Sky Curtain: With a vermilion mirror, Jing travels through the modern world, shaking all dynasties.

Chapter 134 A Gift for Li Er

Modern-day Jiangchuan Tavern.

As Jiang Chuan was speaking, he suddenly remembered something, slapped his forehead, and said, "Please sit for a moment, I'll be right back."

After saying that, without waiting for anyone's reaction, he turned around and pushed open the door to leave.

Little Si blinked, looking at Zhu Jingjing with a blank expression: "Sister Zhu, where did Brother Jiang Chuan go?"

Zhu Jingjing was also completely baffled, shaking her head: "I don't know, my brother is always so easily startled."

Li Bai and Su Shi exchanged a glance, both baffled, and could only pick up their wine cups, sipping their drinks while waiting.

After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the door was pushed open again.

Jiang Chuan strode in, carrying a white plastic bag.

He walked straight to Xiao Sizi, squatted down, and handed the bag in his hand to Xiao Sizi. "Sizi, this is a gift for your father."

Xiao Sizi looked down at the thing in her hand. The cardboard box had words she couldn't understand printed on it, along with a picture of a steaming cup.

She tilted her head and asked, "Brother Jiang Chuan, what is this?"

"This is instant coffee." Jiang Chuan opened a box, took out a long, thin packaging bag, and waved it in front of her. "This contains coffee powder. Take it back to your father. When he wants to drink it, just tear open the bag, pour it into a cup, and add hot water."

"I know coffee!" Little Sizi's eyes lit up. "You and Sister Zhu drank it before, and you said that drinking too much would keep you awake!"

Jiang Chuan nodded slightly and rubbed her head. "That's right, so it's perfect for people who need to stay up late. Consider it a little gift for your father. I hope he'll have the honor of visiting my little tavern when he has some free time."

The Great Ming Dynasty, Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at the sky, his expression gradually darkening.

"Hmph!" He slammed his hand on the imperial desk and said coldly, "It was clearly Jing'er who passed away first, and Jiang Chuan knew my Jing'er before her. Now, it seems that Emperor Taizong of Tang, Li Shimin, is trying to beat me to it and go to that tavern?"

Empress Ma chuckled and said, "Chongba, this is all ordained by Heaven, beyond human power to contend with. Why bother with such matters?"

Zhu Yuanzhang grew increasingly indignant as he spoke, rising to his feet and pacing back and forth. Pointing to the sky, he exclaimed, "How can I not care? Look at Jiang Chuan, sending coffee and saying it's for those who stay up all night," clearly trying to curry favor with Li Shimin! When I'm reviewing memorials, don't I also stay up all night? Don't I also need something to keep me alert? Why don't they send me one too?"

Empress Ma said slowly, "Chongba, even if Jiang Chuan wanted to send it, he would have to find a way to do so. Besides, didn't he also manage to send high-quality seeds to our Great Ming, and even the 'Great Ming No. 1' ended up in our hands by chance?"

Zhu Yuanzhang remained silent for a long time.

As Empress Ma said, compared to the Tang Dynasty, the Ming Dynasty received far more benefits from later generations.

modern.

After several rounds of drinks, both Li Bai and Su Shi had flushed faces and were in high spirits as they talked.

Li Bai put down his wine cup, let out a long sigh, stood up, cupped his hands and said, "Young friend Jiang, it is truly a great pleasure to have met Princess Jinyang today and to have drunk with young friend Su! It is getting late, and I have made an appointment with Brother Haoran to travel together tomorrow, so I will take my leave now."

Su Shi also stood up, patted his robes, and cupped his hands to Jiang Chuan, saying, "Young friend Jiang, I have also benefited greatly today."

"I am ashamed to admit that I am inferior to Mr. Li Bai in poetic talent, and I will certainly study diligently upon my return."

Jiang Chuan quickly stood up and returned the greeting: "Gentlemen, you are too kind. It is an honor for my little tavern to have you two visit. You are welcome to come and sit down anytime in the future."

Li Bai laughed heartily, turned around, and walked towards the door.

Su Shi took two steps, then suddenly stopped and turned to look at Jiang Chuan. "Young friend Jiang, I almost forgot to mention that next time I come, I might be able to bring Wang Jiefu along."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Chuan's eyes lit up, and he quickly cupped his hands in greeting: "That would be wonderful! I will certainly prepare fine wine and food to properly entertain you two."

Su Shi nodded with a smile, then bowed to Zhu Jingjing and Xiao Sizi in farewell before following Li Bai out the door.

After Li Bai and Su Shi took their leave, Xiao Sizi let out a big yawn, unable to hide his drowsiness any longer.

She slid off the chair and first curtsied to Jiang Chuan: "Brother Jiang Chuan, Si Zi should go back now."

She smiled sweetly at Lin Xiaoyu again and said, "Goodbye, Sister Xiaoyu."

Finally, she turned to Zhu Jingjing and called out softly, "Sister Zhu—"

Zhu Jingjing squatted down and gently hugged her: "If you want to eat cotton candy in the future, just push open the door and come over."

Little Sizi nodded vigorously, let go of his hand, walked to the door, turned back to wave to everyone, and pushed the door open to leave.

The door closed, and the tavern returned to silence.

Jiang Chuan gently rubbed Zhu Jingjing's head without saying anything.

The Great Tang Dynasty, Taiji Palace.

Li Shimin sat upright behind his desk, his vermilion brush hovering in the air, not falling for a long time, his mind completely elsewhere from the memorials.

Suddenly, a palace attendant outside the palace announced loudly: "Her Highness the Princess is returning to the palace."

Li Shimin abruptly threw down his pen, stood up abruptly, and strode forward to greet him.

As soon as the little Sizi stepped across the threshold, Li Shimin scooped him up in his arms, examined him carefully from head to toe, and asked urgently, "Sizi, are you feeling unwell? Have you bumped or bruised yourself?"

Little Sizi nestled in his arms, giggling and shaking her head: "Father, don't worry, Sizi is fine! Brother Jiangchuan's tavern is so much fun, it's full of strange and wonderful things. And Sister Zhu is so kind to Sizi, she even shared her cotton candy with Sizi!"

Seeing that she was smiling and her face was rosy, and that she was not uncomfortable at all, Li Shimin was finally relieved.

He gently stroked the little head of the child and sighed, "The little princess of the Ming Dynasty treated you so well that I owe Emperor Hongwu a favor."

The little girl wriggled out of his arms, picked up the white plastic bag with her little hands, and held it up to him like a treasure: "Father, look!"

Li Shimin's eyes lit up. He took the bag, took out the cardboard box with the steaming pattern, examined it several times, and murmured, "This is the legendary coffee from later generations? I've coveted it for so long, and now it's finally in my hands!"

He immediately called out, "Someone, bring hot water!"

The eunuch hurriedly brought over a pot of boiling water.

Li Shimin personally tore open a package, poured the brown powder into a cup, added hot water, and gently stirred it with a silver spoon.

A rich, unfamiliar fragrance rose gently, filling the entire hall.

He brought the cup close to his nose, took a deep sniff, narrowed his eyes slightly, and then took a small sip.

"Wonderful!" he exclaimed, his eyes filled with surprise. "Although this is bitter, it has an endless aftertaste and can really refresh the mind, far surpassing the strength of tea!"

""

The little prince stood on tiptoe, clinging to the edge of the imperial desk, and looked at him curiously: "Father, is it delicious?"

'

Li Shimin looked down at her, bent down and brought the cup to her nose: "Just smell it. Children are not allowed to drink this. Jiang Chuan said that if you drink too much, you won't be able to sleep."