Time travel, quick transmigration

"Your Majesty, I have long heard that you are not only well-versed in music and have a great love for musical composition, but you are also skilled in playing the qin. You once composed a qin piece called 'A Journey to the Moon Palace,' which has a lofty and profound artistic conception, a clear and melodious tone, and a feeling of soaring above the world and riding the wind. I truly admire it."

"Your Majesty is not only a wise ruler of the country, but also a rare and exceptional man in the world who is skilled in both literature and martial arts, and is also very talented."

"I have never heard you play the zither before, Taizhen. I wonder if I would have the honor of hearing it today?"

As Shi Yan was speaking, Xiao Die, who had gone to fetch the zither, was already waiting at the door to be summoned.

"Your Majesty, Xiaodie has brought the zither. Shall we summon her in?"

Li Longji looked at the expectant woman before him and was deeply moved by her words. He should have reprimanded her for her presumptuousness, thinking that few people in this world would dare to ask anything of him. But seeing the expectation in her eyes and the blatant and open scheme she was plotting, he couldn't utter a harsh word.

"Let her in."

Gao Lishi responded in a low voice and continued chanting.

"Summon Xiaodie to the inner chambers for an audience!"

Upon hearing Gao Lishi's voice, Xiaodie took a deep breath, then slowly entered the house with her zither in her arms and bowed respectfully to Li Longji from afar.

Li Longji waved his hand.

Gao Lishi understood and smiled, telling Xiao Die to get up.

"Just put the zither down."

Shi Yan spoke in a gentle voice.

Xiaodie didn't dare to breathe loudly. She straightened up, walked to the table in front of her, put down the zither, and then took her leave.

After obtaining his Imperial Guard token, Xiao Shen, who had not returned, retraced his steps back to Dongling Temple. Standing outside the temple, he leaped up and nimbly climbed a thick tree.

"Why did you take so long? Did something happen?"

The muscular, square-faced man saw him from afar, and with a few light leaps, landed on the tree trunk next to him, glancing at him.

"It was delayed by some things, so let's not talk about it."

Xiao Shen gave a few perfunctory replies, clearly unwilling to speak. He truly didn't want his three brothers to know that not only had his waist token and silver pouch been stolen by a Kunlun slave, but he had also been outrun by the other man, chasing him for several streets until he was nearly breathless. If it weren't for the help of a chivalrous person who managed to catch the Kunlun slave and retrieve his belongings, he didn't know how much trouble he would have been in. Telling the truth would be incredibly embarrassing; he was determined to keep it a secret.

Seeing that he was unwilling to talk, the square-faced man didn't ask any more questions. As long as the person was back safe and sound, that was all that mattered.

Did you notice anything unusual when you went out today?

Xiao Shen pondered for a moment.

"There was nothing unusual about it. We followed Xiaodie for a while, and then their carriage stopped on the main road for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn. I found that strange at the time. Later, a village woman passed by and said a few words to the uncle driving the carriage. I was too far away to hear what they were saying, but the village woman seemed to be asking for a ride. After Xiaodie asked the village woman a few questions, she agreed to give her a ride."

"Now that I think about it, I find it even stranger. Why did they stop the carriage by the roadside for no reason? And the village woman's appearance was so coincidental..."

"But they don't look like they know each other at all."

Xiao Shen was lost in his memories.

The square-faced man, however, fell into deep thought.

"Did you get a good look at that village woman? Did you find out who she was?"

Xiao Shen paused for a moment before speaking.

"She was wearing a veil and was walking with a limp, leaning on a tree branch, as if she had injured her foot."

"The village woman got off the carriage at the market and didn't go with Xiaodie and the others. I saw that the village woman was ordinary and there was nothing suspicious about her, so I didn't pay any attention to her."

The square-faced man frowned slightly, still harboring doubts, but now was not the time to delve into the matter.

"Alright, let's not worry about whether that village woman is suspicious or not. His Majesty came over just now and has been staying for more than an hour without returning to the palace. We don't know how long His Majesty will stay today. Our most important task now is to protect His Majesty and keep an eye on the situation around Dongling Temple."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Shen changed his dejected expression and said seriously.

"Yes, I know."

The melodious strains of the zither filled the Flower Pavilion. Shi Yan was captivated by Li Longji's playing, feeling as if she were in a dreamlike, ethereal realm. The clear, melodious tune, with its rises and falls, stirred endless reverie. Looking at Li Longji, who was playing the zither with his eyes lowered, Shi Yan couldn't help but marvel at his superb skill, which had reached a truly divine level. This piece truly lived up to its name, "A Journey to the Moon Palace."

Even after the music stopped, Shi Yan remained immersed in the thoughts that had been drawn by the melody.

Li Longji looked up at her, a joyful smile spreading across his face.

Shi Yan's absorbed and engrossed appearance pleased the high and mighty emperor. Anyone would be happy to receive genuine appreciation and affirmation from others.

"What does Yu Huan think of the music I played?"

After Li Longji finished speaking, he got up from the zither table, walked to Shi Yan, bowed slightly, and looked at her with a playful expression.

Shi Yan looked at the man who had suddenly appeared in front of her, and restrained herself from distancing herself from him. She simply smiled and sincerely praised him.

"The music Your Majesty played was like celestial music from the heavens, unparalleled in the mortal world. It is truly an honor for Taizhen to hear it."

Li Longji was overjoyed upon hearing this.

"Haha, really."

"Yu Huan, you are truly a wonderful person. How can I bear to part with you?"

As he spoke, he was already moved. Li Longji looked at the beautiful, charming, and vibrant face so close to him, and could no longer resist reaching out to hold it in his hands. He gently touched the skin that was as smooth as cream, and traced the eyebrows and delicate lips of Shi Yan with his eyes.

Gao Lishi, with his keen senses, had already quietly slipped out and was guarding the door.

Shi Yan felt her cheeks being cupped by a pair of slightly rough hands, and stared at by Li Longji's blatant and direct gaze, as if she were about to be devoured by a dangerous beast.

"Tch, what do you mean you can't bear to part with it? When disaster strikes, you can't just give it up so easily. Men's words are deceitful, bah."

No. Shi Yan realized that if she didn't do something soon, something terrible would definitely happen.

"Hachi, Hachi, think of something quick! I've been targeted by an evil dragon."

"Little Eight!"

"Xiao Ba, Xiao Ba, answer me."

no respond.

Shi Yan gritted her teeth inwardly.

"You unreliable 0804! Remember this."

"Yu Huan, I... I have missed you to the core, do you know that..."

Li Longji gently lifted Shi Yan's chin, slowly leaned down, and approached her.

Shi Yan forced a smile and hesitated whether to knock Li Longji unconscious with something, when suddenly she had a bright idea and started groaning while rubbing her forehead.

"Your Majesty, my head hurts so much, it feels like countless needles are pricking it... um..."

Shi Yan leaned to the side, breaking free from Li Longji's embrace, looking as if she was trying her best to endure.

Li Longji had never seen such a scene before. Seeing Shi Yan in great pain but secretly enduring it, he became anxious and immediately called out to Gao Lishi outside.

"Quickly, are you all dead! Xiao Die, your mistress Tai Zhen's headache has flared up again, why aren't you getting in here to serve her?"

Hearing Li Longji's roar, the people outside rushed into the flower pavilion. After a flurry of activity, Shi Yan's headache was somewhat relieved.

Xiao Die helped Shi Yan back to her bedroom to rest. Li Longji stayed by her side for a while to make sure she was alright before reluctantly leading his entourage back to the palace.