I traveled back to the Qin Dynasty, and the First Emperor begged me to become his empress.

Chapter 164 Teaching the King of Qin the Abacus

Because she had gone to bed early, Ying Wuyou woke up slowly just as dawn broke, sitting up in bed refreshed. Since she had gotten up much earlier than usual, she felt particularly cheerful.

Dressed in a light white training outfit, Ying Wuyou arrived at the courtyard of Chaohua Palace. She first stretched her limbs and did some simple exercises, then began jogging slowly around the courtyard. The fresh air, the cheerful songs of the birds, and the soft light of the rising sun seemed to infuse her with boundless energy.

Just then, the system in my mind suddenly issued a notification: [Host, why not try practicing a section of the Eight Pieces of Brocade? It can help you stretch your body better!]

Ying Wuyou readily agreed and diligently practiced each move according to the system's instructions. Her movements were agile and fluid, like flowing clouds and water, a sight to behold.

After her workout, Ying Wuyou was drenched in sweat. She gently wiped the beads of sweat from her forehead, summoned her personal maid Cui'er, and instructed her to prepare hot water so she could enjoy a relaxing bath. Soon, the steaming hot bathwater was ready, and Ying Wuyou stepped into the tub. The warm water enveloped her body, instantly washing away her fatigue.

After taking a bath, Ying Wuyou changed into a clean and elegant dress and sat in front of her dressing table, letting Liuli comb her long, black, and shiny hair. Just then, her stomach rumbled inconveniently, and Ying Wuyou realized that she hadn't had breakfast in a long time. She usually slept in and skipped breakfast, but today she had gotten up early and exercised quite a bit; if she didn't eat something, she feared she would be starving. So, she decided to make an exception and have a simple breakfast.

After breakfast, Ying Wuyou estimated the time and felt it was almost time to end the court session. She tidied her clothes and hair, and walked lightly towards Zhangtai Hall.

When she arrived at Zhangtai Palace, King Qin was intently reviewing a mountain of memorials. Hearing light footsteps at the door, King Qin looked up and immediately spotted Ying Wuyou's light figure. He put down the memorials in his hand and said to Ying Wuyou with a smile, "Jiayang, you've come at the right time. I have good news to tell you."

Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou quickly walked to the front of the hall and respectfully bowed to the King of Qin, saying, "Jiayang greets Father."

The King of Qin smiled slightly and said softly, "Sit down. I have some great news to tell you today."

Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou, who was standing to the side, widened her beautiful eyes instantly, revealing a look of surprise on her face. She eagerly asked, "Father, what good news is it? Tell me quickly." With that, she sat down.

The King of Qin, however, took his time, keeping everyone in suspense, and asked with a smile, "Then guess?"

Ying Wuyou couldn't help but giggle at the King of Qin's actions, and said coquettishly, "Haha, Father, you are really funny! You are teasing your son like this. But, you have always loved your son, so it must be something very important."

Seeing his beloved daughter smiling so happily, the King of Qin became even more pleased and replied with a smile, "Your sweet words are so sweet that even your father is overjoyed."

Ying Wuyou let out another burst of silvery laughter, and said between laughs, "Father, please stop keeping me in suspense and tell me quickly. I am really curious."

Looking at his lively and adorable daughter, the King of Qin finally softened and slowly said, "The kings of Chu, Qi, and Wei have all agreed to come to my Great Qin to discuss matters related to the economic zone."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ying Wuyou's face lit up with a joyful smile, and he said excitedly, "Wow, this is a great joy! With this, our Great Qin will be able to cooperate with other countries, and the construction of this economic zone will definitely proceed very smoothly. It is truly a blessing for the country!"

The King of Qin responded with a smile, "Indeed! Although the contract has already been signed, many specific matters concerning the economic zone have not yet been thoroughly discussed and negotiated. This is a good opportunity to work together to finalize all the relevant rules and regulations."

Sitting to the side, Ying Wuyou immediately chimed in, "That's right, Father. We must start preparing immediately. This economic zone needs a dedicated management department and supporting laws and regulations to regulate and constrain it, and these must be formulated and perfected as soon as possible."

The King of Qin nodded slightly in agreement, and then said, "Yes, I have already instructed Wang Wan and others to begin planning and drafting this matter."

Upon hearing this, Ying Wuyou's face lit up with joy, and he quickly smiled and praised, "Father, you are truly wise and insightful!"

At this moment, the King of Qin asked with great interest, "So what brings you here today?"

Ying Wuyou waved his hand lightly, signaling the eunuch following behind him to step forward. Immediately afterwards, the eunuch carefully presented an object to the King of Qin.

The King of Qin looked closely and saw that the object before him was a strangely shaped device. He looked puzzled and asked curiously, "What is this?"

Ying Wuyou smiled slightly, picked up the abacus and placed it on the table. Then he skillfully moved the beads and explained, "Father, this is called an abacus. It is a tool used specifically for calculating numbers."

Upon hearing this, the King of Qin became interested and asked, "Are these few beads enough? This abacus isn't very big; how will you calculate large quantities?"

Ying Wuyou patiently explained, “Father, don’t be impatient. I’ll demonstrate it for you, and you’ll see. This abacus may be small, but it can calculate all the large numbers in the world. For example, to calculate the amount of provisions needed for a thousand troops, you only need to manipulate the beads according to a specific algorithm. Each column represents a different place value, and through the carry-over and borrowing principles, no matter how large the number, it can be calculated.” As he spoke, Ying Wuyou quickly manipulated the beads, muttering incantations as he demonstrated some simple addition operations to the King of Qin. The King of Qin watched with great amazement.

Ying Wuyou added, "Moreover, it is easy to carry, and can be used by merchants on their business trips, as well as by officials to count taxes and population. It is simple to operate and not difficult to learn."

Upon hearing this, the King of Qin eagerly reached out to try it. Ying Wuyou patiently taught him how to locate the digits and how to move the beads with his fingers. At first, the King of Qin was a little clumsy, but he quickly grasped the knack and moved the beads faster and faster, his eyes filled with excitement. Finally, the King of Qin laughed loudly, "This abacus is truly a marvelous object. If it were widely adopted, it would surely make calculations in my Great Qin Dynasty much more convenient and efficient."

Ying Wuyou nodded slightly and said, "Indeed! Father, you see, although this abacus looks small and exquisite, it actually contains many ingenious features. Not only is it simple and easy to make, but it is also exceptionally easy and convenient to operate. Whether one is illiterate or highly learned, as long as someone patiently teaches them a few times, they can master its use. Therefore, I have come today to earnestly request that Father promote the abacus."

Upon hearing this, the King of Qin nodded slightly and replied, "Hmm, it is truly astonishing that such a small abacus has such convenient advantages. It is indeed worthwhile for us to promote it widely. I will summon Li Si and others later and instruct them to make proper arrangements for the matter."

Ying Wuyou quickly expressed his gratitude, saying, "Thank you, Father, for your attention and support for my suggestion. However, there is something else I would like to discuss with you."