The Company

Chapter 39: The Woven Skirt

Li Guo'er was sulking as she crouched in the backyard flowerbed. At ten years old, she was dressed like a boy in coarse black clothing, her hair parted down the middle and tied into two knots atop her head resembling goat horns, styled completely like a boy's. Anyone seeing her might secretly admire how lovely the child looked—as fresh and fortunate as one of the Bodhisattva Guanyin's attendant children.

When Li Chongrun found her, he saw a grubby yet utterly adorable little girl. He couldn't help chuckling to himself, thinking how endlessly amusing his younger sister was. Though only two years older than Li Guo'er, he already showed the makings of a young man, standing much taller and easily scooping up the crouching child.

Startled at first, Li Guo'er recognized her brother and squirmed in his arms, calling out brightly, "Brother Chongzhao!"

Afraid she might fall, Li Chongrun quickly set her down, steadying her as he frowned. "How many times must I tell you? I've changed my name to Li Chongrun. I indulged you before because you were young, but today is your tenth birthday. You're old enough to remember now."

Li Guo'er had never seen her brother so stern. Born imperial nobility and immediately named Crown Prince Grandson at birth—though later demoted to commoner status along with his father—Li Chongrun possessed innate royal dignity that grew more formidable with age.

He was genuinely annoyed, knowing his clever sister would dismiss lighter warnings as she always had. But no sooner had he hardened his expression than her jade-like little face crumpled. His heart sank as her clear eyes welled up and tears began falling. Though ninety percent certain it was pretend-crying, his chest tightened anyway, and he gathered the mud-streaked child into his arms to comfort her.

"Brother Chongzhao is mean... sob..." All day Li Guo'er had nursed grievances, and now she found her outlet, clutching Li Chongrun's robes as she wept.

Chagrined, Li Chongrun patted his young sister's slender shoulders and sighed. "Are you upset that Father and Mother forgot your birthday today? Messengers arrived from the capital—they have no mind for celebrations." That was an understatement. He recalled how his father Li Xian, upon hearing of the imperial envoys, hadn't even dared greet them, pacing frantically indoors nearly to the point of suicide. This scene repeated with every capital messenger, and only his mother's patient persuasion had kept his father going all these years.

Li Guo'er clearly understood what capital messengers meant. Her sobs quieted as she sniffled against her brother's chest. "Why... why can't I call you Brother Chongzhao? Why did you have to change your name?"Li Chongrun was taken aback for a moment, then chuckled. Perhaps because their parents had always neglected them, when he changed his name, his father had merely mentioned it casually. He had agreed, and though Li Xianhui didn’t understand the reason, she silently complied as well. Only Li Guo’er stubbornly refused to address him differently, and he realized he had never explained the reason to her. Instead of answering, Li Chongrun countered, "Guo’er, why are you so insistent on not changing how you address me? Your sister started using my new name long ago!"

Hearing Li Chongrun mention Li Xianhui, Li Guo’er grew even more upset and tried to break free from her elder brother’s embrace, but he was stronger. After struggling fruitlessly for a moment, she resigned herself to staying in his arms and asked gloomily, "I don’t want you to change your name. It feels like you’d become a different person."

Li Chongrun couldn’t help but laugh softly, surprised by his younger sister’s delicate sensitivity. Though he didn’t share her concern, he patiently explained, "Why would you think that? I’m still right here, aren’t I? It’s just a different way of addressing me."

"It’s not the same! Xianhui jie said that a name is the first gift parents give their child—it’s incredibly important!" Li Guo’er lifted her head, her clear voice ringing with defiance. Her small face was streaked with tears, and with her red-rimmed eyes resembling a rabbit’s, she looked utterly adorable. But almost immediately, her expression fell again as she murmured dejectedly, "But Xianhui jie’s name is so beautiful, and I’m just called Guo’er… Chongzhao gege, am I adopted?"

So that was the heart of the matter. Li Chongrun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at her words. He pulled a handkerchief from his sleeve and carefully wiped away the tear stains and dirt from Li Guo’er’s face. Speaking earnestly, he said, "Guo’er, you were born on the way to Fangzhou. At that time, we didn’t even have a swaddling cloth. Father took off his own robe and wrapped you in it himself—that’s why you’re called Guo’er. It actually represents his affection for you!"

Listening to her brother’s gentle voice, Li Guo’er gradually stopped crying. She gazed at him with eyes made exceptionally clear by her tears but said nothing.

So it was true—she had been born at a time when no one had anticipated her arrival. She could never compare to Xianhui jie… Guo’er, Guo’er… Did Father recall those difficult and sorrowful memories every time he called her name?

Li Guo’er lowered her head, the light in her eyes slowly dimming.

Unaware that the young girl’s spirits had sunk even lower, Li Chongrun, relieved to see her finally calm, took her hand and led her to the kitchen to change clothes.

Today was his younger sister’s tenth birthday—there was no way he could let her continue wearing boys’ clothing. And this couldn’t go on in the future either; as she grew older, how would it be proper?

