Chapter 73: Down Jacket

Yin-Yang study is actually a branch of Daoism, and its representative figure is Zou Yan, a Qi person from the end of the Warring States period; he is also the founder of the Five Elements theory.

Yin-Yang study was prevalent during the Warring States and pre-Qin periods; rituals, sacrifices, divination, etc., are actually closely related to Yin-Yang study. In the early Han Dynasty, there were still traces of Yin-Yang school activities, but it is said that by the mid-Western Han Dynasty, the entire Yin-Yang school had ceased to exist.

In fact, some feudal superstitions mentioned by modern people are mostly related to Yin-Yang study. It can be said that Yin-Yang study has never truly disappeared.

Now, Chu Fu in front of her actually claims to be a descendant of the Yin-Yang School, and Liu Li maintains a skeptical attitude in her heart.

She looks at Chu Fu, who is just a seventeen or eighteen-year-old girl with delicate features in front of her. Perhaps because she hasn't seen the sun for a long time, her skin color is very white, just like a layer of white flour.

Liu Li pursed her lips lightly, slowly leaned close to her, opened her bright phoenix eyes to look at Chu Fu, and said: "Then can you see anything different about me?"

The candlelight flickered on Liu Li's exquisite and cute round face. Chu Fu raised her eyes and met Liu Li's gaze. At that moment, she seemed to see the stars and the galaxy flashing across the eyes of the little girl in front of her.

"The Princess's destiny is not something I can comprehend," Chu Fu said with a solemn expression: "I can only see that the Princess is definitely not an ordinary person."

Hearing Chu Fu say this, Liu Li felt a bit disappointed in her heart. What is the difference between her and a street fortune teller? She could also say such mysterious words.

So, in fact, Chu Fu probably doesn't have any real skills, which is a waste of her taking the risk to see her. Liu Li sighed slightly and was thinking about whether to leave when she heard Chu Fu say: "However, last time I saw the Emperor and Empress, there seemed to be an anomaly in them."

Chu Fu's sudden words successfully stopped Liu Li from leaving. The expression on her little face gradually became serious, and she stared at Chu Fu tightly: "What anomaly can you see in them?"

"Yin and Yang are out of harmony," Chu Fu said truthfully.

In the theory of Yin-Yang study, Yin naturally represents women, and Yang represents men. That day, she looked at the Emperor and Empress from a distance and always felt that the Yin and Yang in them were not harmonious, as if they should have been one body but were separated.

Looking at the little Princess whose expression was dull, Chu Fu whispered: "But Princess, don't worry, when the Wengzhu asked me, I didn't tell her that."

Hearing this, Liu Li took a deep breath, simply sat cross-legged opposite Chu Fu, and then asked: "Aren't you her person? Why hide it from her."

Because Liu Li sat down, she was instantly half a head shorter than Chu Fu, and when she spoke to her, Liu Li couldn't help but look up slightly.

And this posture also narrowed the distance between the two of them compared to when she was standing and talking to Chu Fu, not appearing high and mighty.

"Because my clansmen and teachers are all in Huainan, I have to listen to her," Chu Fu's voice sounded somewhat helpless. She frowned and said slowly: "But I also know that some things cannot be said to her; after all, the Great Han's destiny should not end here."

Liu Li was silent.

She didn't expect Chu Fu to have such righteousness. Then why did she cooperate with Liu Ling to cast the so-called witchcraft curse on Liu Che in her previous life? Of course, Liu Li had no way of knowing this answer now.

"Then I thank you for not saying it first," Liu Li blinked her eyes, gave her a kind smile, and then asked: "I have another question, I don't know if you can answer it for me."

Chu Fu nodded: "Princess, please ask."

"Can Liu Ling also understand Yin-Yang study?" Liu Li suspected that Liu Ling was like Chu Fu, knowing a little bit of the so-called metaphysics of the Yin-Yang school, so she could react instantly that there was a problem with the Emperor and Empress.

It's just that Liu Ling's learning was not refined, so she needed Chu Fu to come over and confirm it again?

"The Wengzhu naturally doesn't understand," Chu Fu replied: "If she understood my Yin-Yang School, she wouldn't have let me come from Huainan."

That seems to make some sense.

Liu Li frowned slightly, and for a while, she couldn't figure it out. If Liu Ling didn't understand the ways of the Yin-Yang School, how did she suspect A Jiao and Liu Che?

