Tang Dynasty: Starting with Dimo, he was targeted by Li Shimin.

Chapter 29 The Day It Turns into a Dragon

After the farce at Taiji Hall ended, Li Shimin did something that shocked the entire palace—

He did not order any punishment, nor did he have anyone drive away the spirit beast that was causing trouble in the hall.

Instead, he raised his hand and said calmly:

"Go to the inner treasury and select a box of smooth, round tribute stones, and also take a decent basin, and send them together to the Imperial Garden to admire."

Wang De was stunned on the spot.

He opened his mouth, then silently closed it again.

Isn't that excessive?

According to the rules—this is extremely excessive.

The imperial treasury's contents have always been used to reward officials, members of the imperial family, and those who have rendered meritorious service. How could it be used to reward a mythical beast?

But judging from His Majesty's mood today—

Let alone a box of tribute stones, even if that little thing caused a ruckus in front of the entire court, His Majesty would probably just laugh and say, "Interesting."

Wang De bowed his head, replied "Yes," and turned to leave.

But as I stepped down, only one thought kept churning in my mind—

Who exactly is the shopkeeper in the West Market?

First, they created a spirit beast that could spew breath at people, and now even His Majesty is willing to make an exception for it.

At this very moment, the person being discussed throughout the palace was completely unaware of this.

By the pond in the Imperial Garden, a swallowtail otter was squatting on a blue stone, with a newly delivered gilded small basin in front of it.

The basin contained about a dozen round and beautiful stones.

Some are as green as the lake water in early spring, some are as white as fresh snow falling on jade, and two have natural patterns on their surfaces, faintly resembling clouds.

The swallowtail otter was completely stunned.

It first looked down at the basin, then looked up at the stones.

The two eyes gradually lit up.

"hiss……"

It cautiously extended its paw and first touched the topmost jade-colored stone.

It's cool and refreshing, and round and smooth.

nice one.

It then touched the small, milky-white pebble next to it.

better.

Let's look at the third and fourth ones—

All of these are great items!

The swallowtail otter's tail immediately perked up, and the whole otter excitedly spun around in place before pouncing on the small bowl and earnestly starting to pick out the pellets one by one.

First, it puts the cyan one on the left, the white one on the right, and the patterned one in the middle.

After arranging them, he took two steps back, tilted his head, and examined them carefully.

wrong.

I feel like something's missing.

The swallowtail otter thought for a moment, then suddenly ran to the edge of the artificial hill and pulled out a dusty little pebble that it had hidden earlier from a crack.

It found that in the Imperial Garden today, and it treasures it dearly.

It solemnly placed the gray pebble in the very center of the row of tribute stones.

Look to the left.

Look to the right.

Then look at your own insignificant little pebble.

Then he nodded in satisfaction.

"hiss."

The general meaning is—

These are treasures given to us by the emperor.

This is a treasure I found myself.

Both are good.

They look most perfect when placed together.

Yuchi Gong stood to the side, watching this scene, and remained silent for a long time before finally raising his hand to cover his face.

Today he has completely lost face for the rest of his life.

In the Taiji Hall, in front of all the civil and military officials, the family's own spirit beast sprayed the face of the Imperial Academy Chancellor.

Instead of being punished, they were awarded a tribute stone by the emperor.

If this gets out, let alone tomorrow's court—

Tonight, some people in Chang'an will probably start to suspect that Yuchi Gong secretly gave His Majesty some kind of bewitching potion.

"after……"

Yuchi Gong squatted down, his tone unusually complex.

"I really won't dare leave you alone in the manor anymore."

The swallowtail otter looked up at him.

It seemed to sense the helplessness in Yuchi Gong's tone, so it lowered its head and carefully selected from its row of precious stones for a long time.

After much deliberation, he finally picked up the prettiest white pebble and solemnly handed it to Yuchi Gong.

"hiss."

Give you.

Don't be angry.

Yuchi Gong lowered his head, looking at the smooth, shiny pebble in his palm, and fell silent again.

—This is the twenty-third one today.

Moreover, this one was actually a gift from the emperor.

