Chapter Forty-One: The Experimental Field

“Your Highness, Your Highness?” Lost in thought, Li Yuechen was roused by Shangguan Wan’er’s gentle call and shook her head suddenly. “Hm?”

“Your servant noticed that Your Highness was silent... were you frightened?”

“No,” Li Yuechen smiled, lifting her head to address Xiao He. “It seems it’s been quite some time since I last came here. There are mice now. I should mention to Father that we ought to keep a few palace cats around.”

Palace cats, in this era, were called “tanuki slaves”—not cats, as in later times.

Xiao He curtseyed. “Your Highness, the Empress already gave such an order when she arrived. There are a few now. I imagine that mouse was startled out by the tanuki slaves.”

Li Yuechen nodded. “Right. Don’t touch that mouse. Use a dustpan to feed it to the cats, or burn it.”

“Yes, Your Highness.”

Though Xiao He didn’t understand the reason for this command, she accepted it obediently.

Li Yuechen was simply being cautious; after all, mice carry diseases. Even if the bacteria of this era weren’t as virulent as those a millennium later, it was best to prioritize safety.

Shangguan Wan’er followed Li Yuechen inside, both removing their shoes at the entrance. Wan’er’s face bore an expectant look, and she asked carefully, “Your Highness, will you tell another story tonight?”

“A story…” Li Yuechen looked up, considering. “Very well. In a distant kingdom far to the north, there dwelled a Snow Queen. Tonight, I’ll tell you her tale.”

...

The following morning, just after practice, Fulai hurried over. “Your Highness, the Wardrobe Bureau has finished the items you requested.”

He presented a large, bright red triangular piece of silk.

It was not just a simple triangle; an extra piece was sewn in the middle, and a copper ring was fastened to form a hole.

Li Yuechen examined it, satisfied. She then took brush and ink and drew two stick figures, one on each side of the red silk.

There was nothing for it—someone who’d never learned to draw in either of her lives could hardly be expected to produce masterpieces.

The next day, Fulai brought a hundred zhang of hemp string and the completed frame.

Li Yuechen methodically slipped the loops sewn onto the back of the silk over the frame, then snapped the mortise-and-tenon-like fastenings together.

She carried it out to an open space outside the hall, held it up to test the breeze.

Today, the wind was favorable. If nothing went amiss, it should fly.

She threaded the hemp string through the copper ring, tied a tight knot, and began to back away slowly, unreeling the string.

Fulai and Xiao He exchanged a puzzled glance, having no idea what she intended.

Nearby, Shangguan Wan’er watched as Li Yuechen placed the kite by the wall and backed away, unable to contain her curiosity. “Your Highness, what is this thing?”

Li Yuechen flashed a mysterious smile. “Just watch!”

Shangguan Wan’er eyed the kite, with its two stick figures, unsure what to think—her expression suggested she found Li Yuechen’s drawing rather unsightly.

Li Yuechen stood, line winder in hand, and waited.

When she felt the wind pick up, she gave the string a sharp tug. Instantly, the kite shot up from where it rested by the wall and soared into the air.

The trailing ribbons fluttered behind it.

With each length of line released, the kite climbed higher.

Before it could fall, Li Yuechen would pull the string again, drawing it back. In this way, with a rhythm of release and retrieval, the kite swayed and ascended, rising steadily toward the sky.

“Oh, it’s flying!” Fulai slapped his thigh in delight.

Xiao He watched in amazement, her eyes fixed on the distant, shrinking kite.

Next to Li Yuechen, Shangguan Wan’er’s eyes widened as she gazed at the soaring kite, her mouth slightly agape in wonder.

The bright red kite was a striking sight in the sky. Before long, not only those in the palace but even the townsfolk outside the city noticed the kite floating above.

A red triangle drifted on the wind, trailing long ribbons.

Many in Luoyang ventured into the streets or gathered by the Luo River, pointing and discussing the strange sight.

News traveled quickly, reaching Li Zhi in the Hall of Benevolent Longevity, where he was speaking with Wu Zetian.

Hearing Zhang Chengxin report that some unknown red object was floating in the sky—perhaps an auspicious omen—Li Zhi and Wu Zetian hurried outside, shielding their eyes as they looked up.

