Ya She

Chapter 39 Weaving a Skirt

Li Guo'er squatted in the flowerbed in the backyard, sulking. The ten-year-old was dressed like a boy, in coarse cloth and black clothes, her hair parted in two sections and tied in knots on top of her head, resembling two ram's horns, styled just like a boy's. If others saw her, they would secretly praise how beautiful the child was, as if she were a spirit child under the tutelage of Guanyin Bodhisattva, possessing a bright and blessed appearance.

When Li Chongrun arrived, he found a dirty yet adorable little baby. He couldn't help but chuckle to himself, finding his little sister quite amusing. He was only a little over two years older than Li Guo'er, but he already had the makings of a teenager and was much taller than her. He easily picked up the little baby who was squatting on the ground.

Li Guo'er was startled, then realized it was her older brother, so she struggled a bit and called out in a clear voice, "Brother Chongzhao!"

Afraid she would fall, Li Chongrun quickly let go of her hand, helped her stand up, and frowned, saying, "I've told you so many times, I've changed my name to Li Chongrun. I didn't ask you to change it before because you were young. Today is your birthday, you're ten years old now, so you should pay attention to how you address me from now on."

Li Guo'er had never seen her elder brother so serious. Li Chongrun was born into a noble family and was named the Crown Prince at birth. Although he was later demoted to a commoner like his father, his innate royal bearing made him increasingly formidable as he grew older.

Li Chongrun was indeed a little angry. He knew that if he didn't say something harsh, his mischievous little sister would ignore him as before. But his composure only lasted a short while before he noticed his little sister's lovely face fall. He inwardly cried out in alarm, and sure enough, her large, clear eyes immediately welled up with tears, which began to fall. Although he knew it was probably fake crying, it still made his heart clench. He quickly hugged the little girl, who looked like a mud monkey, and gently comforted her.

“Brother Chongzhao is a bad guy… Waaah…” Li Guo’er was already feeling very frustrated today, and this was like finding a source of venting. She grabbed Li Chongrun’s clothes and started crying.

Li Chongrun was filled with remorse. He patted his younger sister's delicate shoulder and sighed, explaining, "Little sister, are you upset that your father and mother didn't celebrate your birthday today? People from the capital came today, and they weren't in the mood to make any preparations for you." It wasn't just a matter of being in the mood; Li Chongrun recalled how his father, Li Xian, hadn't even had the courage to go out and greet the envoys upon hearing they were coming from the capital. He had paced anxiously in the room, almost contemplating suicide. This scene played out every time someone from the capital came, and it was only thanks to his mother's patient persuasion that his father had managed to endure it for so many years.

Li Guo'er clearly understood the meaning behind the visitor from the capital, and her crying immediately subsided. She sobbed in her brother's arms and asked, "Why... why can't I call you Brother Chongzhao? Why do we have to change my name?"

Li Chongrun paused, then laughed. Perhaps his parents had always neglected their children; when he changed his name, it was just something his father casually mentioned, and he agreed. Xiao Xianhui, though unaware of the reason, silently agreed as well. Only Xiao Guo'er stubbornly refused to change her name, and he had overlooked this, never explaining the reason to her. Li Chongrun didn't answer, but instead asked, "Xiao Guo'er, why do you insist on not changing your name? Your sister changed hers a long time ago!"

Hearing Li Chongrun mention Li Xianhui, Li Guo'er became even more indignant and tried to break free from her brother's embrace, but he was stronger than her. After struggling for a few moments, Li Guo'er had no choice but to obediently remain in her original position and asked in a sullen voice, "Don't change your name. Changing your name is like my brother has become a different person."

Li Chongrun chuckled, surprised that his younger sister was so thoughtful and sensitive. Although he didn't think much of it, he patiently explained, "Why do you think that way? Your brother is still here, isn't he? It's just a different way of addressing you."

“No! Sister Xianhui said that a name is the first gift parents give to their child, and it’s very important!” Li Guo’er raised her head and retorted crisply. Her little face was streaked with tears, and her red eyes, almost like a rabbit's, were incredibly cute. But then she looked dejected and said, “But Sister Xianhui’s name is so beautiful, and I’m just called Guo’er… Brother Chongzhao, was I adopted?”

So that's the key point. Li Chongrun was both amused and exasperated upon hearing this. He took out a handkerchief from his pocket, bent down and carefully wiped away the tears and dirt from Li Guo'er's face, and solemnly said, "Guo'er, you were born on the way to Fangzhou. At that time, we didn't even have a swaddling cloth. Your father took off his own clothes and wrapped you up himself, which is why he called you Guo'er. This actually represents his love for you!"

Hearing her brother's gentle voice, Li Guo'er gradually stopped crying. She opened her beautiful eyes, which were exceptionally clear after being washed by tears, and said nothing.

So it turns out she really wasn't born when everyone was looking forward to her. She and Sister Xianhui are completely incomparable... Guo'er, Guo'er... Does Father remember that embarrassing and tragic past every time he calls her?

Li Guo'er lowered her face, and the intense light slowly dimmed.

Li Chongrun did not notice that the little girl's mood was even lower than before. Seeing that she had finally calmed down, he took her hand and went to the kitchen to change her clothes.

Today is my little sister's tenth birthday, and there's no way I can let her wear boys' clothes anymore. And this can't continue in the future either; otherwise, as she grows older, what kind of behavior will this be?

