Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

As summer approaches, the weather is getting hotter and hotter.

The two little princesses also had their clothes changed to a thinner set.

Empress Zhangsun's condition seems to have improved a lot. Although she is still taking medication, at least she is not having an attack.

Li Shimin didn't know whether it was the medicine Xiao Ran had given him that was effective, or the effect of Sun Simiao and the persimmon frost.

The potatoes are growing very thickly, and the flowers are almost withered.

The corn has grown taller, and now even when the little princess stands on tiptoe, she can't touch the corn cobs.

"So this is what corn looks like." Zhang Jinhe smiled as he looked at it.

I had eaten corn before, back then it was corn on the cob, I didn't know how it grew, I only found out as the corn grew.

“Two plants grow on one plant, but only one seed is planted. This yield seems quite high!” Princess Yuzhang remarked from the side.

“I thought the corn the young master took out was quite big before, but this one doesn’t seem to have grown yet,” Li Lizhi said.

The little princess pointed, "I want this one~"

The little princess pointed to the corn.

“This is not edible. The young master said it’s a seed. We need to plant it for a few years so that we can have more corn to eat later,” Princess Yuzhang said, rubbing the little princess’s head.

Xiao Ran had told the others long ago that they shouldn't eat too many potatoes and sweet potatoes after the autumn harvest; they should just have a taste and save them for seeds.

We need to plant more next year.

Xiao Ran's RV needs to be refreshed for several days before everyone can have a meal of stir-fried potatoes.

Sweet potatoes are usually cooked, and others have noticed that cooked sweet potatoes are more fragrant.

The corn is a bit too young, so it's best to just boil it directly.

I want to stir-fry it, but it's too much trouble; I've tried it before.

It was quite delicious, but everyone felt it was too wasteful.

"Young master, when corn is ripe, can we eat the stalks?" Zhang Jinhe pointed.

"Yeah, but by then, it'll probably be almost dried out, and it won't be very sweet." Xiao Ran thought for a moment, "There will be sugarcane in Chang'an after autumn, and this really won't taste good."

Xiao Yu and Zhang Jinhe took sickles and cut the tender grass next to them to feed the pigs when they got back.

After that, Xiao Ran never went to Chang'an again, and the others didn't really want to go either.

Just have someone buy whatever you need.

Princess Li Lizhi and the other princesses rarely returned home; it was usually Li Shimin who brought Empress Zhangsun to visit.

I also went to see a doctor while I was there.

Everyone else had their own things to do, but Empress Xiao of Li Yuan was an exception.

The two elderly people were planning to stay for an extended period.

Li Shimin would send things from time to time, which served as living expenses, and Empress Xiao also received a share.

No one else from the Xiao family came, but Empress Xiao's supplies were occasionally delivered.

Xiao Ran has absolutely no need to worry about a lack of supplies.

Not only Li Shimin and the Xiao family sent gifts, but Cheng Yaojin and Qin Qiong's families also sent gifts.

It felt like the two sons were working without pay, or being paid to do the work.

The one who received the salary was Wang Ji, the teacher; the other great scholars were not short of money and did not care about this small amount.

"It's hot at noon, let's go back!" Xiao Ran picked up the little princess. "You'll get a tan if you don't."

"Hehe~" The little princess hugged Xiao Ran's neck, "Fat home~"

Di Renjie pulled up San Niang and Yan Yao, saying, "Young Master says he wants to go home."

Several little princesses from the other side also ran over.

A group of people returned to the courtyard.

Li Yuan was not idle; he followed Sun Simiao to dry herbs in the courtyard.

To make it easier to dry the clothes, Xiao Ran specially had many racks made.

The scent of herbs could be smelled even before entering the courtyard.

Under the eaves on the other side, Empress Xiao and Consort Zhang whispered to each other, not feeling bored at all.

After Li Yuan arrived, he rarely took medicine, but he clearly gained weight and his mental state was better than before.

Li Yuan's status was special; although he enjoyed honor in the palace, he was inevitably entangled in political relationships.

Xiao Ran's family home was a private courtyard "far from the core of Chang'an City," where there were no complicated interpersonal relationships and power struggles in the palace.

This "pressure-free environment" freed Li Yuan from the constraints of imperial etiquette and political concerns, allowing him to transition from a state of "tension" to one of "relaxation."

A peaceful state of mind has a direct and positive impact on the mental state, sleep quality, and even appetite of the elderly, and is also the key to their "improved mental state".

Here, one can control their own pace of life, without having to follow the fixed schedules and etiquette of the palace, which better meets the needs of the elderly for a "free and easy life".

A regular and stress-free daily routine will naturally lead to a gradual improvement in physical condition.

Empress Xiao's health was actually always very good.

It's not bad now.

Occasionally, he would step out of the courtyard and stroll around the neighborhood.

It's been a bit hot lately, so I'm not going.

Li Lizhi also joined Li Yuan and Sun Simiao to help organize the medicinal herbs.

By following Sun Simiao, one can learn some pharmacological knowledge.

