Ministers Begging Me to Ascend the Throne

Chapter 881: Chapter 28: Blowing Up the Alchemy Furnace

After getting Prince Dai and Prince Jing to fight each other, Zhao Yao no longer paid attention to matters in the capital. He was very busy every day, so he had no leisure time to focus on affairs outside the Swamp Prefecture.

He originally planned to start work after the Lantern Festival, but past the seventh day, there was nothing much to do. In the capital before, every year during the New Year was the busiest time, and only after the Lantern Festival would things calm down. Now, in the Swamp Prefecture, Zhao Yao didn’t need to go out to pay New Year’s greetings or participate in various palace activities.

As the highest authority of the Swamp Prefecture, Prince Han didn’t need to go out and pay New Year visits; instead, others came to pay respects to him. However, the previous officials and local gentry of the Swamp Prefecture had been killed by him, leaving only ordinary people, who were not qualified to meet Zhao Yao.

After the seventh day, Zhao Yao was completely at leisure. He originally planned to have a few days of good rest during the Lantern Festival, as he hadn’t had any free time since arriving at the Swamp Prefecture. Perhaps because he had been too busy before, the sudden downtime felt unfamiliar to him. After resting for two days, he threw himself into work.

The officials of the Han Prince’s small court still followed the previous regulations, starting work after the Lantern Festival.

These two days, although Zhao Yao was busy, he was only busy with alchemy.

In the backyard of the Han Prince Mansion, a more than a meter-high alchemy furnace was placed. Zhao Yao sat in front of the furnace, holding a fan in one hand and occasionally throwing things into the fire with the other.

He Lianfang came to the backyard and saw Zhao Yao working on alchemy again. He frowned slightly and wheeled his chair over to Zhao Yao’s side.

"You little brat, are you trying to become an immortal?"

Zhao Yao looked up, slightly puzzled, at He Lianfang: "I don’t have that plan."

"Then what are you doing now?" He Lianfang pointed to the alchemy furnace in front of Zhao Yao, "Aren’t you doing alchemy?"

Zhao Yao, amused, said, "Uncle, didn’t I tell you before? I’m doing an experiment, not actual alchemy." As for what experiment, Zhao Yao hadn’t told He Lianfang yet.

He Lianfang snorted coldly, "From what I see, you’re doing alchemy."

Zhao Yao stood up, waving the fan in his hand, and said mysteriously, "I’m doing experiments through alchemy."

He Lianfang asked, "What kind of experiment?"

"You wouldn’t understand even if I told you now. I’ll tell you when I succeed." After saying that, Zhao Yao sat back in front of the furnace, grabbing a handful of saltpeter from a bowl on the table nearby and throwing it into the furnace, then added a little sulfur and charcoal.

Saltpeter is easy to get. Even when Zhao Yao was very young, he used saltpeter to make ice. Nowadays, thanks to Zhao Yao, people all over Great Zhou can use ice during summer.

Sulfur and charcoal are also easy to find. Swamp Prefecture has many hot springs, and sulfur is one of the most important components of hot springs. Charcoal is made directly by burning wood. Swamp Prefecture is rich in trees, and there are also many precious woods.

Zhao Yao stared intently at the alchemy furnace. He didn’t dare to put too much saltpeter, sulfur, and charcoal at once. If he added too much at once, his life could be at risk, so he could only experiment little by little.

The lid of the alchemy furnace suddenly spewed out lots of fireworks, followed by crackling sounds from inside, and then many sparks came out of the furnace. Although Zhao Yao fanned them away, quite a few sparks splattered onto him. Some also landed on He Lianfang, who wasn’t far from Zhao Yao.

Once the furnace calmed down, Zhao Yao hurriedly recorded the previous proportions and reactions.

"Uncle, it’s quite dangerous here, you should go back."

"Dangerous? Where’s the danger?" He Lianfang didn’t perceive any danger.

"Didn’t some sparks just splash onto you?" Zhao Yao went behind He Lianfang and pushed him out of the backyard.

"What exactly are you doing?"

"I’ll tell you when I succeed."

"Are you sure you aren’t doing alchemy?" He Lianfang had seen Zhao Yao squat in front of the alchemy furnace day and night these past few days, not even going back to his room to sleep, just like a Taoist doing alchemy. In his eyes, Zhao Yao was completely engrossed in alchemy.

Seeing that He Lianfang still didn’t believe him, Zhao Yao felt helpless.

"I’m really not doing alchemy; I’m really conducting an experiment." As soon as he finished speaking, he added, "My experiment’s goal is to blow up the alchemy furnace."

"Blow up the alchemy furnace?" He Lianfang’s expression turned odd, "What kind of hobby is that?"

Zhao Yao rolled his eyes speechlessly, "I’m seriously trying to blow up the alchemy furnace, not playing some game." What could be going through his uncle’s head?