Qin Shi: I only work eight hours

Chapter 300 Nian Duan Takes the Initiative Again
The next day.

After lunch, Xu Lin went to the Nian residence.

The book says that applying a high concentration of sugar water to a wound can inhibit bacteria through osmotic pressure, thereby achieving wound disinfection, and he wanted to try it out.

Before long, Xu Lin, dressed in a blue robe, arrived at the Nian residence.

Nian Duan was teaching Duanmu Rong acupuncture in the study at that moment.

Following the sound, Nian Duan saw Xu Lin and stopped teaching, slowly walking towards Xu Lin.

After chatting for a few minutes, Nian Duan invited Xu Lin into the study.

"Rong'er, weren't you going to gather herbs?"

Nian Duan looked at Duanmu Rong and asked.

"Yes."

Duanmu Rong nodded.

Then she lifted her skirt and left the study.

After the young girl Duanmu Rong disappeared from sight, Nian Duan coughed twice and tied her hair up.

Nian Duan has a lot of hair, like silk.

"May I ask how you intend to treat the illness today, sir?"

Nian Duan placed her hands on her thighs and asked, feigning composure.

"Forehead……"

"Actually, I am not here for treatment today."

Xu Lin answered.

Then he took out the white sugar he had prepared beforehand and told Nian Duan about his plan.

"Treat the wound with sugar water?"

"It might be worth a try."

Nian Duan frowned slightly, then spoke.

After saying that, she rolled up her sleeves and began making sugar water.

Then they found two injured rabbits.

The rabbits whose legs were coated with sugar water healed their wounds much faster than those whose legs were not coated with sugar water.

This made Nian Duan admire Xu Lin even more.

She had once read a medical book that said honey water could treat wounds.

She tried it, but honey water wasn't very effective; it was far less effective than sugar water.

……

After half a cup of tea.

Nian Duan wrote in his medical book that sugar water could treat wounds.

"I have other things to take care of."

Xu Lin spoke up.

"it is good."

Nian Duan nodded.

Then he saw Xu Lin out of the mansion.

After Xu Lin disappeared from sight, Nian Duan returned to her study and sat down in front of her dressing table.

She is older than Yan Lingji, Jing Ni, and others, but not too much older, right?

Zhao Ji is not young either!

She may not be as graceful as Yingge or Mingzhu, but she's not bad either, is she?
Xu Lin refused twice in a row, which made Nian Duan very depressed!

She's about to break through her cultivation level and needs Xu Lin's help!
As the saying goes, once is enough, twice is not enough... Fine, I'll take the initiative one last time!
If Xu Lin refuses again next time, then she won't take the initiative anymore!

"Clothes make the man, and a saddle makes the horse."

"Perhaps I should apply a little makeup, and then..."

Nian Duan looked at himself in the bronze mirror and murmured.

Her skin isn't bad, but it's not as good as Yan Ling Ji's or Ying Ge's.

After a moment's hesitation, she changed into a beige silk dress.

This off-white silk dress was a gift from Xu Lin. It's not only made of excellent material, but it also really flatters her figure!

Nian Duan disliked rouge and face powder, so she did not attempt to apply any makeup.

"They say a woman's heart is like a needle at the bottom of the sea, but I think a man's heart is just as unfathomable."

After more than ten breaths, Nian Duan looked towards the Imperial Preceptor's residence and thought to himself.

Xu Lin had insisted on treating her illness before, but now he was refusing her one after another, leaving her wondering what he was up to!

……

More than a month later.

The first batch of white sugar was produced, and Li Si had it sold to the states of Zhao and Wei.

Because white sugar is exceptional in both appearance and taste, it is extremely expensive.

With the help of Guo Kai, the prime minister of the Zhao state, white sugar quickly spread throughout the Zhao state.

Li Si gave Guo Kai a box of white sugar, and Guo Kai gave half of it to King Zhao Qian.

Zhao Qian was very pleased with the food, soups, and fruits made with white sugar, and rewarded Guo Kai with several thousand gold pieces.

When the nobles of Zhao learned of this, they all followed suit, and white sugar was in short supply in Zhao, making Qin a fortune.

"Lord Guo."

"How is the construction of Mother's new palace progressing?"

As Zhao Qian sprinkled white sugar on the oranges, he asked a question.

