Chapter 582: Watermelon Ice Cream

"What did you say? Ice what?"

Gu Jin looked completely bewildered.

Liu Zheng, on the other hand, laughed heartily.

Thinking back, it had really been too long since he last ate ice cream; let alone ice cream, he couldn't even get a popsicle.

He missed it so much...

"What on earth are you trying to do?"

Seeing this smile on Liu Zheng's face, Gu Jin felt her anger flare up!

What time is it, and you can still laugh!

Abominable!

The Christmas Ceremony is tomorrow! Do you really think that just because you won a war, no one cares about this ceremony anymore!

Also...

This guy, he looks quite refined, but he is a war maniac! A war maniac! Gu Jin had lived a life of luxury and ease since childhood, and she was an anti-war activist! She already didn't get along with Liu Zheng, and now she detested him even more.

Liu Zheng chuckled: "I already said, I am going to make ice. Congratulations, Miss Gu, you will become the first person in the Longyan Dynasty to eat ice cream."

"Close the door!"

Liu Zheng suddenly shouted.

Clang, clang.

The men of the Liangzhou Army once again firmly shut the gates of the Shichang! Gu Jin was startled when she saw this, her face turning pale with fright: "You, you, you, are you trying to kill me to silence me? Someone help! The Prefect Liu is going to kill someone!"

"He wants to escape and kill to silence witnesses!"

Liu Zheng couldn't be bothered to pay her any mind.

He waved his hand.

Soon, several Liangzhou soldiers brought over some large and small basins. They first placed the large basin on the ground, then placed the small basin inside the large one. Then, they placed a large amount of raw niter into the large basin.

Gu Jin watched eagerly.

Deng Wenhui also widened his eyes.

Those yamen runners were also watching one by one.

Making ice?

How to make it?

These past few days, they had been collecting saltpeter here, buying basins and buckets, but they just didn't know how these things could make ice. Now that Prefect Liu was finally going to put it into practice, how could they not be curious?

Liu Zheng checked the ratio of saltpeter in the large basin, nodded, and then instructed several Liangzhou soldiers to pour water into the basin.

This was the famous Niter Ice Making.

What is saltpeter? Its chemical name is sodium nitrate; when it dissolves in water, it absorbs heat, causing the temperature of the water to drop, thereby causing the water in the small basin to rapidly cool down and freeze into frost.

And saltpeter is not hard to find in ancient times.

Whenever the autumn weather is crisp and clear, saltpeter usually appears in the form of crusts or salt flowers, covering the ground and corners of walls; this is what is called ground frost. Sweeping up these soil clumps containing niter, placing them in a bucket, soaking them in water, and then boiling or sun-drying the filtrate after filtering, one can obtain saltpeter crystals. Of course, there is also the most convenient Method, which is raw niter; in ancient times, it was originally a medicinal material that could be bought at pharmacies.

This was why Liu Zheng had been staying at the Shichang for the past few days; on one hand, he had Deng Wenhui purchase large quantities of raw niter from pharmacies, and on the other, he had people collect large amounts of saltpeter at the Shichang.

"Hahahaha, is this it?"

Watching Liu Zheng's actions, Gu Jin couldn't help but burst into laughter, clutching her stomach.

Those yamen runners who had been forcibly brought to help also couldn't help but cover their mouths, stifling their laughter.

Just this?

Busy running around, using them like donkeys, and it was just this?

Liu Zheng slapped his forehead: "Almost forgot!"

He hurriedly poured the watermelon juice he had prepared long ago into the small basin.

Seeing his mysterious operation, everyone present burst into loud laughter.

However.

Soon.

They could no longer laugh.

The laughter stopped most abruptly with Gu Jin.

Jinghua had been unbearably hot these past few days. Therefore, at this time, any slight drop in temperature nearby would be felt very clearly. What shocked Gu Jin was that a trace of coolness was coming from the direction of the water basin Prefect Liu had set up.

Her laughter ceased.

Deng Wenhui also began to stare in astonishment.

Those yamen runners who were waiting to see a joke were also dumbfounded.

It was getting cold!

It was getting colder and colder!

The scene suddenly went quiet.

Everyone stared intently at that water basin.

A chill washed over them.

After an unknown amount of time.

"Ah!"

Suddenly, Gu Jin let out a sharp cry, unable to stop herself from covering her mouth.

What had she seen?

She saw the water in the small basin, at a speed almost visible to the naked eye, changing from water to having frost floating on top, and then, from frost, slowly beginning to turn into ice cubes...

"This, this, this..."

"My heavens!"

"This is? This is ice! This is ice!"

These people were all stunned, driven mad by the sight.

Gu Jin, even more incredulous, ran over and touched the small basin of ice with her hand; her slender, jade-like fingers retracted the moment they made contact.

Ice!

Incredibly icy!

Boom!

Gu Jin, who had never thought highly of Liu Zheng, suddenly felt as if struck by five bolts of lightning.

Deng Wenhui was also so shocked that he even stopped breathing.

This...

Was it really produced? He couldn't help but lick his lips. One had to know that in the Longyan Dynasty, those who could use ice and eat ice in the summer were all royalty or members of the Noble Class. Because it was too expensive, too luxurious!

Not only that.

The kind of ice before their eyes was something they had likely never seen in their entire lives! Because watermelon juice was mixed into the ice, it was white tinged with red and red tinged with white, making one's appetite soar just by looking at it.

"Miss Gu, how is it?"

Liu Zheng laughed heartily.

Gu Jin swallowed a mouthful of saliva, unable to utter a single word.

"Eat!"

Liu Zheng held back his laughter and waved his hand.

Gu Jin shrieked, ran over like a flash, smashed the ice, and without a word, put it into her mouth. A sweet, icy coolness entered her mouth, instantly making her feel Transcendent.

Delicious!

Too delicious!

Ahhhhh!

Is this that ice cream?

How can it be this delicious!

"Hey, hey, leave some for me!"

Watching Gu Jin gorge herself over there, Liu Zheng was anxious, let alone the others.

"Don't touch mine, don't touch mine! I'll get angry with whoever touches it!"

Gu Jin hugged that watermelon-colored piece of ice and ran away quickly.

Leaving only a crowd of people, left in disarray under the scorching sun.

"Prefect Liu, Prefect Liu..."

The eldest Princess of the Li Dynasty, Li Xuanya, sat quietly by the window, muttering this name incessantly.

Because in the few days she had been in Jinghua, the name she heard most often was his.

She was a senior researcher of Longyan Culture and naturally knew that this official rank was not considered high at all in Longyan. Right here in Jinghua, one could probably hit a Prefect with a single brick.

But...

Was he really that strong?

What shocked her even more was the news that had arrived yesterday of war breaking out everywhere.

The Liangzhou Army...

The Liangzhou Army!

The invincible Liangzhou Army!

This made the hand holding her teacup tremble slightly.

If they had such a powerful army to help the Li Dynasty, would they still fear those detestable Wa pirates?

No!

No matter the cost, she had to get to know this Prefect Liu!

What method?

The program for the grand ceremony!

Yes!

"Summon the dancers, we are going to rehearse again!"

"Yes, Princess!"