Time travel, quick transmigration

Looking at the three exquisite wooden boxes placed on the table, Xiaodie couldn't help but tear up as she thought of Shi Yan's thoughtfulness.

Who else in this world would care about her like that? Only her empress.

“Your Majesty, Xiaodie has had a hard life since childhood. She lost both her parents at a young age and lived cautiously after being bought into Lord Yang’s household until she met you. You have been kind and tolerant to me and have been so concerned about my future. I am so unworthy to have met Your Majesty.”

"Your Majesty, please accept my bow."

As Xiaodie spoke, she got up, knelt on the ground, and bowed to Shi Yan.

Seeing this, Shi Yan stepped forward and helped Xiao Die up.

"What are you doing?"

"Look at you, you've ruined your makeup with tears. I'm doing these things for you because you're a good person, and I'm willing to do them for you."

"Ah Man, quickly help her redo her makeup."

Aman quickly agreed and led Xiaodie to the dressing box to sit down so he could redo her makeup.

"Your Majesty, Lord Shen has arrived..."

Xuancao entered the hall with a broad smile as she reported the news.

As her voice fell, everyone in the hall saw Shen Zhi, dressed in a bright red wedding robe, tall and handsome, with a cheerful expression and a hearty smile, stride in.

Aman had already covered Xiaodie's head with a veil embroidered with mandarin ducks playing in the water. When she saw Shen Zhi appear, she helped Xiaodie up and leaned close to her ear, smiling as she spoke.

"Sister Xiaodie, your groom has come to pick you up."

Xiaodie looked at Shen Zhi through her veil. Seeing her beloved come to pick her up filled her heart with sweetness, but she was too shy to look for long before she looked away.

Looking at the woman in her wedding dress who would be spending her life with him, Shen Zhi felt as if his heart was already intoxicated.

Looking at the newlyweds, Shi Yan felt very gratified.

"Shen Zhi, today I entrust Xiao Die to you. From now on, you must love her, respect her, and protect her, just as you promised me before. If you betray her or hurt her, I will not forgive you even if you are at the ends of the earth."

"Of course, Xiaodie isn't stupid. If you ever betray her, she will definitely leave."

Shen Zhi's gaze never left Xiao Die. After hearing Shi Yan's words, he bent down and knelt before Shi Yan, performing a respectful and solemn salute.

"Shen Zhi thanks Your Majesty for your love and care for Xiao Die. This bow is on behalf of my wife to Your Majesty."

He then bowed again.

"This gesture is our gratitude to Your Majesty for your kindness and support."

Xiaodie was already in tears upon hearing this. She knew she hadn't liked the wrong person. Shen Zhi understood her and fulfilled her gratitude to Shi Yan in his own way.

Shi Yan looked at the perfect couple who cared for each other, and felt happy that she had brought about such a good marriage.

"Get up, I have accepted your thanks."

"Take your bride home."

"I wish you both a long and happy marriage, a lifelong bond of love, and a smooth and blissful life."

Shen Zhi bowed again before standing up, walking to Xiao Die and taking her hand from A Man's, holding it in his own.

"let's go."

Xiaodie nodded, choking back tears. As Shen Zhi led her away, she looked at Shi Yan with teary eyes and called out to her with lingering affection.

"My lady..."

Shi Yan almost couldn't hold back her tears.

"Go now, and from now on you will have nothing but joy and happiness. Don't miss the auspicious time."

Xiaodie responded with tears in her eyes, knowing that she had to leave no matter how reluctant she was.

Shen Zhi led Xiao Die out of the side hall, and the people who had come to see off the bride followed Shi Yan to watch the newlyweds go.

A carriage was parked outside the Nanxun Palace. The carriage was dispatched by the Imperial Household Department on Li Longji's orders, specifically to escort Xiaodie out of the palace.

Shen Zhi helped Xiao Die to the front of the carriage, and the two of them bid farewell to Shi Yan together.

Afterwards, Aman helped Xiaodie into the carriage and made sure she was seated. Yuan'er and Xuancao then carried the dowry that Shiyan had prepared for Xiaodie, along with gifts from the people of Nanxun Palace and some personal belongings, into the carriage. The three of them said goodbye to Xiaodie one after another, exchanging some heartfelt words before stopping.

