Time travel, quick transmigration

After having dinner, the emperor and empress went for a walk outside for a while, and only returned to Mianhua Pavilion when it got dark.

Seeing that Li Longji clearly had no intention of leaving, Shi Yan went along with it without saying anything more. Instead, she instructed Xiao Die and A Man to prepare hot water for Li Longji to bathe. Xiao Die and A Man obeyed and went to prepare.

Seeing Shi Yan's thoughtfulness, Li Longji smiled, sat on the couch, and slowly sipped his tea, occasionally exchanging a few words with Shi Yan.

A short while later, Xiaodie arrived with a palace maid to report that hot water had been prepared.

Li Longji then got up and led Gao Lishi out of Mianhua Pavilion to the bathhouse for a bath.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty wishes to stay tonight. I have already sent Aman to make up the bed in the bedroom."

Shi Yan nodded slightly, seemingly not caring much.

Knowing that Shi Yan was in love with Xiao Huanling, Xiao Die couldn't help but think that Shi Yan would be unwilling to serve the emperor and would feel uncomfortable. She had something to say but didn't know how to start.

"Go to the bathing room. Someone needs to wait for His Majesty. After His Majesty finishes bathing, take him directly to his bedchamber and help him to sleep. If His Majesty asks, tell him that I will go directly to his bedchamber after bathing."

Shi Yan said calmly.

Xiaodie concealed her worries, replied with a "yes," bowed, and left.

By the time Shi Yan returned to her bedchamber after her bath, it was already completely dark.

Accompanied by Aman, Shi Yan entered the bedchamber and saw that Li Longji had been helped to change into a dark nightgown and was sitting on the bed, engrossed in reading a book. Shi Yan calmly dismissed everyone in the room, then went to the incense table and took out the incense made from the hallucinogenic formula given to her by 0804. She lit it, and soon a wisp of smoke rose. Seeing this, Shi Yan felt reassured and, as if nothing had happened, slowly walked around the screen to the bedside.

What books does Sanlang read?

She pretended to be curious and craned her neck to look at the book in Li Longji's hand, then sat down on the edge of the couch with a smile and looked at Li Longji.

She knew that the incense would put Li Longji into a hallucination in just a moment, so she deliberately found some topics to distract him before he fell asleep.

Li Longji closed the geographical record in his hand.

"These are books from Yu Huan's room. Does Yu Huan not know what I am reading? I am just surprised that Yu Huan would like to read these kinds of books."

She knew perfectly well what book Li Longji was holding, but she made conversation by asking a question she already knew the answer to.

"Your Majesty, please forgive my rudeness. I would not say I like it, but I have not had the opportunity to appreciate the beautiful landscape of my Great Tang Dynasty. I can't help but be curious and yearn for the world outside Chang'an. Since I cannot personally explore this land, it would be good to read some books to learn about it."

As Shi Yan spoke, her eyelashes drooped, and she looked somewhat wistful.

For no apparent reason, Li Longji felt a pang of heartache, as if he were sensing something. Indeed, although the palace was magnificent and luxurious, it was also surrounded by high walls, trapping people within and preventing them from being free. Although he possessed supreme imperial power, he always felt the loneliness of being at the top and would feel isolated.

"It is my fault. I will make more time to take you out for walks in the future."

Shi Yan smiled and nodded.

The two talked for a while, and soon Li Longji's eyes became hazy. Before long, he slumped on the couch, his mind in a daze and his breathing becoming rapid. A faint fragrance wafted over, followed by the warmth and softness of a woman in his arms, and then he entered a state of bliss.

Shi Yan glanced calmly at the man, whose hair had turned gray and who was slumped in the bedding in a daze, and kindly covered him with a thin blanket before turning her back and walking towards the small couch in the outer room.

A thick mattress was laid out on the bed, and Shi Yan went to get a blanket and lay down on the bed.

"Xiao Ba, please wake me up a little earlier tomorrow."

0804 responded lazily.

"Don't worry, Yan Yan, I will definitely remember to wake you up tomorrow morning."

Goodnight, Yan Yan.

Shi Yan's lips curved into a smile.

"Goodnight, Xiao Ba."

After resting at home for two days, Xiao Huanling, who was eager to go to the palace to see Shi Yan, had already submitted a memorial to the palace. This day, after having breakfast, he summoned Jiang He to go to the palace.

Jiang He rode his horse behind Xiao Huanling, secretly marveling at how the person who had been unconscious and pale just two days ago was now radiant and full of energy in less than a day.

"So this is the power of love."

Jiang He shook his head, indicating that he did not understand.

After Xiao Huanling and Jiang He returned from Luoyang, Li Longji issued an edict granting them the privilege of resting at home for five days.

The two were still on their day off and did not attend the morning court session. By the time they entered the palace through Chengtian Gate to meet the emperor, Li Longji had already left the court and returned to Xingqing Hall.

"Your Majesty, General Xiao, and Junior Military Advisor Jiang are requesting an audience outside the palace."

A young eunuch entered the hall and respectfully reported to Li Longji.

Li Longji put down the memorial in his hand, raised his head, and said with a smile.

"Oh……"

"Hurry up!"

Seeing the emperor's smiling eyes, Gao Lishi knew he was in a good mood, so he also smiled and raised his voice.

"Summon Xiao Huanling, Left and Right Generals of the Jinwu Guard, and Jiang He, Military Advisor, to an audience!"

With a chant, Xiao Huanling and Jiang He, who were waiting outside the hall, were led into the hall by the same eunuch.

Because of Shi Yan, Xiao Huanling already harbored resentment towards Li Longji, and unlike the people of this country, he did not have much awe for the emperor sitting on the dragon throne. Even so, because no one in the hall could see anything amiss, he still behaved respectfully.

"His Majesty!"

Xiao Huanling gave the emperor a standard military salute and stood in the hall, neither humble nor arrogant, staring at the emperor with an inscrutable expression.

Jiang He also bowed to Li Longji, then stood silently beside Xiao Huanling, head bowed, lost in thought. He was unaware of the undercurrents between the two men present.

Li Longji used his no longer clear but still sharp eyes to scrutinize the young man who dared to look him in the eye without fear, who was as upright as bamboo, as radiant as a pearl, and had a beautiful appearance.

"Minister Xiao, your success in wiping out the entire Thousand Machines Pavilion in Luoyang is truly a great achievement. You and Minister Jiang have both worked hard."

Upon hearing this, Jiang He raised his head, cupped his hands in a fist salute to Li Longji, and smiled shyly.

"Your Majesty is too kind. General Xiao and I were merely doing our duty to share Your Majesty's burdens. It was no trouble at all."

Xiao Huanling knew that Jiang He was impatient and somewhat impulsive, so when he saw that Jiang He had taken the lead, she just let him be and stood silently in place.

Li Longji glanced at the two of them and then laughed.

"It's rare to see such a good relationship between the two of you."

"Although it is your duty, I must reward you."

"Alright, Minister Xiao, I intend to appoint you as the military governor of Hedong. Recently, the Turks have been making frequent moves and I fear they may have treacherous intentions and intend to invade our borders. I wish to send you to Hedong to quell the Turkic army that dares to invade our borders and strengthen the northwestern defenses. Are you willing to go?"

Xiao Huanling's gaze darkened, somewhat unable to fathom whether the emperor's actions on the high throne were a test or something else.

Jiang He was extremely excited, his eyes shining as he looked at Xiao Huanling, gesturing for him to quickly accept the imperial decree and express his gratitude. He would naturally be duty-bound to go and fight the Turks to defend the border.