northernbook Chapter 292 Making Ice from Saltpeter
Chapter 292 Making Ice from Saltpeter
More than a quarter of an hour later, the saltpeter was retrieved, and Emperor Yuan suddenly found that his headache seemed to be gone.
Jiang Yueyang glanced at the panting eunuch and asked, "Did you run there and back?"
The young eunuch smiled and said, "I don't want to delay Master Xiao Jiang's important business."
At this time, Emperor Yuan said: "My headache seems to be gone."
Upon hearing this, Guo Yuanzheng immediately took two steps forward and said, "Your Majesty, please allow me to feel your pulse."
Emperor Yuan stretched out his hand, and Guo Yuan was carefully feeling every beat of his pulse.
After a moment, Guo Yuanzheng withdrew his hand and said, "Your Majesty has been overworked recently and needs to rest. I will prescribe some medicine for Your Majesty to recuperate."
Emperor Yuan: “…”
I shouldn't have taken his pulse earlier. The Queen is here listening, and I have no choice but to take medicine.
Guo Yuanzheng confirmed again: "Your Majesty, are you really not having a headache anymore?"
"It doesn't hurt anymore."
"It doesn't hurt at all?"
Emperor Yuan nodded expressionlessly. He really didn't want to see Guo Yuanzheng's face now.
Upon hearing Emperor Yuan's words, Dean Guo immediately turned to Jiang Yueyang and said, "Master Jiang, may I have a look at your medicine?"
"Guo Yuanzheng, it's not that I'm being stingy and won't show you. The recipe for that medicine is special, and the herbs used are rare in the world. You probably can't make it."
"I just wanted to take a look."
Jiang Yue looked embarrassed, but after hesitating for a while, she still took out the medicine.
Dean Guo was looking at the medicine with strange packaging and strange shape and fell into deep thought. How was this small pill made?
And why is it this color?
"Director Guo? Director Guo..." Jiang Yueyang called out several times and reached out to take the medicine, "It's time to return the medicine to this humble official."
Dean Guo reluctantly let go, and finally said, "Master Xiao Jiang, can't you let me study it? Even if I can't do it."
Jiang Yueyang lowered her eyes to glance at the medicine in her hand, then raised her eyelids to look at Guo Yuanzheng, whose eyes were full of longing.
In the end, she relented and took one out for him.
"This medicine needs to be stored in a sealed container. It will easily deteriorate if exposed to air. You will have to throw it away after studying it for two or three days. Do not consume it."
"Yes, yes, I will definitely keep it in mind." Dean Guo took the pill solemnly and carefully, "Thank you, Master Xiao Jiang."
Seeing this, Emperor Yuan asked, "Jiang Yueyang, do I need to take it a few more times to consolidate it?"
"No, this medicine is used to relieve headaches. Your Majesty, since your headache is gone, there is no need to take it again. As the saying goes, every medicine is three parts poison, so don't take it if you can avoid it."
Emperor Yuan glanced at the medicine in her hand and said, "Okay."
Seeing that His Majesty was still coveting Jiang Yueyang's medicine, the Empress smiled and asked, "What does Lord Jiang plan to do with the saltpeter?"
"Your Majesty, I am about to show you a recipe. Do you think I should dismiss the attendants?"
Emperor Yuan waved his hand and said, "Minister Guo, you two should step aside first."
"promise."
The Empress also signaled Aunt Shang to dismiss the palace maids. Finally, only the Emperor and Empress, the Third Prince, the Eldest Princess, Jiang Yueyang, Aunt Shang and Li Fuquan were left in the palace.
"My Lady, do you have any glass cups?"
The Queen nodded. "We have a few. Does Lord Xiao Jiang need them?"
Jiang Yueyang nodded.
"Aunt Shang, get the glass cup."
After a while, five glass cups of different sizes were brought over.
Today's glass cups are not as exquisite as those of modern times, but they are extremely expensive vessels.
Jiang Yueyang selected two glass cups, one large and one small, that were shaped like bowls. "Get a basin of water."
Soon, the water was brought.
Jiang Yueyang poured water into a large glass cup, then added saltpeter and stirred it.
As the saltpeter dissolved in the water, the water in the large glass cup gradually changed.
Jiang Yueyang turned to look at the Third Prince, "Your Highness, please touch the glass lamp."
Hearing this, the Third Prince who was sitting beside him reached out and touched the glass cup, then his eyes widened in surprise.
He said uncertainly, "The water seems... to have turned cold."
Hearing this, Emperor Yuan stood up and walked down, and also reached out to feel the surface temperature of the glass cup.
After he felt the slight chill, he slightly widened his eyes, with a look of surprise and a hint of inquiry in it.
Jiang Yueyang continued to add saltpeter into the glass cup. When she felt it was almost enough, she placed the small glass cup filled with a little water into the large glass cup that was emitting a slight chill.
Soon, a thin layer of ice condensed around the small glass cup.
Emperor Yuan's eyes widened. "This saltpeter can actually freeze water!"
He thought saltpeter could cool water, but he didn't expect it could also freeze it.
Jiang Yueyang replied respectfully, "Your Majesty, saltpeter can be refrigerated and made into ice when it comes into contact with water. This is the business I wish to do with Your Majesty."
When everyone heard this, they were all amazed.
The eldest princess was delighted. "With this method, we won't have to worry about running out of ice anymore, right?"
The Third Prince asked curiously, "Jiang Yueyang, how did you know that saltpeter can be used to make ice?"
"I happened to see it in an ancient book, and out of curiosity, I tried it. To my surprise, it actually freezes. Furthermore, the used saltpeter can be recycled and reused."
The reason she knew that saltpeter could be used to make ice was because she read about it in a time-travel novel.
Out of curiosity, I bought half a pound of saltpeter online, and ended up making ice cubes for her.
The Empress smiled widely, "Lord Xiao Jiang, I don't know how to thank you enough. If this method is promoted in the future, it will surely benefit the people."
"Promote?" Jiang Yueyang regretted it. "Your Majesty, I want to use it to make money. Besides, saltpeter is not edible. If it is not handled properly, it may endanger life. It is not suitable to promote it casually."
Hearing this, the Empress finally realized something and said, "I was not thoughtful enough."
Emperor Yuan looked at the thin ice in the glass cup and said cheerfully, "Tell me, how do you want to do this business with me?"
Jiang Yueyang immediately replied: "I have thought of two ways to cooperate.
One is that I hand over the recipe to the court, and then the court will give me 20% of the annual profit from selling ice.
But then, Your Majesty might not make any money."
Emperor Yuan's thoughts raced, but he didn't show it on his face. "Tell me about the second method of cooperation."
"Secondly, Your Majesty will grant me the right to sell ice cubes. Your Majesty will receive 20% of the profits from the ice I sell, without any financial or labor costs."
After hearing Jiang Yueyang's words, Emperor Yuan smiled and said, "I already know the recipe for making ice from saltpeter. Aren't you afraid that I will snatch it away?"