Traveling through another world to stir the emperor's heart

The carriage slowly drove towards the palace. Jun Lingyuan sat beside Feng Qingyue, taking good care of her. He gently brushed her hair away from her forehead and asked with concern, "Qingyue, what are you thinking about?"

Feng Qingyue came back to her senses and replied with a smile: "Nothing, just a little tired."

Jun Lingyuan said gently, "Then you should rest for a while. I will call you when we get to the palace."

Jun Lingyuan looked at Feng Qingyue, remembering what she had said before about not wanting to return to the General's Mansion. He was filled with doubts, so he asked tentatively: "Qingyue, whenever you want to return to the General's Mansion, just tell me, and I will take you back."

Feng Qingyue's heart tightened, and she thought to herself, "I'm not the same Feng Qingyue anymore. How can I go back to the General's Mansion?" But she still replied casually, "Okay, I understand."

After hearing Feng Qingyue's inner thoughts, Jun Lingyuan was shocked and confused. He didn't understand why Feng Qingyue said that he was not his original self. Although Jun Lingyuan's heart was turbulent, he remained calm and composed. Only the slight trembling of his fingertips revealed a trace of his inner turmoil.

He continued to sit beside Feng Qingyue calmly, but his mind was full of thoughts. He began to think back to how her behavior had indeed been strange since he met her.

When she saw the bright moon in the night sky, she would mutter some incomprehensible words to herself, as if she was reciting a strange poem; occasionally she would make some strange movements, such as clasping her hands together and closing her eyes, as if she was praying, but the Beiming Dynasty did not have such etiquette; and her views on many things were completely different from those of others. Sometimes her ideas were so bold that they were beyond imagination, completely unlike what a woman who grew up in the Beiming Dynasty could think of.

Jun Lingyuan's gaze fell on Feng Qingyue again. What secrets did this woman hide? He was afraid of losing her if he knew the truth, but he was also eager to uncover the mystery.

The carriage slowly drove into the palace. Jun Lingyuan got out first, then turned around and gently helped Feng Qingyue down. His hand seemed to linger on Feng Qingyue's wrist for a moment longer, as if this would allow him to grasp this mysterious woman a little longer.

Feng Qingyue looked up at Jun Lingyuan, only to find a hint of depth in his eyes that she couldn't understand. Her heart suddenly tightened, and an inexplicable unease surged in her heart. She didn't know that her inner thoughts had already set off a storm in Jun Lingyuan's heart.

After entering the palace, Jun Lingyuan accompanied Feng Qingyue along the long corridor. The surrounding palace maids and eunuchs saluted respectfully, but Jun Lingyuan was absent-minded, his mind completely focused on the woman beside him who was full of secrets.

Feng Qingyue also noticed something strange about Jun Lingyuan. She tried to break the dull atmosphere and said softly, "The palace seems unusually quiet today."

Jun Lingyuan nodded slightly and responded perfunctorily. He was thinking about how to start that important topic.

Finally, they arrived at Feng Qingyue's Yueli Palace. Jun Lingyuan stopped, looked at Feng Qingyue and said, "Qingyue, you should have a good rest first. I'll come to see you later."

Feng Qingyue nodded obediently and walked into the room.

Jun Lingyuan turned and left, his steps heavy. Returning to his palace, he sat at his desk, a military tome open before him, his gaze not fixed on the pages. His mind was filled with Feng Qingyue's strange actions and that startling thought.

He thought, perhaps Feng Qingyue came from a distant and mysterious place, which was why she had such unusual behavior and thoughts. But this idea was too absurd. He shook his head, trying to dispel these wild thoughts. But the doubt seemed to take root, constantly spreading in his heart.

After returning to the palace, Jun Lingyuan did not come to see Feng Qingyue for several days.

Feng Qingyue lay on the soft couch in Yueli Palace, looking at the sky outside the window, and began her "lying flat" life. Every day, besides reading books, admiring flowers, and playing with the pets raised by the palace maids, her life was quite peaceful.

