Traveling through the Tang Dynasty: The Concubine Goes to War

Last time we talked about Yunxi being led by a palace maid and heading straight to the prince’s bedroom in the Eastern Palace.

Yunxi stood quietly in the courtyard of the East Palace, her eyes fixed on the five-year-old prince who was playing.

The prince was wearing a gorgeous yellow robe, and his innocent face was filled with joy.

Yunxi felt a complex emotion in her heart. She knew that she had a special connection with the prince, but the prince had no impression of her.

She stared at the prince, trying to find a hint of familiarity in his eyes, but she only saw strangeness and curiosity.

The prince noticed Yunxi's presence. He stopped playing the game and asked in a childish voice, "Who are you? Why are you looking at me?"

Yunxi took a deep breath and replied with a smile: "I am Yunxi, and I am here to visit Your Highness."

The prince blinked and looked at her in confusion, as if trying to understand what she said.

Yunxi walked forward, gently squatted down, and looked into the eyes of the prince. She said gently: "Your Highness, maybe you don't know me now, but you will slowly understand me in the future."

The prince still looked confused, but he nodded and ran off to continue playing.

Yunxi looked at his cute appearance while playing, and her heart was filled with emotion. She hoped that time would allow the prince to get to know her.

After reluctantly leaving the East Palace, he met the Queen who came in a hurry.

The queen was still graceful and elegant, with the same appearance as before, but she no longer looked sickly. Next to the queen stood Lian'er, no, she should be called Lian Zhaoyi.

Yunxi was slightly stunned, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure.

She slowly bowed and gracefully saluted to the Queen and Consort Lian Yiyi.

Her posture was straight and her steps were light, like petals floating in the water. Every movement was graceful and generous, revealing her good upbringing and noble temperament.

When she looked up, her eyes were full of respect and humility.

Her voice was clear and pleasant, like the sound of nature. "Your servant pays homage to Her Majesty the Empress and Consort Lian." There was a hint of tenderness in her voice, which made people feel good about her.

The queen smiled and nodded, her eyes revealing her admiration for Yunxi.

Lian Zhaoyi returned the greeting with an elegant gesture, and the atmosphere between the three was harmonious and solemn.

It is hard to believe that Yunxi, the former favorite concubine, would have to bow to her former maid. Fate really plays tricks on people.

"Have you met the prince?" the queen said with a little concern.

Lian Zhaoyi introduced to Yunxi: "The Queen is now raising the Crown Prince and is his mother."

Upon hearing this, Yunxi quickly bowed deeply to the Queen and said gratefully, "The Crown Prince is so smart, well-behaved and lovely, all thanks to the Queen's careful teaching. Please accept my humble greetings."

This is Yunxi's true feelings. After all, it is impossible to take care of a child who is not a biological child so well, let alone in the Tang Dynasty court. Even ordinary families living in modern times may not be able to treat a child as a biological child.

At this time, the prince ran out, laughing as he ran, followed closely by the eunuchs, palace maids, and wet nurses. The leading eunuch kept saying, "Your Highness, be careful..."

As he was speaking, the prince accidentally tripped and fell heavily to the ground.

The queen quickly stepped forward and helped the prince up. With tears in his eyes, the prince leaned coquettishly on the queen, as if seeking comfort.

The queen gently stroked the prince's head and asked softly, "Are you hurt?" The prince shook his head, but still clung to the queen, refusing to let go.

The queen smiled helplessly and held the prince in her arms. With the queen's comfort, the prince's emotions gradually calmed down.

Yunxi stood silently aside, her eyes fixed on the prince and the queen.

When she saw the dependence in the prince's eyes and the happy smile on the queen's face, she couldn't help feeling moved.

She watched them silently, with envy flashing in her eyes, mixed with a hint of sadness.

However, she quickly put away these emotions and smiled with relief.

At this moment, Yunxi decided to bury this feeling deep in his heart.

Lian Zhaoyi invited Yunxi to her palace to reunite with her family. So Yunxi followed Lian Zhaoyi to a place that was both familiar and strange.

On a quiet night, the lights in the palace flickered, and the bedroom of Concubine Lian - Jingxiu Palace where Yunxi once lived - was emitting a warm light.

The bedroom was decorated gorgeously and exquisitely, exactly the same as when Yunxi lived there many years ago, except that there was smoke rising from the incense burner and a faint fragrance in the air.

Lian Zhaoyi smiled and held Yunxi's hand, her eyes revealing kindness and joy.

The two sat opposite each other, as if time had gone back to their youthful days.

They chatted and laughed, sharing each other's recent situation and thoughts. Lian Zhaoyi talked about the details of palace life, while Yunxi listened and expressed her own opinions from time to time.

