Yang Haiyan didn’t know if saltpeter could be boiled out of water, but it was worth a try.

She began thinking of ways to test it, such as maybe boiling the ice after it melted.

However, she quickly dismissed this idea and thought of another approach.

Meanwhile, Qin Fang was in high spirits. “Yan Yan, you go to bed. I’ll write a letter to Lord Du and inform him about this method of making ice from saltpeter.”

Yang Haiyan asked, “Why do you always write to Lord Du instead of submitting a memorial directly to the Emperor?”

Qin Fang had his reasons. “I’m new to the court, and not a scholar by background, so I’m unfamiliar with many court protocols. But having interacted with Lord Du, I believe he is a good official. If there’s anything improper about my letters, he will likely advise me. That’s one reason. Secondly, as a military officer, my reports generally go to the Ministry of War, so this route is also appropriate.”

Yang Haiyan had read Qi State’s laws and knew it lacked a Grand Secretariat, which was common in other dynasties.

In such dynasties, officials would submit memorials to the Grand Secretariat first, and only selected ones would reach the Emperor.

This meant if the Grand Secretariat had issues with an official, they could block the memorial from reaching the Emperor.

In Qi State, however, officials’ memorials were registered and then directly submitted to the Bureau of Communication.

Civil officials’ reports were then forwarded to the palace and passed to the Emperor by gatekeepers, while military reports generally went to the Ministry of War.

If a military officer preferred, they could also submit directly to the Bureau of Communication.

However, bypassing the Ministry of War sometimes led to tension.

For example, if the Emperor was informed about an issue but the Ministry of War wasn’t, officials there might feel embarrassed or resentful.

It was often beneficial for the Ministry to be aware of military matters first so they could make necessary adjustments.

But Qin Fang wasn’t sending his reports to Lord Du just for these reasons—he wanted to build a reliable connection.

He knew he was insignificant in the court, unfamiliar with many customs, and he hoped that Lord Du could provide some guidance.

As the Deputy Minister of War, Lord Du wasn’t just any official.

Especially with a new Emperor on the throne, control over the military was a priority, and the Deputy Minister was certainly a trusted figure of the Emperor.

Qin Fang didn’t share his darker thoughts with Yang Haiyan.

He didn’t want his wife to know the scheming part of him.

She had been with him through poverty and illiteracy, and he didn’t mind if she knew he wasn’t perfect, but he didn’t want her to see the calculating side of him.

He finished the memorial overnight, sending it to the capital at dawn.

…….

Two and a half days later, Lord Du received Qin Fang’s second letter.

He was in the Imperial Study at the time, exchanging glances with the Emperor.

Half an hour earlier, Lord Du had left the study after discussing rewards for Qin Fang and Yang Haiyan.

He hadn’t expected another achievement so soon—saltpeter ice-making.

Since Qin Fang dared to propose it, saltpeter likely could produce ice.

The Emperor said, “Sulfur mines, saltpeter mines, farmland for the military, saltpeter ice-making—all of this happening in my second year of reign. Du Ke, it seems Qin Fang is a blessing to me indeed.”

Positive developments benefiting the country and the people during an Emperor’s reign were things any ruler would cherish.

Lord Du was reminded of something his father had mentioned earlier—that Qin Fang had remarkable luck.

The Emperor, in particular, favored those with good fortune, especially someone like Qin Fang, who came from a humble background with no family connections.

No matter how high he rose, he posed no threat of misconduct.

The Emperor continued, “In March, there was half a month of rain, and floods destroyed dams. People said my rule was illegitimate, a sign of Heaven’s displeasure. But now, Qin Fang has cleared out bandits and provided silver. If during my reign, we develop gunpowder, secure food for a million troops, and provide ice that even nobles rarely have, who could say my rule is illegitimate and Heaven is punishing us?”

Du Ke kept his head down, not daring to speak.

The Emperor laughed heartily, “Qin Fang is quite something, and so is his wife. You’re right; this is a marriage I orchestrated. I’m practically their matchmaker!”

Du Ke replied, “If Your Majesty says so, then it is so.”

The Emperor said, “Summon the Imperial Medical Bureau and have them bring some saltpeter. Let’s try out Qin Fang’s method of ice-making with saltpeter. If it works, the price of ice may go down, and perhaps even the common people could afford it. If, in my lifetime, I can see the nation prosperous and the people living in peace, that would truly be…”

Du Ke responded, “Your Majesty’s wisdom and insight will make it so.”

