Chapter 4: Historical Spoiler: Wu Zetian

Lin Xuan extinguished the lighter and rubbed off the tiny pile of ash-like powder from his fingertips.

A deeper probe is necessary.

But before that, this child needs to replenish her strength.

Walking into the kitchen, Lin Xuan pulled open the top cabinet.

He took out a can of imported high-fat milk powder.

This was bought on behalf of a child in his department with intestinal absorption disorder.

The child later transferred hospitals, and the milk powder remained with him. Reading novels all day on TTKS. TW is so convenient.

He pressed the switch on the constant-temperature kettle and set the water temperature to forty-five degrees.

He took out a brand-new Glass baby bottle and poured boiling water to sterilize the inner walls.

He added two level scoops of milk powder into the bottle and poured in warm water.

He screwed on the cap with the silicone nipple and shook it rapidly left and right.

A milky liquid left a thick layer of fat clinging to the Glass bottle's inner walls.

Lin Xuan carried the bottle back to the master bedroom.

The girl remained curled in the bed's corner, hugging the large white goose, her wary posture unchanged.

Lin Xuan pulled over a folding chair and sat beside the bed, holding the bottle to her lips.

"Drink."

"It's not poisoned. It's sweet."

The girl turned her head away, lips tightly shut.

"Won't drink? Fine." Lin Xuan withdrew his hand, bit the nipple himself, and sucked a small sip, smacking his lips, "Tastes good. Aren't you hungry?"

The girl swallowed saliva.

The high fever had drained her immense energy; her stomach let out a distinct, long rumble.

She blushed, slowly extending both hands to cradle the warm bottle.

Imitating Lin Xuan's earlier motion, she sucked the silicone nipple hard.

The rich milk aroma and sweet flavor instantly filled her mouth.

Even the Imperial Kitchen's finest chefs could not concoct such pure animal-fat milk fragrance.

She widened her eyes, her throat convulsing rapidly as she gulped down large mouthfuls.

Lin Xuan watched her drink, his right hand free, reaching for his Mobile Phone.

He opened the browser, and the probe began.

"Little girl, let's talk."

"You say you're Jinyang Princess, so your father is Li Shimin?"

The girl stopped sucking, clutching the bottle, and solemnly corrected: "How dare you speak the Holy One's name directly!"

"Alright, Holy One." Lin Xuan swiped the screen with one hand, scanning the encyclopedia entry, "Li Shimin really did a decent job as Emperor. Heavenly Khan, after all."

"But he's a terrible father."

At these words,

the ministers outside the Sky Screen held their breath.

Zhangsun Huanghou swayed, nearly collapsing.

Lin Xuan lifted his head, his gaze locked onto the girl's facial muscles.

He was capturing her most instinctive micro-expressions.

Modern children hearing such historical exposition would only find it boring or laugh and joke along.

Only true historical witnesses would feel such visceral pain.

"Your eldest brother is Li Chengqian, right? He later rebelled."

"Wanted to kill your father and seize the throne early."

"The plot was exposed, he was stripped of his crown prince title, exiled to Qian Prefecture, and died not long after."

The girl froze.

The nipple slipped from her mouth; a drop of white milk dripped onto her collar.

Tang Dynasty, Eastern Palace.

Li Chengqian was holding a wine goblet.

Hearing the voice from the heavens, his wrist trembled.

The bronze wine goblet crashed to the ground, spilling wine.

Lin Xuan continued: "Your fourth brother, Wei Prince Li Tai."

"Also fought tooth and nail with your elder brother for the crown prince position."

"In the end, your father demoted him too."

"Your Li family's sons have turned into a boiling pot of blood over that throne."

The girl's breath stopped.

Her eyes quickly reddened, moisture gathering within.

"You lie!" the girl threw the bottle aside, "My elder brother adores me! My fourth brother treats me extremely well!"

"My father is a peerless hero—who dares rebel!"

