Chapter 5, New Kitchenware

Li Yi's sincerity is not without its flaws. As early as the beginning of the Zhenguan era, Li Shimin issued an edict to collect books and maps nationwide, gathering over 200,000 volumes of literature in the Hongwen Hall. He also established the "Hongwen Pavilion" next to the Hongwen Hall to store these texts, which now also serves as a place for the princes and princesses to receive their education. It is quite normal for Li Yi to occasionally come across some lost knowledge among such a vast collection of books, especially considering that the Central Plains have endured the calamity of the Five Barbarians' chaos, resulting in the loss of many techniques, which is indeed a great pity.

After making some inquiries, Li Yi learned about several skilled craftsmen and headed straight there. Before he reached the front, he could hear the clanging of iron and the whooshing sound of the bellows. However, the sounds soon ceased, as a large group of burly men armed with weapons arrived at the entrance of the blacksmith shop, leaving the people inside somewhat bewildered.

Behind him, Fu Er exclaimed in alarm and suddenly stepped forward. At that moment, the wall in front of Li Yi was violently breached, and a person was thrown out from the hole.

You are a eunuch, wishing that everyone else would be a eunuch like you? I will not bring those three carpenters back to the palace; I intend to place them in the house I rented, allowing them to help me make money, and earn a fortune!

Among them, the East Market and the West Market serve as trading places for commerce and industry, and it is certainly correct to go there for purchasing goods

What is this? Li Er looked at the drawing of strange objects that Li Yi handed over and asked, It looks like kitchenware? But I have never seen such kitchenware before

Li Shimin's previously furrowed brows relaxed slightly. Although it still sounded a bit absurd, the fact that Li Yi's intention was to present something valuable to him made Li Shimin feel considerably more at ease.

Next to Li Yi stood a cavalry officer in armor named Wei Yan, who at that moment was clasping his fists and cheerfully addressing Gao Bao. He was the officer responsible for guarding Yong'an Gate and was unable to accompany Li Yi on his outing

He instructed the dentist to directly send the three individuals to the house he rented tomorrow, and also gave the dentist two guan of money, instructing him to prepare some clothes for the three individuals and to have them cleaned thoroughly, ensuring they are not treated poorly.

Seeing the atmosphere was somewhat awkward, Wei Zheng also bowed to Li Shimin and took his leave. Li Shimin waved his hand, allowing Wei Zheng to depart first

The carriage raced to the East Market, and once it entered the bustling area, it was no longer possible to continue by carriage. The soldiers dismounted, tied the horses to one side, left the coachman to look after the horses, and followed Li Yi inside.

Li Yi certainly understands the intentions of the soldier before him. For individuals of this kind who aspire to improve themselves, Li Yi does not mind lending a helping hand

In the midst of chaos, Li Yi sat cross-legged on the mat, covered in dust and dirt. Fortunately, he was not hit, but the blow fell on Fu Er. The guards had already gathered around, and amidst the smoke and dust, two youths, resembling small bulls, were grappling with each other. For a moment, no one dared to intervene; those who had attempted to step in were thrown to the ground, groaning.

Li Yi was surrounded by people on all sides—front, back, left, and right—encasing him in a manner that was impenetrable. Aside from a slight frown on his forehead, he could not reprimand these soldiers, as they were all fulfilling their duties.

Certainly, only slaves with official seal records can be considered as such; the arbitrary trading of people was a serious crime during the Tang Dynasty

After walking for half a day, Li Yi confirmed one thing: there were no tables or chairs in the Tang Dynasty! Not a single one!

Li Yi stated this

Li Yi waved his hand and said, "Can a carpenter really make a lot of money?" Meanwhile, Gao Bao beside him stared wide-eyed, looking completely bewildered.

Oh! The one with the surname Li, you have quite the ability today! What is it? Did I not just lift the top card of the Immortal Pavilion? Are you looking to confront me?

With several soldiers present, one can naturally feel at ease said Gao Bao humbly

The tooth trade is somewhat akin to today's Taobao, where anything can be traded and sold, even slaves, with the tooth trade taking a commission from the transactions

Officials like Du Fu and Bai Juyi could only save enough money in their lifetime to purchase a single house, while Li Bai could not afford a house at all and spent the latter part of his life living on a boat

Your Highness, after we exit the city gate, please remain seated in the palanquin and do not come out, to prevent any ill-intentioned individuals from disturbing you. Gao Bao, observing the eager Li Yi, expressed his concerns in this manner. In Gao Bao's view, Li Yi's desire to leave Chang'an was merely to glimpse the outside world, a sentiment shared by most princes and princesses within the palace.