Wu Zetian’s eyesight was sharp; she soon spotted the faint line attached to the object, seemingly leading from the Anfu Hall.

“Your Majesty, Your Highness, this must be a sign of good fortune!” Zhang Chengxin exclaimed excitedly.

“Enough,” Wu Zetian waved him off, then turned to Li Zhi. “Your eyesight is poor, but there’s a line attached to it. Most likely, it’s another of Chen’er’s inventions.”

Li Zhi remained calm, rolling his exercise ball in his palm. “Let’s go have a look.”

...

In the Anfu Hall, Li Yuechen’s two sisters had already run outside. Seeing the kite dancing at her command, they clapped and stomped in delight.

Li Yuechen, grasping the line, turned and grinned. “It’s a pity the string isn’t longer—it could fly higher still!”

As they watched, Li Zhi and Wu Zetian arrived, and everyone hurried to bow.

Li Yuechen, winding the line across her body, approached her parents. “Father, Mother, look! This thing can fly so high!”

Li Zhi glanced at the winder in her hand, then at the sky. “So it truly is your doing. The people of Luoyang say an auspicious sign has appeared!”

“An omen?” Li Yuechen looked up. “It’s nothing but a wooden frame and some silk.”

She mused inwardly: if a simple triangular kite caused such a stir, what would they think if she made a dragon-shaped one? Would they believe a real dragon had descended?

“Chen’er, what do you call this thing?” Wu Zetian asked.

“A kite,” Li Yuechen replied, handing her the line winder. “Mother, would you like to try?”

Wu Zetian shook her head. “Let your father have a go.”

“Father?” Li Yuechen passed him the winder.

Li Zhi accepted it, but hesitated. “If it falls, is that all right?”

“It is!” Li Yuechen assured him.

Humans, when faced with the incomprehensible, are always cautious.

In this era, the only things that truly flew were Kongming lanterns, and perhaps bamboo dragonflies. But those could never fly so high or for so long. Faced with something that defied their understanding, people instinctively grew wary.

Under Li Yuechen’s guidance, Li Zhi learned to alternate between pulling and releasing the line, watching the kite respond to his movements. Gradually, he relaxed.

Once he’d learned, he taught Wu Zetian, who played with it for a while. Li Yuechen explained how it was made.

After hearing her explanation, Li Zhi nodded. “May we retrieve it for a closer look?”

“Of course!” Li Yuechen replied. “Just wind the line in slowly, Father.”

Li Zhi carefully turned the winder, drawing the kite back down.

Outside, the people of Luoyang cheered upon seeing the kite descend into the palace, though none could say exactly what they were celebrating.

Examining the kite, Li Zhi raised an eyebrow at the stick figures. “Did you draw these, Chen’er?”

“Oh?” He seemed interested. “Who are they?”

“Naturally, the two of you!” Li Yuechen laughed. “I’d thought of asking Father to inscribe a poem, but then realized it would be too high to read. So I drew you and Mother instead.”

Ever indulgent, Li Zhi’s expression turned faintly disapproving for once. “So that's supposed to be the Emperor and Empress? This drawing is…”

“An eyesore?”

“Simple and direct!”

A snort of laughter escaped Princess Xuancheng, prompting Princess Yiyang to hastily cover her mouth.

Li Yuechen couldn’t help but laugh as well. Truly, that was the wit of an emperor.

Wu Zetian too stifled a laugh behind her hand.

Li Zhi, unfazed by the amusement, gazed at Li Yuechen. “Chen’er, if objects may fly, might people fly as well?”

Li Yuechen looked up at him, a confident smile on her lips. “I believe that one day, people too will soar across the heavens!”

At her words, Li Zhi looked down at his daughter.

For once, she met his gaze directly.

Father and daughter faced each other in silence for a few moments. In Li Yuechen’s eyes, he saw not just hope and longing, but determination.

It was as if she had already flown through the sky like a bird.

He grinned and ruffled her hair. “That would be wonderful.”

Li Yuechen looked up at him, thinking: perhaps, in his lifetime, she could truly take him flying, let him gaze upon the lands of Great Tang from the sky.

