System upgrade

[How can that tycoon big sister of yours appear in the real world looking like that? Why can you only appear in my mind?]

Jiang Nuan found it rather strange.

[Host, here's how it works. To manifest in the real world, a system needs to upgrade. We have to reach at least level three.]

Guagua explained.

[Then how do you upgrade? You're the Gossip System, so do you need to feast on gossip? We've feasted on so much gossip already, but I've never heard you mention upgrading!]

Jiang Nuan made a guess based on her usual experience reading webnovels.

[Nope. We need world energy to upgrade, and the way to obtain world energy is through that world's currency. Also, the amount of energy currency can be exchanged for differs from world to world. In this world, my first upgrade costs ten thousand taels of silver, the second costs fifty thousand, and the third costs a hundred thousand!]

Guagua explained its upgrade process.

[Then what improvements do you get after upgrading?]

Jiang Nuan had seen some systems gain completely revamped functions after a breakthrough, so she could not help feeling a little hopeful.

[It doesn't seem like there are any. I'm the first Gossip System, so after upgrading, I'd probably still just provide gossip?]

It did not know what it could do after upgrading either, so it had never dared bring the subject up. Besides, its host's money had not come easily, which made it even more reluctant to mention it.

[So a hundred and sixty thousand taels of silver would be enough to get you to level three, right? How about I upgrade you first? I should have just about that much silver now.]

Jiang Nuan considered her private stash, then spoke.

[Really? Host, you're going to spend a hundred and sixty thousand taels of silver to upgrade me?! I won't be much more useful afterward, though. Maybe we should forget it...]

Guagua spoke in disbelief.

[Yes, yes. Just go ahead and upgrade!]

Jiang Nuan nodded without hesitation. She had just noticed Guagua's envy of its tycoon big sister. Whatever other systems had, her Guagua should have too. She had long since come to regard Guagua as family.

After receiving Jiang Nuan's permission, Guagua withdrew valuables worth a hundred and sixty thousand taels from her private stash. A flash of white light followed, and a blue-haired, green-eyed Little Spirit appeared before her.

The Little Spirit immediately threw its arms around her neck and sobbed, "Waaah~ Host, you're so good to me! Guagua wants to stay with you forever!"

"All right, all right, don't cry. Be good. We'll be fighting side by side from now on!"

Jiang Nuan comforted Guagua.

The Tycoon System was dumbstruck by the sight. It had thought a devious human was hoodwinking a newbie system, but it turned out to be two little fools running into each other's arms.

Watching the foolish pair, the Tycoon System rubbed its brow and tossed an inconspicuous little mote of light onto Jiang Nuan's hair.

The mote flashed three times before sinking into Jiang Nuan's body, and she remained completely unaware of it all.

Back in the System Space, the Tycoon System met the questioning gazes of the other systems and left them with a single remark: "Guagua's host is fine. She's just as dumb as it is." Then it went back to carrying out missions.

Meanwhile, Jiang Nuan opened the Guidebook for Time Travelers, found the Gunpowder Chapter, and began copying it out.

Since having Guagua do this would consume energy, and consuming energy meant spending money, Jiang Nuan decided to rely on herself under ordinary circumstances.

But looking at the things she had written, which were barely recognizable as characters, she felt her little face flush.

She could hardly be blamed. In her first life, she had never had a chance to learn to write. In her second, she had, but that had been with a fountain pen, not a brush!

Thus, when Jiang Nuan took the gunpowder proportions she had copied to the Alchemists, they glanced at the page, and one stepped forward to ask:

"Might we ask what Your Highness intended with this demonic scraw—this drawing?"

[I heard that! You were going to call my drawing demonic scrawl! Pah! What drawing? This is a gunpowder formula! These are written characters!]

Jiang Nuan waved banners and shouted battle cries in her heart!

But what came out of her mouth was:

"This is something called gunpowder. As for what exactly it does, I'm sure all of you have blown up a furnace before, right? I want you to turn those accidental furnace explosions into something certain—something that explodes whenever you want it to, and with great force. It'll very likely be used on the battlefield in the future!"

"As for gunpowder..."

Jiang Nuan explained the concept of gunpowder to them.

Troubled expressions appeared on the Alchemists' faces.

Although they had escaped the fate of being beheaded, researching this gunpowder now could leave them without even bones to bury if they made one careless mistake. Put that way, being beheaded suddenly seemed somewhat acceptable.

But on second thought, a miserable life was better than a good death. What if they survived? They would take the gamble!

"Very well, Ninth Princess. We understand. Then, as for the research funds..."

No matter what they researched, the initial stages required substantial investment, so the Alchemists began asking Jiang Nuan for money.

By now, they no longer dared treat Jiang Nuan as an ordinary little brat they could fool.

Hearing this, Jiang Nuan gave an awkward smile. She had originally had some money, but after upgrading Guagua just now, her pockets were cleaner than her face. Where was she supposed to find any money?

"You swindled so much money out of the powerful and wealthy in the capital. How could you have none? Just because my Imperial Father didn't confiscate it doesn't mean you can truly keep it for yourselves. This gunpowder research is your last chance."

Her meaning was clear: there was no money to be had. They could only fund the research with the money they had obtained through their scams.

The Alchemists had never imagined this outcome. Their faces turned bitter, but none dared argue. After all, their money had indeed come from shameful means.

Still, looking on the bright side, if they spent these ill-gotten gains on a task ordered by the emperor, they would have a defense even if they were held accountable later.

"We understand."

The Alchemists spoke to Jiang Nuan.

If she wanted the horses to run, she had to let them eat grass. But she could not afford that now, so all she could do was... paint them a pie!

"Still, don't be too discouraged. If you successfully develop gunpowder, you can surely imagine what it will mean for Great Xia. Leaving your names in the annals of history will be a mere trifle."

Those nuclear bomb experts in the modern world had left their names in history. She could even name several of them.

Besides the grand pie of going down in history, Jiang Nuan had prepared another pie for them.

"I can promise you this: once gunpowder is successfully developed, I will petition my Imperial Father to grant marquis titles to those among you who make major contributions, in your capacity as craftsmen. You will have no actual authority, but you will have genuine titles and fiefs!"

This was an idea she had held for some time. After deciding to bring about change, she had spoken to her Imperial Father about it. Talented people of all kinds were part of the road to success, and granting them titles that carried prestige but no power would greatly kindle their enthusiasm. Her Imperial Father had agreed as well.

Sure enough, after those two grand pies, the Alchemists were instantly brimming with motivation, eager to start working right then and there!