Time travel, quick transmigration

Yesterday, Li Longji informed Shi Yan that they would be setting off for Lishan to hunt in two days. Not only her, but also several of Li Longji's concubines would accompany him on this spring hunt. In the Tang Dynasty, there was a custom of hunting in all four seasons, and Shi Yan, in her spare time, read some books to understand the true meaning of hunting.

The ancients called spring hunting "sou," summer hunting "miao," autumn hunting "mi," and winter hunting "shou." Spring hunting involved searching for and hunting non-pregnant creatures in spring, because spring is the breeding season for all kinds of birds and beasts.

Summer seedlings are birds and beasts that hunt and damage crops in the summer. Because summer is the time when crops grow vigorously, protecting crops from the destruction of birds and beasts ensures a good harvest and maintains a balance.

Autumn hunts are the hunting of wild animals that kill wounded birds. In autumn, domestic fowl grow large and need to be protected from wild animals to minimize losses and maintain a balanced harvest.

Winter hunting and encirclement hunting are both permissible, regardless of species. In winter, when all things rest, hunting some animals increases the harvest and maintains a balance in population.

Shi Yan sometimes truly admired the wisdom of the ancients. If this spring hunt was indeed as described in the book, she wouldn't be so resistant to participating. However, she didn't understand why, when she advised Li Longji that hunting in the spring was inappropriate and explained the reasons, he didn't clarify that he wouldn't indiscriminately kill animals during the spring hunt. Perhaps Li Longji, as the emperor, felt there was no need to explain.

Since entering the palace as a concubine, she has maintained her favor through careful maneuvering. However, she does not need to be by the emperor's side every day. She never stops Li Longji from favoring other women, but she also does not let Li Longji feel that she is intentionally distancing herself from him or that she is indifferent.

If we were to name the concubine whom Li Longji admired most and with whom he was closest, it would have to be Consort Mei of Zichen Palace.

When Shi Yan first met Consort Mei, she felt that the other party was very pleasing to the eye and had a very friendly feeling. After a while, the two of them became acquainted.

Emperor Li Longji was naturally pleased to see Consort Mei become close to him.

For this spring hunt, Emperor Li Longji specially selected Consort Mei, Jiang Caiping, to accompany him.

The procession leaving the palace was grand and imposing, including not only the royal family members, princes and ministers, but also a host of civil and military officials of all ranks.

The emperor's carriages were extremely luxurious and exquisite, and spacious.

Shi Yan followed Li Longji to the front of the imperial carriage in front of Xingqing Hall and stood still.

"Your Majesty, how about letting Sister Mei ride in the same carriage with us?"

"Sister Jiang caught a cold the other day and is now feeling better. His Majesty's carriage is comfortable and spacious, which will save Sister Jiang from a bumpy ride. Besides, I can also take care of Sister Jiang nearby."

Li Longji smiled.

"You and Ping'er seem to have a good relationship."

As she spoke, she turned to look at Jiang Caiping, who was standing a distance behind them, dressed in a white palace gown, looking elegant and aloof, but with a pale and weak complexion, standing with Consort Qian and Consort Dong. She nodded and said.

"Since Yu Huan is so loving towards her sisters, I am naturally willing to grant her wish."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan smiled and thanked her, then turned around and walked to Jiang Caiping, calling out to her.

"Sister Jiang."

Jiang Caiping smiled back and looked at Shi Yan with gentle grace and quiet demeanor.

"Why did Yang Guifei summon me?"

Jiang Caiping had just seen Shi Yan and Li Longji smiling at each other, and she had secretly envied them. Now that Shi Yan had suddenly come to her, she was suspicious and thought that Shi Yan had something to ask her.

Shi Yan smiled sweetly.

“Sister Jiang, His Majesty sent me to invite you to sit in the carriage at the front. His Majesty cares for you and knows that you have just recovered from a cold and is worried that the journey will be tiring and bumpy, so he sent me to invite you to ride with him on the imperial journey.”