Turning these thoughts over in his mind, Li Chongrun continued the earlier conversation as they walked. "I didn’t change my name out of disrespect for our parents’ gift. It’s because my name shared the same pronunciation as the new name chosen by our Grand Empress Dowager. I changed it to avoid that taboo." Their Grand Empress Dowager had chosen the name Zhao, and any homophones naturally had to be altered.Li Guo'er did not ask any more questions this time. Although she had never met her imperial grandmother, the fragments of information from her father and mother had deeply impressed upon her the empress dowager's intimidating presence. Li Guo'er thought carefully and realized her elder brother had changed his name four years ago, which meant that was when her imperial grandmother had declared herself emperor.

So a woman could also become emperor... This thought only flashed through Li Guo'er's mind briefly. Being still young, she couldn't possibly imagine that her future would bring her so close to that position - so close it would seem almost within reach. For now, she was more concerned about other matters.

Li Guo'er obediently followed her elder brother through the backyard, where the flower beds had been converted into vegetable plots. Her mother personally worked the land to grow vegetables to supplement their meals. Their living quarters were even more pitiful - merely a few dilapidated rooms that barely provided shelter from the elements, with only two servants who had come with them from the palace. However, with visitors from the capital currently present, both servants were attending to guests in the front. Li Zhongrun personally went to the kitchen to boil water and found a clean set of clothes before returning to the side chamber.

He hadn't anticipated his younger sister's extreme reaction. The moment she saw the clothes in his hands, she immediately turned her head away and said coldly, "I won't wear it!"

Li Zhongrun patiently coaxed her, "Guo'er, be good. These clothes are clean, and you're ten years old today. Surely you don't plan to keep wearing boys' clothes forever? Don't you want to get married someday?"

Li Guo'er gritted her teeth and muttered in a low voice, "I won't wear someone else's old clothes!" Her eyes reddened as she spoke, but this time she refused to let any tears fall, stubbornly lifting her chin to hold back the tears.

Li Zhongrun was taken aback, suddenly realizing he was holding Li Xianhui's clothes. Though their family had been exiled to Fangzhou, they weren't exactly imprisoned, nor were they allowed to appear in public freely. They were given some silver, but it was barely enough to survive, with the remainder inevitably embezzled by certain parties. How could they afford new clothes? During bitterly cold winters, they sometimes didn't even have sufficient warm clothing.

Li Zhongrun didn't think Li Guo'er was being unreasonable. In his childhood, he had received boundless affection - his grandfather Emperor Gaozong had declared a general amnesty throughout the empire on his one-month birthday, and he had been personally enfeoffed as Crown Imperial Grandson at one year old, establishing his own residence with official staff. Though his early memories were hazy, Li Zhongrun knew his father had once been emperor. If not for their imperial grandmother, he would now be the most revered Crown Prince, and his younger sister would be his most cherished princess.

This thought surfaced only momentarily before Li Zhongrun forced it back into the deepest recesses of his heart.

He mustn't dwell on such things. Human greed knows no bounds - what mattered most was that their family remained safe and sound. Several years earlier, his sixth uncle, the deposed Crown Prince Li Xian, had committed suicide in Bazhou. Whether there were hidden circumstances behind this, Li Zhongrun neither wanted to know nor dared to contemplate.

Gently stroking his younger sister's soft hair, Li Zhongrun sighed inwardly at his own carelessness. Li Xianhui was only one year older than Li Guo'er, so naturally new clothes went to the older sister first, with hand-me-downs going to the younger when they became unwearable. But Li Guo'er had never worn Li Xianhui's old clothes - these two girls seemed naturally incompatible from the start. Li Zhongrun hadn't expected them to be so particular about such matters.After carefully examining Li Guo'er's male attire, Li Chongrun's gloomy mood suddenly lifted. He curved his lips into a smile and said, "Guo'er, why are you willing to wear my old clothes but not Xianhui's hand-me-downs?" He hadn't noticed before, but now he realized the clothes on his younger sister looked extremely familiar—they must have been his own from a few years ago.

Li Guo'er immediately grew awkward, stammering hesitantly, "Chong... brother is different from Xianhui sister..." This time she remembered to correct herself, avoiding the informal address.

Satisfied, Li Chongrun smiled, dampened a cloth, and thoroughly washed his younger sister's face, hands, and feet. While Li Xianhui had been independent since childhood, Li Guo'er had been raised by him, so he was quite skilled at these tasks.

Once he had cleaned Li Guo'er completely, Li Chongrun smiled at her and said, "Guo'er, your brother would like to see you in women's clothing. Will you put it on for me?"

Li Guo'er pressed her pink lips together and glared indignantly at the bluish-green lotus-root silk blouse and willow-flower skirt on the bed. After a long while, she reluctantly gave a slight nod.

Li Chongrun sighed silently to himself, resolving that he must find a way to get little Guo'er the most beautiful dress in the future.

Luoyang, 698 AD

Li Guo'er nervously tugged at her light-yellow blouse and green gauze skirt. This high-waisted, chest-length ruqun had been specially ordered by her brother Li Chongrun from Luoyang's finest embroidery workshop after their family returned to the city. The skirt was embroidered with lotus patterns, layered luxuriously with seven or eight tiers. From the innermost to outermost layers, the panels graduated from long to short, resembling overlapping lotus petals. Despite the layers, the fabric remained light and unburdened, swaying with each step to create ripples, as if lotuses truly bloomed beneath her feet. Draped over her arms was a tender pink shawl that complemented the lotus hues on her skirt. At fourteen, Li Guo'er was beginning to show graceful curves, and the outfit made her appear even more slender and elegant.

