Time travel, quick transmigration

"You don't need to keep watch anymore. I can't sleep and I'm going to Mianhua Pavilion to look at the sheet music. I'll come back to rest later. Xiaodie can serve me."

The palace maids and eunuchs on duty respectfully acknowledged and watched Shi Yan leave for Mianhua Pavilion.

Shi Yan arrived at Mianhua Pavilion and saw Xiao Die and Xiao Shen waiting outside the door.

"Your Majesty, Jiang He is waiting inside the pavilion."

Shi Yan nodded upon hearing this.

"Xiaodie, come inside with me."

"Xiao Shen, you stay outside and keep watch."

"Xiao Die," Shen Zhi replied with a "Yes."

Xiao Die followed Shi Yan into the pavilion, and immediately saw Jiang He coming to greet her.

"Sister Yang, Jiang He has finally met you."

Shi Yan noticed Jiang He's red-rimmed eyes.

"Xiao Jiang, Xiao Die told me you came to see me because of A Ling. What exactly happened to A Ling?"

Seeing Shi Yan's anxious and nervous appearance, Jiang He couldn't help but recall the scene of Xiao Huanling calling her name again and again, and for no reason, he felt a lump in his throat.

“Sister Yang, when Brother Xiao fought the Thousand Machines Pavilion Master in Luoyang, he was ambushed and poisoned by a Gu poison. We searched everywhere and finally found a physician skilled in poisons. He prepared an antidote for Brother Xiao, and he took it. However, he hasn't woken up since yesterday, and his condition didn't look good before I came. I've already called a physician. I shouldn't have come to you and caused you trouble, but… Brother Xiao is not only unconscious but also keeps calling out your name. I couldn't bear to see him like this, so I…”

Jiang He's words caused Shi Yan's heart to clench, a bittersweet feeling washing over her. At that moment, she was truly terrified—terrified that something might happen to Xiao Huanling, even afraid that she would never see him again.

"I'll go with you to see him..."

Yes, she had to see him. She had to be by Xiao Huanling's side when he needed someone with him the most; she couldn't leave him alone.

Jiang He nodded in delight upon hearing this.

"That's great! Sister Yang, you really want to go see Brother Xiao with me? Brother Xiao will be very happy to know that you are by his side, and he will definitely get better soon."

As Jiang He spoke, he seemed to recall something difficult.

"But my martial arts skills are not very good. It is already very difficult for me to sneak into the palace by myself at night without being discovered. It may be difficult to take you, Sister Yang, out of the palace."

Shi Yan looked at Jiang He's troubled and distressed expression and said.

"I have my own way."

Just as Jiang He was about to ask for clarification, he saw Shi Yan turn around and walk outside. Upon seeing this, he quickly followed.

Shi Yan left Mianhua Pavilion and called Xiao Die and Shen Zhi, who were standing outside the door, to her side.

"I need to leave the palace immediately, but I must not alert anyone. Xiao Shen, you are a member of the Imperial Guard by His Majesty's side. I have heard His Majesty mention that your lightness skill is exceptional. I have a favor to ask of you. Could you take me out of the palace without being noticed and then bring me back?"

Shen Zhi knew his duty was to serve only the Emperor. Although he had been assigned to Nanxun Palace, his heart belonged only to His Majesty the Emperor. He understood the implications: the woman before him, a Noble Consort, was the Emperor's woman. For her to secretly leave the palace to meet someone was illogical and extremely inappropriate. If the Emperor found out, not only the woman before him, but everyone in Nanxun Palace would be implicated, and even he himself would be held responsible. Yet, he couldn't bring himself to refuse, looking at the sincere plea in Shi Yan's eyes, and at the person beside him with whom he would spend his life.

Seeing Shen Zhi remain silent, and then looking at Shi Yan, Jiang He could not hide the worry in her eyes. Thinking of Xiao Huanling, who was still waiting for her master, and recalling the past between Shi Yan and Xiao Huanling, Xiao Die looked at Shen Zhi with pleading eyes, her mind racing.

Shen Zhi understood the meaning in Xiao Die's eyes and finally made a decision.

"Your Majesty, I can help you leave the palace and then send you back, but you must promise me that you will not stay outside the palace for too long."