Jiang Caiping's heart stirred slightly, and she couldn't help but raise her eyes to look at the emperor who was looking in their direction.

"His Majesty... but this is against etiquette. I... I'd better not disturb you and His Majesty."

Seeing the restraint in Jiang Caiping's eyes and her obvious love for Li Longji, Shi Yan sighed inwardly and deliberately put on a dejected expression.

"Does Sister Jiang dislike sharing a carriage with me? I thought we were already friends."

Seeing the sadness in Shi Yan's eyes, Jiang Caiping immediately denied it. "No, how could I dislike Yang Guifei? I just..."

In reality, she simply didn't want to be between the man she loved and the woman he loved.

After Shi Yan realized Jiang Caiping's true feelings for Li Longji, she felt sorry for Jiang Caiping. However, whenever she saw the disappointment in Jiang Caiping's eyes and her unwavering devotion to Li Longji, she wanted to create more opportunities for Jiang Caiping to get her wish and meet and spend more time with Li Longji.

Realizing Jiang Caiping's dilemma, Shi Yan stopped arguing with her, reached out and pulled her forward.

“Sister Jiang, I don’t know what you’re worried about. But since His Majesty has already given his word, you can’t very well ask him to take it back, especially since His Majesty is still waiting.”

"The team is about to set off, and it would be inappropriate to delay them."

Shi Yan's words made perfect sense, and Jiang Caiping couldn't really refute them, especially since she longed to be close to Li Longji. So she compromised and let Shi Yan take her to Li Longji.

Behind them, Consort Qian, who was ignored, and Consort Dong, each with their own thoughts, got into the carriage with the help of their personal maids.

"Bless your Majesty."

Jiang Caiping gave a curtsy.

Li Longji smiled and said, "My beloved concubine, you may rise."

"Get in the car! It's time to set off."

With that, he turned around and, with Gao Lishi's help, got into the carriage.

After Shi Yan and Jiang Caiping boarded the imperial carriage, Gao Lishi announced the start of the journey.

The imperial carriage, led by the Imperial Guards, and its entourage proceeded in a grand procession toward Chengtian Gate.

Dressed in a dark blue brocade robe with a round collar and dark patterns, Xiao Huanling, protecting the Crown Prince's carriage, gazed at the Emperor's carriage ahead. His face was calm and composed, but his heart was in turmoil. He was originally supposed to stay in Chang'an to guard the stability of the capital during this spring hunt, but when he heard that the Emperor had assigned the Imperial Concubine to accompany him, he went to find Crown Prince Li Heng on a whim and analyzed the pros and cons with him. The Crown Prince then ordered him to switch places with another general and accompany the Emperor to protect his safety along the way.

Despite his longing to see Shi Yan amidst the hustle and bustle of the palace, he had always restrained himself and suppressed his desire to avoid putting the woman he loved in danger. But once he left the palace, there would be fewer constraints, and he might be able to find an opportunity to get close to the person he yearned for, to have a proper conversation with her, and to ease his longing.

In April, the grass grows tall and the orioles fly, spring flowers bloom in profusion, a gentle breeze blows, and everything in sight is full of vitality.

Inside the carriage, Li Longji was suddenly engrossed in a game of chess, and the highly skilled Jiang Caiping was playing against him. Shi Yan watched a few games, then, feeling bored, returned to her seat, lifted the curtain, and gazed out. The scenery outside was enchanting, and the spring breeze felt like a gentle caress, making her feel drowsy.

"I'm really not used to Xiaodie not being around."

As a palace maid, Xiaodie was not qualified to enter the imperial carriage, so she was arranged to stay in the carriage at the back of the procession with the other palace maids.

"Xiao Ba, I'm so bored, can you talk to me?"

0804 slowly woke up in her mind and yawned.

"Yan Yan, I really don't understand you. Why don't you ask Consort Mei to talk to you when you're bored? You two get along quite well."