Time travel, quick transmigration

After leading Liuyun out of Xiao Garden, Xiao Huanling headed straight for the Xiao family residence.

After passing through the bustling market, Xiao Huanling sped through the streets and arrived at the most expensive area of ​​Chang'an City about half an hour later, where the most princes and nobles' residences were concentrated. The Xiao family mansion was undoubtedly located in this most expensive area.

Xiao Huanling dismounted in front of the Xiao family mansion gate. Looking at the two auspicious beasts guarding the house and the grand and profound gate, he suddenly felt a strong sense of unfamiliarity. He had entered through this gate countless times before, but at this moment it seemed to be the first time he had truly and seriously looked at it.

"Fourth Young Master!"

The guards inside the gate came out to see what was happening when they heard the sound of horses' hooves. They recognized Xiao Huanling at a glance. Although they were somewhat surprised by his arrival, they still hurriedly came forward to pay their respects.

The other three also came out to greet him. Although they had only started working before the new year and did not know Xiao Huanling, they dared not be negligent in order not to make a mistake.

Xiao Huanling recognized the guard who called him, and seeing him greet him with a smile, he nodded slightly in return.

"Is the master at home?"

The young guard took the reins from Xiao Huanling's hand.

"Young master, the master did not leave the manor today. He should be in the backyard right now!"

Xiao Huanling responded with an "Mm," and then added.

"Please watch over my horse for a while. I'm going inside to check on my father. I'll be back in a bit."

The young guard was clearly flattered.

"Fourth Young Master, there's no need for such politeness. You are now a general commanding the Imperial Guards, and I greatly admire you. It would be an honor for me to help you, especially since I work for the Xiao family, and you are my master. It is my duty to serve my master."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Huanling nodded slightly and smiled faintly.

"Good work."

After speaking, he slowly stepped onto the stone steps and entered the house.

Xiao Huanling did not want his return to be known by everyone. He guessed that Xiao Song should be in his own residence in the backyard, so he used his martial arts to conceal his whereabouts and avoid the attention of some people in the mansion, heading straight for Huiwen Hall.

Huiwen Hall was the courtyard where Xiao Song lived. Looking at everything inside, Xiao Huanling couldn't help but recall the days when he had been punished by the family in Fushou Hall, his body bruised and battered, and passed through this place. It turned out that the scars he once thought were indelible no longer stirred his emotions with the passage of time. Back then, he had been resentful and unwilling to accept his fate, resentful of his birth and the fact that his beloved father disliked him. Fortunately, he later met his Ayan, the woman who brought him warmth and joy. His lonely heart finally found rest; he had already possessed what he most desired, and everything else became unimportant.

His father had truly grown old; he was no longer tall or invincible.

Watching the old man with a hunched back, being helped by a maid as he slowly strolled through the garden, Xiao Huanling was momentarily dazed.

Xiao Huanling simply watched Xiao Song's retreating figure silently, without stepping forward again.

As if sensing something, Xiao Song, who was swaying and struggling to walk, pressed down on the maid's arm with his withered and lifeless hand and slowly turned his head to look at Xiao Huanling.

When he realized that the person standing not far away was his youngest son whom he had been thinking about day and night, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotion and his eyes welled up with tears. He looked expectantly at his son, who was in the prime of his life, with a bright and beautiful appearance, as upright as a bamboo shoot, and as radiant as the bright moon, hoping that the other person would come closer to him and call him "father" again.

The maid recognized Xiao Huanling and was about to bow to him when she saw him, but she stopped doing so with just a look from Xiao Huanling.

Xiao Huanling did not step forward to speak to him as Xiao Song had expected, nor did he call him "father." He simply stood there and looked at him for a long time.

In that quiet garden, neither father nor son spoke, but simply gazed at each other in silence, as if the distance between them had become an insurmountable barrier.

Xiao Huanling knew that he no longer had any resentment towards his father, whose gaze had softened considerably. However, he also had no desire to be close to him. Perhaps not hating or resenting him, but not getting close to him, was the best outcome.

In the end, he chose to kneel down and perform a solemn bow to Xiao Song, expressing his gratitude for his years of nurturing. The moment he fell in love with Ayan, he had already decided to live alone, without family or ruler, so that no matter what happened to him in the future, the Xiao family would not be burdened by him, and he could simply be Xiao Huanling, the beloved of his.

The moment Xiao Huanling knelt down, the eager anticipation in Xiao Song's eyes began to fade. As if he had foreseen something, he could not utter a sound and could only look at Xiao Huanling dejectedly.

Watching Xiao Huanling turn away without a trace of lingering affection, Xiao Song stumbled backward, only to be caught by a maid who reacted quickly.

"Ling'er..."

Xiao Song understood that after this day, he and his father might never see each other again in this lifetime.

June 19th is an auspicious day for weddings and travel. The emperor had previously set this date in court for Xiao Huanling to depart for Taiyuan Prefecture as the military governor of Hedong.

Before dawn, the people in Xiao Garden were already busy preparing Xiao Huanling's luggage and other belongings.

After everyone had packed Xiao Huanling's luggage as instructed by the steward, they all respectfully stepped aside.

"General, the luggage is all prepared."

Manager He Qi walked to Xiao Huanling's side and said to him.

Xiao Huanling was talking to Jiang He when she heard the sound and turned to look at him.

"Thanks for your hard work."

"After I leave, I entrust the care of Xiao Garden to you."

He Qi respectfully agreed. In truth, he had considered going to Taiyuan with Xiao Huanling. In his mind, the borderlands were no less harsh than the coldest regions, and he worried that Xiao Huanling wouldn't have a capable person to manage the household affairs there. However, after discussing his thoughts with Jiang He, Jiang He advised him to stay in Chang'an. After all, they might encounter the Turks at any time there, and everything was uncertain. If war broke out, many things would be neglected. Xiao Garden was Xiao Huanling's home in Chang'an, and it still needed a reliable person to manage it. He agreed, and thus abandoned his idea of ​​going to Taiyuan with Xiao Huanling and the others.

"General, you can rest assured that I will take good care of Xiao Garden and wait for your return."

Xiao Huanling nodded, raised his eyes to look at the pomegranate tree in the front courtyard that was covered with orange-red flowers, and his gaze suddenly became exceptionally gentle as he thought of what he had said to Shi Yan.

"I'm entrusting the two pomegranate trees in the house to you as well. Please keep a close eye on them. Once they bear fruit and the fruit is ripe, remember to send me a message."

He Qi didn't understand why Xiao Huanling cared so much about the two ordinary pomegranate trees, but he still kept it in mind and made a promise.

"General, rest assured, I will never forget."

Xiao Huanling nodded and looked back at every scene and object in the house, a faint sense of reluctance rising in her heart.

"I don't know when I'll be able to return to Chang'an again..."

Seeing that it was about time, Jiang He said to Xiao Huanling.

"Brother Xiao, Zhang Liang and the brothers of the Golden Guard are waiting. It's time for us to set off."

Xiao Huanling turned her head and softly said, "Mmm."

"General, please take me with you... I want to follow you and serve you."