Shi Yan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Okay, I promise you."

Xiaodie looked at Shen Zhi gratefully.

"I entrust Your Majesty to you. You must protect Her Majesty. Also, be careful yourself."

Shen Zhi nodded.

"Don't worry, I will be careful and protect Your Majesty."

After speaking, he turned to look at Shi Yan.

“Your Majesty, although I was sent by His Majesty to serve as a guard in Nanxun Palace, I am still His Majesty’s subject. Unless I am no longer a member of the Imperial Guard and leave the palace, I will always remember my duty and be loyal to His Majesty alone. Do you understand what I mean? I will help you this once, as a way of repaying you for everything you have done for me and Xiaodie.”

Shi Yan could understand Shen Zhizhong's thoughts very well. In ancient feudal dynasties, which were influenced by Confucianism, subjects followed the way of the ruler and his subjects.

"I understand."

"Without further ado, let's go."

She was now preoccupied with Xiao Huanling and desperately wanted to see him.

"Xiaodie, before I return to the palace, no matter who comes, tell them that I am unwell and do not wish to see guests. Close the palace doors and do not let anyone near the bedchamber. Even if His Majesty comes, you must stop him. Tell him that I ate something bad and my face is still red and swollen. Although I have applied medicine, I am not comfortable to see people. I will go to Ganlu Palace to see him when I am better. Do you understand?"

Xiaodie nodded.

"Your Majesty need not worry about the palace; I have my own way of handling things."

Shi Yan smiled with satisfaction.

"it is good."

After the two finished speaking, Shen Zhi gave Xiao Die a reassuring look, and then spoke to Shi Yan and Jiang He.

"Your Majesty, I know a shortcut out of the palace, where there are few guards. I will take you out of the palace that way later."

"Young master, I'll trouble you to leave the palace via the original route."

The implication was that the secret passage out of the palace should not be known to others, and Jiang He understood this, so he agreed without hesitation.

So Jiang He and Shi Yan said goodbye and agreed to meet at the Guyu Tea House outside Chengtian Gate, and then left the palace by the same route.

"Your Majesty, I have offended you."

Shen Zhi bowed and gestured for Shi Yan to lean against his back.

Shi Yan didn't act coy and leaned against his back, but tried to maintain a suitable distance.

"Xiaodie, I'm leaving now. I'll be back as soon as possible."

After saying that, he carried Shi Yan on his back and leaped away, disappearing into the night.

Half an hour later, Shen Zhi led Shi Yan out of the palace, and everything went smoothly. After leaving the palace, the two headed towards Chengtian Gate, arriving at the agreed-upon place in about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn.

"Xiao Jiang."

Shi Yan looked at Jiang He, who was standing at the entrance of the teahouse with his horse in the distance, and walked quickly forward.

"Xiao Jiang."

Jiang He also waved to Shi Yan.

Shi Yan watched as she left the palace, but unfortunately, she only had one horse, which couldn't carry three people.

"Little Shen, you went to a lot of trouble to get me out of the palace. Why don't you find a place to wait for me, and I'll come back to find you after I've met the person I need to see."

Shi Yan was genuinely concerned for Shen Zhi.

Shen Zhi understood Shi Yan's good intentions, but he was unwilling to let Shi Yan out of his sight and into danger, so he shook his head and refused.

"Your Majesty, I am fine. You and this young master ride your horses, and I will follow behind you."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan said no more.

"Xiao Jiang, you ride the horse and take me with you. Let's hurry up, there's no time to lose."

Jiang He agreed, helped Shi Yan onto the horse, then leaped onto his own back and galloped towards Xiao Huanling's residence.

Shen Zhize used his lightness skill to keep up with the two of them.

After passing through several streets and turning a corner, Jiang He led Shi Yan into a long street, and soon they arrived at the entrance of Xiao Huanling's residence.

The two dismounted one after the other, not even paying attention to Shen Zhi following behind. Jiang He opened the gate of Xiao Garden and led Shi Yan straight to Xiao Huanling's bedroom.

Shi Yan followed Jiang He through Xiao Huanling's residence. Along the way, she only glanced at the surroundings a few times and had no time to observe much more.