Chapter 44 Ice Cream

Hearing Zhu San's unreasonable demand, Zhu Hao felt secretly pleased... The more demands you make, the higher the chance you will bring your younger brother along.

"Three coins each? Do you think it's that easy to catch a rabbit every time? I've been staying at the manor all this time, and going outside the city to find rabbits isn't that simple."

Zhu Hao first put on a troubled expression. Seeing Zhu San's disappointment, he added, "However, I can think of a way later. Why don't you two come back tomorrow? I'll prepare the iced plum juice and the revolving lantern first."

Zhu San beamed with joy: "It's a deal."

After a brief discussion, although it was uncertain whether she would find a chance to come out the next day, at least a channel for normal communication had been established.

Soon, Zhu San proposed to leave, muttering, "I can only sneak out at noon when the tutor is away. It would be terrible if I were discovered."

Zhu Hao deliberately brought it up: "Why don't you bring your younger brother tomorrow..."

"That's not certain. Recently, he's been watched very strictly. Ah Bing and I tried to play with him several times, but weren't allowed." Zhu San made no secret of it, revealing how much the Prince Xing's Estate valued Zhu Houcong.

Perhaps realizing that the Prince Xing's Estate's heir was currently being closely watched by the imperial court, especially the royal family, the manor had consciously strengthened the security measures for Zhu Houcong.

"If he doesn't come, there are many fun things I won't be able to give you. Oh well..."

Zhu Hao intentionally left his words vague. As expected, Zhu San became intrigued; she desperately wanted to know what kind of wonderful things required her younger brother's presence.

......

Zhu San was eight years old, Zhu Hao seven, and Lu Bing four.

How could a group of young children harbor worldly cunning or estrangement?

Novel and fun things mattered more than anything else!

At noon the next day, Zhu Hao had everything prepared. Yet, he waited until the sun slanted westward before Zhu San arrived tardily. This time, without Lu Bing, her follower replaced by her younger brother, Zhu Houcong.

"Did the two of you really come?"

Zhu Hao widened his eyes, feigning surprise.

Looking somewhat panicked, Zhu Houcong hurriedly ran through the door, then turned around to point at the entrance toward the leisurely approaching Zhu San.

Zhu San scolded him impatiently: "No one followed us. Look at how frightened you are! Going out to play was always fine before, and this is still part of the manor's grounds. What are you afraid of?"

Zhu Houcong looked dejected: "Third Sister, I never usually get a chance to sneak out. This time I even had Little Lu pretend to be me sleeping under the covers, just so I could get my wish... Oh right, Zhu Hao, didn't you say we were going to catch rabbits? Where are the rabbits?"

As soon as the little fellow arrived, his primary concern turned out to be rabbits.

Zhu San preempted: "There are no rabbits. He said he would figure out a way later, not that we'd have them today."

"Ah!?"

Zhu Houcong instantly felt cheated.

Zhu San wore a smug expression, as if teasing her younger brother was great fun.

Zhu Hao smiled and said, "You came just in time. I just made a bowl of ice cream. Would you like to try some?"

"What's ice cream?"

The siblings looked at each other, both wearing bewildered expressions.

"You'll know once you go inside."

......

Zhu Hao walked in front, leading the siblings into the room. In the center, on an Eight Immortals table, sat the ice cream Zhu Hao had made using the niter ice-making method.

In this era, no one knew how to make cream.

Zhu Hao used a mixture of egg whites, salt, vinegar, and sugar, whipping it vigorously to create cream, added it to crushed ice, and topped it with a bit of sugar and fruit juice, producing an ice cream unique to this era.

Although its taste wasn't as exquisite as the ice cream produced in modern factories, as long as it was sweet and sufficiently icy, it was the ultimate weapon for beating the heat and quenching thirst.

To the Zhu siblings, this was probably a delicacy unmatched by anything else in the world.

"Delicious!"

Zhu Houcong had little guard up, rushed forward to hold the bowl, took a bite with a spoon, his eyes lit up, and immediately started devouring it in large mouthfuls.

