Time travel, quick transmigration

Xiao Huanling reached out and took the bamboo basket, placing it on the small table on the couch, and said in a calm and indifferent tone.

“Aman, go outside and keep watch. I suppose you don’t want anyone to barge in and see me, a man from another family, alone with your mistress.”

Shi Yan looked at Xiao Huanling with amusement as he rarely showed such a sharp tongue, then turned to Aman with a reassuring smile.

“Aman, I have something to say to Young Master Xiao. You should go back to sleep first. Everyone is probably asleep by now, so no one will come to Nanxun Palace. If there is any disturbance, A-Ling has his own way of dealing with it, so you don’t need to worry.”

After hearing this, Aman hesitated for a long time but ultimately said nothing more. After all, this encounter had made her fear of Xiao Huanling and made her feel more deeply how unpredictable and elusive he was. So she bowed and took her leave.

When only the two of them were in the Sleeping Flower Pavilion, Shi Yan belatedly realized how close she and Xiao Huanling were and how ambiguous the atmosphere was. She pulled her hand away from Xiao Huanling's and straightened her posture to create some distance between them.

Xiao Huanling was surprised to find his hand empty. He noticed that Shi Yan was deliberately keeping her distance and her eyes dimmed.

"Look at these pomegranates, do you like them?"

Xiao Huanling suppressed a slight disappointment in his heart and chose to respect Shi Yan's wishes by not making any further attempts to get closer to her.

Shi Yan didn't notice the change in Xiao Huanling's gaze. She looked down at the bright red, plump, and large pomegranates in the bamboo basket, a smile playing on her lips and a gleam in her eyes.

"It looks delicious."

As he spoke, he picked one up and looked at Xiao Huanling with a smile.

"Ah Ling, thank you. You know, every year at this time I look forward to the pomegranates ripening. I love the sweet taste of pomegranates. Although it's hard to peel and eat these fruits, I don't understand why I love eating pomegranates so much."

Xiao Huanling looked at Shi Yan's bright smile, his eyes filled with tenderness.

"It was said in Chang'an that the Imperial Concubine loved lychees. Every year when the lychees ripened, someone would rush to deliver the freshest lychees from Lingnan to the palace, just so that the Imperial Concubine could eat the most delicious and fresh lychees. When I heard this, I thought it was really unbelievable. The Ayan I knew was not a woman who would do things that would waste people's money and resources for her own selfish desires."

"Ever since I heard from Xiaodie that you love pomegranates, I'm even more certain that the rumors are unbelievable."

"I don't know who threw the bad rumors and mud at you, nor do I understand why the emperor allowed those unfavorable rumors to spread. If he truly cared for you, he wouldn't have made you the target of public criticism and the subject of gossip among the officials."

Shi Yan smiled gently upon hearing this.

Seeing Xiao Huanling's indignant expression as she spoke up for her, it was impossible not to be moved.

"You needn't do this. I don't care about those fabricated charges. In recent years, His Majesty has indulged in pleasure, neglected state affairs, favored treacherous officials, and, coupled with severe land annexation, has caused many people to flee their lands and become displaced, leading to widespread resentment among the people. You should also have seen that His Majesty favors foreigners like An Lushan and Shi Siming, allowing them to wield excessive power. They have implicitly developed into powerful figures who hold administrative, financial, and other authority, becoming the strongest forces in their respective regions. The court is now corrupt, and both officials and common people are dissatisfied and resentful. They cannot blame their monarch, so they can only point the finger at a weak woman."

"Emperors who once worked diligently to establish a prosperous era where all nations paid tribute must have some reason to become incompetent and addicted to pleasure. I, the imperial concubine who was taken from my son by the emperor despite the lack of moral boundaries, am naturally the culprit who harmed and bewitched the emperor. Otherwise, how could they find the most suitable reason for the emperor they were loyal to?"

