Huanzhu Time Travel: Yan Luo's Unbreakable Love in the Yong Dynasty

Xiao Yanzi snapped out of her daze and hurriedly said, "I...I don't know either, maybe I saw it wrong." However, Hongli already had doubts in his heart, secretly thinking that Xiao Yanzi must be hiding something from everyone. In this mysterious forest, the secrets of the Shadow Pavilion were still unclear, and Xiao Yanzi seemed to be shrouded in a layer of mystery. Whether they could uncover the truth here, and whether Xiao Yanzi could break free from the shackles of the original owner's residual memories, remained unknown.

Little Swallow and Hongli walked slowly side by side. The surrounding forest was quiet, deep, and dark, as if it could devour everything. Only a few bird calls could be heard, which added to the mystery. Xiao Yanzi couldn't help but speak up, "Fourth Prince, in my past life as Princess Huanzhu, Rong Momo and the Empress were always against me and Ziwei, tormenting and making things difficult for us. I never expected that in this life, they would still be so vicious, still opposing me." Hongli frowned slightly and said, "Zhixi is my future second Empress. After the late Empress passes away, she will enter the Empress's palace. Such a vicious person, even if I ascend the throne in the future, I will never allow her to rule the world." Xiao Yanzi pouted and said, "She has no demeanor of an Empress at all! But I remember Consort Ling was extremely kind and had been very kind to me in the past. Now she seems to be a palace maid named Wei Yingluo. This Wei Yingluo will be a very important person by your side in the future." Hongli's heart stirred. Although he did not ask more about Wei Yingluo, he had already secretly taken note of her. He only said, "In this palace, people's hearts are unpredictable. Who can know everything that will happen in the future?"

Just then, Hongzhou caught up from behind and teased, "What are you two whispering about here? So mysteriously." Xiaoyanzi quickly changed the subject, "Fifth Prince, I was just talking to Fourth Prince about whether some monster might jump out of this secluded forest!" Hongzhou laughed heartily, "Xiaoyanzi, you always love to overthink things! With Fourth Prince and me here, what monster could we possibly be afraid of!"

At this moment, General Zhao Hui said solemnly, "Gentlemen, this secluded forest may seem peaceful, but it is actually fraught with danger. As far as I know, the Shadow Pavilion is adept at setting traps and mechanisms, so everyone must stay close together." The group nodded and cautiously continued forward. Suddenly, a soldier ahead shouted, "General, there's a strange mark here!" General Zhao Hui strode forward to investigate and saw a strange symbol carved on a tree trunk. He pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "This mark seems to have been left by the Shadow Pavilion; it seems we are not far from their lair." Xiao Yanzi asked curiously, "General, does this mean we will soon uncover the truth?" General Zhao Hui shook his head and sighed, "This matter is still uncertain. The Shadow Pavilion is extremely cunning and has many burrows; we must be even more cautious." Hong Zhou clenched his fists and said bitterly, "No matter what, we must find them! How dare they poison Lord Lin! They must not be let off lightly!"

Arriving at an open space, shrouded in mist, Xiao Yanzi shivered and said uneasily, "This place is so eerie, I'm getting scared." Hongli gently took her hand and said softly, "Don't be afraid, I'm here." In an instant, a dark shadow flashed, and a group of men in black emerged like ghosts, instantly surrounding them. The leader of the men in black coldly said, "How dare you trespass into this secluded forest! Today is your death day!" Hongzhou glared angrily and shouted, "Who are you? Are you cowards from the Shadow Pavilion?" The men in black sneered, "Hmph! Knowing the truth, you still dare to come to your deaths!" Hongli asked loudly, "Why did you harm Lord Lin? What conspiracy lies behind this?" The men in black did not answer, but instead drew their swords and thrust. General Zhaohui immediately led his soldiers to engage the men in black in a fierce battle. Little Swallow was not to be outdone, and used her martial arts skills to fight against the men in black, shouting, "You villains, hurry up and tell me the truth!"

