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

The streets and alleys of the capital were filled with a festive atmosphere. Red lanterns hanging under the eaves swayed gently in the breeze, as if dancing joyfully. With only one day left until the grand celebration, preparations at the palace were entering their final sprint. In the Imperial Garden, exquisitely decorated ribbons fluttered from the branches as craftsmen made their final arrangements, the sounds of hammers striking nails echoing throughout the garden.

Dressed in a simple yet elegant evening gown, Xiao Yanzi moved through the crowd, carefully inspecting every detail. She would occasionally stop to gently stroke the exquisite carvings, and at other times, her brow furrowed as she gave instructions to the eunuch beside her. "Little Li, look, these lanterns are hanging a little crooked. Adjust them. Make sure they're all neatly aligned; there can't be a single mistake at tomorrow's celebration." Xiao Yanzi's eyes held an undeniable seriousness as she lightly touched the lanterns with her fingers.

The young eunuch, Xiao Li, nodded hurriedly, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. His voice carried a hint of nervousness: "Your Majesty, rest assured, this servant will take care of it immediately." With that, he quickly beckoned to the young eunuch beside him to bring over a ladder and carefully readjust the position of the lantern.

Consort Ling moved gracefully to Xiao Yanzi's side, holding a long list filled with detailed notes on various preparations. "Your Majesty, the program has been finalized. The acrobatic troupes and court musicians invited from the common people are all ready and waiting to perform tomorrow." Consort Ling smiled gently, her eyes filled with satisfaction.

Xiao Yanzi took the program list, quickly glanced through it, and nodded in satisfaction: "Hmm, not bad. Consort Ling, you are very meticulous. However, we still need to go backstage again to make sure the props and costumes are all in order." Xiao Yanzi patted Consort Ling's hand, her eyes full of trust.

The two arrived at the makeshift backstage area, which was bustling with activity as the performers rehearsed intensely. A young acrobat was practicing throwing and catching knives with practiced skill, drawing gasps of amazement from the surrounding crowd. Xiao Yanzi stepped forward and said to him with a smile, "Young man, your skills are truly amazing! Tomorrow, we'll be counting on you to impress the people." Xiao Yanzi's face was beaming with a warm smile, and her eyes were full of encouragement.

The juggler immediately stopped his performance and bowed respectfully: "Your Majesty, you flatter me! I will do my utmost to add luster to the celebration." His face flushed slightly, and his eyes were filled with pride.

However, beneath this lively and festive atmosphere, undercurrents were quietly surging. Lin Yuhang, dressed in plain clothes, was hidden with several bodyguards in a dark corner of the capital, surrounded by dilapidated houses and mountains of clutter, a stark contrast to the bustling streets.

"Young Master Lin, according to reliable sources, the rebels plan to launch a simultaneous attack from both the east and west city gates when the celebration begins, to distract us and then sneak into the palace in the chaos," a guard reported to Lin Yuhang in a low voice, his expression tense.

Lin Yuhang frowned, his eyes cold and stern. He crouched down slightly and drew a simple map of the capital on the ground, marking key locations with pebbles. "We can't afford to lose our composure. Send a team of elite soldiers to ambush at each of the east and west gates. As soon as they appear, surround them immediately. We absolutely cannot let them into the city. At the palace, strengthen the guards at the palace gates. All the secret guards will disguise themselves and blend into the crowd, keeping a close watch on suspicious individuals." As Lin Yuhang spoke, he pointed to the marks on the map with his finger, his tone firm and decisive.

Another guard looked worried: "Young Master Lin, I'm afraid they have other tricks up their sleeves. Will we not have enough manpower?" He frowned slightly, a hint of unease in his eyes.

Lin Yuhang pondered for a moment and said, "I will go to the palace now and request the Emperor to dispatch more Imperial Guards. You all continue to keep a close eye on the rebels' movements, and report to me immediately if you have any news." Lin Yuhang stood up, dusted himself off, and his eyes showed determination.

Inside the Imperial Study, Hongli sat on the dragon throne, holding the secret report delivered by Lin Yuhang, his face terribly grim. "These rebels are truly courting death! How dare they cause trouble right under my nose!" Hongli slammed the report on the table, his hands clenched into fists, his eyes flashing with fury.

At this moment, Lin Yuhang hurriedly walked in, knelt down and bowed: "Your Majesty, I am aware of the rebels' plan. I request that the Imperial Guards be dispatched to support the celebration and ensure its safety." Lin Yuhang raised his head and looked at Hongli with a firm gaze.

Hongli nodded slightly: "Very well, I will assign you three thousand Imperial Guards, and you will be in command of them. Remember, you must wipe out these rebels in one fell swoop. You must not let them disrupt the celebration, and you must not let the people be harmed." Hongli's eyes revealed trust and expectation, and his tone carried an unquestionable authority.

