Chapter 20: The Difficult Emperor Li II and His Scientific Empress! 【New Book—Please Add to Your Favorites】

After leaving Da'an Palace, Li Shimin did not return directly to the Taiji Palace. Instead, he and Li Chengqian walked one after another along the tree-lined path outside Da'an Palace.

Truth be told, the environment at Da'an Palace was truly subpar. While it was not exactly freezing in the winter, the entire palace became like a steamer in the summer. One had to wonder how the retired emperor Li Yuan had managed to live there for six years in history. One also had to wonder whether that Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty, whenever he retreated to the Jiucheng Palace to escape the summer heat, ever spared a thought for his father, Li Yuan. Although he later orchestrated the construction of the Daming Palace for Li Yuan, the latter passed away before it was even completed. The bond between father and son was complicated, to say the least.

"Chengqian!"

Li Shimin, walking ahead, suddenly stopped and called out to his son. Li Chengqian, who had been trailing behind in a state of boredom, was instantly jolted to attention. "I am here, Father!"

"Do you think your father is a good son?"

"Huh?"

Li Chengqian’s face was filled with bewilderment; he was completely taken aback. Although Emperor Li Er was facing away from him, he could clearly sense that the Emperor’s emotions were highly complex. In truth, Li Shimin’s performance before Li Yuan just moments ago was intended to set an example for his own son. But at this moment, his state of mind seemed to have shifted.

Honestly, the inner world of an emperor like Li Shimin was difficult to fathom. If you were to say he was not a wise ruler because he killed his brothers and forced his father to abdicate, he was, at the same time, the very archetype of an enlightened monarch throughout history. If you were to call him a model of an enlightened monarch, he had also committed many acts typical of a tyrant. It was simply impossible to figure out.

"What is it? You were quite fond of speaking earlier; why have you gone mute now?" Li Shimin turned around with a slight chuckle, sizing up this son who had recently begun to surprise him.

Li Chengqian scratched his face awkwardly and couldn't help but counter-question, "Well, Father, do you want to be a good emperor?"

"I do!" Li Shimin replied without hesitation.

Li Chengqian asked again, "Why?"

"Hmm?" Li Shimin was momentarily stunned, thinking to himself, *You’re asking why? You rascal, you’ll probably be a tyrant yourself one day!* But having gained some understanding of his son’s temperament, he mused, "Because I want to do better than him..."

"Who is 'him'?"

"Your uncle!"

*Hiss!*

Li Chengqian couldn't help but gasp. It seemed he had never dreamed that Li Shimin would discuss Li Jiancheng with him in person.

"What, are you surprised?" Seeing the shifting colors on Li Chengqian’s young face, Li Shimin added with a touch of amusement, "Haven't you already passed judgment on the Xuanwu Gate Incident? Why would you still be surprised?"

"I..." Li Chengqian opened his mouth, words failing him.

Li Shimin continued in a heavy tone, "He was good, but your father is better than him. Do you understand?"

*I understand perfectly! You spent all this time just to say that, didn't you?* Li Chengqian rolled his eyes internally.

Perhaps it was because of Li Yuan that Li Shimin was reminded of his eldest brother. Following the dictates of his true heart, Li Shimin actually acknowledged his brother. If nothing else, consider the matter of killing one's siblings. It wasn't as if Li Jiancheng’s subordinates hadn't suggested he kill Li Shimin—the very person who suggested it was Wei Zheng. But Li Jiancheng hadn't done it, whereas Li Shimin had. On that point alone, Li Shimin was inferior to Li Jiancheng. This was also the reason why, after becoming emperor, Li Shimin never killed Wei Zheng, even after being rebuked by him over six hundred times and even being berated to the point of tears. He was desperate to prove he was a good emperor. He was desperate to make everyone understand that he could be better than Li Jiancheng.

Li Chengqian asked, appearing to have grasped something, "If one could only choose between being a good emperor and a good son, which would you choose, Father?"

Li Shimin looked at him with complex eyes, and only when Li Chengqian lowered his head, unable to meet his gaze, did he slowly shake his head and say, "I do not know."

"Then I do not know either, unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless you reinstate me as Crown Prince, Father!"

