Chapter Summaries

Qing Mo prepared Li Shimin, Li Yuan, and their Zhenguan-era officials and troops to intervene in the Tianbao Era, while promising Zheng Ping'an that he could revive his sister. After Li Chengqian and Li Shande returned to Chang'an with only two urns of litchis, the two Tang eras’ forces gathered at a spacetime gate, ready to enter the palace and confront Li Longji.

• Qing Mo agreed to take Li Yuan, Li Shimin, and the Zhenguan-era officials to the Tianbao Era to remove corrupt officials and the Five Great Clans and Seven Prominent Families.
• Qing Mo gave Zheng Ping'an a white bead that could revive his sister, but said she would need to remain hidden until Li Shande learned a lesson and changed.
• Li Chengqian and Li Shande returned to Chang'an with only two urns of litchis, and Li Chengqian entrusted A Li to Su Liang.
• Qing Mo brought Li Siye and Guo Ziyi to meet Li Shimin and Li Yuan in the Zhenguan Era, then opened a spacetime gate for the forces to assemble in Chang'an.
• Qing Mo told Li Shimin that Li Shande was confronting Yang Guozhong and that Li Longji, Yang Yuhuan, and officials had gathered in the palace; Li Shimin assigned troops to seize palace routes and recover the Anxi Army.
• Li Chengqian declared that they should enter through Black Tortoise Gate, and Qing Mo agreed.

Li Yuan, Li Shimin, and Li Chengqian led their forces through Tianbao-era Black Tortoise Gate with Qing Mo’s supernatural help, while Li Shande reunited with his resurrected wife and learned the truth behind the coming upheaval. The group reached Li Longji’s birthday banquet, where Li Shimin’s furious voice rang out from outside the hall.

• Li Yuan agreed to lead Li Shimin and Li Chengqian through Black Tortoise Gate, and Qing Mo conjured alcohol-soaked horsewhips for their confrontation with Li Longji.
• Qing Mo’s Da Bai blew the Black Tortoise Gate guards off the wall, allowing Li Yuan, Li Shimin, and their troops to ride inside as Chen Xuanli tried to warn Li Longji.
• Li Shande returned to his old home and found Zheng Jinniang alive with Li Xiu'er, Zheng Ping'an, and Dog; Zheng Ping'an explained the supernatural events and urged the family to go to the palace.
• Soldiers Qing Mo had arranged killed the White Watch assassins sent after Li Shande, and Zheng Ping'an led Li Shande’s family toward the palace.
• A messenger warned Li Longji that Black Tortoise Gate had fallen, then battle cries approached the birthday banquet and Li Shimin roared Li Longji’s name from outside.

Li Shimin, Li Yuan, and Li Chengqian confronted Li Longji in the Tianbao-era palace, where Yinzi ensured the old emperor could survive any beating. The three Li ancestors whipped Li Longji together, leaving him helpless beneath their punishment.

• Li Shimin entered the palace with Li Yuan and Li Chengqian, killed a minister who challenged them, and revealed himself and Li Yuan to Li Longji as Emperor Taizong and Emperor Gaozu.
• Li Yuan berated Li Longji for ruining the Tang Dynasty and kicked him, while Li Chengqian revealed his identity as the deposed crown prince and prepared to whip him.
• Li Chengqian called Yinzi, who transformed into a silver dragon and used his power to keep Li Longji alive through the beating.
• Li Chengqian ordered the Black Armor Army to restrain Gao Lishi, then whipped Li Longji for his failures as ruler and his harm to the Tang realm and its people.
• Li Yuan and Li Shimin joined Li Chengqian, and the three ancestors repeatedly lashed Li Longji with alcohol-soaked horsewhips.

Zheng Ping'an and his family entered the palace, where Li Chengqian revealed his identity to Li Shande and introduced them to Li Yuan and Li Shimin. After praising Li Shande’s work transporting lychees, Li Shimin invited him to serve in the Zhenguan Era, and Li Shande accepted.

• Cheng Yaojin stopped Zheng Ping'an and his family at the palace gate, then let them enter after Zheng Ping'an presented Qing Mo’s token.
• Li Yuan and Li Shimin rebuked Li Longji for ruining the Tang Dynasty, and Li Shimin ordered the Black Armor Army soldiers to kill Gao Lishi when he pleaded for Li Longji.
• Li Xiu'er greeted Li Chengqian as Brother A'gan, and Li Chengqian revealed to Li Shande that he was the Crown Prince from the Zhenguan Era.
• Li Chengqian introduced Li Yuan and Li Shimin to Zheng Ping'an, Li Shande, and their family, and Li Yuan told Li Shimin to handle what came next.
• Li Shimin praised Li Shande’s lychee-transport calculations and offered him a position in the Zhenguan Era, while Li Chengqian promised to help resolve his concerns about the lychee orchard and Old Su.
• Li Shande knelt before Li Shimin and agreed to follow him to the Zhenguan Era.

