A breathtakingly stunning smile appeared on Li Guo’er’s exquisitely pale face as she bent down to tightly embrace the two sets of clothes on the bed.

She swore that she would wear the most luxurious and beautiful clothes in this world, and take back everything that her brother and sister should have received!

Actually, what she liked most was bright yellow…

“Brother Chongzhao…” A suppressed cry echoed in the room, finally becoming inaudible…

706 AD, Chang’an

Li Guo’er, supported by a female official’s hand, gracefully walked on the curved flying bridge of Linde Hall in Daming Palace, looking down at the song and dance rehearsal taking place in the great plaza outside the hall gates below. Linde Hall was located on a high ground west of Taiye Pool in Daming Palace, and was Chang’an’s most famous banquet hall. Palace feasts, musical and dance performances, or activities for receiving envoys were frequently held here. Linde Hall was actually a complex of buildings, divided into three halls and several groups of subsidiary buildings. The hall front and corridors could seat more than three thousand people, and court officials all considered it an honor to attend banquets at Linde Hall.

Li Guo’er had specifically come to watch the dancing girls rehearse, having heard that the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau had created a special type of dance costume. She saw that the five hundred dancing girls in the field wore golden crowns and single-colored painted robes, changing according to the musical rhythm with sixteen different variations. Li Guo’er stopped to watch, finding that the clothes the dancing girls wore weren’t particularly remarkable, even somewhat monotonous, but when the music reached the second section, the melody changed, becoming passionate with drumbeats resounding. The dancing girls gathered in the center of the field, and in an instant changed their clothes, revealing brilliant large floral patterns on their garment fronts. Since five hundred people performed this action together following the drumbeats, from Li Guo’er’s vantage point on the arched flying bridge, it was quite spectacular.

“Princess, they’re just wearing a layer of single-colored outer robes, quickly pulling them out from the collar and tucking them into their bosoms,” commented a palace maid with green-painted eyebrows in a delicate voice.

“This is much better looking than those foreign women dancing the whirling dance,” Li Guo’er smiled slightly, but had no interest in continuing to watch. She continued along the curved flying bridge toward the rear hall of Linde Hall. The Imperial Wardrobe Bureau’s clothing department had just sent word that the woven brocade skirt was completed, and knowing she was at Linde Hall, they had already sent someone to deliver it.

A triumphant smile appeared on Li Guo’er’s stunningly beautiful face.

This woven brocade skirt had cost one hundred million coins to make, truly the height of extravagance. While it might not be unprecedented in the future, it was absolutely unprecedented in the past.

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

Since Father Emperor’s ascension to the throne, he had indulged her every whim. She knew this stemmed from guilt over her siblings’ tragic deaths.

Father Emperor had granted her the Jincheng Ward, so she undertook massive construction projects, building extensive residences that subtly surpassed the imperial palace in both architectural scale and ingenious design.

When Father Emperor wouldn’t give her Kunming Pool from the palace, she built her own Dingkun Pool in her mansion, with a stone mountain rising like Mount Hua in the pool’s center, and a waterfall cascading down from the peak into the pool water. She created another clear stream with jade-stone banks, planted with exotic flowers and rare plants on both sides, fragrant and aromatic. The stream bottom was entirely built with coral and precious stones, appearing exceptionally clear under moonlight, almost making people think it was the celestial Jade Pool.

She established her own household with officials, wielding power that swayed the court. She set prices for national offices and ranks, openly selling them. Whether butchers or tavern workers, or even slaves and entertainers, anyone who paid three hundred thousand coins would immediately receive an official appointment. She often wrote her own imperial edicts and pardons, taking them into the palace, covering the text on the edict with one hand while grasping Father Emperor’s hand with the other to sign it. Father Emperor would smilingly sign and seal for her without even reading the pardon’s contents.

She had even once requested that Father Emperor establish her as Crown Princess. Though Father Emperor didn’t do as she asked, he didn’t rebuke her either.

She continuously tested Father Emperor’s limits, seeing just how far he would let her go.

