Chapter 84: Product Development
Li Yuechen held the telescope in her hands, making a minute adjustment, aligning a tiny point of light with the sheet of paper she held. As she remained motionless in place, maintaining her posture, Li Zhi and his wife, along with her siblings, exchanged bewildered glances, unsure what she intended. Li Zhi, in particular, asked, “Chen’er, why are you standing so still?”
“Just a moment, Father. It will only take a little while,” Li Yuechen replied smiling.
Hearing her assurance, Li Zhi and the others quieted down, waiting to see what would happen. It wasn’t long—barely ten seconds—when a black spot suddenly appeared at the center of the paper in Li Yuechen’s hands, and smoke began to rise.
“This…” Li Zhi’s eyes widened in astonishment, sitting up straight from his lounge chair. The others, including Wu Zetian, were also stunned; Li Hong and Li Xian even stood up in surprise.
The next moment, a burst of flame appeared, spreading quickly across the paper as the blackened area grew. Li Yuechen, seeing that the sheet was thoroughly ignited, smiled faintly and tossed it into the nearby stove used for boiling tea.
Li Xian was the first to rush over. “Yuechen, how did you do that?”
Li Yuechen grinned broadly, “It’s simple! Just focus the sunlight through the lens so it converges onto a single point…” As she explained, not only Li Xian but also Li Zhi and the rest listened closely.
Once they learned the technique, each took a sheet of paper to try. The paper of this era was quite flammable, and before long, everyone succeeded, each holding a burning sheet and laughing merrily.
Watching her sons waving burning paper about, Wu Zetian’s expression darkened. “Be careful, all of you! If you set fire to Ren Shou Hall, you will not be spared!”
Seeing their mother angry, Li Xian and the others sheepishly sat down, tossing their burning sheets into the stove.
Seeing her brothers reprimanded, Li Yuechen smiled and quickly shifted the topic. “Mother, this transparent glass has other uses. Once I’ve researched them, I’ll make something for you to enjoy.”
“Very well,” Wu Zetian replied with a smile. “I trust you will have new discoveries soon!”
Indeed, soon enough—having made convex lenses, concave ones would not be difficult, and then with a cylinder, a monocular telescope could be constructed.
As for binoculars, those were a bit more complex and would require further study. Yet what Li Yuechen wanted most now was to make spectacles. In a few days, she could have the craftsmen investigate the idea.
Li Zhi suddenly set down his magnifying glass and looked up. “Chen’er, this ‘magnifying glass,’ is it made by the glass workshop? How many know the formula?”
“Don’t worry, Father. Fulai has already warned them,” Li Yuechen replied with a smile.
Li Zhi nodded. “If you wish for these craftsmen, I can grant them to you.”
Li Yuechen paused, understanding his intent. He was aware of the sales of canned goods and soap, and foresaw the profits. With glass in his hands, Li Zhi realized he could wield even greater influence.
She nodded, her face both happy and expectant. “Wonderful! Then, when we earn more in the future, you and Mother won’t have to worry.”
For now, glass was certainly profitable; unless society became industrialized, costs would remain high and prices would not fall. But even so, as long as it could be sold to nobles, the profits would be immense.
After all, it wasn’t a necessity of life, so there was no need to ensure everyone could afford it.
...
Li Yuechen left the remaining magnifying glasses with Li Zhi, so he could reward those who pleased him. Soon there would be plenty more; they were hardly precious.
Seeing his daughter’s filial devotion, Li Zhi could not help but grin.
Back at Anfu Hall, Li Yuechen sent one to Shangguan Wan’er and taught her how to ignite with focused light.
Shangguan Wan’er was thoroughly fascinated by the novelty, prompting Madam Zheng to scold her twice.
Li Yuechen waved her hand, unconcerned; after all, Shangguan Wan’er was still a child and ought to be lively.
A little mischief or even a mistake now and then was no matter.
For she knew that people grow through errors, and adversity breeds resilience.
Zheng, feeling conflicted about Li Yuechen’s indulgent attitude, was both moved and worried.
Page 1/3
Moved because the princess was kind and benevolent, truly treating her daughter as a friend.
Worried because, if this continued, her daughter might someday get into trouble, emboldened by the princess’s affection.
Li Yuechen was unaware of these anxieties, resting against the pillar of Linbo Pavilion as she watched Wan’er examine the rice seedlings in the field with the magnifying glass.
The little girl was adorable, her face alight with curiosity as she looked left and right.
Soon she turned and shouted, “Your Highness! I saw a bug!”
“Very good,” Li Yuechen replied. “Fulai, tell them to release some ducks later to eat the insects.”
“Yes!” Fulai answered promptly.
After instructing Wan’er not to use the magnifying glass to look at the sun, Li Yuechen headed to the workshop to check on the progress of the carriage.
...
A few days later, the envoys from Tibet decided to depart.
On the road back, Zhong Cong kept flipping the magnifying glass in his hands—Li Zhi had gifted it to him before his departure.
A look of disbelief was etched on his face; he hadn’t expected the Tang Dynasty to produce such highly transparent glass. The craftsmanship was astonishing.
Such an item would be invaluable anywhere; Tang was even more formidable than he’d imagined—never to be underestimated.
If Tang was truly so wealthy, future policies towards them would need careful consideration.
The envoy’s party, following Zhong Cong’s thoughts, gradually left Tang’s territory...
...
Recently, Li Yuechen had been considering selling magnifying glasses. They were inexpensive to produce; selling one for ten strings of coins was entirely reasonable.
Transparent glass was exceedingly rare now—each piece a treasure. Prices could be lowered gradually as production increased.
As for telescopes, those would be reserved for the military once they were made.
Thinking thus, Li Yuechen arrived at the workshop to check on the carriage’s progress.