Li Chengqian explained how lychees exposed Li Longji’s abuses, then Qing Mo brought Li Heng and Li Yu to reveal the later emperors’ role in the An Lushan Rebellion. Li Shimin tried to kill them after hearing of the Battle of Xiangji Temple, but Qing Mo stopped his blade and urged him to address the Tang Dynasty’s problems instead.

• Li Chengqian reassured Li Xiu'er that she could still call him Brother A Gan and explained that Li Longji was being punished for harming the Tang Dynasty’s people.
• Yinzi produced hundreds of catties of fresh lychees, and Li Chengqian shared them with the Zhenguan-era royals and ministers while condemning Li Longji’s wasteful order.
• Li Chengqian urged Li Shande to keep serving the Tang Dynasty, then Qing Mo returned with registers of capable and upright officials.
• Qing Mo introduced Li Heng and Li Yu and explained that they had promised Uyghur forces the plunder of Chang'an and Luoyang to secure help against the An Lushan Rebellion.
• Qing Mo described the catastrophic Battle of Xiangji Temple, where more than 150,000 soldiers died fighting one another in a civil war.
• Li Shimin drew the Tang-Pacifying Blade to kill Li Longji, Li Heng, and Li Yu, but Qing Mo stopped him and argued that killing them would not solve the Tang Dynasty’s problems.

Li Shimin and Li Yuan punished Li Heng, Li Yu, and Li Longji after Qing Mo described their failures in the original history. Qing Mo then let Zheng Ping'an take revenge on Yang Guozhong, leaving Yu Chengen facing Li Chengqian's attention.

• Qing Mo persuaded Li Shimin not to kill Li Heng and Li Yu, but Li Yuan and Li Shimin beat them while Li Chengqian whipped Li Longji again.
• Qing Mo explained how Li Heng and Li Yu had weakened the Tang court, and Li Yuan and Li Shimin condemned their descendants' rule.
• Qing Mo summoned Zheng Ping'an, promised him a role in the Zhenguan Era, and allowed him to punish Yang Guozhong for his father's death and the family's suffering.
• Zheng Ping'an whipped Yang Guozhong, then struck him more fiercely after Qing Mo described the harm his actions had caused ordinary people.
• Li Chengqian turned toward Yu Chengen and addressed him as Li Gan, recalling their past encounter.

Li Chengqian exposed Yu Chengen’s scheme to exploit Li Shande for credit and ordered the eunuch to be flayed and stuffed as a warning to corrupt officials. He then revealed Zheng Ping'an’s feelings for Master Empty Wave, and Li Shimin granted them permission to marry.

• Yu Chengen begged Li Chengqian for mercy, and Li Shande pleaded for him because he had helped with the lychee transport.
• Li Chengqian explained how Yu Chengen had engineered Li Shande’s troubles to earn credit, turning Li Shande’s pity into anger.
• Li Chengqian ordered the Black Armor Army to flay and stuff Yu Chengen and display his skin above the palace gates, while Fang Xuanling persuaded Wei Zheng not to intervene.
• Li Xiu'er said Yu Chengen deserved punishment, and Li Chengqian asked whether she wanted an aunt by marriage.
• Li Chengqian teased Zheng Ping'an about Master Empty Wave until Zheng admitted he loved her and wanted to marry her.
• Li Chengqian asked Li Shimin to grant Zheng Ping'an and Master Empty Wave a marriage, and Li Shimin agreed.

Zhao Xinmin and Brother Lan organized Lingnan’s recovery as Li Chengqian returned on Yinzi to take Zhao Xinmin’s family and Yun Qing back to Chang’an. Before visiting A Tong’s lychee orchard, Li Chengqian entrusted Lingnan’s development to Brother Lan and secured Yun Qing’s agreement to return under Emperor Taizong’s marriage decree.

