Time travel, quick transmigration

Li Longji stayed at Huaqing Palace for more than two months. During this period, except for matters that the Crown Prince could not decide and some important military documents, which would be delivered to Huaqing Palace in Lishan by special messengers on horseback for Li Longji to handle, most of the political affairs were handled by the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Li Linfu.

On August 14th of that year, Xiao Song, who had been implicated in the Zhang Shougui incident and demoted to Prefect of Qingzhou, later promoted to Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince and retired to his home, died of illness at the age of over eighty. Xiao Huanling, far away in Taiyuan Prefecture, received news of his father Xiao Song's death several days later. The letter was from Xiao Hua, who informed him that Xiao Song was in very poor health and asked if he could return home to see their father one last time. However, the messenger traveling from Chang'an to Taiyuan Prefecture encountered a torrential rain and a landslide on the way, causing a delay of six days before finally arriving in Taiyuan.

After reading the letter, Xiao Huanling was initially hesitant about whether to return to Chang'an. The next day, he received a letter from He Qi. The letter stated that his father, Xiao Song, had passed away five days prior, and that he should not grieve too much. Furthermore, his family had gone to the Xiao residence in his name to pay their respects. Upon learning of his father's death, Xiao Huanling felt a mix of emotions. He realized he could still feel sadness, even though he had left resolutely, determined to sever all ties with the Xiao family. Knowing he would never see his father, who had always been so harsh and critical, again left him with a sense of emptiness, as if something was missing.

Seeing that Xiao Huanling was in a bad mood, Jiang He knew that something must have happened. So he took it upon himself to pick up the letter that Xiao Huanling had read and placed on the desk and read it. He was stunned after reading it.

Not knowing how to comfort Xiao Huanling, Jiang He hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.

“Brother Xiao, please accept my condolences. Uncle has passed away, which was something no one could have predicted. Even if you rush back now, there's nothing you can do. He Qi has already paid respects at the Xiao residence on your behalf, which is considered as fulfilling your filial duty. I'm sure Uncle's spirit in heaven will understand.”

Jiang He didn't really understand why Xiao Huanling wanted to leave home and establish his own residence, break away from the Xiao family, and sever ties with them. He could see that Xiao Huanling and his brother Xiao Hua had a rather distant relationship. Even now that he had learned of the news of Xiao Huanling's father's death, he didn't know the many reasons behind it and couldn't say much. He could only offer some words of comfort and consolation.

After hearing this, Xiao Huanling smiled gratefully at Jiang He.

"I understand what you're saying. Don't worry, I'm fine and I won't get stuck on things."

"I'm just a little taken aback by the news. After all, I saw him before I came here, and he was perfectly fine then. It's only been a little over two weeks, I never expected this..."

"Forget it, there's no point in saying more. When a person dies, it's like a lamp going out. Once he's gone, there's even less kinship between me and the Xiao family. I don't think I've ever told you this before, but I'm just an illegitimate son. I've never had much presence in the Xiao family. My wife isn't exactly bad to me, but she ignores me and even dislikes me. My two older brothers are both legitimate sons, and they are very intelligent and sensible, always favored by our father. As for me, I've never been liked by our father since I was little. Fortunately, I've been a lawless and arrogant playboy. You probably don't know that the eldest brother Xiao you know was someone that everyone in the city of Chang'an avoided when he was a teenager..."

Xiao Huanling spoke calmly, his expression indifferent. Aside from his flamboyant and striking appearance, it was hard to imagine that the lawless and arrogant person he was talking about was actually him.

Jiang He was at a loss for words and could only stand there blankly. After a long while, when Xiao Huanling suddenly smiled and told him to go back and rest, he finally spoke awkwardly.

“Regardless of Brother Xiao’s family background, I, Jiang He, only know that you are the brother I have chosen. In this world, besides my mother, you are the most important family member to me. Brother Xiao, you still have me as your brother and Sister Yang. No one else matters.”

Xiao Huanling nodded.

"Yes, I know. Thank you, Jiang He."

“You and Ayan are both my family.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang He smiled broadly, though he didn't know why he was so happy.

Xiao Huanling had been feeling somewhat depressed, but when he heard Jiang He mention Shi Yan, his mood instantly brightened.

Just after the Mid-Autumn Festival on the fifteenth of August, Li Longji received a memorial from the Crown Prince sent to Huaqing Palace. The matter reported in the memorial forced Li Longji to set off for Chang'an, ending his more than two months of enjoying a life of pleasure and comfort at Huaqing Palace.

Since the Japanese envoys sent to Tang China, as well as envoys from the Western Regions and other countries, came to pay homage to the emperor and offer tribute, the emperor would certainly have to personally meet them to demonstrate the majesty of the great nation.

On August 20th, the imperial carriage carrying the emperor and his concubine, along with a large entourage, set off in a grand procession towards Chang'an.

The autumn wind was whistling, and the earth turned golden. After leaving the Lishan Palace, Shi Yan finally returned to Chang'an City after several days of bumpy travel in the carriage.

Upon entering Nanxun Palace, Shi Yan immediately ordered water to be prepared. After taking a bath to wash away her fatigue, she returned to her bedchamber to catch up on sleep.

When Shi Yan woke up, it was already dinnertime.

"Your Majesty, you're awake."

Shi Yan sat on the bed for a while to recover. After she had recovered from the initial daze, she responded softly and then lifted the bed curtains to look at A Man standing in front of the bed.

"Is something wrong?"

Aman curtsied and replied.

"Your Majesty, His Majesty has sent someone to invite you to have dinner together at Ganlu Palace."

Because Shi Yan had just woken up, she looked somewhat languid, but in A Man's eyes, she exuded a myriad of charms.

"In that case, please do my hair and makeup. Don't keep His Majesty waiting."

Aman stepped forward, took the clothes that Shiyan had taken off, and dressed her. Then she followed Shiyan to the dressing table to comb her hair and apply makeup. Once everything was in place, she went with Shiyan to the Ganlu Palace.

The days passed by very quickly. One day, Gao Lishi suddenly came to Nanxun Palace to invite Shi Yan, saying that envoys from various countries were waiting outside Xingqing Palace for His Majesty the Emperor and the Imperial Concubine to pay their respects.

Shi Yan knew that among the envoys from various countries was a Japanese envoy sent to Tang China. Born under the red flag and familiar with history, she had always deeply hated the Japanese for the many atrocities they had committed against her motherland and people. Although she was now Yang Guifei, and Japan had not yet committed any atrocities or harbored any wolfish ambitions, she simply could not bring herself to meet the Japanese and treat them with kindness.

She had originally prepared a reason for Gao Lishi to return to Li Longji, so that she would not meet with the envoys from various countries. However, 0804 told her that as Yang Yuhuan, she had to accept the homage and audience of the envoys from various countries along with the emperor as the Imperial Concubine of the Tang Dynasty. This was Yang Yuhuan's duty and the established history, which she could not change.

Therefore, Shi Yan had no choice but to suppress her displeasure and try her best to maintain the demeanor of a noble consort of the country. She accompanied Gao Lishi to Xingqing Palace to meet with envoys from various countries with Li Longji, showcasing the grandeur and power of the Tang Dynasty.