Gasp! She's a Time Traveler Using Modern Tech to Improve Ancient Life-Chapter 564 - 563: Concubine

In the end, Li Shimin praised Lin Wanwan a few more times and finally rewarded her with a pile of gifts.

There were two mutton fat jade combs with mandarin duck patterns, a hairpin with emerald bird feathers, and a crown inlaid with various materials such as rubies, amber, agate, turquoise, pearls, and kingfisher feathers, extravagantly luxurious and showing royal elegance. It was distinctly a product of the imperial family, with no equal elsewhere. She also received ten slaves as an additional gift.

Riches have come my way, riches have come!

The crown alone is a priceless treasure. It’s a pity I cannot admire it in detail right now; once I leave the palace, I definitely need to meticulously study it.

Lin Wanwan gratefully held the tray displaying the gifts and exited Liangyi Palace, knowing that the slaves would naturally wait for her at the palace gate.

However, shortly after she left, a palace maid blocked her path, saying Empress Changsun was inviting her.

Going to meet Zhangsun, Lin Wanwan was not so nervous. She had already met Li Shimin (although she did not dare to lift her eyes to clearly see his appearance). Meeting Zhangsun, renowned in history for her virtue, was nothing to fear.

Thus, Lin Wanwan handed the emperor’s gifts over to a specially appointed eunuch for safekeeping and followed the palace maid toward the direction of Taiji Palace’s inner quarters with a relaxed pace.

She could finally see the emperor’s women, and she was quite curious.

After all, having watched numerous palace intrigue dramas and novels, she had many imaginations about the concubines.

Apart from the palace maid leading the way, Chen Dianzan was also present. The etiquette for meeting the emperor and greeting the empress differed, and naturally, she also needed to educate Lin Wanwan.

Of course, she could have simply led the way without explaining, but Lin Wanwan had given her a lot. She was not blinded by greed; she simply liked generous and cheerful ladies.

Taiji Palace was vast, but fortunately, Liangyi Palace, where Li Shimin managed state affairs daily, was very close to the sleeping quarters of Zhangsun Palace in Lizheng Hall.

Lin Wanwan had not walked long before she saw the gate to the courtyard of Lizheng Hall.

At this time, they encountered a group of palace attendants. In the middle, surrounded by them, was a sedan chair on which sat a finely dressed beauty.

The presence of floating gauze veiled her face, preventing a clear view of her appearance. Her demeanor seemed extremely languid.

Lin Wanwan’s heart fluttered. Coming out of Empress Changsun’s palace, who was this beauty?

Chen Dianzan had already whispered a reminder to Lin Wanwan: "Lin Le’an, this is Princess Consort Yang, pay your respects."

Princess Consort Yang? Li Shimin had two Princess Consort Yangs, one being the daughter of Yang Guang from the Sui Dynasty, and the other was the wife of his brother, Li Yuanji.

The daughter of Yang Guang didn’t need to be mentioned, having a natural advantage in winning over former ministers of the Sui Dynasty.

The wife of Li Yuanji, due to her noble birth in the Guanzhong aristocracy, the Hongnong Yang Clan, was brought into the harem by breaking normal conventions to appease the Guanzhong aristocracy.

Moreover, both the elder and younger Yang were famous beauties in history, and having them meant more benefits than disadvantages for Li Shimin.

Which Princess Consort Yang was this in front of her?

When the four eunuchs carrying the sedan chair reached Lin Wanwan and the others, Lin Wanwan, following Chen Dianzan and the palace maid, deeply bowed in respect.

Although her curiosity was killing her, she didn’t dare to muster up the courage to glance around recklessly within the oppressive confines of the feudal imperial palace where human rights were nonexistent.

But before she could avoid looking up, the person on the sedan chair spoke first: "Who is this lady from, that I haven’t seen before?"

As she spoke, those carrying the sedan chair and the accompanying palace maids halted their steps.

Lin Wanwan was wearing the lady’s court attire that married women wore, which prompted the question.

Seeing that she was being questioned directly, Lin Wanwan responded: "This humble girl is from the Lin Family of Hou Tao, greetings to Princess Consort Yang."

As she looked up, she saw the beauty’s features clearly, and couldn’t help but think the phrase "skin like snow, face like a flower" came to mind.

