Chapter 579 - 577: Leading the Princess Astray

Chapter 579: Chapter 577: Leading the Princess Astray

Lin Wanwan lowered her head, and uncontrollably, tears started to fall. Yet in her mind, she remembered the tired yet graceful Princess of Xiangcheng, and she couldn’t help but be selfish.

She really couldn’t do it.

She liked Xiao Chong, but she liked herself more, and loved her freedom even more.

Love is precious, life is of higher value. For the sake of freedom, both can be forsaken.

Rather than let the incompatible worldviews between her and the Great Tang consume the love in their hearts, it’d be better to preserve them while they were at their most beautiful.

When she changed into her gown and returned to the flower hall, the banquet was already set.

There were songs and dances during the feast, full of liveliness, but Lin Wanwan had no interest. During the drinking games, she spaced out and kept losing, with many penalties, even drawing the attention of the Princess of Xiangcheng.

Fortunately, the alcohol strength in Great Tang is very low, or else Lin Wanwan would’ve been drunk.

The days followed in routine, Lin Wanwan entered the palace three times a week to give Zhangsun, the Empress, a pulse check, and she also went to the modern bookstore to buy some books on prenatal education and care, to swindle—oh no, to guide Zhangsun, the Empress.

𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝚠𝚎𝚋𝗻𝗼𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝚘𝐦

Finding the palace’s strict rules unbearable, Lin Wanwan once saw a few elderly folks playing Mahjong in an alleyway of the ancient city, and suddenly had a brainwave. She returned to Great Tang to find artisans to custom-make a wooden Mahjong set.

Mahjong, a national essence, is generally believed to have been invented during the Ming Dynasty, when Zheng He sailed the Western seas to soothe the soldiers tired of the endless seafaring life.

At that time, the military personnel trapped on the ship were nearly driven insane, and even plotted to kill Zheng He.

As one of the greatest eunuchs in history, how could Zheng He be so easily killed?

He immediately had a brainwave, using playing cards, dominoes, Pai Gow as a foundation, small wooden pieces as tiles, fleet arrangements, added with wind directions and the most beloved money, devised rules that taught everyone on board to play, instantly filling the void of their souls on the ship.

And now, what Lin Wanwan brought out to entertain Empress Zhangsun and Princess Changle was a mature version of Mahjong, with its rules and gameplay fully developed!

Mahjong, with its high stickiness, short cycle, and addictive nature, ancient folks wouldn’t lack entertainment.

It’s known since its invention, Mahjong has always been a favorite social activity among women in high society. Poems and music, painting and art, none can compare with the straightforward, quick-to-learn Mahjong, right?

Lin Wanwan herself didn’t know Mahjong and went to great lengths to return to the modern era, spent money to learn in a game room just to get rid of the "rules" of the palace!

Sure enough, hard work pays off, as initially it was only Lin Wanwan, Princess Changle, and a few maids playing. After Princess Changle learned, Lin Wanwan left the palace.

After winning a few rounds, Princess Changle surprisingly became addicted, and no longer clung to Zhangsun’s Lizheng Hall. After the daily morning and evening greetings, she hurried back to her own palace, called several close maidservants, sat cross-legged around two bookcases merged into a makeshift Mahjong table, and began playing.

Zhangsun felt this was strange, so one afternoon, she brought maids, without announcing herself, to sneak into Princess Changle’s palace.

As she arrived outside Li Lizhi’s palace gate, she first heard the crisp sound of objects colliding, feeling puzzled, followed by Changle’s loud shout: "Haha, Heavenly Win!"

This startled Empress Zhangsun outside the door. How could the one shouting be her well-mannered daughter Li Lizhi?

As the palace doors swung open, the people inside enjoying their game were shocked as well.

Princess Changle looked up and saw the sullen-faced Empress Zhangsun, and quickly got up to offer greetings, then suddenly remembered the paper strips marking her losses on her face, and quickly peeled them off, crumpling them in her palm.

"Blessings to Mother."

"Blessings to Empress, pardon us, Empress."

The maids who accompanied Princess Changle in play were trembling in fear, their bodies soft while greeting.

Loud noise is forbidden in the palace, they had gotten too engrossed in their play, and failed to restrain themselves.

Life for palace maids is cheap, they can’t afford mistakes. Punishment could mean being beaten to death, or thrown into the Imperial Court enduring tongue pulling or confinement punishment.

Empress Zhangsun walked silently to the Mahjong table, gazing at the mess, furrowed her brows, and pointed to a maid asking, "Explain, what happened here?"

The maid being pointed at responded trembling, "Reporting to Empress, this... this is Mahjong, presented by Lady Le’an to the princess."

This was putting Lin Wanwan out to take the blame.

Li Lizhi’s eyes darted, she rose and moved to Zhangsun’s side, shook her arm, saying, "Mother, this isn’t Wanwan’s fault, it’s me pestering her to teach me. She said this game is similar to chess, very good for exercising—that thinking, it’s great for the mind, which is why I played, no, explored a few times, it truly is an exercise. Mother, if you don’t believe, I’ll teach you, you’ll know once you try."

"Let go, what manners is this?" Empress Zhangsun furrowed her eyebrows, "Do you want me to mess around like you?"

Li Lizhi played a few rounds with Lin Wanwan and got corrupted, speaking nonsense without a second thought: "Mother, Wanwan said Mahjong can also be used for prenatal education!"

Half an hour later, Empress Zhangsun pushed the Mahjong tiles forward, calmly saying, "I won."

Thus, Mahjong spread throughout the palace.

The Great Tang’s nobles, who regarded palace activities as trendy indicators, naturally soon heard about Mahjong. Quickly, Mahjong fever swept Chang’an City.

Lin Wanwan, who fostered relationships with Princess Changle and Changsun Empress through Mahjong, recently found out the frugal Empress Zhangsun was planning to further reduce palace expenses.

Li Lizhi’s eagerly awaited new season flower skirts and pleated dresses might be cancelled, even Mahjong wasn’t appealing to her anymore.

Lin Wanwan, pondering how to start a business in Chang’an, had a flash of inspiration, once again entering the palace for pulse checking, presenting Li Lizhi with a block of modern unwrapped Diaopai soap.

"Wanwan, what’s this?" Li Lizhi curiously asked Lin Wanwan.

Lin Wanwan smiled mysteriously, "This is called soap, similar in effect to bath beans, even stronger in cleansing power. But, its production cost is less than one-tenth that of bath beans."

Li Lizhi was surprised, "Really?"

Lin Wanwan took a handful of dirt from the nearby potted plant and smeared it on Li Lizhi’s skirt, confidently saying, "Whether it’s true or not, you’ll know once you try."

"Ah!" Li Lizhi jumped in panic, "Try? But why smear mud on me?"

She retorted, grabbed a handful of mud, aiming at Lin Wanwan, who quickly dodged.

In the end, both changed out of their mud-stained skirts, personally washing them in a wooden basin with the soap, discovering its impressive cleaning power and delicate fragrance.

"This soap is really quite useful, truly made from rancid pork?"

"Of course."