"Ha!" Li Shimin was amused by this, but quickly snorted, "Don't even think about it! It was you who requested that I strip you of your title!"

"But I regret it now!"

"Too late!"

Li Chengqian: "..."
Li Shimin: "..."

The father and son stared at each other, both silent. After a long while, Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes and put on a stern little face. "Aren't you afraid, Father, that I might spread what you said today?"

"Oh? Threatening me?" Li Shimin raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, heavens, how could I! May you be blessed, Father! I shall take my leave!"

Li Chengqian decisively surrendered and took off running. *What kind of international joke is this? Threatening you? I want to live a few more years!* But honestly, Emperor Li Er was truly difficult to deal with!

"Sigh, it seems that getting Emperor Li Er to reinstate me as Crown Prince within eight months is no longer realistic!" After running quite a distance, Li Chengqian couldn't help but sigh. "But!" He glanced back in the direction of Da'an Palace, his tone shifting, "I will not give up!"

...

Meanwhile, in the Lizheng Palace, Empress Zhangsun had acted immediately upon receiving Li Chengqian’s money-making scheme. Although the reduction of palace maids was still ongoing, unlike the previous large-scale cuts, the decision to stay or leave was now essentially left to the maids themselves. Those who stayed would be reassigned, and those who left would receive a generous severance package.

As for Empress Zhangsun herself, she was dedicated to establishing the 'Royal Manufacturing Bureau.' For its first product, she chose soap. It was a daily necessity and would bring in money faster than growing bean sprouts. However, the production method required her to personally lead the experiments, as that lazy rascal Li Chengqian was completely unwilling to waste his time on it.

"Empress, the materials are all prepared. Shall we have the craftsmen begin the experiment?" Xiangling asked cautiously as she approached the Empress.

Xiangling was not originally a maid in the Empress's service, but after Emperor Li Er had kicked her once, the Empress felt deeply apologetic and had her transferred to her side. Given Xiangling's circumstances, she could have left the palace, but she had refused. She wanted to stay—partly because the Empress was kind and she couldn't bear to leave, and partly because she wanted to earn money to bring her parents to Chang'an to serve them in their old age.

"Hmm, since the materials are ready, let's begin the experiment!" Empress Zhangsun smiled and nodded. She stepped onto the platform built outside the hall and instructed the craftsmen, "First, add the quicklime to the clear water according to the ratio I gave you!"

"Yes!" The craftsmen obeyed, and soon the quicklime was placed into the barrels of water. With a *hiss*, the barrels of water began to churn and boil.

"Stand back!" Seeing the thick steam rising, the Empress immediately signaled for the craftsmen to distance themselves. This was the process of quicklime reacting with water to create a calcium hydroxide solution; according to Li Chengqian, it released a great deal of heat and was very dangerous.

Once the reaction subsided, Empress Zhangsun checked a small slip of paper and ordered, "Pour in the potash!"

"Yes!" The craftsmen acted like robots following orders, performing each step exactly as commanded. However, they were not robots, and their hearts were filled with overwhelming shock. Their reverence for the Empress was as if she were a divine being.

"Good. Use a ladle to scoop out the solution on top. Now, heat the pots and add the oil!" Once the new reaction was finished, she commanded the next stage.

Truly, even if Li Chengqian were here, he would have had to admire the Empress's scientific talent. She had followed his experimental notes to successfully complete the greatest chemical reaction of the era.

As the lard was poured into three large pots according to the proportions, the craftsmen stirred constantly with shovels until the temperature was uniform. The Empress then said, "Now, pour the solution you collected into the hot oil. Be careful."

"Yes!" Having gained experience from the previous reactions, the craftsmen were now alert. They worked quickly but with great care, and the entire process was remarkably steady. Though they did not understand the principles, they could clearly see the 'saponification' occurring between the sodium hydroxide and the grease at high heat. The grease was gradually disappearing, replaced by a viscous substance.

After simmering for nearly a quarter of an hour, the Empress observed from above, checking her note repeatedly. Still feeling uneasy, she had a craftsman lift some out for observation before confirming, "Not enough solution, add some more."