In all her life, she had never worn such a beautiful dress—and a brand new one at that! Not a hand-me-down from her older sister!

Though she thought the half-sleeved, moon-blue, front-opening tulip skirt worn by Li Xianhui ahead of her was also lovely, she felt immensely satisfied. Stealing a glance further ahead, she saw her elder brother's handsome figure. Li Chongrun wore a purple official robe, a jade belt at his waist adorned with seven decorative items, a black gauze headpiece, and black leather boots with ruyi patterns. At just seventeen, the young man stood tall and graceful, commanding attention even on the imperial way.

Li Guo'er didn't understand why their grandmother had summoned the entire family to the eastern capital Luoyang, but seeing her parents' joyful expressions and her brother dressed in robes reserved for imperial princes, she knew it must be a happy occasion.

Feeling more at ease, Li Guo'er began observing the surrounding palaces. After her grandmother declared herself emperor, Luoyang had been designated the capital, known as the Eastern Capital. The palaces here were said to mirror the Daming Palace in Chang'an, featuring a U-shaped layout with the Mingtang Qianyuan Hall—also called the Hall of Myriad Symbols—at the front. Flanking it east and west were towering palace structures that soared like giant bird wings into the clouds. Since entering Luoyang, Li Guo'er had been gazing up at them in awe. Now that she had finally stepped inside the palace grounds, she couldn't bear to blink, afraid she might miss a single detail of what she might never see again.Li Xianhui, who had been watching her all along, furrowed her delicate brows and fell back a few steps. Leaning close to her ear, she whispered threateningly, "Guo'er, stop acting so unbecoming. We'll be living here from now on!" Her tone implied they would have plenty of time to see everything later.

Li Guo'er covered her mouth in surprise, exclaiming softly, "Ah? We're going to live here?"

Xianhui was so exasperated by Guo'er's foolishness that she fell silent, secretly pinching the soft flesh at her waist. With mild reproach, she said, "You! Last night you were only focused on wearing that green gauze dress—you clearly didn't pay attention to what Father told us."

Extremely ticklish, Guo'er immediately begged for mercy. Though the two sisters had never gotten along since childhood, their close age had fostered an exceptionally strong bond over the years, even if squabbles broke out every couple of days. Hearing their laughter and playfulness ahead, Li Zhongrun turned back to glance at them with concern before shaking his head helplessly and facing forward again.

Guo'er actually had listened last night—she just hadn't taken it seriously. Now remembering, she retorted sharply, "But Xianhui, you might not end up living here! If I recall Father's meaning correctly, he intends to marry you to the Wu family's second son!"

Xianhui blushed crimson at this, knowing it was highly probable. A few days earlier, she had secretly asked her elder brother to observe Wu Yanji, the young man proposed for her betrothal. Receiving high praise, she had felt reassured. Still, she couldn't stand Guo'er's teasing smirk and shot back, "Don't you worry either, Guo'er. The Wu family has many fine sons—Father will surely pick a good one for you."

Guo'er pursed her lips dismissively. Everyone understood their father's motive in seeking marriage alliances with the Wu clan, but she would absolutely refuse any match she disliked. She trusted her elder brother would protect her.

Amid this banter, the group's initially tense mood lightened somewhat as they passed through resplendent palaces and arrived at the exquisite Shangyang Palace in the western garden. A tributary of the Luo River flowed through the palace grounds, where flowerbeds bloomed with rare, vibrant blossoms. Rumor had it these gardens never lost their color, even in the depths of winter when artificial lotuses were crafted—let alone now at summer's peak. Within Shangyang Palace's sixteen courtyards lay an artificial sea, from which a fairy mountain soared over a hundred feet high, its craggy rockery inspiring awe. A fan-shaped wheel atop the corridor rotated, drawing seawater upward to pour along the ridge. Water trickled through openings beside the ridge, cascading along the eaves to form a shimmering, crystalline curtain in the sunlight. Strolling through the corridor, they heard droplets pattering, inhaled intoxicating floral scents, and trod smooth, cool bluestone slabs. Peering through the water curtain at Shangyang Palace's vistas beyond, they found it truly an elegant retreat to escape the summer heat.

Guo'er had never witnessed such extravagant splendor. She stood stunned for a long moment before noticing Xianhui was equally overwhelmed, her rosy lips slightly parted as her eyes darted everywhere. Guo'er had no time to tease her, for she now observed palace women clad in vivid official attire—gorgeous and radiant, with delicate makeup accentuating rouged cheeks and intricate, cloud-like coiled hairstyles. Whenever small groups of female officials or nobly dressed ladies passed, wafts of enchanting perfume drifted by, enough to make one dizzy with intoxication.From childhood, having only worn coarse cloth and lived in humble dwellings, Li Guo'er felt as if she had fallen into a dazzling, illusory dream—even her legs had gone weak with awe.

After passing through the water-curtain corridor and crossing the overwater bridgeway, they arrived at a pavilion open on all sides and surrounded by water. Amidst gently swaying curtains, a noblewoman sat in the host's position. Before Li Guo'er could clearly see the woman's face, she was pulled down by Li Xianhui beside her, and they knelt with a thud.

