When Long Yi looked over, Yan Xiaosi stepped forward and asked, “Guard Long Yi, where are those seeds I bought yesterday?”
Yesterday she had been drunk as mud, and was even carried back by Murong Qinjian, so naturally she didn’t know the whereabouts of those seeds.
“They’re being kept in the mess hall.”
Upon hearing Long Yi’s answer, Yan Xiaosi felt a moment of anxiety.
She needed to retrieve them quickly, before the mess hall staff sprouted the cabbage and radish seeds into bean sprouts.
Seeing her stride off rapidly toward the mess hall, Long Yi, not knowing what she was in a hurry about, quickly sheathed his sword with a ringing sound and followed her.
After getting those seeds, Yan Xiaosi breathed a sigh of relief and asked Old Jin, the mess hall manager, for several wooden basins.
When Old Jin gave her the wooden basins, he casually inquired, “Little Military Doctor Yan, what do you need these wooden basins for?”
Yan Xiaosi answered while pouring water into the wooden basins, “To soak the seeds. After soaking, they’ll sprout more easily when planted in the ground.”
The embryo of seeds is wrapped in a hard outer shell. If planted directly in the ground, the inner embryo would rot and mold before the outer skin could break. If the seeds are soaked before planting, the outer skin softens with water and can be easily broken through by the embryo, significantly increasing the germination rate.
Old Jin and Long Yi stood to the side, watching as she filled each wooden basin with water and then poured different types of seeds into them.
“Little Military Doctor Yan, to think you even understand farming, that’s truly remarkable.”
Old Jin, hearing her explanation, was thoroughly impressed.
“So capable at such a young age, your future prospects are limitless.”
Long Yi silently agreed with Old Jin’s words.
Of course, someone chosen by his master would certainly have limitless prospects. Perhaps little Master Yan would even become the War King’s consort in the future.
“Little Master Yan, is there anything else this subordinate can help you with?”
Yan Xiaosi waved at him and said, “I’m fine now, you can go about your business.”
The batch of farming tools she had ordered would only be delivered in two days, so she might as well soak the seeds for two days first.
After soaking the seeds, she found herself with nothing much to do. After some thought, she went to express her gratitude to Murong Qinjian.
Murong Qinjian had drunk alcohol last night and had a bit of a headache this morning, so he had gotten up a bit late. When Yan Xiaosi went to find him, he was just having breakfast in his military tent.
“Big Brother Murong, you’re just now having breakfast.”
Murong Qinjian had half a bun in his mouth when he saw her walk in, and he was so startled he almost dropped the bun on the ground.
Yan Xiaosi saw his terrified expression and quickly explained, “I saw the curtain was open, so I came in directly. Big Brother Murong, I hope I’m not disturbing you.”
Murong Qinjian shook his head slightly.
“No, no, not at all.”
At this moment, he was somewhat afraid of Yan Xiaosi, because she had caused him to be swindled out of a Jade Dew Pill by Long Yu. He only had three of those! If Yan Xiaosi continued to chat with him further, would that black-hearted Long Yu also not spare his other two pills?
Thinking there was such a possibility, he looked at Yan Xiaosi with wariness in his eyes.
“Do you… have something to discuss?”
Seeing his guarded gaze, Yan Xiaosi tactfully didn’t move forward, standing not far from the entrance with a grateful expression, “I was heavily drunk yesterday. Thank you, Big Brother Murong, for bringing me back.”
“It was just a small favor, Little Yan, you needn’t take it to heart.”
Yan Xiaosi gave a sound of acknowledgment.
Murong Qinjian then asked, “Have you had breakfast?”
“I’ve eaten.”
Yan Xiaosi’s gaze shifted, and she inadvertently noticed the gray powder that Murong Qinjian had placed on a tea table to the side.
The gray powder looked very familiar to her. She walked over, picked it up, and sniffed it, detecting a faint smell of gunpowder.
Seeing her actions, Murong Qinjian’s expression suddenly changed, and he hurriedly put down his bun and walked over.
This was something that Long Yu had ordered him to research secretly. He had taken it out to examine before breakfast and had forgotten to put it away.
Such a major military secret shouldn’t be known by outsiders, even if it was Yan Xiaosi.
He rushed over, about to snatch it back, but before he could, he heard Yan Xiaosi say, “Big Brother Murong, you’re researching gunpowder, aren’t you?”
Murong Qinjian’s movements halted, and he looked at her with extreme surprise.
“Little Yan, you know what this is?”
Yan Xiaosi rolled her eyes.
She was a soul transmigrator, how could she not recognize gunpowder?
“Yes, this stuff is called gunpowder. It can be used to make fireworks and firecrackers, and it can also be used to make weapons. When used for weapons, it has extremely powerful destructive force.”
She even knew this.
Murong Qinjian began to look at her with a hint of admiration in his eyes.
“Little Yan, how do you know this?”
Yan Xiaosi didn’t dare say she was a soul transmigrator. After some thought, she explained, “I saw it in a book left by my father.”
Murong Qinjian’s eyes sparkled.
“Where is that book now?”
He had been researching for so long and still hadn’t figured out the proper proportions. This was truly like finding what he needed without effort after searching everywhere.
If Long Yu knew about this, he would certainly be ecstatic.
Yan Xiaosi said, “There’s no need to look for that book; I’ve already memorized all the contents.”
She paused, then continued, “Big Brother Murong, your gunpowder proportions are clearly incorrect. If you’re researching this to make weapons against the Rongdi people, with incorrect proportions, the weapons won’t have much power.”
“That’s right.”
Murong Qinjian excitedly grabbed her sleeve.
“So I need Little Yan’s help.”
Yan Xiaosi was now a citizen of Great Chu, so naturally she hoped the Great Chu dynasty would win in battle. “Hmm, I’m willing to contribute.”
Murong Qinjian felt greatly relieved.
“Then let’s go see Long Yu now.”
During this period, to help Long Yu research this material, he had endured no small amount of headaches and worries. He had conducted experiment after experiment, failing time and again. Now things were looking up.
Long Yu was currently leading his troops on a patrol along the riverbank. Murong Qinjian was so excited that he ordered a soldier to call him back.
He and Yan Xiaosi waited in the commander’s tent for about half an hour before finally seeing Long Yu return, covered in dust from travel.
Long Yu entered his large tent to find Murong Qinjian eagerly coming forward to greet him.
“What has you so excited?”
Murong Qinjian looked toward Yan Xiaosi and said, “Long Yu, you really have found a treasure. Did you save the entire human race in your past life for the heavens to be so good to you?”
Long Yu listened, completely confused.
“If you have something to say, say it. Don’t be so exaggerated.”
Murong Qinjian then pointed at Yan Xiaosi and said, “Weren’t you always asking me to research that powerful Rongdi weapon? I’ve been researching for so long and had no clue about its proportions.”
Long Yu picked up a cup of tea and gave him a sidelong glance.
“That’s because you’re incompetent.”
“Yes, yes, yes, I’m incompetent.”
Normally, Murong Qinjian would certainly have retorted, but today he was in such good spirits that he simply agreed with Long Yu.
“I’m incompetent, but Little Yan isn’t.”