Chapter Fifty-Seven: The Soap-Making Experiment

As soon as the Mid-Autumn Festival passed, it felt as though time sped up; half a month slipped by in the blink of an eye.

Li Yuechen, as usual, attended the court to listen to the news. Recently, there had been nothing particularly noteworthy. Aside from the Guanzhong region still plagued by drought, another event stood out: Prince Xu, Li Yuanli, had died.

To Li Yuechen, this great-uncle whom she had only heard of but never met, evoked no emotion whatsoever; her expression remained unchanged from usual. Yet Li Zhi, seated on the throne, felt obliged to respond and promptly ordered that a coffin be bestowed, with burial rites at the Xianling Mausoleum according to custom.

Most days, after hearing the news, Li Yuechen did not leave immediately but waited for Li Zhi and Wu Zetian to finish court so they could return together. Today was no exception. After court was dismissed, Li Zhi hurried to the corridor, bent down, and picked her up with a gentle lift.

“My, you’re getting heavier again!” Li Zhi laughed.

Wu Zetian nodded. “Indeed, it’s plain to see how much she’s grown day by day.”

Li Yuechen grinned. “When I’m big enough, I’ll be able to carry Father and Mother.”

The family walked out of the palace, laughter filling the air. Clearly, Li Zhi had little impression of Li Yuanli, and showed not a hint of sadness at his passing.

After some playful banter, Wu Zetian returned to her work reviewing memorials, and Li Yuechen excused herself and went back to her own Anfu Hall.

In the garden, she crouched down, grabbed a handful of soil to examine, then went to wash her hands. While washing, she turned to Fulai, her attendant. “Help me pass on a message—look for a type of black stone around Bashu and Zhaoshan, shaped like branches and leaves, often found clinging to the surface of rocks…”

Fulai made a note and nodded. “Is it urgent, Your Highness? I’ll send a swift rider at once!”

Li Yuechen shook her head. “No need to trouble people over it. For now, I don’t need much; just bring me a pound and there’ll be a generous reward!”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Fulai replied with a bow.

After washing her hands, Li Yuechen patted her clothes. “Also, help me find some caustic soda, lard, and salt…”

Once Li Yuechen finished listing her needs, Fulai silently repeated them and quickly set about finding people to procure the materials.

While Fulai prepared the supplies, Li Yuechen was not idle. She took Xiao He and hurried to the Crafts Bureau, asking the craftsmen to make molds and egg beaters.

She chose a soap shape similar to those of the future, sketched a rough design, and the carpenters confidently assured her it was no problem. However, she needed a fair number of molds, so it would take five or six days to complete.

Li Yuechen waved her hand, saying there was no rush, as long as the job was done well.

Returning to Anfu Hall, she found Shangguan Wan’er, perhaps bored, playing jump rope alone.

Upon seeing Li Yuechen, Wan’er put down the rope and ran over. “Your Highness, shall we play rope together?”

“Of course,” Li Yuechen replied, glad for a pastime.

Just then, a young eunuch entered from outside, bowed, and said, “Your Highness, Prince Ying is at the Autumn Gate and wishes to see you.”

“Alright, let’s go!” Li Yuechen agreed, smiling at Shangguan Wan’er. “I’ll play with you later.”

She hopped onto her little tricycle and followed the eunuch to Autumn Gate.

From afar, she saw her third brother, Li Xian, bored, kicking pebbles at the gate.

Seeing Li Yuechen ride up, he stood on tiptoe and waved.

Li Yuechen pedaled quickly, coming to a graceful stop in front of him, then dismounted, looking down at herself in puzzlement.

She muttered, “I really am growing fast; this tricycle is starting to feel cramped.”

Li Xian, not catching her murmurs, stepped forward. “Yuechen…”

“What’s the matter, Third Brother?” Li Yuechen asked.

“I’m terribly bored lately. Do you have anything new to play with?” Li Xian inquired.

Li Yuechen was a little puzzled. “If you’re bored, shouldn’t you study? Aren’t you afraid Father and Mother will scold you?”