• Zhao Xinmin won Brother Lan’s trust with He Youguang’s seized wealth and the cement formula, and the two enlisted Amita and Lingnan’s residents to build roads.
• Li Chengqian arrived above Lingnan City on Yinzi, revealed his identity as the Zhenguan-era Crown Prince, and told Zhao Xinmin to prepare his family for the journey to Chang’an.
• Li Chengqian gave Brother Lan Lingnan’s development plans and asked him and Amita to work with the incoming governor to improve the region.
• Li Chengqian invited Yun Qing to Chang’an, explained that Emperor Taizong had decreed her marriage to Zheng Ping’an, and told her Yu Chengen was dead.
• Yun Qing agreed to return to Chang’an and picked up Zheng Ping’an’s fan before following Li Chengqian toward A Tong’s lychee orchard.

Qing Mo made Li Xiu'er his goddaughter, then arranged to bring Du Zimei, Li Taibai, and the Painting Sage Wu Daoxuan to meet him for their calligraphy and paintings. The chapter ended with Qing Mo asking Li Shimin to issue an edict freeing Wu Daoxuan to paint as he pleased.

• Qing Mo asked Li Shande to let Li Xiu'er become his goddaughter, and Li Xiu'er kowtowed to him and received a protective jade pendant.
• Qing Mo told Li Shande to find Du Zimei and revealed that Li Taibai was the Poet Immortal, then sent Li Shande on Da Bai to bring them back with a promise of Jade Nectar.
• Li Shimin asked Qing Mo for Jade Nectar, and Zhangsun Wuji argued that the emperor deserved a drink for the sake of the Tang Dynasty.
• Qing Mo ordered Zheng Ping'an to have a statue and stele made condemning Yang Guozhong, then had Yang Guozhong dragged away.
• Qing Mo told Li Shimin that Wu Daoxuan had been forbidden to paint without an imperial summons and asked him to issue an edict lifting the restriction.

Qing Mo brought Wu Dao Xuan before Li Shimin, who freed the Painting Sage from Li Longji’s ban on painting. Wu Dao Xuan painted for the court and drank immortal jade nectar, while Du Zimei and Li Taibai arrived and were offered the same reward for their works.

• Qing Mo led Wu Dao Xuan out of the guarded side hall and brought him before Li Shimin, Li Yuan, and the bound Li Longji, Li Heng, and Li Yu.
• Chen Xilie explained the upheaval to Wu Dao Xuan, who accepted that Li Shimin was Emperor Taizong and bowed before him.
• Li Shimin revoked Li Longji’s decree restricting Wu Dao Xuan’s painting, and Wu Dao Xuan painted a landscape and received a jade seal from Qing Mo.
• Qing Mo had Li Xiu’er pour jade nectar for Wu Dao Xuan and the gathered court, and Wu Dao Xuan drank while painting more works.
• Li Shande arrived with Du Zimei and Li Taibai, and Qing Mo offered them immortal wine in exchange for their calligraphy; both poets wrote masterpieces and began drinking.

Qing Mo and Li Chengqian returned from the Tianbao Era to Zhenguan with their companions, leaving Li Shimin behind to restore the other Tang court. They explored a newly transformed Chang'an, where the group enjoyed its shops and food street together.

• Qing Mo gave Li Chengqian half a month off and asked him to arrange housing for Li Shande, Zhao Xinmin, and the others at the Imperial Preceptor's Residence.
• Li Chengqian ordered the guards to protect the spacetime gate, while Li Yuan returned to Great Peace Palace with a bottle of liquor.
• Qing Mo told Li Chengqian that Empress Zhangsun was enjoying herself at his residence with Mo Yanyu and He Xi, and the group saw Chang'an's new roads, neighborhoods, markets, and factories.
• Li Chengqian bought Li Xiu'er a glass bird ornament as the group browsed the shopping street.
• The group followed the food aromas to the food street, where Zheng Ping'an tried to impress Yun Qing with snacks and Zhao Xinmin and Li Shande treated their families.
• Yun Qing gave Dog copper coins to buy roujiamo, and Qing Mo watched the group enjoy themselves.

Qing Mo and Li Chengqian returned to the Imperial Preceptor's Residence, where Empress Zhangsun welcomed Li Shande and his companions with beauty-mask gifts. Li Tai and Li Ke then asked to travel to the Tang Dynasty a hundred years in the future, and Qing Mo approved while assigning them a money-making task.

• Qing Mo and Li Chengqian returned to find Empress Zhangsun, Mo Yanyu, He Xi, and their pets enjoying massages, and Empress Zhangsun briefly disappeared to wash off her medicinal mask when guests arrived.
• Li Chengqian introduced Li Shande and the others to He Xi, and Li Xiu'er greeted her godmother and received a jade bracelet.
• Empress Zhangsun gave medicinal clay masks to the visiting women, explaining their benefits and welcoming the group to serve the Tang Dynasty of this time.
• Li Tai and Li Ke met Li Chengqian and asked him to persuade Qing Mo to let them travel to the Tang Dynasty a hundred years later.
• Qing Mo approved Li Tai and Li Ke's request, then told them their task was to keep making money.