As if seeing Liu Li's little thoughts, Chu Fu said: "Does the Princess know the book 'Huainanzi'?"

Liu Li nodded hurriedly: "I know this; it was compiled by Huainan King Liu An and his subordinates."

Chu Fu smiled and said: "The Huainan King's daughter of a concubine often read this book when she was young. Perhaps the answer the Princess wants is in 'Huainanzi'."

Listening to her hint, Liu Li couldn't help but complain; can't you just say it directly if you have something to say? You have to use such hints to tell yourself.

Just when Liu Li wanted to ask Chu Fu some more things, such as since she could see the disharmony of Yin and Yang in the Emperor and Empress, was there any way to make the Emperor and Empress return to their positions?

Chu Fu suddenly said: "Princess, you should leave; otherwise, you won't be able to get out."

Liu Li listened carefully and really heard footsteps coming from outside; it should be the attendant who was guarding the door before.

Liu Li stood up abruptly, said "I will find an opportunity to come again later" to Chu Fu, and then hurried to the door, preparing to leave.

Who knew that the attendant had already walked over? If she walked out of the bedchamber at this time, she would definitely bump into this person. Liu Li had to retreat again, helplessly saying: "I can't get out the door."

Chu Fu's fingers moved back and forth twice, and then she pointed to the window opposite and said: "If the Princess is not afraid, you can jump down from that window."

Liu Li was stunned. She turned and walked to the window, reaching out to push the window open a little bit. Outside this window was exactly the palace road with no guards, but this height... Liu Li visually measured the distance downward; it was at least two stories high.

Liu Li was startled. She turned and walked to the window, reaching out to gently push it open just a crack. Outside this window happened to be an unguarded palace path, but the height... Liu Li visually estimated the distance downward; it was at least two stories high.

Just when she was hesitating, she suddenly saw Cao Xiang passing by with people. Her eyes lit up, and she just wanted to open her mouth to call people over, but was afraid that the sound of speaking would attract the attention of the attendant outside.

Liu Li clenched her fists, raised her hand to untie the cloth strip tied on her head, and then threw the cloth strip in her hand toward Cao Xiang, successfully attracting his attention.

Cao Xiang hurriedly led the few guards to under the window, looking up at the fair-skinned little girl standing at the window, her black long hair hanging on her shoulders and being gently blown up by the breeze.

Liu Li arched her hands on her lips and lowered her voice: "Cousin, I want to jump down from here; you let the guards catch me."

Cao Xiang subconsciously stretched out his hands to Liu Li: "You jump."

Liu Li: "..." She didn't believe at all that Cao Xiang, a nine-year-old brat, could catch her!

Seeing that Liu Li didn't move, Cao Xiang also realized that his ability was limited and he might not be able to catch her. He hurriedly directed the two guards beside him: "You two come over and catch Princess Jianling."

Hearing Cao Xiang say Liu Li's name, the guards didn't dare to be slow at all, hurriedly stood under the window, and prepared to catch Liu Li who was jumping down.

Liu Li took a deep breath, pressed down her pounding heart, and after cheering herself up, found the position and jumped down from this window, being steadily caught in the arms of one of the guards.

The guard gently placed Liu Li on the ground: "Princess, offended."

Liu Li, who had her feet on the ground, felt relieved. She pursed her lips and smiled: "Thank you."

Cao Xiang hurriedly reached out and pulled Liu Li over: "How is it? Did you find any evidence?"

Liu Li blinked and shook her head: "Didn't find any evidence." She turned her head to look at Cao Xiang and said: "I have to return to the Weiyang Palace."

Cao Xiang nodded: "Oh." After a pause, he said: "Exactly, I plan to go back, I'll go with you."

Liu Li didn't think too much, reached out and brushed her hair, and said to Cao Xiang: "Then return the cloth strip to me."

Cao Xiang was stunned, only to find that he had been holding Liu Li's hair-tying cloth strip in his hand just now. He hurriedly handed the cloth strip to her: "Return it to you; disheveled hair, really ugly."

Liu Li took the hairband, but couldn't restore her previous hairstyle, so she had to tie a single ponytail on her head with the hairband, and even this was crooked.

Cao Xiang had been watching her movements; it was clearly a strange outfit, but it looked quite good.

"Do you want to take my carriage? I'll send you back to the Weiyang Palace first." Cao Xiang said.

Liu Li shook her head: "No need, my carriage is parked in front; you should go back quickly, maybe you can still catch up to give your mother the final blessing."