In the midst of the fierce battle, Xiao Yanzi noticed that the martial arts style of these men in black was extremely strange; she had never seen such moves before. While fighting the men in black, Hongli kept a close eye on Xiao Yanzi's condition, becoming increasingly convinced that her martial arts were inextricably linked to her identity. Hongzhou, wholeheartedly protecting Xiao Yanzi, shouted with all his might, "Xiao Yanzi, be careful!" Xiao Yanzi turned to avoid the attack and replied, "Fifth Prince, don't be careless either!" At this moment, General Zhaohui noticed that the men in black seemed to be deliberately stalling for time and shouted, "They're waiting for reinforcements! We must break through as soon as possible!" Hearing this, the men's attacks intensified. Xiao Yanzi, quick-witted, seized the opportunity and charged straight at the leader of the men in black, aiming to capture the leader first. She shouted, "Tell me quickly, did Zhixi and Rong Momo instigate you?" The leader of the men in black was slightly startled, but quickly recovered and engaged Xiao Yanzi in a desperate struggle. Hongli rushed to Xiaoyanzi's aid, and with their combined attack, the leader of the men in black gradually showed signs of defeat.

However, at that very moment, even more men in black swarmed in from all directions, and the group was once again surrounded. Little Swallow cried out anxiously, "What are we going to do? There are more and more of them!" Hongzhou, panting, still firmly said, "Don't be afraid, we'll fight our way out!" General Zhaohui also shouted, "Everyone, stay together! Don't scatter!"

In the critical moment, Xiao Yanzi suddenly felt a wave of confusion wash over her, as the residual memories of her original self, Lin Xiaoyan, surged forth like a tidal wave. Her eyes became unfocused, and her movements slowed. Hongli, keenly aware of Xiao Yanzi's abnormality, hurriedly called out, "Xiao Yanzi, what's wrong?" Xiao Yanzi clutched her head in pain, "Fourth Prince, I... my head hurts so much..." Seeing this, the men in black seized the opportunity to attack, their swords flashing coldly, about to pierce Xiao Yanzi. Without hesitation, Hongli stepped aside to shield her, his arm instantly slashed by the sword. Seeing Hongli injured, Xiao Yanzi felt a sharp pain in her heart and instantly regained her senses. Overwhelmed with grief and anger, she roared, "You villains, how dare you hurt the Fourth Prince!" She rallied her spirits and fought with all her might, alongside Hongli, Hongzhou, and General Zhaohui, finally breaking through the encirclement of the men in black.

The group retreated in disarray to a relatively safe cave. Hongli's wound was still bleeding profusely. Xiaoyanzi was heartbroken, her eyes reddening: "Fourth Prince, why were you so reckless? Why did you take the sword for me?" Hongli looked at her, his gaze gentle yet firm: "Xiaoyanzi, how could I just watch you get hurt?" Hongzhou stood guard at the cave entrance, his heart filled with mixed emotions. He knew that Xiaoyanzi's feelings for Hongli were extraordinary, and he himself felt increasingly lost and confused in this emotional entanglement. General Zhaohui, meanwhile, frowned, pondering the reason for the appearance of the man in black and his next course of action.

Inside the cave, the atmosphere was heavy and oppressive. Little Swallow broke the silence first: "Fourth Prince, who exactly is the Shadow Pavilion colluding with in the court? Why are they so determined to obstruct our investigation?" Hongli said in a deep voice, "There must be huge interests involved behind this. Lord Lin's oversight of the water control project may have touched upon the interests of certain people, leading them to collude with the Shadow Pavilion, plotting to assassinate Lord Lin and simultaneously hindering our search for the truth." Little Swallow nodded: "Then we must find the evidence and bring them all to justice!"

Meanwhile, in the palace, Zhixi and Rong Mama, upon hearing that Xiaoyanzi and the others had gone to the secluded forest, were filled with anxiety. Zhixi paced anxiously, "Mama, what if they discover something in the secluded forest? What should we do?" Rong Mama's eyes darted around, and she said ruthlessly, "Don't worry, Madam. This old servant has already sent people to secretly monitor them, and they will report back as soon as anything happens. Besides, we can't just sit here and wait to die; we need to find a way to appease the Empress Dowager." Zhixi asked doubtfully, "Appease the Empress Dowager? What brilliant plan do you have, Mama?" Rong Mama sneered, "Madam, think about it. That girl Lin Xiaoyan's words and actions in the palace have always been quite inappropriate. We can easily add fuel to the fire in front of the Empress Dowager, making her dissatisfied with her. In this way, even if he..." "We've uncovered some clues, but even with the Empress Dowager's pressure, it's difficult to succeed." Zhixi hesitated, "Isn't this too risky? What if the Empress Dowager sees through our intentions..." Rong Mama patted her chest and assured her, "Don't worry, Madam, this old servant knows what she's doing. The Empress Dowager always values ​​royal dignity and etiquette, and Lin Xiaoyan is unruly; the Empress Dowager doesn't like her. We only need to guide her a little, and we can achieve our goal." Zhixi gritted her teeth, "Alright, Mama, it's all up to you. Just please don't make any mistakes." Rong Mama replied, "Don't worry, Madam, this old servant will do her utmost."

