Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 555 - 554: The Scheming Xiao Chong

Lin Wanwan in the modern day takes only two and a half hours by plane from Yongcheng to the Ancient City.

Before starting her journey in the Great Tang, she already flew to the center of the Ancient City and rented a small courtyard that exudes the local style of Guan Zhong.

The cost of living in the Ancient City is much lower compared to Yu City and Yongcheng. For the same price, in Yu City, Lin Wanwan could only rent an apartment in the central area, whereas in the Ancient City, she could rent a small, tranquil courtyard amidst the hustle and bustle.

After renting the house, Lin Wanwan set up monitoring equipment at the door and refreshed the Space-Time Gate coordinates without even taking a close look, then returned to the modern day, flying back to Yu City non-stop, and then leisurely took a boat from the Great Tang’s Grand Canal to the Ancient City.

A journey that takes merely two or three hours in modern times takes more than half a month in the Great Tang.

This is thanks to the dredging of the Grand Canal; from Hangzhou to Eastern Capital Luoyang, it takes about half a month by boat.

Then from Luoyang, taking a carriage to Chang’an, plus the time for rest stops, would need five or six days. If still opting for the water route, it would take two or three days smoothly, but longer than land if encountering traffic jams and water flow and wind direction issues.

Of course, if one rides a fast horse without resting, the urgent journey of eight hundred li from Eastern Capital Luoyang to Chang’an takes merely a day’s time.

Lin Wanwan and her group planned to take the entire journey by water, expecting about half a month’s time.

Lin Wanwan has her own boat, why not take the water route, should she abandon the boat at the Eastern Capital dock?

On this day, the boat was close to Luoyang, and as a central link of the Grand Canal between north and south, Luoyang was no less prosperous compared to Chang’an.

Since ancient times, wherever transportation is developed, the economy would not be poor.

In modern society, they say "if you want wealth, build roads first", and it was the same in ancient times.

Lin Wanwan sat on a crescent stool, practicing calligraphy and sighing a half poem: "Everyone says Sui’s demise was because of this river, yet for a thousand miles, we still rely on the waves. If it weren’t for the Water Palace’s dragon boat, Yu’s merit couldn’t be compared."

"Good poem!" A calm male voice suddenly sounded from outside the window, "Although Emperor Yang of Sui indulged in grandiosity and hurt the people and squandered wealth, the construction of Luoyang and the north-south linking Grand Canal centered around Luoyang is indeed an indelible achievement. Our dynasty, after gaining the world, fully enjoys its construction results, and with the current Emperor’s remarkable talent and vision, a golden age is in prospect."

Lin Wanwan turned her head to look; who else could it be but Xiao Chong.

Seeing Lin Wanwan looking over, Xiao Chong rested one hand on the window, took off his shoes, and leaped in, saying carefreely, "Cousin’s thoughts are indeed out of the ordinary, very insightful, I admire you."

For the past half month, Lin Wanwan and Xiao Chong were not on the same boat, and she intentionally avoided him, not even disembarking during supply stops, so it’s been half a month since she last saw him.

Now seeing him directly appear on her boat, she was very shocked: "How did Cousin come here?"

"I was really bored, so I remembered your wine, Cousin. I performed Qinggong and came over, please don’t blame me, Cousin."

Xiao Chong explained with a calm expression, not feeling embarrassed for his impoliteness at all.

In fact, he was not the kind of person who followed rules, always carefree and unrestrained, even wayward and unconventional, otherwise, he wouldn’t be still unmarried at this age.

Looking at Xiao Chong in his moon-white brocade robe, with a smile in her eyes, Lin Wanwan couldn’t bring herself to sternly rebuke him to leave, so she could only bittersweetly smile and say, "Cousin, you’re going to get me in trouble doing this."

Xiao Chong restrained his smile and earnestly said, "I told you, I’ll be responsible for what happened on the night of Shangyuan. Cousin, don’t you believe me? This time going back to Chang’an, I’ll report to the elders to propose marriage."

Lin Wanwan didn’t want to talk about this topic, frowning slightly, she said, "Let’s discuss this later, now my mind is full of how to meet the Emperor."

She paused and quickly added, "Cousin, we’re almost at Luoyang, should we rest there for a while?"

Xiao Chong noticed Lin Wanwan’s attitude, his expression slightly tightened, but soon recovered, smiling calmly, "If Cousin wishes, I will naturally accompany you."

Lin Wanwan pondered for a while and sighed, "Forget it, I don’t really want to, let’s hurry to Chang’an."

She was about to meet Li Shimin, how could she have the mind to go sightseeing?

She didn’t even have time to think about romantic matters, her mind was full of thoughts on how to react when meeting Li Shimin and how to safely keep her secret.

Xiao Chong walked to Lin Wanwan’s side, sat naturally on the ground, tilted his head to look at her handwriting, and commented in a clear voice.

Lin Wanwan caught a faint fragrance from him, she didn’t even know what kind of fragrance it was, making her heart flutter.

This guy, it must be intentional! He usually doesn’t use incense; today he dressed up like a handsome peacock, even wearing the robe he wore when they met on Shangyuan night, and used incense! Too cunning! Is this the beauty trap?

As she was inwardly critiquing, Xiao Chong suddenly placed his hand over hers, teaching her to write hand-to-hand, smilingly saying, "Cousin, this horizontal and vertical stroke should be written like this to show more character."

With a "boom", Lin Wanwan’s entire blood was boiling due to his sudden closeness, her face flushed red, only noticing Xiao Chong’s lips moving, not hearing what he was actually saying.

Only the "thump thump thump" of heartbeats echoed in her ears, she didn’t know if it was hers or his.

Two little figures were fighting in her mind.

One said to push him away; he was taking advantage of you.

One said who is really taking advantage of whom? It seems she is enjoying it too!

Not until finishing this character did Xiao Chong let go of her hand and step back, then Lin Wanwan came back to her senses, glaring fiercely at Xiao Chong: "Cousin!"

Xiao Chong turned his head to look at her, unexpectedly pecked lightly on her pouting lips, with eyes deep as an abyss, he said enticingly, "Cousin, you have to take responsibility for me."

Listen! Listen to this, is this even human talk?

He obviously took liberties with her, yet wanted her to take responsibility!

He has thoroughly mastered reversing black and white!

"I have to take responsibility? Xiao Zifang! Do you even know what you’re saying?" Lin Wanwan huffed angrily, even forgetting to question him about being kissed again.

Xiao Chong’s expression didn’t change, "My heart is already with you, Cousin. Do you want to just flirt and not take responsibility?"

Lin Wanwan’s mouth twitched slightly, "Cousin, I didn’t expect you to say things like this."

Isn’t this a serious ancient man from the Great Tang? Ah! He is even more flirtatious than modern people!

Lin Wanwan pushed Xiao Chong away, got up to the window, biting her lip lightly, and turned her head with a serious expression, "Cousin, I haven’t thought it through yet."

Xiao Chong’s expression on his face didn’t change, he merely moved slowly to her side, looking down at her and said, "Cousin, what exactly are you afraid of? Is it my family, or leaving the Lin Family?

Now as Mao County’s County Magistrate, after we marry, you can continue living with me in Mao County. At least within three years, I can guarantee life won’t change."

With that, he stepped forward and lightly embraced Lin Wanwan, resting his head on her shoulder, frowning and saying, "Don’t push me away."

As clever as he was, how could he not notice Lin Wanwan’s hesitation and withdrawal, but he wouldn’t allow it, even if he had to resort to Sun Tzu’s Art of War or the Thirty-Six Stratagems, he was determined.