Cao Xiang: "..."

"Thank you for your help today, cousin." Liu Li looked at him sideways and said with a smile: "Please keep today's matter a secret; don't tell anyone, including your grandmother and your mother."

"Isn't my grandmother also your grandmother?" Cao Xiang responded irritably: "Don't worry, I won't talk nonsense; I still have this sense of proportion."

After getting Cao Xiang's guarantee, Liu Li temporarily put her heart down: "Alright, I'm leaving first, see you at the Imperial Academy another day."

"Hey..." Cao Xiang still wanted to call Liu Li, but who knew she ran away in one breath, not giving him a chance to speak at all. Cao Xiang stood in place and was dazed for a while, then led the guards to prepare to leave the Changle Palace and go home with a depressed face.

The wedding banquet was coming to an end, and the sky had darkened. The maids lit the fire in the stone pillars in the courtyard, making the whole courtyard much brighter.

A Jiao put down the chopsticks in her hand, her peripheral vision glancing at Liu Ling, who was talking happily with the surrounding ministers. Under the candlelight, her cheeks had a touch of red, obviously drunk.

Wei Qing, because of the Emperor's order, had to guard Liu Ling to prevent her from falling due to drunkenness.

"It's about time, let's go back to the palace." A Jiao raised her eyes to look at Liu Che sitting opposite her: "Take A Ling with us."

Liu Che raised his eyebrows: "Hmm."

A Jiao said loudly to the surrounding marquises and ministers: "Today is my Eldest Sister's wedding, I am a bit tired, so I won't stay any longer. Everyone continue to drink, and you can stop the morning court tomorrow."

Everyone toasted the Emperor one after another. A Jiao reached out and took Liu Che's hand, and the Emperor and Empress walked together to say goodbye to the newlyweds.

Liu Che saw Liu Ling was so drunk that she couldn't stand, looked at Wei Qing and said: "Wei Qing, you carry the Huainan King's Wengzhu to the carriage."

Wei Qing lowered his head slightly and responded: "Nu."

He bent down slightly and picked up the drunk Liu Ling, but inadvertently met the Pingyang Princess's gaze looking at him. Wei Qing was stunned for a moment, then lowered his eyes, focusing on following the Emperor and Empress as they left the Princess's mansion.

There were two maids in front leading the way for the Emperor and Empress, but the moonlight in the sky seemed brighter than the lanterns in front. The Emperor and Empress walked hand in hand. Liu Che caught a glimpse of his and A Jiao's shadows walking side by side, and his mood became inexplicably very comfortable.

It seemed that he hadn't walked hand in hand with A Jiao like this for a long time, even though he was her at this time. Unknowingly, they had been swapped for more than a year.

In this year, they seemed to have experienced many, many things, and he didn't seem to be as eager to swap back as he was at the beginning.

Liu Che even thought, if they really couldn't swap back, walking hand in hand with A Jiao like this for a lifetime... was not impossible.

The moonlight was hazy. Liu Ling opened her drunken eyes and stared quietly at the man who was carrying her forward, her eyes somewhat dazed, as if she were looking at another person through him.

But soon Liu Ling's eyes regained clarity. She turned her head along Wei Qing's gaze, only to find that he had been staring at "A Jiao sister" walking in front.

Liu Ling narrowed her eyes, thinking she had misread it, and after confirming it again and again, she was sure she hadn't misread it. Such an expression... could Wei Qing have feelings for A Jiao sister?

Regarding this discovery, Liu Ling suppressed the strange feeling in her heart, and her heart quickly had a few more considerations.

Walking to the entrance of the mansion, the Emperor's imperial carriage stopped in front of them. A Jiao turned and ordered Wei Qing: "Put her on the carriage, be gentle."

"Nu." Wei Qing responded, then carefully placed the drunk Liu Ling in his arms onto the imperial carriage.

Just after putting her down, a rapid sound of horse hooves came from not far away, and before long, it also stopped in front of the mansion. Cao Xiang got off the carriage. He didn't expect to see the Emperor at the entrance.

"Cao Xiang pays respects to the Emperor and the Empress." Cao Xiang got off the carriage and bowed to A Jiao and Liu Che.

Seeing him, Liu Che frowned: "Today is your mother's wedding, why are you only arriving now?"

Cao Xiang heard the Empress aunt's blame, and naturally felt guilty in his heart. He hurriedly said: "I hope it's not too late for this nephew to arrive now."

