Chapter 1

In the fourth year of Wu De in the Tang Dynasty.

Chang'an.

In this year, Li Shimin, who was only twenty-three years old, had already defeated Wang Shichong, crushed Dou Jiande, and forced Du Fuwei to surrender, thus stabilizing the empire, his fame unmatched at the time.

The prolonged chaos in the empire gradually subsided, and the unification of the empire by the Tang Dynasty was a foregone conclusion.

Upon returning to Chang'an, Li Shimin was bestowed the title of Supreme General of the Heavenly Strategy, allowed to establish his own office and army, appointed as Grand Tutor, Grand Administrator of the Shandong Circuit, and Chancellor, his rank above that of the princes and dukes. He wore the ceremonial robes and rode in a golden carriage with music, established the "Literary Pavilion," and gathered eighteen scholars as his advisors.

Li Jiancheng began to grow wary.

Therefore, when Wang Gui, the Chief Secretary of the Eastern Palace, came to the Pei residence on behalf of Crown Prince Li Jiancheng, it attracted the attention of many people with ulterior motives.

Wang Gui, from the Taiyuan Wang clan, though a collateral branch, was renowned throughout the land. The He Dong Wenxi Pei clan was the first among the great families below the Five Surnames and Seven Houses, with countless outstanding scholars and warriors in their lineage.

Most crucially, Pei Ji was a close advisor to the current emperor, exerting significant influence over him.

Although today's joyous event did not involve Pei Ji's descendants, his cousin Pei Shimu, in a certain sense, was even more famous.

Indeed, there was a joyous event today.

Wang Gui clasped his hands and recited: "The mirror and the person both gone, the mirror returned but the person did not; no longer is the shadow of Chang'e, only the moon's light remains."

"Who would have thought they could reunite after such a long separation," the dignified Pei Ji smiled, "it will surely be a tale for the ages."

Several decades ago, at the fall of the Chen Dynasty, Xu Deyan, a palace attendant, and his wife, Princess Lechang, each held half of a bronze mirror and parted ways.

After the fall of their kingdom and the destruction of their family, Princess Lechang was taken into the household of Duke Yang of Yue, while Xu Deyan went to Chang'an, reciting this poem. The princess wept and refused to eat, and Duke Yang, moved by their love, allowed them to reunite, a story that became a legend.

Today's event would also become a legend.

Pei Shimu had three sons and one daughter. Over a decade ago, his daughter married Li Dewu of the Li clan from Longxi. Unfortunately, a few months after their marriage, Li Dewu was exiled to Lingnan due to his uncle's crimes, while dozens of others were executed.

After more than a decade, Li Dewu returned from Lingnan, hearing that his wife, Pei Shuying, had not remarried despite her father's pressure, even cutting her hair with a knife to show her resolve. Li Dewu rushed to Chang'an, and the couple was finally reunited.

How could such a story not be a legend?

Pei Shimu had gained fame early in his career for a single phrase that split the Tujue, and he was renowned for his abilities, resolve, and wisdom. Though now elderly, with white hair and beard, his eyes still shone with vigor, and his voice was strong and clear.

His daughter, who had fine lines at the corners of her eyes, had not changed much after her husband's decade-long absence, except for a darker complexion and a touch of沧桑 (cang桑) in her features, which added to her charm.

Today's event was a joyous occasion and a legend, and not only did Wang Gui from the Eastern Palace come to celebrate, but also Du Yan from the Jingzhao Du clan and Wei Ting from the Jingzhao Wei clan, both from the Heavenly Strategy Office.

But everything has its opposite side.

The front gate of the Pei residence was bustling with joy and festivity.

However, at the back gate, in the snow, a woman in her thirties stood straight, listening angrily and helplessly to the music and drumming from inside, looking at the old servant who was once familiar but now seemed strange.

"Madam Zhu, take my advice and return to Lingnan. It's for your own good."

The woman said firmly, "I will return to Lingnan, but let my eldest son stay."