Lian Zhaoyi said: "Miss, are you wondering why the emperor named me Zhaoyi?"

"As long as the emperor favors you and you live a good life, that's enough. As for the reason, I don't want to know." Yunxi said lightly.

"Even if you don't want to know, I have to tell you that the emperor still misses you. The reason why he named me Zhaoyi is simply because he misses the past and loves me. Every time he comes to Jingxiu Palace, he will talk about the past with you."

"Why would the Queen be willing to raise the Prince?" Yunxi changed the subject.

Lian Zhaoyi said: "It's a long story. Since you left the palace that day, the prince hasn't seen his biological mother for many days and has been crying all the time.

One day, the queen came to visit, and the prince miraculously stopped crying and reached out for the queen to hug him.

When the queen saw this, she felt pity and took the initiative to ask the emperor to take care of the prince.

After that, the prince and the queen became increasingly close, and the queen treated the prince as her own son. "

After hearing this, Yunxi was quite moved and admired the queen's kindness and generosity. "However, Yunxi thought of her father, the prime minister, who had committed the crime of treason, and wondered if she would be implicated.

The topic gradually turned to memories of the past, and the time they spent together unfolded before their eyes like a picture scroll. Laughter echoed in the room, accompanied by soft sighs, and both of them lamented the passing of time.

At this moment, Yunxi and Lian Zhaoyi talked a lot. As time passed, night slowly fell. Lian Zhaoyi and Yunxi said goodbye to each other, and their eyes were full of expectations and blessings for the future.

Yunxi stepped out of the bedroom, her heart full of cherishment for friendship, while Lian Zhaoyi stood quietly at the door, looking at Yunxi's departing back, with a lot of thoughts in her mind.

After leaving Jingxiu Palace, Yunxi strolled along the paths of the palace. Her mind was in a mess. On the one hand, she was happy for the prince's growth, but on the other hand, she was confused about her future.

As she walked, she came to a secluded garden. The garden was silent, with only the moonlight shining among the flowers.

Yunxi walked under an osmanthus tree, looked up at the starry sky, and silently prayed that the prince would grow up safely, healthily and happily. Just then, she heard a slight sound of footsteps, turned around and saw the emperor standing not far away.

The emperor looked at Yunxi quietly, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes.

He walked closer to Yunxi and whispered, "I've been waiting for you." Yunxi's heart was shocked and he lowered his head without saying a word.

The emperor continued, "I regret letting you leave the palace back then...Now, I hope you can return to the palace and stay by my side."

Yunxi raised her head and looked at the emperor with a firm gaze: "I am now a free woman and do not want to be involved in court disputes anymore. Lian'er is a good girl. Since you have made her a Zhaoyi, you must treat her well. I am leaving now!"

Just as she was about to get up and leave, the emperor blocked her way and said, "It's late tonight and the palace gates are closed. I just want you to talk to me about your experiences outside the palace. Is that too much to ask?"

Yunxi stared at the emperor, and after a moment's silence, she sighed softly, "Okay." She followed the emperor to a pavilion and sat down.

The emperor asked about her experiences after leaving the palace, and Yunxi told him frankly what she had seen and heard outside the palace.

The emperor listened attentively, with a thoughtful look on his face from time to time.

As the night deepened, a cold wind blew and Yunxi couldn't help but shiver.

Upon seeing this, the emperor took off his cloak and gently put it on Yunxi's shoulders, "It's cold at night, don't catch a cold." Yunxi felt the warmth on the cloak and was touched, but she knew that this was only a short-term concern.

Her relationship with the emperor could no longer return to what it was before.

After the conversation, Yunxi said goodbye to the emperor: "Since the palace is closed tonight, I'd better go back to Jingxiu Palace and spend the night with Lian Zhaoyi." Then she turned and left.

The emperor looked at her figure walking away, his heart filled with helplessness and regret. He understood that Yunxi no longer belonged to this palace, she had her own choices and pursuits.

In the night, Yunxi's figure disappeared at the end of the palace, leaving the emperor standing alone in the pavilion, thinking about the irreversible past between them.

Yunxi returned to Jingxiu Palace and saw that Lian Zhaoyi was still awake. The two chatted for a long time. The next morning, Yunxi paid her respects to the Queen and said goodbye, leaving the palace.

After returning to the general's mansion from the palace, Han Xuan was waiting in the hall. He quarreled with Yunxi because Yunxi did not come back all night. "Why did you stay in the palace last night?" There was a hint of anger in Han Xuan's tone.

Yunxi looked at him silently, a trace of fatigue flashed in her eyes, "I went to see an old friend."

"What old friend requires you to stay out all night? Does the emperor want you to stay in the palace?" Han Xuan's voice rose eight octaves.