A Jiao smiled: "Hurry in, your mother will be happy to hear your blessing."

Cao Xiang straightened up and grinned: "Thank you, Uncle." Then he turned and ran into the mansion.

A Jiao said to Liu Che: "Let's go back."

After Liu Li ate dinner alone in the Jiaofang Hall, she didn't go to sleep, but waited in the room for A Jiao and Liu Che to return.

Anyway, she was bored, so Liu Li simply lay on her little desk and taught Erya to read, and also taught her the bead-calculation formulas that were required to be memorized in the Imperial Academy.

Liu Li had indeed wanted to take Erya to the Imperial Academy before, but Liu Che said that currently, no one in the Imperial Academy brought maids, so as a Princess, she couldn't start this precedent.

Liu Li thought about it and felt it made sense, so she gave up taking Erya to the Imperial Academy. However, when she studied in the Jiaofang Hall, Erya would take the initiative to help her grind ink, so Liu Li acted like a little teacher, teaching Erya to read while doing her homework.

Erya, who didn't know a single word before, could now write her own name.

Qiao came in to pass the message: "Princess, the Emperor and Empress have returned."

Hearing this, Liu Li hurriedly put down the pen in her hand: "Great, I'm coming." She handed the paper and pen to Erya: "Erya, you practice writing obediently here."

Erya grabbed the pen and nodded vigorously: "Alright." Her not-so-white little face was stained with ink in several places at some point.

Liu Li went to welcome her parents, but before she reached them, she smelled the very obvious smell of alcohol on them. Liu Li deliberately pinched her little nose: "Wow, Father, Mother, how much alcohol did you drink?"

"Why did you get up? Weren't you feeling unwell?" Liu Che was kept in the dark and didn't know that Liu Li's so-called discomfort was actually pretending to be sick. On the way back to the palace, Liu Che was still worried about how Liu Li was doing.

Liu Li blinked her eyes and said: "Daughter is already better."

A Jiao reached out and pinched her soft little face, gently saying: "It's very late, let's talk about anything tomorrow." Looking at Liu Li's excited expression, A Jiao guessed that things must have gone very smoothly. She also drank a lot of alcohol tonight, so it was better to talk about it tomorrow.

"Alright." Liu Li nodded, but looked at Liu Che: "Mother, I want to ask you for a book."

"What book?" Liu Che felt it was strange: "Now that you can debate with Dong Zhongshu, what book do you still need?"

Liu Li pursed her lips and replied: "It's the 'Huainanzi' that the Huainan King presented to Father during the Jianyuan period."

Liu Che's brain paused slightly: "'Huainanzi'?"

"Yeah, yeah, I want to see 'Huainanzi'." Liu Li looked at Liu Che with anticipation.

"What's good about that kind of book?" Liu Che sneered and said: "I probably burned it."

Liu Li: "???"

A Jiao couldn't bear to see Liu Li being deceived by Liu Che, raised her eyebrows and said: "If I remember correctly, 'Huainanzi' should be in the book cabinet of the Teaching Hall. If A Li wants to see it, you can ask someone to find it for you."

The purpose of Liu An compiling "Huainanzi" back then was actually to negate the political reforms Liu Che wanted to carry out. Liu An himself was a supporter of Huang-Lao theory, and the content in "Huainanzi" was influenced by "Zhuangzi," mostly about Huang-Lao Daoist theories.

After Liu Che read a little bit of the content in "Huainanzi," he almost burned these books, but in the end, they were stopped by A Jiao and stored in the book cabinet of the Teaching Hall.

After Liu Li knew where "Huainanzi" was, she smiled and said to her parents: "Then Father and Mother, hurry up and rest; A Li won't disturb you."

Liu Che still couldn't help but ask: "Why do you want to see 'Huainanzi'?"

"Just curious about what's written inside, so I want to see it." Liu Li naturally wouldn't tell Liu Che that she wanted to find answers in "Huainanzi."

"Just looking is fine, don't be influenced by the content in that book." Liu Che warned, worried that Liu Li would be led astray by "Huainanzi."

Liu Li nodded: "Mother, don't worry, I'm just looking, how could I be influenced so easily? I'm not a child."

Liu Che raised an eyebrow, raised his hand, and tapped Liu Li's head lightly: "You are only six years old, how are you not a child?"

Liu Li: "..." Why does this conversation feel familiar, as if it was said during the day?