Li Xian’s face soured. “You sound just like Mother! Stop teasing your brother.”

“Alright, alright,” Li Yuechen nodded. “What kind of game do you want?”

Li Xian thought a moment. “Something we can play together, as a family.”

So mahjong was out, Li Yuechen mused. After all, mahjong at most accommodates four, not enough for the whole family. There were variants in some places, but she personally disliked them.

Still, she was confident—no one in this era could rival her for games and play. For the honor of all Red Bull-sponsored athletes, she would make sure he had fun!

“Then go call our eldest brother and the others. I’ll prepare something,” Li Yuechen waved.

“Oh? You already have something in mind?” Li Xian was curious.

Lately, he’d lost interest in cockfighting and backgammon; he truly wanted something novel.

Li Yuechen didn’t answer, just smiled mysteriously and rode back to Anfu Hall.

Actually, most entertainment in this era remained undeveloped. And since she wanted a game for many people, something simple could work just as well.

Upon arriving home, before even getting off her tricycle, she beckoned Xiao He. “Go find me a long rope.”

“How long, Your Highness?”

“About thirty feet,” Li Yuechen replied.

Yes, jump rope existed now, but not the group jump rope she had in mind—today she would introduce them to a new pastime. Ideally, she’d get Father and Mother to join; they needed a bit of exercise too.

Even a Red Bull-sponsored player can’t work wonders without equipment…

Soon, Xiao He returned with a rope roughly ten meters long.

Li Yuechen coiled it and placed it under her tricycle seat, then called Shangguan Wan’er. “Come, I’ll show you how to play big jump rope.”

“Is Your Highness going to perform Daoist arts?” Shangguan Wan’er asked.

Li Yuechen’s face darkened. She thought to herself: If you make another pun, you’ll be fined.

“Xiao He, have my two elder sisters meet me at Autumn Gate later.”

She beckoned Wan’er, who stepped onto the rear frame of the tricycle, and pedaled off.

At Autumn Gate, her brothers were already waiting.

“Look, Yuechen’s here,” Li Xian pointed.

Li Hong turned and saw Li Yuechen pedaling up, with Shangguan Wan’er standing at the back.

“How dare you let Yuechen carry you—such nerve!” Li Xian said, scowling.

Wan’er instinctively stepped back.

“Don’t blame her, Second Brother—I brought her,” Li Yuechen interjected, pulling out the rope from beneath the tricycle.

“How does this work?” Li Xian raised an eyebrow.

“Have you ever played rope games?” Li Yuechen asked.

Li Xian nodded. “Of course, but with such a long rope, how do you play?”

Li Yuechen didn’t bother explaining, just summoned two eunuchs to swing the rope, then began instructing them.

…

In the Hall of Benevolence, Li Zhi lounged in a rocking chair, sipping tea and turning his health balls. Every now and then, he chatted with Wu Zetian, who sat at her desk reviewing memorials, discussing state affairs.

Suddenly, sharp “snap, snap” sounds echoed from outside.

It sounded like whips cracking on the ground, or leather whips slicing through the air.

Li Zhi frowned. “What’s causing such noise outside?”

Zhang Chengxin entered, bowing respectfully. “Your Majesty, the princes and princesses are playing at Autumn Gate.”

Wu Zetian frowned. “Those rascals! Playing at Autumn Gate?”

She stood to go out and scold them.

Li Zhi, still smiling, rose and walked alongside her.

At Autumn Gate, from afar they saw two eunuchs swinging a long rope. Their children, plus Shangguan Wan’er, leapt and skipped in the rope’s arc, occasionally darting in and out, having a grand time.

The snapping sounds came from the rope striking the stone pavement.

As the imperial couple approached, everyone paused and greeted them.

Wu Zetian glanced at Li Zhi, seemingly asking if he meant to scold them.

Li Zhi clearly had no such intention; his health balls spun rapidly, but his face was cheerful. “This grand rope game looks rather fun. Why not join them?”

