Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 563 - 562: Audience with Li Shimin (Part 2)

Chapter 563: Chapter 562: Audience with Li Shimin (Part 2)

As soon as Lin Wanwan entered Taiji Palace, she felt the oppressive force of feudal royalty bearing down on her, even the air seemed muffled by the palace walls.

Although she hadn’t entered Liangyi Palace yet, Lin Wanwan was already sweating nervously.

She shouldn’t have been nervous, she had a golden finger advantage, but everything around her was so solemn that Lin Wanwan couldn’t help but become tense.

Beside her, the female official Chen Dianzan quietly explained the rules to Lin Wanwan: never to face everyone directly (in the Tang Dynasty, eunuchs and female officials called the Emperor this), never to look around, to maintain decorous behavior, there were so many can’ts...an endless string of rules.

Oh my god, it was almost enough to make Lin Wanwan want to beat a retreat.

But what needed to be done still had to be done. While bowing to thank Chen Dianzan, Lin Wanwan surreptitiously handed over a few pearls she had been hiding in her hand.

Feeling the pearls, though unable to stoop to examine them, Chen Dianzan understood the gesture and looked at Lin Wanwan with some surprise. Such generosity! She then continued to elaborate on the etiquette with even more dedication.

Lin Wanwan, feeling guilty yet curious, was in a rather complicated mood.

She was about to meet the legendary Emperor Li Shimin of the Tang Dynasty, truly a moment to witness history!

Coming to the Tang Dynasty without meeting Li Shimin would be a wasted trip.

After walking for who knows how long, Lin Wanwan finally arrived outside Liangyi Palace where Li Shimin worked.

The majesty here was indescribable, but for Lin Wanwan, who had boldly entered the Three Treasures Hall of the Forbidden City (the film set version), what she saw here was minor.

Along the way, she encountered several squads of patrolling guards with swords looking spirited and impressive, yet none of the beautiful concubines piqued her interest—this path was clearly meant for officials from outside.

She mused about things for a while until a middle-aged man with a pale face and no facial hair emerged, announcing Lin Wanwan’s entry.

No need to be told, this man must be an eunuch who’s left a significant mark on history.

In the Tang Dynasty, they referred to these individuals lacking certain capabilities as eunuchs; the term eunuch was invented during Li Zhi’s reign, and not just anyone qualified for it—it was reserved for those among the castrated with high status.

Entering the hall after taking off her shoes, Lin Wanwan followed Chen Dianzan’s advice, keeping her gaze steady and her eyes lowered, moving forward solemnly, performing the humble bow (which was essentially a kneeling bow).

Don’t assume the Tang Dynasty was advanced enough to forgo kneeling bows; seating was so low that gestures of respect typically involved kneeling.

In fact, Lin Wanwan’s bow now was quite simple. She had researched before that during major festivals at court meetings, officials had to perform additional head-touching bows.

This involved officials, after each of the first two head-touching bows, twisting their hips, swinging their arms, stomping their feet—dancing wildly with no fixed steps, just freely dancing.

After dancing, they performed two more head-touching bows; the more enthusiastically they danced, the greater the respect shown to the Emperor. Anyone introverted with zero dance talent might struggle to blend in at the Great Tang court.

Lin Wanwan was merely attending a regular audience now, so the ceremonies could be simpler, as Chen Dianzan had previously advised her (after Wu Zetian came to power, women could avoid the solemn rites, bowing without kneeling, continuing until the late Qing Dynasty when women mainly performed the wanfu bow).

Lin Wanwan gazed at the floor and loudly said: "Your subject’s daughter is here to see the Emperor."

"No need for ceremony, be at ease." Li Shimin’s voice sounded stout and gentle like a neighborly big brother.

Raising her body, Lin Wanwan kept her eyes lowered, using only a bit of peripheral vision to observe Li Shimin, whom she saw was dressed casually in white without a beard, looking quite young.

"Are you that Wanwan from the Lin clan of Mao County?" Li Shimin asked for confirmation.

"Yes, Your Majesty, indeed it is your subject’s daughter."

Li Shimin scrutinized Lin Wanwan intently, his gaze unconcealed, with the audacity of a superior examining a subordinate, as if trying to see through her, making Lin Wanwan feel uncomfortable and lower her gaze further.

"According to the report from Minister Xiao, you apprenticed with a folk master and contributed the salt drying method which greatly benefited Jiangnan Road in salt production, alleviating the people’s salt shortage; additionally, you followed your master’s instructions to release sixteen volumes of medical texts containing unheard-of treatments that were miraculous and convenient, benefiting countless soldiers;

Furthermore, your fellow student, a Ranger brother, returned from overseas with high-yield crops like potatoes, sweet potatoes, and unique rice seeds, alleviating Mao County’s hunger crisis; you also understand the methods of cotton cultivation and manufacturing, relieving the people’s poverty.

You, your master, and your brother have all contributed to the Great Tang’s realm and society; you are of service to me, and a reward is warranted.

Is there any wish you would like to fulfill? Speak up, and I shall grant it."

Goodness! Li Shimin was too crafty, if you want to reward me, just do it, why ask me?

Who asks the recipient what they want before gifting them? Clearly insincere, lacking true intent!

Don’t you know one of Huaxia’s greatest virtues is modesty?!

You’ve made me travel far from Mao County just to satisfy your curiosity and now expect me to feel grateful for the favor of being summoned?

Why not straightforwardly bestow the reward, give mere lip service but no substance, treating people like naive fools, pulling a con?

This made her angry!

I’m not buying your act!

Lin Wanwan internally fumed and complained, yet outwardly expressed gratitude: "Your subject’s daughter is merely acting as a courier for her master and brother, offering these contributions is simply the duty of all Great Tang citizens, I dare not claim credit, nor dare seek rewards."

"Where resides your master now?" Li Shimin further inquired.

Lin Wanwan displayed sorrow: "My master has already departed from this world."

"Where is he buried? Did he leave a title?" Emperor Li Er pursued the inquiry.

He surely had been informed of such details but insisted on asking again.

Lin Wanwan was well-prepared: "My master neither believed in reincarnation nor worshipped deities, only showing compassion to all beings. Before his passing, he instructed my brother to cremate his remains and scatter the ashes over the verdant hills and clear waters, merging with the mountains forevermore. My master called himself the Qingshan Hermit, leaving no other titles."

"A truly remarkable person." Li Shimin was somewhat moved.

Cremation was basically the equivalent of grinding the bones to dust for the ancients, absolutely the greatest punishment.

For an emperor like Li Er seeking immortality, it was more or less a challenge to his worldview.

"And where is your brother now?"

"After my master departed, the mountains were hit by a flood, sweeping away our humble lodging. My brother told me to find my family down the mountain, while he took our dwelling and servants overseas, left to wander the world, without a trace, I don’t know."

With even the remnants unobtainable, and the disrespectful cremation to my master’s body being my brother’s doing.

My brother took everything from our school and all the servants, now they’re drifting on the vast sea, if you ask, I simply don’t know!

Deflecting everything, decisively and briskly!

But Emperor Li Er wasn’t easily deceived, he continued to ask Lin Wanwan several questions, thankfully she responded smoothly each time.

Keep questioning however you want, it’ll be on me if I slip.

During the twenty-plus days spent traveling by water to Chang’an, she had only focused on setting up this ploy, ensuring she wouldn’t fall into the kind of trap Xiao Chong had dug previously.