“Grandpa, you’re hot right now, go and rest. I’ll take care of you,” Li Lizhi said.

"No need, no need, it's nothing." Li Yuan waved his hand, not caring at all.

“At your age, a little sun exposure is fine, but you, Fifth Sister, don’t get tanned,” Sun Simiao joked.

Li Lizhi smiled and said, "Grandpa, would you like some ice to be sent over?"

The Tang Dynasty imperial palace had ice, and a complete system was established for storing, managing, and using ice.

This system was inherited from the "ice storage ceremony" of the pre-Qin period and was further standardized in the Tang Dynasty, becoming an important part of court life and etiquette.

Although there was no artificial ice-making technology in the Tang Dynasty, the imperial palace's ice needs were met through the traditional method of "storing ice in winter and using it in summer".

The most frequently used palaces were Taiji Hall and Ganlu Hall of Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Shimin), Lizheng Hall of Empress Zhangsun, and Da'an Palace of Emperor Taizong of Tang (Li Yuan). It was perfectly reasonable for Emperor Taizong to send ice from these palaces.

"No need, no need. A calm mind will cool you down naturally. There's no need to bring ice; it's too much trouble!" Li Yuan rejected Li Lizhi's suggestion.

"Ice?" Xiao Ran, who was walking over, heard this. "Is ice very expensive these days?"

When Li Lizhi saw Xiao Ran asking about the price of ice, she stopped what she was doing, arranging herbs, and patiently explained:

“Young master, you may not know this, but the value of this ice is not simply a matter of ‘expensive’ or ‘not expensive’. Its most precious aspect is not the cost, but the ‘rules’ that govern it. Even if ordinary people have money, they may not be able to use it.”

"The ice in the palace was all chiseled from the Wei River in the winter months. It took hundreds of laborers to chisel and transport the ice, and then store it in deep underground cellars, which were insulated with firewood and straw. The manpower and resources required were countless."

“Just talking about storage, an ice cellar needs to be watched over to prevent it from getting damp or melting. From winter to summer, there isn’t much ice that can be stored, so it’s naturally precious. But what’s even more important is the ‘rules for using ice,’ which not everyone can follow.”

According to the rules of the Ministry of Agriculture, only the Taiji Hall, Ganlu Hall, Lizheng Hall, and Da'an Palace have a fixed amount of ice, which can be taken as needed in summer.

"Others in the palace, unless they live in the palace, have no right to use it for private purposes."

"As for court officials, they must be high-ranking officials of the third rank or above to receive the ice 'issued by the court' in the summer with a written document. The amount also depends on their official rank—the third rank gets less, and the first rank gets more. There can be no disorder in the slightest."

Li Lizhi paused, then added, "If you're an ordinary person, even if you're wealthy in Chang'an, you can't buy ice from the palace."

"Although a few merchants outside may hoard some ice, the quantity is extremely small, and it is only sold to royalty and nobility at an exorbitant price, which ordinary people would never even dream of."

"Moreover, there is the crime of overstepping one's bounds—last year, a wealthy merchant in Chang'an bought ice privately to cool his home. When the censor found out, he said that he had 'used ice beyond the permitted amount.' Not only was the ice confiscated, but he was also fined. This shows that it is not something that can be used simply because you have money."

Li Lizhi understood that her father-in-law used to have ice at the Da'an Palace in the summer, but now he said "a calm mind brings coolness" because he didn't want to cause trouble.

To get ice from the palace, you had to go through the Ministry of Agriculture's documents and send someone to escort it. Along the way, to prevent it from melting, you had to wrap it in thick cotton wool. It was quite a hassle.

Besides, this isn't the palace. According to the rules, there's no custom of 'sending ice to the old man.' If we really want to transfer it, we'll have to break the rule, and the censors will probably complain.

"If we could make ice now, wouldn't that be very profitable? The government wouldn't allow it, would it?" Xiao Ran thought of the saltpeter ice-making method that only existed in the Song Dynasty.

Now Xiao Ran thinks he doesn't need to do that at all, since the RV has a refrigerator.

When Li Lizhi heard Xiao Ran say, "We can make ice now," she suddenly stopped arranging the herbs in her hands, and her eyes lit up instantly.

She had only known about the method of obtaining ice in winter and summer, and never thought that it was possible to "make it anytime".

Surprised, but even more curious about the "new technology" Xiao Ran mentioned, she quickly pressed for details:
"Young master actually has a way to 'make ice on the spot'? That's incredibly rare!"

“It takes the labor of hundreds of people to carve ice cellars in the winter months, and there is always a fear that the ice will melt in the summer and there won’t be enough. If we could do it ourselves, wouldn’t that save us a lot of trouble?”

After her initial surprise subsided, she remembered Xiao Ran's question, "Can private individuals sell ice?" and carefully analyzed the situation in light of the court's regulations:
“According to the current rules, private individuals cannot sell ice at will because ice is scarce—there is only so much ice stored for winter, and it must first be supplied to the imperial palace and high-ranking officials. Only the remaining ice can be sold in small quantities by merchants, and they must also be supervised to prevent them from overstepping their bounds.”

