Datang: Just been appointed as the crown prince, the counterattack system is here

Chapter 20: The Difficult Majesty Li Er and His Scientific Queen! [New Book, Please Collect]

After leaving Da'an Palace, Li Shimin did not return directly to Taiji Palace.

Instead, he and Li Chengqian walked one after the other on the tree-lined path outside Da'an Palace.

To be honest, the environment of Da'an Palace is really not that good. In winter, although it is not very cold, in summer, the entire Da'an Palace is like a steamer.

I don’t know how the retired emperor Li Yuan in history lived here for six years.

I wonder if Emperor Taizong of Tang in history thought of his father Li Yuan when he went to Jiucheng Palace to escape the summer heat every year.

Although he later arranged to build a Daming Palace for Li Yuan, Li Yuan died before the Daming Palace was completed.

The relationship between father and son is extremely complicated.

"Chengqian!"

Li Shimin, who was walking in front, suddenly stopped and called out "Li Chengqian".

Li Chengqian, who had been following behind bored, suddenly became alert: "Your son is here!"

"Do you think Father is a good son?"

"what?"

Li Chengqian's face was full of surprise, and he couldn't help feeling a little dazed.

Although His Majesty Li II had his back to him, he could clearly feel at this moment that His Majesty Li II was in a complicated mood.

In fact, the behavior of Emperor Li II in front of Li Yuan just now also meant that as a father, he should set an example in front of his son.

But at this moment, his mood is probably different.

To be honest, it is difficult to understand the inner world of an emperor like Li Shimin.

You say that he killed his brothers and forced his father to abdicate, which does not seem like a wise ruler, but he is also a model of wise rulers throughout history.

You say he is a model of a wise ruler throughout history, but he did many things that only a foolish ruler would do.

It's simply incomprehensible.

"Why, didn't you like to talk before? Why are you silent now?"

Li Shimin turned around with some amusement and looked at his son who had recently impressed him.

Li Chengqian scratched his face awkwardly and asked, "Then, father, do you want to be a good emperor?"

"miss you!"

Li Shimin answered without hesitation.

Li Chengqian asked again: "Why?"

"Ok?"

Li Shimin was slightly taken aback, thinking, "Why are you asking this? I'm afraid your son will become a tyrant in the future!" But he already had some understanding of his son's character, so he pondered and said, "Because I want to do better than him."

"Who is he?"

"Your uncle!"

hiss!
Li Chengqian couldn't help but take a breath, as if he had never dreamed that Li Shimin would actually talk to him about Li Jiancheng in person.

"Why, are you surprised?"

Li Shimin saw Li Chengqian's face constantly changing color, and said with a hint of amusement, "Haven't you already made your conclusion about the Xuanwu Gate Incident? Why are you still surprised?"

"I"

Li Chengqian opened his mouth, wanting to say something but stopped.

But Li Shimin said in a heavy tone: "He is good, but father is better than him, do you understand?"

Of course I understand!

You've been working on this for a long time, just to say this!

Li Chengqian rolled his eyes inwardly.

Perhaps it was because of Li Yuan that Li Shimin was reminded of his elder brother.

Follow your heart's emotions.

Li Shimin actually approved of his elder brother.

Let’s not talk about anything else, just talk about the matter of killing brothers.

Li Jiancheng had been suggested by his subordinates to kill Li Shimin, and the person who suggested it was Wei Zheng.

But Li Jiancheng did not do so, while Li Shimin did.

In this respect, Li Shimin is not as good as Li Jiancheng.

This is also the reason why Li Shimin did not kill Wei Zheng even though he was advised by Wei Zheng more than 600 times and even scolded by Wei Zheng until he cried after becoming emperor.

He wanted so badly to prove that he was a good emperor.

He really wanted everyone to understand that he could do better than Li Jiancheng.

Li Chengqian asked with a look of enlightenment, "If you can only choose one between a good emperor and a good son, which one will you choose, father?"

Li Shimin looked at him with complicated eyes, until he lowered his head and dared not look at him, then he slowly shook his head and said, "I don't know."

"I don't know that either, unless..."

"Unless what?"

"Unless my father reinstates me as the crown prince!"

"Ah!"

Li Shimin was amused by this, but soon snorted coldly: "Don't even think about it. It was you who asked me to abolish your position as crown prince!"

"Then I regret it now!"

"late!"

Li Chengqian: "."

Li Shimin: "."

The father and son looked at each other, both silent.

After a while, Li Chengqian narrowed his eyes slightly and said with a stern face, "Father, aren't you afraid that your son will spread what you said today?"

"Oh, threatening me?"

Li Shimin raised his eyebrows.

