Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 36 As expected of Empress Wende of the Tang Dynasty

"We can start collecting now."

Wen He's mind raced, and she quickly pointed to the distiller, forcing a dry laugh.

His acting skills were not good; in fact, they could be described as clumsy.

Li Shimin did not delve into the matter, but simply gave a light "hmm" and waved his hand, saying, "You must be exhausted today. Once you have prepared the wine, tell the servants how to use it, and then go back to rest."

"If the old general recovers, I will remember your merit. If this alcohol has a miraculous effect, I will remember your merit again."

Is this giving me two credits?

I wonder if the former county boy will be upgraded to county son?
As Wen He was lost in thought, Yan Liben, who was squatting to the side examining the copper pipe outlet, exclaimed in surprise.

"There really was water, no, it was clear wine that dripped down."

He looked up at Wen He in surprise, his eyes filled with disbelief.

The same was true for everyone else in the courtyard.

Cheng Zhijie rushed over in three steps, shoved Yan Liben aside, caught a drop in his hand, and put it in his mouth.

He frowned as soon as he took a bite.

"It's so spicy, is this really alcohol?"

"I already told you, this is alcohol, you can't drink it directly, otherwise it will burn your stomach." Wen He originally wanted to stop him, but she didn't expect Cheng Yaojin to be so quick.

Upon hearing that it would damage his stomach, Cheng Zhijie's eyes widened, and he withdrew his outstretched hand.

Li Shimin couldn't help but wonder, how could something extracted from wine be so potent?

Changsun Wuji chuckled dismissively: "That's just alarmist talk. It's nothing more than something extracted from wine."

Seeing that he didn't believe her, Wen He didn't waste any words. She had someone bring a tinderbox, took out a little bit of alcohol, and lit it on the table.

Everyone looked at him doubtfully.

He took out a glass of water and poured it onto the surface.

The flames were not extinguished by the water; instead, they intensified.

"This is alcohol?"

Li Shimin looked at Wen He solemnly.

In that instant, he considered many possibilities.

"Could this substance replace kerosene?"

"can."

Wen He nodded confidently.

"However, this alcohol is mostly used to treat external injuries. If Your Highness needs weapons for conquering cities and territories, I have a better solution."

He smiled slyly and raised an eyebrow at Li Shimin.

Seeing his expression, Li Shimin remained silent for a moment, then smiled.

"I understand what you mean, but there's plenty of time in the future, and I will have a good chance to learn from you."

To Li Shimin, Wenhe was now a hen that laid golden eggs.

He could kill the goose that lays the golden eggs, but if he did that, he might lose even more.

That's why he indulged Wen He, treating him no differently than other talented people.

Now he is even more glad that he did what he did. If he had really imprisoned Wen He and forced him to talk about his future.

Putting aside the question of whether what he said is true, he certainly wouldn't talk about something like alcohol.

As for what more powerful weapons there were, Li Shimin didn't care.

"No matter how powerful the weapons of the future are, they will only be swords and crossbows. At most, the smelting technology will be improved. However, if you know about this, you can talk to Yan Liben about it."

It wasn't that he looked down on what Wen He said, but rather it was due to the limitations of the times.

People in this era could never have imagined that in the future, a city could be wiped out from thousands of miles away.

Even if they could come up with it, Wen He couldn't do it.

However, making something like gunpowder shouldn't be a problem. As for firearms, the technology is a bit complicated, so let's talk about that later.

But Li Shimin was in low spirits at the moment, and was probably thinking about the Qi Prince's Mansion, so Wen He didn't disturb his mood.

He was just curious about how beautiful that young Consort Yang was that could make the wise and powerful Emperor Taizong of Tang so eager.

In the future, they even plan to make her their empress.

Wen He clicked his tongue twice, unaware that Li Shimin had taken in his expression.

...Li Shimin left with Changsun Wuji, Cheng Yaojin, and Duan Zhixuan.

The task of collecting alcohol was then entrusted to Yan Liben.

Wen He could finally breathe a sigh of relief and, led by a servant, went to her residence.

As soon as I arrived at his small courtyard, before I even entered the gate, I could hear the sounds of children playing inside.

He pushed open the door and took a look.

Empress Zhangsun smiled and gently rubbed her face, while Li Lizhi pulled her arm and pouted.

On the other side, the three little ones, Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke, were copying things with different expressions.

Why are you all coming to my place?
Wen He was puzzled.

However, seeing his little sister so happy, he didn't mind.

"I've met the princess."

Wen He bowed at the door.

Only then did the people in the courtyard notice him.

The three little ones on the left turned their heads and glanced at him. The three brothers, unusually united, made the same movement, then hurriedly lowered their heads and continued copying.

"Brother!" Wenrou quickly broke free from Empress Zhangsun's embrace and Li Lizhi's hand, and ran towards him.

Seeing her hands empty, Li Lizhi pouted and glared at Wen He with dissatisfaction.

Who is this person? He looks familiar.

But why did he steal Xiao Rou away?

Children this age are forgetful; after only half a day apart, she couldn't remember who Wen He was.

"I heard there was trouble in the front yard, so they asked you to come over. Did you resolve it?"

Empress Zhangsun asked with concern.

Wen He gently rubbed the little head of the child and nodded with a smile to Empress Zhangsun: "Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. General Jing was injured, and His Highness asked me to help. Fortunately, I was able to do so."

"The old general is injured?" Empress Dowager Changsun asked in surprise, but what surprised her even more was...

"Can you heal?"

She was really curious: how could such a young child know so much?

To call it precocious would be an exaggeration.

"It's not exactly treating the illness, it's just understanding some principles. The old general will need a physician to recover."

Wen He was telling the truth. He didn't know anything about treating illnesses; he had only participated in wilderness survival before and knew a little bit about it.

But Empress Zhangsun did not believe it.

“My brother is very capable. He even cured Dazhuang in the village before. My brother and I both eat very little, and I can also do chores.”

Seeing that Changsun Wugou was not speaking, Wenrou thought she was angry and worried that she and her brother would be kicked out, so she quickly spoke up for Wenhe.

Seeing her anxious expression, Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but laugh, yet also felt sorry for her.

Back then, wasn't she just like Wenrou and Wenhe now, living under someone else's roof with her own brother?

She gently beckoned to Wenrou, signaling her to come over.

Wenrou glanced at Wen He with concern, and with his permission, she walked up to Changsun Wugou.

The latter gently touched her face.

"Don't worry, if you don't want to leave, no one will force you to go, not even your brother."

"Really?" Wenrou asked with delight.

She really liked this place.

There's a warm bed and delicious food.

Empress Zhangsun smiled gently.

This scene was so heartwarming to Wen He.

"As expected of Empress Wende of the Tang Dynasty, so virtuous and gentle, no wonder she became a rare role model in the mouths of scholars in later generations." Wen He couldn't help but sigh.

As Changsun Wugou was bending down to speak gently, she looked up and saw Wen He's regretful gaze, a hint of surprise flashing in her eyes.

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(End of this chapter)