered with a thick woolen carpet.

Besides tables and small screens, there were also many corals and jade ornaments.

But these treasures were overshadowed by the peonies, which were not typical of deep winter.

The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, blew in from the slightly ajar palace doors.

The palace's sheer curtains fluttered gently, accompanied by a faint scent of peonies.

At this point, Jiang Yuxun suddenly stopped his work and turned to the busy Xuan Yin Monitor, saying, “By the way... after tomorrow’s New Year’s Day feast, don’t rush to move the peonies back to the greenhouse.”

Qi Pingsha, the head of the Xuan Yin Monitor, asked in confusion, “May I ask, Mr. Jiang, should we continue to keep them here afterwards?”

Jiang Yuxun shook his head and replied, “Not to keep them here, but to take them out of Xianyou Palace for the public to enjoy.”

"To take out of Xianyou Palace..."

Peonies, being royal possessions, should not be taken out of the palace for public display, as it goes against etiquette.

But the Xuan Yin Guards who had been following Jiang Yuxun immediately understood his intention — he not only wanted Liantian Terrace to witness these "out-of-season flowers" but also wished for the people near the Yi River to see them.

"Yes, Master Jiang!" the crowd promptly responded.

-

Snowflakes fell thick and fast.

Lanterns lit up the entire Xianyou Palace.

Carved beams and painted rafters, pavilions with flowing vermillion.

This palace complex, known for its luxury, seemed ethereal and otherworldly in the snow.

Jiang Yuxun and the Xuan Yin Guards were busy until after ten at night, finally arranging all the peonies.

After arriving in ancient times, he, who was originally a night owl, completely reversed his routine.

Just a few days ago, Jiang Yuxun would have already been deep in sleep at this hour.

He had planned to go straight to bed after finishing the work, but the cold wind made him fully alert.

It was late, and Jiang Yuxun wrapped himself tightly in his fox fur coat, cautiously heading towards the rear hall.

"Creak—"

The light sound of pushing open the palace doors echoed distinctly in the quiet night.

At the sound, Jiang Yuxun instinctively held his breath and stood still.

After waiting a few seconds and hearing no response from Ying Changchuan, he tiptoed inside.

It was so late, Ying Changchuan must have been asleep by now...

Though he thought this, considering the other's almost unnaturally sharp hearing, Jiang Yuxun still moved as quietly as possible within the hall.

He didn’t light any candles but changed and washed in the dark, moving with utmost caution, as if in slow motion.

Once he had finished and lay back on his bed, the drowsiness whisked away by the cold wind gradually returned.

Jiang Yuxun drew the bed curtains, curled up under the blankets, and closed his eyes, hugging the pillow tightly.

But just at that moment, a familiar voice suddenly came from not too far away.

"Why is my dear official returning to the palace at this hour?"

！！！

It was the voice of Ying Changchuan.

Jiang Yuxun's eyes snapped open, and he instinctively started to rise for a formal greeting.

However, just as he sat up, he realized – wait, Ying Changchuan isn't even here, why am I performing a greeting?

Pausing for a few seconds, Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but rebelliously lie back down.

Holding his pillow, he spoke with a very serious tone, full of presence, "To answer Your Majesty, I was arranging flowers in the front hall of Liuyun Palace and it took a little extra time."

Ying Changchuan’s voice traveled through the wooden walls and tapestry to Jiang Yuxun’s ears, “Why didn’t you delegate this task to the Xuan Yin Monitor?”

Along with his usual deep and lazy tone, there was an additional hint of warmth due to the muffled sound.

Jiang Yuxun adjusted to a more comfortable position and responded to the Emperor, “I planned to personally create a surprise for the Listening Heaven Pavilion.”

"What surprise?"

Speaking to this point, Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but lower his voice, deliberately adopting a sinister tone, "I deliberately picked the most brilliantly blooming flowers and placed them right before Shang You and the others from the Listening Heaven Pavilion."

On the other side of the palace, a faint smile appeared on Ying Changchuan's lips.

Perhaps because he was discussing an interesting topic, Jiang Yuxun continued without pause:

"I heard that every year for the New Year’s Day banquet, the Listening Heaven Pavilion sends representatives. In previous years, it was always the Grand Diviner, but this year he had a ‘little accident’ and couldn’t come, so Shang You will be leading the group to the banquet."

A little accident?

Ying Changchuan, sitting by the desk, smiled as he picked up a wine jar.

Jiang Yuxun still remembered his first visit to the Listening Heaven Pavilion, where Shang You stood among the jasmine flowers.

As a Grand Diviner, he naturally wouldn't compromise on his own preferences; elegant and fresh jasmine seemed to be the choice that aligned with Shang You's aesthetic taste.

Therefore, this time, Jiang Yuxun deliberately chose the large red peonies, starkly contrasting with jasmine, and intentionally placed them beside Shang You's desk.

Worried that Shang You might not see them clearly, he chose three plants and arranged them closely around.

As he spoke, Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but close his eyes again indulgently.

With no one in sight, and lying in a warm bed, his tone gradually became more relaxed and casual.

He couldn't resist adding firmly, “Although I cannot stoop to the shamelessness of the Listening Heaven Pavilion, I'm not someone to be easily trifled with either.”