"Oh, how could that be possible! May your Majesty be blessed! I will take my leave!"

Li Chengqian decisively admitted defeat and ran away.

What kind of joke is this? Threatening you? I still want to live a few more years!

But to be honest, His Majesty Li II is really difficult to deal with!
"Alas, it seems that asking His Majesty Li II to reinstate me as Crown Prince within eight months is no longer realistic!"

After running a long way, Li Chengqian couldn't help but sigh.

"but!"

As he spoke, he glanced towards Da'an Palace again and changed the subject: "I won't give up!"

At the same time, in Lizheng Hall.

Empress Changsun learned Li Chengqian's way of making money and took action immediately.

Although the reduction in the number of palace maids is still continuing, compared with the previous large-scale reductions, now it is basically up to the palace maids themselves to decide whether to stay or leave.

Those who stay will be offered alternative arrangements, while those who leave will be given a generous severance package.

Empress Changsun herself was committed to establishing the "Royal Manufacturing Bureau".

As the first product of the Royal Manufacturing Bureau, Empress Changsun chose soap.

This kind of thing is what we need most in daily life, and it makes money faster than growing bean sprouts.

However, she still needs to personally lead the experiment in order to find the production method.

Because Li Chengqian, that lazy guy, was not willing to waste his time on this.

"Queen, all the materials are ready. Do you want the craftsmen to begin the experiments?"

Xiangling came to Empress Changsun and asked cautiously.

Originally, Xiangling was not a palace maid beside Empress Changsun. It was because Emperor Li II kicked her last time, which made Empress Changsun feel very sorry, so she transferred her to her side.

According to Xiangling's conditions, she could leave the palace, but she refused. She wanted to stay in the palace. On the one hand, it was because Empress Zhangsun was very kind and she couldn't bear to leave. On the other hand, she wanted to make money to bring her parents to Chang'an to fulfill her filial piety. "Well, now that the materials are ready, let's start the experiment!"

Empress Changsun smiled and nodded, then walked to the terrace outside the hall and said to the craftsmen, "First, mix the quicklime into the clean water according to the ratio I gave you!"

"Yes!"

The craftsmen obeyed the order and quickly put quicklime into the bucket.

With a "sizzling" sound, the buckets of water began to churn and became extremely hot.

"keep away!"

When Empress Changsun saw hot smoke coming out of the bucket, she immediately told the craftsmen to move away.

This is the process of quicklime and water generating calcium hydroxide solution. According to Li Chengqian, this process releases a large amount of heat, which is very dangerous.

Then, after the reaction subsided, Empress Changsun took out a small piece of paper, looked at it, and ordered, "Pour the soda ash in!"

"Yes!"

The craftsmen were like robots that only knew how to obey orders, performing the same operations one by one according to Empress Changsun's orders.

However, they are not robots after all, and their hearts are shocked beyond words.

The respect for Empress Changsun was like that for a god.

When quicklime reacts with water, it produces slaked lime, and when slaked lime reacts with sodium carbonate, it produces calcium carbonate and sodium hydroxide.

"Okay, use a spoon to scoop out the solution floating on the surface, get the pan ready, and heat the oil!"

After the new reaction was completed, Empress Changsun ordered the craftsmen to proceed to the next step.

To be honest, even if Li Chengqian were here, he would have to admire Empress Changsun's scientific talent.

She actually successfully completed the greatest chemical reaction of this era according to the experimental method written by Li Chengqian.

Three large pots were filled with lard according to the proportions. The craftsmen kept stirring with spatulas until the oil temperature gradually became uniform. Then Empress Changsun said, "Now pour the solution you collected into the hot oil. Be careful."

"Yes!"

The craftsmen had experience with the previous two chemical reactions and had become aware of the risks.

This time, the operation seemed to be carried out very quickly, but there was meticulousness within the process, and the entire experimental process was extremely stable.

Although they did not know the principle of the whole experiment, they could clearly see that sodium hydroxide and oil formed a "saponification reaction" under high temperature.

The grease is gradually disappearing, replaced by a sticky substance.

After burning for nearly a quarter of an hour, Empress Changsun looked down from above, holding the small piece of paper and comparing it repeatedly. Still unsure, she asked the craftsman to scoop it up with a shovel and observe it for a while. Only then did she say with some certainty, "The solution is not enough, add some more."

As new sodium hydroxide was added, the grease in the pot was gradually consumed, and the sticky substance no longer contained any grease. Only then did Empress Changsun stop the experiment.

"Okay, add the soda ash to the viscous liquid, heat and stir!"

This time, Empress Changsun's order was the final step of the experiment, which was the "salting out method" purification mentioned in Li Chengqian's note.

