Inheriting a Taoist temple, the story begins with Wu Zetian offering incense.

Chapter 61 Li Longji: Why does she look at me like I'm a junior? [Requesting monthly votes]

Led by Gao Lishi, Gongsun Da Niang handed over her sword, passed through Chang Le Gate and entered Taiji Palace. Looking at the magnificent palace inside, she felt a sense of awe, like Granny Liu entering the Grand View Garden.

I'd always heard about the imperial palace, and today I finally got to go inside.

As Gao Lishi walked, he chatted with Gongsun Da Niang about the local customs and culture of Yancheng... The palace had long since figured out Gongsun Da Niang's background and knew that she was a lowly dancer trained by the troupe from childhood.

But at the same time, they also knew that Aunt Gongsun would disappear for a period of time every five days, sometimes for two or three days, sometimes for half a day, and each time she came back she would bring back a lot of new and interesting things.

Everyone believed that this little-known dancer had truly won the favor of the gods and was able to freely enter and leave the gods' abode.

It was precisely because of this relationship that Gao Lishi not only personally greeted him at the palace gate, but also carefully smiled throughout the entire process, without putting on any airs of the Grand Eunuch of the Inner Court or the Grand Master of the Silver Seal.

He kept asking about immortals, and Granny Gongsun seemed quite sincere about it:
"They're different over there from the Tang Dynasty. They use lightning for lighting, cooking, communication, and even for refrigerating food, freezing a bunch of mini ice cream cones and popsicles. Lightning is everywhere in their lives."

After careful consideration, Gao Lishi felt even more that the abode of immortals was immeasurable and incredibly mysterious.

It is said that a hermit in Zhongnan Mountain tried to refine elixirs during a thunderstorm, but was struck by lightning and turned into charcoal... How can immortals live in a place where lightning crackles everywhere?
Gongsun Da Niang enthusiastically introduced everything about Hunyuan Palace, but due to his preconceived notions, Gao Lishi always felt that it was a dangerous place full of lightning and difficult for ordinary people to approach.

The more detailed the explanation, the stronger his fear became.

Entering through Changle Gate and walking straight ahead leads to Gongli Gate. Beyond this gate lies the palace of the Secretariat, where all imperial edicts were reviewed and promulgated.

Next to the Ministry of Personnel were the Hongwen Academy and the Hanlin Academy, which were places for training officials.

But now Princess Taiping and Li Longji are at odds, and this place has become heavily guarded.

Looking at the gleaming armor and weapons, Gongsun Da Niang felt a chill run down her spine. She silently began to recite the names of the gods, listing all the deities worshipped in Hunyuan Palace, and praying for their protection.

Continuing inside, passing through the main hall of the history museum, a wall appears with two doors: one leading to the Qianhua Gate of the Lizheng Hall, and the other to the Wude Gate of the Wude Hall.

At this time, both gates were guarded by 10,000 cavalry, and even the Imperial Guards were not allowed to approach.

Gao Lishi led Gongsun Da Niang into the Wude Gate, which was where Li Longji usually worked... He chose this palace because Li Shimin also liked to work and live in the Wude Hall.

It's reminiscent of Liao Fan's line, "Wherever Grandpa looks, I look."

Upon arriving at the Wude Hall, Gao Lishi went in to announce their arrival, and Gongsun Da Niang took out a stainless steel plate engraved with the characters "Kaiyuan" from her bag and held it in her hands.

When we see His Majesty later, we should first show him the steel plate and give him a shock.

According to Wu Zetian's analysis, Li Longji must have already conceived of the reign title, just waiting to announce it after he seized power, to express to the officials his determination to govern diligently and create a new era for the Tang Dynasty.

He must have been very proud of coming up with this reign title after much thought.

Therefore, you should reveal it as soon as you meet him, catching him off guard and making him panic. Once he panics, his awe of Immortal Master Yiyuan will naturally arise.

Seeing that Gongsun Da Niang was holding a glittering object in her hands, Gao Lishi asked in confusion:

"Miss Gongsun, this thing..."

"This is a gift that my master entrusted me to deliver to His Majesty. His Majesty will know once he sees it."

Upon entering the palace gates, one would expect that Gongsun Da Niang, a commoner of lowly status, would have to kneel at the threshold. However, since Gongsun Da Niang was holding a divine object, she could not be treated in this way.

Gao Lishi led her all the way to Li Longji's couch where he was reviewing memorials, then bowed and reported:
"Your Majesty, the Gongsun family of Yancheng has come to offer gifts from the gods."

