Time travel, quick transmigration

Xiao Shan quickly returned with the rattan cane and presented it to Xiao Song.

Xiao Song snatched the jet-black rattan cane from the table and stared coldly at Xiao Huanling with furrowed brows.

"Do you know you were wrong?"

"Are you willing to obey your parents' wishes?"

Xiao Huanling didn't even look up.

"I have done nothing wrong, and I will not marry a woman I do not like, nor will I do as you wish."

Those words were truly heartbreaking.

Unable to bear it any longer, Xiao Song swung his sword hard at Xiao Huanling's straight back.

After that, Xiao Song would ask a question with each hit, and without exception, Xiao Huanling would give the same answer.

When Xiao Huanling's back was already covered in blood and gore, and Xiao Shan knew that continuing might lead to someone's death, he could no longer bear to watch and finally mustered up the courage to kneel on the ground and plead for Xiao Huanling's life.

The pleading voices reached Xiao Song's ears, and the rattan cane in his hand fell limply. Looking at Xiao Huanling, whose lips and tongue were white, who was covered in sweat, whose clothes were soaked with blood, yet who still refused to beg for mercy, a deep sense of powerlessness overwhelmed him.

After all, he was his own son, and no matter what, he couldn't bring himself to actually kill him. Xiao Shan's actions undoubtedly gave him an emotional buffer, allowing him to regain some rationality, and he accepted the situation and gave up.

"I don't mean to hit you. I hit you to teach you that as children, you cannot be disobedient and unfilial. If you were to live up to your potential, why would I think of arranging everything for you? Fine, since you don't want to go through with the marriage your parents arranged for you, then so be it. I don't ask for anything else, just that you don't do anything that would bring shame to the Xiao family."

"Go back to your own yard and reflect on your past actions. You are not allowed to go out unless necessary."

With that, he tossed the blood-stained rattan cane onto the cutting board on the ground, snorted, and walked out the door.

"Fourth Young Master, let this servant help you back to Biluo Pavilion."

“You know that the master hates it most when people talk back to him or disobey him, so why can’t you just go along with him instead of making yourself suffer.”

Xiao Shan sometimes really doesn't understand Xiao Huanling, even though Xiao Huanling is clearly not stupid.

Xiao Huanling brushed Xiao Shan's hand away and struggled to her feet on her own.

"Thank you, I can walk by myself."

He then slowly walked out.

Xiao Shan was left alone, staring blankly at Xiao Huanling's stubborn back. Looking at Xiao Huanling's back, which seemed unyielding even to Mount Tai, he seemed to understand the pride and indomitable spirit in the other's bones.

Xiao Huanling's return to Biluo Pavilion with his injuries terrified Chen Hui, who was waiting for him at the door. Heartbroken, Chen Hui helped Xiao Huanling to Qingxuan Hall, where she called Xiang'er to bring water and medicine to treat his wounds. This wasn't the first time Xiao Huanling had been beaten, but seeing the numerous scars on his back immediately brought tears to Chen Hui's eyes.

Inside the Ganlu Hall of the palace, after finishing his political affairs, Li Longji had the idea of ​​going outside the palace to see Yang Yuhuan.

Gao Lishi understood what Li Longji was thinking. Over the past year, he had witnessed Li Longji's indulgence of the person at Dongling Temple. Sometimes he secretly admired the other party's methods, which allowed him to firmly hold the heart of this romantic and amorous emperor even when he was outside the palace.

"Your Majesty, let's postpone it to another day. The weather cleared up just yesterday, and the snow on the road has only just begun to melt, making the ground very slippery. The other day, Lady Taizhen instructed me that if Your Majesty wanted to visit her in the cold winter, she asked me to persuade you otherwise, so as to avoid any unsafe travel for you."

Yang Yuhuan's concern pleased Li Longji, but thinking that he had not seen her for half a month, he was filled with longing and anxiety.