Enduring the pain in her knees, Li Guo'er listened as her father wept and spoke to the woman, and she knew this must be her Imperial Grandmother.

She had little interest in their conversation. Stealing a glance upward, she first noticed the phoenix-headed embroidered shoes at the woman's feet. Raising her eyes slightly higher, she saw an incredibly luxurious golden silk robe hem, embroidered with silver threads depicting layers of clouds. The weaving and embroidery were exquisitely fine and intricate. As the breeze stirred, the wide hem rippled like glittering waves on the artificial lake nearby.

The shimmering silver and gold dazzled Li Guo'er's eyes, making her lose all sense of time.

Perhaps a long while passed, or perhaps only a moment, when a gentle, melodious voice of a court lady reached her ears:

"...Li Guo'er, graceful and intelligent, is hereby bestowed the title Princess of Anle..."

Ah... she truly was in a dream. She wished she would never wake up.

Luoyang, 701 AD

She was indeed dreaming—but it had turned into a nightmare.

Li Guo'er clutched Li Chongrun's sleeve in disbelief, stammering, "Brother... what... what did you say?"

Li Chongrun affectionately patted Li Guo'er's unbound hair, speaking tenderly: "I can no longer care for you from now on. You must take good care of yourself." Though he couldn't accept the sudden death decree, Li Chongrun knew defiance was impossible. Having resigned himself, he begged the supervising eunuchs for time to bid farewell to his younger sister.

Li Guo'er stared blankly at her brother's pained expression, recalling the chaos in the residence earlier, and realized this was no jest. A chill seized her, and she trembled uncontrollably. Like one possessed, she sprang up and grabbed Li Chongrun's arm: "Brother! Let's flee! Let's return to Fangzhou! I don't want any of this! None of it!" As she spoke, she tore off her exquisite jewelry, letting it clatter to the ground.

Li Chongrun remained still, gently restraining his sister's hands from tearing her robes. Perhaps acceptance had brought him peace, for he even managed a faint smile: "Guo'er, we can never go back."

Li Guo'er stood frozen, her body icy cold. Though her brother's palms were warm, she knew that warmth would vanish in an instant. Trembling, she asked: "Why... why is this happening?"

Li Chongrun replied calmly: "By Imperial Grandmother's decree. She claims Chongji and I slandered court affairs... poor Xianhui...""Sister Xianhui... Sister Xianhui too..." Li Guo'er was utterly stunned. Wu Yanji was Sister Xianhui's husband. She had previously heard some rumors—they had merely complained privately about Zhang Yizhi and Zhang Changzong, their imperial grandmother's male favorites... Li Guo'er felt a chill run through her entire body. Were her own grandchildren and grandnephews truly less important than two male favorites?

What exactly were they? When pleased, they could be enfeoffed as imperial grandsons; when displeased, they could be banished a thousand miles away. When remembered, they could be summoned; when despised, their lives could be snuffed out like crushing an ant.

They were human beings! Not ants!

"What about Father? Did he say nothing?" Li Guo'er clung to this last shred of hope, gripping Li Chongrun's sleeve anxiously. But this flicker of expectation plunged into complete darkness when Li Chongrun shook his head helplessly.

Indeed, how could she forget? Her father, when demoted to Fangzhou, had been so terrified by the arrival of a mere eunuch from the capital that he nearly took his own life. Now, though enfeoffed as Crown Prince, the cowardice in his bones remained unchanged. Li Guo'er bit her lower lip and made to leave as she spoke, "Then I’ll go speak with Grandmother—she adores me so…"

This time, it was Li Chongrun who held her back. With a mix of amusement and exasperation, he persuaded her, "Guo’er, deep down you know she’s merely putting on a show. Moreover, her decree to execute wasn’t solely due to my dissatisfaction with the Zhang brothers—it’s because she cannot tolerate me." Li Chongrun paused, filled with regret for his own rash impatience. His excellence had subtly shifted the court’s dynamics, with many officials privately testing him under various pretexts. From every angle, he was the legitimate heir, and in a moment of pride, he had likely crossed Grandmother’s bottom line. Knowing he couldn’t share these thoughts with Li Guo’er, he suppressed them and sighed, "The pitiable one is Xianhui—she’s the most innocent, caught in the crossfire. So, please don’t involve yourself further. Remain the carefree Princess of Anle, alright?"

Li Guo’er could no longer hold back and threw herself into her elder brother’s chest, weeping bitterly.

"Be good, my little Guo’er. Always wear the most beautiful clothes, live the happiest life, and be the most stunning princess of the Great Tang…"

…

What followed was a chaotic blur, fragmented memories that Li Guo’er could never piece together no matter how hard she tried. Like a puppet, she was forcibly separated from her brother. Even as she desperately clung to him, her long nails scratching his arms, they were pried away one by one.

When she regained consciousness, it was already the next morning. Her maids had dressed her in plain white mourning attire, washed her face, and tied up her hair. On the clothing rack in her room hung two sets of dresses.

One was her light yellow blouse with a green gauze skirt, the other Li Xianhui’s half-sleeved, moon-blue, gold-embroidered jacket with a matching skirt. Both outfits had been bought for the sisters by their elder brother Li Chongrun when they first visited Luoyang—their first experience wearing such exquisite garments.