After the Jinwuwei finished speaking, the other soldiers displayed a hint of envy on their faces. They were merely guarding the imperial city, and with the current peace in the Tang Dynasty, it was likely that they would never have the opportunity to earn military merits in their lifetime. For most, their fate was simply to guard the city gates. However, if they could gain the favor of the young prince before them, it would be a different story. Upon reaching adulthood, princes would each have their own vast fiefdoms. At that time, becoming a close bodyguard to the prince would mean enjoying a life of luxury and comfort.

The royal guards certainly cannot allow the prince to walk ahead alone to clear the way as depicted in television dramas; that is the behavior of a dandy, not that of a prince

After brewing a pot of the finest tea from the dental shop, standing respectfully to one side, Li Yi took a sip but could not bring himself to take a second sip, silently contemplating yet another item that needed improvement.

Li Yi has not yet responded, while the nearby Princess Zhao Yuan has already begun to speak with great trepidation

Li Yi is only here to rent a house; he cannot afford to buy one yet. The housing prices in the Tang Dynasty are quite high, and it is not easy to arrange for a house within the city of Chang'an.

Li Yi did not go inside, but merely stood at the door to observe. After watching for about ten establishments and traversing nearly half of Chang'an City, he finally found a rather upscale restaurant to enter. The proprietor cautiously led Li Yi to a private room. Although Li Yi was just a ten-year-old child, the thirty or so burly bodyguards behind him, exuding an air of menace, made him seem no longer like a child; they were his grandfather's men.

Spent 10 guan to rent a room in the city of Chang'an for a period of one year. The efficiency of the pawnshop is very high, and all the procedures have been completed quickly. The house can be obtained tomorrow

I go to your grandmother's leg

What is your name

The Imperial Guards had divided into thirty elite soldiers responsible for ensuring the safety of Li Yi, accompanied by Gao Bao. Following Li Yi's request, everyone changed into plain clothes, although they still wore leather armor underneath for self-defense. In fact, this was somewhat unnecessary; during the Zhenguan era, public security in the Tang Dynasty was exceptionally good. There were very few people sentenced to death, with the lowest number in a single year being only twenty-seven nationwide. As for Chang'an, the capital under the emperor's feet, it was even more secure.

Your Highness, I am surnamed Fu, my family has two members, and I am called Fu Er

Seeing Li Yi's reaction, Ya Lang felt a bit of sweat on his forehead. Fortunately, this young noble did not make a scene. After all, in Chang'an, even a random dandy is from a duke's or prime minister's household, and commoners would rather bury their heads in the ground than provoke them.

Your Highness

Alright, I understand. Please have your younger brother report to me tomorrow as well. By the way, I will also be leaving the palace tomorrow, so you can accompany me then.

Is it possible to have a meal and still catch the young rascals fighting? How interesting! Li Yi was sipping tea, thoroughly enjoying the sounds of the fight next door, but the noise was getting closer and closer.

What treasure? What treasure is it?

In short, being a dog of the Tang Dynasty is the best.

Upon seeing such a large sum of money, the blacksmith's hands trembled with excitement. Although the item he was to forge was peculiar, it did not require much technical skill. It merely needed some effort to achieve a perfectly smooth finish, which was labor-intensive. However, the payment was more than sufficient. When encountering such a generous customer, he naturally bowed his head in gratitude.

"Who said I want to castrate them and bring them into the palace?" Li Yi looked at Gao Bao with a hint of amusement

Your Majesty, it is entirely my fault for not properly educating Yi'er on a daily basis, which has led him to be so playful. Please do not blame Yi'er.

After enduring until the second day, Li Er, who had spent the night, set off to attend court with a grand display. During the Tang Dynasty, princes and princesses had classes with a break every ten days, known as "Xun Jia." Each year, there were two holidays: one in May called "Tian Jia" and another in September called "Shou Yi Jia." The holidays typically lasted for one month, during which there were also three examinations of varying significance. Upon learning this, Li Yi marveled at the remarkable foresight of his ancestors, noting how advanced their educational system was over a thousand years ago.

Li Yi was afraid that Li Shimin would go back on his word, so he took the waist token from Li Shimin's hands

Oh? Is there such a way of cooking?" Li Shimin also found it very interesting. He glanced at the earnest-looking Li Yi, then took out a waist token from his bosom and handed it to Li Yi: "Take my waist token; you may freely enter and exit the palace gates, but you must have the Jinwu Guards accompanying you at all times.

