Cultivation Simulator: Starting From The Empress' Palace-Chapter 108 Progress

As Zhao Fujin crushed several pieces of salpeter the size of human heads into powder.

Chen Mo put these powdered salpeter into a wooden basin filled with water.

The chemical name of salpeter is potassium nitrate, which, when dissolved in water, absorbs heat and thus lowers the temperature.

As the powdered salpeter was poured into the wooden basin, the water in the basin reacted immediately.

Zhao Fujin placed her hand in the water and was amazed to find that the water temperature in the wooden basin was gradually decreasing.

"It’s gradually getting colder, this might actually work," Zhao Fujin remarked in wonder.

"Of course. Senior sister, you add more alchemical stones, I’ll go get a stick to stir it," said Chen Mo.

"Alright."

As Chen Mo stirred the water with the stick after adding the salpeter, Zhao Fujin was amazed to find that the water indeed began to freeze, although it was still very thin now.

To form ice blocks several inches thick, more alchemical stones were needed.

But this also meant that making ice with alchemical stones was indeed feasible.

Zhao Fujin curiously asked, "Junior brother, how did you discover that alchemical stones could be used to make ice?"

"...I discovered it by accident," Chen Mo evaded.

Making ice with alchemical stones wasn’t technically complicated; just putting the stones in water sufficed.

Therefore, Chen Mo claiming it was an accidental discovery was not surprising. Zhao Fujin wasn’t suspicious and immediately laughed, "Just a few alchemical stones can freeze a whole wooden basin of ice. The Artifact Department has a lot of them, and they’re cheap. We’re really going to make a fortune."

"Senior sister, I’ll leave the palace tomorrow to take over a shop, but the manpower..."

"I’ll ask Father," Zhao Fujin casually replied.

"Don’t..." Chen Mo was startled. Although he knew that if the ice blocks sold well, the Emperor would find out sooner or later, he didn’t want the Emperor to know before they earned any money. If the Emperor had the Artifact Department control the salpeter to make and sell the ice himself, Chen Mo would earn nothing.

Chen Mo quickly explained, "Your Majesty is so busy all day, this little matter needn’t bother him. When I buy a shop tomorrow, I’ll also hire a few clerks. As for the money..."

Chen Mo rubbed his hands in front of Zhao Fujin.

Zhao Fujin, with her keen memory, said, "Didn’t I give you my purse to keep last time? There were a few thousand taels."

"Is that money enough? In Bianliang City, any shop costs nearly ten thousand guan, and one tael of silver is just two guan in copper coins. We also need to hire clerks..."

Chen Mo had Wang Ying’s money box, but that was considered his own money.

Since Zhao Fujin was wealthy, he naturally used her funds.

Moreover, when dividing the profits from selling ice, she would take the bigger share.

Zhao Fujin glared at Chen Mo and then fetched her money box from the chamber. It was filled with quality jade, gold leaves, and gold ingots.

Its value was unfathomable.

Chen Mo was wide-eyed.

Wasn’t the Imperial Court out of money?

How could a Princess have so much money?

But he soon realized one thing.

The Imperial Court being out of money didn’t mean the Emperor or the Imperial Family was out of money.

The Emperor’s finances and the country’s finances were separate.

The Emperor also had his private assets.

And the exact amount of money, only the Emperor and his most trusted...no, it seemed the Emperor’s private assets were called the Inner Treasury, managed by the Empress.

Chen Mo recalled from a previous simulation that there was a Red Sun Bell in the Inner Treasury.

However, while the Inner Treasury was managed by the Empress, the Emperor could reclaim it at any time.

Because above the Inner Treasury, there was oversight by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, which answered to the Emperor.

God, the departments in this palace were too complicated.

Just thinking about it gave Chen Mo a headache.

"Well, take as much as you need," said Zhao Fujin, looking at Chen Mo’s eyes shining at her money box, rolling her eyes at him.

"Really take as much as I need?" Chen Mo swallowed hard, truly impressed by the Princess’s generosity.

Zhao Fujin reluctantly nodded, then said, "But you should leave some for me too."

"Sure."

Chen Mo didn’t take more than necessary; he only took enough to buy the shop and hire clerks, then stopped.

"Enough?" Zhao Fujin was stunned to see Chen Mo stop taking more, blinking in surprise.

"Enough. This will be your dowry when you get married, senior sister; how could I take it all?" Chen Mo couldn’t resist joking, looking at Zhao Fujin, who was crouching before him, her graceful neckline and visible collarbones exposed.

"You tease," Zhao Fujin’s face broke into a smile, lifting her hand to playfully slap Chen Mo.

Chen Mo laughed and dodged.

Just when Chen Mo thought the joke had passed, Zhao Fujin murmured, "When I get married, my dowry will be more than just this."

Chen Mo didn’t respond, but seeing the faint blush on Zhao Fujin’s fair face, he instinctively took out the rouge he intended to give her later and said, "Senior sister, I bought this rouge for you while out of the palace today. Do you like it?"

As for the hairpin, Chen Mo didn’t take it out.

Zhao Fujin, being unacquainted with worldly matters and having only read classical texts and rarely left the palace, didn’t know the other meaning of a man giving a woman rouge.

But a young girl’s feelings are always poetic.

Even if she didn’t understand, Zhao Fujin couldn’t help but daydream a bit, asking, "Why are you giving me rouge?"

"No special reason, just wanted to give senior sister something. Don’t you like it?" Chen Mo looked intently into Zhao Fujin’s eyes.

I’m not explaining anything. Think whatever you want.

Zhao Fujin’s eyelashes fluttered, and she quickly avoided Chen Mo’s gaze, turning her head and saying, "It’s okay, but since you’ve given it to me, I’ll reluctantly accept it."

From Chen Mo’s unseen angle, Zhao Fujin’s willow-like eyebrows and the corners of her eyes were full of a sweet smile.

...

Chen Mo had dinner in Zhao Fujin’s chamber.

Then they went to Shenxiao Temple together.

Walking along the road, the young girl looked at the young man, her hands involuntarily placed behind her back, fingers intertwined, biting her lips lightly, walking as if on tiptoe.

Walking slightly faster, then slowing down.

The two walked side by side.

In Shenxiao Temple, they cultivated together.

During this time, Chen Mo teased her with words.

Making the young girl bashful.

Then they played around for a while.

The cultivation tonight passed quickly for both of them.

When parting, there was a hint of reluctance in Zhao Fujin’s eyes. 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Back in the room, Chen Mo opened the Cultivation Simulator.

[Do you wish to activate the Immortal Cultivation Simulator?]

"Yes."

[Day 3 of the Great Chaos: You left the palace early to check in at the Infantry Department, then used sixteen thousand guan to take over a shop in the south of the city, hiring three clerks.

In the afternoon, you went to Fengyang Pavilion to heal Zhao Jiang Ning. Through an experiment, you found that placing your hand on the area containing Yin Yang Qi in her body and activating the Ancient Heavy Pupils allowed you to absorb the Yin Yang Qi. You then discovered that this Yin Yang Qi could enhance your own power.]