Oranges in this era are rather sour, which he didn't like before, but now that there's white sugar, he's come to like oranges again.

"Your Majesty, the Empress Dowager's new palace is nearing completion."

"The Empress Dowager will definitely be able to move to the new palace before autumn."

Guo Kai said respectfully.

Zhao Qian's eyes lit up with satisfaction upon hearing this.

Then Guo Kai was dismissed.

After Guo Kai had gone far away, Zhao Qian dismissed his attendants and ordered the eunuchs to bring over the beauties that Guo Kai had presented, so that he could take a good look at them!
……

More than half an hour later.

Zhao Qian was sweating profusely.

After entering "wise man mode," he chased away the heavily made-up beauty, changed into clean clothes, and went to the Empress Dowager's residence.

He heard that the Empress Dowager had recently caught a cold and was unwilling to drink the medicine because it was too bitter.

Before even reaching the Empress Dowager's palace, Zhao Qian heard the Empress Dowager coughing.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qian immediately took out a jar of white sugar from his sleeve.

"Mother, are you alright?"

Zhao Qian knelt before the phoenix bed, asking with a concerned expression.

"It's nothing serious."

He shook his head after advocating.

Then I couldn't help but cough a few times.

Seeing this, Zhao Qian instructed a palace maid to give him the medicine.

After taking the medicine, he added some white sugar.

After mixing it well, he handed it to the queen.

"Qian'er, what did you pour in just now?"

The queen blinked her phoenix eyes and asked.

"Mother, you'll know once you try it."

Zhao Qian deliberately kept everyone in suspense.

After taking the soup bowl, she tried to sip a small mouthful of the medicinal soup.

The originally bitter medicine now tasted somewhat sweet, which made the Empress's phoenix eyes light up.

After the Queen finished drinking the medicine in the bowl, Zhao Qian told her about the white sugar.

"Is this white sugar very expensive?"

After listening, the Empress wiped her mouth with a tissue while asking a question.

"Fortunately."

Zhao Qian replied.

For ordinary people, white sugar was indeed very expensive, but for Zhao Qian, it was practically free!
Who invented this?

"How come I've never heard of this before?"

A hint of curiosity flashed in the Empress's phoenix eyes.

"It is said to be Xu Lin from Qin."

"It's the one that invented toilet paper and tofu before."

Zhao Qian said.

"It's him again?"

"This person is quite interesting."

"It's a pity they were Qin people."

He sighed with emotion afterward.

She was very interested in Xu Lin, and she wanted to meet him in person when she had the chance!
……

King Zeng of Wei, King Han of Chu, and Queen Dowager Li Huan of Chu, among others, also enjoyed white sugar.

Therefore, the first batch of white sugar sold out quickly.

……

half a month later.

Handan, the capital of Zhao.

To prevent the Qin state from expanding eastward, Li Mu, Mao Sui, and others suggested that Zhao Qian build a city in Bairen.

"Your Majesty."

"Bai Ren can be said to be the throat barrier of southern Zhao."

“Building a city in Bairen would connect Handan with Xindu, a major city in the north, and also defend against the eastward advance of the Qin dynasty.”

“Bairen is backed by the Taihang Mountains, and its terrain is treacherous, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack. If Bairen is built as a strong city, it can delay the Qin Dynasty’s offensive.”

Mao Sui offered his advice.

After this statement was made, many people stood up to express their agreement.

Even Guo Kai didn't stand up to oppose it, because he was the prime minister of Zhao, and the fall of Zhao would not be a good thing for him!
"You are absolutely right, my dear minister!"

Seeing this, Zhao Qian spoke up.

Then he entrusted the task of building the city in Bairen to his trusted confidant, Zhao Cong.

Although Zhao Qian enjoyed beautiful women, fine clothes, and fine wine, he did not want to become the ruler of a fallen kingdom!

"promise!"

Zhao Cong immediately accepted the order.

Building a city in Bairen, about 100 li from Handan, would not only fill the gap in the southern defense of the Zhao state and prevent the Qin army from launching a surprise attack on Handan from the north via Henan, but also serve as a secondary capital or a retreat route.

As the capital of the Zhao state, Handan could serve as a temporary command center in the event of a siege by the Qin army, with its strategic location and convenient transportation, much like Xindu, the second capital during the reign of King Wuling of Zhao.

(End of this chapter)