An Jing didn’t respond and instead had someone bring over a stove, first placing a piece of honeycomb briquette inside and then adding some firewood to ignite the briquette.
Seeing that the briquette burned just like charcoal, Emperor Xiyun’s eyes immediately brightened, "What on earth is this? How can it burn?"
An Jing said, "This is something from underground; I’m not sure exactly what it is. I discovered it could burn when it accidentally came into contact with fire. Meng Zhuqing once saw this material with General Meng in Emin. Later, Meng Zhuqing had it investigated and found there are large quantities of it in the Emin region. If we mine this material and shape it for sale, whether in Xiyun or to neighboring countries, we could earn a lot of money."
"Father, you asked me to think of a way to run a school. Now I have thought about it and have found the material. It all depends on whether you agree or not."
"Also, comparing it to charcoal, Changyi joked with me yesterday, calling it ’stone charcoal.’ I feel it’s a good name; what do you think, Father?"
They didn’t have the word for "coal" here, and she didn’t want to create a new word; calling it "stone charcoal" would be better.
Hearing that it was Xiao Changyi who came up with the name, Emperor Xiyun immediately smiled and nodded, "Stone charcoal is a good name. Let’s call it stone charcoal."
After a pause, Emperor Xiyun fell into deep thought, "This stone charcoal is underground and needs to be mined. If we want to produce a lot of it, it will need many people..."
An Jing said, "If you, Father, think this method of making money is feasible, then let’s handle it like how we produce white paper. The national treasury could fund it, and the profits would also go to the national treasury."
Emperor Xiyun looked again at the burning briquettes and then nodded, "Alright, let the national treasury fund it."
Pausing once more, Emperor Xiyun still felt somewhat anxious and asked, "Jingjing, is there really a lot of this material around Emin?"
An Jing nodded, "There is a lot. According to the reports from those dispatched there, there is at least enough to be mined for several years."
Hearing it could be mined for several years suggested that there really was a great deal, so Emperor Xiyun felt reassured.
"Father," An Jing continued, "this stone charcoal might not only be in Emin. You could send people to other places in Xiyun to look; maybe they’ll find more."
Emperor Xiyun nodded, "I will." After a pause, "Chengyu has gone on patrol and is not in the capital. We can’t assign this task to him, so let’s assign it to the Prime Minister; he is reliable."
An Jing had no objections.
Truly a burden was lifted, as prior to this, An Jing had to think about how to make money to run a free school. Now that everything was in place and Emperor Xiyun had ordered it done, An Jing’s life resumed its relaxed and comfortable pace.
Time passed quickly like a fleeting horse.
In the blink of an eye, a month passed.
That day, while Emperor Xiyun attended the morning court and listened to the ministers report on matters, suddenly he heard—
"Report! Urgent news! Eight hundred li express!" A soldier rushed in.
Upon entering, the soldier knelt on one knee and urgently reported, "Your Majesty, an epidemic has broken out in Nanshen City, and the Crown Prince has also been infected!"
This news struck like a thunderbolt, shocking the Assembly Hall.
The ministers were greatly alarmed, unsure of what to do.
Emperor Xiyun’s face turned pale at once; his hands tightly grasped the armrests of the Dragon Chair, veins bulging, lips trembling, yet he still tried to maintain his composure and uphold his imperial dignity.
The soldier continued, "The Crown Prince has already ordered the city to be sealed. He commands me to tell you, Your Majesty, not to worry about him. If necessary... to cull the city!"
Emperor Xiyun closed his eyes instantly, forcefully suppressing his pain.