As more sodium hydroxide was added, the grease in the pots was consumed, and the viscous substance was no longer oily. The Empress halted the experiment. "Now, add the potash to the viscous liquid, heat, and stir!"

This final step was the 'salting-out' purification mentioned in the notes. After about another quarter of an hour, a thick, translucent solid floated to the surface of the pots.

"Empress! Look!" Xiangling jumped with joy upon seeing the result.

Empress Zhangsun smiled and nodded with satisfaction. This was the soap Li Chengqian had mentioned. To be honest, the process had been truly heart-pounding. She didn't know what it felt like for the Emperor to lead an army into battle, but making soap felt exactly like that—every step required careful observation before proceeding to the next. If not for her status, she would have liked to handle it herself; perhaps it would have been less tense.

"May I ask, Empress, has our experiment been a success?" asked the official from the Ministry of Works, who had been responsible for relaying orders and monitoring every detail.

"It should be a success, but we must scoop out what is in the pots, let it cool, and then wash it to see the effect," the Empress said with a smile.

"Very well, I shall supervise it immediately!" The official bowed and hurried toward the craftsmen.

An hour later, Xiangling brought a small, cooled piece of soap to the Empress. Empress Zhangsun examined it closely and noticed it was a dark yellow color, unlike the bright yellow Li Chengqian had described. She frowned slightly, then picked up the soap and rubbed it in a basin of water. Soon, her hands were covered in foam. She exclaimed in surprise, "It really worked!"

"Empress, I will go get a dirty cloth to test it!" Xiangling hurried off. Before long, she returned with a piece of hemp cloth stained with oil and mud. She took the soap from the Empress, scrubbed it against the cloth, and rinsed it in the water.

"My heavens!" Xiangling exclaimed in shock, as if she had witnessed something impossible. The other maids in the Lizheng Palace rushed over upon hearing the commotion.

"Xiangling, what happened?"

"You... you look..."

The hemp cloth, which had been black with oil stains, had miraculously turned white.

"The Empress knows sorcery! This is too magical!"
"Indeed! It washed so clean! Even the hardest oil stains are gone!"
"Is this soap? The Empress is amazing!"

As the compliments poured in, the Empress could not stop smiling. Although the maids were praising her, her thoughts were on her beloved son. If not for Li Chengqian, how could she have mastered such an incredible technique?

*I wonder when the Emperor will return. I must give him a surprise later! Perhaps it will help Chengqian!* The Empress thought to herself with delight, though she said calmly, "Alright, everyone go back to your work!"

"Yes!" The maids retreated.

The Empress then said to Xiangling in an unquestionable tone, "Xiangling, go notify that official from the Ministry of Works. Tell him the Emperor has decreed he need not return to the Ministry; he is to serve as the director of the Royal Manufacturing Bureau. As for the craftsmen, they are not to return to their former posts either; they are to remain at the Royal Manufacturing Bureau as well."

Understanding that the Empress wanted to keep the secret of the soap from spreading, Xiangling acknowledged the order and departed.

...

Elsewhere, after running away from Emperor Li Er, Li Chengqian had intended to return to the Lizheng Palace, but he ran into Zhangsun Wuji. Consequently, he was now being pulled into a small grove by his uncle for a heart-to-heart.

"Chengqian, do you think your uncle still has a chance?" Zhangsun Wuji asked with a dejected face.

Li Chengqian raised a hand to his forehead and sighed, "With your abilities, Uncle, being Right Chancellor is more than enough; even ranking among the Three Excellencies would be easy. What are you worried about?"

*Good heavens! Ranking among the Three Excellencies?!* Zhangsun Wuji was instantly taken aback, thinking, *You rascal, you certainly dare to dream! If I rank among the Three Excellencies, you, my nephew, must be the Crown Prince! Otherwise, I’ll have a word with him!*

"But..."

"No more 'buts'!" Li Chengqian waved his hand to interrupt. "If you don't become the Right Chancellor, I will go beg Father for you. You are my dearest relative, after all!"

Upon hearing this, Zhangsun Wuji was deeply moved. This nephew was worth keeping; when there was credit to be given, he gave it, and when there was trouble, he stepped up. This nephew, Li Chengqian, was a good one!