Teasing the First Dragon at the Start

After pondering for a long time, she looked at Bai Su and asked, "How should this wine be drunk? Does it need to be warmed?"

Bai Su shook her head and said, "This wine can be drunk directly, but it's very strong. It's best to drink it with some snacks. If you drink it alone, you'll get drunk very easily."

"What wine in this world haven't I tasted? What good is even the strongest wine..."

Zhengjie didn't pay too much attention, since the alcohol content of drinks in this era was generally low.

Even the summer liquor, which is known as a strong liquor, is only about 20 degrees alcohol by volume. You can drink hundreds of cups a day without getting drunk.

She didn't pay much attention and drank the cup in one gulp. A burning sensation surged down her throat and into her internal organs.

A burning sensation ran through her chest, making her instinctively press her full breasts tightly against her chest.

Her elegant and noble face flushed red, and it took her a while to recover.

Looking at Zhengjie's appearance, Hu Yi couldn't help but ask worriedly, "Mother, are you... are you alright?"

She remembered that when she was in the workshop, she only drank half a cup and her tongue felt numb. Now that her mother had drunk the whole cup, just thinking about it made her shudder.

Zhengjie let out a long breath and praised, "It really lives up to its name. It's like swallowing a strong knife. It's so strong and fragrant. After drinking it, I feel warm all over."

Seeing Zheng Jie's surprised expression, Bai Su smiled and explained, "This strong liquor is about seven or eight times stronger than ordinary liquor. It's suitable for the cold and harsh north. In the cold winter, a cup of this liquor will quickly warm you up."

"Furthermore, there are some alcoholic beverages with higher alcohol content that can be used to clean wounds and prevent them from becoming infected and festering."

After hearing Bai Su's explanation, Zheng Jie's phoenix eyes lit up.

This is really a great thing.

After all, she had been a hostage in Handan since childhood and knew very well how difficult it was to endure the cold weather in this harsh place.

With this wine, the soldiers and civilians in the Yan and Zhao regions, along the Great Wall, and beyond the Great Wall will feel much more comfortable.

As for cleaning the wound, that's an invaluable function.

It should be understood that throughout history, many soldiers on the battlefield did not die from enemy arrows or swords, but from wound infections caused by delayed medical attention.

If we had this, it could at least reduce the army's casualty rate by several percent.

Thinking of this, Zhengjie couldn't wait to ask, "What is the cost of this thing, and how long can it be stored?"

After pondering for a moment, Bai Su said, "The method of making this wine is not complicated. The cost is less than ten coins per pound. If you brew your own wine, the cost will be even lower. As for storage, as long as it is sealed tightly, it will not spoil at all even after thirty-four years. In fact, it will become more and more fragrant with age."

"Three... thirty or forty years!!!"

Zheng Jie was stunned for a moment, wondering if she was hallucinating.

It's quite remarkable that such ordinary wines can be preserved for a year or two.

Many of them spoiled in less than a few months.

But Bai Su's wine can be preserved for decades.

This...this is simply a divine object!

Seeing the astonished look on Zhengjie's face, Hu Yi said with a smug look, "Mother, this wine can be sold as a commodity, just like silk, to the grasslands and the Yuezhi Kingdom, in exchange for more cattle, sheep and horses for the court."

Zheng Jie's phoenix eyes darted around, as if she had thought of something: "So... you brought Bai Su here because you want to start this liquor business?"

Hu Yi's thoughts were exposed by Zheng Jie, and he immediately became a little nervous.

She clung to Zhengjie's arm and said coquettishly, "Mother, I'm doing this for the benefit of the court. Besides, Bai Su promised to help me. I'm so poor, so please give me this business."

Zhengjie said helplessly, "Fine, fine. As long as you supply the court and the army well, the rest of the business is yours."

Hu Yi's little face immediately lit up with joy: "Thank you, Mother."

After a moment of contemplation, Zhengjie said, "Huyi, you may step back. I have some matters to discuss with Bai Su."

"This……"

Hu Yi was taken aback. He wanted to ask why, but he was met with Zheng Jie's stern gaze.