Thinking this to himself, Li Chongrun continued the previous topic, saying, "I changed my name not because I disrespected my parents' gift, but because my name sounds the same as my grandmother's new name, so I changed it to avoid that." Their grandmother's name was Zhao, and naturally, a name with the same pronunciation had to be changed.

This time, Li Guo'er didn't ask any more questions. Although she had never met that imperial grandmother, she had already deeply felt her grandmother's intimidating power through her parents' few words. Li Guo'er thought about it carefully and realized that her brother had changed his name four years ago, which meant that the imperial grandmother had declared herself empress four years ago.

So women can be emperors too… This thought only flashed through Li Guo'er's mind for a moment. Still so young, she couldn't imagine that she would be so close to that position in the future, almost within her grasp. Right now, she was more concerned with other things.

Li Guo'er obediently followed her brother through the backyard, where the flowerbed had been converted into a vegetable garden. Her mother was also personally planting vegetables to supplement their meals. Their living quarters were even more dilapidated, consisting of a few run-down huts that barely provided shelter from the wind and rain, along with two servants from the palace. However, since someone from the capital had arrived, the two servants went to the front to attend to them. Li Chongrun personally went to the kitchen to boil some water, then found some clean clothes and returned to his room.

He hadn't expected his younger sister to react so strongly. Seeing the clothes in his hand, she quickly turned her head away and coldly said, "I won't wear them!"

Li Chongrun patiently coaxed, "Guo'er, these clothes are clean, and you're ten years old today. Are you going to wear boys' clothes from now on? Do you still want to get married?"

Li Guo'er gritted her teeth and whispered, "I won't wear other people's old clothes!" Her eyes reddened as she finished speaking, but this time she refused to let the tears fall again, stubbornly tilting her head back and holding back her tears.

Li Chongrun was startled. He then realized that he was holding Li Xianhui's clothes. Their family had been demoted to Fangzhou, which wasn't exactly imprisonment, but they weren't allowed to freely show their faces in public. They were given some silver, but it was barely enough to survive. The rest of the money was naturally embezzled by those with ulterior motives, leaving them unable to afford new clothes. Sometimes, in the bitter cold of winter, they didn't even have enough warm clothing.

Li Chongrun didn't think Li Guo'er was being unreasonable. He had been pampered as a child; his grandfather, Emperor Gaozong, granted a general amnesty on his one-month birthday, and personally appointed him as the Crown Prince when he was one year old, granting him a government and officials. Although his childhood memories were not very clear, Li Chongrun knew that his father had once been an emperor. If it weren't for his grandmother, he would now be the most honorable Crown Prince, and his younger sister would be his most beloved princess.

The thought only crossed his mind for a moment before Li Chongrun forced himself to suppress it back into the deepest recesses of his heart.

He couldn't bear to think about it; greed knows no bounds. The fact that his family was safe and sound was more important than anything else. Several years ago, his sixth uncle, the deposed Crown Prince Li Xian, had committed suicide in Bazhou. Li Chongrun didn't want to know, and dared not even think, about whether there were any hidden reasons behind it.

Reaching out to stroke his younger sister's soft hair, Li Chongrun sighed inwardly at his carelessness. Li Xianhui was only a year older than Li Guo'er, but naturally, the older one would wear new clothes first, and the younger one would wear them when they were too old. However, Li Guo'er never wore Li Xianhui's old clothes. The two girls seemed to be born to be at odds. Li Chongrun did not expect them to be so serious about such matters.

After taking a closer look at Li Guo'er's men's clothing, Li Chongrun's gloomy mood suddenly vanished, and he smiled and said, "Guo'er, why are you willing to wear my old clothes instead of Xianhui's?" He had never noticed before, but now he realized that his little sister's clothes looked very familiar, and should be his old clothes from a few years ago.

Li Guo'er immediately became awkward, stammering, "Brother Chong... is different from Sister Xianhui..." This time she remembered to correct her words and didn't say the word out loud.

Li Chongrun smiled with satisfaction, dampened a handkerchief, and washed his little sister's face, hands, and feet clean. Li Xianhui had been independent since childhood, but Li Guo'er had been raised by him since she was a child, so he was quite skilled at these tasks.

After wiping Li Guo'er clean, Li Chongrun smiled at her and said, "Guo'er, I want to see you dressed as a woman. Can you wear it for me?"

Li Guo'er pursed her pink lips, glaring angrily at the light green lotus-silk shirt and willow-flower skirt on the bed, before finally nodding reluctantly after a long while.

Li Chongrun sighed silently in his heart, thinking that he must find a way to get Xiaoguo'er the most beautiful dress in the future.

Luoyang in 698 AD

Li Guo'er tugged nervously at her pale yellow shirt and green gauze skirt. This high-waisted, chest-length ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress) was specially brought to her by her brother, Li Chongrun, after the whole family returned to Luoyang.
They had the sisters order these from the best embroidery workshop in Luoyang. The skirt was embroidered with lotus patterns, a profusion of flowers, and had seven or eight layers, from the inside...
The fabric goes from long to short at the outside, like layers of lotus petals, and it doesn't feel bulky at all; instead, it's so light and thin that it sways with every step.

Ripples spread across her skin, like lotus blossoms blooming with every step. A pale pink shawl draped over her arms echoed the color of the lotus flowers on her skirt.
Li Guo'er, who is already fourteen years old this year, has already shown a slender figure, and now she looks even more graceful and charming.

