However, it was most unfortunate that such a sincere invitation was rejected by the other party without the slightest hesitation. The latter simply smiled again, and using variant characters, slowly wrote on the ground: “It is our first meeting, it would be inappropriate to impose. Brother Brooks, please do not take offense! I still wish to ask one thing. What year is it tonight? Which sage is in power?”

This was the most appropriate language Peter Bolton could find from the classical texts and poetry he had studied. Unexpectedly, after racking his brains to write it out, it left Brian Brooks deeply disappointed. After a long pause, he finally wrote with great force: “It is the third year of Shenlong, also the first year of Jinglong. The current sage’s name is taboo! Master, I am sincerely inviting you, please do not mind the humble state of my home!”

It was no wonder that young master Brian Brooks lost his temper; from childhood to now, he had heard of people getting lost, but never of anyone losing track of the year.

Looking across the great Tang, except for the southern mountain tribes, everyone else—even if they didn’t know the era name had changed to Jinglong this year—would at least know the third year of Shenlong. There was simply no way someone could be ignorant of both era names, let alone not know that the current emperor was Li Xian.

“Xian? What is the current dynastic title?” Peter Bolton was completely unaware of Brian Brooks’s emotional shift, suppressing his own shock and disappointment as he continued to write his questions with a stone.

The reason he had managed to sober up and pull himself together just now was because he firmly believed his breadth of knowledge and grounding in the humanities were strong enough. Even if he ended up in ancient times, he could still shine.

If this were the Song dynasty, he might be able to pass the exams and become a minor official, drinking and chatting with Su Shi and Liu Yong. If it were the Han dynasty, perhaps he could serve as a strategist for Huo Qubing, or discuss economics with Jia Yi. If it were the early Tang, that would be best of all: the rule of Zhenguan, all nations paying tribute, discussing anti-corruption with Wei Zheng, or health and wellness with Qin Qiong...

Yet he never expected that the answer Brian Brooks gave would contain two completely unfamiliar era names: Shenlong and Jinglong. What kind of backwater era names were these? And who the hell was this Emperor Xian in power now? No Su Shi, no Huo Qubing, no Wei Zheng, not even Li Bai or Du Fu—what was the point of this damn time travel?!

‘Keep pretending! Go on, keep it up! I’ll stick with you all day if I have to, even if you act like that old Yellow Stone Elder! Worst case, I’ll play Alexander Hamilton and pick up your shoes for you!’ Infuriated by Peter Bolton’s wooden, icy demeanor, Brian Brooks fumed inwardly, stubbornly gritting his teeth as he insisted on writing his reply: “Dynastic title: Tang! His Majesty the Emperor is the seventh son of the late Emperor Gaozong. Filial to his mother, he once abdicated in favor of the Empress Dowager. Two and a half years ago, as the Empress Dowager grew old, she recalled His Majesty’s filial deeds and returned the throne to him! Master, a storm is coming—please, it would be best to take shelter at my humble estate.” (Note 2: Emperor Zhongzong of Tang, Li Xian, was once deposed by Empress Wu Zetian, but in her later years, she changed her mind and restored him to the throne. The first year of Jinglong is 707 AD.)

‘The Great Tang? I get it now—it’s him!’ In an instant, Peter Bolton was suddenly enlightened, and then felt deeply ashamed.

As a humanities student, he hadn’t even remembered the era names of Emperor Zhongzong Li Xian! And he had the nerve to ask what the current dynastic title was? How embarrassing! Luckily, he had already time-traveled—no matter how big a fool he made of himself, his history teacher would never know.

At this thought, Peter Bolton actually felt a faint sense of relief. Grabbing the stone, he quickly responded on the ground, “Thank you, Brother Brooks, for your invitation, but it truly is inconvenient for Mr. Bolton to impose today. Chang’an is not large; we shall meet again!”

With that, he tossed the stone aside, opened his backpack, and shook out all the stone fragments inside. He stood up and strode off along the mountain path to the east!

Filial piety, my ass—Emperor Zhongzong was forced to abdicate by his own mother. Ancient people could really lie without blushing.

And as for “recalling her son’s filial deeds”—that was just a choice made under pressure from circumstances!

Although he couldn’t remember whose era name was Shenlong, he still vaguely recalled the general direction of history.

Now that Emperor Zhongzong of Tang was on the throne for the second time, could the Kaiyuan Golden Age be far off?

Great Tang, here I come! Li Bai, Du Fu, Mr. Bolton is coming to smack your palms! Who told you to write so many poems and make me memorize them all my life!

Chapter Seven: The Greatest Fear Is Deceiving Yourself

“Master Bolton, you’re just leaving like this?!” Still waiting for Peter Bolton to continue testing him, Brian Brooks was caught off guard when the other simply left, unable to stop him and jumping in frustration.

Other than the three words “Master Bolton,” Peter Bolton couldn’t understand anything else he said. He turned back, smiled, cupped his fists, and continued striding briskly toward Jixiang Temple.

“Master…” Brian Brooks was both angry and anxious, stamping his feet repeatedly where he stood.

The other “masters” he had invited home in the past, though all proven to be frauds who never taught him any real skills, would at least try to please him for the sake of money and good food. But today’s Master Bolton was something else—he didn’t even bother to test him, asked a few baffling questions, and then just left.

“Young master, this Master Bolton is definitely no ordinary person!” Just as Brian Brooks was hesitating whether to mount his horse and chase after him to vent his anger with a beating, the family retainer William Brooks suddenly lowered his head and quietly reminded him by his ear.