Meanwhile, in the cave, after a short rest, Xiao Yanzi and the others decided to continue their search for the Shadow Pavilion. They cautiously proceeded along the path marked earlier. Xiao Yanzi was constantly on edge, fearing the lingering memories would resurface. She silently prayed that she could uncover the truth and soon escape the torment of these memories. Seeing Xiao Yanzi's worried expression, Hongzhou softly asked, "Xiao Yanzi, is something on your mind?" Xiao Yanzi shook her head and said, "Fifth Prince, I'm fine. I'm just worried that we won't be able to find the Shadow Pavilion and save Lord Lin." Hongzhou comforted her, "Don't worry, with all of us here, we will surely succeed."

Halfway through their journey, a dilapidated temple came into view. Mist swirled around the temple, emanating an eerie atmosphere. General Zhao Hui gestured for everyone to stop, whispering, "Something's fishy here. Be careful, everyone." Hongli gripped his sword hilt: "The Shadow Pavilion might be hiding inside." Xiao Yanzi took a deep breath: "Whatever, we have to go in and find out." The group slowly approached the temple, pushing open the rickety door. A pungent odor assaulted their nostrils. Inside, the temple was dark and gloomy, with many strange statues displayed around the walls.

Suddenly, a voice drifted from the depths of the temple: "You've finally arrived..." Xiao Yanzi composed herself, looked at Hongli, and softly asked, "Fourth Prince, when you were Emperor Qianlong in your past life, you truly cared for Ziwei and me. I remember I often caused trouble in that life, and you always forgave me. But now, with so many things swirling around, I'm truly afraid we won't find the truth and will implicate everyone." Hongli sighed softly: "Xiao Yanzi, don't worry so much. I could forgive you then, and I will face this with you now." Xiao Yanzi continued, "When you were my Imperial Father in your past life, you were truly kind to me." Hearing Xiao Yanzi say these words, Hongli suddenly recalled many details of how Xiao Yanzi helped Ziwei find her father in his past life.

At that time, Ziwei, carrying a token and a message, traveled a long distance from Jinan to the capital, wanting to recognize her father but having no way to do so. Fortunately, Xiaoyanzi came to her aid. Xiaoyanzi, naturally bold and lively, cleverly infiltrated the hunting grounds with Ziwei's token. There, she was accidentally shot by Hongli and subsequently brought back to the palace. Faced with questioning from everyone, Xiaoyanzi cleverly lied, claiming to be a commoner girl who had come to the capital to find her father. She skillfully dealt with various inquiries, ultimately succeeding in attracting Hongli's attention and sympathy, leading him to mistakenly believe she was a princess, thus giving rise to the later Princess Huanzhu. Hongli still remembered many of the jokes and amusing incidents Xiaoyanzi caused in the palace, such as her classic quotes, like "Eyes full of homework are round and round, one punch and half is gone," and "With Qianlong in the country, the grain won't get infested with insects," many of which left him both amused and exasperated. He told Lin Xiaoyan that Xiaoyanzi really made everyone very happy in her past life, and that he suddenly missed Ziwei, Erkang, and Yongqi.

A hint of melancholy flickered in Xiao Yanzi's eyes as she nodded gently. "Fourth Prince, of course I miss them terribly. Ziwei is gentle, kind, and exceptionally talented. We supported each other in the palace and spent many unforgettable times together. And Erkang, he was deeply devoted to Ziwei and always stepped forward in crucial moments. Yongqi..." At this point, Xiao Yanzi paused slightly, secretly glancing at Hongzhou, "...Yongqi is also a loyal and righteous person, and he went through many trials and tribulations with us."

