Li Shimin was also a little bewildered by the spectacle, and after hearing Li Jing's explanation, he let out a laugh that was both exasperated and amused.
This is my son-in-law. What are you worried about when you are with him!
Let's go, let's go back to the palace!
The group boarded the helicopter and headed for Chang'an City, while Wang Xuance and the others drove tanks back to Shenyang.
Fang Er had Song Yingxing and others sit with him in the same aircraft. In the cabin, watching themselves fly higher and higher, with Luoyang City below shrinking to the size of a palm, these great figures from the Ming Dynasty couldn't help but open their mouths in astonishment.
They wanted to ask questions, but the noise of the helicopter drowned them out, so all that could be seen was their mouths moving, but nothing could be heard.
After disembarking the helicopter outside the Zhuque Gate, Song Yingxing looked at the buildings before him, which were exactly as described in ancient texts, consistent with the Tang Dynasty's style.
The attire of the soldiers outside the palace gate and the clothing of the common people in the distance all confirmed that this was indeed the Great Tang!
"Duke Fang, is this, this, this really the Tang Dynasty?" he asked excitedly, pulling at Fang Er's sleeve.
Although Fang Er and Li Shimin had repeatedly said they were from the Tang Dynasty and would take him along, it was all just talk. No one could have imagined it was actually true!
Now, looking at everything before him, how could he not be excited? It was too unbelievable!
He had actually crossed a thousand years of time and returned to the Zhenguan era of the Great Tang!
Liu Ruoshi and the other eight women had remained silent since boarding the helicopter, only coming back to their senses now.
Their feelings were even more profound than those of Song Yingxing and the others. It was all true!
When Li Shimin heard Song Yingxing's question, he spread his arms and laughed up at the sky.
Hahahaha, this is indeed the Great Tang! My Great Tang!
It is also the Great Tang under the rule of Zhenguan, the one you see in the history books!
Li Jing: ???
What's going on?
He was very confused. Why did he not understand what these people were saying?
If this wasn't the Great Tang, then where could it be?
Then, Li Shimin waved his hand and said to Fang Er, "Boy, take Master Craftsman Song and the others to look around. I'll take Lady Liu and the others back to the palace to rest first!"
Upon hearing this, the eight women suddenly became nervous.
Looking at the majestic palace walls, they felt a trace of fear.
Their time in the Ming imperial palace had taught them much about court affairs.
"Once you enter the palace gate, it's like a deep sea, and from then on, you're cut off from the world behind high walls."
This was not what they wanted!
Liu Ruoshi stepped forward and bowed, "Please forgive us, Emperor Taizong. May we ask if you could grant us some time? My sisters and I wish to explore and see this Great Tang."
Please forgive us, Taizong!
The other seven women also curtsied simultaneously, apologizing to Li Shimin.
Li Jing's head was spinning. He hadn't even figured out what the Tang Dynasty in the history books was about, and now what was this Taizong thing?
Old Li was a bit dazed. He had promised to pay off that boy's eighty million debt, and now these beautiful women didn't want to enter the palace?
Although he had been with the eight women for nearly two months, they had maintained a respectful distance.
As the emperor, what kind of women couldn't he have?
It was the natural progression of love that was most intoxicating. He hadn't expected them to want to leave when the wine was just starting to take effect!
He glanced at Li Jing beside him, then walked towards the women and said softly.
"My dear ladies, why not rest in the palace for a few days? I will personally take you sightseeing later, how about that?"
Gu Hengbo bowed again and said with a look of shame, "Please forgive us, Taizong. My sisters and I yearn for life outside. We dare not dream of the deep palace."
Li Shimin suddenly remembered the troublesome affairs of the Ming court, and looking at the resolute expressions of the women, he seemed to understand something.
He sighed and said with some disappointment, "Alright, if that's the case, then I won't force you to stay."
You can follow young Fang for now. If you need anything, just tell him directly. When I've handled affairs in the palace, I'll come to Shenyang to visit you.
"Boy, keep a close eye on them for me. If anyone of them loses a single hair, I'll see how I deal with you!"
After saying that, he flicked his sleeves and walked towards the palace gate with resentment.
Damn it!
Full of expectations, only to have them turn into nothing. It was too heartbreaking~
After they left, Fang Er looked at Song Yingxing, Liu Ruoshi, and the others and said with a smile, "Let's set off too, to my estate, and see how the common people of this Great Tang differ from those of the Ming Dynasty!"
They boarded the helicopter again and flew directly to Fang Family Manor.
When they set off, it was early March. The Fang Family Manor was in the midst of its busy farming season.
Old Ma Tou, along with the young and strong, was harvesting wheat in the fields. As soon as Song Yingxing disembarked, he saw the golden wheat ears stretching as far as the eye could see.
The wind carried the scent of wheat, frogs croaked, birds chirped, and children were helping in the fields.
A group of large dogs followed the children, occasionally picking up a wheat ear from the ground, standing on their hind legs, and throwing it into the baskets behind the children.
The women's faces were filled with happy smiles, and all that could be heard was their hearty laughter.
Seeing the helicopter land, these people stopped what they were doing and walked over in unison.
Old Ma Tou walked at the very front, holding a bunch of wheat ears. He grinned at Fang Er and said with a treasure-like expression.
"Young Master is back! We've been waiting for you for a long time. Look at this year's wheat fields, another bumper harvest~"
Before Fang Er could reply, Song Yingxing's attention was drawn to the wheat ears in his hand.
Each ear of wheat was nearly three inches long and as thick as a finger, more than twice the size of wheat ears in the Ming Dynasty!
He snatched the wheat ears and examined them in his hand.
Old Ma was about to say something, but Fang Er stopped him with a look.
Song Yingxing carefully peeled away the husk and looked at the plump grains in his palm. Then, he looked at the boundless wheat fields in the distance, his expression so excited he couldn't speak.
After a long pause, he walked to Fang Er's side, opened his palm, and pointed to the wheat grains, asking.
"Duke Fang, how did this wheat grow so large?"
"Old Ma, take them to get busy. I'll catch up with you later~"
Fang Er waved them away, pulled Song Yingxing to sit by the roadside, and Fang Yizhi and the others also gathered around.
After sitting down, Fang Er pointed to the wheat fields in the distance and said.
"Master Craftsman Song, 'One grain of rice is not worth a fortune, but grains are,' the aim is to fill the people's stomachs."
"I knew an old man before who had a dream, a dream of sheltering under the grain!"
Song Yingxing murmured, "Sheltering under the grain, how much grain could that produce?"
"How much grain can be produced is unknown, but that old man never stopped pursuing this dream throughout his life!"
"He, like you, is a superstar of the Chinese nation, illuminating this land with his brilliance, wanting to ensure that all the people in the world can eat well and be full!"
Until his dying day, he was fighting to cultivate improved varieties. Fang Er looked at the wheat fields in the distance, as if the old man's figure was there.