[System: Host, did you think of something? Tell me?]

[Yuan Ruan: Honeycomb briquette.]

The three of them: ???

Honeycomb briquette?

What is that?

[System: Honeycomb briquette? The coal used for burning?]

The Emperor: …

The Crown Prince: …

Wu Yi nearly stumbled.

The wild people don’t farm. They usually survive by picking wild fruits and hunting. However, during the harsh winter, when animals are scarce, they dig coal from the mountains and carry bamboo baskets downhill to trade with villagers for survival goods.

In other words, the wild people are least in need of coal.

Thinking of using honeycomb briquettes as a bargaining chip for them is less effective than simply giving them some food.

The system echoed this sentiment:
[Host, the wild people rely on coal for survival during winter, so they really don’t lack coal. Even if your honeycomb briquettes burn a few hours longer than regular coal, it won’t matter much.]

The three of them: …

Huh? Wait, did they hear that right?

Burns a few hours longer?!

The three of them almost simultaneously gasped. Wu Yi nearly slammed the table as he exclaimed, “System, don’t talk nonsense! Even if the honeycomb briquette burns just one hour longer than regular coal, it’s an enormous advantage.”

A product like this, once operational, can yield tremendous profits.

Not just the wild people—any country would find it tempting.

[Fine, I won’t say more then.]

The three of them: !!!

No, it’s very important!

Stick to it, little one. This is a highly enticing bargaining chip.

The Emperor and the Crown Prince exchanged a look. The Crown Prince suddenly stroked his chin and said, “Regarding the benefits Father mentioned, this child has thought of something. Wild people cannot hunt during winter and usually come down the mountains carrying coal to trade.

“But recently, the governments of Chen and Shu have provided citizens with a large amount of coal at slightly cheaper prices than the wild people’s, making it hard for the wild people to sell their coal. Father, can we leverage this? For instance, ‘teaching them to fish instead of giving them fish’—guiding them to join Da Xia?”

The Emperor understood and stroked his chin, saying, “That’s feasible. We must think this through.”

The two were engrossed in their discussion, their attention fixed on Yuan Ruan.

Luckily, their bait worked. The soft and sweet voice rang out again:
[Ha! System, look! Brother and nephew thought the same as me. Making coal balls is doable.]

The system jumped out to applaud her:
[You’re absolutely right! As expected of the host. I didn’t expect you to know how to make coal balls. How will you teach them?]

[Yuan Ruan: Of course! I love my brother and nephew the most.]

Hearing this, the Emperor and the Crown Prince felt a warmth in their hearts.

The Emperor walked over, gently picked up Yuan Ruan, and stroked her little head.

As Yuan Ruan enjoyed the affection, her thoughts continued:
[Let me think about how to do this. Hmm, coal balls are made by mixing coal and a binding agent… Wait a minute, binding agent? I know the formula for that, but ammonium oxalate is one of the ingredients. Can that even be made in ancient times?]

The three of them nearly fell backward.

The system hurriedly reassured her:
[Host! Don’t panic; I’m here! Besides National Fortune tasks, I’m also a prank system. I can help you by generating daily tasks to get the formula.]

[Yuan Ruan: Quick, tell me!]

System:
[Ding Dong—Daily Task 1: Ride on Qi Sheng’s shoulders and let 1,000 people see it (0/1,000). Reward: Honeycomb briquette binding agent formula.]

The Crown Prince gave the Emperor a strange look.

Wu Yi stifled a laugh.

But in the next second, both of them were startled into coughing by Yuan Ruan’s heartfelt thought:
[Qi Sheng? Who’s that?!]

The Crown Prince looked at the Emperor in disbelief, his face full of the words: “Father, you’ve acknowledged the princess for so long, yet she still doesn’t know your name?”

The Emperor: …

Taking a deep breath, he remained calm.

[System: And you claim to love your elder brother the most? That’s the name of your nominal godfather, who is actually your elder brother!]

[Yuan Ruan: Oh no, my mistake. This name has such a unique and grand aura. As expected of my handsome and dashing brother’s name.]

After a flurry of awkward compliments, Yuan Ruan whispered to the system:
[The task is great, but as a baby, how can I get Brother to cooperate with me?]

The system sighed with her:
[True, riding on shoulders requires climbing up first. With your little arms and short legs, can you even scramble up? The hardest part is how to subtly make him take you out and let 1,000 people see you.]

This question troubled not only the system but also the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and Wu Yi, who were all pondering how to assist her in completing the task without arousing suspicion.

At this moment, the Crown Prince suddenly stood up, strode over, and grabbed Yuan Ruan from the Emperor’s arms, lifting her high.

Yuan Ruan’s innocent face widened in surprise.

Seeing this, the Crown Prince smiled, flipped Yuan Ruan onto his shoulders, and turned to the Emperor:
“Father, I think we can’t come up with a solution sitting here. Why don’t we disguise ourselves and visit a village where wild people gather to get a firsthand understanding of the situation? We might get some new ideas.”

The Emperor paused, realizing the Crown Prince was setting the stage to complete the task.

Just as he was about to nod, he heard the Crown Prince’s next words:
“In that case, I’ll pretend to be an ordinary father with Yuan Ruan as my daughter, and Father can play the steward. How about that?”

The Emperor: …

Even knowing the Crown Prince said this intentionally, it still left him somewhat displeased.

With a faint smile, the Emperor snatched Yuan Ruan back and placed her on his own shoulders, saying, “Leaving the palace seems to have made you bolder. I think your build suits the role of a servant perfectly. Let’s go together.” With that, the Emperor strode out.

System:
[Ding—Daily Task 1: Ride on Qi Sheng’s shoulders and let 1,000 people see it (5/1,000). Host, you’ve got a chance!]

[Yuan Ruan: Yay! Our luck is amazing! Thanks to my nephew for his divine help!]

[System: Add a drumstick for your nephew.]

The Crown Prince: …

Drumstick? What does that mean?

Before he could think further, he heard Yuan Ruan’s cheerful voice:
[Wow, Brother is amazing! Breaking triple digits already.]

[Awesome! Is brother heading toward the military camp? Incredible, we’ve reached 532 before even arriving at the village.]

Listening to Yuan Ruan’s joyous voice, the Crown Prince and Wu Yi weren’t sure whether to feel awkward for the Emperor or happy for Yuan Ruan.

After a short while, they reached a bustling market five miles from the military camp.

The moment the Emperor stepped into the market, a pleasant ding dong sounded.

System:
[Ding Dong—Daily Task 1: Ride on Qi Sheng’s shoulders and let 1,000 people see it (1,000/1,000). Completed! Host, you’re amazing! You rock!]

[Yuan Ruan: Hehe, it’s all thanks to Brother and Nephew’s efforts. I just went along for the ride.]

The Crown Prince and the Emperor: !!!

The Crown Prince’s eyes sparkled with surprise as he looked at the Emperor.

The Emperor also wore a faint smile.

[System: Host, you’re too modest. Here’s your reward now.]

[Yuan Ruan: Great! Huh? Wait… how do I receive this reward? Also, as a baby who can’t speak, how do I pass it on to them?]

[System: Oh no, Host, let me think.]

The Crown Prince and the Emperor: …

Was it all for nothing?

[System: Ah, Host, I’ve got a brilliant idea for delivering the reward. Want to try?]

[Yuan Ruan: Tell me quickly.]

The Crown Prince and the Emperor: !!!

Their eyes reignited with hope.

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The term “野人” (yě rén) literally translates to “savages” or “wild people.”