Hongzhou listened from the side, feeling somewhat uneasy, but still forced himself to remain calm and said, "Little Swallow, the past friendship is certainly unforgettable, but now we are starting a new chapter in this Yongzheng era. No matter what happens, I will stay by your side."

Xiao Yanzi looked at Hongzhou gratefully: "Fifth Prince, I understand your intentions, but with all these layers of mystery surrounding us, I'm really afraid I'll let everyone down."

Watching Xiao Yanzi and Hong Zhou interact, Hongli felt a mix of emotions, but he didn't say much. He simply changed the subject back to the present: "Let's not worry about the past for now. This temple is strange, so we should be careful."

The group slowly ventured deeper into the temple, where faint phosphorescent light flickered on the walls, illuminating eerie murals. Little Swallow curiously approached to examine them, discovering that the murals seemed to tell an ancient and mysterious story, but the images were blurry and difficult to decipher.

"There seems to be some secret hidden in this painting, but I can't quite make it out," Little Swallow said, frowning.

Hongli examined the murals carefully for a moment and said, "Perhaps this is related to the Shadow Pavilion. Everyone, pay attention to your surroundings. Maybe there's some mechanism that can make these murals clear."

The group dispersed and searched the temple carefully. Suddenly, Hongzhou shouted, "Come and see! There's a strange groove here; it seems something is missing to activate it."

Little Swallow hurriedly ran over and saw that the groove was peculiarly shaped, unlike any ordinary object.

"What could this be? Do we need to find a specific token?" Little Swallow wondered to herself.

General Zhao Hui pondered, "Perhaps this is a test set by the Shadow Pavilion. Only by solving the mystery can we get closer to the truth."

Just as everyone was deep in thought, a commotion of footsteps and shouts came from outside the temple.

"Oh no, those men in black might be chasing us again!" Hongzhou gripped his sword more tightly, alert.

Hongli's expression hardened: "Let's ignore this crater for now and prepare to meet the enemy. We absolutely cannot let them succeed this time!"

The crowd quickly formed a defensive formation at the temple entrance. A group of men in black surged in like a tide, and the leader sneered, "Do you think you can escape this calamity by hiding here? Today will be your burial ground!"

Little Swallow was not afraid at all and shouted back, "You bad guys, come at me if you dare! We are not afraid of you!"

After that, the two sides engaged in fierce combat again. Little Swallow used all her skills, fighting desperately against the men in black, shouting as she fought, "Why are you committing these evil deeds? What benefits has the Shadow Pavilion given you?"

The men in black remained silent, relentlessly attacking. Hongli and Hongzhou cooperated, killing countless enemies, but the men in black were numerous and seemed inexhaustible.

During a lull in the battle, fragments of Lin Xiaoyan's memories suddenly flashed through Xiao Yanzi's mind, seemingly related to the layout of the temple. A thought struck her, and taking advantage of a slight pause in the black-clad men's attack, she ran towards a corner of the temple.

"Little Swallow, where are you going?" Hongzhou called out anxiously.

Little Swallow shouted without turning her head, "I think I've thought of something, you guys hold the line for now!"

She ran to a corner and forcefully pushed aside a seemingly ordinary stone slab, revealing a hidden compartment behind it. Inside was an object emitting a strange light. Little Swallow picked up the object and discovered that its shape perfectly matched the groove she had seen earlier.

"Could this be the key to solving the mystery?" Little Swallow was overjoyed and quickly grabbed the object and rushed towards the groove.

At this moment, the men in black realized Xiao Yanzi's intentions and rushed towards her. Hongli and Hongzhou, seeing this, desperately tried to stop them, shouting, "Xiao Yanzi, hurry!"

Despite the danger, Xiao Yanzi inserted the object into the groove. Instantly, the temple shone brightly, the images on the murals became clear, and at the same time, the ground began to shake violently as hidden doors slowly opened throughout the temple.

"What's going on?" Everyone was astonished.

Seeing that the situation was not good, the men in black began to retreat one after another.

"Trying to run? Not so easy!" Hongzhou tried to chase after him, but was stopped by Hongli.

"Don't rush. There must be a deeper meaning behind the changes in this temple. Let's examine the murals and hidden doors to see what secrets they hold," Hongli said.

Looking at the hidden doors, Xiao Yanzi felt a strong premonition, as if the truth was waiting for them to uncover it behind these doors.