Time travel, quick transmigration

"What do you know? I invited Consort Mei to come because I know she likes the Emperor. It was to create more opportunities for her and the Emperor to spend time together and let her get what she wants."

"And I can also get rid of Li Longji and not have to deal with him, which is a win-win situation. I'm already exhausted from this long journey. If I ride in the same carriage with Li Longji, I will have to serve him. In addition, this cramped and confined space, with you looking at each other, is it not torture?"

"With Jiang Caiping by my side, I'll have someone to talk to, and since Li Longji is considerate of Jiang Caiping, we can all live in peace."

0804 suddenly realized.

"Oh, I see. Yan Yan is so smart."

After ten days of travel and rest, the group finally arrived at the foot of Mount Li. The spring hunt would be held at the Mount Li hunting grounds two days later. Due to the large number of people accompanying them, princes, ministers, civil and military officials set up tents at the foot of Mount Li. The emperor, his concubines, the crown prince, several princes, princes, and a group of royal relatives stayed at the Mount Li Palace.

The imperial carriage slowly entered the Lishan Palace. After disembarking, Li Longji, accompanied by Shi Yan and a group of palace servants, went to the Changsheng Hall of Huaqing Palace.

Although Jiang Caiping was disappointed that Li Longji neglected her after she arrived at the Lishan Palace, she did not allow herself to wallow in sorrow and despair.

"Your Majesty, please don't be sad. His Majesty does care for you. It's just that with the Imperial Concubine in the picture, His Majesty can't express his feelings for you."

Xiangli whispered behind Jiang Caiping. She had overheard some of the palace maids gossiping, saying that the Consort was charming and knew how to win the Emperor's favor. They also said that the Consort was shrewd and seemingly virtuous, but actually very jealous, and that if she was unhappy, the Emperor would have to go to great lengths to appease her. In her opinion, the fact that her mistress was allowed to accompany the Emperor on this journey to the Lishan Palace meant that the Emperor already had her in his heart, while Shi Yan was the most superfluous person inserted between her mistress and the Emperor.

"Your Majesty, the Imperial Concubine's apparent friendship with you is merely a facade in front of His Majesty. Her lack of intervention in His Majesty's closeness to you is simply to cultivate a good reputation. Please do not be deceived by her."

Thinking of the large group of people who had just surrounded the Emperor and Consort Mei, and then looking at their current predicament, Xiangli felt indignant on Consort Mei's behalf. Seeing that there was no one around and that the person leading the way was someone who had served in the imperial palace for many years, she spoke her mind without any reservations.

As Jiang Caiping listened further, her expression grew increasingly grim. She frowned and turned to look at Xiangli, who was filled with resentment.

"You've been with me for so many years, don't you understand the saying 'trouble comes from the mouth'?"

"They thought they could act recklessly once they left the palace."

"Don't let me hear these outrageous remarks again..."

When Xiangli met Jiang Caiping's cold gaze, her heart trembled slightly, and she obediently shut her mouth.

"Your Majesty, please calm down. It was my fault. I will never speak recklessly again."

Knowing that Xiangli was truly looking out for her, and seeing her good attitude in admitting her mistake, Jiang Caiping's expression softened.

"Xiangli, sometimes you can't judge things by appearances alone. What you see with your own eyes may not be the truth. The harem is a place of treacherous intrigues, where things can change in an instant. A slight misstep could lead to utter ruin or make you a victim of someone else. Self-preservation is the right thing to do. I don't want to see you fall into danger any day. Do you understand?"

Xiangli nodded, seemingly understanding but not quite.

"Your Majesty's words have been remembered."

They remained silent for the rest of the journey, and soon the two followed the palace servant to a palace in front of a place where several plum and peach trees were planted.

At this time of year, the plum blossoms have faded, leaving only the strong, ancient branches displaying a proud and elegant posture. However, two nearby peach trees still have pink and white peach blossoms hanging on their branches, looking lovely, lively, and full of spring.

"The Hanyao Palace, with its plum and peach blossoms, is quite fitting for the season. How could I not know that there is only one palace in the Huaqing Palace?"

The palace servant, when asked the question, slightly curled his lips and replied respectfully.

"Earlier, Feng Da heard that Consort Mei would be accompanying the emperor on this spring hunt, so he specially cleaned and prepared this palace with plum trees and furnished it with many of Consort Mei's favorite items. Everything in this palace is brand new, and we hope that Consort Mei will be comfortable in her residence."

Upon hearing this, Consort Mei smiled slightly, her elegance as pure as a winter plum blossom.

"It is fate, and your Supervisor Feng is very kind. Fragrant pears, here is a reward."

Xiangli stepped forward and took out a jade bead and a few gold leaves from her heavy sachet at her waist, handing them to the respectfully bowing palace maid.

The palace maid thanked the emperor and accepted the gift.

Jiang Caiping glanced at her and said gently.

"That white jade bead is extremely rare, so I'll trouble you to pass it on to your Supervisor Feng. As for the gold leaf, you can keep it for yourself."

The palace maid looked up at Jiang Caiping and replied, "Yes."

"Your Highness, the servants who will attend to your needs will be here shortly, and your belongings will also be delivered to you. If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."

Jiang Caiping hummed in agreement and then smiled faintly.

"You may leave now."

As soon as the palace maid who had led the way left, Xiangli looked at Jiang Caiping with a puzzled expression.

"Your Majesty, is it necessary to reward them? They haven't done anything. Even if they do, it's something they should do."

Jiang Caiping didn't speak, but stood there for a moment looking at the scenery around Hanyao Palace. Then she walked into the palace and smiled slightly when she saw that the furnishings and decorations suited her taste.

“Eunuch Feng is a thoughtful man, and he deserves to be rewarded for his sincerity alone. In such a large harem, most people are opportunistic and snobbish. It is already commendable that Eunuch Feng would put in such effort for me, a concubine who has already fallen out of favor.”

Xiangli thought there was some truth to what he said.

"Your Majesty, please sit down. I'll go outside and check if the servants who brought the luggage have arrived yet."

Jiang Caiping nodded and walked to a mahogany armchair and sat down.

"Go ahead, don't worry about me."

……

When Shi Yan entered the Changsheng Palace with Li Longji, palace servants filed in and began to attend to her. Since they were serving the two most honored emperors and empresses of the Tang Dynasty, everyone was careful and respectful and dared not make the slightest mistake.

Even though he didn't want to be with Li Longji, the treatment he received while following the emperor was top-notch.

Having traveled a long distance and with limited resources, Shi Yan's whole body was inevitably sore. As soon as she entered the Hall of Longevity, she walked to the soft couch by the window and sat down, rubbing her aching limbs intermittently.

Seeing that Shi Yan was in pain, Xiao Die bent down and massaged her to relieve her fatigue.

Li Longji hadn't bathed for several days and felt covered in dust. He washed his face and then went to the hot spring to bathe and relieve his fatigue. As soon as he entered the palace, he saw Shi Yan and her servant sitting on a small couch by the window, busy with their own things.

This was the first time he had ever seen his imperial concubine so unladylike and disrespectful, and for no reason he found the scene before him incredibly vivid.

He usually felt that the other person was close at hand but also elusive and hard to grasp, but this chance encounter made him feel a sense of reality.

"Xiaodie, um, it hurts a little, please be a little gentler..."