Tang Dynasty, Wei Prince Mansion.

Li Tai's fat body shook violently; his knees buckled and he knelt in the courtyard, pounding his head frantically toward the Sky Screen: "Your servant did not rebel! Your servant is innocent!"

Lin Xuan did not stop.

He threw the final depth charge.

"Your father was indeed a hero, but unfortunately... your Great Tang's realm was not preserved in the end."

"It was not passed down to your Li family."

The little girl froze, tears hanging on her eyelashes: "Are you saying the Great Tang... has fallen?"

"It hasn't fallen; it changed its name to Zhou." Lin Xuan's tone was ruthlessly flat. "There was a Cairen in your father's harem, surnamed Wu, who later became your ninth brother's wife."

"Later, she slaughtered your Li imperial family until rivers of blood flowed."

"She seated herself on the Dragon Throne and became a Female Emperor."

"History calls her Wu Zetian."

In that instant.

Beneath the Sky Screen across all dynasties, silence reigned.

Great Han.

Liu Che, startled, rose from the Dragon Throne, overturning the imperial table.

"A woman claiming the throne? Absurd! The greatest mockery under heaven!"

Great Tang, Yetin Palace.

On a night in early summer, a girl in coarse hemp clothes squatted by the well, scrubbing her mistress's garments.

The Sky Screen's voice rolled down like a bombardment.

"Surnamed Wu, Wu Zetian."

The soap pod in the girl's hand slipped, falling into the wooden basin and splashing up murky water.

She raised her head, gazing up at the firmament.

Her young face, still bearing a touch of youth, was twisted with extreme terror and bewilderment.

The eyes of several older palace maids nearby turned on her as if she were a vengeful ghost.

Taiji Palace, Lizheng Hall.

Li Shimin staggered in rage, nearly falling.

"Second Son!" Empress Zhangsun rushed forward to support him.

Li Shimin pushed his wife away, his chest heaving violently.

It was the ultimate fury of being stabbed in the back while forced to watch one's legacy stolen.

Wu Zetian, Wu Cairen.

Among the court officials, Zhangsun Wuji was the first to react.

He turned, striding swiftly toward the formation of imperial guards outside the hall.

Clang!

Zhangsun Wuji drew the horizontal sword from the waist of an imperial guard Captain, pointing the blade skyward.

"Right Wu Guard, take orders! Seal off the rear palace, Yeting!"

"All women in the palace surnamed Wu, regardless of age, are to be executed on the spot! Cut off the roots to prevent regrowth!"

The clashing of armor was deafening.

Squads of imperial guards raised torches, like lines of fire dragons, rushing toward the rear palace with murderous intent.

Inside a modern master bedroom.

Lin Xuan's probe had received the most genuine feedback.

The little girl collapsed.

She opened her mouth wide, letting out a heart-wrenching wail.

"Father! Big Brother! Waaah..."

There was no trace of performance.

It was the extreme despair of faith crumbling and family destroyed.

Ignoring everything, she threw herself at Lin Xuan, her small hands beating his arms forcefully, sobbing until she could barely catch her breath.

"You lie! You barbarians spreading demonic words to confuse the masses!"

"I must find Father! Father!"

Lin Xuan let her beat him.

The probe was over.

Clearly, this was no prank, no role-playing.

The little girl before him, crying until she couldn't breathe, was truly a Great Tang princess from over thirteen hundred years ago.

Outside the Sky Screen.

The footsteps of the Great Tang imperial guards shattered the late night of Chang'an.

Li Shimin heard the execution order issued by Zhangsun Wuji but did not speak to stop him.

He gritted his teeth, his gaze locked firmly on Lin Xuan within the Sky Screen.

Killing a few palace maids could not change the predetermined heavenly fate.

This short-haired man from a thousand years hence, since he could reveal heavenly fate, must surely know the root of this calamity.

Li Shimin waited.

Suppressing his raging blood, he waited for Lin Xuan's next words.