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

The entire realm should have belonged to her imperial brother! Now that her imperial brother was gone, why should she leave anything for others!

So what about the woven brocade skirt? Someday she would wear the bright yellow ceremonial dragon robes!

Human desires have no limits – even when possessing good things, one always wants better. Li Guo’er didn’t know what she truly wanted. No matter how luxurious and magnificent the palaces, in her view they couldn’t compare to the warmth of the cold, shabby rooms of her childhood. If time could flow backward, she would rather wear those old rags and tatters than enjoy the current fine clothes and rich food.

Thinking of the past again, Li Guo’er’s mood became somewhat gloomy. When she entered Yuyi Tower on the left side of Linde Hall, she casually waved her hand, dismissing the palace maids attending at her side – she wanted to be alone for a while.

Perhaps that legendary woven brocade skirt worth one hundred million coins could temporarily calm her.

After reaching the third floor of Yuyi Tower, she faintly heard voices conversing in the inner room.

Li Guo’er frowned with displeasure. The Imperial Wardrobe Bureau’s clothing department naturally knew her habit of disliking people present when changing clothes, and had already been waiting at the entrance to Yuyi Tower. Who could be upstairs?

But this annoyance at being disturbed transformed into keen interest the next moment. Li Guo’er wrapped her red silk scarf around the jade belt ornaments at her waist that would make noise when walking, lightened her footsteps, and headed toward the inner room. The closer she got, the more clearly she could distinguish that two men were talking. Li Guo’er simply didn’t rush to enter, but stood outside the door to listen.

“What film set is this? This ancient setup and arrangement is too realistic! Damn! Is this golden pot really made of real gold? Why is it so heavy?” This man was somewhat loud and exclamatory. Li Guo’er narrowed her almond-shaped eyes, not knowing what place this person meant by “film set.”

“Don’t bite it with your teeth! Let me see. Look, this weight, this carving skill – it really does seem like an authentic piece.” The other man’s voice was relatively more composed. Li Guo’er smiled. This was the imperial palace of the Great Tang – every item was extremely luxurious, so how could there possibly be counterfeits?

“What place is this exactly? You said using this broken compass we could go back to the past to find the boss, but I only wanted to go back one month! We’re not so unlucky as to have gone back even further, are we?” The previous man’s words were still incomprehensible. “That’s also possible. We’re probably in the Tang Dynasty.”

“Tang Dynasty? How can you be so certain?”

“Actually, you can tell from the furniture. In the Qin and Han periods, people sat on the floor. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties period, sitting with feet hanging became popular, so you can tell from the tables, chairs, and stools that this is Tang or Song period furnishings. Looking at the porcelain on the treasure cabinet, Song porcelain has simple lines and single colors, while these round, full porcelain shapes are characteristic of Tang porcelain, not to mention this sancai pottery. Look at the bronze mirror on this table – Tang Dynasty bronze mirrors are mostly round, while Song Dynasty ones are mostly heart-shaped, shield-shaped, bell-shaped, tripod-shaped, incense burner-shaped, and so on…” The steady male voice spoke eloquently, commenting on each furnishing in the room one by one. Li Guo’er was slightly surprised, not expecting this person to have such knowledge. But what era was the Song Dynasty? Was it the Song state from the Northern and Southern Dynasties?

“Fine, fine… now assuming this is the Tang Dynasty… does this count as time travel? Might we encounter the Tang Dynasty boss?”

“To avoid changing history, it’s best not to meet him. After all, the boss has continuous memory, unlike other people. Look… seeing the direction and speed of this Luoshu Nine Stars Compass needle, we’d better not go anywhere. Hey! Don’t randomly touch other people’s things! Anyone who can live so luxuriously is obviously either rich or noble – don’t create complications. Oh, and don’t touch that skirt on the rack either!”

Li Guo’er knew the person was referring to the woven brocade skirt made by the Imperial Wardrobe Bureau. She had wanted to listen outside the door a while longer, but now directly pushed open the carved door to the inner room, hearing the arguing voices inside abruptly stop.

