Li Ying's actions naturally couldn't escape Princess Yongning's notice.
Shortly after, she received the news and sent someone to invite Li Ying over for a chat.
"Ah Ying, you've been so dedicated and always thinking for me. I really don't know how to thank you!"
As soon as Princess Yongning saw Li Ying enter the door, she excitedly got up and grabbed her hand. The intimacy in her expression was not feigned.
Li Ying didn't take it seriously and just gave a gentle smile. "It's good if I can relieve Your Highness of some worries."
Princess Yongning exchanged a few more pleasantries with her before suppressing the smile on her face. She lowered her voice and said seriously, "Ah Ying, since you've planned so much for me, I'll tell you something. If used properly, it might be of great help to your marriage."
Hearing this, Li Ying immediately perked up.
The Emperor no longer had any previous prejudices against her, and he had long given up the idea of betrothing Princess Yongning to Lu Xunguang.
All that was left for the imperial edict of marriage was the right timing.
Since Princess Yongning had said this, Li Ying naturally held her breath and listened attentively.
"The other day after lunch, Father was in a great mood. While chatting with us, he mentioned what he had seen during his southern tour and kept exclaiming in wonder."
"During the conversation, Father casually mentioned that before he ascended the throne, he had heard from an ancient book given by his grand tutor about a kind of 'Wenyao fish' that lived in the South Sea. It had wings as long as its tail and its cry was like that of a mythical bird. They flew in groups over the sea, but unfortunately, he had never seen them with his own eyes."
"Ah Ying, if you can find this Wenyao fish, first of all, it will fulfill one of Father's long - held wishes from his youth. Secondly, I've heard that when this fish appears on the sea, it's a sign of a good harvest for the whole country. Father will be overjoyed, and I think the matter of the imperial edict of marriage will be a certainty."
After hearing her words, Li Ying just slightly frowned.
The Wenyao fish?
She had never heard of it and had no clue. But she still thanked Princess Yongning for the tip. After much thought, she decided to come and ask Su Buchi for advice.
Su Buchi was copying an ancient calligraphy model. When he saw her coming, he calmly concealed the faint joy on his face.
"Little Master - Uncle."
Li Ying greeted him with a beaming smile and then explained her purpose.
Su Buchi pondered for a moment, then took out a new piece of gilded rice - paper. As he dipped his brush in ink, he said slowly, "From the Taiqi Mountain, the Guan River flows out and then flows west into the quicksand. There are many Wenyao fish there. They look like carps, with fish bodies and bird wings. They have dark - blue patterns, white heads, and red beaks. They fly at night, and their appearance indicates a good harvest."
As he spoke, his brush danced on the paper. Before long, a lifelike "Wenyao fish" appeared on the paper.
"Miss Li, I've read many ancient books and can only barely imagine what the so - called 'Wenyao fish' might look like. I wonder if this will give you any inspiration."
Li Ying stared intently at the still - wet painting and slightly frowned.
At first, when she heard the words "flying in groups over the sea", she had a vague idea in her mind. She thought the Wenyao fish might refer to flying fish.
But looking at the picture drawn by Su Buchi, with the spines on its head, the red fish body, and the pectoral fins reaching all the way to the tail, it looked more like a sea robin.
Seeing Li Ying deep in thought, Su Buchi softly asked, "Miss Li, do you have any ideas?"
Only then did she come back to her senses, and she had already made up her mind.
This so - called "Wenyao fish", if traced according to the picture, was probably a sea robin. But the description in the ancient books was more like a flying fish.
Li Ying thanked Su Buchi, and with a satisfied look, she held the scroll and took her leave.
She first went to look for the sea robin.
Sea robins are bottom - dwelling fish. As the name suggests, they usually swim close to the seabed.
With the help of the pearl - divers who were good at swimming, it wasn't difficult to dive deep into the sea to find sea robins.
But Li Ying didn't plan to simply present the captured sea robins to the Emperor.
After the Emperor had his dinner, as the sky gradually darkened and the moon began to rise, Princess Yongning walked over with a cloak in her hands and said softly, "Father, I've heard that there are often amazing sights on the sea in Jingcheng at night. Please go and enjoy them."
The Emperor naturally agreed. A group of people got on a small boat. Li Ying had already discussed with the magistrate of Jingcheng. The small boat was hung with lanterns, which illuminated the sea like daylight.
Su Buchi had mentioned that "the Wenyao fish flies at night and gets caught in the fishing net". In Li Ying's opinion, this actually revealed the light - seeking habit of the "Wenyao fish".
This description was exactly the same as that of flying fish.
In later generations, fishermen often took advantage of this light - seeking habit to catch flying fish. Li Ying did the same. Sure enough, not long after, ripples appeared on the sea not far away.
The Emperor squinted slightly, while Li Ying understood in her heart - this was the flying fish being frightened by the boat. They hit the water with their tail fins to "run up" and take off.
These flying fish swam very fast. They were like silver shuttles in the sea. They spread their colorful fins, leaped out of the water, and glided freely.
Although they couldn't fly like birds, they could glide for a certain distance with the sea breeze. After falling back into the sea, they could quickly hit the water with their tails again and take off once more. Without much effort, they could fly more than a hundred meters.
The bright moon shone on the faint blue light on the flying fish. The crimson or bright - yellow patterns on their fins sparkled. As they rose and fell, they splashed white waves. The fish jumped freely, and their vivid and vibrant vitality made people dizzy and unable to take it all in.
The Emperor was stunned. Even the hand holding the cloak unconsciously dropped. He murmured, "Could this... could this be the strange beast, the Wenyao fish, that the grand tutor mentioned?"
The magistrate of Jingcheng knelt on the ground first and shouted long live three times. "Your Majesty is truly wise! The appearance of the Wenyao fish is a sign of a good harvest for the whole country. The fishermen will surely reap a bumper harvest, and the people will live in prosperity. All this is thanks to Your Majesty's might and blessing!"
Although the officials behind didn't know what was going on and didn't know how Princess Yongning and the magistrate of Jingcheng had arranged this amazing sight of the flying fish, they all humbly echoed, "Your Majesty is truly wise! It's a blessing for the people and all the commoners!"
The Emperor was known for his love of flattery. Although he knew that Li Ying must have secretly planned this, he was really overjoyed.
He was the lord of the world. Princess Yongning had done a good job in governing and was willing to put her heart into making him happy. Her filial piety was evident to heaven and earth, which made him feel very comfortable.
He said in a deep voice, "All my dear officials, rise!"
Seeing the flying fish getting farther and farther away and the night getting deeper and the cold getting stronger, the Emperor suppressed his excitement and got up to return to his sleeping quarters.
But Li Ying didn't dare to sleep peacefully.
After the fish left, she saw many strands of milky - yellow fish eggs on the sea. Only then did she finally feel relieved.
Flying fish roe was a famous delicacy. There was no need to cut open the fish's belly. One just needed to float straw mats on the sea, connecting them end to end to form a long line.
The flying fish would lay their eggs on these floating objects. After the fish left, one could pick off the eggs, remove the spider - silk - like impurities, and then use them in cooking.
She had already explained everything in detail to the magistrate of Jingcheng. Now she whispered some instructions, and the magistrate understood. He called his subordinates and arranged for them to carefully wash the flying fish roe.
The next day, just as the Emperor ordered someone to serve the meal, a strong and strange fragrance filled the air.