Tang Dynasty: A Guide to Avoiding Pitfalls for Li Er at the Start

Chapter 35 An Important Figure in the Qi Prince's Mansion, Little Consort Yang

Half an hour later.

A-Gui was helped out of Jing Junhong's house. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and his legs were so weak that he could barely stand.

"How is General Jinglao?" Li Shimin asked as he approached, his brows furrowed.

Wen He had previously mentioned that Jing Junhong and Lü Shiheng died at Xuanwu Gate.

Now that Lü Shiheng has led his men to the Prince of Qi's residence, there is certainly no need to worry.

Originally, it was thought that with Liu Shili and others around, Jing Junhong could also escape his fate, but unexpectedly, such a change occurred.

"The wound has been stitched up. It's up to him to see if he can pull through. If he gets a fever or develops pus, it will be dangerous. No one who is not involved should go in later."

Li Shimin frowned and nodded slightly.

He knew Wen He had done her best.

"This humble servant greets Your Highness." Ah Gui, who had finally caught his breath, quickly stepped forward to pay his respects.

Li Shimin glanced at him, his expression indifferent.

It wasn't that he didn't value talent, but rather that such insignificant people were simply not worthy of his attention.

Seeing this, Wen He felt somewhat indignant and walked to A Gui's side, laughing.

"Your skills are quite good, the sewing is very nice, you're a talented person."

When he helped Jing Junhong change the silk cloth, he was somewhat surprised to see the stitches on the wound.

Because of the time constraints, there was no time to prepare catgut sutures, which may lead to secondary infection when the sutures are removed later.

But unexpectedly, Ah Gui's cooking skills actually solved this problem.

"You flatter me, sir. I make a living with just this little skill." Agui said with a bitter smile, his face pale.

Today he has truly broadened his horizons, both in terms of the people he met and the things he did. When he goes back and boasts about them, he'll definitely shock everyone.

"Why don't we let him keep it? If he has an external injury that needs stitches in the future, we won't have to find someone at the last minute like we did today."

Just as Agui was overjoyed, thinking about how much reward he would receive, he was stunned when he heard the suggestion from the young nobleman beside him.

Stay here?
This is the Prince of Qin's Mansion, the third most prestigious place in the entire Tang Dynasty.

He was trembling uncontrollably, unable to suppress his excitement.

Coroners were considered lowly, earning only a few hundred coins a month, and were summoned and dismissed at will.

If he could enter the Prince of Qin's mansion, he would be on a meteoric rise to power.

"In that case, let's leave it here. Just send someone to Chang'an County to let them know."

In Li Shimin's view, this was just a trivial matter.

"Thank you, Your Highness, thank you, sir." He knelt down with a thud and was about to kowtow when Wen He stopped him.

"Don't kneel anymore, this is a good thing, we'll need you a lot in the future."

Wen He patted his shoulder, and A Gui couldn't contain himself, his mouth stretching almost to the back of his head in a wide grin.

"Your Excellency is deeply grateful for your kindness. I will do my best to serve Your Highness in the future." He was somewhat at a loss. This surprise came too suddenly. He wanted to continue flattering you, but Changsun Wuji coldly stopped him.

"Alright, let's go down with him first. One of you will take him to Chang'an County to explain and have his lowly status revoked."

Changsun Wuji was able to make decisions for Li Shimin on such minor matters.

Agui did not kneel again, but respectfully performed a deep bow.

Knowing that these important people must have other business to attend to, he obediently left with one of the Xuanjia guards.

"The alcohol you mentioned earlier might help the old general?" Li Shimin suddenly remembered what Wen He had said earlier when he saw the wine jar.

"Yes, yes, but..."

"No need, whatever you need, I will grant it."

"Okay, I'll give it a try."

The most important thing in making alcohol is a still.

Limited by the technology of this era, Wenhe could only simplify things.

Fortunately, he had learned how to make a simple distiller from his instructor during his wilderness survival training in his previous life. He asked someone to bring him paper and pen, and he wrote down the materials he needed and drew a simple diagram.

Li Shimin immediately ordered people to manufacture it.

In less than half an hour, a simple wooden still was placed in front of him.

"The copper pipes from the manor have all been brought. If that's not enough, we can have them made immediately." The man who brought the distiller was a young man in his early twenties with a short beard and a dusty face.

"This is Yan Liben, son of Yan Pi, the former Junior Supervisor of the Palace, and is the Prince's Treasury Officer."

When Li Shimin mentioned Yan Liben, Wen He's eyes lit up as she looked at him.

Although I've met quite a few historical figures these past two days, this one is different.

Born into a prestigious family with a silver spoon in his mouth, he was content to immerse himself in craftsmanship.

Most importantly, he was a famous painter of the Tang Dynasty, and any painting of his that appears in later generations would surely fetch an astronomical price.

"cough!"

Seeing that Wen He's mouth was slightly open, Li Shimin immediately coughed lightly.

He was a little too nervous. When he saw the look of surprise on Wen He's face, he assumed that Wen He was about to say something surprising again.

"So it's Yan Kuzhi, I've heard so much about you." Wen He greeted him with a cupped hand.

He knew what Li Shimin's cough meant, and couldn't help but think to himself, "Is he that wary of me? I'm not oblivious to the occasion, you know."

"I've met Wen Xiaolang." Yan Liben hadn't noticed Wen He's expression just now, but he was still very curious about his identity.

A ten-year-old boy has become a guest of honor of His Highness the King of Qin.

Who exactly is this person?

"Ahem, you two, stop with the pleasantries. Wait until I host a banquet in a few days, then you can talk. Right now, let's get that alcohol out as soon as possible."

Li Shimin was getting anxious.

If this alcohol can truly heal Jing Junhong's external injuries, then it would be a major event that could change the fate of the Tang army.

When they go to the battlefield in the future, those wounded soldiers will be saved.

Over the years, he has seen too many soldiers die from injuries that cannot be treated.

"Okay, let's get started."

Wen He recalled her memories from her previous life and began to operate step by step.

When Yan Liben was making the still, he was particularly curious about what this strange-looking thing was, and now he was even more curious about alcohol.

A high-ranking military officer of the fifth rank personally assisted, but that's nothing special.

Didn't you see that even His Highness Prince Qin, Changsun Wuji, and Duke Cheng Zhijie of Su State had to listen to Wen Xiaolang's orders?
Judging from this setup, even a fifth-rank official wouldn't be qualified to participate, let alone the servants.

However, Li Shimin did not stay for long.

Just as Wen He began making the product, someone rushed in to report it.

Upon seeing the newcomer, Li Shimin immediately gave a look to the surroundings.

The guards in black armor immediately drove the servants away.

"Speak," Li Shimin said, only after the core members of the Qin Prince's Mansion were left in the courtyard.

"Your Highness, General Lü sent someone to report that someone from the Prince of Qi's residence wishes to see you. This person is of high status, and he dares not make the decision on his own."

A person of high status in the Qi Prince's mansion?
The King of Qi is dead, so who else of importance is there?
Wen He, who was tending the fire, looked over there upon hearing this.

Li Shimin and Changsun Wuji exchanged a glance, both seemingly thinking of someone.

"An important person in the Qi Prince's mansion... Consort Yang?!"

He quickly covered his mouth, preventing himself from saying what was on his mind.

But his movement bumped into something placed next to him, and the sound of it breaking immediately drew Li Shimin's scrutinizing gaze.

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(End of this chapter)