Chapter 1170: Playing for Real

Lin Lang raised his hand to indicate that Mr. and Mrs. Sun did not need to be so polite, and said in a gentle tone, "Father-in-law and mother-in-law have worked hard all their lives, it's time for them to enjoy their retirement. This is nothing, and if you need anything in the future, just tell Yizhen."

He said this casually, as if the 1400-square-meter villa and the 1 billion won electricity bill were nothing more than a cup of tea handed out casually.

“Uh…” Father Sun opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but was so shocked by the grand display that he didn’t know how to organize his words. He just kept rubbing his hands, his simple smile full of unease and gratitude.

Sun's mother walked over with a teacup in her hand, presented it to Lin Lang with both hands, bowed slightly, and spoke with a Korean-style politeness: "Mr. Lin, you are so kind as to ask for so much money. We really feel bad for you going to such lengths."

The teacup was still trembling slightly in her hand, clearly she hadn't fully recovered from the shock she'd just experienced.

"Thank you!" Lin Lang stood up, took the teacup, and nodded slightly in return, showing proper manners without being impolite.

Sun Yizhen leaned affectionately on Lin Lang's shoulder and added softly, "Dad, Mom, the villa in the wealthy Jiangnan area is close to my agency, so please accept it. Otherwise, Lin Lang might think you're being too formal."

As she spoke, she gently patted Lin Lang's arm, her eyes filled with tenderness for her parents and dependence on Lin Lang.

Upon hearing this, Mr. Sun grinned from ear to ear and exclaimed dramatically, "Oh! Well... thank you very much, Mr. Lin!"

Lin Lang replied with a smile, "From now on, we're all family. Father-in-law, thanking me is too formal."

Sun's mother said excitedly, "My daughter has really found a good husband. I'll ask Mr. Lin to take good care of Yizhen from now on. This child can be a little temperamental sometimes, so please don't take it to heart."

Lin Lang smiled and said, "Yi Zhen is kind and sensible. It is my blessing to be able to marry her as a concubine. It is only right to take care of her. Mother-in-law, you don't need to be so polite."

"To...to be a concubine?" The smile on Sun's mother's face turned into an awkward laugh.

Mr. Sun, sitting to the side, looked slightly embarrassed and quickly turned his gaze to his daughter.

Sun Yizhen replied frankly, "Dad, Mom, you heard me right. The Lin family is a large family, and I am just one of Lin Lang's wives."

Upon hearing this, Sun's mother was so shocked that she was speechless for a moment.

Sun's father, unable to hide his astonishment, said, "Daughter, isn't the Xia Kingdom a monogamous society?"

Sun Yizhen replied, "That's right, but Lin Lang is a time traveler, and he also has another identity as the Emperor of Shanghai. He can freely travel between the Tang Dynasty and the modern era with his wives and concubines, and switch between the two timelines at will. I am now his imperial concubine."

"Uh..." Sun's father and parents exchanged glances, all of them shocked by their daughter's fantastical tale.

"Daughter, you're not kidding, are you?" Sun's mother looked incredulous.

"Mom, how could I joke about something like this? Look at the four boxes of tea Lin Lang brought, they are all tribute tea from the Tang Dynasty, and these carved silver tea boxes are antiques from the Tang Dynasty."

Mr. and Mrs. Sun unconsciously glanced at the antique carved silver tea box on the coffee table, somewhat unsure whether it was real or fake, and at a loss for words.

Sun's mother looked at Lin Lang with an awkward smile and tentatively asked, "Mr. Lin, was what my daughter just said true?"

Lin Lang smiled, his tone still gentle but carrying an undeniable confidence.

"It really is my mother-in-law. If you and your father-in-law have any doubts, I can take you back to the Tang Dynasty right now and embark on a spontaneous cross-time journey."

Upon hearing this, Sun's mother's eyes lit up instantly, and she quickly looked at her husband and said, "This...this is such a sci-fi thing, I've never heard of it in real life except in movies!"