Watching her parents walk toward the bedchamber, Liu Li turned and walked toward the book cabinet, calling Zhuqing and Qiao to help her hold the lamp; she was going to find "Huainanzi" from the book cabinet.

Zhuqing and Qiao were illiterate and couldn't help Liu Li find it. Fortunately, the book cabinet of the Jiaofang Hall was not very large, and there were some books Liu Li had already read; she just needed to check the places she hadn't read.

In the hour search, Liu Li finally found a box in the corner of the bookshelf. She opened the box, took out a bamboo slip from it, looked at it by the candlelight, and saw the three characters "Huainanzi" written on it.

Finally found it!

Who would have thought that all the bamboo slips in this whole box were Huainanzi?

Liu Li called two guards to help her carry this box of books back to the room. By the brighter candlelight in the room, Liu Li took out all the bamboo slips in the box and lined them up in order.

There were more than ten bamboo slips here. Liu Li picked one at random and unfolded it to read, discovering that this belonged to the content of the middle chapter of "Huainanzi." The preface introduced that "Huainanzi" had three parts: inner, middle, and outer. The inner chapter discusses Dao, the middle chapter talks about health preservation, and the outer chapter is miscellaneous studies.

At that time, Liu Che read the Daoist theories in the inner chapter and felt angry, so he didn't read any further.

The books in this box were basically the middle chapter and several outer chapters. Because the light was too dim, and they were bamboo slip books, Liu Li read them very hard. In the end, she had to give up and wait until tomorrow when it was bright to read.

Liu Li's sneaking into Liu Ling's bedchamber was not discovered by Liu Ling. Liu Ling called Chu Fu from far away but didn't get useful information from Chu Fu, so she put this matter aside for the time being.

Even on Wei Zifu's side, Liu Ling didn't contact her again, as if she were brewing some big move.

Liu Li took a volume of "Huainanzi" to the Imperial Academy every day. While other students were studying hard, she was reading "Huainanzi" seriously.

As Liu Li read more of "Huainanzi," she discovered that most of the health preservation formulas in the middle chapter of "Huainanzi" were about health preservation through the harmony of Yin and Yang. It was not difficult to see that among the authors who compiled "Huainanzi," there must be descendants of the Yin-Yang School.

The preface of "Huainanzi" had already marked the names of the compilers. Liu Li took a rough look and instantly matched these people with the legendary Eight Immortals of Huainan. So among these eight people, who was the one from the Yin-Yang School?

The health preservation chapter was really nothing to look at, but the content in the remaining outer chapters was more interesting; most of them were some ancient mythological stories. Among them, a story of "Zhuanxu's Resurrection as a Fish Woman" caught Liu Li's attention.

This story was cited from "Classic of Mountains and Seas" and was classified as a mythological story by "Huainanzi." It is said that Zhuanxu was the grandson of the Yellow Emperor and one of the "Five Emperors." When Zhuanxu died, a strong wind blew from the sea, turning the snakes on the ground into fish. And the dead Zhuanxu took advantage of the snake turning into a fish to entrust his body to the fish's body, and from then on, he was resurrected. People called the fish combined with Zhuanxu the fish woman. In "Huainanzi," the fish woman was also considered "Fish Fu," the female leader of the tribe.

After reading this mythological story, Liu Li inexplicably associated it with the soul swap between A Jiao and Liu Che, as well as A Jiao's rebirth. If Liu Ling liked this "Huainanzi" compiled by her father, and if Liu Ling also saw this mythological story, then when she discovered the abnormality of A Jiao and Liu Che, it wouldn't be strange for her to have some associations.

Perhaps she was inspired by this mythological story.

No wonder Liu Ling was so smart; with a father like Liu An who had such deep academic culture, it would be strange if she weren't smart.

Fortunately, Liu Ling didn't understand Yin-Yang study and couldn't see that there was a problem with the Emperor and Empress as straightforwardly as Chu Fu. Liu Li secretly planned in her heart that she must first win Chu Fu over to her side.

Regardless of whether Chu Fu's Yin-Yang theory made sense, if such a person was used by others, it would definitely not be a good thing. But Liu Ling watched Chu Fu very closely; how could she see Chu Fu again?

And the spies arranged to go to the Huainan Kingdom to inquire about news, she didn't know if they had heard any useful information. Liu Li became more and more curious about Liu Ling's own story.

