Time travel, quick transmigration

0884 With things having come to this point, what else could Shi Yan say?

"I understand, I understand perfectly."

Just as they were speaking, Xiaodie's voice came from outside the door.

"My lady, are you inside?"

Shi Yan ended her conversation with 0804, got up from in front of the dressing case, and walked out.

"What's the matter?"

Shi Yan walked to the door and looked at Xiao Die, who seemed a little anxious.

"My lady, His Majesty and Eunuch Gao have arrived and are currently sitting in the Flower Pavilion."

Shi Yan responded calmly.

"Go and borrow Yunying's seven-stringed zither and bring it to Huaxuan for me. Tell her I'll return it to her tonight."

Seeing Shi Yan so calm and composed, Xiao Die's turbulent heart also calmed down.

"Slave, go now."

Xiaodie stepped to the side and stood by the door. After Shi Yan walked out of the house and went to the Flower Pavilion, she went down the stone steps to Yunying's residence to borrow the seven-stringed zither.

The young eunuch guarding the entrance to the flower pavilion respectfully addressed Shi Yan as "Madam" upon seeing her.

Shi Yan nodded to him and then walked past him into the pavilion.

Gao Lishi was sharp-eared and sharp-eyed. Hearing the commotion outside the door, he took his whisk and went to greet Shi Yan.

"Greetings, Lady Taizhen!"

Shi Yan glanced at Gao Lishi, who was bowing deeply to her, and a graceful and gentle smile appeared on her lips.

“Eunuch Gao is a man of good manners, but there is no need for such a grand ceremony in front of Taizhen.”

Li Longji, who was sitting on the couch where Shi Yan often stayed, also laughed when he heard this.

"Since Lady Taizhen has spoken, you shouldn't be too formal, lest she feel uncomfortable."

Li Longji's words were truly brilliant. On the surface, he was telling Gao Lishi to do as he pleased, but in reality, he was admonishing Gao Lishi to always act according to Yang Yuhuan's likes and dislikes.

As a senior eunuch who had served Li Longji closely for many years, Gao Lishi naturally understood the emperor's double entendre. So he didn't say anything more and just looked at Shi Yan.

"This servant will obey my wife's wishes, but I will still fulfill the proper etiquette."

Shi Yan was just being polite; she didn't care what the master and servant thought.

"May Your Majesty enjoy boundless blessings."

Shi Yan bowed to Li Longji with Taoist etiquette, then looked up and met the emperor's gaze, which had lost its smile and whose eyes were as deep as ink.

Li Longji looked Shi Yan up and down but couldn't see any signs of haggardness or dejection on her face, except that she seemed a little thinner. At this moment, he even began to doubt that Gao Lishi's words were just a lie. In fact, the woman in front of him had never missed him at all, and it was all just his wishful thinking.

Thinking of this, the emperor's pride was somewhat hurt. What frustrated him even more was that he had eagerly rushed to see the person, but the person showed no joy at all.

"No need for formalities, please sit down."

"Your maid is not sensible and lacks manners. She hasn't brought me a single cup of tea while I've been sitting here for so long."

Li Longji's voice was low and unreadable, but Shi Yan understood that he was simply taking his anger out on Shi Yan.

Shi Yan walked to a chair not too far from Li Longji and sat down, speaking neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"It is Taizhen who is not. Not only has she failed to teach those around her well, but she has also neglected His Majesty."

"Since Your Majesty is thirsty, why don't you let Taizhen brew a cup of tea for Your Majesty?"

Shi Yan lifted her eyelids, and her beautiful eyes, filled with affection, faintly revealed a glimmer of light and charm. When Li Longji touched the soft light in her eyes, he felt a momentary daze, and even though he was holding his breath, he couldn't utter a sound.

"I am a guest here, and since it is what you want, I will follow your lead."

Shi Yan smiled faintly.

"Your Majesty, please wait a moment while I go and fetch the necessary items."

He got up and started to walk out.

When Li Longji saw that she had to fetch the things herself, he called out to her.

"Why do you need to do these things yourself? Just let your maid do them. If all else fails, there's Gao Lishi here who can give you orders."

Shi Yan turned her head and smiled sweetly at Li Longji, who was instantly captivated. It is said that the emperor's harem is filled with beauties, but in Li Longji's eyes, no beauty could compare to Yang Yuhuan's smile. Truly, a smile that could launch a thousand ships made all the beauties of the six palaces pale in comparison.

"Your Majesty, I sent Xiaodie to fetch something, so she is not here at the moment."

"But since His Majesty is so considerate, we can only trouble Eunuch Gao."

Gao Lishi dared not utter a word of refusal and readily agreed.

Li Longji did not insist any further and allowed Shi Yan to take Gao Lishi to retrieve the items.

After about half an incense stick's time, Shi Yan returned with the prepared tea leaves and tea set, while Gao Lishi slowly arrived carrying an iron kettle filled with hot water.

Shi Yan arranged the tea set and warmed it with boiling water. Then she took some brick tea and began to brew it with great focus.

Li Longji had never seen Shi Yan's tea-making method before. He found her smooth and flowing movements extremely pleasing to the eye and also quite novel.

He had never known before that anyone could make the simple act of brewing tea so gentle and beautiful. He hadn't even tasted the tea yet, but he was already feeling a little tipsy.

"Your Majesty, please try this tea."

Shi Yan presented Li Longji with a cup of tea placed on a small saucer.

Li Longji reached out and took the tea offered by Shi Yan. As he held the amber-colored tea, a delicate fragrance wafted into his nostrils.

"Your Majesty, smell the fragrance before you taste it, and then savor it slowly in three sips."

Li Longji followed the instructions, and found the tea to be fragrant and refreshing, which made him feel enlightened. He couldn't help but wonder why the tea, which was usually so ordinary, tasted so different today, even sweeter and more intoxicating than the finest nectar.

"Pour me another cup."

Shi Yan then brewed him another cup.

After tasting the second cup, Li Longji's surprise deepened.

"It's truly amazing that the second cup tastes so different from the first one!"

Li Longji savored the mellow, sweet taste and the feeling of warmth rising throughout his body after the tea entered his mouth, finding it utterly incredible.

"Where did you get this tea? Or is it the water or teaware you used when brewing it, or what techniques did you employ?"

The emperor of the mighty Tang Dynasty had tasted all sorts of delicacies, yet today he was captivated by two cups of tea.

Shi Yan remained silent, but poured him another cup.

"Your Majesty, you should savor this third cup carefully and appreciate it slowly."

"Since the tea is delicious, you can enjoy it yourself. What else matters?"

Gao Lishi, standing nearby, had already caught a whiff of the unique aroma of tea. Seeing Shi Yan's distinctive method of brewing tea, he was already curious, and seeing Li Longji so engrossed, his mouth watered. But good things were reserved for the Emperor; he could only watch longingly.

Li Longji felt that Shi Yan's words made sense, so he stopped investigating and took three sips. He felt refreshed and warm all over, and even his stomach, which had been aching occasionally, was relieved.

"I am truly impressed by Yang Guifei. I thought she was a rare and beautiful woman, but I never knew she possessed such a unique and unknown skill."

"I am very happy today."

"Yu Huan, would you like to come to the palace with me? The Tai Zhen Palace has always been reserved for you there..."

Li Longji's gaze towards Shi Yan was noticeably different from before, seemingly carrying a hint of unfathomable emotions and feelings.

Shi Yan interrupted him.