Having said that, he couldn’t suppress a big yawn due to sleepiness.

The next moment, a faint chuckle reached Jiang Yuxun’s ears.

...What time is it, and Ying Changchuan still isn’t asleep?

The palace, warmed by the heating system, was exceptionally conducive to sleep.

Shortly after crawling into bed, the chill in Jiang Yuxun's body dissipated completely, and drowsiness enveloped him once again.

But as the Emperor was not yet asleep, Jiang Yuxun, as a minister, naturally had to keep him company and continue the conversation.

Growing sleepy, he rambled on, “Oh… The construction progress of the Yi River is faster than I expected. But I think if we could use gunpowder, we might even finish a few months earlier.”

"What does my dear official mean?"

"Blow up the dyke," Jiang Yuxun casually placed his legs on the pillow, hugging it like an octopus, and explained to Ying Changchuan, "The original plan was to break through the old river dyke during a dry season, after the diversion canal is fully dug, to connect the new channel."

"Hmm."

Ying Changchuan's voice, like a lullaby, reached Jiang Yuxun's ears.

The person lying in bed flicked his forehead and said, "But now that we have gunpowder... it’s less troublesome, we can just blow up the old dyke directly. It would be a good test of the new gunpowder's power."

"What else did my dear official see during the visit to the Yi River bank?"

Ying Changchuan's voice, traveling through the snowy night, floated over like a breeze.

"On the day I visited the Yi River bank..." Jiang Yuxun's voice grew fainter as he racked his brains to answer, "I also observed their meals. It just so happened that a village was slaughtering sheep that day. The Xuan Yin Monitor and I each had a bowl of soup, which tasted even better than what the imperial chefs prepare here in Xianyou Palace."

At this, he involuntarily swallowed.

...Wonder what dishes will be served at the palace banquet tomorrow.

Jiang Yuxun's thoughts drifted for a moment.

Until Ying Changchuan spoke again, breaking his reverie.

"Does my dear official dislike the meals in Xianyou Palace?"

"It's not that I dislike them..." A drowsy Jiang Yuxun perked up slightly to reply earnestly, "It's just a bit bland for my taste. Besides, the flavors here differ from my hometown. Compared to corn, I prefer rice."

As he spoke, Jiang Yuxun almost felt as if he was back in a dormitory, having a late-night chat with his roommate.

He even inadvertently dropped the formal address of 'this official'.

However, the Emperor on the other side of the palace didn’t seem to mind and continued to engage Jiang Yuxun in a conversation about food.

Help!

With half his face buried in the blankets, Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but question his life choices.

Was Ying Changchuan suffering from insomnia tonight?

He used to focus only on state affairs; how did he develop an interest in casual conversation now?

"...After the Yi River diversion project is completed, getting what one wants to eat should be much easier."

Jiang Yuxun's voice, muffled and slightly nasal, traveled through the quilt and walls to Ying Changchuan's ears.

His tone stretched unusually long, almost unconsciously.

It was getting late.

Ying Changchuan should have let his official rest by now, but tonight he seemed exceptionally greedy for conversation.

The night grew deeper, and the snow in Xianyou Palace intensified.

Soon, it was half a foot deep.

Amidst the freezing cold, only Liuyun Palace remained warm.

Jiang Yuxun, almost drifting into sleep, couldn't help but sniffle and uttered a sentence unbecoming of a subject, “...Isn’t Your Majesty going to bed early tonight? If I remember correctly, there’s a lot to be done tomorrow.”

Ying Changchuan’s energy seemed too abundant...

With such vigor in the middle of the night, why not go to the grasslands to chase an eagle, or hunt a night owl instead?

Why pick on me to keep him company?

"Is my dear official tired?"

Hearing this, an impotent and furious Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but open his mouth wide and bit hard into the pillow he was hugging.

What a rhetorical question!

Ying Changchuan finally realized, not everyone can go without rest like him!

How did I not know before that Ying Changchuan enjoys chatting so much?

In the rear hall of Liuyun Palace, Ying Changchuan leaned against the wall draped with tapestries, drinking alone.

His smoky grey eyes were exceptionally bright, showing no trace of sleepiness.

A long time passed after his words fell silent.

Finally, a "creak" came from the other side of the wall, seemingly as the person on the bed unconsciously turned over.

The voice, usually clear and melodious during the day, was now heavily nasal.

In a very soft voice, Jiang Yuxun rebelliously said, "I've been tired for a while, but Your Majesty speaks too much... Can we, can we continue this conversation tomorrow morning?"

After that, complete silence fell on the other side of the wall.

Back in the rear hall of Liuyun Palace, Ying Changchuan laughed again.

He finished his last sip of strong liquor and stood up, walking slowly towards the bed.

Tonight, there was no moon, but the fallen snow lit up the entire chamber like bright lamps.

As Ying Changchuan moved, the dark bed curtains finally fell.

However, at that moment, a faint noise suddenly came from the Liuyun Palace...

Half-asleep and half-awake, Jiang Yuxun, who had talked with Ying Changchuan for half the night, suddenly spoke as if in a dream.

He softly said, "Goodnight..."

Author's note:

The most innocent in this chapter: the pillow

*From the archives