She had never worn such a beautiful dress before, and it was a new dress! Not an old dress that her older sister had worn!
Although she thought Li Xianhui, who was walking ahead of her, was also very beautiful in her half-sleeved, moon-blue, tulip-patterned dress, she was already very satisfied. Stealing a glance further ahead, she saw her elder brother's handsome back. Li Chongrun was dressed today in a purple robe, a jade belt around his waist, seven tassels, a black gauze turban, and black leather boots shaped like ruyi scepters. The seventeen-year-old boy was so elegant and refined that even walking on the imperial road, he was enough to attract everyone's attention.

Li Guo'er didn't know why her whole family had been summoned to Luoyang, the eastern capital, by her grandmother, but seeing her father and mother beaming with joy, and her brother wearing the finest clothes that only princes could wear, it was clear that this was a joyous occasion.

Relaxed, Li Guo'er began to survey the surrounding palaces. After her grandmother became empress, she designated Luoyang as the capital, calling it the Eastern Capital. The palaces of Luoyang, the Eastern Capital, were said to be U-shaped, like the Daming Palace in Chang'an, with the Mingtang Qianyuan Hall, also known as the Wanxiang Divine Palace, at the front. The towering palaces on the east and west sides, resembling the wings of a giant bird, reached into the clouds with their majestic grandeur. Ever since entering Luoyang, Li Guo'er had been gazing up at these places. Now that she had finally entered the palace, she couldn't bear to blink, afraid that if she missed a single glance, she would never see them again.

Li Xianhui, who had been watching her closely, frowned slightly, fell a few steps behind, and whispered a threatening word in her ear: "Guo'er, stop acting so pathetic. We'll be living here in the future!" The implication was that she wanted to see enough of her in the future.

Li Guo'er covered her mouth in surprise and asked with slight astonishment, "Ah? We'll be living here from now on?"

Li Xianhui was so angry at Li Guo'er's stupidity that she was speechless. She secretly pinched the soft flesh of her waist and said with a slight reproach, "You! You knew to wear this green gauze dress last night. You really didn't listen to what your father told you."

Li Guo'er was extremely ticklish and repeatedly begged for mercy. Although the two sisters had never gotten along since childhood, they were close in age, and over the years their relationship had become incredibly good. However, their bickering was an inevitable occurrence every few days. Li Chongrun, hearing the two sisters' laughter and playfulness from ahead, turned around and glanced at them with concern, then smiled helplessly and turned back away.

Li Guo'er hadn't been completely oblivious to what was happening last night, but she hadn't paid much attention to it. Now that she remembered it, she immediately retorted sharply, "Sister Xianhui might not necessarily live here in the future! I remember Father's intention was to marry you off to the second son of the Wu family!"

Li Xianhui blushed upon hearing this, knowing it was highly likely. She had secretly asked her brother to look at Wu Yanji, the young man from the Wu family she had discussed betrothing with, a few days prior, and received a very high evaluation, which put her at ease. However, Li Xianhui disliked Li Guo'er's relaxed and teasing expression and retorted, "Guo'er, don't be in such a hurry. The Wu family has many fine young men; Father will definitely help you choose a good one."

Li Guo'er pursed her lips, not taking it seriously. Everyone could see clearly her father's intentions in arranging the marriage with the Wu family, but if she wasn't satisfied, she would absolutely not marry! She believed her brother would protect her.

Amidst this playful banter, the initially serious and tense mood of the group eased slightly. Passing through the magnificent palace, they arrived at the exquisite Shangyang Palace in the West Garden. A tributary of the Luo River flowed through the palace, and its flowerbeds were filled with delicate and precious flowers. It was said that these flowerbeds would never lose their color throughout the year, even in the dead of winter, let alone now, in the height of summer. Within the sixteen courtyards of Shangyang Palace was an artificial sea, in which a mythical mountain rose over a hundred feet above the water, its rugged peaks a breathtaking sight. Fans rotated on the roof of the corridor, pumping seawater from the artificial sea to the top of the corridor and into its ridge. Beside the ridge were openings, allowing the water to flow down the eaves, forming a delicate, dripping artificial curtain of water that shimmered brilliantly in the sunlight. Walking through the corridors, listening to the sound of water droplets falling, smelling the refreshing fragrance of flowers, stepping on the smooth and cool green jade slabs, and looking out at the scenery of Shangyang Palace through the water curtain, it is truly an elegant place to escape the summer heat.

Li Guo'er had never seen such a luxurious and extravagant scene in her life. She was stunned for a long time before realizing that Li Xianhui wasn't much better off, her pink lips slightly parted as she stared in disbelief. Li Guo'er didn't have time to tease her; she noticed that the women in the palace wore various colorful official robes, gorgeous and beautiful, with exquisite makeup, rosy cheeks, and elaborate, beautiful hairstyles. Whenever a few female officials or richly dressed women passed by, a fragrant breeze would waft through the air, intoxicatingly sweet.

Having only ever worn coarse cloth and lived in humble dwellings since childhood, Li Guo'er felt as if she had fallen into a magnificent and enchanting dream, and even her legs felt weak.

After passing through the water curtain corridor and crossing the water bridge, they arrived at a waterside pavilion that was open on all sides and surrounded by water. Amidst the slowly swaying curtains, a noblewoman sat in the main seat. Before Li Guo'er could even get a good look at her face, she was pulled to her knees with a thud by Li Xianhui beside her.

