Time travel, quick transmigration

"Your Majesty should not have come here."

As soon as Shi Yan finished speaking, she lowered her eyes and walked out of the hall. Without waiting for Li Longji to speak, she stepped down the stone steps and walked towards the corridor on the left side of the Sanqing Hall.

The emperor, left behind, gazed at her graceful, ethereal figure. He had a lot to say, but Shi Yan's unexpected attitude caught him off guard. As Shi Yan was about to disappear from his sight, Li Longji completely lost his composure, and a sense of urgency rose in his heart.

He did issue an imperial edict ordering Yang Yuhuan to become a Taoist nun, but it wasn't really intended for her to renounce worldly life and dedicate herself to Taoism as a female Taoist priest.

Li Longji strode down the stone steps and chased after Shi Yan. Seeing this, Gao Lishi, who was loyal to his master and dutiful to his duties, naturally followed closely behind him.

The twelve imperial guards followed far behind them, protecting the emperor's safety.

"Yu Huan, stop now. I have something to say to you."

Li Longji hurried and finally caught up with Shi Yan, calling out to her from behind.

Shi Yan wasn't surprised to hear Li Longji's voice. She knew that no emperor liked being disobeyed. She hadn't entered the palace to cultivate herself as Li Longji wished, and he must still be angry. Therefore, upon meeting, she took the initiative, followed by a feigned retreat, completely disrupting Li Longji's concentration. In truth, she didn't want to pay attention to the man behind her, but she was forced to follow the predetermined historical trajectory and have an interaction with Li Longji.

As she reached the corner of the water corridor, Shi Yan reached out and grabbed a swaying willow branch, then suddenly stopped. She composed herself and turned back to look at Li Longji, who was approaching, with a sorrowful expression. As if in a state of restraint or struggle, Shi Yan quickly turned and walked forward, but she was stopped by the eager emperor after only a few steps.

Shi Yan held back and managed to restrain herself, not shaking off the warm, strong, and no longer soft and delicate hand that was holding hers.

Shi Yan felt uncomfortable and uneasy as Li Longji held her hand the whole time, so she turned around, looked at Li Longji, and called out to him.

"His Majesty."

Then she gestured with her eyes that his act of holding her hand was inappropriate at the time.

Seeing the incomprehension and disapproval in Shi Yan's eyes, Li Longji coughed lightly and released her hand as if to remain calm.

Li Longji took a deep look at Shi Yan's face. Looking at the fresh and beautiful face in front of him, he realized how much he longed and looked forward to being with Yang Yuhuan, his daughter-in-law, day and night, and living together as a couple.

At this moment, he had long forgotten that he had come to interrogate someone, and was only hoping that the beauty would understand and love him.

"Come back to the palace with me."

"The Taizhen Palace in the palace has been renovated and is just waiting for you to move in. This place is remote and secluded, and the conditions are limited. It can't compare to the palace."

Li Longji spoke softly, as if he were discussing something with Shi Yan, but his eyes clearly showed an undeniable firmness.

Shi Yan naturally wouldn't do as he said, otherwise she wouldn't have come to Dongling Temple.

“Yu Huan is no longer Yu Huan; she is now merely a nun. My becoming a nun by order of His Majesty has no relation to my former self whatsoever. What difference does it make where I become a nun? His Majesty has ordered me to enter the Tai Zhen Palace in the palace, but I will not go.”

"While I am here in seclusion, I can still pray for Your Majesty and the Tang Dynasty day and night. Therefore, Your Majesty need not worry."

"Isn't my devoted cultivation exactly what His Majesty desires?"

Shi Yan smiled faintly, but it was particularly irritating to Li Longji. He felt like he had shot himself in the foot. He never expected that the person in front of him would be so stubborn, as if she was heartbroken because he had ordered her to become a nun.

"Your Majesty, now that you have seen it, you may return to the palace. Rest assured, I have indeed made up my mind to give up everything and devote myself to the Dao."

"Taizhen bids farewell to Your Majesty."

He made a gesture of taking his leave.

Her resolute demeanor put Li Longji, who always prided himself on having everything under control, in a difficult position, and also caused Gao Lishi, who was anxiously watching the two of them, a lot of trouble.

"Yu Huan, do you really not understand my sincere feelings for you, I..."

At that moment, Li Longji opened his arms to embrace Shi Yan, but Shi Yan's retreating movement made him feel as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water, instantly sobering him up.

Shi Yan suppressed the coldness in her heart and looked at Li Longji with feigned sadness.

"Your Majesty, Taizhen is doing well in Dongling Temple and has no intention of leaving for the time being."

"Your Majesty is wise and powerful, and is respected and loved by all the people. Do not let someone who has already become a monk or Taoist priest cause you to be criticized or reviled. People's words are a fearsome thing. Your Majesty may not be afraid, but Taizhen cannot bear it."

"Your Majesty, please have pity on this frail woman whose life is like a floating duckweed. Taizhen thanks you in advance."

"Perhaps as time goes by, people will forget the former Princess Consort of Shou, and forget what kind of past Yang Yuhuan had. But that's a matter for the future, and we'll talk about the future later."

Li Longji, whose heart was sinking, heard Shi Yan's next words and felt as if a ray of light had appeared after the clouds had parted. Shi Yan's mention of the future convinced him that he wasn't just indulging in wishful thinking. He couldn't be happier.

Since there was still a chance for things to turn around, Li Longji was reluctant to push people too hard. Besides, every word Shi Yan said was for his benefit, and he was very pleased with Shi Yan's praise.

"I don't necessarily want to force you to enter the palace. Since you've decided to cultivate here at Dongling Temple for the time being, I will respect your wishes."

"However, this temple is simple and desolate, which is not in line with your status. After returning to the palace, I will issue an imperial decree to bestow upon Dongling Temple the title of a royal Taoist temple, and I will also order people to come and renovate, expand and redecorate it."

"You've become so thin in just a few days. It must be because you're not getting enough to eat and wear in this temple. I'll have Gao Lishi prepare some things and have them sent to you."

“I shouldn’t disturb you here, but I’m lonely and can’t help but miss you when I’m alone in the palace. Yu Huan, may I come to see you from time to time so we can talk? Just being able to see you occasionally will make the days less unbearable.”

Li Longji gazed at Shi Yan with deep affection, fearing that she might reject his feelings.

Looking into Li Longji's eyes, Shi Yan couldn't help but admire the way he, the ruler of a nation, spoke such sweet words. However, she wasn't the type to succumb to such charm. But she would still reciprocate.

Under Li Longji's expectant gaze, Shi Yan nodded slightly. This small gesture immediately made the high and mighty emperor beam with joy, as if his long-cherished wish had finally been fulfilled.

"Okay, great."

Shi Yan didn't wait for Li Longji to finish being happy. She had already run out of patience, and seeing that she had appeased Li Longji, she naturally planned to leave.

"Your Majesty, please return to the palace quickly. As for the repair of this place, Your Majesty can decide. However, please grant all your favors to Abbot Qingfeng. Taizhen left the palace feeling desolate. If it weren't for Abbot Qingfeng taking her in, Taizhen would probably have nowhere to stay and doesn't know what her life would be like."

Li Longji felt a pang of pain in his heart upon hearing this.

"Very well, I will do as you say. From now on, I will never let you feel sad again. I will protect you and make you happy. You can be carefree and happy."