The Emperor had heard such compliments many times. “It’s a shame, though, that even the largest saltpeter mines are finite. If they’re exhausted, then…”

Du Ke suggested, “Perhaps the Beasts’ Mountains might contain more than one saltpeter mine.”

The Emperor replied, “Even if there are two or three, they are still limited.”

Soon after, the imperial physician arrived with plenty of saltpeter, as the Emperor had instructed.

Because saltpeter is somewhat toxic, the physician came in person.

When he arrived, he found a large basin and a smaller basin with water inside it, with the small basin floating in the large one.

The Emperor ordered, “Put the saltpeter in the large basin, but don’t let it touch the small basin.”

The attendant responded, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

The physician then spoke up, “Forgive my boldness, Your Majesty, but saltpeter is toxic. Without medical advice, it should not be used carelessly. May I ask what purpose it serves?”

The Emperor, usually attentive to the physician’s advice due to concerns for his health, today felt like showing off a bit. “Saltpeter has uses you’re unaware of. Just watch… add plenty of saltpeter to the large basin.”

The attendant complied, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Since the Emperor had spoken, the physician naturally observed closely.

Saltpeter’s heat-absorbing and cooling effects worked swiftly, and as enough saltpeter was added, a chilly vapor began to emanate from the water.

However, it was merely emitting cold air—far from freezing.

The physician’s eyes lit up in surprise. “Your Majesty, is this…?” The physician was thoroughly astounded.

As a practitioner, he could not claim to have read every book, but he had never known saltpeter could be used this way.

The Emperor laughed again, his good mood evident. “Minister Qiu, it is said that saltpeter is toxic, and ice made directly from it would be poisonous. However, if we freeze it this way, the ice in the small basin is non-toxic and safe to consume. Would you say that’s correct?”

Physician Qiu responded, “I would need to conduct a test.”

Testing if the water in the small basin was non-toxic was straightforward.

If the vapor-emitting water was harmless, the ice produced from it would be safe.

Before long, Physician Qiu concluded, “Your Majesty, just as you said, indirect freezing does produce non-toxic ice. The water in the large basin, however, is poisonous. Because we used a large amount of saltpeter, the cooling effect is quicker, and its toxicity is more potent.”

The Emperor remarked, “In that case, with suitable ice-making equipment, we can safely produce edible ice using saltpeter.”

Physician Qiu replied, “Indeed.”

The Emperor sighed, “It’s a pity that saltpeter is limited; only so much ice can be made.”

But then Physician Qiu had an idea. “Perhaps not, Your Majesty. Saltpeter might be reusable, although I have not yet confirmed it.”

The Emperor became intrigued, asking excitedly, “What do you mean?”

Physician Qiu explained, “Boiling. Saltpeter dissolves in water, and boiling it might allow us to recover the saltpeter.”

Du Ke asked, “What do you mean by that?”

Physician Qiu took out a white cloth and a bottle of medicine, pouring the liquid onto the cloth.

He explained, “Your Majesty and Lord Du, have you heard of decocting herbs? Once the medicine is absorbed by the cloth, it can be placed in a pot of water, and the medicine can be boiled out. Saltpeter, dissolved in water, should also be recoverable by boiling. If we can indeed extract it, then saltpeter can be reused for making ice.”

The Emperor said, “Then ice will no longer be expensive, and even the common folk can afford it.”

Although the noble families profiting from ice sales would lose out, the Emperor cared more for the well-being of his people.

If Yang Haiyan were here to hear Physician Qiu’s words, she would undoubtedly be moved.

The wisdom of the ancients truly was remarkable.

The Emperor then ordered, “In that case, Physician Qiu, I leave the task of boiling saltpeter to you. Remember, this is to remain confidential.”

Physician Qiu replied, “I obey, Your Majesty.”

The Emperor nodded, “You may leave.”

He then instructed a eunuch, “Help Physician Qiu carry these things to the Imperial Medical Bureau.”

The eunuch responded, “Yes, Your Majesty.”

Physician Qiu replied, “Thank you, Your Majesty.”

Du Ke, who had come in the afternoon and missed dinner as it had gotten dark, remarked, “Your Majesty, it’s getting late, and I should take my leave.”

The Emperor replied, “No need to rush. Stay and accompany me for dinner.”