My hotel is full of emperors throughout history.

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the glass windows, illuminating the room.

Zhu Di got out of bed, feeling refreshed and invigorated, all the fatigue from the many days of battle gone.

He stretched, his joints cracking softly, and looked around the room that still amazed him.

He got up and tried the modern toilet again.

Even though he had used it many times last night, the roaring sound of the water and the instantly clean vortex when the button was pressed pleased Zhu Di greatly.

"Wonderful! Absolutely wonderful! How the hell were these made? I'll go back and have those craftsmen see if they can replicate one."

Zhu Di muttered to himself and washed his hands with hot water.

He dressed and walked out of the room, just as he was about to order another serving of braised pork trotters for breakfast, when he heard the sound of wind chimes coming from downstairs.

Hmm? Another guest so early?

Zhu Di raised an eyebrow slightly, looking down with a hint of curiosity.

This glance, however, made him pause in surprise.

There were two people in the audience, one of whom was dressed in casual clothes.

But his appearance, his temperament, and the calm and dignified bearing befitting a top ruler.

This person is definitely not an ordinary person!

The playful smile on Zhu Di's face gradually faded.

He had met many rulers of small countries, but those rulers seemed insignificant compared to the man downstairs.

Zhu Di even thought of his biased father.

Perhaps, of all the people he knew, only his aura could rival that of the person downstairs.

Who exactly is this person?

Zhu Di was puzzled and looked at the man beside him.

Beside the man was a young man who looked somewhat like him, but with a gloomy expression and a slightly hesitant gait due to a minor leg ailment.

Zhu Di looked at the two men and decided to hold back and observe for the time being.

"Mr. Chen, I'm bothering you again."

Li Shimin cupped his hands in greeting to Chen Mo behind the counter, his attitude much more amiable than yesterday.

"I brought my son with me today, and I'd like to trouble you for a few more moments. Is that alright?"

"Of course you can."

Chen Mo smiled slightly.

Yesterday, he took the gold melon seeds to do a test. Although the concentration was not as high as in modern times, it was genuine gold.

The current gold price is... wow...

The thought that he might lose his worries in the future almost made Chen Mo burst out laughing.

Don't even mention bothering me today, I don't mind if you bother me every day from now on!

He wouldn't mind bringing his son, or even his daughters.

Li Shimin glanced at Li Chengqian, who immediately understood his meaning and stepped forward, cupping his hands in greeting.

"Chengqian has met with Shopkeeper Chen."

"Just call me Chen Mo, there's no need to be so polite."

Chen Mo smiled and hurriedly invited the two into the house.

Meanwhile, Zhu Di upstairs also heard the conversation downstairs.

Looking at the man, then at the limping young man beside him.

An absurd yet heart-pounding thought suddenly popped into his mind.

Chengqian?

Is it difficult to walk?

Could it be... could it be that the person downstairs is actually...?

Zhu Di's breath hitched, and his eyes instantly lit up with an astonishing brightness.

His hand gripping the railing tightened unconsciously as he stared intently at Li Shimin below.

It's him! It must be him!

Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin!

That legendary emperor whom he had read about in history books since childhood, praised by countless civil and military officials, and hailed by later generations as the "Heavenly Khan".

That was the model that brought the Tang Dynasty to its zenith, achieving the pinnacle of both civil and military prowess.

That was the goal that Zhu Di admired immensely, secretly compared himself to, and even felt a little resentful of deep down.

Zhu Di felt a surge of excitement rush to his head, a mixture of exhilaration, agitation, and disbelief.

An overwhelming sense of ecstasy instantly engulfed him!

He always regarded Emperor Taizong of Tang as his role model.

The reason is simple: Emperor Taizong's ascension to the throne, like mine, wasn't exactly glorious!

But in the end, he personally ushered in the Reign of Zhenguan.

Later generations speak of him with almost nothing but respect and admiration.

Few people would say he murdered his brother and imprisoned his father.

Zhu Di also hoped that he would be evaluated by future generations in the same way.

Instead of always referring to Zhu Di as someone who illegitimately ascended to the throne.

This applies to a series of events, including the current compilation of the Yongle Encyclopedia and the Northern Expedition.

He did all this to prove to his father and to future generations that he, Zhu Di, was the one more suitable to be emperor!

Not his idiot nephew!

Zhu Di looked down at Li Shimin, his face filled with emotion.

I never expected this!

Such a small inn, yet you could still encounter Emperor Taizong of Tang from hundreds of years ago.

What an incredible opportunity!

At the same time, Li Shimin downstairs seemed to sense the almost tangible, burning gaze from upstairs and frowned slightly.

He looked up and met Zhu Di's eyes, which were sparkling with excitement.

Eyes facing each other.

Spanning hundreds of years, these two emperors in Chinese history were both brilliant and ambitious, controversial yet legendary figures.

Their eyes met for the first time in this small hotel.

Zhu Di could no longer contain his excitement.