"I wonder if she's comfortable or cold in that desolate Taoist temple."

Seeing that Li Longji was worried, Gao Lishi smiled and comforted him.

“Since His Majesty bestowed the title of Royal Taoist Temple upon Dongling Temple, this servant has had it renovated inside and out. The abbess is a wise woman and should know that all the glory of the people of Dongling Temple comes from your favor towards Madam. How could she dare to neglect Madam Taizhen?”

Li Longji nodded and smiled when he heard this.

"Li Shi, Li Shi, you are truly a shrewd person. Whatever you say makes me feel good."

Gao Lishi lowered his head in a humble manner.

"Your Majesty flatters me. I am only not stupid because I have followed Your Majesty and received your teachings. It is all thanks to you that I am not so foolish.

These words delighted Li Longji.

"Good, good. It seems I am a good teacher after all."

"Come, accompany me out of the palace. I'm still a little worried. With the New Year approaching, I can't bear to leave her alone at Dongling Temple on New Year's Day. I want to discuss with her and see if I can persuade her to come into the palace to celebrate the festival with me."

Gao Lishi wanted to give the emperor a heads-up, knowing that Yang Yuhuan, with her decisive nature, would definitely not agree to enter the palace. However, after looking at the emperor with a smile in his eyes, he decided not to spoil his mood.

So the emperor, full of anticipation, changed his clothes and left the palace under the escort of Gao Lishi and a group of imperial guards.

Li Longji's carriage had barely left Chunming Gate when it was spotted by Fuyun, a woman who had recently returned home after reaching adulthood and was selling rouge and face powder at a small stall near the city gate. Seeing the carriage bearing the insignia unique to the emperor and Gao Lishi riding beside it, she realized that the emperor inside was braving the cold wind to leave the palace to see someone. A deep resentment welled up within her, a resentment for her deceased master that she could not easily quell.

Her mistress, Consort Liu, was such a proud person, intolerant of any dissent. If she were still alive and saw her beloved Emperor, who was completely infatuated with Consort Yang, she would surely be heartbroken and wish she could get rid of Consort Yang as soon as possible.

Her mistress is gone, so why can Lady Yang enjoy such favor in front of His Majesty?

"Your Majesty, rest assured, Fuyun will carry on your last wishes and will not allow Yang to continue to bewitch His Majesty. This servant will not allow anyone else to have the opportunity to enjoy His Majesty's favor alone."

After a moment's thought, Fu Yun had made up her mind to get rid of Yang Yuhuan. With the two-year deadline fast approaching, she absolutely could not allow Yang Yuhuan to enter the palace alive.

She had long heard of the Thousand Machines Pavilion's reputation; as long as she could afford it, she could hire the pavilion's number one assassin. Before her death, Liu Yuerong had given her a chest of gold, in addition to the gold and silver jewelry she had accumulated over the years. Since ordinary assassins and death squads were no match for the Imperial Dragon Guards, she decided to spare no expense to hire the Thousand Machines Pavilion's top assassin.

“Your Majesty, regardless of success or failure this time, Fuyun will go to accompany you. Fuyun has no joy in wandering this world, so it would be better for me to go and keep you company.”

Watching the emperor's carriage disappear into the distance, Fu Yun, determined to sacrifice himself for righteousness, lost all interest in doing business. Ignoring the inquiring customers, he pushed his stall back to his residence.

At that time, Shi Yan was completely unaware of the impending crisis.

"Xiaodie, it's so cold, you don't need to keep working so hard. I see that you've kept Huanqing Residence very clean inside and out. Cleaning also depends on the season. Winter is different from other seasons, so you can clean every few days."

"Come here quickly, sit over here, closer to the brazier."

Xiaodie put down the rag in her hand and looked at the woman who was curled up on the tatami covered with a blanket, without any of the demeanor of a noble lady.

“My lady, I’m not as afraid of the cold as you are. Look at you, you’re practically wrapped up like a cicada cocoon.”