Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 621 - 619: The Dugu Clan

The flower banquet naturally wouldn’t be just about appreciating flowers; in an era like the Great Tang, so keen on singing and dancing, the sound of music and dance was indispensable.

Lin Wanwan attended the banquet this time, bringing gifts bought locally from the Great Tang. Although they matched her identity, compared to the gift Empress Xiao gave her upon meeting, they seemed rather thoughtless.

She had silently made up her mind to, upon her return, buy a high-quality peony developed through modern high-tech methods, and give it to Empress Xiao in return as a gesture of goodwill.

She had seen that Empress Xiao genuinely loved flowers, especially peonies.

As the event was lively, suddenly a gatekeeper came to report: "The Duke Song’s wife has arrived, accompanied by her niece from her mother’s family."

Lin Wanwan was pondering who it might be when Empress Xiao turned and said with a smile: "My sister-in-law hasn’t left the house for many years, yet she has come today; let us welcome her."

Sister-in-law?

Lin Wanwan was a bit slow to react but understood the next moment.

The Duke Song’s wife was none other than Xiao Yu’s wife, the first-ranked titled lady of the Dugu Family! Indeed, she was Empress Xiao’s direct sister-in-law!

Xiao Yu and Empress Xiao were born of the same mother. Back when Empress Xiao married Yang Guang, she brought Xiao Yu to raise him by her side.

Yang Guang thus felt very close to this brother-in-law, not to mention the strong bond between Xiao Yu and Empress Xiao as siblings.

Empress Xiao was deeply loved by Empress Dowager Dugu, who also cherished everything related to her and arranged her family’s niece from the Dugu Family to marry her brother, Xiao Yu, thus strengthening family ties.

Xiao Chong’s grandmother, Lady Dugu, also had a remarkable background, being born from the Dugu Family, with three aunts—one was the Beizhou Empress, one was the Sui Dynasty’s Empress (mother of Yang Guang), and another was the Li Tang’s Yuan Zhen Empress (mother of Li Yuan and grandmother of Li Shimin).

She, like her husband Xiao Yu, regardless of how the dynasty changed, their powerful network remained unaffected.

Empress Xiao spoke this directly to Lin Wanwan, thinking that Lady Dugu was likely here on her account?

Lin Wanwan remembered that Xiao Chong had said he was personally raised by his grandparents as a child. So... was Lady Dugu really here to see her?

The last time, before Xiao Chong asked Li Shimin for the marriage decree, she was invited by Princess Xiangcheng to a spring banquet at their house, but she didn’t meet the old lady nor the stepmother.

On this occasion at the venue of Empress Xiao, she managed to meet all of them.

But in the end, their relationship was purely nominal.

Alas! Lin Wanwan suddenly felt herself getting pulled deeper; if they kept interacting like this, what was to be done? Wasn’t it all leading to make-believe?

Soon, Lady Dugu arrived accompanied by a young girl with flower-like beauty, walking into the pavilion where they appreciated flowers and drank tea.

Empress Xiao held Lin Wanwan’s arm to welcome her, along with Xiao Chong’s stepmother, Xiao Wu Shi.

"Sister-in-law, it’s a rare pleasure; how’s your health lately?"

"Sister, my apologies; everything’s fine. I heard at the residence that today was lively here, and couldn’t help wanting to join in." Lady Dugu was a graceful woman in her fifties.

Though younger than Empress Xiao, she appeared older just by looking at their appearances, yet her features still retained traces of her former beauty.

After all, she is historically known as the granddaughter of the handsome Dugu Xin; how could her looks falter being from the Dugu Family, known for having no unattractive members?

In this world, you wonder if it’s fair; some people are born with higher status, and coincidentally, their appearance is also unattainably striking.

Passed down through generations of beauty genes, the members of these old families couldn’t appear unattractive even if they tried.

Especially the Lanling Xiao Family and Yun Zhong Dugu Family, famed for their many beauties.