In the blink of an eye, it was the end of the eleventh month, and the weather was getting colder. However, this year, Liu Li didn't need to wear many clothes to keep warm. She luxuriously spent 1000 points to redeem a very thick down jacket from the system mall.

When the twelfth month came, she only needed to wear the down jacket inside.

And the matter of the Empress Dowager wanting her granddaughter to marry the Huainan King's Crown Prince seemed to have been decided in the correspondence between Liu Ling and the Huainan King. Liu Qian would marry the Empress Dowager's granddaughter, Jin E, as the Crown Princess in the spring of the fifth year of Yuanguang.

Regarding this marriage, Liu Che was happy to see it happen. His meaning was that since the Huainan King could arrange for Liu Ling to come to Chang'an, why not let his nephew marry into Huainan to monitor the Huainan King's family.

Liu Li quietly complained to A Jiao: "In this way, the seniority is messed up."

According to normal seniority, the Huainan King's Crown Prince Liu Qian is Liu Che's cousin, and Jin E is Liu Che's niece. After these two get married, is it possible that I have to call you cousin, and you call me uncle?

A Jiao was open-minded: "Fortunately, I am not very familiar with Liu Qian."

The weather was getting colder, and the time for dawn was delayed, and the time for dark was even earlier. Liu Li suggested to the Imperial Academy to give the students a winter vacation and come back to class after the spring.

In fact, because the weather was cold, the doctors of the Imperial Academy didn't want to come to class either. With Liu Li's suggestion, everyone went with the flow and asked the Emperor for instructions, requesting a vacation for the students.

After A Jiao approved, everyone didn't have to get up early to go to school anymore.

Liu Li also happily put on her new down jacket. Compared to those big furs made of animal fur, she still felt that the down jacket was warm.

She herself was not cold after putting on the down jacket, but every time she saw Zhuqing, Qiao, and the palace maids serving her shivering, Liu Li didn't feel very good in her heart.

It had only been a few days in the twelfth month, and many palace maids couldn't add clothes. Only when it was colder could everyone wear slightly thicker clothes.

If it weren't for the fact that the points for a down jacket were too expensive, she wouldn't mind redeeming a piece of clothing for everyone around her.

Wait... Liu Li suddenly thought, could she make a down jacket belonging to the Western Han according to the method of the down jacket?

Cotton couldn't be planted, but the down inside the down jacket should be easy to obtain!

Most of the down in the down jacket is duck down and goose down. As long as there is enough duck down and goose down, can't it be made into a down jacket?

Liu Li patted her head and immediately jumped up to find A Jiao, telling her her idea.

A Jiao had also experienced the warmth of Liu Li's down jacket before, so after hearing Liu Li's idea, she also felt it could be done. The Weiyang Palace naturally didn't have so much duck down and goose down, so she could only go to the people to collect it.

Since it was to be collected, it must cost money. Since it was to cost money, she had to find the Grand Minister of Agriculture, Sang Hongyang.

Liu Li excitedly went to find Sang Hongyang, asking him to order the establishment of official stations to call on the people to sell the hair of poultry such as chickens, ducks, and geese.

Sang Hongyang didn't understand at first what Liu Li wanted so many poultry hairs for. When he heard that it was to make clothes, he was shocked: "Can the hair of these poultry be used to make clothes?"

Liu Li knew he wouldn't believe it, so she specifically took out a tuft of down cut from the down jacket from her pocket to show him: "Look, this thing is very warm."

Whether a small tuft of down is warm or not, Sang Hongyang didn't know, but since Princess Jianling said it was warm, it must be warm.

So he earnestly noted down the requirements Liu Li put forward: poultry feathers without feather stems. Afterward, he arranged for people to go to the major markets in Chang'an City to promote the collection of poultry down.

Sang Hongyang's efficiency was very fast. In just two days, he had collected several baskets of down.

These down were sent to the workshop in the palace specifically for making clothes. Liu Li directed several palace maids to use bags to pack the down, and then put them in hot water for cleaning and drying.

As early as when collecting feathers, the weavers responsible for making clothes in the palace began to make the outer lining of the down jacket according to the appearance of the clothes Liu Li drew. After these down were dried and fluffy, they were filled into the clothes, and then sewn up, and a simple down jacket was made.

The two pieces of clothing just made naturally had to be given to the Emperor and Empress to try on first.

Liu Li personally took the two pieces of clothing back to the Jiaofang Hall and saw Liu Che roasting by the heater. She jumped in front of Liu Che: "Mother."

