Time travel, quick transmigration

The person holding her had very strong arms, forcing Shi Yan to raise her head. As soon as she looked up, she met Xiao Huanling's deep and beautiful eyes. It was as if those dark pupils were a vortex, and she was already helplessly drawn in, even having her breath stolen away.

Shi Yan could clearly feel her heart pounding. They were so close that they could clearly hear each other's breath.

"Let me go first."

"Aren't we supposed to talk properly?"

Shi Yan scolded.

Xiao Huanling was clearly unable to resist the coquettish appearance of his beloved. His already pounding heart skipped a beat. With the soft and fragrant body in his arms, if he hadn't been strong enough, he probably would have given in to his desire and kissed her.

Having calmed his emotions, Xiao Huanling smiled indulgently, then withdrew his hand and released Shi Yan.

Suddenly pulled away from a warm embrace, Shi Yan was slightly taken aback, unwilling to admit that she was reluctant to leave Xiao Huanling's embrace.

When did you enter the palace?

As he spoke, he walked to the small couch and sat down, looking at Xiao Huanling with a calm expression.

Xiao Huanling didn't care about Shi Yan's feigned indifference. He turned around and sat down on the stool where Shi Yan had been sitting. He was very serious and had completely lost his lazy and casual attitude from the beginning.

"I woke up at the hour of Mao (5-7 AM), and when the hour of Chen (7-9 AM) approached, I entered the palace with Jiang He."

"So, I really didn't sleep well."

She looked at Shi Yan with a rather aggrieved expression as she spoke.

Seeing the beautiful woman looking at her with a pitiful expression, Shi Yan was somewhat overwhelmed. She thought to herself, "Is Xiao Huanling trying to be cute with me?"

"What should I do? I feel quite sorry for him."

As Xiao Huanling stared intently at her, Shi Yan's gaze softened. "Xiao Huanling woke up so early and risked coming to Nanxun Palace because of me. I should be gentler with him," Shi Yan said with concern.

"Are you really sleepy? Are you very tired right now? Would you like to take a short nap?"

"Never mind, come sit here."

Shi Yan moved a few inches to the side, gesturing for Xiao Huanling to sit next to her.

Xiao Huanling didn't understand what she meant, but her eyes lit up and she suppressed her joy as she stood up and sat down next to her.

As soon as the person approached, a pleasant, cool fragrance, like that of cedar trees in the forest, wafted into her nose. Shi Yan calmly prepared herself and said...

"Lie down and put your head on my lap. I'll massage it for you. That should help."

Xiao Huanling froze for a moment before nodding blankly. He slowly lay down and rested his head on Shi Yan's lap. When Shi Yan placed his hands on his forehead and rhythmically massaged his head with soft yet subtly firm fingertips, the relaxing feeling made him feel intoxicated, as if he were floating on clouds.

Those fingertips seemed to possess a magical power that completely dispelled all his weariness, fatigue, and annoyance, making him willing to remain forever intoxicated by her touch.

Slowly, he let himself sink into the darkness, a darkness filled with the sweet and fragrant scent of his beloved, no longer the deep loneliness and desolation.

Feeling Xiao Huanling's breathing become slower and lighter, Shi Yan stopped massaging and looked down at the person lying asleep on her lap, a gentle smile appearing on her face.

"You look so well-behaved and quiet when you're asleep, just like a little child..."

When Xiaodie came in from outside, she saw Shi Yan looking at the man sleeping on her lap with affection in her eyes. The shock at that moment was so great that she was startled and luckily did not scream.

Even though she had already come to the conclusion that her mistress did not like His Majesty the Emperor, and had tacitly accepted that her mistress had feelings for another man, she was still shocked and worried when she suddenly saw her mistress having a secret rendezvous with a man in the treacherous and unpredictable inner palace.

Carefully making no sound, Xiaodie decided to leave first. For Shiyan's safety, she felt it was necessary to stand guard outside the door to prevent others from discovering what was happening inside.

Xiao Die had come in but Shi Yan hadn't noticed. At this moment, all she could see was Xiao Huanling. The breeze outside the window was gentle and the scenery was pleasant. After an unknown amount of time, Xiao Huanling slowly opened his eyes and saw someone tracing his eyebrows with their finger, looking completely bewildered after being seen.

Xiao Huanling's long eyelashes trembled slightly as he lifted his eyelids and grasped Shi Yan's fingertips, which were only inches from his cheek. Feeling the softness of Shi Yan's fingers, Xiao Huanling smiled slightly.

"You can do it this way, like this."

Holding those soft, warm fingers, Xiao Huanling pressed them against his cheek, touching his eyebrows, eyes, nose, and lips one by one, before giving them a gentle kiss.

Shi Yan seemed to have been burned; she curled her fingers, and even the tips of her ears felt hot.

"Xiao Huanling, don't do this, let go."

Xiao Huanling stared intently at the person who avoided his gaze, his heart softening instantly, but he said something else entirely.

"I'm just doing as you wish, so why don't you dare look at me anymore? Could it be that I've misunderstood, and you're not actually coveting my face?"

Listen to what they're saying.

It was as if she, Shi Yan, was a lecherous woman. Although she really liked Xiao Huanling's beautiful face and often marveled at her stunning appearance, which was rare in the world, it was just her appreciation of beauty, how could it be considered coveting?

Thinking of this, Shi Yan couldn't help but feel indignant, and glared at the shameless person.

Seeing that he had angered the person, Xiao Huanling dared not say anything more sarcastic.

He took Shi Yan's hand in his own, got up and sat on the couch, his gaze fixed intently on the woman whose eyes still held anger.

"I said the wrong thing."

"From beginning to end, it was me who coveted my wife."

"But now that I have gained the favor of my wife, and seeing how much she indulges me, I have been unable to resist reverting to some of my mischievous and unruly nature from when I was young."

Hearing Xiao Huanling say this, Shi Yan was no longer angry; her heart was filled only with affection and tenderness for him.

How could she forget that when she first met Xiao Huanling, he was already arrogant and unrestrained?

Such a long-lost, vivid, and precious Xiao Huanling is something only she could see; she should be happy.

"There's nothing wrong with being a little naughty, just don't make me angry."

"Also, don't keep calling me 'wife,' 'wife' is what I mean."

Xiao Huanling immediately responded upon hearing this.

"I wouldn't dare, Ling wouldn't dare to make you angry. Besides, how could I bear to..."

"Why don't I call you 'wife'? When I met you, you were already Lady Taizhen. If I don't call you 'wife,' should I call you by your name or 'Your Majesty'?"

Shi Yan realized she had misunderstood. She had thought Xiao Huanling was arrogant for repeatedly calling her "wife," but it turned out he was only calling her "wife" because she had previously been a female Taoist priest with the Taoist name Tai Zhen, just like Xiao Die. She had overthought things. How embarrassing. But she wouldn't tell Xiao Huanling this fact.

"You're right to call me that, but if others hear it, they might misunderstand... you..."

Xiao Huanling then realized what Shi Yan meant, and her face instantly turned red.

"Then what should I call you? I'll do whatever you say."

Shi Yan glanced at Xiao Huanling and couldn't help but have her own selfish thoughts. She didn't want Xiao Huanling to be looking at a face that didn't belong to her and calling out a name that didn't belong to her when he liked her.