It wasn't an apple that hit Newton.

Li Cheng explained the situation of the Great Yan Dynasty while answering Veronique's questions.

"The staple food of Dayan is rice, with vegetables and beans as supplementary foods. This is not only because the climate is suitable for rice cultivation, but also because only the high yield of rice can meet the needs of Dayan's growing population."

"Farmers were dependent on landlords to cultivate the land, similar to manor owners, but there were no mandatory regulations."

Why don't they work alone?

"First of all, rice is the staple food of Da Yan. Rice requires a stable and continuous water source, and water conservancy projects need to be built. Moreover, the efficiency of rice cultivation is closely related to agricultural tools. Good harrows, plows, sickles, hoes, shovels, stone mills, flails... These are not things that a single household can collect. They are usually in the hands of landlords."

"Secondly, farming relies heavily on the weather. Farming time and astronomy are not things that illiterate farmers can understand. Although they can rely on experience, it is mostly not accurate enough and can easily lead to a poor harvest for the year. Therefore, local officials need to inform the landlords and gentry, who will then relay the information to the farmers."

"Landlords relied on knowledge, tools of production, and organizational power, rather than directly ruling, to indirectly make peasants dependent on them."

"Official?"

"Officials were selected through the imperial examination, which was a rare and relatively fair opportunity for commoners to rise in rank. However, it was not easy to support a scholar. It often required the savings of three generations of a farming family to support a scholar who did not engage in production."

"Usually, it is more common for a clan to select talented children from a young age and provide them with concentrated education."

“There are indeed people in the city who collect manure, but that’s not for hygiene. It’s because the Great Yan Dynasty discovered long ago that human and animal excrement is a good fertilizer. After being fumigated several times with sulfur/lime water to kill insects and disinfect, it can be used to increase soil fertility.”

"Silk? Those are unaffordable. The common people mainly eat cotton and hemp."

"Porcelain bowls have become widespread, and their production volume is much higher than that of silk, and they are also more practical."

......

Through these detailed and fresh descriptions, Veronica no longer doubted Li Cheng's identity, and also learned many things that Yan Chui would not say.

"According to you, the Great Yan doesn't sound very strong either."

Veronica frowned, looking somewhat puzzled.

“Strength is relative, Your Highness.”

Li Cheng smiled and said, "The Great Yan has established an effective bureaucratic system and political structure. The court can efficiently control the local areas. Coupled with advanced productivity and technological capabilities, the strength it unleashes is terrifying."

"Productivity...control..."

Veronica nodded knowingly.

Just then, a gust of wind blew by, revealing a full moon behind the thick, dark clouds. Its bright light streamed into the room through the window, illuminating the faces of the two people, thus bringing their interesting conversation to a close.

"You know more than I thought."

Veronica made no attempt to hide her admiration: "Once this matter is settled, I will bestow upon you the title of Baron. You can also tell me directly what else you desire."

Bei and Liang had a very pleasant conversation and slept side by side... Li Cheng's gaze fell on the classical European beauty in front of him, and he said with a righteous expression, "I just want to do business to earn a little money enough to live on, and then immerse myself in scientific knowledge."

"is it?"

Veronica smiled, thought for a moment, and then suddenly asked, "What do you think of Anderson's daughter, Louise?"

Li Cheng recalled his experiences from a few days ago and smiled, saying, "She's a very cute and obedient little girl, but she also has her own unique ideas."

"Oh?"

Veronica seemed to understand something and said knowingly, "Anderson only has this one daughter. If you want to marry her, although I can't directly persuade him to agree, I can help you lobby him to reduce his resistance to you."

???

What's with marrying Louise? Has the princess misunderstood something? Does she think I was only attracted to her looks?

Li Cheng broke out in a cold sweat and said, "Louise is too young; I can't have similar thoughts about her."

"is it?"

Veronica said with a hint of surprise, "She's not that young, is she? I heard she's already 14."

Sure enough, this wicked feudal society urgently needs our scathing criticism... Li Cheng revealed a sincere look and said, "Your Highness, please don't make things difficult for me anymore."

"Ok."

Veronica did not insist. She said, "However, my promise is still valid. If you need anything else, you can ask me—it would be best to do it sooner rather than later. Once the horse races are over and Father returns to London, I will be able to do much less."

Li Cheng breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Thank you for your appreciation, Your Highness."

It was late at night. Veronica yawned slightly. After learning about the imperial examination system in detail, she briefly concluded the conversation and prepared to have Holly help her back to her room.

However, just as she was about to leave, she suddenly stopped.

I almost forgot my original plan... Veronica turned her head and said, "There's one more thing. I really like the book your friend wrote called 'The Domineering Noblewoman Falls in Love with Me'."