After about a quarter of an hour, a thick layer of translucent solid floated in the pot.

"Queen! Look!"

Xiangling jumped up in surprise when she saw what was in the pot.

Empress Changsun smiled and nodded with satisfaction.

This is the soap mentioned by Li Chengqian.

To be honest, the process of making soap really thrilled her.

Although she didn't know what it felt like for His Majesty Li II to fight in a war, making soap made her feel like she was fighting in a war.

Each step must be carefully observed before moving on to the next.

If it weren't for her status, she really wanted to do it herself, then she probably wouldn't be so nervous.

"May I ask the Queen, has our experiment been successful?"

The official from the Ministry of Works, who had been responsible for conveying orders and strictly controlling every detail, hurried forward to ask.

"It should be considered a success, but you need to take the contents out of the pot, cool them down, and then wash them before you can see the effect."

Empress Chang Sun said with a smile.

"Very well, I will go and supervise it right away!"

The official from the Ministry of Works bowed and immediately walked towards the group of craftsmen who were pointing and talking.

An hour later, Xiangling brought a small piece of cooled soap to Empress Changsun.

Empress Changsun looked at the soap carefully and found that the cooled soap was dark yellow, which was somewhat different from the bright yellow described by Li Chengqian. She frowned slightly, picked up the soap again, and rubbed it in the basin of water.

Soon, his hands were covered with foam, and he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise: "Did it really work?"

"Queen, let me get a dirty cloth and try it!" Xiangling said hurriedly.

"Okay! Go!"

Not long after, Xiangling came over with a linen cloth that was obviously stained with oil and mud.

She took the soap from Empress Changsun's hand, rubbed it on the linen cloth a few times, and then washed it in water a few times.

"Oh my God!"

Xiangling screamed in surprise, as if she had seen something horrifying.

Soon, the other palace maids in Lizheng Hall all ran over after hearing the noise.

"Xiangling, what happened?"

"You, look at that."

I saw that the linen, which was originally pitch black and stained with oil, miraculously turned white.

"The Queen knows magic! This is amazing!"

"Yeah! It's really clean! Even the toughest oil stains are gone!"

"Is this soap? The Queen is so amazing!"

As compliments rang out around her, Empress Changsun couldn't stop smiling.

Although the palace maids praised her, she was thinking about her own big son.

If it weren't for Li Chengqian, how could she have mastered such amazing skills?
"I don't know when His Majesty will return, so I must give him a surprise later! Maybe it can help Cheng Qian!"

Empress Changsun thought so happily in her heart, but said lightly: "Okay, let's go to work!"

"Yes!"

The palace maids retreated in response.

Empress Changsun said to Xiangling without question:

"Xiangling, go inform that Ministry of Works official first. Tell him that His Majesty has issued an edict that he no longer needs to return to the Ministry of Works and will be assigned to the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau. Also, those craftsmen are not to return to their original places; they must remain at the Imperial Manufacturing Bureau!"

Hearing this, Xiangling instantly understood that the Queen did not want the secret of the soap to be leaked, so she immediately took the order and left.

the other side.

After Li Chengqian ran away from Emperor Li II, he originally wanted to return to Lizheng Palace, but he met Zhangsun Wuji.

So, he was now being pulled into the grove by Changsun Wuji to have a heart-to-heart talk.

"Cheng Qian, do you think your uncle still has a chance?" Changsun Wuji asked with a sad face.

Li Chengqian raised his hand to his forehead and sighed, "Uncle's ability is more than enough for him to be ranked among the Three Dukes, let alone the Right Prime Minister. What are you worried about?"

Good guy!
Ranked among the top three? !
Changsun Wuji's face was instantly filled with surprise, and he thought to himself, you kid really dares to think like that!

If I, your uncle, am one of the Three Dukes, then you, my nephew, must be the crown prince! Otherwise, I will be very angry with him!
"But."

"Stop it!"

Li Chengqian waved his hand to interrupt Zhangsun Wuji: "If your uncle cannot be appointed as the Right Servant, your nephew will ask the emperor for your support. You are my beloved relative!"

Hearing this, Changsun Wuji was deeply moved. This nephew was very capable. He would really give credit when there was merit, and would also really help when there were difficulties.

Li Chengqian is my nephew, great!

　Why did we have to recreate Empress Changsun? Because Li Chengqian is only 8 years old and can't do many things, and Changsun dotes on him, I think we can enrich the role of this virtuous empress and let her do some things on behalf of Li Chengqian.

　　Otherwise, if the mother always seems to be loving and the son always seems to be filial, there will be less fun.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)