She could only nod, afraid that her mother would take the business away. She glanced at Bai Su reluctantly before leaving the main hall.

In the blink of an eye, only Sister Zheng and Bai Su remained in the main hall.

Bai Su was also somewhat puzzled: "Your Majesty, why did you leave me behind alone?"

Zhengjie raised an eyebrow, but did not answer. Instead, she looked directly at Bai Su and said, "I heard that Hu Yi has been coming to your residence a lot lately and returning very late?"

Bai Su's smile froze for a moment, then he said, "This... Your Highness is very interested in intricate things. I know a little about mechanisms, so Your Highness often comes over to play."

Zhengjie bit her lower lip lightly, hesitated for a moment, and then said, "Well... you two are not married yet. If a princess becomes pregnant, it would be against the dignity of the royal family. So... don't be too hasty."

Bai Su was taken aback and gave Zheng Jie a strange look.

Why did she suddenly bring this up?

After all, according to the laws of the Great Xia Dynasty, girls can get married at the age of fourteen, and Hu Yi is already sixteen years old, so it is nothing special.

Besides, getting married is just a matter of Sister Zheng's word, so what's there to worry about?

Zhengjie's eyes darted around for a moment, and she subconsciously clenched her slender white hands. She didn't know why she had suddenly brought this up.

It seemed she was thinking of that taboo scene that violated morality in the bedchamber a few days ago.

The thought of her beloved son-in-law marrying her daughter right in front of her and entering the bridal chamber made her feel vaguely uncomfortable.

Although Bai Su didn't know why Zheng Jie said that, she still nodded honestly: "Please rest assured, Your Majesty, I am an honest man and will certainly not do anything reckless."

Zhengjie gave him a strange look and said slowly, "If you're an honest person, what about what happened in the bedchamber that day?"

Facing Zheng Jie's gaze, Bai Su couldn't help but turn her head away guiltily and coughed.

Chapter 112 I'm Actually a Traitor!

Bai Su felt somewhat embarrassed by Zheng Jie's strange gaze.

He coughed lightly and argued, "There are no unparalleled beauties throughout the ages, but there are pleasing women to the eye. With such a stunning beauty as Your Majesty right before my eyes, how could I not have any thoughts about her? What difference would I have from a stone?"

"The reason I became so carried away was simply because I was following my heart."

Zhengjie said, somewhat amused and exasperated, "Looking at the whole world, you are truly unique in being able to say such shameless things so openly and seriously."

Bai Su said awkwardly, "Then I really thank Your Majesty for your praise."

"Alright, stop with the empty talk in front of me. You did a great job with the trade this time," the Empress praised.

Bai Su smiled and said, "As long as it can help Your Majesty, I, as a loyal subject of the Great Xia, will do my utmost."

Zhengjie raised her delicate eyebrows slightly. These words sounded quite nice, but coming from a treacherous minister who had deceived the emperor, they sounded so jarring.

She gave Bai Su a strange look, and then said, "You won a very good debate with the Confucianists represented by Fu Su in the court. Even the Prime Minister Li Si praised you in front of me for having the style of the Legalists."

Bai Su thought of the Great Xia Prime Minister who valued status so much, and now that he had suddenly noticed her and praised her like this, it was not a good sign.

After all, it's normal for some people to praise you and others to criticize you.

It would be dangerous if, in addition to military generals like Meng Tian and Wang Jian, even the civil officials in the court praised this rising star.

Compared to direct conflict, the most difficult thing to deal with is the kind of backhanded praise that aims to kill without any clear purpose.

A thought struck him, and he said seriously, "Your Majesty, I am still inexperienced and only have some cleverness. In terms of great wisdom, I am far inferior to the Prime Minister."

His righteous and stern demeanor made it seem as if he were speaking from the heart; if it were anyone else, they might have gotten away with it.

Zhengjie said, both amused and exasperated, "You, at such a young age, how come you have no sharp edge at all? Instead, you're just like those old foxes in the court, all smooth talk and glibness."