"Oh, so you’re the Lin who presented the salt drying method to the Xiao Family?" Princess Consort Yang’s gaze swept over Lin Wanwan with a sense of detachment and casually remarked, "You’re quite bold."

"Indeed, it is this humble girl." Lin Wanwan quickly lowered her head, keeping her eyes on her nose, and her nose on her heart.

Since she had been addressed, she dared to take advantage of the opportunity to glimpse a concubine. However, it wasn’t necessary to be overly brazen, having already been reprimanded, she promptly lowered herself in submission.

"Off we go." Princess Consort Yang let go of the gauze curtain, leaning back against the small table.

Following the order, the four eunuchs steadily lifted the sedan chair and continued on.

Once they had gone far, Chen Dianzan exhaled lightly and whispered with a hint of reproach: "Lin Le’an, when encountering nobles in the palace, you’re not to look directly at them. Remember this when you see the Empress later."

Lin Wanwan smiled slightly: "Alright, I’ll remember."

The palace maid who had come to deliver the message earlier also glanced at Lin Wanwan, though she said nothing, her expression was rather odd.

She then stepped forward to exchange a few words with the guard at the hall entrance, before leading Lin Wanwan inside.

Inside, five or six palace maids who had heard the activity came forward to greet her, the leading one smiled and said: "I presume this is Lin Le’an, please come in, Her Majesty has inquired twice."

"Indeed it is I." Lin Wanwan did not expect to have such distinction, being welcomed by Empress Changsun’s palace maid.

"Yuan’er, Sister, why are you waiting here? As Lin Le’an was about to enter, she encountered Princess Consort Yang’s sedan chair and was interrogated briefly, which delayed her here."

The messenger palace maid quickly explained, then, along with the other palace maids, escorted Lin Wanwan to the hallway outside the main hall of Lizheng Hall.

"Lin Le’an, this way, please." The palace maid referred to by the messenger as "Yuan’er" gestured to guide Lin Wanwan inside.

Voices were already coming from within, and one elderly voice was particularly familiar.

After passing several layers of screens and gauzy curtains, where palace maids nonchalantly performed appropriate bows, Lin Wanwan finally followed Yuan’er to an interroom with an arhat bed, much like those depicted in "Han Xizai’s Night Banquet." Upon the bed sat a noble woman in white, with a radiant girl in yellow leaning beside her.

Seated on a small walnut stool nearby was Lin Wanwan’s mentor for the past month, the Immortal Sun.

"Old Master, you’re here as well!"

Seeing her esteemed old acquaintance, Immortal Sun, suddenly in the deep courts of the royal palace, Lin Wanwan was boundlessly excited.

Just arriving in Chang’an yesterday afternoon, she had been preparing for her audience with the emperor, and had not yet visited the Immortal Sun, who was also in Chang’an.

Right now, upon seeing him, she forgot all decorum and directly greeted Immortal Sun first.

"Still so hasty and improper, hurting your bearings! Hurry and ask the Empress for forgiveness." Immortal Sun glared at this impetuous girl, his words reprimanding her but also subtly indicating to Empress Changsun his close relationship with Lin Wanwan, showing his protective nature.

Lin Wanwan then quickly performed a solemn bow, intoning: "This humble girl of the Lin family, Wanwan, greets the Empress!"

"Rise quickly, why should one of such exceptional heritage perform such deep propriety?" Empress Changsun softly said with a gentle smile, her voice supremely gentle, fitting her image as the mother of the nation.

Not to mention Lin Wanwan had done meritorious service for the country, merely her being recognized as a disciple of Immortal Sun was enough to earn Changsun’s regard.

Immortal Sun’s position in the Great Tang was indeed transcendent, Li Shimin described him as the "teacher of a hundred generations."

His medical ethics matched the excellence of his medical skills, thus he was famed for generations.

The Tang Dynasty had many emperors, but there was only one Medicine King, Immortal Sun. He was a person greater than the sovereigns.

"Thank you, Empress." Lin Wanwan promptly rose.

Changsun had a slightly swollen abdomen, indicating pregnancy, her complexion also showing the signs of pregnancy.

She was not seated on the floor; hence, Lin Wanwan did not need to kneel as she had before with Li Shimin, sparing her the discomfort, as her legs had gone numb from kneeling.