The common people in Huan City were all in high spirits and extremely enthusiastic about the business of digging sandworms to earn silver.
In just half a day, everyone happily carried a basket of wriggling sandworms in front of Princess Yongning.
Li Ying was ordered to purchase them on behalf of the princess.
The maids beside Princess Yongning naturally accompanied her as well. Everyone was extremely busy. Outside the dragon - boat, the voices were boiling, presenting a bustling and harmonious scene.
Empress Pei said softly, "Princess Yongning is really considerate. Now that Huan City has suffered from the flood, every household has suffered great losses and is frowning with worry. Fortunately, Li Ying came up with the plan and Yongning shared the emperor's worries. Now, the common people can dig out more sandworms to exchange for silver, and their lives are actually a bit easier."
Indeed, although the hurricane had destroyed many houses when it passed by, it had also washed out many sandworms. It was effortless for the common people to dig them out.
The emperor watched as the people in Huan City were busy but in an orderly manner. Some were collecting moon shells, grinding them to make window lattices; some were building the newly - repaired house walls with oyster shells; some were busy with the matters related to "adopting a cow"; others were counting the silver they had earned from selling sandworms, smiling happily. A faint look of contentment appeared on his face.
"Previously, I only thought that Miss Li was a femme fatale who only curried favor with the powerful. Now I see that she actually has some real skills. It's also a good match that Yongning gets along well with her."
As he was speaking, a faint and indistinct argument could be heard not far from the beach.
The emperor raised his eyebrows. Empress Pei thought that the common people might have some objections to the purchase price. Fearing that Li Ying and Princess Yongning might have a conflict with the fishermen in Huan City, she quickly said, "Yongning has grown up in the deep palace. It's the first time she has come forward to handle such trivial matters, so it's inevitable that she's a bit inexperienced. Your Majesty, why don't we go and give her some advice?"
The two strolled casually. In a short while, they came to the middle of the crowd. But the beach was calm. There was nothing wrong at all!
The emperor also became a bit curious and casually asked, "What exactly happened just now?"
Only then did a brave fisherman carefully step forward and report, "Your Majesty, it was our carelessness. We were so muddle - headed that we dug the wrong sandworms."
The maids beside Princess Yongning only roughly recognized the general appearance of the sandworms. Seeing that the things in the baskets looked similar, they paid the silver.
But when Li Ying looked into the bamboo cage, she frowned and said in a deep voice, "It's wrong. These are not sandworms but Sipunculus nudus, also known as 'earth bamboo shoots'."
The Sipunculus nudus looked very similar to the sandworms, and the taste was indeed delicious. But compared with the sandworms, it was still a bit inferior.
Hearing this, the maids looked at each other, their expressions looking rather ugly.
They had misrecognized the "sandworms" and bought a lot of Sipunculus nudus. The silver had already been spent like running water. But Princess Yongning was buying the sandworms in the emperor's name. A king never goes back on his word. How could they take back the silver!
But if they just turned a blind eye and let it go, the Sipunculus nudus might not be edible. How could they explain this useless waste to Princess Yongning and the emperor!
Panic appeared on everyone's faces. Li Ying saw their expressions change greatly but just smiled indifferently.
"It doesn't matter. This is not an insurmountable problem."
The sandworms and Sipunculus nudus were very similar in appearance and had a slightly similar taste. Although the freshness of the Sipunculus nudus was not as strong as that of the sandworms, it was still a rare delicacy.
She washed her hands, personally fetched a plate of Sipunculus nudus, and patiently explained to the maids.
"This Sipunculus nudus, also known as earth bamboo shoots, has a very crispy texture. Although it looks a bit ugly, gray and not very pleasant, as long as it is cleaned and made into 'earth bamboo shoot jelly', it will be a refreshing snack."
As she spoke, she poured the Sipunculus nudus into the pot, boiled it, and constantly stirred it.
The outside of the Sipunculus nudus was covered with a layer of collagen. Only when all this colloid was boiled into the pot could the cooled soup coagulate smoothly into a tender jelly.
The solidified earth bamboo shoot jelly was faintly amber in each piece, clear as if it were a piece of rosin, without the slightest fishy smell of seafood. When eating, you only needed to prepare a bowl of refreshing and appetizing topping.
Ginger juice could dispel the cold, fragrant vinegar could remove the fishy smell and enhance the freshness, a little sea salt for seasoning, and scallions for decoration. The earth bamboo shoot jelly gently swayed between the lips and teeth, as smooth as jelly.
Occasionally, when chewing the earth bamboo shoots inside, the texture was firm, crispy and tender, elastic but not tough, with a faint sweet and fresh smell. It was very delicious and not greasy.
The maids shared the earth bamboo shoot jelly made by Li Ying, and the hearts that had been hanging in mid - air finally settled down.
In this way, the Sipunculus nudus was also within the scope of the purchase. At least they didn't buy something useless and make Princess Yongning and the emperor unhappy.
Secondly, the Sipunculus nudus also created more opportunities for the common people in Huan City to earn silver. Naturally, everyone was overjoyed.
After hearing the report, a satisfied smile appeared on the emperor's face.
"No wonder Minister Lu treats Miss Li differently. Even Yongning regards her as a rare talent. It turns out this is the reason."
She had a good memory and the ability to adapt to changes. With her company, why worry about not making money!
If the national treasury was abundant, why worry about not achieving great things!
Seeing the emperor showing a look of contentment, Empress Pei's always - worried heart finally relaxed a bit.
Since the emperor no longer hated Li Ying, and out of love for Princess Yongning, there would naturally be no worries about Uncle Pei's cooperation with Li Ying.
Seizing the opportunity, she quickly struck while the iron was hot and advised, "Your Majesty, Li Ying has made great contributions this time. I see that she has no other requests. She is really honest and only wishes to be with Minister Lu. Why don't you do them a favor and fulfill their relationship?"
The emperor was already a bit shaken in his heart. Now that he found Li Ying quite agreeable, and hearing Empress Pei's persuasion, he thought for a moment and then nodded.
Looking at Li Ying's busy back, he said indifferently, "This matter is not urgent. Minister Lu has repeatedly defied my good intentions for this woman. I must make them more cautious and give them a warning so that they know that imperial orders cannot be violated and good things always come after hardships."
Empress Pei knew that since the emperor said so, he would not make things too difficult for the two of them. She smiled understandingly and said softly, "Your Majesty is wise. In that case, I'll thank Your Majesty on their behalf first."
Li Ying, who was busy in the distance, didn't know about the conversation between the emperor and Empress Pei. She only felt that Empress Pei's gaze towards her was rather relaxed and content. Before she could react, the maid beside Empress Pei came to deliver a message, saying that Her Majesty the Empress invited her to have a chat.