Despite the pain in her knees, Li Guo'er overheard her father talking to the woman with tears streaming down his face. She knew that the woman must be her grandmother.

She wasn't interested in listening to what they were saying. She secretly glanced up and saw the woman's phoenix-head brocade shoes. Looking up a little higher, she saw an incredibly luxurious and elegant gold silk robe with layers of clouds outlined in silver thread. The weaving and embroidery were exquisitely fine. In the breeze, the wide hem of the robe rippled like the shimmering waves on the artificial sea beside it.

The shimmering silver and gold light made Li Guo'er feel dizzy, and she lost track of time.

Perhaps a long time had passed, or perhaps only a moment, when the melodious and gentle voice of the female official reached her ears.

"...Li Guo'er is beautiful and intelligent, and is bestowed the title of Princess Anle..."

Ah... she really is dreaming. I hope she never wakes up.

Luoyang in 701 AD

She was indeed dreaming, and it was a nightmare.

Li Guo'er tugged at Li Chongrun's sleeve in disbelief, stammering, "Brother... what... what did you say?"

Li Chongrun affectionately stroked Li Guo'er's still-uncombed hair and said gently, "I won't be able to take care of you anymore, so you must take good care of yourself." Being suddenly ordered to commit suicide was naturally unacceptable to Li Chongrun, but no matter how unwilling he was, he knew he couldn't disobey the decree. He could only compose himself and beg the eunuchs supervising the execution to give him some time to say goodbye to his younger sister.

Li Guo'er stared blankly at her brother's bitter expression. Recalling the chaos in the mansion just now, and confirming that this was no joke, she felt as if she had fallen into an ice cellar, trembling with fear. As if possessed, she immediately stood up and grabbed Li Chongrun's arm, saying, "Brother! Brother! Let's leave quickly! Let's go back to Fangzhou, okay? I don't want these! I don't want these anymore!" As she spoke, she tore off her gorgeous and exquisite jewelry, which clattered and fell to the ground.

Li Chongrun remained motionless, gently pulling back his younger sister's hand, which was still trying to tear open her clothes. Perhaps having accepted the truth, Li Chongrun became much calmer, even managing a slight smile, and said, "Guo'er, we can't go back anymore."

Li Guo'er stood there, her body ice-cold, while her brother's palms were warm, but she knew that warmth would be fleeting. She asked, trembling, "Because...because of what?"

Li Chongrun said calmly, "The imperial decree issued by the Empress Dowager says that Yanji and I have slandered the court. Poor Xianhui..."

“Sister Xianhui…Sister Xianhui, she also…” Li Guo’er was completely dumbfounded. Wu Yanji was Sister Xianhui’s husband. She had heard some rumors before, but they had only casually complained about Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, the two male favorites of the Empress Dowager… Li Guo’er felt a chill run down her spine. Her own grandson, granddaughter, and nephew were not as good as two male favorites?
What exactly are they? When they like someone, they can be made the Crown Prince; when they don't like someone, they can be banished to distant lands. When they think of someone, they can be summoned; when they are annoyed, their life and death can be controlled as easily as crushing an ant.

They are human beings! Not ants!
"Where's Father? Didn't he say anything?" Li Guo'er grabbed Li Chongrun's sleeve as if grasping at a straw, asking anxiously. But her hopes were dashed when Li Chongrun shook his head helplessly.

Yes, how could she forget? Her father, when he was demoted to Fangzhou, was so frightened by even a eunuch from the capital that he wanted to commit suicide. Now, although he has been named Crown Prince, his inherent cowardice is something he can't change. Li Guo'er bit her lower lip, and as she spoke, she started to walk out: "Then I'll go and talk to my grandmother, she likes me so much..."

This time, it was Li Chongrun's turn to pull Li Guo'er back. He said with a wry smile, "Guo'er, you know very well that she was just putting on a show. And her decree ordering my death wasn't just because I was dissatisfied with the Zhang brothers, but because she couldn't tolerate me." Li Chongrun paused, deeply regretting his impulsive actions. Because of his excellence, the political situation in the court had begun to subtly change, and many officials were secretly testing him under various pretexts. Since he was the rightful heir in every respect, he had become somewhat arrogant and overconfident, likely offending his grandmother. Li Chongrun knew he couldn't tell Li Guo'er these things, so he finally held back, sighing, "The poor one is Xianhui; she's the most innocent one implicated. So, you shouldn't get involved in this anymore. Just be the carefree Princess Anle, okay?"

Li Guo'er finally couldn't hold back and threw herself into her brother's arms, wailing loudly.

"Listen to me, my little princess, you must always wear the most beautiful clothes, live the happiest life, and be the most beautiful princess of the Tang Dynasty..."

……

What happened afterward was incredibly chaotic, like fragments that Li Guo'er could never piece together into a complete memory, no matter how hard she tried. She was like a puppet, forcibly separated from her brother. Even though she desperately didn't want to let go, and her long fingernails even scratched his arm, they were all broken off one by one.

When she regained consciousness, it was already the next morning. Her maids dressed her in plain white mourning clothes, washed her face, and tied her hair up. On the clothes rack in her room, two sets of dresses were hanging prominently.

One outfit was her pale yellow shirt and green gauze skirt, and the other was Li Xianhui's half-sleeved moon-blue tulip skirt. Both outfits were bought for the two sisters by their brother Li Chongrun when they visited Luoyang years ago, and they were the first time they had worn such beautiful clothes.

