Prince Consort

One morning after half a month, Zhang Dayi came to Xie Ze'an with a stack of papers.

Xie Zean's eyes lit up, and he couldn't help reaching out to touch the soft paper.Appropriate size, moderate softness and hardness, soft and suitable for hands, good paper, good paper!

Zhang Dayi couldn't help asking: "Sanlang, what do you want this for? You can't write or draw, what do you want to do?"

Xie Ze'an said, "Brother Zhang, is he too big today?"

Zhang Dayi: "..."

Xie Ze'an said: "Using bamboo slices will hurt my buttocks; using silk will hurt my heart—so I entrusted the paper mill to make this!"

Zhang Dayi said: "...you spent a lot of effort to come up with a new paper-making method, just for this?"

Xie Ze'an said: "Don't underestimate straw paper! Treat your butt well and start a good day!"

Zhang Dayi felt that he needed to calm down.

Xie Ze'an said: "Should it be mass-produced?"

Zhang Dayi and Xie Ze'an stayed for a long time, and they quickly accepted terms like mass production.He nodded and said, "It's ok, not only this, but also white paper!" Zhang Dayi became excited again when he mentioned this, "The output is much higher and faster than before in the paper mill!"

Xie Ze'an said: "That's good, bring me some more."

Zhang Dayi snorted for a long time and said, "Sanlang, don't you think this is insulting to the gentlemen?"

Paper, that's paper, many poor people can't even afford paper, and he uses it to wipe his ass!What if it is attacked by scholars all over the world because of this?

Xie Ze'an understood Zhang Dayi's concerns, he said: "Silk is so expensive, why is there someone to wipe it? There are so many people in the world who can't afford to wear such fine cloth, and no one has said anything. How can there be a sentence?" In other words, if you are poor, you will take care of yourself, and if you are rich, you will take care of the world, so it is not too late for us to take care of ourselves and make money before we take care of the world.”

Zhang Dayi always felt that there was something weird, but he also felt that what Xie Zean said made sense.

Zhang Dayi said, "Success, is this paper going to be sold?"

Xie Ze'an said: "This one will be sold, but your concerns are justified. Let's sell the serious paper first and then bring it back." He raised his hand and pulled out a few stiff white papers from the bottom of the stack of papers brought by Zhang Dayi , "Most of the paper nowadays is hemp yellow, and it is sold with orpiment, which is convenient for alteration. Let's not compete with them for business. This paper is cheaper for us, so we call it snowflake paper."

Zhang Dayi wondered, "Snowflake paper?"

Xie Ze'an said: "It's snowy and snowy, it's not snowflakes." He smiled lightly, "To the outside world, you say that the prince sees snow in the sky, and he feels emotionally, 'If the snowflakes all over the sky turn into white paper, why worry about the soldiers in the world? There is no paper available', so on the basis of the original papermaking technology, snowflake paper was transformed."

Zhang Dayi opened his mouth wide: "Sanlang, you are..."

Xie Ze'an said: "The prince needs a good reputation. Where is the most flattering person in the world? Among the literati. If they want to praise you, they can praise you so much that even you feel nauseous. Of course, if you want to take such a step, you must It is impossible to gain a good reputation among scholars, so you have to take your time, Brother Zhang, you should first make Snowflake Paper famous."

Zhang Dayi cheered up: "No problem, leave it to me!"

Xie Ze'an said: "This toilet paper is also sent to the prince regularly."

Zhang Dayi nodded.

The two discussed many things.

After sending Zhang Dayi away, Mrs. Xie sent someone to look for Xie Ze'an.

Mrs. Xie heard from the people below that Xie Ze'an had invited a merchant to the mansion, so she asked him to come here to inquire.

Xie Ze'an said: "What about the merchants? When Dade's family arrived in the capital and couldn't gain a foothold, they sold Zhang Dade, and Zhang Dade had to serve in the palace. The good Zhang Dayi stayed and turned into a merchant to do business to make money for Zhang Dade's turnover in the palace. Just for this alone, I dare to pat my chest and say that Big Brother Zhang is worthy of the righteousness in his name!"

Mrs. Xie was choked heavily by Xie Ze'an, and said: "You have a bad mouth, I haven't said anything about you yet, you have already told me so much."

