Li Ying thought to herself that there was no need to rush in the search for essential oils.
She had always been a calm and composed person who faced difficulties head - on without haste. So she simply described in detail to Hu Qinzhu the appearance of several kinds of flowers and plants that might be found, and then headed straight back home.
The tasks of restoring the queen's youth and beauty and recuperating the emperor's health were both extremely important and could not be neglected.
On the day when they returned to the capital from the salt lake, Lu Xunguang had already assigned people for her to command.
Looking at the vast expanse of snow - white salt mountains, Li Ying had long come up with a bold and innovative idea. Now, calculating the time, the project should be completed.
Li Ying changed into a neat set of clothes, ordered a carriage to be prepared, and then invited Lu Xunguang to go and check it out together.
On the outskirts of the capital, there were already quite a number of curious commoners gathered.
People only knew that the Lu family had been carrying out large - scale construction here day and night.
At first, they thought that this new and powerful official in the court was going to build another villa or something. But after dozens of days, they only saw them guarding a mine that was almost completely excavated.
Some inquisitive people came forward to inquire, but the servants of the Lu family were all very tight - lipped. How could they figure out what was going on?
Today, they saw that red silk ribbons were hung in a festive manner outside the cave of this barren mountain. It seemed that the Lu family had completed their task.
Li Ying and Lu Xunguang gracefully got off the carriage. She patted the dust off her clothes, looked around at the commoners who were curiously sizing her up and the mine, and gave a gentle smile.
The Lu family was now in a precarious position. It was not suitable to conduct a high - profile and large - scale publicity campaign as before. If it attracted ill - intentioned people to cause trouble, it would be bad.
That was why she deliberately created an air of mystery, suppressing expectations first to attract the curiosity of the commoners in the capital.
Sure enough, on this day when the mine was having its ribbon - cutting ceremony, all these inquisitive people in the capital came uninvited. Soon, the outskirts of the capital were teeming with people.
"Boss Li, you're finally here! Tell us quickly. What kind of business is this mine going to be?"
The impatient commoners saw her and Lu Xunguang appear and immediately couldn't wait to ask.
Li Ying cleared her throat and said softly, "Thank you all for coming today! I'm sure you've been curious for many days. So we won't keep you in suspense any longer. This mine will be a salt therapy club from now on. All guests who come to experience it within the first month of its opening will get a 20% discount!"
Salt therapy club?
The commoners looked at each other, repeating this brand - new and unheard - of term.
Li Ying guessed that they didn't understand what "salt therapy" meant, so she explained with a smiling face.
"Sea salt is rich in various trace elements. When used externally for hot compresses, it can be used to treat symptoms such as yang deficiency, cold limbs, cold sweats, shortness of breath, and abdominal pain. If applied to acupoints such as Zhongji and Guanyuan, it can dispel cold and dampness, promote blood circulation in the meridians, and remove blood stasis."
"Think about it, when it's rainy and your joints are uncomfortable all over your body, doesn't using a hot pack of fried coarse salt for hot compress relieve the discomfort? Hot compress with a salt pack is one of the most convenient and basic forms of salt therapy."
Her intention was to explain "salt therapy" in a more understandable way, but an inappropriate voice came from the crowd.
"If that's the case, when we're not feeling well, we can just go home and fry some salt for hot compress. Why do we have to come here and spend our hard - earned money?"
The voice was not very loud, but Li Ying, who was observant and alert, still clearly caught it.
She wasn't angry. Instead, she just smiled slightly and said softly, "What this gentleman said is indeed true. But what if this entire mine is filled with sea salt?"
She gave Lu Xunguang a look. The latter understood and cut the red silk ribbon with his sharp golden knife. Immediately, four strong young servants, with their faces flushed and their strong upper bodies bare, their veins bulging, pulled open the heavy iron gates outside the mine with great effort.
Li Ying smilingly took the torch from Lu Xunguang's hand and walked into the mine cave first. By the dim light, she lit the candlesticks on the rock walls one by one.
The bright firelight illuminated her fair and porcelain - like face, making it look as rosy as a peach blossom. Her eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky.
Behind her was a vast expanse like a snowfield.
Salt crystals of all sizes reflected the light of the torches in the mine cave, emitting a soft, twinkling halo. For a moment, it was as if they had entered an unfathomable crystal cave.
Li Ying smiled charmingly, and her voice echoed in the mine cave. She was like a fairy who had accidentally strayed into the mortal world, clean, pure, and beyond doubt or desecration.
"May I ask, is there any other place in the world with such a magnificent salt cave?"
She looked around, and everyone was silent. Obviously, they were shocked by what they saw.
Li Ying continued, "One of the most effective forms of salt therapy is the cave therapy. Lying in such a salt cave and breathing in the particles emitted by the salt crystals can not only relieve rhinitis, pharyngitis, and asthma, but also enhance immunity, improve sleep quality, and relieve physical weakness."
"Heated salt crystals are even more beneficial to the human body. They can not only promote blood circulation but also purify the air, improve mood swings, and relieve depression, fatigue, and tension. Salt steaming has only advantages and no disadvantages. It can remove dampness and clear the lungs. For women, salt steaming can also help with body - shaping."
Li Ying spoke very confidently. The salt cave was deep and looked quite mysterious and spectacular. Immediately, many curious commoners felt a bit eager to try.
Li Ying smiled and said, "Why not give it a try? There are also many beauty - enhancing snacks in the salt cave, which are all provided for free. There is also a game area, so the young masters and young ladies in your families can also have a good time."
The crowd never expected that she had arranged everything so properly. Thinking that the Li family's cooking skills were always excellent, even if this cave salt therapy was just a gimmick, it would still be good to have a delicious meal of snacks. Immediately, a few people really paid the money and followed her half - believingly.
This place was originally a mine on the outskirts of the capital. In the past, many commoners had worked in the mine. Over the years, they had inhaled a lot of dust and inevitably developed a chronic cough.
Although the mine had long been abandoned, it was very difficult to cure this root cause of the disease.
Unexpectedly, when a few old miners followed Li Ying into the salt cave and took a couple of deep breaths, they felt extremely refreshed all over!
The moist air in the salt cave was like a pair of invisible, gentle hands that gently smoothed out the phlegm and discomfort stuck in their throats!
The spirits of these people were immediately lifted. When they looked at Li Ying, who was leading the way, there was an involuntary look of respect in their eyes.
This salt cave really had such a miraculous effect!