Qing Mo explained that Li Tai and Li Ke would make money in the Tianbao Era by targeting corrupt officials, powerful families, and Buddhist institutions, while Li Chengqian decided to investigate Buddhism in Chang'an. The chapter ended with Li Chengqian assigning Zhao Xinmin to inspect the temples around Chang'an.

• Qing Mo told Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke that hidden families, corrupt officials, and criminal martial-world groups in the Tianbao Era held wealth they could recover for the state and the people.
• Qing Mo described historical campaigns against Buddhism and explained that some temples evaded taxes, accumulated land and wealth, sheltered criminals, and aided hostile forces.
• Li Chengqian and Li Tai agreed that Buddhism in the Tianbao Era should be investigated and purged, while Li Tai and Li Ke offered to help Li Chengqian investigate Chang'an's temples in exchange for a share of the proceeds.
• Li Chengqian negotiated with Li Tai and Li Ke, settling on a thirty-percent share for each brother after he oversaw their responsibilities during the temple campaign.
• Li Chengqian summoned Zhao Xinmin and ordered him to inspect the temples around Chang'an, and Zhao Xinmin agreed to carry out the investigation.

Li Chengqian ordered a sweeping crackdown on Buddhist temples after evidence showed they had seized land, hoarded wealth, and colluded with foreign powers to steal Tang technology. As reports of infiltrators arrived, he expanded the investigation across the empire and sent allies to help, while Li Tai and Li Ke prepared to travel to the Tianbao Era.

• Zhao Xinmin reported evidence of temple land seizures and wealth to Li Chengqian, who appointed him to the Eastern Palace and ordered him to seize temples around Chang'an with military support.
• The raids uncovered letters linking Buddhist factions to foreign powers and plans to steal Tang technology, so Li Chengqian ordered the investigation extended throughout the Tang Dynasty and publicized the evidence.
• When ministers demanded that Li Chengqian stop the campaign, he condemned the temples' abuses and cited an urgent report that foreign infiltrators had entered the Tang Dynasty with possible ties to Buddhist temples.
• Zhangsun Wuji and Fang Xuanling backed Li Chengqian's investigation, and he ordered General Yuchi to uncover the infiltrators' numbers, purpose, and connections.
• Li Tai and Li Ke described the wealth seized from temples, and Li Chengqian told them they could travel to the Tianbao Era while his other allies investigated temples across the empire.

Qing Mo and Zheng Ping'an made honeycomb briquettes and a stove, but Qing Mo delayed their promotion until the court could prevent powerful families from exploiting coal supplies. He arranged to use the nationwide temple investigation to reclaim mines, then sent the invention to Li Shimin in the Tianbao Era, where a future imperial successor celebrated how easily he could benefit from Zhenguan-era guidance and technology.

• Qing Mo directed Zheng Ping'an and Dog to make honeycomb briquettes, then used his power to dry them quickly and test them in a specially made stove.
• After Zheng Ping'an and Dog praised the briquettes, Qing Mo warned that nobles could monopolize coal and price the fuel beyond ordinary people's reach.
• Qing Mo proposed using Cheng Chumo and Zhangsun Chong's nationwide temple investigation to find grounds to reclaim coal mines from powerful families.
• Qing Mo brought the briquettes to Li Chengqian and asked him, Fang Xuanling, and Zhangsun Wuji to help secure control of coal mines before promoting them.
• Qing Mo sent Zheng Ping'an and Dog through the spacetime passage to present the briquettes to Li Shimin in the Tianbao Era, delighting the future imperial successor.

Qing Mo set up a television and gathered Li Chengqian, Li Xiu'er, Li Shimin, and their companions to watch Romance of the Three Kingdoms. The group watched Yuan Shao defy Dong Zhuo and erupted in praise, while Qing Mo hinted that more exciting scenes were coming.

• Qing Mo introduced his television to Li Chengqian and invited everyone at the Imperial Preceptor's Residence to watch a drama.
• Mo Yanyu and He Xi welcomed Li Xiu'er, and Li Chengqian arranged fruit, pastries, tea, tables, and chairs for the gathering.
• Qing Mo played Romance of the Three Kingdoms, and Li Shimin arrived with Empress Zhangsun and his ministers to join the audience.
• Qing Mo explained that the drama covered the fall of the Eastern Han and the rise of the Three Kingdoms, prompting the officials to anticipate Zhuge Kongming's appearance.
• The audience watched Dong Zhuo announce his plan to depose the emperor, and Yuan Shao rose to condemn him and declare that the realm belonged to the emperor and loyal ministers.
• Yuan Shao drew his sword and challenged Dong Zhuo, stirring Li Shimin, Cheng Yaojin, Yuchi Gong, and the others to leap up and cheer.