The frame was already under construction; Li Yuechen watched as the blacksmiths, bare-chested, hammered the red-hot iron into the shapes shown in the design. She nodded approvingly.
At this pace, it should be ready before Li Zhi’s birthday.
That afternoon, Li Yuechen visited the production workshop.
Wu Da had fully integrated, working cheerfully alongside the laborers every day.
Here, only four hours of work were required daily; the rest of the time was theirs.
For safety reasons, they couldn’t leave the area guarded by soldiers, but whatever they needed would be brought to them promptly.
Wu Da’s favorite aspect was the plentiful food—everyone could eat their fill.
His son, Wu Gouzi, studied with the tutor daily; he could already recite the first ten lines of the Thousand Character Classic from memory.
When Li Yuechen arrived, Wu Da and the workers respectfully greeted her.
Wu Gouzi and the tutor hurried out from their studies to pay their respects as well.
Li Yuechen responded amiably, inspected the premises, and inquired about production figures.
After collecting some glycerin, she departed.
Thanks to the maids’ experiments, Li Yuechen was now certain this substance worked well as a facial application. It was time to launch the product.
The shop beside the sugar water store had already begun selling soap; it would be easy to start selling glycerin cream there as well.
First, though, she would enlist her mother’s help in advertising. Wu Zetian frequently hosted gatherings for noblewomen, which would be perfect.
A product endorsed by the Empress would have no trouble selling!
Glycerin, she recalled, could be used to make explosives—but that wasn’t her specialty, and she didn’t know how to produce them.
Perhaps someday she could make black powder; as for glycerin explosives, those would be left for future generations to figure out.
Returning to Anfu Hall, Li Yuechen took some of her prepared glycerin moisturizer and went to Ren Shou Hall.
Seeing her with two small porcelain bottles, Li Zhi was intrigued. “Chen’er has invented much lately.”
“These were researched earlier,” Li Yuechen explained. “Only after testing them did I bring them for Mother.”
“Oh?” Li Zhi raised an eyebrow. “Why not for me?”
Page 2/3
Li Yuechen giggled, “Father, you have too much beard; this isn’t for you.”
She opened a bottle and explained to Wu Zetian how to use the cream.
Hearing that it only needed to be applied before sleep, Wu Zetian nodded. “If it’s made by Chen’er, I trust its effect. I’ll try it.”
Li Yuechen nestled against her, “Don’t just use it yourself, Mother—I want you to help me endorse it!”
“What does ‘endorse’ mean?” Wu Zetian asked, puzzled.
“You often host gatherings for noble ladies—introduce the product to them, and have them buy it from my shop. That’s endorsing…”
After a brief explanation, Wu Zetian raised an eyebrow. “You little rascal, now you’re using your mother?”
Li Yuechen grinned, “How can you call it ‘using’? As Empress, you recommend it out of kindness…”
Hearing this, Wu Zetian suddenly thought of something and looked down. “So… if I endorse for you, do I get paid?”
...
Li Yuechen was speechless—how could a woman from antiquity think of such a thing?
But since it was mentioned, she couldn’t get away without paying. After a moment, she said, “How about fifty strings of coins, Mother?”
Wu Zetian smiled, “Is the Empress only worth fifty?”
“Precisely because you’re the Empress, I offer fifty; anyone else would get only one!”
As mother and daughter haggled, Li Zhi poured himself tea, rolled his health balls, and closed his eyes to rest.
Finally, after much cajoling and playful antics, Li Yuechen agreed to eighty strings as endorsement fee.
Leaving Ren Shou Hall, she breathed a sigh of relief, lamenting inwardly that only a true mother could swindle her daughter.
Meanwhile, the shop needed a new manager. Soap and moisturizer were mainly for women; in this era, having Wang Xiang as manager was somewhat awkward.
With customer comfort in mind, Li Yuechen decided to appoint Chunmei as manager of the cosmetics shop. This would make it easier to introduce products to female customers.
In the future, she could even stock cotton underwear and sanitary pads for sale.
Back at Anfu Hall, Li Yuechen watched the little ducks quacking in her plot of land and couldn’t help but smile.
The rice seedlings were thriving—fertilizer was clearly effective.
The official from the Ministry of Revenue in charge of the field beamed. “Your Highness, in my experience, this plot will yield a bumper crop this year!”
Li Yuechen nodded. “Take good care of it.”
Fulai asked, “Your Highness, why not report this to His Majesty? Such news would surely delight him!”
Li Yuechen shook her head. “The results aren’t in; I can’t guarantee anything. I don’t want Father and Mother disappointed—let’s wait for the outcome.”
Though she said this, Li Yuechen knew Li Zhi and Wu Zetian were well aware of the situation.
They hadn’t come to see it yet, likely waiting for the results.
It was as she guessed; in Ren Shou Hall, the couple were discussing the matter.
“Chen’er’s rice seedlings are thriving—don’t you want to see?” Wu Zetian asked.
Li Zhi shook his head. “Since Chen’er doesn’t want us disappointed, let’s wait. She’s preparing my birthday gift—if the harvest is good, it will be doubly joyous.”
Wu Zetian agreed, smiling, but still asked, “Aren’t you the least bit curious?”
Li Zhi paused, stopping his health balls for several seconds, then his expression turned sly. “How about, when Chen’er leaves the palace next time, we sneak a look?”
Wu Zetian found this response amusing. “I never said that…”
The couple burst into laughter.
Zhang Chengxin, standing at the door, sensed the change in atmosphere and quietly stepped back several paces, instructing the other servants to do the same.
Knowing many imperial secrets, Zhang Chengxin couldn’t help but glance toward Anfu Hall, thinking, “How is it that such a remarkable princess is a daughter?”
Page 3/3