Therefore, being a descendant of a union between these two families explains why Xiao Chong is so extraordinarily handsome. He also possesses the intelligent bloodline from Gu Yewang’s lineage, clearly inherited all the best traits—an expert in choosing whom to be born to.

Once Lady Dugu and Empress Xiao finished their greetings, everyone stepped forward to pay respects, with Lin Wanwan mingling among them to perform a courtesy bow to Lady Dugu.

Outdoors, one does not need to perform solemn bow rituals; it’s the same etiquette for everyone.

After Lin Wanwan finished her bow, Empress Xiao cheerfully remarked to Lady Dugu: "Sister-in-law, this is Wanwan, you haven’t met her yet, right? She’s quite delightful; I’m very fond of her."

Lady Dugu then seriously cast her gaze upon Lin Wanwan, nodding with a smile, though her eyes remained calm.

Xiao Chong was raised by her hand, so naturally, the granddaughter-in-law she liked should be from her own Dugu Family.

But grandchildren have their own minds; Xiao Chong has always been rebellious, even his father can’t control him; as a grandmother, there’s even less to say.

Though according to law and custom, marriage is decided by parental command and matchmaker’s words, children who disobey are punished physically.

But if they strictly followed Tang law and sent Xiao Chong to the government office for a beating, they couldn’t bring themselves to do it.

After all, Xiao Chong being Xiao Yu’s eldest grandson, lacking maternal affection, how could the elderly couple bear it? They say younger sons and eldest grandchildren are the lifeline of the grandmother.

With Xiao Kai now having only Xiao Chong left as his sole heir, he definitely wouldn’t be dealt with harshly.

The flower banquet continued, and naturally, Lady Dugu and Empress Xiao, being the highest in both status and seniority, were at the center.

While Lin Wanwan and the niece Lady Dugu brought became secondary focal points.

Lin Wanwan several times felt the beautiful young girl’s curious gaze on her, and suspected her identity might indeed be Dugu Yan!

No need for much pondering; shortly after, when the elder relatives were chatting lively, Wu Shi came over to introduce them to each other.

For some reason, Lin Wanwan sensed a hint of a spectator enjoying the drama in Wu Shi’s behavior.

Dugu Yan was arrogant, never speaking to Lin Wanwan, and Lin Wanwan likewise had no intention of socializing with her.

Lin Wanwan sensed a slight hostility from Dugu Yan, but she didn’t mind at all.

Xiao Chong, as an aged youth of the Great Tang, failed to be captured by Dugu Yan after all these years, so it definitely wasn’t her problem.

Toward the end of the flower banquet, Empress Xiao suddenly said to Lin Wanwan: "Ah, my poor memory; today, focused solely on flowers, I forgot about another matter."

Lin Wanwan cooperatively asked: "Aunt, what did you forget?"

"I heard you’ve been studying medicine with Master Sun; coincidentally, I too am somewhat versed in medicine, but now that I’m older, dizzy spells occur often, and I can’t do it anymore. I have a chest of medical books at home, and today, I shall give them all to you; may you diligently propagate the master’s skills."

This announcement brought another wave of surprise to the gathering.

In ancient times, books were the essence of a family, its most precious treasure. Empress Xiao actually intended to pass on the medical books to Lin Wanwan, valuing her so highly; it was indeed unexpected by all.

What more could Lin Wanwan say, but express gratitude, obviously unable to refuse.

Such weighty fondness... all misplaced!

She was actually just a selfish person who hurt Xiao Chong.

Ultimately, when she returned to Mao County, she would give everything back to Xiao Chong.

No, ancient texts of excellence! Perhaps some were penned by renowned figures themselves; returning them to Xiao Chong would make them lost forever!

Maybe she should take them to the modern era, as they are indeed proofs of Huaxia civilization, the best means to refute those who quibble about Huaxia culture.

Moreover, surely they contained countless ancient formulas that had been lost; hiding them away would mean tarnishing a precious gem.

It’s better to use other valuable things in exchange. Hmm, Xiao Chong likes military-related items, she should thoroughly search once she returns to the modern age.