Chapter 17: The Prince’s Servants Have Warmed the Bed for You; A New Product Developed

“Your Highness, the bed... the bed has been warmed...” Ling’er looked at Ye Xun’s back, her cheeks still tinged with a lingering blush.

Hearing this, Ye Xun turned around and nodded. “Oh, good.”

He then proceeded toward the bedchamber.

Arriving at the west side room, Ye Xun noticed Ling’er was still following him and asked curiously, “Aren’t you going to rest?”

Ling’er pointed to the sleeping bench by the south wall and hesitated before saying, “Chief Steward Cao said it’s better for me to sleep there so I can attend to Your Highness at night. If you need anything, just call for me.”

Hearing this, Ye Xun recalled that indeed, a chamber maid should sleep in the adjoining room.

However, since the estate had no wife or concubines, he wasn’t sure whose chamber maid Ling’er was supposed to be.

Ye Xun was no saint and didn’t refuse; he told Ling’er to rest early, then returned to his room.

A short while later, Ye Xun lay on the couch in his chamber, reflecting on the events of the past two days, as if dreaming of a bygone era.

But within fifteen minutes, he fell into a deep sleep.

...

The next day.

Early morning.

The sky was just beginning to lighten with the faintest pale light.

Sunlight filtered through the window lattice, casting beams into the room, dust particles floating within the shafts of light.

Ye Xun slowly rose, shook his head—he had no idea when he had fallen asleep last night, only feeling a foggy head.

Knock, knock, knock...

A few gentle knocks sounded at the door.

Ling’er’s voice came from the adjoining room.

“Your Highness, are you awake? I’m here to help you wash your face.”

Ye Xun stretched lazily and yawned. “Come in.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Ling’er replied, pushing open the door.

Cao An, standing in the main hall, heard Ye Xun’s voice and felt reassured that the prince’s spirit was still strong. He then left the estate.

Ling’er entered carrying a basin of warm water, placed it on the washstand, smiling gently—every movement elegant and charming. “Your Highness, washing your face...”

Ye Xun rose and walked to the stand, plunging both hands into the basin, wetting them.

“Your Highness, you...” Ling’er hurriedly said, startled.

“Oh,” Ye Xun suddenly understood and chuckled lightly. “For washing my face, I’ll do it myself.”

He truly could not enjoy such comforts.

It made him feel like a cripple.

...

“Ah!?” Ling’er was taken aback and quickly protested, “This... this won’t do! You are the revered Prince of Qin; how could you wash your own face?”

“No matter,” Ye Xun said, scooping up a handful of water and splashing it over his face. “The Prince’s estate has fallen into such ruin; I must learn to be independent.”

Ling’er’s delicate brows rose slightly, her lips parting a little. “Well then, I’ll prepare some food for Your Highness next.”

Ye Xun nodded and then submerged his face back into the basin.

After washing and dressing, Ye Xun headed to the main hall.

Ling’er entered carrying a bowl of noodles.

A simple clear broth noodle soup with an egg resting on top.

Yesterday, he and Cao An had gone to the East Market to purchase supplies; the seasonings and ingredients were complete.

Ling’er looked at Ye Xun anxiously. “Your Highness, my cooking skills are not good; please forgive me.”

Ye Xun replied calmly, “It’s fine. Clear broth noodles are quite good.”

Compared to their current situation, even a bowl of simple noodles was a luxury.

After breakfast, Ye Xun wandered around the estate.

In the three days since arriving, he hadn’t yet explored the entire Prince of Qin’s mansion.

The mansion was vast; the front and back gates were separated by two distant streets.

Moreover, there were many small courtyards within the estate.

Ye Xun planned to set up his workshop in the East Twelfth Courtyard.

Currently, the only place he owned and controlled was this Prince of Qin’s mansion.

Outside the estate, there was nowhere safe.

Ye Xun led Wang Cai on a tour of the grounds to familiarize himself with the environment, then returned to the front hall.

By now, it was noon.

Cao An had just returned to the estate.

He had purchased an entire cartload of goods and had hired two assistants to carry everything back.

After sending the assistants away, Cao An entered the hall carrying a jar of wine and a food box, excitedly saying, “Your Highness, look what your servant has bought for you.”

He placed the wine on the table, opened the food box, and presented the roasted chicken inside. “Your servant specially bought Yang’s Roasted Chicken for you; please enjoy it while it’s hot.”

Seeing the jar of wine and the roasted chicken, Ye Xun felt a warmth in his heart; Cao An was thoughtful, always considering him.

“Good,” Ye Xun said without hesitation, tearing off a chicken wing and starting to eat. His body was weak and needed nourishment.

Cao An was pleased to see Ye Xun eating heartily and opened the wine, pouring a cup. “Your Highness, try this wine—Jinjiang Spring from Hongshun Restaurant. Though it cannot compare to the palace’s finest, it is still well-known.”

Ye Xun nodded, lifted the cup, and took a sip. The taste was mellow and fragrant, though the alcohol content was low and mild.

“Don’t just look at it; you eat too. Ling’er, you sit and eat as well.”

Ye Xun said, tearing off a chicken leg and handing it to Cao An, then another to Ling’er.

Cao An was overwhelmed with gratitude and repeatedly declined, “Your Highness, please eat; your servant is not hungry.”

Ling’er’s eyes, deep and clear as autumn pools, looked at him softly. “Your Highness, I am not hungry either.”

They didn’t have the heart to share the single roasted chicken with Ye Xun.

Hearing this, Ye Xun forced the chicken legs into their hands. “If I tell you to eat, then you eat. Didn’t I say yesterday we share the table and share the food?”

Though not a pushover, Ye Xun understood the importance of gratitude.

Cao An and Ling’er had stood loyally by him through thick and thin; he considered them his own.

“Th-thank you, Your Highness,” Cao An said, his face bright with joy as he carefully began eating.

“Thank you, Your Highness,” Ling’er echoed, holding the chicken leg delicately and taking a small bite.

Satisfied and nourished, they prepared to start work.

Ye Xun, Cao An, and Ling’er carried the supplies to a side room in the East Twelfth Courtyard, the “A” courtyard.

From now on, the “A” courtyard would serve as their workshop.

Ye Xun intended to produce soap.

Soap was inexpensive to make, easy to produce, had a large market, high profit margins, and was discreet.

This was why Ye Xun chose soap.

For now, low profile was best; every step must be cautious.

Under Ye Xun’s guidance, the three moved all the tools and materials into the side room.

Cao An, panting, looked at Ye Xun. “Your... Your Highness, what... what exactly are you making?”

Ling’er also looked at Ye Xun with confusion.

Wood ash, lard, flower petals, milk, honey...

Neither of them could understand how mixing these ingredients would produce anything useful.

Moreover, in this era, milk and honey were precious, rare delicacies even in the palace.

Purchasing them had caused Cao An considerable expense.

“Soap,” Ye Xun said with a raised brow, as if already envisioning the wealth it would bring.

He was grateful to still have the status of a prince.

Otherwise, without a certain rank, he would merely be sewing clothes for others.

Still, he didn’t dare to produce high-profit goods like fine salt or strong liquor.

Soap was safer.

Soap?

Cao An and Ling’er exchanged puzzled glances, still not understanding.