My Promotion Story Through Time Travel

Chapter 29, Year 5 of Hue

"Ji Xun, what are you doing?" Lin Ziping asked helplessly, looking at Ji Xun who kept appearing in front of him in the academy.

Ji Xun said with a grin, "We haven't had a proper conversation since we were in the cave. Shall we have a chat?"

Lin Ziping frowned, rubbing the goosebumps that had risen on his arms, and said, "No need for thanks, Young Master Fang already said that the other day."

Zhu Zi said, "Young Master Xun, the young master has other matters to attend to."

Ji Xun glanced at the pillar, then looked at Lin Ziping: "Lin Ziping, is there something you need?"

"Zhu Zi, you should go back to school first," Lin Ziping said, blocking Zhu Zi's way.

"Young Master." Seeing Lin Ziping's gaze, Zhu Zi didn't say anything more, cupped his hands in farewell, and took his leave.

After Zhu Zi left, Lin Ziping looked at Ji Xun and said, "Young Master Xun, is there anything you want to say now?"

Ji Xun chuckled lightly: "Are you angry?"

Lin Ziping rolled his eyes and didn't say anything.

Ji Xun didn't seem to mind and said, "Let's go."

The two arrived at the pond, walked to a flat stone and sat down. Ji Xun looked at the pond without saying a word.

Following Ji Xun's gaze, there was a patch of lotus flowers. No new leaves had yet sprouted, the lotus stems were bent and deformed, and the few remaining lotus leaves were withered and shrunken. The rest of the place was now a scene of vibrant spring, but this place was still desolate.

“There’s no one around, Young Master Xun, you can speak now.” Lin Ziping asked, seeing that Ji Xun remained silent.

Ji Xun turned his head and stared intently at Lin Ziping.

Lin Ziping felt uncomfortable being stared at. He looked at himself, saw nothing wrong, and stammered, "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"You've changed quite a bit from before."

Lin Ziping was startled. Had he been found out?! Although he hadn't tried to hide it, Lin Zhong and Granny Liao hadn't asked him directly!

Concealing his inner turmoil, Lin Ziping calmed himself down and asked疑惑地问道, "What do you mean by that?"

“The Lin Shaoping of the past was not like you are now,” Ji Xun said, looking at Lin Ziping.

Do they think it's only natural for the original owner to be bullied?

Suddenly filled with anger, Lin Ziping sneered, "The Lin Ziping of the past allowed He Jinbao to bully him and you and Fang Zhili to make fun of him. Why should I always be like this and not be able to fight back?"

"Don't get agitated, I'm just stating the facts. You're just trying to cover it up," Ji Xun teased.

……

Hearing Ji Xun's words, Lin Ziping felt a lump in his throat, unable to calm down. Was this a ten-year-old child? How could he be so infuriating! He looked up, wanting to argue, but through Ji Xun's calm gaze, he seemed to see his own face flushed and his expression flustered.

This is the second time he has lost control in front of the seasonal tour!

Thinking carefully about Ji Xun's words, Lin Ziping felt as if he had fallen into his trap. He must have sensed something was wrong when he started arguing with He Jinbao. The events that happened in the cave later confirmed this. Ji Xun had appeared around him from time to time in the academy. After arriving here, he was wary of him, but because they had encountered thugs together, he subconsciously relaxed his vigilance and lost his composure.

Thinking about all these twists and turns, Lin Ziping felt the disparity between people. A child could easily influence him with just a few words, and nearly thirty years of emotional control had basically been wasted.

Ignoring Lin Ziping's inner turmoil, Ji Xun continued, "Do you know the history of this dynasty?"

Lin Ziping snapped out of his reverie, shook his head, and said thoughtfully, "I'm not too sure."