Yet, despite their beauty, after returning from the Shangyang Palace, both sisters had, without a word, taken them off and locked them away at the bottom of their wardrobes.

For Grandmother had bestowed upon them even more stunning, unimaginable dresses and accessories, so exquisite that these two sets paled in comparison. To continue wearing them would have been beneath their status.

In the blink of an eye, three years had passed. Li Guo’er could no longer fit into either dress, as she had outgrown her youthful frame, no longer the girl of fourteen or fifteen. Still, she treasured that light yellow blouse and green gauze skirt, for they held profound meaning for her.

She believed Li Xianhui felt the same.

Squeezing her eyes shut, Li Guo’er stood before the clothing rack, vaguely recalling how helpless and cowardly her father had been the previous night—even considering having her replace Li Xianhui in the marriage alliance with the Wu family! But what use was that? Grandmother treated even her own grandnephews with the same disregard, as if they were mere weeds.Having reached the peak of fury and sorrow, Li Guo'er instead grew calm.

She was no longer the young girl who would weep and act coy; the three years in Luoyang had taught her far too much.

Tears were the solace of the weak and the weapon of the strong, so she did not intend to use them often.

Li Guo'er bit her lower lip deeply. Before Li Xianhui died, she had her maid retrieve that half-sleeved, moon-blue, gold-embroidered jacket and skirt to give to her—what had she meant to say?

Li Guo'er stroked the smooth texture of the garment, her fingertips meeting a chilling coldness.

Clothing was indeed a curious thing. As explained in Shuowen, "clothes are what cover the body." In the beginning, they existed merely to shield the body and conceal shame. But like all things, clothing gradually developed hierarchies and classes—some colors were endowed with new meanings, while others were forbidden to commoners.

In truth, it was not the clothes that were stratified, but people.

Yet how could she resign herself to this?

A breathtaking smile curved on Li Guo'er's exquisitely pale face as she bent down and tightly embraced the two sets of clothing on the bed.

She vowed that she would wear the most luxurious and beautiful garments in the world and reclaim everything her brother and sister rightfully deserved.

In truth, her favorite color was bright yellow...

"Brother Chongzhao..." A stifled sob echoed in the room, eventually fading into silence.

Chang'an, 706 AD

Li Guo'er, leaning on her lady-in-waiting's arm, gracefully walked along the curved flying bridge of the Linde Hall in the Daming Palace, looking down at the song and dance rehearsals in the grand square below the main entrance.

Linde Hall stood on high ground west of the Taiye Pool in the Daming Palace, renowned as Chang'an's most celebrated banquet venue. It frequently hosted court banquets, musical performances, and diplomatic receptions. The hall was actually a complex of three main halls with several annexes, capable of seating over three thousand people in the front courtyards and corridors. Court officials took pride in being invited to Linde Hall banquets.

Li Guo'er had come specifically to watch the dancers rehearse, having heard that the Imperial Clothing Bureau had devised special dance costumes. She saw five hundred dancers wearing golden crowns and monochromatic painted garments, changing sixteen times in sync with the music. Pausing to observe, Li Guo'er found the dancers' attire unremarkable, even somewhat plain. But when the music reached the second movement, the melody shifted dramatically—energetic and drum-heavy. The dancers gathered in the center and, in an instant, changed their costumes, revealing dazzling large floral patterns on their lapels. Viewed from Li Guo'er's vantage point on the arched flying bridge, the synchronized movement of five hundred dancers was profoundly striking.

"Princess, they merely wore a plain outer robe and swiftly pulled it off from the collar into their arms," commented a palace maid with green-painted eyebrows, her voice soft and delicate.

"This is far more impressive than the Hu dance performed by Hu women," Li Guo'er smiled faintly but lost interest in continuing to watch. She proceeded along the curved bridge toward the rear hall of Linde Palace, as news had just arrived from the Imperial Clothing Bureau that the woven skirt was completed. Knowing she was at Linde Hall, they had already sent it over.

A triumphant smile spread across Li Guo'er's stunningly beautiful face.This woven skirt cost a hundred million coins to produce, making it the epitome of extravagance—perhaps not unprecedented in the future, but certainly unmatched in history.

She had sworn to wear the most luxurious and beautiful garments in the world.

Since her father ascended the throne, he had indulged her every whim, a gesture she knew stemmed from guilt over the tragic deaths of her elder brother and sister.

Her father granted her the Jin Cheng Fang estate, where she embarked on massive construction projects, erecting grand residences that subtly surpassed the imperial palace in both scale and intricacy.

When her father refused to give her the Kunming Pond from the palace grounds, she built her own Ding Kun Pond within her estate. At its center, a stone mountain rose majestically in imitation of Mount Hua, with a waterfall cascading from its peak into the pond. She also carved out a clear stream, lining its banks with jade and planting rare flowers and exotic grasses that filled the air with fragrance. The stream’s bed was entirely paved with coral and gemstones, shimmering so brightly under the moonlight that it seemed like the celestial Jasper Pool of the heavens.

She established her own administrative office, wielding influence that overshadowed the court. She set prices for official titles and openly sold them—whether to butchers, tavern keepers, slaves, or entertainers, anyone who paid three hundred thousand coins was immediately appointed. She often drafted imperial decrees and pardons herself, then brought them to the palace. Covering the text with one hand, she would grasp her father’s hand with the other to force his signature on the documents. Her father would laugh and sign without even reading the contents.

