Time travel, quick transmigration

Gao Lishi relayed Shi Yan's words to Li Longji, and Li Longji was deeply saddened upon hearing them.

"Did she really say that? Oh well, it was I who wronged her in the end."

"I already had no face to face her, nor the courage to see her. But now that she wants to see me, I will go and see her."

He let out a long sigh.

Looking at the man before him, who was now an old man and had long lost his former kingly demeanor, Gao Lishi felt a pang of sorrow in his heart.

"Your Majesty, even if the Consort harbors resentment, there is nothing that can be done. The situation no longer allows Your Majesty to be soft-hearted. Your safety is the most important thing. If anything happens to you, what will become of the future?"

"When you see the Imperial Concubine, you can speak frankly to her about your predicament. I believe the Imperial Concubine will understand His Majesty. As long as the Imperial Concubine cares about you, she will not blame you."

Li Longji forced a smile.

"Is that so? Will she really understand me? But no matter what, I abandoned her, I betrayed her. How can I forgive myself for the rest of my life?"

"Lishi, tell me, am I the most failed emperor?"

Gao Lishi did not answer, nor did he know how to answer.

Li Longji gave a light sneer.

"It seems my words have put you in a difficult position..."

"Let's go, come with me to see her."

"It's time to say goodbye to her properly, even though it's cruel."

As he spoke, he slowly walked out of the room, leaning on his cane.

Gao Lishi then followed behind him with several palace servants.

As soon as Li Longji and his entourage left the post station, Chen Xuanli and the others who had been waiting outside immediately stepped forward to pay their respects.

Li Longji ignored Chen Xuanli and the others, and walked straight past them.

Although he no longer possessed the dignity of a monarch, the pride of being the supreme ruler remained, and the residual authority of the one in power still lingered. Before the six armies, Li Longji still maintained his dignity as the Son of Heaven.

The soldiers, who had been shouting angrily, became even more enraged upon seeing the composed and calm Imperial Concubine and then the once high and mighty Emperor. However, their deep-seated awe and respect for imperial power prevented them from acting rashly. Furthermore, with the restraint of Chen Xuanli and others, they could only stare intently at Li Longji's back with eyes as fierce as wolves and tigers.

Chen Xuanli and the others already knew the truth about Li Longji's decree ordering Yang Yuhuan to hang herself. Since it was already a done deal, they didn't mind waiting a little longer. They didn't think that delaying a few more moments would allow Yang Yuhuan to escape death by chance.

As soon as Li Longji entered the temple, he was invited into the Buddhist hall by Aman, who was waiting outside.

When Li Longji arrived at the Buddhist hall, he did not go in immediately, but hesitated and stood at the door for a moment.

Gao Lishi naturally understood his master's feelings.

Ah Man, who was very dissatisfied with him, became impatient and said irritably.

"Your Majesty, my master is still waiting for you. Please go in quickly."

Aman's tone was very unfriendly, which undoubtedly offended Gao Lishi's noble and respected master. Gao Lishi frowned and glanced at Aman.

Aman glared back at Gao Lishi when he looked at her with reproach, which caught Gao Lishi off guard and left him stunned.

Li Longji could hear the impatience in Aman's words, but he pretended not to know. He hesitated and became timid, but in the end he mustered up his courage, stepped over the threshold, and entered the Buddhist hall.

Perhaps this is the only time in his life he has ever felt so indecisive, so unable to face a certain person.

The Buddha's face is compassionate, his eyes always lowered in pity for all living beings. He gazes at the compassionate Buddha on the throne with a very calm and devout expression.

When Li Longji entered the Buddhist hall, he saw a woman kneeling in silent worship, her robes shed and her appearance cleansed of worldly dust. At that moment, all the memories flooded his mind; the woman who had haunted his dreams and troubled his heart, the one he had longed for day and night, still stirred within him an overwhelming emotion.

"Yu Huan..."

Shi Yan slowly opened her eyes, then stood up and turned to face the emperor, whose eyes were full of deep affection, gazing at each other from afar.

They are so close now, and they used to spend so much time together, so why does it seem like there is an insurmountable chasm between them now?

For a moment, Li Longji was somewhat dazed.

"Your Majesty, are you willing to come and see Yu Huan? Yu Huan thought you didn't even want to come and see her off on her final journey."

A hint of hidden pain flashed in Li Longji's eyes, but he quickly concealed it.

"Yu Huan, I am truly sorry for making this decision. I have broken my vow to spend my life with you. I have let you down. But please believe me, as long as I have the strength to protect myself and the means to break this deadlock, I will never compromise."

“I am not greedy for life, but as the ruler of this country, I have to fulfill my responsibilities. If I were not the emperor, I would not have to consider the country or be responsible to my subjects. I would even be willing to die with you. Your brother Yang Guozhong has been executed for treason. Everyone thinks that you, as a member of the Yang family, can no longer stay by my side. They hate Yang Guozhong and cannot tolerate you, as a member of the Yang family.”

"I, this incompetent ruler, cannot protect you."

When he got emotional, Li Longji even got teary-eyed.

Shi Yan, however, had already seen through the selfish, hypocritical, cowardly, and heartless nature of the man in front of her who was nearing the end of his life, and couldn't help but smile with a hint of mockery.

"Your Majesty, what you're saying is just to convince and move yourself."

"Your words of unwavering affection, your vows of eternal love, your sweet words—all now seem like a joke, nothing more than a fleeting dream. Fortunately, I never believed a single word you said, any promise you made, any affection you spoke of. The favor you bestowed was indeed eye-catching, enviable, and jealous, but in my eyes, it was nothing but an empty facade. I never enjoyed it, nor did I ever covet it. What you gave me was never what I wanted. Even the Taoist title of Tai Zhen Nu Guan and the title of Imperial Concubine—these were all imposed upon me by you. When did you ever truly care about my own wishes?"

"To tell you the truth, I, Yang Yuhuan, have never loved your son, Prince Shou, nor have I ever loved you. You two are truly father and son. One is cowardly and afraid to say no to his own father, unable even to protect his own wife; the other is a philanderer who disregards human ethics and forcibly takes his daughter-in-law. Yet, in the face of life and death, he is cowardly and selfish, choosing to sacrifice a woman to fulfill his own desires. What is there about you that is worthy of love, and what makes anyone willing to die for you?"

“Your Majesty, you should remember that I have advised you and reminded you more than once that foreigners like An Lushan are unreliable and should be guarded against. I have also said frankly that there is no need to bestow favors on the Yang siblings, but you still insist on your own way.”

“An Lushan and Yang Guozhong, one rebelled and started a rebellion, and the other flattered the emperor and abused his power, bringing disaster to the country and the people. Both of them were personally promoted and given important positions by you. The current situation is entirely your fault. What does it have to do with Yu Huan?”

“Over the years, I have never even had any contact with the Yang family.”

"What I despise most is that you act so affectionately towards Consort Wu Hui, Sister Mei, and Yu Huan, but in the end, who have you truly loved and cherished? Even Consort Wu Hui, who was favored by you, still forgot the old for the new."

"You are inherently a cold-hearted person, so stop pretending to be so affectionate."

“I will not accept your imperial decree today, nor will I be willing to die for you. I am not that selfless and noble.”

Li Longji looked at the woman who was smiling innocently and purely, his eyes filled with shock, anger, shame, pain and a variety of emotions. He could not bear it and swayed precariously, barely managing to stay upright.