Chapter 174: Shaved Ice

Yan Ning said, "This was made by Yun Shu according to ancient texts."

The expressions of the few people became even more astonished.

They had also seen the Seven-Wheel Fan in ancient texts, but no one had ever managed to make one.

Just what kind of monster is this Yun Shu, to actually be able to make a Seven-Wheel Fan.

Yan Ning said with a smile, "It's a good thing we have this Seven-Wheel Fan, otherwise my father and I would both be wearing short sleeves and shorts."

Cold sweat broke out on the foreheads of the four ministers.

If they had really worn those, the consequences would be unimaginable.

They would have to be more polite to Yun Shu in the future.

The Minister of War said, "Your subject implores Your Majesty to allocate more military funds. I do not know how the countries far away are developing, but in any case, I do not ask to attack them, I only ask that our Daxia can have the ability to protect itself."

Yan Ning nodded and said to the Minister of Revenue, "This sum of silver must be provided."

The Minister of Revenue's expression was grave; he did not voice any opposition.

The Minister of War said, "The matchlock musket that Your Majesty drew, my subordinates have already had it made, but this gun is somewhat difficult to use."

Yan Ze frowned: "Where is it difficult to use?"

The Minister of War said, "It cannot be lit on rainy days, and several people have had their hands blown up..."

Yan Ze had not expected there to be safety hazards.

After a good while, he said with a grave expression: "Since that is the case, then let us change the gun. I will go ask Yun Shu if he has any ideas."

Specialized matters should be left to specialized people; Yan Ze and Yan Ning both got a headache looking at those intricate parts.

The four ministers looked at each other; they had not expected Yun Shu's status in His Majesty's heart to be so high.

Yan Ze asked: "Besides weapons, is there anything else that needs attention?"

The Minister of War said: "Besides weapons, there is the training of troops. General Xie and the Prince of Nanyang are both capable of the task."

Yan Ning added: "We have cavalry and infantry, but we have no navy. If an enemy country were to attack from the other side of the ocean, we would have no navy and would be very passive."

The Minister of War slapped his forehead: "Look at me, I didn't even notice this. The Crown Princess is still the one who considers things thoroughly."

Yan Ning continued: "Not only must we have a navy, we must also have warships. We will place the Artillery on the ships; whoever dares to invade our Daxia, we will directly use the Artillery to blast them."

At this moment, the few people all looked at Yan Ning.

"Your Highness, what is Artillery?"

Yan Ning drew a simple diagram, "Light the fuse, and the Cannonball can come out from here and fly over to the enemy army."

The Minister of War understood: "Gunpowder that can be thrown further."

However, after thinking for a while, he asked again: "Your Highness, can this Artillery be made? I find it looks somewhat difficult."

Yan Ning thought for a moment, "Yun Shu said it should be possible to make it well."

The Minister of War was stunned: "He is that capable?"

Yan Ning nodded.

The few people were discussing important matters in the Eastern Palace; after the discussion, they left.

As it happened, the four of them ran into the Minister of Personnel.

The Minister of Personnel saw that their expressions were not right and asked: "What is the matter?"

The Minister of War was a bit sour: "You have raised a good son."

The Minister of Personnel was confused.

The Minister of Revenue asked with a smile: "Is your son betrothed? I have a granddaughter who is good-looking and has a gentle personality."

The corners of the Minister of Personnel's mouth could not stop rising, and he said with a smile: "Good, good, I will go back and talk it over with my son to see if he is willing."

Seeing the way they were, how could the Minister of Personnel not know that the look in their eyes just now was sour.

It must be that Yun Shu has made some good thing again.

And the Minister of Revenue, this old man is arrogant; I heard he previously wanted his granddaughter to marry the First Prince.

After Yun You returned home, he had been waiting for Yun Shu.

During this period, Yun You had rarely seen Yun Shu.

Yun Shu did not need to attend the morning court; he rose at the hour of the Tiger (3-5 AM), while Yun Shu only woke up at the hour of the Rabbit (5-7 AM).

Yun Shu returned late at night; by the time he returned, Yun You was already lying down.

Today, Yun You finally remembered that Yun Shu had reached the age for marriage discussions and needed to talk to him about it.

Who knew that this wait would be two hours.

Yun Shu only returned at the hour of the Boar (9-11 PM), and Yun You was already yawning repeatedly.

Yun Shu saw his cheap father sitting in his room reading a book; he must have been waiting for him.

Yun Shu was a bit strange: "Father, do you have something to find me for?"

Yun You nodded, "You have reached the age, it is time to start discussing marriage."

"What?"

Yun Shu was stunned, "I am going to discuss marriage at this age?"

Yun You frowned; isn't this age just right?

"At your age, it is exactly the age for marriage discussions. The Minister of Revenue's granddaughter is good-looking and has a good temperament; why not have you two meet another day..."

Yun Shu shook his head: "Father, I am not in a hurry to marry; let's talk about it after I am eighteen. Furthermore, the Research Institute is busy during this time, and I cannot get away."

No matter what Yun You said, Yun Shu remained unmoved.

It angered him so much that he flicked his sleeves and left.

Yun Shu did not want to date, nor did he want to get married. Once married, he would have to deal with a wife; it would be better to research more things at the Research Institute.

On the other side, Yan Ning had not left the palace for a long time and prepared to go see a few shops.

The Grocery Store has quite a lot of items, and the customer traffic is also good; the things sold inside are becoming more and more numerous.

She went to Liuli Pu and Jianyue Pavilion again.

Liuli Pu is still the same as usual; new products are snatched up by people as soon as they are stocked, and Jianyue Pavilion is the same.

It is mainly because many merchants buy them to take to other regions to sell.

The last place Yan Ning went to was the pastry shop.

What she did not expect was that the people inside the pastry shop were all looking gloomy and dejected.

After Yan Ning went in, she asked, "What has happened to you all?"

At this time, Xiao Shi said to Yan Ning, "His Highness, business has really not been good these past few days, and pastries cannot be kept for too long... We have already reduced the quantity, but they still cannot be sold out."

Yan Ning took the accounts to look at them; during this period, the profit has been worse day by day, and in the last week, they have already started to lose money.

The pastries sold in their shop all use good ingredients; this month, apart from mung Bean cakes, nothing else can be sold.

Yan Ning thought for a moment and said, "Let's not sell these pastries for now; presumably, everyone is too hot to have an appetite."

Xiao Shi nodded, then asked again, "Our shop is in such a good location; closing the shop is really not worth it."

Yan Ning said with a smile, "I am not asking you to close the shop, just to sell some different things."

Yan Ning had someone go buy some Niter and taught them how to make mango shaved ice.

Once a bowl of mango shaved ice was made, the few people in the shop each tasted a small mouthful, and their eyes all lit up.

This shaved ice was soft and smooth on the tongue, carrying the fragrance and sweetness of mango, and eating a mouthful felt icy and cool, which perfectly relieved their irritability.

They wanted to eat more after eating it.

But with Yan Ning there, they did not dare to eat.

Yan Ning also taught them how to make Fruit Juice; after adding ice, the taste was exceptionally good.

This was not all; Yan Ning said, "Tomorrow, go buy some low tables and stools, and when the time comes, place them at the entrance; remember to set up some umbrellas for shade, and business will surely be good."

After Yan Ning discussed the prices with the Manager, she let them go do it.

It was just that Xiao Shi and the Manager were a bit uncertain whether sales would improve tomorrow.