Drive to the Tang Dynasty, where supplies are refreshed daily!

The Lizheng Hall was so quiet that only the soft sound of turning pages could be heard. Empress Zhangsun was holding a book and reading it carefully. Just as she picked up a page, she suddenly heard a soft voice from outside the hall, "Mother~".

Her movements suddenly stopped, her fingertips hovered in mid-air, and even her breathing slowed down.

The voice sounded so much like a rhinoceros horn—soft, sweet, and with a slightly sleepy, sticky quality. But the children had been in Kaolao Village for more than half a year, so how could they suddenly appear here?

She frowned, thinking it was just a hallucination caused by her longing for her mother. She looked down at the pages of the book, but she couldn't focus on any of the words. The word "Mother" kept echoing in her ears.

"Your Highness."

A palace maid standing nearby stepped forward softly, her tone tinged with uncertainty, "Just now... I think I really heard His Highness's voice. Perhaps... perhaps His Highness has returned?"

These words struck like a thunderbolt. Empress Zhangsun looked up abruptly, her previously calm eyes instantly brightening, her earlier doubts replaced by eagerness.

She didn't bother to put down the book in her hand. As she stood up, the hem of her skirt swept across the corner of the table, making a soft "clink" sound as it bumped into the celadon teacup beside her. She didn't care at all and just walked quickly toward the palace gate, her steps even faster than usual.

As soon as I stepped out of the palace gate, I saw a small figure rushing towards me. Her pink and white face was bathed in light. It was the little princess who had not returned for a long time.

Empress Zhangsun quickly bent down, opened her arms and held her tightly, her arms unconsciously tightening as if she were afraid the child would disappear if she let go.

She pressed her face against the little princess's soft hair, the faint scent of soap wafting from the child filling her nostrils, her voice trembling with emotion:

"Sizi, is that really you? Why did you suddenly come back? Did you miss your mother?"

The little princess snuggled against Empress Zhangsun, wrapped her little arms around her neck, and said with a grin, "I missed you~ Mommy, hug me~"

Empress Zhangsun loosened her grip slightly, raising her hand to gently touch the child's cheek. She noticed the child was rounder than when she had been taken to Kaolao Village the last time, and the redness in her eyes was more pronounced. She smiled and tapped the child's nose.
"Young master, your family's diet is quite good, you've gained weight."

Her gaze shifted, and she saw Princess Chengyang, Li Lizhi, and Princess Yuzhang standing behind her.

There are even Xiao Ran, Zhang Jinhe, Zhang Erya, San Niang, Yan Yao, and Di Renjie.

These Empress Zhangsun were all familiar to her; they were all from Kaolao Village.

Xiao Ran and his companions had never been to the palace before.

"Mother!" Princess Chengyang tugged at Empress Zhangsun's sleeve.

"Yes, they're all back. Why didn't you tell me beforehand?" Empress Zhangsun smiled.

"I want to give Mother a surprise." Princess Yuzhang pulled on Empress Zhangsun's arm.

Xiao Ran and the others could tell that Empress Zhangsun's attire in the Lizheng Hall was different from that when she went to Kaolao Village.

As the group prepared to bow, Empress Zhangsun interrupted them, saying, "No need for that. Let's go inside and talk."

"Yes, Your Highness!"

The Rikjeong-den (Imperial Hall) has not been this lively in a long time.

Previously, there were two little princesses, Li Lizhi and Princess Yuzhang, who would come every now and then.

Since the group went to Kaolao Village, Lizheng Palace has become much quieter. Apart from the palace maids, Li Shimin is the most frequent visitor, and other concubines occasionally come as well.

As Zhang Erya followed Empress Zhangsun into the Lizheng Hall, she subconsciously slowed her pace and didn't even dare to breathe too heavily.

As soon as the temple door was pushed open, a faint scent of sandalwood wafted into the air, completely different from the smoky aroma of the kitchen in Kaolao Village. It was so refreshing that it made one's heart tighten.

She gripped the hem of her dress tighter, her eyes darting quickly across the hall, but not daring to linger.

The ceiling above is painted with lotus scroll patterns, and the gold powder shimmers in the light, making it even more exquisite than the painted decorations on the village stage.

The palace lanterns standing on both sides were covered with thin gauze, and small jade pendants hung from the tassels. The wind blew in through the window cracks, and the tassels swayed gently, even the sound was orderly.

She thought to herself, "Is this where the Empress lives? It's ten times more magnificent than the largest ancestral hall in the village, and even the floor tiles are so shiny you can see your reflection in them."

Zhang Jinhe was slightly bolder than Zhang Erya, but even she couldn't help but slow down.

Her gaze fell on the sandalwood table in the hall. The corners of the table were carved with cloud patterns, and the edges were polished smooth and warm. It was obviously not an ordinary object.

The celadon brush washer on the table had a glaze as blue as the sky after rain, and it was even more translucent than the best porcelain he had ever seen in the markets of Chang'an.

