The Tang Dynasty in the Sand Table: Starting by Feeding a Small Rhinoceros

The next morning.

Before the first bird song even pierced the palace walls, the palace servants in the Lizheng Hall had already begun their work.

Empress Zhangsun personally oversaw the rearrangement of the golden nanmu altar where divine pronouncements were offered.

After she had Qinglan wash her hands three times, she took out the magical items she had previously collected from the sandalwood auspicious beast box and arranged them in order of their arrival in the Tang Dynasty.

The first item was the green watermelon rind, which had dried out beyond recognition but was still perfectly preserved.

The second item was the red Want Want Milk carton, along with the foil on top, which was carefully smoothed out.

The third item was the transparent plastic wrapper of the True Knowledge Lollipop.

The last item was still that A4 paper oracle, held down by a crystal paperweight, sitting in the center.

The four items were arranged neatly, looking extremely eerie, yet exuding a solemnity that sent chills down one's spine.

"From this day forward, the objects of the immortals shall follow their own set of rules."

Empress Zhangsun tilted her head slightly and glanced at all the palace servants in the hall who were listening intently.

"The immortals are pure and untouched by worldly concerns. No incense burners, no sacrificial offerings of pigs or sheep, and not even the slightest spark of worldly fire are permitted on this altar. Only the original offerings must be presented."

Qinglan, who was holding a gilded incense burner, was about to step forward when she heard this and immediately retreated, putting the incense burner far away.

Empress Zhangsun used this highly ceremonial arrangement to put an invisible iron chain around everyone's necks.

This is not a scattered foreign object.

These are irrefutable proofs of the celestial being's descent to the mortal realm.

Once the rules are in place, anyone who dares to cross the line will face obvious consequences.

One quarter past Chen Shi (7:15 AM).

Imperial Physician Wang arrived on time, carrying his medicine chest, to take Princess Jinyang's pulse.

As soon as he stepped across the threshold, he looked up and saw the altar in the center with the white paper oracle on it. He quickly lowered his head and walked very lightly, like a cat walking on a knife's edge.

"Physician Wang."

Empress Zhangsun sat by the couch, toying with a jade ruyi in her hand, her tone so calm that it was impossible to discern her joy or anger.

"Your humble servant is here." Imperial Physician Wang quickly stepped forward, bowing deeply.

Empress Zhangsun looked up at him: "Since the Celestial Venerable has issued a divine decree, explicitly stating his protection of the rhinoceros, I would like to ask you, under this divine favor, what can your Imperial Hospital possibly do?"

This is a question that strikes at the heart of the matter.

Empress Zhangsun was pressuring him to make a statement. The Imperial Medical Academy could not shirk its responsibilities and become cowards simply because they had a powerful figure backing them up.

Physician Wang was drenched in cold sweat.

He understood the subtext in the Empress's words—the Immortal Venerable could protect lives, but if the princess suffered due to inadequate care, the Imperial Hospital would still lose their heads.

"Your Majesty, what do you mean?"

Physician Wang knelt down with a thud and kowtowed repeatedly.

"Your Majesty, I have been foolish! The blessing bestowed by the Celestial Being is the foundation for the Princess's eternal peace and well-being. However, the daily changes in temperature and her routines still require the watchful eyes of a mortal. From now on, Your Highness, I will personally stand guard outside the side hall every day, never leaving your side, to monitor your fever, sweating, coughing, and dietary supplements!"

He dared not leave ordinary medical officers on duty any longer, and directly tied his life to the Lizheng Hall.

Empress Zhangsun looked at his trembling back before turning her gaze away with satisfaction.

……

Meanwhile, outside the sand table.

Li Mo sat in front of the computer, taking a bite of the cold bun left over from last night.

He listened to Physician Wang's trembling statement through the gaps in the corrugated cardboard box.

Chills and fever, sweating, cough...

Li Mo swallowed the last bite of the steamed bun, his brows furrowing tightly.

He picked up his phone and opened the shopping app.

I was so focused on cooling the little girl down and satisfying her cravings that I almost forgot about the most critical problem.

Princess Jinyang in history, also known as Xiao Sizi, died of a respiratory illness. Although modern medicine cannot fully explain the specific pathology, the symptoms of childhood asthma, low immunity, and sensitivity to cold and heat suggest that this girl's constitution was frighteningly fragile.

"In ancient times, there were no antibiotics; even a slight cold could be fatal."

Li Mo's finger slid rapidly across the screen.

He directly entered a few keywords into the search box.

In no time, the shopping cart was filled with a bunch of items:

Children's Ibuprofen Suspension

Pediatric expectorant and cough suppressant granules

Portable children's asthma inhaler

【Medical Sterile Fever-Reducing Patch】

He clicked to pay without hesitation.

Preparations must be made in advance. If the temperature drops in the Tang Dynasty one day, or if this little girl catches a cold, he doesn't want to watch her suffer through the sand table.

……

The Great Tang Dynasty established the Lizheng Hall.

As noon approached, Little Sizi had eaten and drunk his fill and it was time for him to take a nap.

But the little guy just wouldn't close his eyes today.

She rolled around barefoot on the soft couch, pointing at the offering table in the distance and shouting.

"Mommy, I want to see that word! I'll go to sleep after I see it."

Empress Zhangsun had no choice but to have Qinglan bring over the copy she had made.

Qinglan held the copy in both hands, stood by the couch, and spoke in an extremely gentle voice.

"I am the Supreme One..."

"Protect the rhinoceros."

Upon hearing these four words, Little Sizi smacked her lips in satisfaction, burrowed her head into the quilt, and sweetly closed her eyes.

In her eyes, the divine decree that had shaken the entire Lizheng Hall was nothing more than a lullaby to lull her to sleep, a sure-fire talisman.

Empress Zhangsun sat to the side, quietly watching her daughter's peaceful sleeping face.

Her gaze pierced through the layers of gauze curtains, looking up at the high-hanging sky.

Since the Celestial Venerable can send words down from the heavens.

Could the Tang Dynasty... perhaps send a message up there?

If possible, could we ask about the root cause of the rhinoceros's illness and how to completely eliminate the hidden dangers of alternating cold and heat in advance?

Empress Zhangsun withdrew her gaze and fell on her daughter's peaceful sleeping face, clutching the jade ruyi in her hand tightly.