Time travel, quick transmigration

Jiang Yunxin opened a sandalwood box on the glass table beside her, took out a green jade Buddha that exuded an ancient charm and warm luster from the red silk, and handed it to Fu Yanshen.

“This is an ancient jade heirloom from my Jiang family, passed down for several generations. Since this jade Buddha came into my possession, I have been able to escape danger several times. Although we shouldn’t be too superstitious, some things are just inexplicable, and some things are inherently very spiritual. Grandma believes it can protect you. Originally, Grandma planned to pass it on to her after you got married.”

“But Grandma is really scared about what happened this time. I’ll feel at ease if you wear it.”

Fu Yanshen stroked the jade Buddha in his hand, and a sense of familiarity and warmth welled up within him.

"Okay, I'll do as you say. I'll wear it on my body at all times."

Jiang Yunxin finally smiled with relief when she saw Fu Yanshen obediently hang the jade Buddha around his neck.

"That's good."

……

It was the first day of the new year again, and Li Longji had returned to the palace from Huaqing Palace with Shi Yan half a month ago.

On this New Year's Day, before dawn had even broken, the court ceremonies began. Chancellor Li Linfu and other officials, along with the Three Departments Commissioners, the Imperial Guards, and other civil and military officials, all dressed in their finest attire, went to the palace to pay their respects to the Emperor.

The procession was orderly and solemn, and the ceremonial guard was exceptionally dignified.

In addition to the court officials in the capital, local officials also brought their local specialties as tribute to the capital to offer New Year's greetings. The prosperity of the Tang Empire made the New Year's Day court assembly exceptionally grand. The entire event not only saw court officials from both inside and outside the capital offering New Year's greetings to the emperor, but also rulers of various minority regimes and vassal states who came with generous gifts to offer New Year's greetings to the Tang emperor and to establish friendly relations with the Tang Empire.

This time, Shi Yan, as a Noble Consort, received the congratulations of the court officials and foreign envoys in front of Xingqing Palace for the first time with Li Longji. She was also fortunate to witness a unique and grand scene of court congratulations.

After the congratulatory ceremony concluded, Li Longji hosted a banquet for his officials in the Xingqing Hall.

It was also at this New Year's Day celebration banquet that Shi Yan met An Lushan, who had come all the way from Pinglu to Chang'an to pay homage to the emperor.

An Lushan, who had been appointed military governor of Pinglu for his military achievements, was only just beginning to show his talent. Hearing that the emperor had acquired a stunningly beautiful concubine who doted on him and was inseparable from him, he, who already longed for the emperor's trust and to become a favored minister, began to plot his assailant. Those close to An Lushan knew he was extremely ambitious, not only brave and skilled in battle but also cunning by nature.

An Lushan, ambitious and eager to win the emperor's favor, searched for many rare treasures from all over the country during his visit to the palace.

An Lushan, who had been staring intently at Shi Yan beside Li Longji for a long time with a hint of covetousness, suddenly stood up from his seat at the banquet and knelt down in the hall with a fawning expression, looking at the emperor and the gorgeously dressed imperial concubine.

"Your subject An Lushan pays respects to Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine."

Li Longji frowned slightly as his drinking was interrupted. When he saw the man kneeling below the steps, whose appearance was different from that of the Han people, he couldn't help but feel a bit curious and puzzled.

Shi Yan lowered her eyes to look at the slightly overweight and sturdy man below, who had braided hair and an unusual appearance. When she saw him glance at her with a malicious and aggressive look, Shi Yan immediately felt uncomfortable and her eyes turned cold.

"How could I forget? An Lushan has always been up to no good. He is not only ambitious, but also covets Yang Yuhuan."

I already disliked this instigator who instigated the An Lushan Rebellion and caused the Tang Dynasty to decline from its peak, and seeing Shi Yan in person now makes me dislike him even more.

Li Longji told An Lushan to rise and dispense with formalities, and then asked him some questions.

