Little Sizi came to my house and became the family's darling, and Li Shimin got anxious.

Li Shimin's eyes widened suddenly.

He stared intently at the little pink car, watching it move steadily forward, backward, and turn in the hall.

Without horses or pushers, the wheels turn by themselves, more obedient than well-trained warhorses.

"Xiao Yi, Xiao Yi, stop!"

The little ox gave the command in its childish voice, and the car immediately stopped, remaining motionless and quietly staying in place.

The hall was deathly silent.

Several palace maids and eunuchs standing at a distance, though keeping their heads down and behaving respectfully, couldn't help but glance over in this direction out of the corner of their eyes, their astonishment impossible to suppress.

Li Shimin walked over slowly, his steps were very slow, as if he was afraid of disturbing something.

He walked up to the car, squatted down, reached out his hand, and tentatively touched the roof with his fingertips.

It's cold.

Hard.

It wasn't wood, copper, iron, or any material he recognized.

Its surface is as smooth as glass, yet warmer and more lustrous.

I tapped it with my hand, and it made a dull sound, neither crisp nor hollow, and I couldn't tell what it was.

I walked around the car once, then squatted down to look at the chassis. There were no axles, no gears, and the bottom of the chassis was clean and flat, like a mirror.

"What...powers this thing?"

He looked up at Xiao Sizi sitting in the car, his brows furrowed.

"How can it move on its own without being pulled by horses or pushed by people?"

Little Si blinked, seriously recalling what her sister had said: "My sister said... said it's electricity."

"Electricity?" Li Shimin's brows furrowed even deeper, his gaze darkening slightly. "Lightning?"

"Mmm!" Little Sizi nodded vigorously, the bulging eyes on his frog hat twitching.

Princess Chengyang added, "My sister said that there is a battery in the car, and the battery has electricity. When there is electricity, the car can run. When there is no electricity, the car stops working. When the electricity runs out, you have to go to my sister's place to recharge it."

Xiao Sizi started the car again.

Li Shimin followed the carriage a few steps, his eyes burning with intensity.

This car is almost silent when driving, and it is incredibly smooth and agile.

if……

If this item could be magnified a hundred or a thousand times, it could be used to transport military rations, supplies, and even soldiers...

How fast will the marching speed be? And how much easier will logistics be?

His breathing became slightly rapid.

Empress Zhangsun looked into his shining eyes and her heart skipped a beat.

She knows her husband too well.

This look isn't one of admiring a novel toy, but rather one of scrutinizing a... deadly weapon.

"Second Prince," Empress Zhangsun said softly, "this object, though ingenious, is ultimately a child's toy; there's no need to overdo it..."

"Guanyinbi, come and see." Li Shimin interrupted her, pointing to the cart, "Does this thing need a road to travel on?"

Empress Zhangsun looked at the smooth floor tiles: "It's certainly feasible on such a flat surface."

"What if there is any injustice?" Li Shimin pressed.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Sizi immediately steered the car toward the threshold of the palace gate.

When the car encountered a threshold, it paused slightly, then lifted its front wheels and, using its own power, climbed over it. Although it was a bit bumpy, it did manage to get over it.

"Look!" the little rhinoceros shouted, "I'm out!"

Li Shimin took a deep breath.

"Beautiful." He turned to his eldest daughter, who had been standing quietly to the side. "You've always been intelligent and close to Si Zi. In your opinion, this item... could it be replicated?"

Li Lizhi had been observing the small car, and upon hearing this, she gently shook her head: "Father, this thing is made of neither gold nor wood, and I have never seen anything like it before. The electricity it uses to drive it is also unheard of. To replicate it... I'm afraid it would be extremely difficult."

Li Shimin nodded, his gaze returning to the carriage.

"Sizi, this vehicle... can it carry passengers?"

Upon hearing this, Little Sizi immediately called out to Princess Chengyang, "Sister, come here!"

Princess Chengyang got into the driver's seat. The little princess climbed into the passenger seat and sat down.

"Second sister, I'm all ready."

"Hold on tight, Sizi!" Chengyang reminded him, then stepped on the gas.

The car started again, carrying the little rhinoceros, and drove into the hall.

Little Sizi sat in the car, giggling and waving her little hands, giving instructions: "Turn left! Turn right! Hurry up!"

Seeing her youngest daughter's happy expression, Empress Zhangsun finally showed a genuine smile on her pale face.

She hadn't seen Sizi play so happily since Chengyang started school.

Li Shimin, however, watched with even greater focus.

Even with passengers on board, the vehicle still drove smoothly and steered nimbly.

"Lizhi," he spoke again, his voice much lower, "I have a matter I need your help with."

Li Lizhi's expression turned solemn: "Father, please speak."

"It is a divine opportunity that the little girl can go to the fairyland." Li Shimin looked at the pink carriage carrying his little daughter in circles, his eyes deep. "In that fairyland, there seem to be many ingenious objects that we have never heard of, and this carriage is one of them."

"As your father, I hope that you can use the opportunity of the rhinoceros to establish a connection with that fairy. There is no need to rush, but it must be done steadily and for a long time."

Li Lizhi was startled: "What does Father mean...?"

"Such ingenious tools are toys for children, but for the Tang Dynasty..." Li Shimin didn't finish his sentence, but the meaning in his eyes was clear enough: "If we can obtain them and make good use of them, they will greatly benefit the country and the people."

Empress Zhangsun couldn't help but speak up: "Second Prince, that is, after all, an unknown place with unknown people. Sizi is still young, and beautiful..."

"It is precisely because the prince is young that we need Li Zhi to mediate." Li Shimin looked at Empress Zhangsun, his tone firm. "Guanyinbi, I know you are worried. But such an opportunity is rare. We do not need to take it by force, but only a fair trade. If they need anything, the Tang Dynasty can provide it."

He looked at Li Lizhi again: "Lizhi, you are meticulous and thorough in your work. I trust you completely with this matter. Are you willing?"

"When communicating with the fairy, there's no need to rush," Li Shimin said calmly. "Start by offering her what she likes, and proceed slowly. If she wants gold and silver, give her gold and silver; if she wants precious objects, the Tang Dynasty has no shortage of them. The key is..."

He turned around and his gaze fell on the pink toy car that the little rhinoceros had climbed out of and was now quietly sitting in the hall.

"We need to find out exactly how many of these ingenious tools there are, and how much change they can bring to our Great Tang Dynasty."

Li Lizhi solemnly replied, "Your daughter understands."

Little Sizi didn't understand any of this, and ran to Li Shimin's feet for a hug: "Father, the car is so much fun! Guagua is so cute! And there are so many more fun things to do with the fairy sister!"

Li Shimin picked up his daughter and patted her head.

"Yes, Father knows."

Knowing this only fueled the fire in my heart to burn even brighter.