He suddenly had an extremely absurd premonition.

If things continue like this, in a few days he might become the first duke in the Tang Dynasty to make his fortune by having a spirit beast deliver stones.

"...Okay. I'm not angry anymore."

(；ω；)

That evening.

Ganlu Temple.

Li Shimin changed into casual clothes and sat under the lamp, with a small, transparent fish tank on the table in front of him.

The pygmy fish swam around inside, occasionally blowing a bubble.

But Li Shimin discovered something—

"This fish... seems a bit big?"

He looked at it carefully.

It's definitely gotten bigger.

Yesterday they were small, palm-sized blue jelly beans.

It has grown noticeably today—almost the size of a fist.

Moreover, its fins have become a little longer, and its tail has become a little wider.

The blue of his body became deeper and more translucent.

Although it is still a fish.

But it's no longer the "palm-sized scrap fish" it was yesterday.

It is growing.

Things are changing.

It is evolving in the direction of "dragon fish".

Li Shimin looked at the pygmy fish in the fish tank, and the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

Just then, footsteps came from outside the hall.

The curtain was gently lifted.

Empress Zhangsun walked in.

She wore a light blue casual outfit, her long hair was tied in a simple bun, and her face was gentle and graceful.

She was also holding a bowl of freshly cooked white fungus soup.

"Your Majesty, why aren't you asleep so late?" She placed the white fungus soup on the table, her gaze naturally sweeping over the fish tank.

"What is this? A glass...fish tank?"

"Come and take a look." Li Shimin beckoned.

Empress Zhangsun approached and took a closer look—

The little blue fish in the fish tank just raised its head, its two big, round eyes looking at her.

"bean?"

Empress Zhangsun was taken aback.

"This...this fish is alive?"

"Of course it's alive."

"Why is it blue?"

"Because it's not an ordinary fish."

Looking at Empress Zhangsun's curious expression, Li Shimin suddenly felt a strong urge to share.

He's been keeping it all inside for several days.

About the Magical Artifact Shop, about elves, about the salted fish shopkeeper who didn't want to go to work while carrying a glass of plum juice—

He didn't tell anyone about these things.

Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong knew, but those two roughnecks only knew how to shout, so they couldn't have a detailed conversation.

Fang Xuanling knew this, but as a subject, there was always a distance between them when they talked.

Only the person in front of me—

She is someone he can confide in without reservation.

"Guanyinbi," Li Shimin said, using Empress Zhangsun's childhood name, "I'll tell you a story."

"What story?"

"A very long story."

"Let's start with a quirky little shop in the West Market."

Empress Zhangsun glanced at Li Shimin's expression—she knew this man all too well.

Every time he makes that expression,

This means he encountered something that truly excited him.

The last time I saw this expression was on the eve of the coronation ceremony in the first year of the Zhenguan era.

She sat down at the table and took a sip of the white fungus soup.

"Your Majesty, I am all ears."

So Li Shimin began to speak from the beginning—

Let's start with Cheng Yaojin and Yuchi Gong's first visit to the Magical Artifacts Shop.

The duck, Gigi, clung tightly to the Imperial Seal of the State and wouldn't let go.

The moment when the mouse otter evolved into the swallowtail otter,

It describes how Dimo ​​shines in the store.

Jiang Shuilan precisely poured water into the teacup.

The story of the butterfly transformation involves cutting his Xuan Tie sword into pieces—

"Wait," Empress Zhangsun interrupted him, "your sword was cut to pieces by a butterfly??"

"Um."

"That Heavenly Black Iron Sword that's been with you for over a decade?"

"It's broken. The fragments are all thin pieces."

Empress Zhangsun remained silent for three seconds.

"Your Majesty, I have been maintaining that sword for you for six years."

"I know... I'll make it up to you later."

"We can't afford to pay it back."

"………………"

(；´Д`) Even if I can't afford to pay, I still have to pay.

Li Shimin coughed awkwardly and continued speaking—

The little spirit understood the relationships between everyone in the imperial court.

The cat jumped onto his lap and started purring.

They say that the 'Kilike Grass' actually eats beef.