Zhu San initially wanted to issue a warning.

Their father had told them never to casually eat things from outside, and as the older sister, she had to shoulder the responsibility of supervision. But seeing her younger brother already digging in, she felt she would lose out too much if she didn't eat, so she quickly squeezed in, using another spoon to shovel the creamy shaved ice from the bowl into her mouth.

Soon, the ice cream Zhu Hao made was completely devoured by the siblings.

"Is there any more?"

With cream crumbs staining the corners of their mouths, Zhu San and Zhu Houcong looked at Zhu Hao with pitiful, aggrieved expressions.

Looking at the empty porcelain bowl, Zhu Hao frowned: "You two are quite impolite! I made it, only took one bite myself, and wanted to invite you in for a taste, but look at you—you finished it all?"

Zhu San wiped the corner of her mouth with her sleeve and said, "What's the big deal? Things are made for people to eat... *Hiccup*."

At that, she let out a hiccup.

"Third Sister, what we did really isn't right... Shouldn't we give him something in return, to make it fair?" Zhu Houcong cared a lot about his pride and didn't want to take advantage of others.

Zhu San chided, "Are you stupid? He currently lives in the manor, eating our food, wearing our clothes, and using our things. What's wrong with him making us a bowl of... ice cream? Hey, Zhu Hao, hurry up and make some more. We haven't had enough yet."

Zhu Hao looked dejected: "Do you think it's that easy? How can I make it without ice? A clever housewife can't cook a meal without rice..."

"Honestly..."

Zhu San was clearly a glutton, much more impatient about food than her younger brother.

Meanwhile, Zhu Houcong focused his attention on the revolving lantern. Having not come the day before, he had only heard his sister describe such an ingenious device. Today, seeing the new revolving lanterns Zhu Hao had brought—four of them hanging in the air with exquisite, masterclass patterns—he stared without blinking.

Zhu Hao couldn't help but smile, stepping forward to light the candles inside the revolving lanterns and gently spinning the outer shell.

Zhu Houcong stepped forward eagerly, his eyes wide with admiration.

Zhu San said, "Zhu Hao, didn't we agree that if I brought him along, you'd show us something good?"

Zhu Hao glanced at her: "You ate all my ice cream, isn't that a good thing? Zhu Houcong, don't touch my revolving lantern; if the candle tilts even slightly, it will ignite the silk outer shell."

"Oh."

The siblings harbored their own thoughts—one focused entirely on the revolving lantern, while the other stared at the ice cream bowl, occasionally licking her lips, clearly unsatisfied.

Just then, a commotion came from outside, and the siblings nervously looked around for a place to hide.

"It's fine, someone must be coming to get things... I'll go out and handle it." Zhu Hao motioned for Zhu San and Zhu Houcong to hide slightly, then stood up to open the door.

It turned out to be a few carpenters starting work, entering the yard to fetch saws, rasps, and other tools. Seeing Zhu Hao, they waved dismissively, signaling him to step aside as if he were merely a warehouse keeper—though a keeper without jurisdiction over tools and raw materials, yet craftsmen looking for tools would still ask him for help.

The craftsmen who arrived this time were familiar faces, led by Scar-Brow and Old Song.

Zhu Hao's eyes darted around, casting a glance about before stepping up to Old Song and saying, "Uncle Song, one of the jars of tung oil stacked in the storehouse is leaking, and there's a huge puddle on the ground. What if a stray spark hits it?"

He deliberately said this loud enough for Scar-Brow to hear.

"Is it leaking? Let me go take a look... Oh, it really is..." Old Song was an honest man. Even though Zhu Hao was a child the manor kept a close eye on, he still engaged with him. He purposely stepped into the storeroom and found it was just as Zhu Hao had described.

Scar-Brow sneered, "Wasn't it you who had no lamplight at night and punched a hole to steal the oil?"

Zhu Hao replied disdainfully, "I have plenty of candles here. Who needs tung oil?"

