Time travel, quick transmigration

The next day, Xiao Huanling got up at dawn. He had dinner with Shi Yan the day before and they had talked for a while before going back to their rooms to rest.

The snow that had been falling for a day and a night finally stopped. Xiao Huanling went to fetch water to wash up, left a letter on the table, took his cloak, and went out.

Upon returning to Chang'an after completing his studies, he was determined to pursue a path of power. He couldn't allow himself to be consumed by romantic entanglements and neglect his ambitions. Shi Yan's presence was a haven of tenderness for him, one he clung to and couldn't extricate himself from. Yet, penniless, he was powerless before the imperial authority. Especially after learning from Xiao Die yesterday that the emperor frequently visited Dongling Temple to see Shi Yan, his devotion to her unwavering, his desire for power only intensified. He needed to possess a force powerful enough to rival the imperial family.

He wanted to be Shi Yan's support so that she could live as she pleased, without fear of imperial power, without having to hide in this desolate Taoist temple, and could enjoy all the best things in the world.

It was time to put his plan into action.

Before leaving, Xiao Huanling glanced at Shi Yan's bedroom for a while, suppressed her reluctance, and withdrew her lingering gaze. She walked towards the base of the wall and then lightly leaped over it.

Yesterday, Liuyun was left outside the wall by him. Animal instincts would lead it to find a suitable place to hide. As dawn broke, it left a thatched hut in a house and headed towards Dongling Temple to wait for Xiao Huanling.

Seeing Xiao Huanling leap and land on the ground from afar, Liu Yun immediately let out a neigh and galloped to his side, seemingly quite happy.

Xiao Huanling gently stroked Liuyun's back, then leaped up and sat on the horse's back. Immediately afterward, Cangyu, seemingly out of nowhere, let out a cry, spread its huge wings, swooped down from the sky, and landed steadily on his shoulder, pecking him twice with its beak.

Xiao Huanling felt the weight coming from her right shoulder and turned to look at Cang Yu.

"Alright, alright, I know what you mean. If you like her, then stay by her side. But you have to promise me you'll take good care of her."

Azure Feather flapped its wings twice.

Xiao Huanling assumed that it understood.

"Go!"

So he raised his arm and gestured for Cangyu to fly towards Huanqing Residence.

Without hesitation, Cangyu let out a cry and spread its wings to fly away.

"Let's go too."

With a soft shout, Xiao Huanling drove forward without looking back, as if heading towards an unknown road with the belief that he would protect Shi Yan.

Shi Yan slowly woke up to the sound of several familiar eagle cries. She opened her eyes and looked at the top of the tent. Realizing that it was Cang Yu calling outside, she immediately got off the bed, put on her shoes, opened the door and went out.

"Cang Yu."

Seeing the eagle circling in the yard and flying towards her, Shi Yan reached out her arm to catch it and then returned to the house.

"Why are you here? Did Ah Ling bring you here yesterday?"

Cang Yu nodded symbolically, as if he understood her words.

Seeing this, Shi Yan felt strange that Cang Yu was crying alone outside, but Xiao Huanling was ignoring it. After a moment's thought, Shi Yan turned around, took the fox fur coat that Xiao Huanling had brought her from the shelf, put it on, and walked to the square table to look at the obediently sitting Cang Yu.

"You stay here for now, I'll go check on Ah Ling's house."

He then went out the door.

When Shi Yan arrived at the door of Xiao Huanling's house, she saw that the door was open and went straight in. The room was quiet and no one was home. Shi Yan noticed the letter on the table, read the signature, and opened it to read. She learned that Xiao Huanling had left early without snoring because he had something to do. Shi Yan felt a feeling that she couldn't quite describe, whether it was disappointment or something else.

He galloped back to the Xiao residence, dismounted, unfastened his luggage and sword, and walked straight into the mansion. His dashing and agile figure was like a bamboo shoot braving the frost and snow in winter, as seen by the guards. Upon seeing that the person in question was none other than Xiao Huanling, the young master of the Xiao family who had been away from the mansion for over a year, the guards at the gate, perhaps fearing his former arrogant and domineering nature, dared not approach him. They simply watched him walk into the mansion without glancing at him.

Seeing that Xiao Huanling was getting further and further away and could no longer be seen, some clever ones had already gone to report to the steward.

Once Xiao Huanling entered the mansion, he paid no attention to the sights or objects within. Occasionally, a maid passing by in the long corridor would glance at him because of his outstanding appearance, but they would only dare to steal a few glances before hurrying away, afraid of displeasing Xiao Huanling.

Xiao Huanling was unaware of the thoughts of some of the maids in the mansion. He only thought that they were afraid of him or deliberately avoided him because of his status as the son of a courtesan.

Xiao Huanling caught a glimpse of the two maids who were walking together. They looked at him with surprise and quickly looked away, then hurriedly walked towards another corridor. He sneered coldly.

If he hadn't met Shi Yan, he might have really thought he was as terrifying as a demon, which is why everyone in the manor was so afraid of and disgusted with him and avoided him.

Too lazy to waste time on trivial matters, Xiao Huanling carried his luggage in one hand and gripped his sword in the other, heading towards his Biluo Pavilion.

The Xiao Mansion covers a vast area with its various courtyards arranged in a harmonious and orderly manner. Pavilions, waterside terraces, artificial hills and rocks, and rare flowers and plants are laid out in a meticulous and elegant manner. Biluo Pavilion is located at the far west end. It is a quiet and inconspicuous courtyard. Perhaps because it does not face the sun and is built near an artificial lake, it is always filled with a cold atmosphere.

Fortunately, Xiao Huanling was a man and living in Biluoxuan for a long time did not cause any major health problems, but it was tough on the nanny who took care of him from childhood.

After Xiao Huanling moved into Biluo Pavilion, the lady of the mansion assigned her a matron, two maids to serve in the inner courtyard, and a maid to do cleaning in the outer courtyard. However, two of them were too weak to endure the hardship in Biluo Pavilion and begged the lady of the mansion to transfer them. Later, several more maids came in, but they all left for the same reason. When Xiao Huanling was older, she managed to appeal to the lady of the mansion, and apart from those who voluntarily stayed, no more maids were added to Biluo Pavilion.

Xiao Huanling sometimes wondered about his wife's intentions. She hadn't mistreated him, but she just wouldn't suggest moving him to another place to live. The Xiao mansion was large, so finding a suitable place to live would have been easy. It wasn't until he grew older that he understood his wife's thoughts. She was merely maintaining her reputation as the kind, generous, benevolent, and virtuous principal wife while secretly tormenting him, hoping he would fend for himself.

"Fourth Young Master!"

Hui'er put down her needlework and walked out of the house with a happy expression, curtsying to Xiao Huanling who was standing below the steps.

Xiao Huanling's expression softened, and he raised his hand to indicate that she should dispense with the formalities.

"The old woman is in her own room."

Hui'er nodded, straightened up, took a few steps down the steps, and pretended to take the bundle from Xiao Huanling's hand.

Xiao Huanling avoided Hui'er's hand.

"You go ahead with your work. I'm going to check on her."

As he spoke, he turned and walked forward.

Upon seeing the young master she had been longing for, Hui'er had no mind to continue doing anything else. As soon as he left, she excitedly followed after him.

She couldn't miss the opportunity to spend time with her young master; she had missed him terribly since they hadn't seen each other for over a year.

Xiao Huanling was completely unaware of her own appearance and unique charm, and therefore knew nothing of the secret thoughts of the maids in her courtyard.