!

Upon hearing this unexpected joy, Li Cheng's spirits lifted... Sure enough, the modern novel I commissioned despite my shame was quite powerful.

Veronique continued, "Because there was no follow-up for a long time, I asked someone to make a few copies and sent one of them to a playwright with whom I had a good personal relationship. After reading it, she liked it very much and thought it was a groundbreaking masterpiece that transcended the times."

Wait, a playwright?

A bad feeling rose in Li Cheng's heart.

"She decided to adapt the book into a play and have it shown in theaters."

Veronie spoke in a seemingly nonchalant tone, unhurriedly: "The first act is now complete, and she has invited me to watch it tomorrow afternoon."

"If your friend knew that his book was being adapted into a play, he would be very happy. I wonder if you could invite him to watch it together?"

?

Li Cheng slowly typed out a question mark.

If it were "The Great Journey to the East," that would be one thing, but what's with adapting "The Domineering Lady Falls in Love with Me" into a drama? Is this even allowed to be shown? Can it? Can it? Can it?

Is that playwright really not mentally unstable?

This must be stopped!

The thought of the consequences of it being adapted into a play and widely circulated made Li Cheng's hair stand on end, and he felt so embarrassed that he wanted to use his feet to carve out a three-bedroom apartment for Veronica.

I guess I'm the first author in history who doesn't want his work to be materialized, and even actively tries to stop it... He coughed twice and said, "No, Your Highness, actually..."

But as soon as he said it, Li Cheng froze.

Wait, what am I thinking? Am I supposed to admit that I actually wrote the book?

Are you kidding me? I wish no one would ever know!

"What's wrong? Is there a problem?"

Veronica put on a fake, friendly smile. She had been too embarrassed to urge him to update the story because of her status, and she had thought about it for a long time before coming up with this idea. Now, judging from Li Cheng's reaction, it was very effective.

Li Cheng said awkwardly, "Actually, for certain reasons, it's not convenient for my friend to show up..."

"is it?"

Veronica's smile remained unchanged: "What a pity. How about you come with me to the theater tomorrow instead of that friend?"

......

Veronica left as quietly as she had come.

However, she left behind a bombshell: she would be taking Li Cheng to see the first act of the play adapted from "The Domineering Lady Falls in Love with Me" the next day.

At this moment, Li Cheng was still standing in the same spot, his facial muscles relaxed, and his eyes had lost their luster.

The thought of those ghostly dialogues and storylines being performed by real people on stage filled Li Cheng with a profound sense of despair—and what was even more terrifying was that he would have to witness it with his own eyes.

This was an even worse incident than the last time Newton performed it himself, second only to reading it aloud in front of relatives, even though he had no relatives.

Li Cheng shook his head frantically.

No, absolutely not!

I can't stand this awful place for another minute! I want to go back!

Li Cheng made a certain decision.

He sat back down at his desk, picked up his quill, dipped it in ink, and erased the original "Dear Isaac Newton" and "The princess's house is quite big." Then, on a new line below, he wrote...

【Honey】

As a reward for my work, His Highness invited me to be a guest at the castle.

This should have been a happy occasion, but the thought of not seeing you for two weeks fills me with deep anxiety and helplessness...

Chapter Ninety-Five: The number 'three' symbolizes the harmony of all things.

The next day.

Anderson House, City of London.

Count Anderson stood in his exquisite little study, his calm face masking a restless heart.

He's been dealing with a lot of troubles these past few days.

First, Louise was forced to "donate" £100,000 to Veronica.

Later, the East India Company decided to raise the price of cotton because merchant ships were frequently sunk.

Finally, for some unknown reason, the textile association caused a ruckus, and a group of people were arrested by the military police and imprisoned. He had to spend a sum of money to get them out.

Aside from these, Anderson also had a strange sense of crisis, but he couldn't pinpoint the source of it. He could only desperately try to find out through his own channels, but to no avail.

"master!"

Just then, an elderly man in his sixties, dressed in a butler's uniform, hurried in.

Anderson wanted to reprimand him, but seeing that it was his old butler who had been with him for many years, he suppressed his anxiety and asked, "What is it?"

"Huff... huff..."

The old butler took a couple of breaths before speaking, his voice brimming with barely suppressed excitement: "Master, Miss is back!"

!!!

Anderson was overjoyed and couldn't wait to see his daughter.

But recalling the inexplicable anxiety in his heart, he calmed down and asked with a hint of trepidation, "How... is Louise doing?"

As Anderson said this, he also made a decision in his heart: if anything bad really happened to Louise, he would fight to the death to get justice.

------

at the same time.

Baker Street.