Even though the dresses were so beautiful, the two sisters took them off without prior arrangement after returning from Shangyang Palace and locked them at the bottom of the closet.

Because the Empress Dowager bestowed upon them even more beautiful and unimaginable dresses and accessories, so exquisite that these two sets of dresses paled in comparison, and it would be beneath their status if they insisted on continuing to wear them.

Three years have passed in the blink of an eye, and Li Guo'er can no longer wear any of those clothes. Her figure has matured, and she is no longer a fourteen or fifteen-year-old child. But she still cherishes that pale yellow shirt and green gauze skirt, because this outfit holds special meaning for her.

I believe Li Xianhui feels the same way.

Li Guo'er closed her eyes tightly and stood in front of the clothes rack, vaguely recalling her father's cowardice and helplessness last night, and how he even planned to have her replace Li Xianhui in the marriage alliance with the Wu family! But what was the use? Her grandmother treated even her own grand-nephews as worthless.

Despite being overwhelmed by anger and grief, Li Guo'er calmed down.

She was no longer the little girl who would cry and whine. In the three years she spent in Luoyang, she had learned so much.

Tears are a solace for the weak and a weapon for the strong, so she doesn't intend to use them often.

Li Guo'er bit her lower lip tightly. Before Li Xianhui died, she asked her maid to take out her half-sleeved moon-blue tulip skirt and give it to her. Was she trying to say something?

Li Guo'er ran her hand over the silky feel of the dress, her fingertips touching something icy cold.

Clothing is indeed a fascinating thing. The ancient Chinese dictionary *Shuowen Jiezi* defines it as "clothing that covers the body." Initially, it was simply something to cover the body and conceal shame. But like everything else, clothing gradually acquired social status and class distinctions. Some colors were given new meanings, while others were forbidden for commoners.

Actually, it's not clothes that are ranked, but people.

But how could she accept that?
A breathtaking smile appeared on Li Guo'er's exquisitely pale face as she bent down and tightly hugged the two sets of clothes on the bed.

She vowed that she would wear the most luxurious and beautiful clothes in the world and take back everything that her brother and sister deserved!
Actually, her favorite color is bright yellow...

"Brother Chongzhao..." A suppressed sob echoed in the room, eventually fading into the distance...

Chang'an in 706 AD

Li Guo'er, supported by the female official, walked gracefully across the arched flying bridge of the Linde Hall in the Daming Palace, looking down at the song and dance rehearsals taking place in the large square outside the hall gate.
The Linde Hall, located on a high ground west of the Taiye Pond in the Daming Palace, was the most famous banquet hall in Chang'an, frequently hosting court banquets and musical performances.

The event was a reception for visiting envoys. The Linde Hall was actually a complex of buildings, consisting of three main halls and several side buildings. The area in front of the halls and along the corridors could seat over three thousand people, including officials from the court.

It was an honor to attend the banquet at the Linde Hall.

Li Guo'er came specifically to watch the dancers rehearse, having heard that the Imperial Costume Bureau had created a special set of costumes. The five hundred dancers in the audience wore golden headdresses...
The dancers wore colorful headdresses and monochrome painted robes, their costumes changing in sixteen different patterns to the rhythm of the music. Li Guo'er stopped to watch, noticing that the clothes the dancers wore were not...
It was unusual, even somewhat monotonous, but when the music reached its second melody, the tune changed dramatically, becoming more spirited and accompanied by resounding drumbeats. The dancers gathered in the center of the arena, and in an instant…
She changed her clothes, revealing a stunningly beautiful floral pattern on her lapel. Because it was five hundred people who performed this movement in unison to the drumbeats, they descended from the arched bridge...

From a child's perspective, it was quite shocking.

"Princess, it's just that they were wearing a single-colored robe, which they quickly pulled off from the collar and put inside their clothes." A palace maid with green-painted eyebrows said this.

The woman commented in a soft, gentle voice.

"This is much better than the whirling dance performed by that Hu woman." Li Guo'er smiled slightly, but had no interest in watching any further, continuing to follow the arc...
She walked across the flying bridge towards the rear hall of Linde Hall. News had just arrived from the Imperial Clothing Bureau that the woven skirt was finished, and they knew she was in Linde Hall.

They have already sent someone to deliver it.

A smug smile appeared on Li Guo'er's stunningly beautiful face.

This woven skirt cost 100 million to make, which can be described as extremely luxurious. It may not be the last one to be made, but it is definitely unprecedented.

She had vowed to wear the most luxurious and beautiful clothes in the world.

Since her father ascended the throne, he had always been very accommodating to her, and she knew that this was out of guilt for the tragic deaths of her older brother and sister.

Her father bestowed the Jinchengfang district upon her, and she embarked on a massive construction project, building numerous residences that, in terms of both scale and exquisite craftsmanship, subtly surpassed the imperial palace.

Since her father wouldn't grant her the Kunming Pool in the palace, she built her own Dingkun Pool in her residence. In the center of the pool, a stone mountain modeled after Mount Hua rose majestically, with a waterfall cascading down from its summit.

The cloth spilled into the pool. A separate clear stream was created, its banks lined with jade, and its banks were planted with exotic flowers and herbs, exuding a rich fragrance. The streambed was entirely constructed of coral and gemstones, under the moon...

It was exceptionally clear under the light, almost making one think it was a celestial paradise.