Shi Yan didn't know if, historically, Yang Yuhuan's desire to satisfy her appetite truly led Emperor Li Longji to spare no expense in sending lychees from afar to the palace for her to enjoy. If Emperor Li Longji were still truly wise, he would never have allowed such an absurd and extravagant act to exist. Ultimately, it was because Emperor Li Longji himself had long since lost his wisdom and intelligence.

“You also say that sending lychees from Lingnan to the palace by fast horse is a waste of manpower and resources, but didn’t you yourself travel thousands of miles back to Chang’an for me, just to pick fresh pomegranates and bring them to me? You only care about others, do you think you are doing the same thing?”

Xiao Huanling was caught off guard by her beloved and was momentarily speechless, but she still spoke with great confidence.

“How can this be the same? I am doing this to fulfill my promise to you, and it has not affected the country or the people. It is just my personal action. I would never bear to hurt you in the slightest. Perhaps my actions are not wise, but I am willing to do so for you.”

"Besides, my return to Chang'an is not just because of my earlier promise to let you taste the first batch of pomegranates. In addition to seeing you, I also came back to pay respects to my father. So you don't need to feel burdened."

Upon hearing Xiao Huanling mention paying respects to his father, Shi Yan stopped teasing him and looked at Xiao Huanling with tenderness and affection.

“I heard about your father’s passing before, but I didn’t see you mention anything about the Xiao family in your letters, so I didn’t bring it up either. But I know that although you seem indifferent, you actually care. You have a soft heart and are very sentimental. Ah Ling, you still have me. I am also your family. You are not alone, and don’t be sad.”

Xiao Huanling gazed deeply into Shi Yan's bright, star-like eyes, a warmth welling up in his own.

"Yes, I'm not sad. As long as Ayan is by my side, nothing else matters. I'm also Ayan's family. We are each other's closest and most important people."

Shi Yan smiled and nodded.

Xiao Huanling truly wished he could meld the person before him into his very bones, so that he could always keep his beloved by his side and never be separated from her. But he still possessed reason and could not do anything mad, so he could only restrain himself again and again.

“Ayan, now that I’ve seen you, I should go. I can’t stay away from Taiyuan for too long. Before I came, I told them I would go back as soon as possible. Although our time together was short, I am very satisfied. Seeing that you are well, my wish has been fulfilled. That’s good.”

"I bought this from a foreign merchant by chance. It is said that this gem was found by a Persian king for his beloved queen. It is called the Azure Star. However, a rebellion broke out in the country and the king and queen died. The gem then fell into the hands of others. After a hundred years, it ended up in the hands of that merchant. As soon as I saw the ruby, I felt that it was a perfect match for you, so I bought it."

"I'm giving this to you as a gift, like giving you a star. Do you like it?"

Xiao Huanling took the ruby ​​from his bosom, placed it in his palm, and handed it to Shi Yan.

Shi Yan looked at the dazzling, dark red gemstone in Xiao Huanling's palm, which was already set in a silver bracelet, and then thought about what Xiao Huanling had said.

"Azure Star, what a beautiful name. I like it very much."

Xiao Huanling smiled slightly, her radiance shining through.

"I knew you'd like it. I'll put it on you."

As he spoke, he took Shi Yan's hand and put the bracelet on her left wrist.

Shi Yan had been intently watching Xiao Huanling when she inadvertently caught sight of a bright red mole on the inside of Xiao Huanling's right wrist. She stared at the mole in a daze, and when she came to her senses, she reached out and touched it.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to. I just noticed a mole on Ah Ling's wrist..."

Xiao Huanling glanced at her wrist and smiled at her.

"If Ayan likes to watch, I don't mind if you hold my hand and watch to your heart's content."

Shi Yan was inexplicably embarrassed and waved her hand.

"No need, no need. Hehe..."

“I really like the star that Ah Ling gave me, and I will wear it forever.”

Xiao Huanling smiled, withdrew his hand, and looked at Shi Yan with reluctance.

"Ayan... I really have to go."