Time travel, quick transmigration

After several days of travel, the grand procession finally returned to Chang'an. The imperial carriage carrying the emperor went directly from Chengtian Gate into Xingqing Palace. After Li Longji alighted from the imperial carriage, he did not wait for Shi Yan, who was still sitting in the carriage, but instead led Gao Lishi and others to Xingqing Hall.

Upon seeing this, the Crown Prince and others dismounted and followed the Emperor toward Xingqing Hall.

"Your Majesty, you and His Majesty have a disagreement."

"His Majesty has barely spoken the whole way. He usually greets you with a smile and has never been so cold before."

"Your Majesty, has something upset His Majesty? His Majesty has always treated you very well. Please don't let some trivial matters cause you any rift with His Majesty."

Xiao Die helped Shi Yan down from the imperial carriage and lowered her voice to earnestly persuade her.

"There are some things you don't understand. Well, don't worry about them."

"There are too many people and too many spies in this palace. It's best to be careful what you say and do when it comes to His Majesty."

Shi Yan gently patted Xiao Die's hand, signaling her to let go of her.

Although worried, Xiaodie understood that she shouldn't cause trouble for Shiyan, so she pursed her lips and nodded.

"Your Highness, shall we return to Ganlu Palace?"

Shi Yan shook her head.

"Return to Nanxun Palace. Have them send the luggage and Xiao Tingxue to Nanxun Palace."

Xiao Die nodded in agreement, turned around and conveyed Shi Yan's instructions to the palace maids who were attending to her. Then, she took Ting Xue from a maid in pink, held it in her arms, and started running to catch up with Shi Yan.

"Your Majesty, look at Tingxue, it's so well-behaved!"

Xiao Die grabbed one of the little white fox's front paws and wiggled it a few times towards Shi Yan. Unaware of the situation, she assumed that Shi Yan was having a fight with the emperor and was unhappy because they were in a cold war. That's why she specially picked up Ting Xue to cheer Shi Yan up.

Shi Yan has no resistance to adorable little animals. Upon seeing Tingxue's lively and cute appearance, she smiled and reached out to pat its head.

"This little guy looks docile but is actually very clever and intelligent. Don't be fooled by its harmless appearance. One day you'll learn that foxes, regardless of size, are not to be underestimated. Since you like it, I'll entrust it to your care."

"Tingxue, Xiaodie will be in charge of taking care of you from now on, so you mustn't bully her."

The little white fox opened its clear eyes and darted around, looking at Shi Yan with a completely innocent and bewildered expression.

Shi Yan smiled but didn't say anything more.

Xiao Die looked suspiciously at the snow-white little fox in her arms, pondered Shi Yan's words again, and nodded as if she understood.

"Your Majesty's words have been remembered."

"Your Majesty, please rest assured, this servant will take good care of Tingxue."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan nodded and smiled gently.

"it is good."

The two walked away as they talked.

The accompanying palace attendants drove the carriage loaded with Shi Yan's luggage along another palace road toward Nanxun Palace.

"What an arrogant concubine! Even though His Majesty has neglected her, she is still so haughty. She left without even saying goodbye to us."

"Hmph... Let's see how long you can be so smug. I'm going back to my palace now, I won't keep you two company any longer. This journey has been dusty and bumpy, I need to take a good bath to relax."

Dong Fangyi rolled her eyes at Shi Yan's retreating figure, then smiled and bid farewell to Jiang Caiping and Consort Qian. Shi Yan then leisurely left with her palace servants.

Jiang Caiping was left behind, while Consort Qian stood there, each with a different expression, lost in thought.

"My body is not cooperating; the journey has been very bumpy, and I am quite sore. I will go back to my palace to rest now. Sister Mei, when I have some free time, I will definitely visit you at the Mei Pavilion in your Zichen Palace."

Consort Qian wore a friendly and charming smile, but her words contained a deeper meaning.

As intelligent as Jiang Caiping was, she knew perfectly well that Consort Qian wanted to win her over. Although she was displeased, she still smiled and said politely, "Sister Qian, what are you saying? It should be me who goes to your palace to pay my respects."

Seeing that Jiang Caiping was completely unmoved, Consort Qian's smile faded slightly.

"Easy to say, easy to say."

"I'll take my leave now."

With that, he left with his palace staff.

After everyone left, Jiang Caiping didn't linger any longer and led Lian Qiao and the others back to her Zichen Palace.

For half a month after returning to the palace, Li Longji stayed in his Ganlu Palace and rarely visited the concubines in the harem, appearing to be focused on state affairs.

During this time, Shi Yan received a letter from Xiao Huanling, delivered to her by Cang Yu. In the letter, Xiao Huanling mentioned some events that had happened in the previous dynasty and told her that he was about to set off for Luoyang.

Even though Xiao Huanling's purpose for going to Luoyang was not explicitly stated in the letter, Shi Yan already knew the truth from 0804. Therefore, in her reply to Xiao Huanling, she wrote several lines of instructions and also asked Cang Yu to give Xiao Huanling a talisman.

Two days later, Xiao Huanling received Li Longji's decree and led Jiang He, Zhang Liang, and his two thousand Golden Guards and five thousand Imperial Guards to Luoyang to wipe out the Qianji Pavilion's lair.

For the past two weeks, Li Longji had been depressed and in low spirits. Gao Lishi, his close attendant, was most worried about him. In particular, the palace servants who served him sensed the emperor's gloomy mood and served him with trepidation, as if walking on thin ice.

"Your Majesty, I have a few words that I must say, but I am not sure if I should."

Gao Lishi stood there respectfully with his head bowed, waiting for the king, who sat on the dragon throne, to give his instructions.

As expected, Li Longji was prompted to look up at Gao Lishi by his ambiguous and contradictory words.

"When did you learn to be so mysterious? Just say what you want to say."

Upon hearing this, Gao Lishi mustered the courage to raise his head and look at the majestic emperor.

"Your Majesty, you haven't visited the Imperial Concubine for half a month."

Upon hearing this, the emperor, who had been expressionless, immediately turned serious.

Gao Lishi, however, continued speaking as if he hadn't noticed the emperor's anger.

"You don't know, these past few days you haven't visited the Imperial Concubine. She has become quite thin, and I heard that she spends her days either playing with the little white fox His Majesty gave her, or staying indoors, looking very unhappy. When I went to pay my respects the other day, I noticed that the Imperial Concubine had indeed become much thinner. Those few plates of pastries the other day were given to me by the Imperial Concubine's maid, Xiaodie, for His Majesty to taste. The Imperial Concubine is thinking of His Majesty, but she is too shy to show weakness or bow her head before him. Your Majesty, as the ruler of the country, you have a broad mind, so please don't take offense at the Imperial Concubine's situation."

"In recent days, many unfavorable rumors have circulated in the palace about the Imperial Concubine. She must be heartbroken to hear them, but she has swallowed her bitterness in silence rather than cause His Majesty any worry. I think that the Imperial Concubine must be missing His Majesty terribly. And Your Majesty has also been suffering from lovesickness. I see you two trying to save face and refusing to back down, yet you are both tormented. It breaks my heart to see you like this."

If Shi Yan were present, she would definitely refute Gao Lishi's self-righteous speculation in her heart. She was only worried about Xiao Huanling, who went out to wipe out Qianji Pavilion, so she was worried and didn't sleep well, which made her look thin and haggard. It had nothing to do with whether Li Longji went to see her or not, let alone miss her.

When it comes to sending snacks to Li Longji, Shi Yan would feel even more wronged, as it was just Xiao Die's own idea, and she really couldn't bring herself to please Li Longji.