Xie Ze'an said: "Brother Zhang is my friend, so I can't help but want to speak for him." He raised his head and looked at Mrs. Xie. "Grandma, I didn't dare to bring my friend back. Isn't it because you are a big-hearted person that you are so courageous?"

Mrs. Xie said: "You mean that if I don't let you bring your friends to the house, it's because I have no heart and no capacity?"

Xie Ze'an said respectfully, "You know that's not what I meant."

Mrs. Xie asked: "Your friend is quite interesting. He is a good money maker. What's the matter with him coming to you this time?"

Xie Ze'an simply told about the snowflake paper, and at the same time dedicated the straw paper to Mrs. Xie.

After hearing Xie Ze'an's explanation of what the straw paper was used for, Mrs. Xie's expression was a little strange.In the end, she still said without changing her face: "Prepare some more for the mansion, so that everyone can use it."

Xie Ze'an smiled: "That's natural!"

Mrs. Xie asked about the snowflake paper again.

Xie Ze'an repeated what he told Zhang Dayi, and said, "I'll ask Brother Zhang to send some more later."

Mrs. Xie looked at Xie Ze'an meaningfully after hearing the saying that "the prince transformed snowflake paper".

Xie Ze'an bit the bullet and said, "Is there something wrong?"

Mrs. Xie said: "Of course not, you should enter the palace and present the paper."

Xie Zean nodded.

He was about to bring Zhao Chongzhao into the palace.

Mrs. Xie went on to say, "Have an argument with His Royal Highness the Crown Prince."

Xie Ze'an: "..."

Mrs. Xie said: "It's best to let His Majesty give it a name, so that more scholars will rush to buy it."

Xie Ze'an could only say: "Grandma is amazing!"

Mrs. Xie snorted and said, "If I'm not very good, who will support this big family? With your father's salary?"

Xie Ze'an immediately flirted, coaxing Mrs. Xie into a smile.

After Xie Ze'an chatted with Mrs. Xie, he went to the East Palace.

After Xu Juncheng's teaching time was over, Xie Ze'an told Zhao Chongzhao about the snowflake paper, and asked Zhao Chongzhao to name it as his idea to help "boost sales".

Zhao Chongzhao didn't quite understand.

Xie Ze'an said: "This is called celebrity effect. When people hear that your highness thought up this paper, they will definitely flock to it!" With a well-behaved and quiet smile on his face, "Of course, if your highness can help snowflake paper go Ask Your Majesty to give you a name, and the celebrity effect will be even greater!"

When Zhao Chongzhao heard that he could help, he immediately patted his chest and agreed: "Leave it to me!"

As he said that, he immediately ran to find Zhao Ying.

Xu Juncheng hasn't left yet, he has been watching Xie Ze'an chatting with Zhao Chongzhao.After Zhao Chongzhao ran away, Xu Juncheng stepped forward and asked, "What are you and His Highness discussing again?"

Xie Ze'an obediently replied: "Small things, small things!"

Xu Juncheng frowned.

Xie Ze'an could only confess about the snowflake paper.

Xu Juncheng said: "Your Highness really said that?"

Every time he met Xu Juncheng's insightful eyes, Xie Ze'an felt a little guilty.He insisted: "Of course His Highness said it, I remember it very clearly!"

Xu Juncheng said: "Your Highness, you can get things out with just a word. Saburo, your ability is really not small."

Xie Ze'an categorically denied it: "I'm so busy every day that I don't touch the ground, where do I have the time to do this?"

Xu Juncheng said: "If your Highness doesn't make progress, no matter how high your name is, it's useless."

Xie Ze'an looked directly into Xu Juncheng's eyes: "Your Highness is already much better than his peers."

Xu Juncheng shook his head: "But it's not enough."

Xie Zean fell silent.

Xu Juncheng did not continue this topic, but took out a book and took the opportunity to test Xie Zean's learning progress during this period.

Xie Zean complained endlessly, but he still had to obediently accept Xu Juncheng's "sweepstakes", and finally won several copying tasks!

Xie Ze'an wanted to cry but had no tears.

He was about to run away when he suddenly heard a servant report: "Xie Xiaoguan, Your Majesty asked you to go to the imperial study."

Xie Zean was taken aback.