"But if the 'ice-making technique' that the young master mentioned can be mastered, and ice can be produced in greater quantities, the imperial court will certainly encourage it!"

She paused, her tone becoming increasingly certain: "In the hot summer, not only does the palace need ice, but pharmacies also need ice to store medicinal herbs. Ordinary people also want ice to cool off in the summer. Even meat and fruit vendors in the market can prevent their products from spoiling if they have ice."

"If someone can use this technology to make and sell ice, it will not only make ice available to everyone, but also allow the ice maker to earn some money. This is a 'convenience for the people and a benefit to livelihood,' so why would the imperial court stop it?"

"However, according to custom, the method of making ice must first be reported to the state government or the Ministry of Agriculture so that the government can check whether the method is safe and whether there are any hidden dangers. Only after it is registered can the shop be opened for sale."

"The imperial court doesn't want to control making money; it's afraid that someone might use bad methods to make ice, injuring people or disrupting market prices."

“Young master’s situation is special, there’s no need for such trouble, just do it directly,” Li Lizhi added.

Li Lizhi can make the decision on this matter.

Li Lizhi also believed that Li Shimin and Empress Zhangsun would not object, but rather encourage it.

This technology was something no one else had ever even considered before.

Sun Simiao, who was listening attentively, put down the medicine sieve in his hand, his eyes full of approval:
"If young master really has this method of making ice, it would be a truly beneficial thing for doctors and people!"

"Medicinal herbs are most afraid of heat in summer. Herbs like mint and ophiopogon japonicus will wilt and lose their medicinal properties after a few days. If they are kept in ice, they can be stored for a longer time."

"Some patients with high fever can relieve a lot of discomfort by applying ice to their forehead and wiping their body in the summer. Previously, due to the scarcity of ice, it could only be used for severely ill patients. If there is more ice, ordinary people can also use it when they are sick."

Li Yuan also stopped what he was doing, and looked at Xiao Ran with a touch of emotion in his eyes:

"The method of storing ice in winter and using it in summer has been passed down for hundreds of years. Every winter, how much manpower and resources are needed to chisel ice, transport ice, and guard ice cellars?"

"If we can really make our own ice and stop relying on the weather, not only will the people benefit, but the court will also have one less thing to worry about."

He smiled and added, "The court will only support, and will never obstruct, technologies that allow things to be used to their fullest potential and bring convenience to people."

Seeing that Li Yuan and Sun Simiao both agreed, Li Lizhi looked at Xiao Ran, her tone filled with expectation:

“If this method of yours really works, young master, we might not have to worry about ‘quotas’ and ‘ranks’ when using ice in the summer anymore.”

"Ordinary people can buy ice to cool off with a little money, merchants use ice to store goods, and pharmacies use ice to store medicinal herbs. This is much better than just supplying ice to the royal palace and high-ranking officials!"

Xiao Ran nodded. "I can't speak for other things, but I'm really confident about this one."

Before anyone knew it, Princess Yuzhang, Xiao Yu, Zhang Jinhe, and the others had also gathered around.

While shocked that Xiao Ran had such a method, they were also somewhat numb.

"How can you make ice in the middle of summer?" Princess Yuzhang couldn't understand how such a method existed.

"Yes, this thing is not cheap either. I won't keep this technology a secret. I'll let the court and others learn it and see how the cost compares to the previous methods."

Do whatever is easiest.

Li Yuan nodded, knowing that Xiao Ran's personality was just like that.

"Young master's actions are truly commendable!"

"Throughout history, countless people who obtained rare methods either kept them hidden for personal gain or only passed them on to their own families. How could anyone be like you, readily sharing a method as soon as you said you had it, even hoping that the court and others would learn it?"

"Grandpa, my method might be a bit too expensive, and ordinary people might not be able to afford it," Xiao Ran quickly said.

Upon hearing this, Sun Simiao smiled and waved his hand, "Young master, you don't need to worry about the cost. Putting aside everything else, the magnanimity of 'letting everyone learn from it' is far more precious than whether ice is affordable for everyone."

“The old man isn’t saying anything more, and he hasn’t even started yet!” Xiao Ran looked at Li Lizhi, “Fifth Sister, I need saltpeter, could you buy some?”

"I don't recognize this either, but it should work. I'll give it a try." Li Lizhi didn't know anything about these things.

“Saltpeter!” Sun Simiao stroked his beard. “It’s available in Chang’an, but it’s definitely not cheap.”

"I don't know the specific effects, and I've never done it before. I'll give it a try and see."

It's the same recipe, the same taste, and the same technique as before.

I've heard of it, but I've never done it.

The group was also curious about where Xiao Ran got these skills.

“Alright, I’ll have my fifth uncle go to Chang’an to take a look.” Li Lizhi also wrote a letter to Li Shimin.

We need to let Li Shimin know as soon as possible, so that if Li Wu can't get saltpeter, Li Shimin can help him.

Even with its high cost, the emergence of this technology is still significant. (End of Chapter)