"The blood jade that His Highness Prince Zhao Yao sent to you is truly considerate." Sun Kui felt grateful in his heart for Zhao Yao’s gift to the Emperor.
"It wasn’t him who sent it, it was his second uncle."
"Although the blood jade was bought by Liang Er Ye from the Western Regions, it’s definitely at Prince Zhao Yao’s request."
The Emperor was full of a pleased smile: "That kid has a filial heart."
"Your Majesty, look at the cotton clothes and quilts made by Prince Zhao Yao, and the hot water bags made from pig bladders, they’re treasures for getting through the winter." Sun Kui was filled with admiration for Zhao Yao, "Prince Zhao Yao could think of using cotton to make clothes and quilts, it’s truly remarkable. Thanks to Prince Zhao Yao, everyone in the kingdom can stay warm and drink warm, and sleep fortably."
The Emperor, of course, knew where Zhao Yao got these whims from, he laughed and said: "That silly kid isn’t clever with his books, but he’s sharp with these things."
"Prince Zhao Yao is still young, when he grows up, he will certainly study hard."
Seeing that it was late, Sun Kui dared not speak further to the Emperor and urged him to rest.
The Emperor was also a bit tired, after lying down he waved his hand, allowing Sun Kui to withdraw.
Tonight was not Sun Kui’s turn to keep watch, it was his apprentice Sun Doudou who was on duty.
Sun Doudou stood guard at the door of the Emperor’s bedchamber, although the wind didn’t reach him, the deep winter night was still very cold. Fortunately, Sun Doudou had a hot water bag in his arms, so he wouldn’t freeze during the night watch.
In addition to Sun Doudou, guards at the door of Chengguang Hall also used hot water bottles to keep warm at night.
Because of the arrival of hot water bags, pig bladders suddenly became a sought-after item. No one wanted them before, now everyone was scrambling for them.
"Master, don’t worry, I’ll keep a good watch." Sun Doudou lightly patted the hot water bag in his arms, grinning at Sun Kui, "Now that we have hot water bags, I’m not afraid of the cold while on night watch."
"Not afraid of the cold means it’s easy to fall asleep, don’t end up sleeping too soundly at night."
"Rest assured, I definitely won’t fall asleep."
Sun Kui gave a few more reminders before returning to his room.
His room had long been tidied up, with a basin of charcoal fire making the room very warm. Several hot water bags were placed on his bed to warm it.
After washing, Sun Kui lay on the warm bed, hugging the hot water bag, and let out a fortable sigh.
"Prince Zhao Yao is such a good person." This winter became not so cold because of Prince Zhao Yao.
The guards standing at the palace gates used to drink wine to keep warm during the winter night watches, without it, they couldn’t withstand the cold of the winter nights. But now with the hot water bags, the nights have bee much warmer.
"Chief, Prince Zhao Yao is so clever to think of using pig bladders to make hot water bags." Said a palace gate guard with a hot water bag in his arms, a smile all over his face, "Ordinary people wouldn’t think of this."
Chang Yi laughed: "Isn’t that right! Thanks to the hot water bags Prince Zhao Yao made, our night watch in winter became much warmer."
"And cotton clothes and quilts," said the palace gate guard, "my parents’ health isn’t very good, every winter they plain about the cold, often too cold to sleep well at night. Now with the quilts made of cotton and hot water bags, my parents sleep soundly at night."
"Cotton really is a good thing, the Emperor has already decreed to extensively plant cotton so that quilts and clothes will bee warmer and warmer."
Not only the guards at the palace gates praise Zhao Yao, but the Imperial Guard and other soldiers in the barracks also praise him. Of course, the ministers and the mon people also speak well of him.
Cotton and hot water bags have allowed the people of Great Zhou to pass this winter very warmly.
Zhao Yao initially not only got Liang Run to buy all the cotton from Wusun and other Western Regions countries but also bought a lot of cotton seeds. However, winter is not suitable for growing cotton, so planting will start in April next year.
He had half of the bought cotton seeds kept by Liang Run, and the other half sent to the Emperor.
Zhao Yao also had Liang Run buy a lot of land, dedicated to cotton planting. He also instructed them to buy cotton from the Western Regions every year.
All the cotton clothes worn by everyone in the palace and many people in the capital were distributed by the court without charging a single penny.
This was Zhao Yao’s requirement when he gave the cotton to the Emperor. He provided the quilts and cotton clothes for free to prepare for the cotton business later on. Once everyone experiences the benefits of cotton, they will not only willingly plant it but also be eager to buy cotton clothes and quilts.
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