Wu Zetian sighed and shook her head, as if she’d expected this outcome all along.

Li Yuechen ran over. “Father, Mother, come play! You’re always cooped up in the hall; it’s good to get some exercise.”

“Alright, let’s join them for a game,” Li Zhi said, excited.

…

After Li Yuechen explained the game, Li Zhi handed his health balls to Zhang Chengxin and rolled up his sleeves, ready to jump in.

The two eunuchs swinging the rope were nervous, thinking that if the rope accidentally struck the emperor, their heads would be forfeit.

Perhaps sensing their hesitation, Li Zhi waved his hand with authority. “Swing away! Even if you hit me, I won’t punish you.”

With the emperor’s assurance, the eunuchs relaxed and resumed swinging the rope.

Their taut expressions revealed their intense focus and nerves.

Li Yuechen encouraged them to relax, then took Wu Zetian’s hand and shook it. “Mother, you should try it too!”

“I’ll pass—for the next few days, it’s not convenient,” Wu Zetian replied.

Li Yuechen pouted to show she understood.

“More importantly, you must never play in such places again,” Wu Zetian scolded. “If the censors hear of it, your father will get sick with anger.”

“No worries. If they dare upset Father, I’ll take my brothers and teach their sons a lesson,” Li Yuechen laughed.

Wu Zetian nudged her head aside, laughing and scolding, “You little rascal!”

Li Yuechen grabbed her arm and gave her an affectionate hug.

…

The emperor spent some time playing big jump rope with his sons and daughters, breaking a sweat. Wu Zetian advised him not to overexert himself and to bathe soon.

Her brothers enjoyed themselves immensely; it was a novel activity, unlike anything they’d played before.

Li Xian sidled up to Li Yuechen. “Who would have thought a rope game could be played like this? You’ve really opened my eyes, Yuechen.”

“When did you become so poetic, Third Brother?” Li Xian laughed.

“Well…in front of my little sister, I have to…”

Li Yuechen patted his slightly rounded belly. “Don’t worry, Third Brother—your image in my eyes has always been tall and heroic!”

“…”

Though her words were comforting, Li Xian suspected she meant to reassure him.

Beside them, Li Lun raised his hand. “Me too!”

“Hahaha…” Li Hong burst out laughing, but having been frail since childhood, he started coughing mid-laugh.

Li Yuechen hurried over to pat his back, nearly laughing herself.

In a blink, the afternoon slipped away. Today, they’d truly enjoyed themselves.

Shangguan Wan’er still stood on the back of Li Yuechen’s tricycle as they returned to Anfu Hall.

After dismounting, Wan’er walked beside her to the hall’s entrance, removing her shoes, then remarked, “Your Highness, you’re so inventive—I never imagined a rope could be played like this.”

“There are many fun things, but, alas, they can’t be played now,” Li Yuechen shook her head regretfully.

Wan’er didn’t understand, and was about to ask when Li Yuechen had already stepped inside.

…

Three days later, the Crafts Bureau delivered the finished molds and egg beaters.

Li Yuechen examined them and found them excellent, almost identical to the soap shapes of the future.

With the molds ready, it was time to begin production.

She had Fulai fetch several large porcelain basins and gathered all the materials to start making soap.

The next afternoon, when Fulai entered the backyard, he saw a young eunuch vigorously stirring a large porcelain vat with an egg beater made of iron wires, while two others steadied the basin.

“Faster, faster!” Li Yuechen, her hair tied in a simple ponytail, urged them on.

The eunuch, straining his arms, stirred the increasingly viscous liquid inside the vat. Soon he was out of breath, so Li Yuechen ordered another to take his place.

She stood nearby with a bag of salt, peering in and sprinkling a handful into the mixture.

As she sprinkled, she urged the eunuch, “Quick! Faster! Use all your strength!”

The eunuch gritted his teeth and stirred with all his might.

When he grew tired, Li Yuechen had another step in.

This relentless rotation of stirrers gradually thickened the liquid inside the porcelain vat…