At that moment, a soldier from the Imperial Guard stepped forward, his face beaming with a smile. He clasped his hands together and said to Li Yi, who was sitting cross-legged on the mat: "Your Highness, you just mentioned that there are a few carpenters short. My younger brother happens to be a carpenter as well. If Your Highness does not mind, I can have my brother come to the house rented by Your Highness tomorrow. If he can be of service to Your Highness, it would be a blessing for both me and him."

Protect His Highness

Father, I wish to leave the palace, but I have no intention of seeking pleasure. It is only because I want to present you with a treasure, a treasure that will be of lifelong benefit to you.

Li Yi took out several drawings he had just completed, which were none other than kitchen utensils such as spatulas, iron woks, and frying pans. As for the other drawings, he did not take them out for the time being

Exiting the palace through a small gate beside Yong'an Gate, the carriage sped towards the East Market, flanked by thirty elite cavalry guards. In Chang'an, riding horses was not permitted, and upon seeing this spectacle, the onlookers immediately recognized the significance of the arrival. Anyone capable of galloping through the streets of the Tang Dynasty on horseback was undoubtedly someone not to be trifled with.

Li Yi pulled back the curtains, intending to take a good look at the prosperous Chang'an outside. At first, he was certainly quite expectant; however, upon seeing rows of low houses, he, accustomed to the high-rise buildings of reinforced concrete, felt that it was just so-so. The only noteworthy aspect was the frequent sighting of Hu people on the streets, characterized by their high noses and thick hair, predominantly of Central Asian descent. The Tang Dynasty was renowned for its openness, especially under the rule of Li Shimin, who welcomed foreign visitors with a mindset of learning and admiration. At this moment, the Tang Dynasty was truly the highest representative of world culture and economy, with the capital Chang'an being the center of the entire world. The Hu people often took pride in being able to visit Chang'an once in their lifetime, and it would not be incorrect to refer to it as a pilgrimage.

Gao Bao's calves are trembling a bit; a man with a handle entering the palace is definitely going to be executed. Li Yi is a prince and only ten years old; he cannot be killed, and Gao Bao's head will definitely not be saved

Without managing a household, one cannot know the value of firewood and rice. Li Yi personally turned over the one mu and three fen of land belonging to Yuan Zhen Hall, and only then did he find thirty guan of money, which, when converted, amounts to merely thirty taels of gold

Immediately following was a cacophony of chaotic fighting sounds, as if the entire tavern were about to be smashed to pieces. Amidst this, there were also voices attempting to mediate the conflict, but it was not long before that person was also struck.

Li Yi was not in a hurry; he respectfully saw Wei Zheng off before turning his attention back to His Majesty Li Er before him, his gaze showing not the slightest hint of fear

Li Yi curled his lips, as these two fellows completely regarded themselves as children

Your Highness, your funds are running low. Although it is the day for the distribution of salaries, it would still be better not to purchase individuals from outside. If Your Highness requires carpenters, I can go to the Inner Court to request some on your behalf. Those purchased slaves, even if they have been castrated, cannot enter the palace at will.

Li Yi spent another 15 guan to buy three servants, yet he felt no pain at all. There are many ways to make money, but there is no logic in keeping money close without using it to earn more.

I had already made arrangements a few days ago; I will take care of the main issue! The other brothers have no objections, but you were the only one who stood out, and it was dealt with yesterday! If I hadn't gone today, I wouldn't have known about this matter at all! The main issue is trivial, but face is of great importance! If there is no explanation today, this matter will not be over!

With Li Yi's words, Fu Er rejoined the queue, his face full of pride. This could probably be described as "simplicity resides in Wang Xin"

Regardless of how Gao Bao and Wei Yan were exchanging compliments without repetition, Li Yi boarded the carriage and ordered the driver to head directly to the East Market. As the capital of the Tang Empire, Chang'an was particularly meticulous in its architectural layout, resembling the grid pattern found between the fields. This arrangement also echoed the concept of the "Six Lines of the Qian Hexagram" in the Book of Changes, and based on the characteristics of Longshouyuan, which is divided into six ridges, buildings with different functions were arranged accordingly

Yalang naturally nodded in gratitude with joy, as doing these tasks cost less than two guan, and the remainder was naturally a reward for himself, truly overwhelmed with happiness

It would take some time to handle these matters, and Li Yi did not have the luxury to wait. He arranged for someone to come and collect them tomorrow afternoon and then hurried off to the next location, the dental clinic.