An Lushan was also a smooth talker and a flatterer; a few words from him pleased Emperor Li Longji greatly.

"Your Majesty, I am deeply grateful for your great favor. Today, on the occasion of the New Year's Day court audience, I have come to the palace to pay my respects to Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine. I have brought these gifts to present to Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine."

Li Longji suddenly became interested upon hearing this.

"Oh...you're so kind, my dear minister."

"Ordinary treasures probably wouldn't catch the eye of your Noble Consort, and even if I were to bestow them upon her, she might not like them."

Upon hearing this, An Lushan glanced at Shi Yan on the throne. Seeing that she hadn't given him a single look from beginning to end, and that her expression was aloof and indifferent, An Lushan felt extremely frustrated and disheartened, as if he had been slighted.

"The Imperial Concubine is such a noble person, ordinary people are naturally not worthy of her attention."

"I have here luminous pearls from the Western Regions, pearls from the South China Sea, red coral from the Bohai Sea, and various gemstones and agates from Persia, all of which are rare and precious treasures..."

"Your Majesty, please look at the Imperial Concubine!"

An Lushan beckoned, and four strong Kunlun slaves carried two large boxes into the hall. After they put the boxes down, the four knelt on the ground.

An Lushan bent down and opened the two boxes filled with various treasures. He took out the large, round, luminous pearl that shone with a faint blue light and held it in his hands to show to Li Longji, Shi Yan, and the court officials and envoys in the hall.

Seeing that the luminous pearl was indeed extraordinary, Li Longji summoned Gao Lishi and ordered him to present it to the emperor.

Gao Lishi received the imperial decree, took the luminous pearl from An Lushan, and presented it to the emperor.

Li Longji examined her carefully and asked Shi Yan with a smile.

"Yu Huan, this luminous pearl is indeed rare. None of the ones in my palace are as beautiful as this one. If you like it, you may take it and admire it."

Shi Yan first thanked Li Longji, then glanced at the luminous pearl in Gao Lishi's hand, and then said leisurely.

"Since it is a rare item, how can I keep it for myself? This world belongs to Your Majesty, so even the most precious and rare treasures should belong to Your Majesty."

These words delighted Li Longji, who was extremely satisfied.

"If we're talking about rare treasures, I've already obtained them. The jade ring is the most dazzling pearl of my Great Tang Dynasty."

"You need not refuse, Yu Huan. I will bestow the luminous pearl upon you. As for the gifts presented by An Lushan, I will also bestow them upon you."

When the people below heard that His Majesty the Emperor had bestowed all the treasures upon Yang Yuhuan, they couldn't help but sigh inwardly that Yang Yuhuan was extremely favored by the Emperor and enjoyed exclusive favor in his presence.

An Lushan was also very surprised. He had only heard that the Consort was favored, but he only realized why she was so favored by the Emperor after meeting her today. In an instant, his mind became even more active.

"Your Majesty, I have not only brought gifts today, but I have also prepared a dance especially for Your Majesty and the Imperial Concubine."

An Lushan's words shocked everyone present, and many Tang Dynasty officials cast contemptuous and disdainful glances at him.

"Where can one find the behavior of court officials and those who flatter and fawn, that would be utterly beneath their dignity?"

"Exactly, they're really barbarians."

"This is utterly disgraceful..."

Some court officials even wentssiped about it in private.

An Lushan didn't care about any of that, and he never stuck to his old ways.

Li Longji was well-versed in music and loved music and dance, so he was immediately intrigued.

"What dance music have you prepared, my dear minister?"

An Lushan knelt on one knee and raised his head to report.

"Your Majesty, I will perform a Hu Xuan dance to entertain you both."

Shi Yan had also read a brief account in the book that An Lushan was indeed skilled in dancing. She had never seen this man dance the Hu Xuan dance before, so she was quite curious about how well An Lushan danced.