Once, she even asked her father to name her the crown princess. Though he did not comply, he did not reprimand her either.

She continually tested her father’s limits, curious to see how far he would let her go.

She knew how the court officials privately criticized her reckless behavior, but what did it matter?

The entire empire should have belonged to her elder brother! Now that he was gone, why should she leave it for others?

What was a woven skirt? One day, she would wear the bright yellow dragon robes of the emperor!

Human desires know no bounds; even with the finest things, one always craves more. Li Guo’er herself did not know what she truly wanted. No matter how lavish or magnificent the palaces, they could not compare to the warmth of the humble cottage she lived in as a child. If time could reverse, she would rather wear tattered clothes and coarse fabrics than the silks and delicacies she now enjoyed.

Lost in these memories, Li Guo’er’s mood soured. As she entered the Yu Yi Tower to the left of the Lin De Hall, she waved her hand dismissively, signaling the attending palace maids to withdraw. She wanted to be alone with her thoughts.

Perhaps the legendary woven skirt, worth a hundred million coins, could offer her a moment of tranquility.

But upon reaching the third floor of Yu Yi Tower, she faintly heard voices conversing from within.

Li Guo’er frowned in displeasure. The Directorate of Attire officials knew well her habit of disliking company while changing and had been waiting at the tower’s entrance. Who could be upstairs?

Yet, her irritation at the disturbance quickly gave way to curiosity. Wrapping the red silk shawl around her arms to muffle the jade ornaments at her waist that chimed with each step, she softened her footsteps and approached the inner room. The closer she got, the clearer the voices of two men became. Instead of rushing in, Li Guo’er paused outside the door to listen.“Which film set is this? These ancient furnishings are arranged so realistically! Wow! Is this golden pot actually made of real gold? It’s incredibly heavy!” The man was rather excitable. Li Guo’er narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, puzzled by what he meant by “film set.”

“Don’t bite it with your teeth! Let me take a look. Hmm, the weight and the craftsmanship do seem authentic.” The other man’s voice was comparatively steadier. Li Guo’er smiled faintly. This was the palace of the Great Tang Dynasty, where every item was extravagantly luxurious—how could there possibly be counterfeits?

“What kind of place is this anyway? You said using this broken compass would let us go back in time to find the Boss, but I only wanted to return to a month ago! Could we be unlucky enough to have gone even further back?” The first man’s words remained confusing. “That’s possible. We might have landed in the Tang Dynasty.”

“The Tang Dynasty? How can you be so sure?”

“Actually, you can tell from the furniture. During the Qin and Han dynasties, people sat directly on mats. By the Northern and Southern Dynasties, sitting with legs hanging down became popular, so the chairs and tables indicate this is from the Tang or Song era. Look at the porcelain on the Curio Cabinet—Song porcelain features simple lines and monochrome colors, while these plump, rounded shapes are characteristic of Tang porcelain, not to mention the tri-colored glazes. And this bronze mirror on the table—Tang mirrors are mostly round, while Song mirrors often come in heart, shield, bell, tripod, or furnace shapes…” The calm man spoke knowledgeably, commenting on each item in the room. Li Guo’er was slightly surprised, not expecting him to possess such learning. But what era was this “Song Dynasty”? Was it the Song state from the Northern and Southern Dynasties?

“Alright, fine…so even if it’s the Tang Dynasty…does that mean we’ve time-traveled? Could we run into the Boss from the Tang period?”

“To avoid altering history, it’s best not to meet him. After all, the Boss retains his memories, unlike others. Look…judging by the speed of the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass’s needle, we shouldn’t go anywhere. Hey! Don’t touch other people’s belongings! Whoever lives in such luxury must be wealthy or noble—let’s not cause trouble. And don’t touch that dress on the rack either!”

Li Guo’er knew he was referring to the woven skirt made by the Imperial Garments Office. She had intended to listen outside a while longer, but now she pushed open the carved door to the inner chamber, and the arguing inside abruptly ceased.

Adjusting her red-sleeved shawl, with jade ornaments tinkling softly, Li Guo’er slowly stepped around the mica-colored screen. Her stern expression shifted to one of astonishment upon seeing the two men in the room.

She had never seen clothing of such tailoring before. The two men, who had appeared here without permission, stood and sat respectively. Both were young, likely around her age, and quite handsome, though she found their short hair somewhat unappealing. Their garments clung tightly to their bodies, perfectly outlining their slender limbs—even barbarian attire had no such style, simple yet exuding a crisp efficiency. The man standing indoors wore a strange, transparent object on his nose, like crystal lenses.

Feeling intrigued, Li Guo’er refrained from reprimanding them for their lack of formal greeting. Moreover, such candid gazes were something she hadn’t encountered in a long time—and now, there were two of them at once.The seated man, upon seeing her enter, looked her up and down before unhurriedly rising to his feet. He bowed respectfully and said, "Greetings, Your Highness."

Li Guo'er's chin lifted slightly. The bow was properly executed, though somewhat stiff—likely taught to him recently. From his voice, she recognized him as the one who had spoken with such steady composure.