She established her own government and appointed officials, wielding immense power and influence. She openly sold official titles and ranks, regardless of whether the person was a butcher, a tavern worker, a servant, or an actor.

She would immediately grant an official position to anyone who paid 300,000 coins. She also frequently wrote imperial edicts of amnesty herself, took them to the palace, covering the words with one hand while grasping the...

The emperor's hand signed the edict. He smiled as he signed and sealed it, without even glancing at the contents of the pardon.

On one occasion, she even asked her father to make her the crown princess. Although her father did not do as she asked, he did not blame her.

She kept pushing her father's limits, seeing just how far he would take her.

She knew what the ministers in the court said about her misbehavior in private, but so what?
The entire world should have belonged to her imperial brother! Now that her imperial brother is gone, why should she leave it for others?

So what if it's woven into a skirt? One day she'll wear a bright yellow imperial robe!
So what if it's woven into a skirt? One day she'll wear the bright yellow imperial robes!
Human desires are endless; even with good things, one will always want better. Li Guo'er didn't know what she ultimately wanted. No matter how luxurious and magnificent the palace, it couldn't compare to the warmth of the humble room she lived in as a child. If time could turn back, she would rather wear those tattered clothes from before than enjoy the fine clothes and delicacies she had now.

Recalling the past, Li Guo'er felt a bit down. As she walked into Yuyi Tower on the left side of Linde Hall, she waved her hand to dismiss the palace maids who were attending her. She wanted to be alone for a while.

Perhaps that legendary woven dress worth 100 million coins can calm her down for a while.

After she went up to the third floor of Yuyi Building, she could faintly hear people talking inside.

Li Guo'er frowned unhappily. The head of the Imperial Clothing Bureau naturally knew her habit of not liking anyone around when she changed clothes, and had already been waiting at the entrance of Yuyi Tower. Who could be upstairs?
But this initial annoyance at being disturbed quickly turned into interest. Li Guo'er used the red shawl around her arm to cover the jade belt ornament at her waist that made a sound as she walked, and she walked quietly towards the inner room. The closer she got, the clearer it became that the people talking were two men, so Li Guo'er decided not to rush in and stood outside the door to listen.

"Which film set is this? The ancient furnishings are so realistic! Wow! Is this golden pot made of real gold? It's so heavy!" The man was exclaiming loudly. Li Guo'er narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, wondering which film set he was referring to.

“Don’t bite it! Let me see. Look, the weight, the carving—it really does look like the real thing.” The other man’s voice was more composed in comparison. Li Guo’er smiled. This was the imperial palace of the Tang Dynasty; everything was extremely luxurious. How could there possibly be a fake?
"Where exactly is this place? You said that with this broken compass, we can go back in time to find the boss, but I only want to go back a month ago! We can't be so unlucky as to go back even further in time, can we?" The man's words from before were still incomprehensible. "That's possible. We might have ended up in the Tang Dynasty."

"The Tang Dynasty? How can you be so sure?"

"Actually, you can tell from the furniture. During the Qin and Han dynasties, people sat on the floor. By the Northern and Southern Dynasties, sitting with legs hanging down became popular, so you can tell from the tables, chairs, and stools that this is Tang and Song dynasty furniture. And look at the porcelain in the treasure cabinet. Song porcelain has simple lines and a single color, while the round and full shape of the porcelain is characteristic of Tang porcelain, not to mention the sancai (three-color) porcelain. Look at this bronze mirror on the table. Tang dynasty bronze mirrors were mostly round, while Song dynasty mirrors were mostly heart-shaped, shield-shaped, bell-shaped, tripod-shaped, furnace-shaped, and so on..." The steady male voice spoke eloquently, commenting on the furnishings in the room one by one. Li Guo'er was slightly surprised, not expecting this person to have such knowledge. But what era is the Song dynasty? Is it the Song state of the Northern and Southern Dynasties?

"Okay... even if we're in the Tang Dynasty now... have we time-traveled? Will we run into a boss from the Tang Dynasty?"

"To avoid altering history, it's best not to meet him. After all, the boss retains his memory, unlike others. Look... judging by the speed of the pointer on this Luoshu Nine Stars compass, we'd better not go anywhere. Hey! Don't touch his things! To live in such luxury, he must be extremely wealthy and powerful; let's not cause any trouble. Oh, and don't touch that dress on the shelf either!"

Li Guo'er knew that the person was referring to the woven skirt made by the Imperial Clothing Bureau. She originally wanted to listen outside the door for a while longer, but at this moment she directly pushed open the carved door of the inner room and heard the arguing inside stop abruptly.

After putting her red shawl back on, Li Guo'er slowly walked around the mica-carved screen amidst the tinkling of jade ornaments. Her serious expression turned to surprise when she saw the two people inside.

She had never seen such tailored clothing before. The two men, one standing and one sitting, were both young, probably around her age, and handsome, but what she found somewhat distasteful was their short hair. Their clothes were extremely form-fitting, perfectly outlining their long limbs; even the clothing of the nomadic tribes didn't have such a style—simple yet exuding a sense of crispness. The man standing inside wore a strange device on his nose, as clear as crystal lenses.

Li Guo'er found it novel and didn't blame them for not greeting her. Besides, she hadn't encountered such open and honest gazes in a long time. And this time there were two of them.

The seated man looked her up and down as she entered, then calmly stood up, bowed respectfully, and said, "Greetings, Princess."