She quietly turned her head and saw that the palace maids standing on both sides were all dressed in the same light pink palace dress, their postures were straight, and they didn't even glance at her.

Feeling the oppressive weight of the "rules" in the hall, he quickly averted his gaze and followed the person in front of him, afraid that he would be impolite if he looked at the place again.

Xiao Ran stood in the hall, but seemed to be frozen in place by an invisible force.

As someone who traveled from a thousand years in the future, he had read about "establishing the government hall" countless times in history books.

I know this is where Empress Zhangsun handled the affairs of the inner palace, I know that Li Shimin often came here to discuss state affairs with her, and I know that countless details that influenced the course of the Tang Dynasty took place here.

But the words "solemn" and "grand" cannot compare to the awe-inspiring feeling of standing here in person.

He looked up at the beams and pillars on the roof of the palace. They were so thick that it took two people to hug them. The wood was made of fine nanmu, which still had a warm luster despite the passage of time. Although the painted decorations on the pillars had faded a bit, they still showed their original intricate and exquisite style.

It is not a hasty replica of modern antique architecture, but a genuine and profound work that carries the spirit of the Tang Dynasty.

His gaze swept over the books on the table. The pages were made of supple Xuan paper, the ink was finely ground pine soot ink, and even the paperweight was a piece of translucent Hetian jade, slightly cool to the touch.

At this moment, he truly felt as if he were "living in the Zhenguan era".

It wasn't the idyllic daily life in Kaolao Village, nor the relaxed interactions with princes and princesses; it was standing at the heart of the Tang Dynasty's power, experiencing the most advanced regulations and grandeur of this era.

He recalled the Tang Dynasty artifacts exhibited in modern museums, those fragments and replicas behind glass, none of which could compare to the vividness of the Lizheng Hall before him.

Here you can smell sandalwood, feel the texture of fabrics, hear the soft footsteps of palace maids, and hear the laughter of children running around the tables. It is a truly "living" Tang Dynasty.

He took a deep breath, suppressing the shock surging within him, and looked at the reserved Zhang Jinhe and the others beside him, then at Empress Zhangsun, who was smiling and talking to the children. Suddenly, he felt a strange sensation:

The royal palace from a thousand years ago now has a more down-to-earth feel thanks to a group of people from a small mountain village, and he, the "outsider," has become the link between these two atmospheres.

Previously, Empress Zhangsun and Li Shimin frequently visited Kaolao Village, and Empress Zhangsun even stayed at Xiao Ran's house for a period of time, so they were quite familiar with each other.

"Sizi, Second Aunt used to live here?" Third Aunt looked around curiously. "It's so big!"

"Yes, yes, yes~" The little princess nodded.

The palace maids brought tea and various pastries.

As soon as the palace maids placed the tea and pastries on the table, Empress Zhangsun picked up a piece of osmanthus cake, smiled, and handed it to Third Sister. Glancing out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Zhang Erya and the others still standing awkwardly by the table, not daring to reach for the pastries, so she put down her teacup.

"Don't just stand there, sit down—I often ate with you when we were in Kaolao Village, there weren't so many rules there."

Her gaze swept over Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya, noticing they were still clutching the hem of their clothes, and she added, "These pastries were just made by the Imperial Kitchen, and the osmanthus flowers were dried last autumn. Please try them."

As she spoke, she even had the palace maids push the plates of pastries toward them.

Apart from a few princesses, the others were not quite used to it.

This is the Lizheng Hall, where Empress Zhangsun was the mother of the nation.

"Your Highness, is His Majesty busy in the Taiji Palace right now?" Xiao Ran picked up a pastry and asked Empress Zhangsun. "He should be. I'll send someone to tell him to come back when he's done."

"Your Highness, shouldn't we be mindful of preventing His Majesty from handling state affairs?"

No, no.

The Lizheng Hall gradually became lively, and Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya chatted with Empress Zhangsun.

At first, San Niang, Yan Yao, and Di Renjie were reserved, but soon they started chasing each other around the palace with the two little princesses.

It felt like I was back in Kaolao Village, in Xiao Ran's courtyard.

Li Shimin, in the Taiji Hall, also received news of Empress Zhangsun.

After finishing his work, he stood up and said, "Ananda, go to the Hall of Establishing Government."

"It's your Majesty!"

As Li Shimin walked to the corridor of the Lizheng Hall, he heard a clear laugh coming from inside the hall.

It wasn't the whispers of palace maids, but the unrestrained, joyful chatter of children, mixed with Empress Zhangsun's soft laughter, that made him subconsciously stop in his tracks.

He raised his hand to stop the eunuch behind him who was about to report, but his fingertips, which had just touched the curtain of the palace door, paused again.

For the past six months, the Lizheng Hall has been quiet except for the solemnity during meetings. There has never been such lively activity.

He thought for a moment, and a smile spread across his eyes: It must be Lizhi and the others who have returned, otherwise where would so many children's voices come from?

I quickened my pace, and the scene inside the hall instantly came into view:
The little princess was clinging to Empress Zhangsun's arm, tiptoeing to reach for the pastries on the table.

