Chapter 46: Everything Is Ready

After Qin Hao left, Li Qingyao was completely speechless.

It had taken her a great deal of effort to figure out what Qin Hao's "cloudy turning to clear" meant, only for the code to change again in the blink of an eye.

However, Qin Hao had still explained it to her beforehand.

Qin Hao went to the Wind and Moon Pavilion also for the purpose of making money.

But clearly, Li Qingyao could not understand what the celebrity effect was.

On the other hand, the two hidden guards knew that Qin Hao taught the top courtesan of the Wind and Moon Pavilion some strange things every night.

They did not understand it either, but they would occasionally report it to Li Qingyao.

If not for this, Li Qingyao would have truly suspected that Qin Hao was slacking off on the job.

Early the next morning.

Qin Hao woke up from the warmth of two soft embraces and quietly got up to dress himself.

He looked into the bronze mirror.

The flesh beneath his ribs in the mirror was no longer so withered and sunken.

This was all thanks to eating five meals a day, which barely allowed him to recover somewhat.

Looking back at the two fair beauties, Qin Hao secretly swore to himself just you wait, it won't be long before I can explore the deep valley.

At this time, Ma Yingze and Zhao Guangnian had also woken up.

The three of them went to retrieve the custom-made equipment.

At this very moment, everything was ready.

The Eldest Princess's Estate.

As Qin Hao set up the wooden frame and skillfully pieced together the custom apparatus, he began to produce the Great Jing Dynasty's very first drop of distilled liquor.

Ma Yingze and Zhao Guangnian did not understand what this was for.

Yet they roughly saw that Qin Hao was making wine.

However, making wine, why would it require brewer's grains used for feeding livestock?

Could it be that brewer's grains could actually yield wine?

Qin Hao offered no explanation, simply needing Ma Yingze and Zhao Guangnian to cooperate with him.

This step was very simple.

Qin Hao taught Ma Yingze and Zhao Guangnian, leaving them to watch over the still.

As for himself, he still had to go and study with his teacher.

Ma Yingze and Zhao Guangnian were very puzzled as to why Qin Hao had made so many long pipes.

They even doubted Qin Hao's claim that wine would flow out from one end when poured in from the other.

Until, half an hour later.

Ma Yingze, who was nearly dozing off, suddenly widened his eyes.

The first drop of crystal-clear distilled liquor appeared in the ceramic pipe before him.

"Old Zhao, come quickly, the wine is out!" Ma Yingze cried out in astonishment.

Zhao Guangnian hurried over.

He too looked at this scene in sheer disbelief.

How did the liquid travel from one side all the way to the other?

Had Qin Hao seen their expressions, he certainly would have proudly stated, "I am a top graduate from Harbin Institute of Technology, understand? This operation is child's play!"

Immediately afterward, the two men twitched their noses.

That grain liquor, with all its impurities removed, gave off an overwhelmingly fragrant aroma.

Though it was merely a single drop of wine, the richness of its scent felt like opening up a brand-new world to Ma Yingze and Zhao Guangnian.

Clearly it was just ordinary, cheap wine, so why did it suddenly transform into such pure and divine nectar?

One had to know.

Both of them had tasted the finest wines in the capital.

They had even drunk the wine bestowed upon their families by the imperial household.

Yet they had never tasted a wine so intoxicatingly fragrant!

"I want a sip so badly!" Ma Yingze licked his dry lips and swallowed hard.

He even couldn't help leaning his face closer, wanting to catch the second drop of wine that was about to fall.

Zhao Guangnian hurriedly stopped Ma Yingze, saying, "Don't drink it yet, with wine this fragrant, we don't even know if it's safe to drink directly!"

After hesitating, Ma Yingze agreed, but he was so anxious he scratched his ears and clawed his cheeks.

Every single drop of falling wine felt like it was scratching at the very tip of his heart.

Until an hour later.

Qin Hao returned after finishing his studies.

By this time, the ten-liter vat was almost filled to the brim.

"Old Qin, hurry up, come and see if this works."