Ji Xun smiled and told Lin Ziping about the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty: "The Great Zhou Dynasty has lasted for more than 120 years, while the previous dynasty lasted for 70 years, spanning two emperors. In its later years, the previous emperors were arrogant and extravagant, engaging in large-scale construction projects. Coupled with constant natural disasters and man-made calamities, the people suffered immensely. The founding emperor was originally a scion of a fallen noble family. When he had nowhere else to turn, he joined the army at the border. There, he witnessed the suffering of the people and the myriad aspects of life. Later, he gained the favor of the general stationed at the border, who was the brother of the head of the Zhou family in the capital. The founding emperor later married the daughter of the head of the Zhou family. In the same year, the Zhou general entrusted the 200,000-strong army at the border to the founding emperor. The Zhou general, along with his wife and son, returned to the capital to reunite with his family. However, on their way back, they encountered bandits. Except for his daughter in the capital, the Zhou general's entire family perished at the hands of the bandits. The following year, the Zhou general's daughter also died from excessive grief."

"Why didn't General Zhou marry his daughter to Emperor Taizu?" Lin Ziping interrupted Ji Xun and asked.

"Historical records state that General Zhou's daughter was in poor health and stayed in the capital to be cared for by the Zhou family," Ji Xun replied.

Seeing this scene, Lin Ziping couldn't help but think of "Little Sunflower Mom's Classroom." Suppressing a laugh, Lin raised his hand again and asked, "Even if the general's daughter is weak, she can't be that weak, right?"

"That's how it's recorded in history books. How can we verify what General Zhou's daughter was really like back then?" Teacher Ji glared at Lin and continued, "Later, the Zhou family head helped Emperor Taizu contact dozens of families in the capital, including the Fang, Wang, Li, and Cui families, and a group of people rose up in rebellion. They received the support of the people and marched north unimpeded, directly reaching the gates of the capital. Emperor Taizu couldn't bear to see the people of the capital suffer, so he camped outside the capital for three days, only defending and not attacking. The former emperor, persuaded by his ministers, saw the panic of the people in the capital and was extremely ashamed. He committed suicide at the palace gate. The former emperor's ministers also wanted to avoid the people being affected by the war. After burying the former emperor, they opened the city gates to welcome Emperor Taizu. Emperor Taizu was kind-hearted and did not punish the former imperial family members." The concubines were purged and settled in the suburbs. An investigation was launched into former court officials; those deemed honest and upright were reinstated, while those who oppressed and abused the people were punished. The people applauded Emperor Taizu's actions, and ministers, former imperial relatives, and concubines alike were deeply grateful. Popular belief held him to be the true ruler of the land. However, Emperor Taizu's health deteriorated in the early years of his reign, and he passed away after only ten years. He and Empress Zhou were deeply devoted to each other, and since the crown prince was too young to shoulder the responsibility, he passed the throne to Empress Zhou. Empress Zhou diligently upheld Emperor Taizu's will, reigning for over thirty years before abdicating as crown prince. The crown prince, kind and benevolent, allowed sons of former imperial relatives to participate in commerce and the imperial examinations after ten years on the throne. He is currently the fifth emperor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, in the fifteenth year of the Shunhua era.

Ji Xun stopped there.

Lin Ziping looked at Ji Xun and gestured for him to continue. He couldn't help but complain in his heart that the founding of the Zhou Dynasty by Emperor Taizu was too hasty. Unlike Emperor Gaozu of Han (Liu Bang), Emperor Taizu of Tang (Li Yuan), and Emperor Taizu of Song (Zhao Kuangyin), whose historical records are at least 30 episodes long and 5 pages long, this is all that is recorded in the historical records of Emperor Taizu of Zhou in this era.

"In the fifth year of Shunhua, His Majesty pardoned the palace servants and allowed eunuchs to leave the palace at age thirty and palace maids at age twenty-five. In the seventh year of Shunhua, an edict was issued allowing eunuchs who left the palace to engage in business. In the ninth year of Shunhua, Lin Zhong left the palace. We are currently in the fifteenth year of Shunhua," Ji Xun said.

So it's the fifteenth year of Hue now, but what year was that? I know 2000 and 2020, but I don't know which year the fifteenth year of Hue was! └(=^‥^=)┐