Though Lu Zigang appeared calm on the surface, fine beads of sweat had begun to form on his back. He had deduced she was a Tang princess from her clothing and accessories, but the Tang dynasty had far too many famous princesses to pinpoint her exact identity. This princess seemed barely twenty, yet the arrogance radiating from her very bones made it impossible not to lower one's head.

Beside him, the Doctor clumsily mimicked Lu Zigang's bow. Without a response from the princess, neither dared to straighten up.

Fortunately, the Tang dynasty did not practice kneeling rituals, only bowing. Had they been in the Yuan dynasty or later, they would have had to adapt regardless of discomfort.

Stealing a glance at the Luoshu Nine-Star Compass in his hand, Lu Zigang was relieved to see the needle moving at a good pace. It would soon reset. Once the needle aligned with the Celestial Meridian, they could return to the modern era. Luckily, they wouldn't be stuck in ancient times for long—Tang princesses were notoriously ruthless!

Distracted by these thoughts, Lu Zigang suddenly noticed the princess walking toward the Doctor beside him. She reached out, hooked her fingers under his chin, and forced him to lift his head.

The move instantly sent a chill down Lu Zigang's spine.

The Doctor, still bewildered, didn't understand the princess's intention and stared at her in confusion. He stood a head taller than her, so when he straightened up, he was now looking down at her. The warm, delicate hand under his chin felt unsettling. If not for the unfamiliar era, he would have stepped back without hesitation. As the princess moved her hand to his face and finally paused at his glasses, the Doctor realized she must be curious—she had likely never seen spectacles before.

The princess spoke slowly, "Take these off."

The Doctor hesitated. What if his glasses were left behind in this era, only to be excavated millennia later as some archaeological relic? But seeing the princess's unyielding expression, he obediently removed them. He didn't hand them over, instead clutching them tightly in his hand.

Li Guo'er stared intently at the man, memories long buried surging forth like tender sprouts breaking through soil.

So similar... No, not in features like Wu Yanxiu, but in that gentle, scholarly demeanor... It was exactly like her imperial brother...

"Smile," Li Guo'er took another step forward, until they were nearly pressed together.The Doctor was at a loss for words this time. Why did he feel like he was being teased? But the next second, he remembered the preferences of the Tang Dynasty princess, and goosebumps immediately rose all over his body. Such "good fortune" was not something he could enjoy. Fortunately, when he looked pleadingly at Lu Zigang, the latter pulled him back in time, creating distance between him and the princess. At the same moment, a familiar dizziness washed over him.

Li Guo'er frowned as she found herself alone in the inner chamber. Her gaze swept around the room, but there was no trace of the two men—it was as if they had vanished into thin air.

If not for the lingering warmth on her fingertips from touching the other's cheek, she would have thought she was hallucinating in broad daylight.

Had her royal brother's spirit come to find her? But that was so strange...

Dazed, she walked out of the Yuyi Tower, where her lady-in-waiting immediately approached and asked solicitously, "Your Highness, are you satisfied with the woven skirt?"

Li Guo'er was momentarily stunned, realizing she hadn't even glanced at the woven skirt. Not wanting to explain to anyone, she composed herself and said indifferently, "It does not suit my taste. Have the Imperial Garments Bureau make another one." She spoke with such ease, as if the skirt worth a hundred million coins meant nothing to her.

The maid with green-painted eyebrows showed no surprise, while the head of the Imperial Garments Bureau pondered carefully what might have displeased Princess Anle. The green-browed maid cautiously asked, "Your Highness, what should be done with this woven skirt?"

Li Guo'er didn't even want to look at it now. She waved her hand dismissively and said, "You deal with it. I've heard you are on good terms with the owner of an antique shop. Just hang it in his shop for display."

The maid immediately bowed in gratitude. Having served Li Guo'er for a long time, she could tell her mistress was in a bad mood and wisely said no more.

Li Guo'er let out a deep sigh, closed her beautiful eyes, and when she opened them again, she had once more become the domineering Tang Dynasty princess.

Dumb Shop, 2013 AD

As soon as the tormenting dizziness passed, the Doctor opened his eyes and was relieved to find himself surrounded by familiar furnishings. Holding his forehead, he stood up and complained irritably to Lu Zigang, "How did we end up in the Tang Dynasty? Is this broken compass even reliable? Weren't we supposed to go back one month?"

Lu Zigang, sitting on a huanghuali reclining chair, rubbed his slightly aching temples and said with a bitter smile, "As I said, the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass is far too profound. It has fifty-two layers, and the densest layer has three hundred and eighty-four grids. How could a half-baked amateur like me possibly understand how it works?"

"Whew... at least we made it back safely. So it seems we'll have to rely on luck next time!" The Doctor leaned against the counter, feeling that finding the Boss was a distant prospect.

"We'll have to wait another month. The Luoshu Nine Stars Compass can't be used every day. We need to calculate a specific time each month to activate it." Lu Zigang, who had broken out in a cold sweat from the shock, took several deep breaths before finally calming down.

The Doctor, however, felt as if the aggressive fragrance of the Tang Dynasty princess still lingered around him. He leaned close to the Yanjin Xianglong Bo Shan incense burner on the counter and inhaled its scent for a long time before the other fragrance finally faded."By the way, which princess of the Tang Dynasty was that? Princess Taiping? Princess Gaoyang?"

