Time travel, quick transmigration

Shi Yan and Xiao Die had some tea and snacks at the Flower Pavilion. As it was getting close to noon, Yun Ying promptly brought them lunch.

Shi Yan stayed in Yunying Flower Pavilion for a while, and out of courtesy, invited her to have lunch with her at Huanqing Residence. However, since her junior sister Chengyuan was waiting for her, she declined.

After seeing Yunying off at Huanqing Residence, Shi Yan had just entered the courtyard when she saw a huge eagle fly down from the sky with a cry and land steadily on the artificial rock by the small pond. Realizing something, she walked straight up to it and slowly approached the eagle, which was staring at her with a pair of sharp eagle eyes as if it were sizing her up.

"Did A-Ling ask you to deliver this message to me?"

"Yes, the A-Ling I'm talking about is Xiao Huanling. Do you understand what I'm saying?"

The eagle seemed to understand what she was saying, but it rolled its eyes as if she were a fool, then flapped its wings, revealing its sharp talons with a letter attached.

Seemingly rejected by an eagle, Shi Yan was somewhat speechless. Carefully observing the eagle in front of her, which was covered in brown feathers except for a ring of white feathers around its neck, Shi Yan tentatively reached out to untangle the letter tube from its right claw.

Fortunately, the eagle remained relatively quiet and behaved like a well-behaved child, allowing Shi Yan to do whatever she wanted. Unexpectedly, the eagle cooperated with her so well. After removing the letter tube, Shi Yan couldn't help but gently stroke its back twice. Seeing that it was only staring at her with its eagle eyes and showing a curious look, Shi Yan suddenly saw a bit of cuteness in it.

"You've come all this way to send me this message; it must have been hard work. Wait here for me, don't fly away yet. I'll go get you some snacks and fruit."

Holding the letter tube, Shi Yan turned and went back into the house to get something. While she was there, she spread out paper on the table, moistened the ink, and quickly wrote a reply to Xiao Huanling. After taking Xiao Huanling's letter out of the letter tube and putting her own reply into a small bamboo tube, Shi Yan went to find some dried fruit that eagles could eat and came out of the bedroom.

"Can you eat these beans and dried fruit?"

Shi Yan tried to grab a handful of kidney beans and give them to the eagle. The eagle only paused for a moment before eating all the beans in Shi Yan's hand.

Seeing this, Shi Yan took out some dried fruit and fed it to the eagle. The eagle lowered its head, probably to confirm that it was safe to eat, and then took a bite. Shi Yan fed it several dried fruits in a row until it refused to eat anymore, at which point Shi Yan stopped feeding it.

"This is a reply to Xiao Huanling."

As she spoke, she tied the letter tube to the eagle's right claw, making sure it wouldn't come loose or fall off before Shi Yan stopped.

"It was a pleasure to see you today. Go ahead!"

Shi Yan smiled and stroked the feathers on the eagle's back as she bid it farewell.

Perhaps sensing Shi Yan's kindness and gentleness, the eagle's sharp eyes softened a bit. After looking at Shi Yan for a while, its eyes seemed to reflect Shi Yan's appearance. Then, without hesitation, it spread its wings and flew into the azure sky.

"Wife, why are you standing in the yard? Is there something interesting in the sky? What kind of bird was that calling just now? I've never heard it before."

Xiaodie walked to Shi Yan's side with a puzzled look, and looked up at the sky, but apart from the clouds and a few birds that occasionally flew by, there was nothing special about the sky.

Shi Yan simply smiled and did not answer her.

"Let's go have lunch first. We can talk about the rest after lunch."

Seeing Shi Yan walk towards the flower pavilion, Xiao Die, realizing what was happening, immediately followed.

The two ate a little something and then couldn't eat anymore, mainly because they had eaten some snacks earlier and weren't very hungry.

After Xiaodie finished cleaning up the dishes and utensils and put them in the food box to wash, Shi Yan sat in the flower pavilion for a while before going back to her room to read Xiao Huanling's letter.

Shi Yan took out the letter from the drawer of her dressing case and unfolded it. She read it carefully. In the letter, Xiao Huanling described the local customs, scenery, and landscapes he had encountered along the way, as well as some interesting stories. He also described how he met Cang Yu and tamed it. The letter ended with greetings, concern, and words of advice. Every word revealed Xiao Huanling's feelings when he wrote the letter. Shi Yan couldn't help but smile knowingly, as if she could also feel the beauty of what Xiao Huanling had seen and heard through those vivid words.

Seeing it is like possessing it; those who have read Xiao Huanling's written descriptions are as if they have truly seen it.

Far away on the western mountain, at the hermitage of Daoist Yuanzhen, Xiao Huanling, with his black hair flowing like a waterfall and wearing a dark blue brocade robe, was gazing at the vast sky with its floating clouds, as if he were looking forward to something.

Shi Yan was somewhat relieved that she had the ability to comprehend and could read Tang Dynasty characters, so she wasn't illiterate. After folding the letter, Shi Yan put it away in her jewelry box.

"Yan Yan, you seem to be in a good mood."

0804's sweet, childlike voice suddenly rang out, making Shi Yan, who was lost in her thoughts, jump.

"Why did you suddenly make a sound? You startled me."

Shi Yan mumbled a few words in a low voice and patted her chest lightly.

0804 puffed out his cheeks.

"Hmph, you're secretly happy there, and you won't let me say anything? Yan Yan, you're so mean."

"You just like Xiao Huanling, but you won't admit it. You received a letter from him and you're all smiles, like you've eaten honey. When have I ever seen you smile so sweetly?"

Shi Yan immediately retorted, clearly displeased.

"No way."

"Xiao Ba, if you keep talking nonsense like this, I really won't talk to you anymore."

"Imagine you are me receiving a letter from a friend who is far away. Would you be unhappy?"

0804 first pouted in grievance, then fell silent for a moment. "What Yan Yan said seems to make some sense. Was I overthinking it?"

"Then you have to promise me you won't like Xiao Huanling."

0804 was worried that Shi Yan had really fallen in love with Xiao Huanling, and that she would be heartbroken if she left him. It didn't want Shi Yan to be heartbroken because of anyone.

Shi Yan found it somewhat amusing. She didn't understand why 0804 misunderstood her as liking Xiao Huanling. But if there was any liking, it was just the liking between friends, nothing more.

"Stop making wild guesses all day long. If you have nothing to do, go to sleep."

Just as 0804 was about to say "okay," he suddenly shuddered.

"Oh, I forgot to tell you the most important thing."

"Yan Yan, the emperor has come from the palace and is heading to Dongling Temple. Get ready and see how to deal with him."

"He's already at the entrance of Huanqing Residence."

0804's words startled Shi Yan. She never expected that the person she had almost forgotten would come knocking on her door again.

"I'm really tired. I've already had a long day, and I'm exhausted. I just want to rest. Why did he have to come at this time?"

"Xiao Ba, can you knock him out? I really don't have much energy left to deal with him."

0804 shook his head like a rattle drum.

"No, Yan Yan. Yang Yuhuan is Li Longji's favorite concubine. If you always avoid him and don't spend time with him, how can you expect him to be devoted to her? No matter how interested a man is in a woman, his interest will fade over time. Since you've become Yang Yuhuan, you must become Li Longji's most beloved concubine. You must make him fall head over heels for you. Do you understand?"