Mr. Sun looked at Lin Lang with a bewildered expression and exclaimed, "Mr. Lin, is what you say true?"

"Seeing is believing. Let's set off for Chang'an, the capital of the Tang Dynasty, now and show my parents-in-law the splendor of the Tang Dynasty."

Having said that, Lin Lang had already activated the [Space-Time Mass Teleportation] skill, and a faint space-time fluctuation emanated from his body. The next second, he disappeared from the spot with Sun Yizhen and her parents.

"call out……"

In the blink of an eye, Lin Lang and the others traveled to the second year of the Zongzhang era of the Tang Dynasty, with the coordinates being Zhuque Street in Chang'an City.

The moment their feet touched the ground, Mr. and Mrs. Sun opened their eyes, feeling dizzy and lightheaded. The sight before them made them instantly forget their dizziness.

The Zhuque Street, paved with bluestone slabs, was clean and tidy. On both sides, vermilion pillars supported shops with upturned eaves. The words "wine," "tea," and "brocade" on the shop signs were written in vigorous ink and swayed gently in the wind.

The streets were bustling with people. Men wore round-necked robes with jade belts around their waists, while women wore high buns and flowing shawls. Some carried bamboo baskets to shop, while others rode horses slowly, their hooves making a crisp echo on the stone slabs.

In the distance, the majestic Zhuque Gate stands imposingly, with banners fluttering atop the gate tower. Sunlight spills onto the blue brick walls, giving them an ancient and solemn sheen.

"This...this is...Chang'an of the Tang Dynasty?" Father Sun opened his mouth, his finger trembling as he pointed to a vendor selling flatbread not far away, with wisps of steam rising from the stove beside him.

Sun's mother gripped Sun Yizhen's hand tightly, her gaze sweeping over the street performers, peddlers carrying loads, and officials hurrying by in their ornate sedan chairs. Her lips trembled as she said, "Heavens, daughter, am I dreaming?"

Sun Yizhen smiled and took her mother's arm, pointing to the rouge and silk being sold on the street: "Mom, look at those things, they are all real Tang Dynasty artifacts, even more vivid than those in museums."

Sun's mother rubbed her eyes, her eyes filled with shock and bewilderment: "Wow... Husband, look! We've actually traveled back to the Tang Dynasty!"

"Wow!" Sun's father was so shocked by the sight of the ancient and elegant Zhuque Street that his pupils dilated.

Lin Lang helped Sun's father, who was about to lose his balance, and said in a gentle tone, "Father-in-law, this is Zhuque Avenue in Chang'an City of the Great Tang Dynasty. In the second year of Zongzhang, the Tang Dynasty was at its most prosperous."

Mr. Sun covered his mouth in astonishment and exclaimed, "My God! Mr. Lin, you can actually travel through time!"

Sun Yizhen said with a smile, "Dad, please don't keep calling Mr. Lin too formal. Just call him son-in-law."

Looking at Lin Lang, Sun's father said with a hint of worry, "My dear son-in-law, we've all traveled to the Tang Dynasty dressed in modern clothes. Won't we be arrested?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than a group of soldiers in bright armor, riding tall horses, escorted Xue Rengui and rushed towards the imperial city. The noisy sound of hooves startled Sun's parents, who hid behind Lin Lang.

As Xue Rengui rode his horse forward, he caught a glimpse of Lin Lang and the others out of the corner of his eye.

"Uu——!"

A powerful shout pierced the hustle and bustle of Zhuque Street.

He suddenly tightened the reins, and his horse reared up with a short neigh before coming to a steady stop in front of Lin Lang and the others.

He was tall and imposing, wearing a bright armor with gilded trim. The mirror on his chest gleamed in the sunlight, and the animal carvings on the scabbard of his sword at his waist were lifelike. He exuded an aura of authority and majesty, as if he had been through many battles.

Before the horse's hooves had fully touched the ground, Xue Rengui leaped down, his black boots slamming heavily onto the bluestone slabs with a dull thud.

Upon seeing this, the soldiers following behind also dismounted in unison, their armor plates clanging crisply as they instantly formed a neat line on the street.