Liu Che looked up at her: "You haven't seen you for most of the day, where did you go?" Saying that, he reached out and took a feather stuck on Liu Li's head: "I heard you asked Sang Hongyang to collect a lot of poultry feathers, what are you planning to do with the down jacket?"

Liu Li nodded with a smile: "Yes." She sent a newly made down jacket to Liu Che like a treasure: "Mother, try it and see if it fits."

There was a trace of hesitation in Liu Che's eyes as he took this piece of clothing that had almost no weight from his daughter's hand: "This... is the down jacket?"

"Yeah, the design is a bit simple, but it should be very warm to wear, warmer than the fur coat you wore before." Liu Li stared at Liu Che, hoping he would try on the clothes she designed herself quickly and praise herself fiercely.

Liu Che raised his eyebrows slightly, turned his eyes to meet her round eyes, his heart softened inexplicably, so he unconsciously responded to her request, first took off the clothes on his body, and put on this so-called down jacket.

It didn't seem to feel anything special.

"Wear this piece of clothing outside again." Liu Li reminded: "It will be warm after wearing it for a while."

Seeing Liu Che put on all the clothes, Liu Li said: "These down are filled into the fabric after being cleaned and fixed with silk by the weavers, so it's not easy to lose hair, and it should be very warm."

This is pure handmade, 100% down-filled down jacket. If it were in modern times, it would at least be at the level of being auctioned, and it is more valuable than the ordinary down jacket on her body.

"It seems... it's really warm!" Liu Che had already felt the temperature on his body, warm and even didn't need a heater.

"I said it was warm." Hearing this, Liu Li also smiled happily. She picked up another piece of clothing: "Then I'll send this one to Mother."

A Jiao was in the Xuanshi Hall at this time. Because Liu Che was afraid of the cold, he was lazy and didn't go over. Anyway, there was nothing to do recently, and Liu Che felt that A Jiao could already handle some small things independently.

"I'll send it." Liu Che put on the down jacket; he felt he was not afraid of the cold, so he decided to go there in person.

Liu Li nodded: "Alright then, then I'll go to the workshop and let the palace maids prepare a few more." There was still a lot of down left; if they continued to make it, they could make five or six more pieces of clothing.

Father and daughter walked out of the Jiaofang Hall together. Liu Che suddenly asked: "A Li, why didn't you think of making this down jacket last year?"

Hearing Liu Che's question, Liu Li blinked her eyes and showed a clear and shy smile: "Because Father didn't like A Li last year."

Hearing this, Liu Che reached out and pinched her cheek: "How long are you going to keep this matter on your lips?"

Liu Li patted his hand away: "Depends on the mood."

In fact, last year, Liu Li had thought about it, but at that time, Liu Che's favorability for her was only 30 points, and his relationship with A Jiao was also strange. How could she dare to do this?

And at that time, Sang Hongyang's economic reform hadn't succeeded yet, but now it's different.

Liu Li closed her eyes and glanced at Liu Che's favorability for her, which had reached 70 points, and felt beautiful in her heart. Of course, she knew that 70 points were far from enough.

Her goal is 100 points!

Liu Li took the carriage to the workshop, while Liu Che went to the Xuanshi Hall.

When entering the Xuanshi Hall, Liu Che met Sang Hongyang who came to report on work. Sang Hongyang saluted Liu Che: "Seen the Empress."

Liu Che raised his eyebrows: "Grand Minister of Agriculture, you came at this time, is there anything?"

Sang Hongyang didn't hide it and said: "A batch of down has also been collected in markets such as Luoyang and Chengdu. I have some ideas and want to communicate with the Emperor."

"Oh." Liu Che said: "Is it about making clothes?"

"Exactly."

Liu Che pretended to reveal the down jacket he was wearing unintentionally and said: "A Li is really filial. She collected so many down and the first piece of clothing made was given to me. Not to mention, the clothes made of poultry are really warm."

Saying that, he looked at the thin Sang Hongyang with his peripheral vision and pretended to care: "Grand Minister of Agriculture, it's so cold, you should wear more clothes. After all, you don't have a thoughtful daughter like A Li to make you a down jacket."

Sang Hongyang: "???" Why did the Empress use such a sarcastic tone to talk to him? He seemed... not to have offended her either?