Upon hearing this, Li Longji put down the memorial and saw the stainless steel plate in Gongsun Da Niang's hands. Thinking it was a mirror, he immediately thought of the legend of Emperor Taizong using history as a mirror. He began to mentally prepare to emulate Emperor Taizong's ambitions.

Gongsun Da Niang performed a Taoist salute and presented the stainless steel plate with both hands: "This is a gift from my master, Master Yiyuan, to His Majesty. Please take a look."

When Gao Lishi received it, he realized it was metal, and quite heavy at that. He went through all the metals he knew in his mind, but couldn't find the right one.

Could it be a magical artifact from the immortals?
At this time, Li Longji was still mentally preparing his plan, which included both currying favor with the immortals and demonstrating his own ambitions.

But when Gao Lishi placed the stainless steel in front of him, the emperor, who was about to usher in the second golden age of the Tang Dynasty, suddenly felt a sense of panic that his inner thoughts had been seen through.

The two characters "Kaiyuan" laser-etched on the stainless steel plate looked like a sharp arrow, piercing straight into his chest.

Can even the gods know what I'm thinking?
In an instant, Li Longji's composure, calmness, and elegance vanished completely.

"Hooray, Sister Meiniang was right after all..." Gongsun Da Niang cheered inwardly, but on the surface she just flicked her whisk lightly, making an expression that said, "This young lady has already seen through everything."

Li Longji took a deep breath, held the stainless steel plate, about a foot long, in his hands, his expression one of utmost reverence:
"Thank you, immortal, for bestowing this precious document. After dealing with my aunt's matter, I will obey the imperial decree and change the era name to Kaiyuan... May I ask, Fairy Pomegranate, what is this?"

Gongsun Da Niang took out the token from her bosom and showed it to her:

"This is 304 stainless steel. The words on it were engraved with a special kind of lightning. Please take a look, Your Majesty."

Lightning strikes again… Gao Lishi’s lips twitched; he felt he would dream of being struck by lightning all night.

He held the token in his hand and noticed four lines of small characters on the back. When he read the phrase "will surely be punished by heaven and have no descendants," Gao Lishi regretted presenting it to His Majesty so hastily.

Li Longji took the token with great interest and read through all the characters on both sides:
"Pomegranate Fairy, please rest assured, within the territory of my Great Tang Dynasty, no one will dare to harm you."

Hearing this, Granny Gongsun relaxed slightly. She put the token back into her bosom, then took out the flashlight that took up most of her backpack and continued to offer auspicious gifts:
"The immortal says this item can help His Majesty dispel the darkness ahead... Please take a look!"

The girl playfully pressed the switch on the searchlight, and instantly a beam of intense white light shot out, illuminating the entire Wude Hall brightly, as if the sun had been plucked down and stuffed into the hall.

Li Longji and his companions were startled by the sudden light, but he quickly showed a look of surprise:
"If this item were used for military intelligence communication, it would be invincible!"

Gao Lishi's eyes were also burning with excitement. In the past, the auspicious omens he had seen were all useless things. He never expected that the auspicious omens presented today would actually be important national treasures.

Especially recently, with the people of Chang'an in a state of panic, having this treasure would allow them to transmit signals at night and strike first.

Li Longji couldn't sit still any longer. He got off the couch without even putting on his shoes, took the searchlight with both hands, asked how to use it, and then excitedly shone it around the palace, demonstrating with his actions what it means to be a boy until the end.

Gongsun Da Niang then took out a small flashlight and a laser spotlight, and Li Longji was even more excited, especially after hearing that the laser spotlight could be seen clearly by people a hundred miles away. He couldn't wait to try it out on the spot.

Finally, there were ten lighters and two telescopes. The telescopes weren't very useful now, but from the highest point in Chang'an, they were incredibly accurate in observing the city's movements.

Li Longji was overjoyed, accepting all the auspicious omens.
"Immortal Master, you have bestowed upon me so many treasures; do you have any requests?"

Lady Gongsun flicked her whisk:
"My immortal master has only one request: to treat the people better."

Li Longji bowed to the heavens:
"Sanlang will obey the decree!"

After the audience concluded, Lady Gongsun, led by a group of soldiers, went to the post station to rest.

After she left, Li Longji examined all the auspicious talismans with great interest, recalling the entire process of Gongsun Da Niang's audience with him, and suddenly asked in confusion:
"She's only a teenager, but why does the way she looks at me give me the feeling of an elder looking at a younger generation?"

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Thank you so much to reader [Little Yellow Chicken] for the 100000 book coins! I'm so grateful! I'll arrange for an extra chapter as soon as possible. Here's the first chapter. Please vote for me, brothers!

(End of this chapter)