"I keep feeling that the dress hanging on the ruyi cloud-patterned clothing rack in the room looks so familiar..." Lu Zigang fell into deep thought instead.

The doctor, who had just experienced time travel for the first time, was quite excited. Without any sense of crisis about nearly being kept as a male consort, he continued enthusiastically: "Wasn't the Tang Dynasty known for admiring plump beauty? That princess we just saw wasn't plump at all - she actually had quite a nice figure."

Lu Zigang shot him a glance and said disdainfully, "Plumpness was considered beautiful only during Yang Guifei's era... and that was voluptuousness! Not obesity!" Suddenly seeming to remember something, he stood up and walked toward the inner chambers of Dumb Shop.

The Doctor followed curiously, trailing Lu Zigang through the long corridor of Dumb Shop's inner chambers. He watched as Lu Zigang opened door after door, finally stopping at the entrance of the middle room. Seeing Lu Zigang pause at the doorway, the Doctor couldn't help but push his back and squeeze in as well.

"What are you looking at... This is..." The Doctor suddenly found himself speechless, only able to stare dumbfounded at the dress hanging on the clothing rack in the room, unable to speak for a long time.

No lamps were lit in the room, but a fist-sized Night-Shining Pearl was embedded in the ceiling, emitting a faint glow. Directly beneath the pearl on a standing clothes rack hung an exquisitely beautiful dress, so magnificent it was almost beyond description.

"According to the Records of the Grand Historian, Princess Anle possessed a woven skirt worth a hundred million coins, with flowers, birds, and beasts all appearing as small as millet grains. It appeared different colors when viewed from different angles, in daylight or shadow," Lu Zigang's voice came faintly from the darkness. After a pause, he continued, "What we just saw was probably the famous Tang Dynasty's number one beauty, Princess Anle. Ah, that princess was killed at only twenty-five." Lu Zigang spoke calmly, for although he felt it was a pity, Princess Anle was notoriously infamous in history. Though no one knew the truth, she was ultimately branded with the evil reputation of patricide.

The Doctor stared for a long time before regaining his composure. In that extremely luxurious room they had just been in, the woven skirt hadn't seemed particularly eye-catching. But now in this plain room without any embellishments, this woven skirt completely captivated one's gaze. The skirt was exceptionally well-preserved, remaining gorgeous and exquisite even after a thousand years. The dress surface was woven with feathers from hundreds of birds, its colors shifting with the movement of his gaze. The forms of hundreds of birds appeared on the skirt, so lifelike due to these changes that they seemed almost alive - truly a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship.

"What extravagance... This is a skirt worth a hundred million coins!" the Doctor marveled.

"Even more extravagant is that according to historical records, she had two woven skirts made," Lu Zigang chimed in with the gossip.

"Two!" The Doctor circled the standing clothes rack in the room and asked puzzled, "There's only one here."

"Only one has been preserved!" Lu Zigang shrugged. "Princess Anle's woven skirt is also called the Hundred Birds Skirt. It caused a fashion storm among the upper class in Chang'an, with all the noble ladies rushing to make clothes from bird feathers and rare animal furs. This eventually led to the disappearance of birds and beasts outside Chang'an city. Later, Emperor Xuanzong of Tang had no choice but to burn Princess Anle's woven skirt in front of the Daming Palace. Well, probably one of them was burned."

"Too... extravagant..." A hundred million coins just burned like that! The Doctor felt his vocabulary was unprecedentedly lacking, and could only repeatedly mutter the word "extravagant." "Speaking of which, since the Boss gave this woven skirt its own room, is there something wrong with this skirt?"

Lu Zigang shrugged indifferently, "Do you think every antique in Dumb Shop has something unusual about it? This is just a dress. It probably has its own room simply because it's too valuable...""That's true..." The doctor immediately felt he had overthought things.

The two men admired and appreciated it for a while, but being grown men after all, they didn't have much interest in such luxurious clothing. Lu Zigang also worried that keeping the room open for too long would affect the temperature and humidity, which wouldn't be good for preserving the woven skirt, so he left together with the doctor.

The room returned to darkness, with only the Night-Shining Pearl's glow quietly enveloping the woven skirt.

After an unknown period of time, the door was silently pushed open. A dark figure slipped inside, quickly rolled the woven skirt from the clothing rack into a bag, and then drifted away. The entire process took no more than three seconds.

The Night-Shining Pearl on the ceiling flickered twice, then suddenly went dark permanently...

Dumb Shop: Every antique in Dumb Shop has its own story, having carried them for many years with no one to listen. Because... they cannot speak...

Dumb Shop Mini Theater

Lu Zigang: Speaking of which, Emperor Zhongzong of Tang Li Xian also had a nickname called Six Emperor Pill.

Doctor: Huh? Six Flavor Rehmannia Pill? Did he invent it?

Lu Zigang: Li Xian himself was Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, his father was Emperor Gaozong of Tang, his younger brother was Emperor Ruizong of Tang Li Dan, his son was Emperor Shang of Tang, his nephew was Emperor Xuanzong of Tang Li Longji, and what's more crucial - his mother was also an emperor, Wu Zetian... So... this family of six emperors... pill...

Doctor: ...

(End of Chapter)