However, given the Empress's concern for him, Sang Hongyang raised his sleeve, showed Liu Che the down jacket he was wearing, and said: "Empress, you don't know, but before the Princess proposed to use down to make clothes to me, she had already made one for me to try on. Only after confirming that it was really warm did she collect down in large quantities and make clothes to offer to the Emperor and Empress."

Liu Che: "..." So he was not the first person to wear a down jacket, but Sang Hongyang was?!

In the end, was it that he, the father, didn't deserve to wear it first? Liu Che glared at Sang Hongyang and walked into the Xuanshi Hall, suppressing the anger in his heart.

Inside the Xuanshi Hall, the heater was still burning. Liu Che walked to A Jiao's side and handed the clothes to her: "The down jacket A Li made, this is yours."

Hearing this, A Jiao's eyes showed surprise:

As he spoke, he glanced at the thin-framed Sang Hongyang and pretended to be concerned: "Grand Minister of Agriculture, in such cold weather, you should wear more clothes. After all, you don't have a thoughtful daughter like A Li to make you a down jacket."

Sang Hongyang: "???" Why was the Empress speaking to him in such a sarcastic tone? He didn't seem to have offended him, did he?

However, out of gratitude for the Empress's concern, Sang Hongyang lifted his sleeve to show Liu Che the down jacket he was wearing, then said, "Your Majesty might not know, but when the Princess first proposed using down to make clothes to this minister, she made one for me to try on first. Only after confirming it was truly warm did she begin purchasing down in large quantities to make clothes to offer to the Emperor and Your Majesty."

Liu Che: "..." So he was not the first person to wear a down jacket, but Sang Hongyang was?!

Was he, as a father, ultimately unworthy of being the first to wear one? Liu Che glared at Sang Hongyang and, suppressing the anger in his heart, walked into the Xuanshi Hall.

A heater was still burning inside the Xuanshi Hall. Liu Che walked to A Jiao's side and handed the clothes to her: "The down jacket A Li made; this one is yours."

Upon hearing this, a look of surprise appeared in A Jiao's eyes: "The clothes are finished."

Liu Che said irritably: "What are you happy about? The first one she made was for Sang Hongyang to wear. In her heart, Sang Hongyang is probably more important than both you and me."

A Jiao glanced at Liu Che and said confidently: "I believe that in A Li's heart, my position definitely exceeds Sang Hongyang's. As for you... that's hard to say."

Liu Che: "..."

After A Jiao put on the down jacket, Sang Hongyang also walked into the main hall. He gave a rough summary of the down collection situation to A Jiao and then said: "Currently, government offices have been set up everywhere to collect down, and results have been seen. The various feudal lords and merchants still do not know what the Emperor intends to do with the down. This minister suggests arranging for weavers in various places to make clothes according to the method proposed by the Princess, and first sell them to the feudal lords and merchants at a premium price. This way, the capital spent on collecting feathers these past few days can be recovered."

After listening, A Jiao raised her eyebrows and said: "Perhaps you can increase the intensity of collecting feathers, collect almost everyone's feathers, and then sell the clothes. The first down jacket will indeed be very rare, but as time goes on, people might imitate it themselves, and it won't be worth much. By then, whether you use the feathers you collected at a low price to make clothes to sell, or sell the feathers directly, you can still make a profit."

Sang Hongyang listened to the Emperor's suggestion and clicked his tongue in wonder: "Your Majesty, when did you learn this way of making money?"

A Jiao smiled: "When you and A Li were discussing selling potatoes earlier, I was influenced by it." In fact, it was still because Liu Li often talked about these things with A Jiao; after a long time, she herself had figured out a few tricks.

Sang Hongyang quickly said: "Understood, this minister will do as the Emperor wishes."

"Good." A Jiao nodded slightly and watched Sang Hongyang leave. When she came back to her senses, she met Liu Che's scrutinizing gaze.

"Why are you looking at me like that?"

Liu Che slowly withdrew his gaze, lowered his eyes, and smiled faintly: "I never realized before that A Jiao also had the potential to be a merchant."

This year or so of swapping time was clearly not very long, but for some reason, Liu Che felt as if he had forgotten what the old A Jiao was like. What he saw and interacted with had all become this A Jiao before him, who wore his own appearance.

From the panic and caution when handling government affairs to now, she could face the Inner Court officials alone and even offer suggestions to Sang Hongyang.

She seemed like a stumbling child who was gradually growing into an adult, capable of handling things on her own.

Liu Che felt he should be happy for A Jiao, but... happy my foot! If she can handle things on her own,

then what about me?!