Yunxi sighed softly, "Han Xuan, why are you so excited? I went to see the prince yesterday, and then I met Lian'er. Lian'er has become Zhaoyi now. I haven't seen her for a long time. I talked for a long time and forgot the time when the palace closed. So I stayed in Lian Zhaoyi's bedroom."

"

Han Xuan's face turned gloomy, "Yunxi, but the emperor still looks at you with such a persistent look, I feel uncomfortable."

Yunxi explained, "Since I have left the palace, I will never go back. But the prince is my own son after all. I left him behind to go to the border with you. I did not fulfill my responsibilities as a mother. I feel guilty about not fulfilling my responsibilities as a mother. It is reasonable for me to go and see him."

Han Xuan sneered, "Do you think I will believe you?"

Yunxi looked at him disappointedly, "Don't you even trust me?"

Han Xuan was silent for a moment, then softened his attitude and said, "It's not that I don't trust you, I'm just worried about you. The palace is full of intrigues, and I'm afraid you'll get hurt."

A warm feeling welled up in Yunxi's heart. She held Han Xuan's hand and said, "I know you care about me. Don't worry, I'll be fine. Did you complete the search and confiscation of the Prime Minister's Residence that you ordered yesterday? Have all his followers been arrested?" "It's all done." Han Xuan's voice revealed a hint of fatigue. "This time, we searched the Prime Minister's Residence and caught a lot of his followers. It's just..."

He hesitated to speak, and Yunxi couldn't help asking, "Just what?"

Han Xuan frowned. "I found that the prime minister seems to have some accomplices hiding very deeply. We don't have any evidence to catch them all. And Gao's family is nowhere to be found. I wonder if they heard the news and fled."

Yunxi's brows also frowned: "These people may become hidden dangers. We must find a way to find them."

"I will continue to investigate." Han Xuan's eyes were firm, "but this will take time."

Yunxi nodded: "I believe you. However, we must also be careful of their revenge."

Their eyes met, and they could see the worry in each other's eyes.

Yunxi secretly made up her mind to protect herself and Han Xuan and never let the remnants of the prime minister take advantage of the situation.

As the days passed, the capital seemed calm, but in fact, there were undercurrents. Yunxi and Han Xuan were both on high alert, fearing that they would be plotted against by the remnants of the prime minister.

One day, Yunxi received a mysterious letter, which hinted that the remnants of the prime minister were about to take action. She hurriedly informed Han Xuan of this, and the two decided to join forces to deal with it.

Soon after, several bizarre cases were reported in the city, and the victims were all related to the Prime Minister's Mansion. Yunxi and Han Xuan realized that this was a provocation from the Prime Minister's remnants, so they accelerated the pace of the investigation and tried to uncover the conspiracy behind it.

During a secret visit, Yunxi accidentally discovered the trace of Gao's family. She followed secretly, but was accidentally discovered. At the critical moment, Han Xuan arrived in time and saved Yunxi.

After a fierce chase and fight, Han Xuan finally subdued the Gao family, from whom they got important clues about the prime minister's remaining gang.

With these clues, Yunxi and Han Xuan successfully uncovered the conspiracy of the prime minister's remnants, and the capital finally returned to its former peace.

The truth of Han Xuan's frame-up was finally revealed, and he decided to escort Princess Zhaxi back to Goryeo.

He ordered his servants to invite Princess Zhaxi to the hall, and said to her timidly: "Zhaxi, now my case has been solved, I am very grateful that you are willing to come to the Central Plains with me, but I have promised Yunxi that I will escort you back after the case is settled, and by the way, I will explain it to your father and ask him not to vent his anger on you."

When Zhaxi heard this, tears streamed down her face, and her eyes revealed her reluctance to leave. She found Yunxi and gently told her feelings for Han Xuan.

"I really don't want to leave. I like Han Xuan. His every move makes my heart beat." Zhaxi's voice was bitter, and tears were welling up in his eyes.

Yunxi listened quietly, she could feel the pain in Tashi's heart. She gently patted Tashi's shoulder and comforted him: "I know how you feel, but sometimes, love is not something we can control. Maybe leaving is a new beginning, and you will meet someone who is more suitable for you."

Zhaxi raised his head and looked at Yunxi, with a trace of confusion in his eyes: "But I really can't let him go, I don't know what to do."

Yunxi sighed: "Time will heal everything. You need to give yourself some time. Now, you have to be strong and face the future life well."

Zhaxi nodded and wiped away the tears from his eyes: "Thank you, Yunxi. I will try my best."

The two sat together silently, feeling each other's warmth. Although Tashi was still in pain, she knew that she had to face the future bravely.

To find out whether Tashi returned to Goryeo, please read the next chapter. Thank you for reading!