Shen Zhizhe mounted his horse amidst the blessings of the crowd.

"Your Majesty, farewell!"

"Gentlemen, farewell. Thank you for today."

Shi Yan waved to Shen Zhi.

Shen Zhi nodded, turned his gaze away, tightened the reins, and slowly drove towards the palace gate.

Upon seeing this, the eunuch driving the carriage immediately followed.

Watching Shen Zhi ride away on his steed, leading the bride in the carriage, a wave of indescribable sadness washed over Shi Yan. Just a short while ago, she and Xiao Die had relied on each other for survival in the Dongling Temple, and now she was personally seeing her off on her wedding day. She couldn't help but sigh at how quickly time flies.

"Xiaodie, although I can't be there to attend your wedding, the thought of you two forming a happy family makes my disappointment insignificant. Live a good life with Xiaoshen from now on. You must be happy and grow old together..."

Watching the newlyweds depart, everyone felt a pang of sadness and reluctance, but also a deep envy for Xiaodie, who, despite her humble origins as a servant, had a noble consort planning her life's happiness and handling her affairs. Such dignity and favor were something even some royalty might not possess. Xiao Shen, merely a palace guard, was allowed to ride into the palace to fetch Xiaodie, now a palace lady-in-waiting—a tremendous favor in everyone's eyes.

After Xiaodie got married, Nanxun Palace felt a bit empty and deserted without her. At first, Shi Yan wasn't used to it, but fortunately, Aman kept her company and talked to her. Shi Yan gradually got used to the days without Xiaodie by her side.

"Your Majesty, tomorrow we will be going to the Lishan Palace for summer retreat with His Majesty. The journey will be tiring, so please rest early today and don't read."

Ah Man trimmed the wick, added some oil, and then covered the lamp with the embroidered Four Gentlemen pattern. She turned to look at the woman reclining on the small couch, dressed in a moon-white palace gown, who looked languid and graceful under the lamplight.

Shi Yan closed the book, looked up at A Man, and smiled faintly.

"Okay, we'll listen to Ah Man."

He put the book down on the table next to him, then got up and got off the bed.

"You come back to my bedchamber with me. I'll leave this place to Xuancao and the others to clean up."

Ah Man smiled and nodded.

"That would be perfect. Your Highness, I will escort you back to your bedchamber to rest."

The weather was at its hottest at the end of June, and Shi Yan could hear the chirping of insects coming from the grass from time to time on her way back to her palace.

"The moon is so beautiful tonight!"

Looking at the moon and the twinkling stars in the night sky, Shi Yan couldn't help but miss Xiao Huanling, who was far away in Taiyuan.

"Ah Ling, will you see such a beautiful moon over there too?"

Of course it is possible. The moon is in the sky, and when people with someone on their mind look up at the sky, they are looking at the same bright moon.

Xiao Huanling stood in the courtyard of his residence in Taiyuan, gazing at the bright moon in the sky, as if he could see the person he missed through the moonlight.

"Ayan, you should be asleep by now. But I can't fall asleep. In just a few days, I've been lovesick to the bone, and my longing for you has made me sick."

The following day, the weather was clear. The imperial carriage carrying the emperor and empress left the city gates and headed towards the Lishan Palace. As it was the emperor's journey, not only was he escorted by the Imperial Guards, but also by the Golden Guards and the emperor's personal guards. The ministers traveling to the palace were all specially appointed by Li Longji. Li Longji entrusted state affairs to the crown prince, with Chancellor Li Linfu assisting him. Li Longji was well-versed in the art of checks and balances. He knew that the crown prince and Li Linfu's factions had been at odds for some time, and having these two handle state affairs would also allow them to check each other. He did not need to worry about the imperial power slipping away from his control.

Regarding the emperor's short stay at the Lishan Palace, neglecting state affairs, many civil officials in the court speculated that it was because the imperial concubine had bewitched the emperor, and various rumors unfavorable to the imperial concubine spread like wildfire.

Shi Yan, already on her way to Mount Li, was unaware that she was being resented by the court officials because of Li Longji's neglect of state affairs. If she had known, she probably would have protested her innocence.