After much thought, it occurred to her that the feathers of the blue peacock were more accessible. If she could get the help of the little princess from Nanyang, it would be the best strategy.
Coincidentally, Su Buchi had just returned from his mission to Nanyang, delivering the national letter. He had sent a message saying that he knew she loved to collect novel delicacies from all over the world, so he had brought back some rare ingredients for her and was waiting for her to come and pick them up when she was free.
Li Ying was troubled by not knowing how to approach the little princess from Nanyang. If the ingredients Su Buchi brought back could arouse the princess's homesickness, it would be just perfect.
With this in mind, Li Ying made up her mind. She picked up a pen and wrote a visiting card, then sent it to Su Buchi's mansion.
Su Buchi always took her affairs to heart, but Li Ying knew well that when asking for a favor, one should not neglect the etiquette.
Moreover, her junior uncle was now in the emperor's good graces and very influential, while she was just a merchant's daughter.
If she went to see him empty - handed and shamelessly, firstly, it would break the rules, and in the future, anyone might dare to ask Su Buchi for favors; secondly, she was afraid that rumors would spread in the streets, speculating about the relationship between her and Su Buchi.
After much thought, Li Ying saw that the lotus flowers in full bloom were reflected in the large blue - and - white vat in the courtyard. Granny Sun was sitting there, fanning herself with a palm - leaf fan while shelling sweet lotus seeds for Mianmian as a snack to relieve the summer heat. An idea immediately came to her mind.
She changed into her waterproof shoes, called a few dexterous and strong maids in the mansion, and headed straight for the Lu family's villa.
This villa was once the place where the former head of the family came to live in seclusion and recuperate. It was located on the outskirts of the capital. There was a large lake in the garden. In spring, colorful koi swam freely; in winter, the whole place was covered in white snow. Now it was midsummer, and large patches of lotus flowers and leaves stood gracefully, full of vitality.
Li Ying and her maids got to work together. Before long, they had cut several large bundles of green lotus stems.
As the saying goes, "Even when the lotus root is broken, the fibers still hold together." When the lotus stems were broken in the middle, the fine cobweb - like lotus root fibers came into view.
From several bundles of lotus stems, they only managed to obtain a thin strand of snow - white lotus root fibers. Mianmian was watching from the side. She looked at Granny Sun and clapped her little hands happily, shouting, "Grandma, Grandma!"
Everyone couldn't help but laugh. This strand of lotus root fibers was really just like Granny Sun's silver hair!
Collecting lotus root fibers was really a time - consuming and labor - intensive project. Later, the whole mansion came to help. After using hundreds of catties of lotus stems, they finally got a few small bundles that could barely fit in one's hand.
The lotus root fibers were boiled in boiling water to kill the green. Firstly, this could remove the sticky dust and debris on the fibers; secondly, it could make the fibers more flexible and smooth.
The dried lotus root fibers were cut into one - inch segments.
Then castor oil was taken, and Chinese prickly ash, angelica dahurica, and bletilla striata were added and boiled to remove the strange smell. When it was warm, yellow wax and paraffin were dissolved into it, and the water vapor in the castor oil was fully boiled away.
Li Ying thought that since Su Buchi was a civil official, he often wrote and studied at his desk, so he must deal with writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones.
So she decided to make a box of "Longquan Seal Paste" as a gift for him.
If she really wanted to achieve the reputation of "one tael of this paste is as precious as one tael of gold" and "a touch of vermilion that retains its national color for a thousand years", the lotus root fibers should be stored in the shade for more than half a year, and the castor oil should be cooled in dry soil on a rainless day for seven days and then exposed to the sun for three years.
But time was tight. She thought the castor oil was at least thick and uniform enough, so she had to make do with it for the time being.
The bright red cinnabar was washed clean with liquor, ground finely in a mortar, and the impurities were removed by the water - flying method.
Both the floating sand and the bottom sand were discarded, and only the essence in the middle layer was left. After it was precipitated and dried in the shade, it was ground into powder and added to the castor oil in batches.
After mixing well, several kinds of spices and medicinal materials were added.
Pearl powder made the seal paste more delicate in texture, musk increased its penetrating power, borneol could prevent insect damage, realgar was used for color - adjustment, and gold foil was also ground into it.
A bundle of lotus root fibers was taken and rubbed into fine fluff, as fluffy as cotton yarn, and then added to the oil - cinnabar mixture. It was ground and stirred repeatedly into a ball, so that each thin lotus root fiber fully absorbed the flame - like color of the oil - cinnabar.
After being exposed to the sun and then stored for three months, this Longquan Seal Paste would not dissolve in water and would leave a mark when burned. In later generations, it was used by emperors to stamp imperial decrees with the Imperial Seal.
Due to the shortage of time, even though Li Ying and her group skipped all the long - waiting processes, they still spent three whole days to barely make a small box of it.
She tried it a little. The color was bright and shiny, and when burned with a small fire, it finally left a faint mark. Only then was she satisfied. She hid it in her sleeve, changed her clothes, and went to the Su mansion to request an audience.
Su Buchi's steward saw her from afar and quickly greeted her with a smiling face, leading her into the mansion.
"Miss Li, you've finally come! Our master ordered someone to prepare refreshments early in the morning and has been waiting for you in the hall!"
To avoid suspicion, he had left many servants to attend.
Li Ying greeted him with a smiling face and then took out the box of seal paste from her sleeve.
"Junior uncle, I wouldn't come to trouble you if I didn't need your help. Aying has specially prepared a small gift for you."
She said it casually. The wonderful features and the production method of this "Longquan Seal Paste" were naturally written in the brocade box, so she didn't need to elaborate in front of so many people in the hall.
An innocent man bears no guilt, but possessing a treasure may bring him trouble. Even the emperor, the most noble person in the world, had never heard of such a strange thing as the "Longquan Seal Paste". If Su Buchi, a mere junior official of the Supreme Court, used it, it might bring the charge of "overstepping one's rank" upon him.
Su Buchi felt a slight jolt in his heart.
He fully understood that she had thought everything through for him.
But, it was just to pick up some fruits and vegetables from Nanyang, yet she was so careful and prepared a gift...
Su Buchi smiled bitterly. She would eventually become a member of the Lu family, not his destined one. But seeing her being so polite and distant to him... he couldn't help but feel sad.
"Aying, why are you being so formal with me..."
Su Buchi said in a low voice. He casually picked up the teapot and poured a cup of scented tea that she liked for her.
Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of the note she left in the brocade box. He was stunned and his hand froze in mid - air.
"It won't dissolve in water and will leave a mark when burned?"
Could there really be such a rare treasure in the world?
Li Ying noticed Su Buchi's astonishment and said with a smile, "Junior uncle, you'll know once you try it."
Su Buchi really liked these writing - related things. Seeing the seal paste in the box, bright red like a beauty's pouting lips, with a faint golden glow, he knew it was not an ordinary thing.
Moreover, the small white - porcelain box was polished so smoothly and roundly that he couldn't put it down after just a light touch.
"Aying, you're too generous. Such a rare thing as a gift for me makes the fruits and vegetables I brought back seem really insignificant and embarrassing."
A faint blush flashed across Su Buchi's face.
Li Ying didn't mind at all and said with a smile, "I'm glad you like it, junior uncle."
As they were talking, the servants had already carried several bamboo baskets full of strong - smelling fruits in front of Li Ying.
Before Su Buchi could introduce them, Li Ying's eyes lit up when she saw a yellow fruit in one of the baskets.