Peaceful Farm Life

Chapter 442: Chapter 442 Let go of both of you_1

Upon hearing Su Chengyu’s words, the Emperor of Xiyun finally snapped to his senses and hurried down from the Dragon Chair, running toward Xiao Changyi. He wasn’t talking to An Jing but instead bear-hugged Xiao Changyi.

At that moment, the scene was somewhat comical.

Su Chengyu was dragging Xiao Changyi, who was holding An Jing’s hand with his other, while the Emperor of Xiyun hugged Xiao Changyi. No matter which angle you looked at it from, it was particularly funny and absurd.

”Yi Er, ah, please forgive me,” the Emperor of Xiyun said with exceptional sincerity. ”Just now, I was too frustrated and didn’t mean to snap at you.”

Xiao Changyi snorted coldly, ”And?”

The Emperor of Xiyun quickly added, ”Also, I didn’t mean to belittle your wife. I was really just too troubled. You know, I am truly a wise ruler.”

An Jing: ”...” Since when does an Emperor praise himself as a wise ruler... Father Emperor, can you be a little humble?

Only then did Xiao Changyi say, ”Let go.” He paused, ”Both of you, let go.”

Su Chengyu silently retracted his hand and resumed his composed demeanor. The one who had just tarnished his image by grabbing his Brother Yi... Yeah, it definitely wasn’t him.

But the Emperor of Xiyun still bear-hugged Xiao Changyi, bargaining, ”If you don’t walk away again, I’ll let go.”

Xiao Changyi said ominously, ”If you don’t let go now, I’ll knock you out and then leave.”

As soon as the Emperor of Xiyun heard this, he immediately released Xiao Changyi.

An Jing couldn’t help but find it amusing.

The Emperor of Xiyun straightened his Dragon Robe and then turned to smile at An Jing, ”Jingjing, I heard from Yi Er that you’ve thought of a way to resolve the shortfall in the national treasury without raising taxes. What is this method?”

An Jing replied, ”It might not necessarily solve the treasury shortfall, but it’s worth a try.”

Su Chengyu said, ”Sister-in-law, don’t be so modest. If it wasn’t a solution, Brother Yi would definitely not have brought you here.”

An Jing smiled, ”Chengyu, you really understand your Brother Yi well.”

Su Chengyu said seriously, ”Brother Yi would never joke about national affairs.”

An Jing also became serious and said to the Emperor of Xiyun, ”Father Emperor, I have thought of a method, but I cannot guarantee it will definitely resolve the treasury shortfall. However, it could be worth an attempt.”

The Emperor of Xiyun said, ”Sit down and talk.”

Once everyone was seated, An Jing continued, ”I once saw a Green Tania Tree fallen by the creek, presumably after being exposed to wind, sun, and water. The bark of the Green Tania Tree had rotted and turned white. I could see strands of clean fibers inside.”

As she said this, An Jing’s face did not betray any emotion and she remained calm, but inwardly she felt a bit nervous. In reality, this wasn’t something she had seen; it was from a folk tale she had heard about Xuan paper, which her grandfather had told her about. It was precisely because her grandfather told her this folk story that she knew Xuan paper was made from the bark of the Green Tania Tree and rice straw.

”And rice straw,” An Jing added. ”Father Emperor can try using these two materials. If he succeeds in making white paper and selling it at a high price, the profits would be quite substantial.”

White paper?!!!

Both the Emperor of Xiyun and Su Chengyu’s eyes lit up at these two words, bright and twinkling.

Su Chengyu swallowed and then asked An Jing, ”Is what sister-in-law said true?”

An Jing replied, ”It’s worth a try. As for whether we can make white paper, I cannot guarantee that.”

The Emperor of Xiyun was much more straightforward, ”Trying it out is fine. If we really can make white paper, it would not only benefit the nation but also the people. When that happens, I will certainly credit Jingjing with a great achievement.”

An Jing hesitated, looked toward Xiao Changyi, and seeing that Xiao Changyi nodded slightly at her, encouraging her to continue, she then said, ”Father Emperor, I boldly request that you use money from the national treasury to manufacture this white paper. If it is successful, the money earned should be returned to the national treasury.”