Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 707 - 702: Tough Days of Clocking In at Work
The next day, when Lin Wanwan was woken by the palace maid, she was still a bit groggy.
The rules in the palace are strict, even the Emperor rises early to handle state affairs, not to mention everyone else.
Whether favored or not, the concubines have to visit the Empress early in the morning to pay respects; sleeping in is impossible.
To think that traveling back in time to be a concubine would allow one to be lazy is mere fantasy; the daily routines and etiquette can be overwhelming.
Lin Wanwan’s hardest challenge upon entering the palace was facing the early mornings.
She was someone strong at staying up late but truly struggled with waking early.
Back when she first graduated and started working, she would clock in barely avoiding being late.
Later, she was lucky to find out the secret of the Space-Time Bracelet, and with its help, she achieved financial freedom, no longer needing to work nine to five. From then on, early rising was basically out of her life.
The last time she consistently woke early was when she was unexpectedly stuck at Lu Shouyue’s home in Hai City.
But this time was even more grueling because, shockingly, everyone in the palace starts working before dawn.
Although Lin Wanwan was the Le’an Village Lady and the palace’s most skilled worker, she didn’t have many people to serve, yet couldn’t sleep in. She was required to first go pay respects to Zhangsun early in the morning.
If she couldn’t wake up, naturally, others were tasked to wake her up.
Last night, after assisting with childbirth, Lin Wanwan stayed with Zhangsun for an hour in the delivery room.
The hour after childbirth is considered a dangerous period, as severe bleeding often occurs during this time.
Fortunately, such low-probability events did not occur with Empress Zhangsun.
Therefore, when Lin Wanwan left the delivery room, it was already late at night.
Before going to sleep, she would soak in the palace’s bathhouse and enjoy a personal massage from the palace maids.
I must say, soaking in a bath and having a massage before bed indeed helps with sleep and is quite comfortable.
Though wearing a swimsuit to take a bath is a bit strange, the palace maids were very aware of the rules and wouldn’t say much.
Apart from the two maids assigned to her personal service, no one else knew about Lin Wanwan’s peculiar bathing habit.
These two maids kept their mouths shut and did not treat this strange occurrence as a topic of gossip over meals.
Lin Wanwan was generous to them and had already rewarded them with several modern round, holeless pearls of about 8-9mm in size, cultured in modern seawater.
Although these cultured pearls are not worth much in modern times, just a few dozen bucks each;
In the Great Tang, the pearls she produced were very valuable, hence the two palace maids were extra attentive in serving her.
Gold, silver, and jewels are useful no matter where you go.
While washing up, Lin Wanwan asked about the little princess and Princess Zhangsun.
She learned that yesterday, right after the cleaning, the little princess was brought out of the delivery room, and Li Shimin joyfully named her Sizi, granting rewards to all palaces to celebrate together.
Lin Wanwan couldn’t help but sigh at how much of a "daughter’s slave" Li Shimin really was!
His most beloved legitimate third princess was born; one can imagine how treasured she’ll be.
Lin Wanwan decided to pay respects to Zhangsun, then promptly take her leave, as every extra minute spent there increased the risk of unforeseen events.
She didn’t want to serve Zhangsun well only to be mistaken for a pediatrician.
In the palace, she couldn’t eat well or sleep well, which was truly annoying.
Though it’s still three meals a day, all are uniformly distributed, no choice in dishes, eat whatever there is. As for summer fruits, only when higher-ranking concubines rewarded her did she get any to enjoy.
Her favorite summer fruit was the icy melon from the Western Regions, which was a tribute. Even the Emperor and Empress couldn’t indulge freely, so how could Lin Wanwan enjoy it?
The dozen days in the palace truly wore her out.
These clocking-in workdays were really hard to bear!
Today, Lin Wanwan’s breakfast was the distinct Great Tang millet porridge (similar to today’s millet porridge), and unexpectedly paired with a slice of watermelon and six grapes!
For the Imperial Palace, Lin Wanwan’s meal was indeed luxurious!
It seems the smooth birth of the little princess brought Li Shimin great joy, likely everyone in the palace received rewards.
Yet, distributed by slice and by grape? Haha! In modern times, everyone can have this aristocratic blessing!
Were it not for being trapped in Chang’an, Lin Wanwan could have daily transported watermelons and grapes from modern times to Lin Family Manor for everyone to enjoy!
Nowadays, in Chang’an, it took great effort to eat some watermelon and grapes. Shops selling openly in the city’s East and West markets had none; even when available, they were only circulated privately among wealthy Western Region merchants and noble circles.
These items were akin to special supplies from later eras; not something you could buy just by having money, requiring channels and conditions.
Lin Wanwan only ate one grape, gifting the rest to the two maids serving her.
It’s not that she held a deep belief in equality, insisting on splitting everything with servants, rather her palate had long been spoiled by the explosively sweet grapes from later times, so eating the sour, ancient grapes of 1,400 years ago was unbearable, her teeth would ache.
After finishing breakfast, Lin Wanwan went to pay respects to Empress Zhangsun.
Yesterday’s childbirth had drained much of her energy and vitality, and today she appeared weary.
After exchanging a few simple words with Lin Wanwan, she let her leave.
Since Zhangsun was in confinement and couldn’t be exposed to wind, she couldn’t enjoy the air-conditioning fans popular this summer in Chang’an either. Several large basins of ice were placed indoors for cooling, which didn’t provide much relief.
This confinement was hard for her.
Even as an Empress, the trials of confinement had to be endured!
She wasn’t as blessed as a modern middle-class mother, spending a few thousand to stay in a postpartum center; everyone from the mother to family could be comfortable.
Summer ice was a luxury in Chang’an, and Zhangsun was frugal, reluctant to use ice.
She couldn’t endure the long journey to the summer palace due to her physical condition. By the time she’s out of confinement, the severe late summer heat would nearly pass.
Though Lin Wanwan could produce as much ice as she pleased, she wouldn’t take it out to curry favor with the Imperial Family; that would only invite trouble.
It’s enough for her and the little Qingyu to enjoy secretly, there really wasn’t room for others.
Anyway, since Li Lizhi is now her partner at the Soap and Music Workshop, she’s already the richest princess, affording ice isn’t hard. To honor Zhangsun should naturally be a duty for her eldest legitimate daughter.
The only family in Chang’an City Lin Wanwan gifted ice to was Empress Xiao.
This exceptionally talented former Empress took care of her kindly. Lin Wanwan reciprocated by gifting her a fan, along with half a cart of ice.
As for the Xiao Family, with which she nominally had an engagement, she only gifted Princess Xiangcheng a fan; there was naturally no ice.
Old Sun, then, spent most of his time living in Lin Wanwan’s manor, enjoying ice there without her needing to send it specially.