Li Guo'er slightly raised her collar. The man's bow was proper, but somewhat awkward, suggesting he had just been taught. Judging from his voice, Li Guo'er recognized him as the one with the steady, calm voice.

Although Lu Zigang appeared calm on the surface, beads of sweat were already forming on his back. He deduced from the clothing and accessories of the Tang Dynasty beauty who entered that she was a princess of the Tang Dynasty, but there were simply too many famous princesses in the Tang Dynasty, so he couldn't make any more precise deductions. Moreover, this princess looked to be only about twenty years old, but her arrogance and inherent haughtiness were enough to make anyone bow their head.

The doctor beside him imitated Lu Zigang's actions and gave a perfunctory bow. Receiving no response from the princess, neither of them dared to raise their heads.

Fortunately, kneeling was not common in the Tang Dynasty; only bowing was used. If it had been during the Yuan Dynasty, they probably would have had to get used to it even if they weren't used to it.

Stealing a glance at the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass in his hand, Lu Zigang was pleased to find that the compass needle was moving at a good speed and would probably return to its correct position soon. Once the needle returned to its correct position on the celestial cross, they could return to the modern world. Fortunately, they were lucky this time and wouldn't have to stay in ancient times for too long. The princesses of the Tang Dynasty were all incredibly ruthless!

Lost in thought, Lu Zigang noticed that the Tang princess had walked over to the doctor beside him and reached out to hook his collar, forcing him to raise his head.

This immediately terrified Lu Zigang, who broke out in a cold sweat.

The doctor, rather clueless, didn't understand the Tang Dynasty princess's intentions and looked at her with a puzzled expression. He was a head taller than her, so when he straightened up, he was looking down at her. The hand resting on his chin was warm and fragrant, but it made him extremely uncomfortable. If he hadn't known this wasn't the era he was familiar with, he would have already rudely stepped back. Seeing the princess even touch his face, finally stopping at his glasses, the doctor suddenly realized that the Tang Dynasty princess had probably never seen glasses before and was simply curious.

The princess slowly said, "Take this off."

The doctor hesitated. What if he took off his glasses and left them in this era, only to have them unearthed by archaeologists a thousand years later and become some kind of artifact? But seeing the princess's determined expression, the doctor had no choice but to obediently take off his glasses. However, he didn't hand them to the princess, but instead held them tightly in his hand.

Li Guo'er stared blankly at the man, and the memories that had been sealed in her heart grew wildly like tender sprouts breaking through the soil.

It's so similar... no, not just in the facial features like Wu Yanxiu, but in that gentle and refined temperament... it's exactly like her imperial brother's...

"Smile." Li Guo'er took another step forward, and this time the two of them were almost pressed tightly together.

The doctor was utterly speechless, feeling like he was being flirted with. But the next second, he remembered the Tang Dynasty princess's tastes, and goosebumps rose all over his body. He was clearly not cut out for such a stroke of luck. Luckily, when he looked to Lu Zigang for help, the latter pulled him away, creating distance between him and the princess. At the same moment, the familiar dizziness struck.

Li Guo'er frowned, looking at the inner room where she was now all alone. She searched her surroundings, but there was no trace of the two people, as if they had vanished into thin air.

If it weren't for the lingering warmth of her fingers from touching the other person's cheek, she would almost think she was having a daytime fit of delirium.

Was it her elder brother's spirit coming to find her? But it's so strange...

She stumbled out of Yuyi Tower in a daze, and her female attendant immediately came to greet her. She asked solicitously, "Princess, are you satisfied with the woven skirt?"

Li Guo'er paused for a moment before realizing that she hadn't even thought to glance at the woven skirt. But she didn't want to explain to anyone else, so she simply composed herself and said indifferently, "If it doesn't suit my taste, the Imperial Clothing Bureau can make another one." She spoke very casually, not caring at all about the skirt, which was worth a hundred million coins.

The palace maid with her green-painted eyebrows didn't seem to care. The head of the Imperial Wardrobe, having received the order, was also pondering what might have displeased Princess Anle. The palace maid with the green-painted eyebrows cautiously asked, "Princess, what should we do with this woven skirt?"

Li Guo'er didn't even want to look at it now, and casually waved her hand, saying, "You can take it and get rid of it. I heard you're on good terms with an antique shop owner. Just hang it in his shop for display."

The palace maid immediately thanked her gracefully. Having served Li Guo'er for a long time, she could naturally tell that Li Guo'er was in a bad mood, so she wisely kept quiet.

Li Guo'er exhaled deeply, closed her beautiful eyes briefly, and when she opened them again, she had transformed back into the domineering Tang Dynasty princess.

The Silent House in 2013

Once the excruciating dizziness subsided, the doctor immediately opened his eyes and was relieved to find himself surrounded by familiar surroundings. He stood up, rubbing his forehead, and complained to Lu Zigang in an annoyed tone, "How did we end up back in the Tang Dynasty? Is this damn compass even working anymore? Wasn't it supposed to take us back a month ago?"

Lu Zigang sat on the rosewood recliner, pressed his slightly aching temples, and said with a wry smile, "Didn't I say that the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass is too profound? This compass has fifty-two layers, and the most complex layer has three hundred and eighty-four grids. How do you think I, a half-baked expert, can understand how it works?"

"Phew... thank goodness we're back safe and sound. So, next time we'll have to try our luck again!" The doctor leaned on the counter, feeling that finding the boss was a long way off.