Princess Chengyang pulled Yan Yao and Di Renjie along, running around the pillars in the hall, her skirt sweeping across the floor tiles and creating a wisp of wind.

Empress Zhangsun sat on the couch, holding a handkerchief in her hand, and called out with a smile, "Run slowly, don't fall."

And there were several familiar figures sitting there.

Xiao Ran was talking to Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya. Zhang Erya was still holding a piece of osmanthus cake that she hadn't finished eating. The restraint in her eyes was much less than when she had just come in.

Li Shimin slowed his pace by half a beat, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

He guessed the children had returned, but he didn't expect Xiao Ran and the others to come along as well.

But this surprise was quickly replaced by gentleness. He stepped into the hall and said in a deep voice, "It's been a while since the Hall of Establishing Government has been this lively."

As soon as the words were spoken, the children who were running stopped.

The little princess turned around and saw Li Shimin, her eyes instantly lighting up: "Grandpa~ Hug me~"

Li Shimin quickly bent down and caught her steadily, holding the child in front of him, and gently stroked her little nose with his fingertip:

"You little brat, you've gotten too wild in Kaolao Village, and the first thing you do when you come back is to turn Lizheng Hall upside down."

"Hehe~ Fun~"

The others quickly stood up. Xiao Ran and the others from Kaolao Village all thought Li Shimin was just an ordinary person.

But not here. Li Shimin is wearing a dragon robe; he is the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty.

Seeing that the group was about to bow, Li Shimin did not allow it, preferring the atmosphere of Kaolao Village and treating them as his elders.

"No need for that. Just do it the same way here, as it does in Kaolao Village."

Empress Zhangsun walked to his side with a smile: "I was going to tell you after you finished your work, but the children insisted on giving you a surprise. Even young master Xiao Ran and the others came along."

Li Shimin turned his gaze to Xiao Ran and the others, his tone much gentler than in the court, yet still retaining the composure of an emperor:
"I didn't expect this, it's really unexpected. Sit down and let's talk."

With that, Li Shimin put the little princess down and let her go play with the little princess of Chengyang. He then walked to the table, sat down, took the tea offered by the palace maid, and glanced at the noisy scene in the hall.

The children's laughter, Empress Zhangsun's instructions, and the occasional conversations between Xiao Ran and others—these subtle sounds, when combined, gave the majestic Lizheng Hall a touch of warmth reminiscent of an ordinary household.

He took a small sip of tea, the weariness in his eyes lessening slightly, and smiled at Empress Zhangsun:

"It's good that you're back. Otherwise, this Lizheng Hall will just look like an empty shell."

Soon the group started chatting.

Zhang Jinhe and Zhang Erya wanted to visit the palace, so Princess Yuzhang led a group of people on a tour.

The children relaxed and let loose.

At the desk in the Lizheng Hall, only Xiao Ran, Empress Zhangsun of Li Shimin, and Li Lizhi remained.

"Uncle, there's something I need to tell you." Xiao Ran suddenly became serious.

"Tell me what it is!" As long as it wasn't too outrageous, Li Shimin would agree.

"About the potatoes."

"Potatoes? Aren't they stored perfectly fine? What's the problem?"

"Tomatoes were previously promoted near Chang'an City, so it's difficult to change their name now, but potatoes, corn, and sweet potatoes can be renamed."

"I hadn't thought about this issue before. How would you like to change it?"

Li Shimin looked at Xiao Ran with great interest.

"I don't care about anything else, but potatoes, from now on we'll call them 'Sizi Dou'!"

As soon as Xiao Ran finished speaking, there was a moment of silence in the Lizheng Hall, and even the sound of the wind blowing through the window lattices outside the hall became clearer.

Li Shimin's hand holding the teacup paused in mid-air. The composure in his eyes faded, replaced by a hint of surprise, which was then replaced by a gentle smile.

He glanced up at the little princess chasing after the Chengyang princess not far away, then turned back to look at Xiao Ran, tapping his fingertips lightly on the rim of his cup, his tone warm and teasing:

"You little rascal, you've got a knack for securing a good reputation for my little ox-headed girl—potatoes are a good thing for nourishing people. If the whole Tang Dynasty eats 'ox-headed beans,' won't the whole world remember this little girl of mine?"

Despite saying that, he didn't object at all. Instead, he turned to Empress Zhangsun and smiled, "Empress, what do you think?"

Empress Zhangsun had long been touched by the words "Sizi Dou" (a type of bean), and her eyes, which had been smiling just moments before, welled up with a light moisture. She raised her hand and gently pressed the corner of her eye before looking at the little princess who was running around.

The little princess is the darling of the group; everyone dotes on her.

I knew that Xiao Ran doted on the little princess the most, but now I realize that I underestimated the little princess’s position in Xiao Ran’s heart.

This suggestion was indeed a bit unexpected.

Xiao Ran didn't want to give it to himself or anyone else; he only wanted to give it to the little princess. (End of Chapter)