Time travel, quick transmigration

Xiao Huanling released the reins and handed them to Shi Yan. He stood there watching as Shi Yan slowly drove Liuyun to trot on the grass as he had instructed, his gaze becoming increasingly gentle.

Shi Yan was clearly very happy; her melodious laughter, like the sound of silver bells, echoed through Huiyun Valley, and Xiao Huanling was also infected by that joy.

At this moment, Shi Yan was no longer anyone's princess in his eyes, nor was she the female Taoist nun who had become a nun at Dongling Temple. He looked at the woman riding a white horse with her black hair flying in the wind and felt that she was as happy as a child. He only wished that the person in his eyes could always be happy, and he was willing to protect her smile, no matter what price he had to pay for it.

"Xiao Huanling, I've learned to ride a horse! It turns out riding a horse isn't as difficult as I thought."

"But I was able to learn it so quickly thanks to you, thank you, Ah Ling. I'm very happy today."

Shi Yan rode her horse up to Xiao Huanling and looked at him with a radiant smile.

Xiao Huanling responded with a smile.

"If you want to thank me, how about you perform a dance for me?"

Xiao Huanling had long heard that Princess Yang Yuhuan of the Prince of Shou was skilled in music and dance, and although he had never had the chance to meet her, he longed to. In particular, rumors circulated that the Prince of Shou and Princess Yang were a loving and harmonious couple, and fueled by his envy and jealousy of Li Yuhuan, he impulsively voiced his longing and desire.

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan was stunned, even slightly furrowing her brows. She didn't understand why men of this era always loved watching people dance. It wasn't that she was being pretentious; she simply disliked being asked to do things she didn't want to do. She loved dancing entirely out of her own interest, on a whim, not because she was asked to.

Xiao Huanling received no response, and his heart sank. Noticing Shi Yan's furrowed brows, he dared not hope any longer and suppressed his dejected emotions.

"Don't be upset, I was just saying it casually, don't take it to heart."

"It was my fault. I heard some gossip before, saying that you are knowledgeable in music and skilled in singing and dancing, and I felt regretful that I would never have the chance to meet you. That's why I acted impulsively..."

"I only wish you to do what you love."

After speaking, Xiao Huanling lowered her eyes dejectedly, looking like a child who had done something wrong.

Shi Yan suddenly softened, and the gloom in her heart vanished.

"Let's leave it at that for today. There will always be another chance in the future. It's getting late, let's go back. If we stay any longer, Xiaodie might get anxious."

Shi Yan's words left room for maneuver. Xiao Huanling looked up at the person who was smiling at him, and suddenly he was not so downcast anymore.

"Okay, I'll wait."

"Sit tight!"

With that, he leaped up and landed steadily on Liuyun's back. Then he took the reins from Shi Yan's hand, gave a soft shout of "Giddy up!", and galloped off in the direction they had come from.

Before leaving, the two paused for a moment at the entrance to Huiyun Valley.

"This place is so beautiful, we'll come back here to ride horses again next time."

Shi Yan's fondness for Huiyun Valley was evident.

Xiao Huanling sensed a hint of reluctance in Shi Yan's words and responded softly with an "okay".

As long as it is Shi Yan's wish, he will not refuse anything he can do, and even if he cannot do it, he will find a way to do it.

After taking one last look at the two from Huiyun Valley, he turned and rode away on Liuyun.

In the Ganlu Hall, Li Longji, having just finished meeting with Li Linfu and two ministers, was sitting on a couch with his head propped up and his eyes closed, resting.

"Your Majesty, why don't you go to the inner palace and take a nap?"

Gao Lishi lowered his voice and looked at Li Longji, who looked slightly tired, with concern in his eyes. He hesitated whether to report Yang Yuhuan's headache to the emperor and cause him worry.

Li Longji opened his eyes and glanced at Gao Lishi, who had a hesitant expression on his face.

"Just say what you have to say. Why are you acting like those pretentious literati in front of me?"

Gao Lishi's heart tightened, and he quickly bowed and apologized, recounting the message that Xiao Shen had handed back.

Upon hearing that Yang Yuhuan, who was at Dongling Temple, had suffered a relapse of her headache, Li Longji's expression immediately darkened, and he stood up abruptly, unable to suppress his worry.

"You dog servant, are you planning to keep such an important matter from me? Prepare the carriage, I am going out of the palace to see her, and I will take the rewards I have prepared for her, as well as the imperial physician."

He finished speaking and strode out of the hall.

Gao Lishi, who was inwardly groaning, dared not slow down when he saw Li Longji's hurried manner and jogged a few steps to catch up with him.

Liuyun was a fine steed that could travel a thousand miles a day, and it took less than half an hour to send Shi Yan and Xiao Huanling back to Dongling Temple.

Shi Yan accompanied Xiao Huanling to lead Liuyun back to the original grove and let it stay there. Then, she and Xiao Huanling returned to Huanqing Residence along the same route.

After going out, Shi Yan felt much better, and her eyes and brows radiated a captivating charm, adding an extra touch of beauty and radiance to her already delicate, beautiful, and luminous face.

After the two returned, Shi Yan went to her room to bathe and change her clothes before going to the flower hall to sit and play chess with Xiao Huanling to pass the time. Both games ended with Shi Yan losing, but she didn't take it too seriously. After all, she had only just learned Go, and losing to Xiao Huanling didn't bother her.

After playing chess, Xiao Huanling sat opposite Shi Yan. He gazed at her, her every move pleasing to the eye as she drank tea with her eyes lowered, and he was so captivated by her beauty that he lost himself in her gaze.

"I didn't want to go out, and before I knew it, it hadn't taken up much time. If I wasn't worried that Xiaodie wouldn't be able to handle any unexpected situations on her own, I would have stayed in Huiyun Valley longer."

Although her words were calm and even, Xiao Huanling detected a hint of coquetry in them. He looked at Shi Yan with a touch of indulgence, as if to comfort her.

"It's alright, we can stay longer next time we go, there's no need to rush back."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan thought it was feasible and nodded.

As the two were talking, Xiaodie hurriedly came into the house from outside and bowed to Shi Yan.

"My lady, Master Wenying has brought His Majesty and Eunuch Gao to Huanqing Residence."

As Xiaodie spoke, she looked up at Shi Yan with worry in her eyes.

Hearing Xiaodie's rapid breathing, Shi Yan knew how hurriedly she had arrived. She was also surprised by Li Longji's arrival, but then she realized that it must be because she had missed the morning class, and the Imperial Guards guarding outside the Dongling Temple had probably heard something and reported it to Li Longji. Shi Yan was secretly annoyed that she was being monitored so closely, with no freedom whatsoever. But in front of Xiao Huanling, Xiaodie couldn't reveal her true feelings.

"I understand. Go outside to greet His Majesty. I'll go back inside and lie down first. When His Majesty arrives, let him sit here for a while, then go and inform me."

"Ah Ling, we have guests today. You should go back to your room first. You must be tired after going out. We'll see you again at dinner."

Xiao Huanling suppressed the complex emotions in his eyes and quietly looked at Shi Yan. He wondered why Shi Yan was still calm and composed even now. He didn't understand why she would want to see that despicable and vile emperor if she was unwilling to do so.

“I’m in the room next door. Just call me if you need anything, and I’ll respond immediately.”

After leaving behind a few nonsensical words, Xiao Huanling got up and left.

Shi Yan smiled with lowered eyes, but felt a warmth in her heart.