“That will have to wait another month. The Luoshu Nine Star Compass can’t be used every day. It needs to be activated during a special period each month.” Lu Zigang had just been startled and broke out in a cold sweat. He took a long time to calm down.

The doctor, however, felt that the intensely potent incense from the Tang Dynasty princess still lingered around his nose. He leaned close to the Yan Jinxianglong Boshan incense burner on the counter and sniffed for a long time before the smell dissipated.

"By the way, which princess of the Tang Dynasty is that? Princess Taiping? Princess Gaoyang?"

"I feel like that dress hanging on the clothes rack with the auspicious cloud pattern in the room looks so familiar..." Lu Zigang fell into deep thought.

The doctor, who had just experienced time travel for the first time, was quite excited and showed no signs of the crisis of almost being kept as a male concubine. He was still eager to discuss: "Speaking of which, didn't the Tang Dynasty admire plumpness as beauty? That princess just now wasn't plump at all; she had a very good figure."

Lu Zigang glanced at him and said disdainfully, "That was only popular during Yang Guifei's time when plumpness was considered beautiful... and that was voluptuousness! Not obesity!" He suddenly seemed to remember something and got up to walk towards the inner room of the Silent Shop.

Curious, the doctor followed Lu Zigang through the long corridor of the Silent House, watching him open each room one by one, finally stopping at the door of the middle room. Seeing Lu Zigang stop at the door, the doctor couldn't help but push his back and squeeze in as well.

"What are you looking at... this is..." The doctor suddenly couldn't find his voice and could only stare blankly at the dress hanging on the clothes rack in the room, unable to speak for a long time.

There were no lights in the room, only a fist-sized luminous pearl hanging from the ceiling, emitting a soft glow. And on a standing clothes rack directly below the luminous pearl hung an exquisite dress, its beauty almost indescribable.

"According to the Zizhi Tongjian, Princess Anle possessed a woven skirt worth one hundred million coins. The flowers, birds, and beasts depicted were all as small as millet grains, each a different color depending on whether viewed directly or from the side, in sunlight or in shadow." Lu Zigang's eerie voice came from the darkness, pausing for a moment before continuing, "What we just saw should be the famous Princess Anle, the most beautiful woman of the Tang Dynasty. Alas, that princess was killed at the young age of twenty-five." Lu Zigang spoke calmly, because although he felt it was a pity, Princess Anle was infamous in history. Although no one knew the truth, she was ultimately branded with the infamy of murdering her father.

The doctor stared in disbelief for a long time before regaining his senses. Just moments before, in that extremely luxurious room, the woven dress hadn't seemed particularly eye-catching. But now, in this ordinary, unremarkable room, the dress was utterly captivating. It was remarkably well-preserved; even after a thousand years, it remained magnificent and exquisite. The dress was woven from the feathers of a hundred birds, its colors changing as his gaze moved, revealing the shapes of countless birds on it. These shapes seemed to come alive, so lifelike, truly a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

"What a waste... This dress is worth a hundred million!" the doctor exclaimed in amazement.

"What's even more extravagant is that, according to historical records, she made two woven skirts," Lu Zigang added, gossiping.

"Two!" The doctor walked around the standing coat rack in the room and asked in confusion, "There's only one here."

"Only one was preserved!" Lu Zigang shrugged. "Princess Anle's woven skirt was also known as the Hundred Birds Skirt, which caused a fashion frenzy among the upper class in Chang'an. All the ladies were making clothes with bird feathers and rare animal furs, which resulted in the extinction of birds and animals outside Chang'an. Later, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had to burn Princess Anle's woven skirt in front of the Daming Palace. Look, it was probably one of them that was burned."

"That's... such a waste..." A hundred million dollars just vanished into thin air! The doctor felt his vocabulary was unprecedentedly limited, and could only keep muttering the word "wasteful." "By the way, the boss made a private room for this woven dress. Is there something wrong with the dress?"

Lu Zigang shrugged, unconcerned, and said, "Do you think every antique in the Silent Shop is unusual? This is just a dress. It's probably in a private room because it's too expensive..."

"That's true..." The doctor immediately realized he had been overthinking things.

The two men admired the garment for a while, but being two grown men, they weren't particularly interested in such luxurious clothing. Lu Zigang, also worried that leaving the room open for too long might affect the temperature and humidity, which wouldn't be good for preserving the woven skirt, left with the doctor.

The room became dark again, with only the light of the luminous pearl quietly enveloping the woven skirt.

After an unknown amount of time, the door was silently pushed open, a dark figure darted in, quickly rolled the woven skirt from the clothes rack into a bag, and then vanished. The entire process took less than three seconds.

The luminous pearl on the roof twinkled twice, then suddenly went dark forever...

The Silent Shop: Each antique in the Silent Shop tells its own story, bearing witness to many years, unheard by anyone. Because they cannot speak…

Silent House Small Theater

Lu Zigang: By the way, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian, also had a nickname: Six Emperors Pill.

Doctor: Huh? Liuwei Dihuang Wan? He invented it?
Lu Zigang: Li Xian himself was Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, his father was Emperor Gaozong of Tang, his brother was Emperor Ruizong of Tang (Li Dan), his son was Emperor Shangzong of Tang, his nephew was Emperor Xuanzong of Tang (Li Longji), and even more importantly, his mother was also an empress, Wu Zetian… So… this family had six emperors… (Punishment)

Doctor:……

(End of this chapter)