Xue Rengui, along with his soldiers, bowed respectfully to Lin Lang, their voices booming like thunder: "Your humble servants pay their respects to the Emperor!"

Startled by the sudden turn of events, Sun's parents froze, instinctively shrinking back behind Lin Lang, their eyes filled with fear.

The soldiers in front of them, clad in armor and exuding an imposing aura, were a hundred times more shocking than any scene in a modern movie or TV series. Their shouts of "Protect the Emperor!" left the two men completely bewildered, unaware that Lin Lang was the sworn brother of the Tang Emperor.

Lin Lang remained calm, stepped forward, raised his hand in a gesture of support, and said in a gentle yet authoritative tone, "General Xue, you may dispense with the formalities."

Xue Rengui straightened up and looked at Sun Yizhen tentatively, asking, "Your Majesty, who is this lady?"

Lin Lang introduced, "This is my Consort Zhen, and the other two are Consort Zhen's parents. They are new to the Tang Dynasty, so General Xue has not met them before."

Upon hearing this, Xue Rengui immediately bowed to Sun Yizhen and said, "This humble general greets Consort Zhen."

Sun Yizhen smiled faintly: "General Xue, there's no need for such formalities."

Xue Rengui then looked at Sun Yizhen's parents and nodded slightly in greeting.

Mr. and Mrs. Sun quickly nodded and smiled in return, but they didn't understand a word of Chinese.

Immediately afterwards, Xue Rengui looked at Lin Lang with reverence, cupped his hands and replied, "Your Majesty, the main ocean-going warship you designed and built, equipped with 15 breech-loading cannons, has been successfully launched and test-fired. Its power is unparalleled!"

"With such warships, the Tang Dynasty navy will surely be invincible and unstoppable!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Lang chuckled and joked, "General Xue rushed into the palace on horseback just to deliver this good news to the Emperor?"

Xue Rengui laughed loudly, "That's right, His Majesty will be overjoyed to know that the cannon warships have been successfully launched and tested."

Lin Lang smiled and said, "Of course. Also, how are the construction progressing for the artillery frigates for coastal assault and the artillery patrol boats for the main force of coastal defense?"

Xue Rengui replied, unable to contain his excitement, "The first Thunder Ship has been successfully launched, the auspicious day for the cannon test firing has been set for three days from now, and the completion date for the first Silk Ship will be the end of next month."

Upon hearing this, Lin Lang said with great satisfaction, "As long as we build cannon warships according to my design, the Tang Dynasty's naval fleet will be able to dominate the world within three years."

"Your Majesty is mighty! This humble general is in awe!" Xue Rengui's face beamed with joy.

Lin Lang said with a smile, "Alright, General Xue, hurry up and go to the palace to meet the Emperor and report this good news to your brother."

"This humble general takes his leave." Xue Rengui bowed respectfully, then quickly mounted his horse and led a group of soldiers on tall steeds, galloping towards the imperial city.

Sun's father wiped away his cold sweat and said weakly in Korean, "You scared me! I thought these Tang soldiers were here to arrest us!"

Lin Lang suppressed a laugh and said politely, "I'm sorry to have startled you, Father-in-law and Mother-in-law. The person who led the team just now was General Xue Rengui, a famous general of the Tang Dynasty."

Sun's father, who was knowledgeable about the ancient history of the Xia Kingdom, exclaimed in amazement after hearing this: "Oh my, that general just now was Xue Rengui, who enlisted in the army at the end of the Zhenguan era and followed Emperor Taizong of Tang in his campaign against Goguryeo, and was invincible in the Battle of Anshi City?"

Lin Lang replied, "That's right, it seems my father-in-law knows quite a bit about the history of the Xia Kingdom."

“My dear son-in-law, even Xue Rengui, the Duke of Pingyang, who was renowned in the history of the Tang Dynasty, was extremely respectful in front of you. It seems that you have a very high status in the Tang Dynasty!” Father Sun looked at Lin Lang with awe.