Qing Mo showed the Tang court Zhuge Liang’s first meeting with Liu Bei and praised Li Shimin’s military prowess. Later, Li Tai and Li Ke returned from a future Tang era after helping crush corrupt temples and powerful clans, and Qing Mo asked whether they wanted to become emperors.

• Qing Mo screened Zhuge Liang’s meeting with Liu Bei, and the officials marveled at the strategist’s bearing and the plan to divide the realm into three.
• Li Shimin imagined having Zhuge Liang serve him, and Qing Mo and the officials praised the emperor’s courage and military skill.
• Li Tai and Li Ke returned from a Tang era a century later and reported that they had punished corrupt temple figures and sent monks to labor on public works.
• Li Tai and Li Ke said that generals were campaigning against foreign powers and that the Five Great Clans and Seven Prominent Families had been wiped out.
• Qing Mo praised Li Tai and Li Ke, then asked them whether they wanted to become emperors.

Qing Mo drew out Li Tai and Li Ke’s ambitions by offering to help them establish overseas kingdoms, while Li Chengqian revealed that the plan would also weaken the Five Great Clans and Seven Prominent Families. The princes accepted the possibility of becoming emperors beyond Tang, and the chapter ended with Li Chengqian outlining the plan’s political benefit.

• Qing Mo asked Li Tai and Li Ke whether they wanted to become emperors, then said he could help them do so.
• Qing Mo showed Li Tai and Li Ke a world map and explained that they could establish kingdoms beyond Tang’s borders.
• Qing Mo chose North America for Li Ke, while Li Tai selected Europe as the land where he wanted to found a nation.
• Li Tai and Li Ke learned that Li Chengqian had known of Qing Mo’s plan since they became Qing Mo’s disciples.
• Qing Mo said Li Tai and Li Ke’s parents would support the overseas kingdoms, and Li Chengqian revealed that the plan could solve the problem of the Five Great Clans and Seven Prominent Families.

Qing Mo brought Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke to Li Shimin to propose that the princes be enfeoffed overseas and establish their own nations, a plan Qing Mo said could help Li Chengqian become the Emperor of All Ages. Li Shimin wanted to claim that achievement for himself, but Qing Mo argued that Tang lacked the population needed to carry out its overseas ambitions.

• Qing Mo and the three princes arrived at the Hall of Establishing Governance, and Li Shimin sent the attendants away to hear their proposal privately.
• Li Chengqian, Li Tai, and Li Ke announced that they wanted to become emperors by founding nations overseas, then presented their plan to Li Shimin.
• Qing Mo confirmed that overseas colonies were his plan to help Li Chengqian become the Emperor of All Ages, prompting Li Shimin to try to claim the title for himself.
• Qing Mo challenged Li Shimin's ability to achieve the plan and questioned him about Tang's intended conquests, including Goguryeo, Silla, Baekje, Japan, and lands farther overseas.
• Qing Mo told Li Shimin that Tang lacked the population needed for its ambitions, and Li Shimin recognized population as the crucial resource.

Qing Mo explained how Tang’s population shortage hindered Li Chengqian and his brothers from founding overseas kingdoms, then proposed using those kingdoms to weaken the Five Great Clans and Seven Prominent Families. He introduced newspapers as a way to shape public opinion, leaving Li Shimin eager to use them against the clans.

• Qing Mo told Li Shimin that Tang lacked the people and resources to support large-scale overseas settlement, and Li Shimin accepted that Li Chengqian might earn the title of Emperor for All Ages.
• Li Chengqian promised Li Tai and Li Ke that Tang would support their future overseas kingdoms, while Li Shimin resolved to build a foundation for his sons.
• Qing Mo proposed using the overseas settlement plan to draw the Five Great Clans and Seven Prominent Families’ people and resources abroad, weakening their influence within Tang.
• Li Shimin wrote down Qing Mo’s plan and agreed that the court needed to devise a careful way to secure the clans’ participation.
• Qing Mo presented a newspaper and explained that it could spread information, promote new farming methods, and weaken the clans’ influence over public opinion; Li Shimin eagerly accepted it.