Rewrapping her red silk scarf, amid the crisp tinkling of jade ornaments, Li Guo’er slowly walked around the mother-of-pearl carved screen. The serious expression on her face changed to one of surprise when she saw the two people in the room.

Because she had never seen clothing cut in such a style. These two men who had appeared here without permission, one standing and one sitting, were both young – probably about the same age as her – and both quite handsome. But what she found somewhat objectionable was that both had short hair. The clothes they wore were extremely form-fitting, perfectly outlining their slender limbs. Even foreign clothes didn’t have such styles – simple yet exuding a crisp elegance. The man standing in the room even wore something strange on his nose bridge, transparent like crystal lenses.

Li Guo’er found it novel, so she didn’t blame them for not paying respects. Moreover, such frank gazes – she hadn’t encountered them for a long time. And this time there were two people at once.

The sitting man, seeing her enter, looked her up and down, then unhurriedly stood up and respectfully bowed to her: “Greetings, Princess.”

Li Guo’er’s chin lifted slightly. This person’s bow was quite proper, though somewhat awkward – he must have just been taught. From the voice, Li Guo’er recognized this was the one with the steady voice.

Although Lu Zigang appeared calm on the surface, sweat was already beginning to form on his back. He had deduced from the clothing and accessories of this Tang Dynasty beauty that she was a Great Tang princess, but there were simply too many famous princesses in the Great Tang for him to make more specific deductions. Moreover, this princess appeared to be just about twenty years old, but the arrogance and pride emanating from her bones truly made one have to bow one’s head.

The doctor beside him also imitated Lu Zigang’s movements, clumsily performing a bow. Not receiving a response from the princess, neither dared to raise their heads without permission.

Fortunately, the Tang Dynasty didn’t yet popular kneeling etiquette – just bowing. If this had been after the Yuan Dynasty, they probably would have had to get used to it whether they liked it or not.

Secretly glancing at the Luoshu Nine Stars Compass in his hand, Lu Zigang was relieved to find the compass needle’s speed was good – it would probably return to position soon. Once the needle aligned on the Heavenly Dao cross-line, they could return to modern times. Fortunately, their luck was good this time – they wouldn’t have to stay in ancient times too long. Great Tang princesses were each more ferocious than the last!

Lost in these thoughts, Lu Zigang discovered that the Great Tang princess had actually walked toward the doctor beside him, and had even directly reached out to hook his chin, forcing him to raise his head.

This scene immediately scared Lu Zigang into a cold sweat.

The doctor was still relatively naive, not understanding what this Great Tang princess meant, looking at her with a puzzled expression. He was a head taller than the princess, so after straightening up, he was actually looking down at her. The hand resting on his chin was warm and fragrant like jade, but it made him thoroughly uncomfortable. If he didn’t know this wasn’t the era he was familiar with, he would have long since stepped back without giving face. Seeing the princess actually touch his face and finally stop at his glasses, the doctor finally realized – probably this Great Tang princess had never seen glasses and was curious.

He heard the princess slowly say: “Take this thing off.”

Now the doctor hesitated. What if his glasses were left behind in this era after being removed, and a thousand years later were excavated by archaeologists to become some kind of cultural relic? But seeing the princess’s determined expression, the doctor had no choice but to obediently remove his glasses. However, he didn’t hand them to the princess, but gripped them tightly in his hand.

Li Guo’er stared blankly at this man, as memories that had long been sealed in her heart began growing wildly like tender shoots breaking through soil.

Too similar… No, it wasn’t the facial resemblance like Wu Yanxiu, but that gentle, scholarly temperament… it was exactly like her imperial brother…

“Smile,” Li Guo’er took another step forward. Now the two of them were almost pressed closely together.

The doctor was now completely beyond complaining. How did he feel like he was being molested? But the next second he thought of the Great Tang princesses’ preferences, and immediately got goosebumps all over. He really couldn’t handle such “good fortune.” Fortunately, when he looked to Lu Zigang for help, the latter timely pulled him away, creating distance between him and the princess. At the same moment, a familiar dizziness also struck.