After receiving the order, Lin Yuhang quickly left the Imperial Study and began to deploy troops in earnest. Meanwhile, Xiao Yanzi and Consort Ling finished their backstage inspection and were preparing to return to their palaces to rest and recharge for tomorrow's celebration.

"Your Majesty, today has been a busy day, but seeing how well everything is prepared, I feel a great sense of accomplishment." Consort Ling gently rubbed her shoulders, a tired but satisfied smile on her face.

Xiao Yanzi stretched and said with a smile, "Yes, I hope everything goes well tomorrow. By the way, Consort Ling, why did the Emperor stay in the Imperial Study all day? I didn't see him come out for a walk." Xiao Yanzi tilted her head slightly, a hint of doubt flashing in her eyes.

Consort Ling frowned slightly, pondered for a moment, and then said, "Perhaps His Majesty is too busy with state affairs. However, as long as the celebration is a complete success, His Majesty will surely be very happy." Consort Ling gently patted Xiao Yanzi's hand, trying to dispel her doubts.

Just as the two were talking, a young eunuch rushed over, looking flustered: "Your Majesty the Empress, Your Highness Consort Ling, His Majesty requests that you both come to the Imperial Study immediately, saying that he has important matters to discuss." The young eunuch was panting, and his forehead was covered in sweat.

Xiao Yanzi and Consort Ling exchanged a glance, a sense of foreboding rising in their hearts. They quickened their pace, heading towards the Imperial Study. Inside, the atmosphere was so heavy it was almost suffocating. Hongli sat on the dragon throne, his face solemn, while Lin Yuhang stood beside him, his expression cold and stern.

"Your Majesty, why did you summon us so urgently? Is something wrong?" Xiao Yanzi stepped forward, her eyes filled with concern and worry, her hands unconsciously folded in front of her.

Hongli looked at Xiaoyanzi and Consort Ling, and sighed: "Empress, Consort Ling, I didn't want you to worry, but the matter of the rebels has reached a critical moment. They plan to make their move at tomorrow's celebration, and Young Master Lin and I are discussing countermeasures." Hongli's voice was low and heavy, and his eyes revealed deep worry.

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yanzi's eyebrows shot up, and she clenched her fists: "These rebels are too despicable! Your Majesty, we cannot let them succeed. Please give us any orders regarding what Consort Ling and I need to do." Xiao Yanzi's face was full of anger and determination, and her eyes burned with fury.

Consort Ling quickly added, "Yes, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, the Empress and I will certainly do our utmost to assist you." Consort Ling bowed slightly, her eyes revealing a resolute determination.

Hongli nodded slightly: "Empress, Consort Ling, I understand your intentions. The most important thing right now is to ensure the celebration proceeds smoothly and that the people do not notice anything amiss. Tomorrow, you will continue to preside over the various ceremonies of the celebration as usual to keep the people's hearts at ease. As for the rest, leave it to me and Young Master Lin." Hongli looked at Xiaoyanzi and Consort Ling with trust and comfort in his eyes.

Xiao Yanzi and Consort Ling nodded firmly: "Your Majesty, rest assured, we will definitely do it." Their eyes were full of determination, as if they were promising Hongli that no matter what difficulties they encountered, they would fight alongside him.

After leaving the Imperial Study, Xiao Yanzi and Consort Ling returned to their palace, neither of them able to sleep. Xiao Yanzi paced back and forth in her room, her brow furrowed, pondering how she could contribute to the resolution of the impending crisis. Consort Ling sat on the edge of the bed and sighed softly, "Your Majesty, I hope that Young Master Lin and the Emperor can successfully resolve this crisis, allowing the people to enjoy the celebration in peace." Consort Ling's eyes held a mixture of worry and expectation as she gazed at the night sky outside the window.

Xiao Yanzi stopped in her tracks, her eyes resolute, and said, "Consort Ling, we can't just wait around. Although the Emperor has instructed us to preside over the celebration, we can also secretly keep an eye on our surroundings. Perhaps we can discover some clues." A glint of wisdom flashed in Xiao Yanzi's eyes, as if she had already thought of a solution.

Consort Ling nodded slightly: "Your Majesty the Empress is right, we cannot let our guard down." Consort Ling stood up and walked to Xiao Yanzi's side. The two figures looked particularly resolute in the dim light.

The capital city was unusually quiet that night; however, everyone knew this tranquility was merely the calm before the storm. Tomorrow, a breathtaking contest would unfold, concerning the peace of the nation, the happiness of the people, and the fate of every single individual. In this tense atmosphere, everyone was striving to protect this hard-won peace. Whether they could successfully defuse the crisis and ensure the celebrations proceeded smoothly became the suspense in everyone's hearts.