Jun Lingyuan had been feeling torn these past few days. On the one hand, Feng Qingyue's secret had left him feeling overwhelmed; on the other, he didn't know how to face her. He felt he needed time to think, and he also needed someone to confide in.

So he came to his younger brother Jun Lingye's house.

Jun Lingye's Ye Palace was peaceful and quiet. When Jun Lingyuan arrived, Jun Lingye was practicing calligraphy in his study. Seeing his brother arrive, Jun Lingye was a little surprised, but he still greeted him warmly.

"Brother, how come you have time to come to my Yewang Mansion today?" Jun Lingye asked with a smile, while ordering the servants to serve tea.

Jun Lingyuan sat on the chair and was silent for a moment before slowly speaking: "I came here today to discuss a rather strange matter with you."

Jun Lingye looked at Jun Lingyuan's serious expression, curious, and said, "Oh? What could make brother so cautious?"

Jun Lingyuan picked up the teacup and took a sip, as if trying to organize his thoughts. After a moment, he put the cup down and said, "If someone you know well suddenly said they weren't themselves, what would you think?"

Jun Lingye was startled for a moment, then frowned. He pondered for a moment and said, "Brother, this sounds a bit unbelievable. If such a person really existed, I'd first think he was provoked or was being mysterious. But if he looked completely serious, I'd probably think he was hiding a huge secret."

Jun Lingyuan listened to Jun Lingye's answer, and his heart moved. He asked again: "Are you afraid of this secret? Or, will it make you stay away from this person?"

Jun Lingye looked into Jun Lingyuan's eyes, as if sensing something. He said seriously, "Brother, it depends on how much this person means to me. If they're someone I cherish, I'd first seek to understand the truth rather than simply walk away. After all, a person's true value lies not in their background or the secrets they hide, but in their heart."

Jun Lingyuan's mind suddenly cleared up after hearing Jun Lingye's words. He thought of Feng Qingyue's bravery, kindness, and intelligence, all qualities he cherished, and no matter where she came from, these had not changed.

"Ling Ye, thank you so much today. Your words made me figure out a lot of things." After saying that, Jun Lingyuan hurriedly left the Ye Palace and walked quickly towards the Yueli Palace.

When Jun Lingyuan hurried to Yueli Palace, Feng Qingyue was sitting on a stone bench in the courtyard, staring blankly at a blooming flower. Her mind wandered far away, thinking about the sophisticated instruments in her modern laboratory and the unfinished experimental data.

"Qingyue." Jun Lingyuan called softly.

Feng Qingyue was startled. When she came to her senses and saw that it was Jun Lingyuan, she secretly groaned inwardly, but still managed a smile on her face: "Your Majesty, why are you here?"

Jun Lingyuan looked at her somewhat forced smile, his heart slightly aching, but he pretended to be nonchalant and said, "I haven't seen you for a long time, and I missed you so much that I came to see you today."

Feng Qingyue rolled her eyes in her heart, but said, "Your Majesty is very busy with government affairs. There is no need to worry about me so much."

Jun Lingyuan sat down opposite her, and the palace maids quickly brought tea and snacks. Jun Lingyuan picked up a piece of snack and handed it to Feng Qingyue: "This is a new snack made by the imperial kitchen. Try it."

Feng Qingyue took the dessert and took a small bite. She found it a little too sweet, but still praised it, "Hmm, it tastes pretty good."

Jun Lingyuan observed her expression, pondering inwardly. He knew from her inner voice that she didn't like the snack, yet she managed to feign it so naturally. He smiled and said, "Qingyue, I want to take you to the Imperial Garden today. I heard the flowers there are in full bloom."

Feng Qingyue was extremely unwilling, but it was difficult to refuse, so she nodded and agreed.

As they walked through the Imperial Garden, Jun Lingyuan casually chatted with her about interesting things in the palace, but Feng Qingyue only responded intermittently. Her gaze occasionally wandered to the sky, as if she was hoping a portal would suddenly appear, allowing her to leave immediately.

Jun Lingyuan noticed her gaze and felt a little disappointed, but he didn't show it.