The old servant inwardly sneered but maintained a smile, for he was now a servant of the Pei household, no longer of the Zhu family.

As a servant of the Pei household, he could not speak harshly, the old servant thought to himself.

After a brief standoff, the old servant decisively went inside and closed the door, his eyes revealing a hint of disdain... After today, the young master would surely rise to prominence. If she continued to cause trouble, her fate would be dire.

The woman clearly understood this and did not make a scene, not even scolding the disloyal servant. After a moment of silence, she turned and left, her figure gradually disappearing in the snow, leaving only two long footprints behind.

The servants guarding the back gate, who had been dispersed earlier, now gathered and whispered among themselves. One of the older ones clicked his tongue, thinking that it was all just a lot of noise with little action, but the newly returned son-in-law was indeed a bit shameless.

The woman had never intended to destroy everything; a father could abandon his wife and children, but a mother would not.

...

Li Shan had not even opened his eyes when he felt something was amiss.

First, the book in his hand was gone.

Today, he had assisted in three consecutive surgeries, which left him exhausted, but he was too excited to sleep after returning home. He had randomly picked up a Buddhist scripture to read, and after feeling tired, he had closed his eyes on the balcony, reciting the scripture. But he remembered the book was still in his hand just a moment ago.

Second, his neck felt itchy. He reached out to scratch it and touched a rope, which made him even more uneasy. He never wore any jade pendants or such things... he couldn't afford them.

Just as he was about to open his eyes to see what was happening, he suddenly felt unsteady on his feet. Could it be an earthquake?!

Li Shan was a bit panicked and quickly opened his eyes. Instead of the dark night and the neon lights of the nightclub across the balcony, he saw nothing but a dark yellow earthen wall less than a meter away.

With a creak, someone pushed the door open.

This person was so short that Li Shan looked down and saw a terrified little monk.

"You..."

"Don't..."

They spoke simultaneously, and the little monk lunged forward. Li Shan tried to step back but stumbled and fell, feeling a sense of weightlessness.

His first thought was that it wasn't that the little monk was too short, but that he was standing on something.

His second thought was that something was wrong...

Before Li Shan could figure it out, a rope around his neck made everything clear.

Oh, so I'm hanging myself!

Don't panic, Li Shan thought, recalling his training in the hospital where his mentor valued his calmness the most.

He grabbed the rope on both sides and pulled hard, managing to catch his breath and swing his body forward. If he could reach the earthen wall, he could save himself.

But Li Shan didn't manage to do anything because the little monk, who was already sobbing, grabbed his legs and pulled him down, shouting with a sob, "Young Master Li, you can't take your own life!"

What the hell, you mean I can't take my own life, but you can kill me with your own hands?!

His vision was already blackening, and as a doctor, Li Shan knew this was a sign of suffocation. He needed to act fast or he would die.

Thinking about all the hard work he had put in over the years, just to be hanged by a rope in some unknown place... and he still didn't know where he was!

"Bang!"

The door was kicked open again, and a woman, still covered in snow, rushed in, her expression changing dramatically. She kicked the little monk away and, with the help of a short old man who shouted hoarsely, lifted Li Shan's legs up.

"Thud."

Li Shan finally fell to the ground, his throat making choking sounds, his face turning red as he gasped for fresh air.

"Son, how could you be so foolish? What will your mother do if you die?"

"Even if you die, he won't even look at you!"

The woman was not the type to be overly sentimental. After a few sighs, she began to scold her son's foolish act without shedding a tear.

Li Shan's gaze slowly moved over the woman. If this wasn't a prank, had he really traveled through time?

What dynasty was this?

The woman brought a bowl of water, and Li Shan took a few sips, tentatively calling out, "Mother?"

The woman looked tired but sneered, "You still remember I'm your mother!"

Li Shan was speechless. You keep calling me "son," but is my nickname really "son?"

The idea of time travel was already overwhelming, and the way it happened... that was just the worst!

Memories flooded his mind, causing a splitting headache. He tilted his head and fainted.