In this era, it was entirely possible to create a flying machine.

As an extreme sports enthusiast, Li Yuechen had ample authority on the subject.

The earliest hot air balloons and parachutes were made of textiles. Since they weren't chemical compounds, they could certainly be produced in this age!

But making a hot air balloon would require immense resources, and with the nation still suffering from drought, that would have to wait.

After all, flight was a near-miraculous concept in ancient times. If she told Li Zhi she could make him fly now—not to mention whether he'd believe her—should he take her seriously, he might divert vast resources to the project, which would not benefit the country.

A parachute might be less costly, but one would have to reach the skies first to use it!

Moreover, with no altimeters or AADs in this era, only someone as skilled as herself could attempt skydiving. For someone untrained like Li Zhi, it would be nothing short of suicidal.

For now, focusing on research into organic fertilizer was more practical. The sooner it could be developed, the sooner fewer people would starve.

With this thought, Li Yuechen looked up. “Father, Mother, I’d like some seeds for research.”

“Seeds?” Li Zhi turned. “Why do you wish to study those?”

Glancing around and seeing only her own people, Li Yuechen spoke freely. “I know there’s been drought and famine in recent years. I want to increase crop yields, so our people will never go hungry again.”

Li Zhi’s face lit with pride. “Chen’er, your concern is for all the world. Truly, you are a princess of Great Tang!”

Wu Zetian immediately strode forward. “That will not do! Such matters belong to the Ministry of Revenue. You are a princess—how can you spend your days in the fields?”

Li Zhi agreed, nodding by her side.

Li Yuechen replied with a smile, “Mother, I won’t go to the fields. I’ll just conduct research here in the garden of the Anfu Hall.”

The little garden was about a hundred square meters, filled with flowers and basking in sunlight—perfect for experiments.

“Very well,” Li Zhi nodded. “Since it’s just a patch of the garden, do as you like.”

...

With the experimental plot secured, Li Yuechen felt a weight lift from her shoulders.

Now she could try growing crops here.

Of course, the real fertilizer research facility would have to be outside—the stench of composting was far too overwhelming.

To concoct such a chemical weapon in the palace would get her in trouble with both Li Zhi and Wu Zetian—and she herself would be the first to suffer.

...

As March approached, Li Yuechen felt it was time to put last year’s plans into action.

Just after the Cold Food Festival, she sought out Fulai. “Do you remember I asked you last year to go south and bring back preserved lychees from Lingnan? The time is right. Set out now.”

Fulai nodded. “Indeed, lychees should be ripening soon. I’ll prepare and depart at once.”

“Take plenty of people,” Li Yuechen instructed. “If we’re going to do this, let’s do it properly. Not only will Father and Mother want to eat them, but they’ll also make fine gifts.”

“Yes, Your Highness,” Fulai replied.

The next morning, Fulai rose early to depart, but before he reached the palace gates, he saw Li Yuechen and Shangguan Wan’er waving to him outside the Anfu Hall.

Surprised, Fulai asked, “Your Highness, why aren’t you practicing today?”

Li Yuechen smiled. “The journey to Lingnan is long—it will be at least half a year before you return. I couldn’t let you leave without seeing you off.”

At these words, Fulai’s eyes reddened. He bowed deeply. “Your servant is grateful for Your Highness’s concern! I will not fail you...”

“There, there,” Li Yuechen laughed, waving him off. “You’re only going to fetch some preserves, not marching off to war!”

Grinning, Shangguan Wan’er handed Fulai a cloth bag, her face alight with a little girl’s sweetness. “Eunuch Fu, this is from Her Highness.”

Fulai opened it to find several jars of preserved oranges.

“Your Highness, this...” he looked up in astonishment.

Leaning against the door frame, Li Yuechen said softly, “The weather down there is hot. Take care of yourself, and guard against heatstroke.”

Fulai sniffed, bowed deeply, and lowered his voice. “Yes, Your Highness. I will go now. Please return—don’t let me delay your practice!”

With that, he turned and departed.

Watching his retreating figure, Li Yuechen smiled. “Come on, Wan’er, let’s go back.”