Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 562 - 561: Audience with Li Shimin (Part 1)
Two people, each lost in their thoughts, silently watched the movie for a while.
Seeing the male protagonist in the movie travel through time to find the girl he likes, Lin Wanwan felt a bit nervous and suddenly spoke up: "Mr. Lu, the Tang history you talked about today was really interesting. What kind of ruler do you think Li Shimin was?"
Lu Shouyue kept his gaze on the TV and responded calmly, "A wise and strategic leader, ruthless and decisive, excellent in both military and governance—a remarkable emperor."
Lin Wanwan murmured, "I wonder if he was really as tolerant of others as history describes."
"He was one of the five emperors in history who didn’t kill his meritorious officials, so in that regard, he certainly had some tolerance. Just don’t cross him on key issues, otherwise, he would settle scores later."
Lin Wanwan nodded and said, "True, those who didn’t support him initially were later dealt with. Once his position was secured, Pei Ji was demoted."
She paused and then asked, "Mr. Lu, which ancient emperor do you like the most?"
Seeing Lin Wanwan was not interested in the romance movie, Lu Shouyue looked at her and assumed a chatting posture: "I like Emperor Qin Shi Huang, though he’s criticized for thousands of years, historically he wasn’t so brutal. He didn’t kill his meritorious officials nor was he indulgent in beauty, just because he burned books and buried Confucian scholars, he was slandered by those holding the pen. What about you, which monarch do you like?"
Lin Wanwan thought for a while and suddenly laughed: "Actually, I also like Emperor Shi. If I could time travel to the Qin Dynasty, I’d give him a world map and let him conquer the entire world, so we wouldn’t have to learn English now—the later emperors would find conquering the world quite difficult."
"Oh, is that so? I thought you might like Emperor Taizong, since I met you, you’ve been particularly interested in the Great Tang, even the antiques you collect are related to the Tang."
"Ah? Really?" Lin Wanwan turned her head, hugging a pillow as she recalled.
The two continued chatting about history, mostly with Lu Shouyue educating Lin Wanwan, while she listened intently.
The alcohol gradually took effect, combined with the warmth of the air conditioning and Lu Shouyue’s gentle voice, she felt somewhat drowsy.
Later, she didn’t know when she fell asleep, but in the early morning before dawn, she opened her eyes and found herself lying on the bed fully clothed, and Lu Shouyue had already left.
On the table, one of the pair of mugs was missing the male-design.
That morning, Lin Wanwan went to the museum again, and returned to the little courtyard at noon to change clothes and travel back in time to the Great Tang.
The sky in the Great Tang was also about to brighten.
Sleeping soundly as always, little Qingyu continued to sleep soundly, Lin Wanwan quietly got out of bed, dressed herself, and pushed the door open to fetch hot water for washing.
A maid was already waiting next door, and upon hearing her door opening, came over to serve her.
The courtyard where the Pang Family resided was quite small by aristocratic standards, a bit cramped, but Lin Wanwan didn’t mind.
However, Xiao Yi Xun obviously hadn’t slept well. While having breakfast together, Lin Wanwan noticed slight dark marks under her eyes, which instead of making her look haggard, added an adorable charm akin to a panda.
Lin Wanwan asked her a few questions out of concern, offering to let her go home to rest, which she refused.
After exchanging a few casual words with Xiao Yixun, Lin Wanwan returned to her room to prepare.
Having submitted her name card yesterday, word came from the palace for her to enter today.
She would meet the Emperor in the afternoon, and Lin Wanwan was quite nervous.
She took out the Glazed Mirror and her personal stash of cosmetics, choosing a Chanel foundation and applying it even on her neck.
This European foundation was slightly yellow in hue, making Lin Wanwan look less pale, while she didn’t apply any other makeup.
Li Shimin, historically, forcefully took his third brother’s wife, and unofficial history claims he even brought in Empress Xiao, his mother-in-law, into the harem—his reputation with women wasn’t great, so Lin Wanwan could not underestimate him.
A monarch focused on the empire probably wouldn’t be interested in her, but even a slight interest would be trouble for her.
For Li Shimin, women are either political pawns (like his third brother’s wife) or mere entertainment, adding one more in the palace is no big deal to him.
The likes of Wu Meiniang and Consort Xu Hui were all brought into the palace by Li Shimin this way.
Therefore, Lin Wanwan couldn’t dress too flamboyantly; low profile was the way to go, but she couldn’t intentionally make herself appear unattractive either—the emperor wasn’t a fool.
Applying this slightly yellow foundation to make herself appear pale and unattractive was just right.
Watching Lin Wanwan finish applying her foundation, Hua Nong asked innocently, "Madam, you look a bit unwell today, didn’t sleep well?"
"I slept well." Lin Wanwan wasn’t offended, she looked in the mirror and said to Hong Yan, "Make a more mature and steady hairstyle, this one is too lively."
"Alright."
When Lin Wanwan finished and left the room, the mansion was already bustling.
Pang Youqi, the uncle of the Pang Family, had a small official position, didn’t need to attend the grand imperial court meetings, but had to go to work. He had already ridden out.
The Pang Family’s residence in Jinchang Square was quite far from the Imperial City, and inside Chang’an City, horse-riding was forbidden, so Pang Youqi had to leave for work at dawn right after the curfew ended, far more arduous than modern-day workers.
Mrs. Xiao had gathered with her sister-in-law, Mrs. Xu, Pang Family’s daughter-in-law Mrs. Sun, and Aunt Pang, talking with Lin Wanwan, while little Qingyu and the maids were playing by the rockery.
The main topic among the women was Lin Wanwan’s upcoming audience with the Emperor.
Mrs. Xu had seen the empress consort, Zhangsun, from afar once, but as for meeting the Emperor, she had no experience, so she passed on the etiquette and rules she learned from seeing the empress to Lin Wanwan.
At noon, Lin Wanwan dressed in her complete Lady’s Court Attire, with Hong Yan, her personal maid, by her side, Kun Lun driving the carriage, and the Pang Family’s servant riding a donkey leading the way.
The carriage traveled for a long time before finally approaching the Imperial City.
The group continued along the eastern palace wall of the Imperial City for two or three more miles, arriving at Yanxi Gate.
Presented her name card to the guards of the Imperial Guard, was questioned, and allowed inside.
Passing through the ten-plus-meter-long gate tunnel, inside was the transverse street, 441 meters wide.
On the south side of the transverse street was the Imperial City, while the north side was the Imperial Palace, the atmosphere was especially solemn.
After walking a few hundred meters, they arrived at Changle Gate. Lin Wanwan, assisted by Hong Yan, alighted from the carriage.
Through Changle Gate was the Imperial Palace—Kun Lun and Hong Yan weren’t allowed inside, so they waited outside the palace gate.
A female official from the Shangyi Bureau, Chen Dianzan, was already waiting at the palace gate to welcome Lin Wanwan.
Chen Dianzan was specialized in guiding noblewomen in their court visits.
Her task was clear: to lead Lin Wanwan the way, teach her court etiquette, and remind her of precautions.
Changle Gate had three passageways, Lin Wanwan could only take the side entrance; the middle gate was reserved for the empress.
The east Changle Gate was mainly used for ministers; Lin Wanwan, as an outer noblewoman, typically entered from the western gate. But today, she wasn’t visiting concubines but meeting the Emperor, so she took Changle Gate.