"I've never seen wine this clear; if not for the aroma, I'd suspect it was just water!" Ma Yingze pushed Qin Hao forward.

From afar, Qin Hao caught the rich aroma of grain liquor.

He couldn't help sighing inwardly, "As expected of naturally fermented grain liquor; after distillation and concentration, it's actually this fragrant. In my past life, this would easily sell for three to four thousand per catty."

Zhao Guangnian was already intoxicated by the scent and could hardly hold back any longer, eagerly urging, "Old Qin, can we drink it? I want a taste."

Qin Hao was very satisfied seeing the reactions of the two men.

This was precisely the effect he wanted.

It seemed that the impact and temptation of distilled liquor on the ancients were extraordinary indeed.

Looking at the freshly produced distilled liquor, clear as water, Qin Hao scooped out some with a wooden ladle nearby and sniffed it under his nose.

He roughly estimated the alcohol content to be between forty-five and fifty degrees.

The distillation had been thoroughly executed.

Though the equipment was crude, backed by his techniques, a single distillation yielded wine of remarkably good quality.

If subjected to a second distillation, the alcohol content could increase by another ten to fifteen degrees.

Having made his assessment, Qin Hao glanced at the eager pair beside him, smiled, and walked over to open a vat of undistilled cloudy wine.

He blended and mixed them at a ratio of one to four.

Normally, freshly distilled liquor should not be consumed immediately and needs to be stored for at least three days.

Of course, drinking it right away wouldn't cause any major issues; the taste would just be slightly inferior, containing a tiny trace of minor impurities that didn't affect much.

However, when blended with similar raw spirits, it could be consumed right away.

Qin Hao blended two small jars of wine, handed one of the jars to Ma Yingze and his companion, and then carried the other jar straight toward the study.

As it happened, just as Qin Hao arrived, Emperor Xuande was preparing to leave.

"Teacher, I brought you some wine. This is newly produced; although the quality is slightly inferior, please drink it for now, and next time you come, I will get you something even better." Qin Hao handed over the sealed wine jar.

Emperor Xuande took it and smiled, "You have a heart; Teacher will accept it."

"Then Teacher, I'll return to my work."

Qin Hao took his leave.

After Qin Hao left, Li Qingyao spoke up, "Imperial Father, you should have someone test-drink this first. Qin Hao made this wine in just two or three days, who knows if it's any good, don't..."

She well knew that Qin Hao had also bought brewer's grains, which were meant for feeding livestock.

Emperor Xuande interrupted Li Qingyao, "It's fine."

With that, Emperor Xuande departed.

Li Qingyao sighed.

She had no idea what kind of spell Qin Hao had cast on her father; why was her father treating him so well?

If her eldest brother trusted Qin Hao because of his literary talent, that would still be understandable.

How could even her father...

Alas, anyone unaware would think Qin Hao was her father's biological son.

Still, the wine had been produced.

It seemed Qin Hao was about to begin his next step.

Just as she had anticipated.

Seeing that the wine had been successfully produced, Qin Hao began serious distillation.

At this moment, in his small courtyard, Ma Yingze and Zhao Guangnian were truly intoxicated by the fragrance.

Just two gentle sips made them feel as though they were ascending to the heavens.

Qin Hao did not remain idle either; he immediately summoned Wu Tong to bring over wine and dishes.

Wu Tong was also asked to stay by Qin Hao.

Qin Hao felt deeply grateful to Wu Tong for helping take care of Xiaoyu these past few days, and had been wondering how to express his thanks.

Right on cue, with such fine wine available, how could Wu Tong be left out?

Faced with the temptation of such exquisite wine, Wu Tong licked his lips and, unable to resist, stayed behind.

Thus, the four of them drank and chatted while continuing the distillation, enjoying themselves immensely.

With the men taking turns tending the stills, deep night arrived.

Deep in the night.

The Imperial Palace.

Having finished reviewing the memorials, Emperor Xuande stretched his weary body and was just about to get up for a walk when he suddenly noticed the jar of wine Qin Hao had given him.

Curiosity stirred within his heart.

He wondered what a wine that could fetch twenty thousand felt like to taste.