Lu Xunguang only glanced at Li Ying and immediately understood her meaning.
There was already a ready - made way to repair the walls of these civilian houses. Just like in the fishing villages, they could build oyster - shell houses using oyster shells.
Hearing this, the emperor couldn't help showing a somewhat intriguing look on his face.
"Could it be that this oyster - shell house is also your work, Miss Li?"
Li Ying didn't try to hide it and smiled, "It's just adapting to local conditions and finding ways to make use of the readily available oyster and clam shells. It's just a little trick and hardly worthy of mention."
The Minister of Works said happily, "Miss Li, you're being too modest! Using shells to build the outer walls, the sturdiness is no less than that of blue bricks. It really solves our current urgent problem!"
In a hurry, he led a group of people and was about to go and organize the common people to start work. But just after walking a few steps, he suddenly seemed to remember something. Frowning and looking worried, he turned back to look at Li Ying.
"Miss Li, although the oyster - shell house is good, but... previously, most of the people in Huan City sealed their windows with oiled paper. Now that the typhoon has come, the paper - pasted windows can't withstand the strong wind and heavy rain. What should we do?"
The Minister of Works was at a loss, but the emperor was directly looking at Li Ying, obviously waiting for her to come up with some good ideas.
Li Ying smiled slightly and looked around. She saw a moon - white seashell nestled in the sand. From afar, the smooth shell glistened with a rainbow - like luster like mica ore in the bright sunlight. It was really beautiful.
Her eyes lit up. Without saying much, she gracefully stepped forward and picked up the seashell.
The shell in her palm was almost perfectly round and moon - white all over, as pure and lovely as the bright moon in the sky at midnight.
The shell was thin and flat. Looking at it against the light, it was so smooth that one would immediately think of the precious "glass" that was all the rage in the capital.
Seeing Li Ying presenting the seashell to him like a treasure, the emperor took a quick look. He just thought she had found another kind of food for the people to relieve the famine and didn't pay much attention.
Li Ying quickly reported, "Your Majesty, you may not know. This thing is called the 'moon shell'. Its meat is small and flat but delicious and juicy. However, the shell is thin, brittle and easily damaged. Therefore, it is not suitable for long - distance transportation and sale."
She peeled open the two shells of the moon shell and held it against the light, looking at the layered mica - like patterns on it. She said softly, "The shell of the moon shell can be carved to decorate window lattices. Sandwiched with bamboo strips, it can be made into translucent tiles."
Although the moon shell was very fragile, it was much stronger than window - pasting paper. It was resistant to water immersion, the rainy season and insect infestation.
Hearing this, the emperor looked at Li Ying with great interest, signaling her to continue.
Li Ying polished the moon shell in her hand a little and said softly, "Your Majesty, as long as we shape the moon shells appropriately and inlay them one by one in the window lattices, with the upper piece pressing on the lower one in layers, rainwater will not easily seep into the house. In ancient books, it is called the 'conch - shell window'."
Words alone were not enough to convince. Lu Xunguang immediately understood. He was very dexterous. In no time, he made a well - shaped window lattice with bamboo slices and gave it to Li Ying to inlay the moon shells.
Through the conch - shell window inlaid with moon shells, everything in the world seemed to be covered with a soft veil.
The afternoon sun was extremely scorching, but the moon shells filtered out the harsh heat, leaving only a gentle and dim yellow light. Everything in sight seemed to be free of vanity, like an aging beauty who had washed off her makeup and was peacefully growing old, looking leisurely and showing a scene of tranquility.
Li Ying added, "Your Majesty, these moon - shell translucent tiles can not only be used to repair the houses of the people in Huan City but also on black - awning boats. They are called 'translucent - tile boats'."
Ordinary boat awnings block out the sky and sunlight. People sitting inside can't see the light and will inevitably feel stuffy. But if a conch - shell window is set on the boat, sunlight can shine directly into the cabin.
On the sun - blocking translucent - tile window, between the wooden window frames with grids, there are inlaid small semi - transparent scales made of moon shells, which are very similar to glass. They are tough, durable and easily available, just right to solve the urgent problem in Huan City.
Li Ying explained very clearly. The emperor looked at the roughly inlaid translucent - tile window in her hand. It was really good. Even the little prince fell into a sweet dream in this hazy sunlight.
Only then did the emperor let out a long breath and said in a deep voice, "Since that's the case, Miss Li, then do everything according to your idea. Order the people to search for these moon shells. Use the shell meat as food and the shells to inlay the window lattices!"
After this incident, he could almost conclude that this Miss Li was by no means a vulgar country woman with shallow knowledge.
His Minister Lu, although meticulous and efficient, needed Miss Li's advice to give full play to his abilities.
These two people were really inseparable!
The emperor had already made up his mind. Although he hadn't seen the bountiful harvest of the "mulberry - dike fish - pond" yet, Miss Li must not leave Lu Xunguang for a moment!
Her flexible mind and Lu Xunguang's decisive actions should be firmly in the hands of the emperor!
But...
The emperor turned to look at Princess Yongning, who had been standing beside him all the time.
"Yongning, in this way, it will be hard on you."
He had intended to marry Lu Xunguang to Princess Yongning. On the one hand, it was to firmly hold the Lu family's huge wealth in his hands. On the other hand, it was really for Princess Yongning's sake.
This young man was handsome. Marrying Lu Xunguang would be a wonderful and harmonious marriage for Yongning.
Apart from Lu Xunguang, among the court officials of the same age as Yongning, there was only Su Buchi left.
But Su Buchi was a disciple of Yan Lianzhi. Although he seemed obedient now, he might have been influenced by the old master's strange temper. Moreover, he also had feelings for Li Ying, so he was definitely not a good match for Yongning.
Seeing the emperor looking hesitant, Princess Yongning smiled softly, "Father, although Minister Lu is excellent, he is not the one I love. I see that he and Miss Li are deeply in love. I only hope to help them get married and make everyone happy."
After a pause, she added, "As for marriage, I've never thought about it! I'm willing to stay in the palace, just like my aunt, to spare no effort to share your worries and seek well - being for the people!"
She spoke firmly. The emperor seemed to recall his youth when the court was in turmoil. It was his elder sister, the eldest princess, who had assisted him in ascending the throne. Remembering her heroic appearance when she turned the tide and debated with the court officials, a faint look of relief appeared on his face.
"Since that's the case, Father also wants to keep you by my side for a while. Your younger brother is still young. You, as his elder sister, should take good care of him."
"Since you are familiar with Minister Lu and Miss Li, visit them often. If you can learn some ways of dealing with people from the Lu family's business, I will feel at ease."
Princess Yongning obediently responded.