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

Chapter 141 The Emperor Meets the Emperor

The Great Ming Dynasty, Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at the sky and saw a dark figure standing in the tavern, with a crown and pearls hanging from it, exuding a sinister aura. His face immediately turned ashen.

"It's him!" Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his hand on the imperial desk and abruptly stood up. "I've been arguing with that Ying Zheng for a long time, and he actually went to that tavern before me!"

Empress Ma quickly rose and went to his side, gently advising, "Chongba, Jiang Chuan and Jing'er have given our Ming Dynasty many benefits, each and every one a real favor! Why do you have to argue with the First Emperor about who goes to the tavern first?"

Upon hearing this, Zhu Yuanzhang's expression softened slightly, but he remained silent, staring intently at the sky with his lips pressed tightly together, not uttering a word for a long time.

Modern-day Jiangchuan Tavern.

Ying Zheng picked up the wine cup, brought it to his lips, first sniffed the rich aroma, his eyebrows twitched slightly, and then he tilted his head back and took a sip.

The moment the liquor entered his throat, his expression changed drastically. His Adam's apple bobbed violently as he swallowed the mouthful with difficulty, then he covered his mouth and coughed violently.

Jiang Chuan was stunned, his face full of astonishment.

Li Bai, Su Shi, and others all praised Maotai highly, so why did the First Emperor treat it so poorly?

He suddenly remembered that during the Qin Dynasty, the brewing process was still rudimentary and the alcohol content was extremely low. To put it bluntly, it was just rice soup with a slight alcohol taste. This was probably the first time Ying Zheng had ever drunk such strong liquor. How could he possibly stand it?

He quickly stepped forward and asked, "Your Majesty, is this wine too strong?"

Ying Zheng coughed a few times, his face slightly flushed, and nodded somewhat embarrassedly. "This wine is fragrant, but it burns like fire when it goes down my throat. I am truly—unworthy of its taste."

Jiang Chuan suppressed a laugh and said, "My bad, my bad. I forgot that His Majesty doesn't like strong liquor. I have some with a lower alcohol content here, please wait a moment."

He turned and went to the bar, where he took a glass of golden beer, the glass rimmed with a fine layer of water droplets.

The beer has a low alcohol content and is bubbly, making it refreshing and perfect for first-timers.

Ying Zheng took the cup, his gaze falling on the golden liquid, his pupils brightening slightly.

He recognized it; he had seen Jiang Chuan and Zhu Jingjing drink this in the sky, the two of them raising their glasses and drinking heartily, looking completely satisfied.

At this moment, the liquid in the glass is bubbling slightly, so fine and dense, that it seems to be alive.

Ying Zheng involuntarily produced a mouthful of saliva, and his throat, which had been burned by the Moutai, didn't seem so uncomfortable anymore.

He picked up the cup, brought it close to his nose, and smelled it. A faint aroma of wheat and a refreshing scent wafted over him, completely different from the strong and domineering Moutai he had just smelled.

Ying Zheng eagerly picked up the cup, tilted his head back, and took a big gulp.

He paused for a moment, then his eyes lit up, and he nodded repeatedly, unable to resist praising, "Excellent! This wine is clear, refreshing, and smooth on the palate, with an unforgettable aftertaste! Even on those overseas immortal mountains, there might not be such a divine wine!"

Jiang Chuan laughed and said, "If Your Majesty likes it, that's good. There's plenty of it!"

Just as Ying Zheng was about to drink again, the tavern door was suddenly pushed open.

Li Shimin, dressed in casual clothes, with an imposing air, strode in, carrying the little rhinoceros in his arms.

Little Sizi spotted Zhu Jingjing at a glance, immediately wriggled out of her father's arms, ran over to her, and called out with a grin, "Sister Zhu! Sizi's here! Do you have any more cotton candy?"

Zhu Jingjing smiled and squatted down to catch her, pinching her little cheek: "Yes, I saved some for you. Come on, I'll take you to eat."

With that, he took Xiao Sizi's hand, and the two of them walked affectionately towards the lounge.