He suddenly straightened up, cupped his hands in greeting to Li Shimin downstairs, and spoke in a loud voice, filled with barely suppressed excitement and a hint of imperceptible respect.

"Is that...Emperor Taizong of the Tang Dynasty downstairs?!"

Li Shimin: ...

He was stunned for a moment, but looking at the gaze of the person upstairs, he understood what was going on.

Moreover, judging from this person's appearance and temperament, he is definitely not an ordinary person.

"Exactly."

Li Shimin cupped his hands in greeting.

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di became even more excited and returned the gesture of cupping his hands in greeting.

"A pleasure to meet you! A pleasure to meet you! It's truly a case of seeing is believing!"

"I have witnessed Emperor Taizong's divine might today; his reputation is truly well-deserved!"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's eyes gleamed, and he cupped his hands in greeting once more.

"May I ask who you are, sir?"

"Emperor Taizong need not be alarmed,"

Zhu Di laughed heartily and came down from upstairs, his smile both cheerful and imposing.

"I am Zhu Di, the future Emperor of the Ming Dynasty. Your Majesty's achievements are renowned far and wide. To be able to see your countenance today is truly an honor beyond measure!"

"The Ming Dynasty? Zhu Di?"

Li Shimin quickly searched his memory but had no recollection of this person from this dynasty.

However, the other party had an extraordinary demeanor, claimed to be an emperor, and was able to reveal his own temple name, so what he said was probably not untrue.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart, nodded slightly in return, and spoke in a calm tone.

"So you are an emperor from later generations. It's a pleasure to meet you."

As soon as they finished speaking, the two stood facing each other, their eyes meeting once more.

The inn fell silent for a moment, with only the faint background noise of a documentary playing on the television.

Li Shimin looked at Zhu Di.

Although he didn't know which dynasty the Ming Dynasty he was talking about was, the other man's confidence, his ambition, and even his hidden wildness reminded him of his own youth.

"Your Excellency possesses a magnanimous spirit, truly extraordinary. May I ask... how you established your imperial dynasty?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Di's eyes flashed with a sharp light. Instead of hiding his thoughts, he felt a surge of pride.

"To be honest, Your Majesty, I did not obtain this throne through any conventional means!"

He stepped forward, his aura suddenly rising.

"My father founded the Ming Dynasty and passed the throne to my nephew. However, he was young, surrounded by treacherous officials who oppressed the princes and even plotted to kill me!"

His tone turned stern, as if he had returned to that life-or-death moment years ago.

"Am I one to sit idly by and await my doom? At that time, I was in Beiping with only eight hundred personal guards under my command! It was with these eight hundred brave men as the foundation that I resolutely raised an army, purged the court of corrupt officials, and quelled the national crisis!"

"Eight hundred people?"

Upon hearing this number, Li Shimin's eyes flashed with a sharp light once again.

"That's right! Eight hundred men!"

Seeing Li Shimin's shock, Zhu Di felt even more proud.

"However, I firmly believe that the Mandate of Heaven is with me and the hearts of the people are with me! I marched south, sweeping away everything in my path and repeatedly defeating the imperial army of a million men."

Finally, Nanjing was captured, the world was pacified, and the great dynasty was inherited!

"Good! What a fine display of eight hundred men pacifying the rebellion!"

Li Shimin couldn't help but admire, his eyes gleaming with a burning light—the admiration of a hero recognizing another hero.

"To escape from a desperate situation, to overcome the strong with the weak, to defeat the many with the few! Your actions demonstrate courage, luck, and skill—all indispensable! It is truly a feat rarely seen throughout history!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Li Shimin completely abandoned any trace of the senior's attitude towards the junior, replacing it with a sense of mutual respect and appreciation.

Back then, Li Shimin only used fewer than 800 people in the Xuanwu Gate Incident.

However, it was these eight hundred people who gained control of the entire Tang Empire.

The exhilaration of breaking through countless obstacles, the ultimate confidence in turning the impossible into possible, is something only people like them can truly understand.

Hearing such high praise from Li Shimin, Zhu Di was overjoyed and laughed heartily.

"Hahaha! Your Majesty, you flatter me!"

"Emperor Taizong's victory at the Battle of Hulao Pass, where he defeated 100,000 with only 3,000 men and captured two kings in a single battle, truly demonstrated unparalleled military strategy!"

"What I did was merely a desperate gamble forced upon me by circumstances! Compared to Your Majesty, it is nothing extraordinary!"

"Not at all! Your Excellency defeated an army of a million with only eight hundred local troops and ultimately became the new emperor. This ability is truly extraordinary!"

The two exchanged compliments, showing a mutual respect and admiration.

Chen Mo, who was watching from the side, even wondered if if they were given a place now, they might just take the opportunity to become sworn brothers.

We do not ask to be born on the same day of the same year, but only to die on the same day of the same year.

Chen Mo almost burst out laughing when he imagined the scene.

That'll be fun then, cough cough...

Chen Mo composed himself and turned his gaze to Li Shimin.

"By the way! Mr. Li, what brings you here today?"