Ah? Not castrated? Your Highness! It is absolutely unacceptable to bring one back to the palace!

The tooth dealer found some servants again, with no other requirements; the only requirement was that they must be skilled in carpentry. Before long, a few individuals came by, and Li Yi casually selected three of them. Their family backgrounds were all clean, and they were unmarried, without children. Originally, they were carpenters from the household of a Deputy Minister of Revenue, but later, due to committing an offense, the entire family of the Deputy Minister was exiled to Lingnan, and the servants were also taken back and resold, which was naturally facilitated by the tooth dealer.

That is all

Upon hearing Li Yi ask for his name, the sergeant, overwhelmed with joy, hurriedly replied

Today, Li Yi's behavior is truly peculiar; it does not seem like he is merely acting foolishly. First, he rented a house, then he purchased three carpenter servants, and after that, he has been wandering around shopping until now. Just when it seemed he had finally settled down, he actually feels that he has bought too few carpenters. Could it be that he has lost his mind?

The prince has fallen to such a state of poverty that Li Yi feels he has no one left but himself

After completing all of this, Li Yi took a large group of followers and went from one restaurant to another.

Do not be rude

Returning to Father Emperor, it is indeed kitchenware. Although I, your son, do not clearly remember the past, I recall that I used to be a bit foolish, yet I enjoyed flipping through books in my spare time. Sometimes, I would envy my older brothers and sisters who could study at the Hongwen Academy, so I often went to browse the books in the Hongwen Academy myself. I once saw these kitchen utensils in the collection of books gathered by Father Emperor, which also detailed their specific usage methods. The terms 'stir-frying' and 'deep-frying' originated during the Two Jin Dynasties, and the food prepared this way has a unique flavor compared to steaming and boiling, making it a true delicacy of the human world. Therefore, I thought of going out of the palace to acquire a set of kitchenware, treating 'stir-frying' and 'deep-frying' as treasures to present to Father Emperor.

Li Yi, who had little confidence in the food of the Tang Dynasty, ordered some cold dishes, touched the teapot beside the table, and sat cross-legged on the soft cushion, unable to help but smile.

Today happens to be the end of the ten-day holiday, and there is not much to say. Holding the waist badge, Li Yi passed through the palace gates one after another, and finally arrived at Yong'an Gate under the guidance of the Imperial Guard. Exiting Yong'an Gate, he was greeted by the renowned Chang'an outside.

It is never-ending

Thank you, Father Emperor

"You, Cheng! Today, if you don't give me an explanation, I will make sure to break your legs!"

The Empress Dowager is beginning to make preparations, and Li Yi is eagerly waiting to leave the palace. However, it is already late, and Chang'an has a strict curfew. Even though he is a prince and can walk through the streets of Chang'an with the emperor's token, everyone else has returned to their neighborhoods. Who can he find? There is no choice but to wait until tomorrow

Upon seeing the commotion caused by Li Yi, the dental assistants in the clinic naturally realized that a distinguished guest had arrived, even though the visitor was merely a ten-year-old child

First, return to the Yuan Zhen Hall and hide away the items that need to be concealed in the house. That night, Li Er indeed came, and Li Yi sat beside him to have dinner together. Although the food was unappetizing, there was no other choice but to make do and swallow it down.

It seems that three carpenters are a bit few... Li Yi laughed like a weasel that had stolen a chicken, causing Gao Bao beside him to tremble.

Rest assured, Your Excellency, with these soldiers present, the safety of His Highness is guaranteed

However, at that moment, the adjacent private room suddenly erupted with the shouts of two individuals

Taking out the blueprints for the iron shovel, iron pot, frying pan, and the hot pot for stewing, Li Yi handed them all over to the blacksmith. He also mentioned some details and points of caution. Gao Bao stepped forward to pay the money, a customary amount, and casually added, "Consider the extra as a reward for you."

This spectacle is anything but low-key, Li Yi thought to himself as he observed the citizens of Chang'an around him, who pretended to walk but were actually gathered to watch the commotion.

The family chatted for a while in the study, and Li Er mentioned dining at the Yuanzhen Hall in the evening and then resting. Princess Zhaoyuan, with a joyful expression, pulled Li Yi to take their leave and went back to prepare.