Rebirth of Bi Gan: A Male Student Traverses the “Investiture of God”

Zhang Hao, or rather Bi Gan, stood in front of a bronze mirror, scrutinizing his reflection. His hair was styled into an ancient bun, and he was dressed in a court robe embroidered with gold threads, all of which reminded him that he was no longer a university student from the 21st century. He gently touched the embroidery on the robe, the delicate texture of which made him marvel at the exquisite craftsmanship of ancient times. But soon, his expression became complicated; he was now Bi Gan, the loyal minister who met a tragic end in the "Investiture of the Gods."

He inwardly scoffed, thinking how non-sense this transmigration script was. He remembered that time travelers in TV dramas always had an aura of invincibility, but in his case, it seemed to be a high-risk occupation. He had to be careful in his actions, ensuring no one discovered he was an impostor.

"Your Excellency, it's almost time for the morning court session," a guard outside the door reminded him.

Zhang Hao nodded, took a deep breath, and adjusted his mindset. He was now Bi Gan, a loyal minister of the Shang Dynasty, and he needed to act the part. Stepping out of his room, sunlight bathed his face, causing him to squint against the glare as he adjusted to the bright light. Everything in the palace seemed so unfamiliar yet novel; he needed to quickly adapt to life in this era.

During the morning court session, Zhang Hao stood among the civil and military officials, his gaze occasionally sweeping over King Zhou and Daji. King Zhou's face always wore a hint of impatience, while Daji always maintained her signature smile. Zhang Hao wondered what lay behind Daji's smile. He remembered Daji from the "Investiture of the Gods" as a fox spirit, but that was from a TV drama. In the real world, what kind of existence would she be?

He began to observe Daji's every move, trying to find clues in her behavior. But soon, he realized his observation had attracted the attention of others. Alarmed, he quickly averted his gaze and feigned nonchalance. He didn't want anyone to discover his peculiarities; after all, in this palace filled with intrigue, the slightest mistake could be fatal.

After the court session, Zhang Hao did not immediately return to his residence but instead strolled through the palace, needing time to contemplate how to survive in this era. Unconsciously, his steps led him to the imperial garden, the first step in his plan to get closer to Daji.

In the imperial garden, a hundred flowers vied for beauty, and butterflies danced in the air. Zhang Hao stood before a blooming peony, inhaling its fragrance, while his mind schemed how to create something novel to attract Daji's attention. He recalled that in the ancient dramas he had watched in the modern world, the female protagonists were always curious about new and interesting things.

His gaze fell on a peony, its petals layered like Daji's complicated thoughts. He reached out and gently touched the soft petals, contemplating how to uncover Daji's secrets.

Suddenly, he heard footsteps behind him. Turning around, he saw a palace maid approaching with a bouquet of flowers. Seizing the moment, he decided to test the technological level of this world.

"Your flowers are beautiful, but have you ever thought about a tool that could keep them fresh anytime, anywhere?" Zhang Hao said mysteriously.

The maid asked curiously, "Your Excellency, is there such a tool?"

Zhang Hao smiled and said, "Of course, it's called a refrigerator." He deliberately used a modern term, wanting to see the maid's reaction.

The maid looked puzzled: "Refrigerator? What is that?"

Zhang Hao inwardly chuckled, realizing that this world had not yet conceived of a refrigerator. He decided to rephrase: "It's a box that can keep food fresh."

The maid suddenly understood: "Oh, you mean an ice cellar?"

Zhang Hao was taken aback, then laughed. He hadn't expected that this world already had something similar to a refrigerator, just under a different name. He nodded, "Yes, an ice cellar. It seems our Shang Dynasty's technology is quite advanced."

The maid, infected by Zhang Hao's smile, also laughed: "Your Excellency is really joking."

Zhang Hao felt secretly pleased. He hadn't expected that a casual remark could also win the maid's favor. He decided to use more modern knowledge to influence this world in the future.