Li Shimin watched his daughter walk away before turning his gaze to the dark figure.

Seeing that Ying Zheng was wearing a crown and a dark robe, exuding an extraordinary air, he raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to Jiang Chuan, asking, "Young friend Jiang, this gentleman looks unfamiliar. Has a new customer arrived at the tavern?"

Jiang Chuan was about to speak when Ying Zheng put down his wine cup and solemnly said, "I am the First Emperor Ying Zheng! You must be the Emperor of the Tang Dynasty? I have seen you in the heavens."

Li Shimin was slightly taken aback, then cupped his hands and smiled, "So it is the First Emperor. I have read many of your deeds in the history books. You unified the six kingdoms, standardized writing, and standardized cart tracks. Your achievements will last for thousands of years! I never thought I would be able to meet you in person today."

Seeing his respectful attitude, Ying Zheng felt somewhat relieved, but he was unwilling to lose face. He said in a deep voice, "My Great Qin swept across the six kingdoms, drove back the Xiongnu in the north, conquered the Baiyue in the south, and built the Great Wall, stretching for thousands of miles! I wonder how your Great Tang compares to Great Qin?"

Upon hearing this, Li Shimin's smile remained unchanged as he replied neither servile nor arrogant: "I naturally admire the Qin Dynasty's achievement in unifying the country. However, my Tang Dynasty, during the reign of Zhenguan, saw all barbarians submit and all nations pay tribute! My Tang Dynasty's civil and military achievements are no less impressive! As for the Great Wall, I have elite troops and strong generals guarding the borders; why would I need bricks and stones to stop the barbarian horses?"

Ying Zheng snorted coldly: "Are you saying that my Great Wall is useless?"

Li Shimin shook his head and smiled, "I had no such intention! It's just that each dynasty has its own difficulties and its own strengths. The Qin Dynasty built the Great Wall to defend against the Xiongnu, while I used marriage alliances and military achievements to pacify the four directions. We just have different paths but the same goal."

Ying Zheng picked up his beer and took another sip, his gaze intense: "How vast is the territory of your Great Tang? How large is its population?"

Li Shimin was not to be outdone: "From the sea in the east to the Pamir Mountains in the west, from Linyi in the south to the vast Gobi Desert in the north, it stretches 9,510 li from east to west and 16,918 li from north to south. As for the population, it was less than three million households at the beginning of the Zhenguan era, but now it has exceeded three hundred and eighty thousand households."

Ten thousand households.

Ying Zheng's lips twitched slightly, about to speak again, when Jiang Chuan quickly interjected to smooth things over: "Your Majesty, Your Majesty! In a tavern, we talk about romance, not politics. Come, let's drink!"

Li Shimin laughed heartily, raised his cup to Ying Zheng, and said, "Young friend Jiang is right. It is an honor to be seated here with you today. Emperor Qin Shi Huang, please!"

Ying Zheng snorted, but also picked up his cup, clinked it with his, and drank it all in one gulp.

The gazes of the two emperors met in mid-air; one was majestic and stern, the other calm and composed. It was impossible to say who had the upper hand.

The Great Ming Dynasty, Fengtian Hall.

Zhu Yuanzhang looked up at the sky and saw the two emperors raising their cups to drink, neither willing to give way. He couldn't help but feel a little itchy and restless.

How he longed to go to that tavern in later generations, to taste the so-called "immortal wine" himself, and to compare his skills with those of emperors like Ying Zheng and Li Shimin.

Empress Ma saw through his thoughts at a glance and said with a smile, "Chongba, don't be impatient. More and more people will be able to go to that tavern; sooner or later it will be our turn!"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, but his gaze remained fixed on the sky. He sighed softly and said, "Li Shimin was being too polite after all. If it were me, I would have made that old man Ying Zheng blush with shame before I would have stopped!"

Empress Ma covered her mouth and chuckled upon hearing this, then shook her head and gently advised, "Chongba, if you ever have the chance to go to that tavern in the future, please don't argue with the First Emperor. If we're destined to sit together, let's drink and chat happily. Why bother arguing about who's better?"