Although he already had the authority to enter and leave the East Palace, he never had the chance to see the emperor Zhao Ying.

Xie Ze'an's impression of Zhao Ying only stayed in the phrase "Your Majesty is wise and mighty" passed on by other people.

He is going to meet the supreme ruler of this era!

Xie Zean was a little excited.

Xu Juncheng saw Xie Zean standing there in a daze, and urged: "Sanlang, why don't you go quickly?"

Xie Ze'an came back to his senses, and hurriedly said to the servant: "Please take me there!"

The servant led Xie Zean to the imperial study.

This place is not as magnificent as Xie Zhean imagined, it looks very ordinary, but there is a bit of solemnity in the ordinary.

Xie Zean stepped up the stone steps in front of the imperial study step by step, and stood quietly at the door waiting for Zhao Yingtong to pass on the message.

Soon, Xie Ze'an heard a thick and powerful voice from inside: "Come in."

Xie Ze'an put on his most obedient appearance, walked in slowly, and saluted solemnly: "I have seen Your Majesty!"

Zhao Ying nodded, telling Xie Zean not to be too polite, and then told Zhao Chongzhao to go back to the East Palace first.Zhao Chongzhao scratched his heart and lungs curiously, but he had to listen to Zhao Ying's words, so he could only run away aggrieved.

When Zhao Chongzhao walked away, Zhao Ying picked up the snowflake paper that Xie Zean brought into the palace and asked, "You made this up?"

Xie Ze'an said: "Of course not, I'm not a craftsman, how can I get it out of it?"

Zhao Ying was noncommittal, and asked lightly: "Do you want it to be the crown prince's idea?"

Xie Ze'an said: "I really got inspiration from His Highness to come up with the name Snowflake Paper."

Zhao Ying said, "You are smart, but not smart enough."

Xie Ze'an obediently bowed his head and listened carefully to Zhao Ying's comments.

Zhao Ying said, "You didn't use your intelligence on the right path. If you want to achieve great things, you can't do it just by relying on this crooked idea."

Xie Ze'an said cautiously: "I didn't expect to make a big deal..."

Zhao Ying: "..."

Xie Ze'an said: "I just want to make a little money. It's great that scholars can use cheap paper and I can make money!"

Zhao Ying stared at him.

Xie Zean felt apprehensive, so he could only say: "...By the way, help Your Highness gain some fame in the scholarly circle."

Zhao Ying said, "Isn't it enough to rely on this alone?"

Xie Ze'an said: "Of course I don't know what it is, I still have a little idea."

Zhao Ying asked: "What little idea?"

Xie Ze'an said: "This idea is more difficult to implement, and the workshop has not yet been worked out. It is actually nothing to say, just change the current printing method." At the end of the talk, he actually showed a little shyness, as if he was a little uncomfortable. Excuse me.

Zhao Ying frowned, and continued to ask: "How to change the law?"

Xie Ze'an said: "Even if we work together, it will take at least a month to complete one engraving. The efficiency is very low, so I thought of two ways. One is printing with movable type, which is to make the engraving block into characters one by one. Independent "small engraving block", when you need to use it, just pick out the words you need and combine them. The advantage of this is that it can be recycled; there is also a copy printing, no engraving block, just use wax paper to write out the content that needs to be printed. There are still some materials that have not been resolved for these two, and if they are resolved, the printing should be much faster!" In order to avoid being suspected of deceiving the emperor, Xie Ze'an emphasized, "I mean it should be!"

Listening to Xie Zean's eloquent talk, Zhao Ying felt a little complicated.These two methods sound like a powerful and unconstrained style, but they are not impossible to realize after careful consideration.

If he really solves the problem of difficult printing, it is really possible that many poor scholars who can't afford books will give up on Zhao Chongzhao!

Zhao Ying looked at Xie Ze'an and asked, "Your father hasn't named you yet?"

Xie Ze'an didn't understand why the topic turned to this side, so he could only answer honestly: "Not yet."

Zhao Ying said, "How about I give you one?"

Zhao Ying has spoken, what else can Xie Zean do?He said wittily, "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

With a swipe of his pen, Zhao Ying wrote a word, and let Xie Ze'an take it back to ask Xie Jiyu's opinion.

Xie Ze'an quietly glanced at it, only to see the word "heng" written on it with strong strokes.