Bai Su said with a smile, "A true man can bend and stretch, be long and short, be thick and thin. Being too strong-willed will only drain your body and result in more harm than good."

The Empress nodded: "If you have this idea, then I am relieved. Throughout history, there have been countless talented people, but most of them only know how to show off their talents and move forward, but they don't know how to take a step back and offend many people."

"With your shrewdness, no matter how the situation changes in the future, you will have a place in the court. You will go further than Li Si and the others."

Bai Su smiled and said, "I have no interest in power. I am content as long as I can stand by Your Majesty's side."

As Zhengjie looked at Bai Su's earnest gaze and her elegant and graceful face, a blush crept up her cheeks.

She bit her lip lightly: "If you want to be on par with me, you are not yet... good enough."

Bai Su's eyes darted around, and she tentatively asked, "Your Majesty only said it wasn't enough, not that it was impossible?"

A strange light flashed in Zhengjie's phoenix eyes. She did not answer directly, but stared straight at the flickering candle in the distance.

After pondering for a long time, she said, "In ancient times, the character for 'king' was composed of three horizontal strokes and one vertical stroke. The three horizontal strokes represent heaven, earth, and humanity, while the vertical stroke represents a person who has thoroughly understood heaven, earth, and humanity. Only then can one be considered a king. Do you... have the confidence to achieve that?"

Bai Su rubbed his nose and said, "To be a king, with my lazy personality, I definitely couldn't do it. However, it's not impossible for me to achieve something comparable to His Majesty's."

After all, Zheng Jie swept across the six kingdoms, unified China, established the prefecture-county system, standardized weights and measures, unified the written language and the axle width of carts, and brought all the land of the six kingdoms under Xianyang's control. Her virtue surpassed that of the Three Sovereigns and her impartiality exceeded that of the Five Emperors.

Instead, he built private schools, used paper to popularize education, and cultivated talent. In addition, he opened up trade routes, facilitated trade, and used commerce to support agriculture, thus gathering all the talent and wealth in the world in Xianyang.

With the combined talents of the two, it's not impossible for them to rival Zheng Jie's martial arts skills.

Zhengjie stared at Bai Su, who looked so confident, and her beautiful face froze for a moment.

After a long pause, she said, "Since you are so confident, how about I give you a task? If you succeed, you can make a request of me. As long as it's not too unreasonable, I can grant it."

Bai Su's mind raced. How excessive?

He was worried that if he asked directly, his sister would be angry, so he cupped his hands and said, "It is my duty to share the burdens of the ruler."

After all, Sister Zheng, who is usually very tight-lipped, has now opened a crack, and we should seize the opportunity.

If the question is too direct and completely closes the door, wouldn't that be a huge loss?

A strong-willed and mature empress like Zheng Jie is not like a naive young girl who would be swayed by momentary emotions and agree to do something.

For a strong, assertive woman like Zheng Jie, you can't force her; you have to gradually soften her attitude.

Zhengjie said with a half-smile, "This is not an easy task."

Bai Su smiled and said, "As long as it can share Your Majesty's burdens, I am willing to give it a try."

After pondering for a while, Zhengjie said, "When I was on my way to Handan, I was assassinated by a group of remnants of the six kingdoms. Most of them fell for the trick of using a substitute and were wiped out. Only one remnant escaped."

"I sent people to search for his whereabouts, but they couldn't find a trace of him at all. It's as if he vanished into thin air in Handan."

"Subsequently, as the army marched north to attack the Xiongnu, rumors began to spread from the Chu region to the whole world: blood was spilled at the city gates, the city was submerged into a lake, and the Epang Palace was the place where the First Emperor perished."

"Clearly, there are remnants of the six kingdoms trying to sow discord among the people while our army marches north, and to take the opportunity to plot something in the Central Plains."

"I don't know where these remnants of the six kingdoms came from. With so much money, they managed to spread rumors across half the world in such a short time."

"Later, when the army returned victorious, many chaotic situations gradually disappeared and disappeared again, seemingly waiting for the next opportunity."