Chapter 416: Chapter 416

After downing a glass of wine, Song Ci was already slightly tipsy, lounging without any grace on the pillow of the Arhat bed, chatting with Lin Qing while watching several maids cut fabric to make inner cotton clothes for her.

Song Ci patted herself, layer after layer, already wearing two cotton jackets, thick like a bear. Oh, besides missing Chongqing hot pot, she also longed for the lightweight and warm thermal underwear and down garments.

Those are the tools for maintaining a slim figure for women!

"Stop always making cotton jackets; they are too cumbersome. Go ask and see if you can collect some duck down, and fine down at that, goose down will do, and some wool."

She had to prepare something to keep herself warm, preserving both life and beauty.

That’s right, even if she’s an old lady, she would be the most elegant and stylish one at the whole scene, not dressed like a clumsy bear.

Lin Qing raised an eyebrow: "You have a new idea again?"

"Indeed, I do." Song Ci’s old stories came online again: "I once met a foreign monk who came from another country to spread his teachings. Wow, in the dead of winter, he wore only a thin layer, not the slightest bit cold. Upon asking, he said his clothes were made of duck down. I learned from it, even though I didn’t have the conditions back then. Still, it’s a useful skill to have."

This never-seen monk in the book: Thank you, heroine, I made it through a Chapter!

Nanny glanced over, so do people remember better the older they get? ɴᴇᴡ ɴᴏᴠᴇʟ ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀs ᴀʀᴇ ᴘᴜʙʟɪsʜᴇᴅ ᴏɴ N0v3l.Fiɾe.net

"First collect what I need. I will teach you, make it for me first. Once it’s done, and there’s extra, make some for yourselves and other masters. There will be ample rewards for a job well done." Song Ci cheekily pointed at the few fair and pretty young girls, saying: "Young girls should be as beautiful as flowers, able to dress gracefully in winter and not heavily."

With a word from the master, the servants sprinted around like crazy.

Fortunately, the Prime Minister’s Mansion held extraordinary status, so gathering some duck down and the like was feasible. Each estate collected some, and very soon it was delivered to the Prime Minister’s Mansion.

However, such materials as duck down had to be processed, and it couldn’t be done in an instant, so Song Ci only instructed the steps. A maid remembered it and then arranged for people to handle it. Don’t underestimate the wisdom of the ancients; it took only a few days before every master, big and small, in the Prime Minister’s Mansion had a so-called down vest, light and warm.

Song Ci also remembered having an old bosom friend to win over, so she personally instructed someone to make a more delicate one and sent it to Cining Palace as a gift to Empress Dowager Wang.

And when Empress Dowager Wang flaunted it to the Emperor, he got envious and hinted at something to a certain prime minister, who instantly understood and made one to be sent into the palace, but that’s another story.

For now, the copper pot is what’s most important.

Thinly sliced venison was laid out, and the steaming pot emitted hot steam, raising the room temperature a bit more.

Song Ci ate some meat and put some turnips and cabbage into the pot to boil, looking a bit listless once again.

"What’s wrong? Isn’t the hot pot good?" Lin Qing put down the bowl and chopsticks.

Song Ci pointed at the usual pair of winter vegetables: "See that?"

Lin Qing looked over, showing confusion: "???"

"Since winter started, didn’t you notice that every day the vegetables are always the same old pair?" Song Ci was rather disdainful: "Aren’t you tired of it?"

Lin Qing laughed and said: "But isn’t that what we eat every winter? Can we eat green vegetables?"

Song Ci: "I just want to eat green vegetables, other vegetables!"

Lin Qing: "Then you’ll have to wait. Wait until the ice and snow melt, and the spring rain comes, then you can eat them."

"No! I want to eat green vegetables in this dead of winter!" Song Ci looked at the spittoon covered with cloth and raised her chin. "I’ve decided, I want to farm and grow vegetables!"