Chapter 1170: Chapter 1170: You’re Always Used to Carrying Difficulties Alone

"What exactly is this clay, can I take a look?"

Xia Ruqing was quite curious.

Just who on earth has troubled Zhao Junyao to this extent.

For so many years.

She had never seen him so distressed before.

Whether it was natural disasters or man-made calamities, famine or snowstorms.

Whether it was droughts or floods, or when armies were at the borders.

He had never been caught so off guard.

The mighty King, ruler of a nation, was caught in such a helpless situation for the first time...

Suddenly, Xia Ruqing felt a pang of heartache.

"Emperor, you are human, not an omnipotent deity!"

"You also have things you haven’t seen, roads you haven’t walked, matters you haven’t understood, and books you haven’t read!"

"You don’t need to blame yourself or feel upset!"

He used to push himself too hard.

Pushing himself to be better than everyone, to be invincible, to bear the entire empire alone.

But he had long overlooked the fact that he was an ordinary person too!

With seven emotions and six desires, with joys and sorrows, flesh and blood, strengths and weaknesses.

No matter how smart, wise, strong, or perfect, he would still encounter all kinds of difficulties.

Just like ordinary people, there are things he can solve and things he can’t solve.

Even the wisest can err, and no one is perfect.

Zhao Junyao silently ruffled her hair.

He stood up, took out a brocade box, and laid it in front of her.

"It’s this!"

Although he didn’t expect Qingqing to solve it.

But if she wants to see it, let her take a look to satisfy her curiosity.

Xia Ruqing hurriedly picked up the brocade box, paying no attention to Zhao Junyao’s expression. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

She walked to a bright spot under the candlelight and eagerly opened it.

However, the moment she opened it.

She froze, feeling as if struck by lightning, unable to recover for a long time.

"What is it?" Zhao Junyao asked.

Xia Ruqing was too shocked to speak.

She first pinched a bit to test it in her hand, then held it to her nose to smell it.

Her expression gradually transformed from surprise to delight.

"This..."

"Isn’t this..."

"What is it?"

Zhao Junyao asked, puzzled.

"Could it be that Qingqing recognizes it?"

Xia Ruqing nodded vigorously.

"Yes, yes! This is cement!"

It’s just cement, cement! I thought it was something high-class?

Something precious.

Yet it could still lead those shameless big-bearded guys to force my husband to take another wife!

Right now, Xia Ruqing was absolutely indignant.

Meanwhile, Zhao Junyao remained puzzled.

"What is cement?!"

Xia Ruqing was brimming with confidence.

’Look, ancient people are ultimately ignorant compared to modern ones’

’And I’m from the modern era after all!’

’In the end, it makes a difference, and I’ve finally found my use, haven’t I?’

"Cement is a construction material, made by selecting specific raw materials, grinding them into powder, burning them in a kiln, then grinding them again to get this cement!"

"Because when mixed with water, it becomes very hard, hence the name cement!"

The reason why she knew all this.

Was because there was a cement factory in the town when she was a child, she secretly worked there for two summer vacations as an unregistered child laborer.

Back then she already was in junior high school, had taken chemistry classes.

She had some basic understanding of chemical principles, though not very deep.

If she had known there’d be a day like this sooner...

She would have secretly memorized the factory’s production process.

But now it’s too late to say anything.

Nevertheless... even without knowing the entire process, she could still recall some of it.

If she follows the procedure, she has some confidence.

(Never underestimate a child’s memory)

Zhao Junyao stared at her in shock.

"Qingqing... how do you know all this?"

Xia Ruqing’s heart skipped a beat.

Oh no! Forgot to come up with an excuse, what excuse should she make now?

The Great Chu certainly didn’t have it, and it couldn’t exist among the people.

"Well..."

"I saw it by chance in an ancient book!"

"It talked about a tribe living near a volcano, whose people used this clay to build houses..."

She spun out a bizarre story full of holes that even she couldn’t believe.

Shockingly, Zhao Junyao believed it.

"Where is that book?" he asked urgently.

Xia Ruqing: "..."

Desperate times truly call for desperate measures.

Indeed, even the wisest make mistakes!

"Emperor... back when I was young, my brother snatched some books from a foreign merchant, but now they’re likely lost."

Zhao Junyao’s heart sank in disappointment.

But he heard some inconsistencies.

"Weren’t you barely literate when you were young?"

Xia Ruqing panicked inside and quickly continued with her fabrication.

"I could recognize a few characters still!"

"Moreover, Jingfeng explained it all to me! Though he was young then, perhaps he has forgotten by now."

With Xia Ruqing desperately patching things up.

Zhao Junyao finally tentatively believed her.

Now the problem was.

Without a book and only some vague memories, could they really recreate this thing?

"Let me try!" Xia Ruqing pleaded with anticipation.

There were things she couldn’t articulate, but she could accomplish!

"No way!"

Zhao Junyao firmly refused.

"You don’t need to worry about these matters!"

"Qingqing, your current main task is to recall the name of that book!"

As long as he had a name, even foreign books, he could find a way to get them.

He must do everything he can to accomplish this.

He certainly will succeed, certainly!!

"Emperor, let me give it a try!"

Xia Ruqing pleaded.

"You always try to shoulder everything alone, letting me live quietly!"

"You always like to keep me in the greenhouse you’ve meticulously built, but I want to go through the storm with you!"

Zhao Junyao’s eyes burned as he gazed at her, deeply moved.

"Qingqing, I am protecting you!"

I fear for you being tired, hungry, cold, or hurt.

I don’t want you to go through any storm.

Just stay at home, stay with the children.

"Leave all these dangers and challenges to me!"

Zhao Junyao drew her into his arms.

His broad shoulders and powerful heartbeat made her feel warm, safe, and overflowing with affection.

Xia Ruqing felt like crying, giving him a hard punch on the chest.

"Why!"

"Why are you like this?"

"You always take everything on yourself, no matter how difficult or dangerous it is!"

"But I just want to help you!"

Her eyes welled with tears, feeling very wronged and reluctant.

Zhao Junyao was deeply pained.

"Alright, alright!"

"Then help, help me!"

"Please do stop crying, okay?!"

Xia Ruqing broke into a smile amidst her tears.

"Alright!"

"I will certainly develop it, I also dislike those fat women!"

"Hahaha..."

Zhao Junyao laughed heartily, ruffling her hair.

"Really can’t help it with you!!"

Xia Ruqing sneakily eyed his hand, wide and warm.

"Hehe!"

"I’m the best in the world at being jealous!"

"You’re about to marry someone else, so of course I have to work extra hard!"