He said he got a 10-pull thank you for your patronage and a 10-pull Dragon Magic Fruit—

Empress Zhangsun couldn't stop laughing.

"Your Majesty, you're so unlucky..."

"I'm not unlucky! I'm just going in the wrong direction!"

"Yes, yes, the direction is wrong." Empress Zhangsun smiled and wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes.

Finally, he talked about pygmy fish.

The story mentions "the fish leaping over the dragon gate".

It was mentioned that the final form of the pygmy fish is the dragonfish—a dual attribute of water and dragon—and its name contains the character for "dragon."

After listening, Empress Zhangsun looked at the small blue fish in the fish tank that was blowing bubbles.

"So... this little fish can really turn into a dragon?"

"Yes." Li Shimin's voice was firm.

"The shopkeeper said it himself. With careful nurturing, it can grow from a pygmy fish into a fast-finned fish, and then into an arowana."

"Water Dragon with dual attributes."

"A real dragon."

Empress Zhangsun looked into Li Shimin's eyes—

There was light in those eyes.

It is not the awe-inspiring light of an emperor.

He is the light of a man who has obtained what he loves.

She gently leaned on Li Shimin's shoulder.

"Then I will wait."

"What are you waiting for?"

"The day it transforms into a dragon."

Li Shimin looked down at his wife, who was leaning on his shoulder.

Then I looked at the tiny, slowly growing pygmy fish in the tank.

"The day it transforms into a dragonfish—"

"I will take you riding it to see the whole Tang Dynasty."

Empress Zhangsun smiled.

"good."

The pygmy fish blew a bubble in the fish tank.

"Bean~"

It probably had no idea that it had just been given such a big promise.

But the bubble sparkled under the light.

Like a tiny, transparent dream.

(´，，•ω•，，)♡

If Lin Luo were here right now, he would definitely complain—

The "dragon" attribute of the arowana is indeed true.

However, the size of an arowana is only about two meters long.

Riding it to see the whole Tang Dynasty?

Your Majesty, are you planning to ride on the back of a two-meter-long fish and swim across the Wei River?

That scene—

This is probably even more outrageous than the swallowtail otter breaking into the Taiji Hall.

but……

Let's not tell him about this yet.

It's good to make the emperor happy for one night.

σ(´∀｀)

At the same time.

Magical Object Shop.

Lin Luo sat in the backyard and opened the system panel.

On the map of the shelter—

Two more blue dots appeared.

There are now five water-type Pokémon within the sanctuary area.

Bubblefish, two-lantern fish, two small otters, and a newcomer, a flat-shelled fish.

The panel showed that even more were arriving from all directions.

tomorrow.

At most the day after tomorrow.

The number of water-type spirits around the shelter will reach more than ten.

By then—

The ground within a ten-mile radius wouldn't just be "seeping water"—

Instead, real groundwater will begin to gush out.

The well will be filled with water again.

Water will flow through the river again.

Cracking soil can become arable.

Li Shimin promised to alleviate the drought within three days.

This is not just empty talk.

It's really going to happen.

Lin Luo turned off the control panel and looked at the night sky above.

The clouds tonight—

It's much thicker than it was two days ago.

Although it hasn't rained enough.

However, the humidity in the air is noticeably different.

Two months of work in Chang'an City—

It was the first time I smelled water vapor.

Lin Luo took a deep breath.

Ok.

almost.

Dimo leaned on his shoulder, while Abu curled up at his feet.

Shui Lanlan was blowing bubbles in the water tank, and the bow was tilted at a perfect 45-degree angle under the moonlight.

Xiao Xiao leaned against the door frame, already asleep, still clutching today's purchasing list in her hand.

Outside the wall, five water-type spirits stood quietly in their respective spots.

The water bubble shell dozed off in a small puddle.

The antennae of the two-lampfish emit a faint blue glow in the darkness.

Two small otter mice huddled together, nibbling at each other's pebbles.

The newcomer's shell was tucked inside, with only its two small eyes showing.

Quietly.

Like a group of small lights waiting for dawn.

(ꈍᴗꈍ)

Tomorrow will be the third day.

……