Old Song squatted down to inspect it closely and said, "The bite marks are obvious, it must have been chewed by rats... The wooden jar itself wasn't very sturdy and broke easily. We really should move it away later. Most of the materials stored here are wood; wouldn't it catch fire at the slightest spark?"

"We'll deal with it when we have time! Get to work!"

Scar-Brow hoisted a wooden ladder onto his shoulder and walked out, completely unconcerned.

Old Song's carpentry skills were far superior to Scar-Brow's, but Scar-Brow held a higher status among the craftsmen, belonging to the "administrative staff."

Since Scar-Brow said the issue would be addressed later, Old Song could only cast an apologetic look at Zhu Hao before leading the others away.

......

"Does anyone come here often?"

Once everyone had left, Zhu Hao returned to the room, where Zhu San was still looking outside with apprehension.

In her mind, if anyone found out she had brought her younger brother to play at Zhu Hao's place, the offense would be severe, and she might be grounded by her father and mother.

Zhu Hao said, "What did you expect? This is a storehouse. Who knows what those craftsmen might lack or when they might suddenly show up? Even in the middle of the night, if they disturb my sleep, there's nothing I can do... When you come in the future, just stay in the room and don't go outside; they won't come in to check."

"That's true. Who cares about a little kid?"

Zhu San clearly didn't take Zhu Hao seriously.

With a princess-like temper, she looked down on everyone!

"Fourth Brother, we should go. We can't stay out too long; it'll be bad if we're discovered." Seeing that the ice cream was gone and Zhu Hao had nothing better to offer, Zhu San prepared to drag her younger brother away.

Zhu Houcong protested, "We just got here, why the rush to leave?"

Hearing this, Zhu San reached over to pinch Zhu Houcong's ear, acting all stern and matronly: "If Father finds out you snuck out, will you have an easy life? Zhu Hao, if possible... make some more ice cream next time we come."

"No capital, hard to make."

Zhu Hao put on a mercenary facade.

Zhu San pouted, "I knew you were a little stingy-pot... Fine, I'll have Ah Bing send over a few dozen coins later, that's all I have... Fourth Brother, do you have any money?"

Zhu Houcong shook his head honestly.

Clearly, the manor never let Zhu Houcong touch dirty money, whereas Zhu San frequently snuck out of the estate, knew the value of money, and thus knew how to save.

Zhu Houcong wasn't as shrewd as his sister.

"Dozens of coins should be enough. Let's go, let's go!"

Zhu Hao could tell that Zhu San was consciously trying to prevent Zhu Houcong from interacting too much with him... Perhaps she, as an older sister, sensed that he harbored "ulterior motives." Her previous warning to him not to enter the manor had also been because she overheard people discussing how to deal with Zhu Hao, prompting her to send Lu Bing to warn him.

Knowing that the manor was on guard against Zhu Hao, how could she have no suspicions? Children a year older understood much more.

Zhu Hao was in no hurry to execute his plan right away.

Being able to get Zhu San and Zhu Houcong to come together was already a remarkable achievement; the next step was to figure out a way to get Zhu Houcong to come alone...

......

Outside the city, the Zhu family estate.

Guards Commander Lin paid a late-night visit.

Before Madam Zhu, Guards Commander Lin stated bluntly without hesitation: "I've already made inquiries and confirmed that your grandson did not enter the inner quarters of Prince Xing's Estate. Instead, he's been housed in a utility room by the eastern gate, and I reckon he'll be chased out before long. If the Zhu family wants to gather intelligence from the manor, you'd better look for another way."

Madam Zhu remained calm and composed, saying, "Impossible. My grandson uncovered many secrets; unless he entered the inner quarters of Prince Xing's Estate, he couldn't have obtained so much intelligence."

Guards Commander Lin replied, "Then you should ask your grandson how he found out. I've learned that someone in the manor intends to do him harm. If you don't welcome him out in time, he might just vanish into thin air... who knows. Not a living soul left, how tragic!"