Time travel, quick transmigration

"General..."

Heaven knows how much strength she mustered to muster the courage to fight for herself, to fight for a chance to be by Xiao Huanling's side. Xiao Lian looked at Xiao Huanling's indifferent yet somewhat cold eyes with anticipation, her eyes darting away shyly, looking extremely pitiful.

However, Xiao Huanling, who was always cold and indifferent to strangers, remained unmoved.

"Who is she?"

This question was directed at He Qi, who was in charge of all affairs, both inside and outside Xiao Garden.

He Qi was older than Xiao Huanling. He was able to serve as the steward of this house because he was indeed capable, and because his family had received favors from Xiao Huanling, making him absolutely loyal. He Qi respected Xiao Huanling greatly, but at the same time, he was also somewhat afraid of him. For example, at this moment, he sensed that Xiao Huanling was getting impatient and knew that Xiao Lian's actions must have violated Xiao Huanling's biggest taboo.

He stepped forward and pulled Xiaolian away from Xiao Huanling, quickly apologizing.

“General, I bought this woman from a slave trader last year. I saw that she was young and pitiful, so I bought her and brought her into Xiao Garden as a maid. Last year, I saw that she was quite meticulous in her work, and since your courtyard needed a maid, I arranged for her to do some cleaning and tidying work in your courtyard…”

"Who would have thought..."

It was only at this moment that He Qi realized that the seemingly honest and gentle girl had developed feelings for Xiao Huanling, and that she had become too ambitious and forgotten her place.

He immediately blamed himself for his negligence. With a man as handsome and dashing as their general, it would be hard for any girl not to be tempted if she saw him every day.

While waiting for Xiao Huanling to speak, He Qi had already thought about many things.

Xiao Lian was pulled aside by He Qi, feeling somewhat flustered under the scrutinizing gazes of the crowd. She looked longingly at Xiao Huanling, hoping to gain his pity. However, to her disappointment and sadness, Xiao Huanling didn't even give her a second glance.

Xiao Lian's gaze was too noticeable, and He Qi's words also made Xiao Huanling frown. He had no intention of making things difficult for a young girl, much less embarrass her in public, but having understood her intentions and thoughts, he couldn't let it go unchecked. To prevent her from getting bogged down, he believed that sending her far away was the best course of action; she couldn't stay in Xiao Garden any longer.

"This general has no need for maids to serve him."

"He Qi, you make the decision. Find a kind and honest man for this young lady this year, someone she can entrust her life to, and arrange their marriage. The world is hard, and it would be a blessing for a helpless woman to find a husband she can rely on."

"She should be married off from Xiao Garden. You can give her a generous dowry."

Xiao Huanling's words were neither harsh nor light, but for Xiaolian, they were like a bolt from the blue, shattering her heart. She felt wronged and couldn't understand why she was being rejected. She couldn't hold back the tears that instantly welled up in her eyes.

"This servant...this servant was wrong, General, General, this servant doesn't want to get married...this servant..."

……

"Alright, Xiaolian, people need to learn to be content. Put away your unrealistic ideas."

He Qi looked at the person who was crying and sobbing and shouted to stop them.

He Qi's serious tone immediately silenced Xiao Lian.

Xiao Huanling withdrew his gaze and looked at Jiang He, who was watching with great interest, and said coldly.

"gone!"

“You’ll be eighteen soon, which is an age when you can get married. After the New Year, I’ll write a letter to your mother and ask her to help you make some arrangements.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang He's expression changed drastically, and he quickly caught up with Xiao Huanling, who was walking out.

"Brother Xiao, you can't be serious, right? Please don't! I'm still young. I only want to make a name for myself and protect my country. I have absolutely no interest in romance."

Hearing Jiang He's urgent voice behind him, Xiao Huanling's eyes flashed with a sly smile.

Seeing that Xiao Huanling was ignoring him and seemed truly determined to find him a wife, Jiang He really lost his composure.

“Brother Xiao, I was wrong. I shouldn’t have laughed at you. How about this, let’s make a deal. At most, I won’t tell Sister Yang about what happened today. If you still don’t change your mind, then I can’t guarantee what I’ll say to Sister Yang.”

Xiao Huanling had long since abandoned his cunning demeanor; he could no longer maintain his composure and calmness when it came to anything related to Shi Yan.

"Alright, I agree to what you say. A man should first establish his career and make achievements. As for marriage, we can discuss it when you are older."

Jiang He nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes."

Having received confirmation, Jiang He felt relieved. Little did he know that Xiao Huanling was already planning a series of methods to train him after arriving in Taiyuan Prefecture, because Jiang He had used Shi Yan to control him.

The people carrying the luggage followed behind Xiao Huanling and Jiang He.

He Qi also went out to see them off.

Ever since she saw Xiao Huanling at the polo field that day, Shi Yan had been counting down the days until Xiao Huanling would leave Chang'an.

"Xiao Ba, do you really have no way to let me leave the palace without anyone noticing? Can't you help me? I really want to see Xiao Huanling off."

"After this parting today, I don't know when we will meet again..."

"I'm sorry, Yan Yan, I really want to help you, but I can't for now. Only after we finish what we need here and accumulate merit and rewards can we go to the next place. At that time, I will be able to do much more than I can now."

0804 replied lazily.

Shi Yan didn't have high hopes. She was only a little disappointed when she learned from 0804 that he couldn't help her leave the palace. She firmly believed that once everything settled down, she and Xiao Huanling could be together properly, and that their time together wouldn't be short-lived and always ending in separation.

"Since that's the case, there's nothing we can do about it. Oh well, I shouldn't be so sad. Although I can't see him off, I can still wish him well in my heart, hoping he'll be safe and that everything goes well for him."

Hearing Shi Yan's dejected tone, 0804, sensing her thoughts, felt a pang of melancholy. It already knew the final outcome, but couldn't tell Shi Yan everything. Perhaps it should have strongly advised her against falling for anyone in this era before she developed feelings for Xiao Huanling. It had underestimated Xiao Huanling's obsession with Shi Yan, underestimated human emotions. Even Shi Yan, who in its mind was always more rational than emotional, couldn't help but succumb to a pure and sincere love.

As June approached, the weather grew increasingly hot. An ice basin was placed in Mianhua Pavilion to cool her down, and Xiaodie fanned her from the side. Shi Yan leaned against the couch, gazing out the window at the blazing sun, her expression somewhat lost in thought.

Xiao Die glanced at Shi Yan a few times, assuming that she was just listless because of the heat, and didn't think much of it.

Xiao Huanling took the lead, followed closely by Jiang He and Zhang Liang. Twenty elite Jinwu Guards, clad in light iron armor and exuding a chilling aura, rode their steeds out of the city.