[Daily Mission: Finding Ways to Earn Money
Requirements:
Before arriving at the fief Liuzhou, devise feasible methods to earn money and submit a comprehensive and detailed plan.
(Mission pending acceptance, completion time approximately two to five months, depending on arrival time)
Penalty for abandonment: Miserable days of scrimping and saving, possibly falling into the predicament of losing Prince Rui Manor.
Reward for completion: Book “Dual-Use Military-Civilian Talent Friend”, 50 points.]
“Haha…!”
Qi Chengming couldn’t help but laugh aloud.
This daily mission finally had a penalty, but rather than a punishment, it felt more like teasing. Because if he couldn’t earn money, wouldn’t his future situation become exactly as described in the mission penalty?
“Your Highness?” Xiao Chengzi guiltily put down the corner of the curtain he had lifted and turned back to sit properly. He thought his master was laughing at him.
“It’s nothing, keep watching.” Qi Chengming waved his hand.
If he weren’t busy studying the mission interface, he would have also wanted to shamelessly lean over and peek outside.
The carriage procession was slowly moving along the main road outside Jingcheng, and soon they would reach the outskirts.
First came the vanguard on horseback, the escorting Imperial Guards, followed by mule carts and donkey carts carrying luggage. Qi Chengming’s carriage was the only horse-drawn one, positioned slightly forward in the center of the procession.
Further back was the massive contingent of palace maids, eunuchs, and other personnel. The elderly, weak, or tired could take turns resting on the carts at the rear loaded with various grains, medicinal herbs, and logistical supplies.
The very end of the procession was another group of escorting Imperial Guards.
Xiao Dezi wasn’t in the carriage – he was probably gathered with Bi Shu and Xiao Song Zongguan repeatedly checking various trivial travel-related matters.
These past days had been difficult for him, having to steel himself and manage such a large array of affairs.
Qi Chengming leaned back against the soft cushions, half-reclining before the small table, and began absentmindedly calculating: “…”
What methods were there to earn money?
The three staples commonly used in transmigration novels: soap, glass, and cement?
Cement wasn’t feasible for now… it could be practical, but wasn’t suitable for gaining fame. The same went for glass – too precious. If he wanted to sell it, he’d have to pass it through several hands and pretend to be a merchant from elsewhere.
Soap should be more inconspicuous… no wonder it was considered the transmigrator’s first bucket of gold.
Thinking of this, Qi Chengming casually asked Xiao Chengzi: “Do you know what people usually use for bathing or cleaning?”
Like his original self, he used a dull gray piece of Yizi, couldn’t tell what material it was made from, but it was uniformly distributed by the Internal Affairs Bureau and smelled fragrant.
Though it looked rather inferior, it was at least usable. Otherwise, Qi Chengming estimated he’d have to use the same as the little eunuchs.
“Us servants?” Xiao Chengzi said without hesitation, “There are soapberry trees in some remote corners of the palace, you can just break off branches to use. The head maids in the consorts’ palaces, I heard they use Yizi distributed by the Internal Affairs Bureau – fragrant ones, and I heard there are different varieties!”
“…” Qi Chengming thought of his own allocated portion and wisely didn’t inquire further, instead changing the question: “Then do you know what the consorts or His Majesty use?”
“It’s zaodou and scented pellets mixed with precious spices, isn’t it?” Xiao Chengzi lowered his voice. Though his expression remained neutral, his tone betrayed envy. “Your Highness, are you curious?”
He asked thoughtfully, “I know a little eunuch who used to work in the Internal Affairs Bureau’s Tea Storage. He should be familiar with scented zaodou and such things.”
“…Have him come here.” Qi Chengming’s expression turned somewhat grave.
The Yizi he had been using these days provided decent cleansing, though it certainly couldn’t compare to soap. Still, he needed to understand what level of cleansing products the upper nobility in this ancient setting used.
He needed to see whether soap actually had a market here.
After all, this was a fictional story about imperial succession struggles.
Half an hour later, Xiao Chengzi brought a timid little eunuch into the carriage. It was a eunuch whose face looked familiar but whose name Qi Chengming didn’t know—he only recognized him as being from the Second Prince’s Residence.
“Your Highness, this humble servant once saw the palace maids making zaodou for consort-ranked ladies,” the eunuch named Guazi said honestly.
“I don’t know the exact steps… but the ingredients included glutinous rice, almonds, peach kernels, peas, honey, and liquor. Also white aconite, ampelopsis, angelica, atractylodes, bletilla, and poria…”
“And soapbeans, musk, eaglewood…” Guazi recited without stumbling, sounding as if he had been studying this for some time.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t be so proficient.
Xiao Dezi, who had followed at some point without anyone noticing, knelt by the carriage entrance and glanced at Guazi with an ambiguous smile. Guazi, feeling seen through, guiltily lowered his head as if he had done something wrong.
“Xiao Dezi, help me find a box of pastries. I’m a bit hungry,” Qi Chengming casually sent Xiao Dezi away first. With five people inside and outside the carriage, it was truly too crowded.
Xiao Chengzi pondered for a moment, then found an excuse to leave considerately: “This humble servant… will go outside to learn how to drive the carriage!”
Familiar with the routine, he lifted the curtain and went out, sitting on the carriage shaft beside the coachman.
Now only Qi Chengming and Guazi remained in the carriage.
Mulling over the formula Guazi had described, Qi Chengming grew somewhat troubled: “…”
The cleansing power of these imperial zaodou ultimately relied on their soapbean content, which certainly couldn’t compare to his soap.
But hearing about the other ingredients… he almost felt hungry listening. Having studied medicinal formulas recently, he understood the basic functions of some Chinese herbs.
For instance, white aconite, angelica, peach kernels, and almonds likely served whitening purposes. Honey could moisturize and protect the skin. Eaglewood and musk both enhanced fragrance and elevated status.
What noblewomen used wasn’t just zaodou for cleansing—they clearly valued the additional benefits beyond cleaning!
Soap simply couldn’t compete with zaodou.
But if he focused solely on cleansing power… it wouldn’t appeal much to nobles. As for commoners, as Xiao Chengzi had said, they could just break off a soapbean to use… so who would buy it?
Qi Chengming’s face showed difficulty.
Author’s note:
Qi Chengming: Sob… time-travel novels are all lies…