Time travel, quick transmigration

Xiao Die didn't keep Shi Yan waiting for long; within fifteen minutes, she brought Shi Yan some food. Shi Yan ate a little, asked Xiao Die a few questions, and then went back to her bedroom to rest.

Xiao Die, who had been anxiously waiting for Shi Yan's return, instantly felt reassured. With sincerity and gratitude, she took the offerings to the Sanqing Hall to worship the Three Pure Ones and chanted scriptures for a long time.

When Shi Yan woke up, it was already late afternoon. After she got up, took a bath, and changed her clothes, she had just come out of her bedroom and sat down on the small couch by the window in the Flower Pavilion when 0804 reminded her that Li Longji was heading to Dongling Temple under the protection of a group of Imperial Guards.

Shi Yan leaned back on the couch and rubbed her temples twice.

"I knew he would come, but I didn't expect him to come so quickly. Oh well, he's here. Anyway, I've already prepared my explanation. I'm sure Li Longji has already found the culprit and held some people accountable. This turmoil should come to an end now."

"Li Longji's mobilization of troops will only increase the dissatisfaction of the court officials the longer this matter drags on. Since it all started because of Yang Yuhuan, the officials and common people dare not say anything against the emperor, but they will all point the finger at Yang Yuhuan. Who knows, Yang Yuhuan may end up being labeled as a femme fatale."

0804 also largely agreed with Shi Yan's point of view.

"Yan Yan, you see things very clearly. In this era, most people blame women for all the troubles. Yang Yuhuan was condemned as a wicked concubine who brought about the downfall of the country, which was just a crime imposed on her by an incompetent man. If Li Longji hadn't neglected state affairs, taken his son's wife and daughter-in-law without regard for human relations, indulged in pleasure, and mistakenly trusted An Lushan, thus letting the wolf into the house, how could the Tang Dynasty have almost fallen, and how could Chang'an have suffered so much from the ravages of war? But in the end, everyone blamed Yang Yuhuan and even forced Li Longji to order her to be executed."

“Looking at all these things, it’s really unfair to Yang Yuhuan.”

0804 felt extremely indignant on behalf of Yang Yuhuan, and his tone was clearly agitated, even his childish voice sounded fierce.

Shi Yan, who already sympathized with Yang Yuhuan's plight, naturally resonated deeply with her words.

"Therefore, in addition to changing Yang Yuhuan's fate, I also have to protect her reputation. I will try my best to avoid it, at least I can't let Li Longji's senile actions in his later years fall on Yang Yuhuan's shoulders."

Shi Yan secretly made up her mind and was full of fighting spirit for what she was about to face.

"My lady, His Majesty has arrived," Xiao Die hurriedly entered to report.

Shi Yan nodded, then got off the bed and went to the door to greet Li Longji.

Xiaodie followed behind her with her head down.

As soon as the two arrived at the outer hall, Li Longji entered with Gao Lishi. Seeing the woman he had been longing for day and night safe and sound before him, Li Longji excitedly stepped forward and grasped Shi Yan's hand.

"Yu Huan, it's so good to see you back safe and sound."

As he spoke, he took Shi Yan's hand and walked forward, then went around a screen to the small couch by the window and pulled her to sit down.

Li Longji pulled Shi Yan into the inner room, while Gao Lishi gestured for Xiao Die to wait with him in the outer room.

"Let me take a good look at you."

Li Longji looked at Shi Yan carefully from head to toe with gentle eyes.

"Yu Huan, you've been wronged. I see you've lost so much weight. How have you been these past few days?"

"It is my fault for failing to protect you."

Li Longji's eyes did indeed show self-reproach and deep emotion, and Shi Yan could tell that his performance was genuine.

Logically, her disappearance for several days would have been extremely detrimental to a woman's chastity in other dynasties, but the Tang Dynasty was more enlightened and its people more open-minded. Even so, it doesn't mean that the emperor was truly indifferent to what his woman might have experienced during her disappearance. Moreover, Li Longji was confident he would possess Yang Yuhuan; if Yang Yuhuan's chastity was questionable, he couldn't possibly have been indifferent.

"Yu Huan, according to Yao An and Shen Hui, you deliberately lured the assassin away that night. Why did you risk your own life for others? Do you know how worried I was when I learned that you had disappeared after leading the assassin away alone? I know you are kind-hearted, but today I command you that from now on, no matter when or what happens, you must never disregard your own safety for the sake of others. Do you understand?"

Shi Yan naturally did not refute this.

"It is Taizhen who has caused Your Majesty worry and anxiety. It is Taizhen's fault. Your Majesty, Taizhen promises you that it will never happen again."

Li Longji's expression softened slightly, but then suddenly darkened again.

"Yu Huan, how did you escape from the assassins that night? Where have you been these past few days? Are you injured?"

Shi Yan thought to herself, "It's time to get down to business."

She lifted her eyelids, revealing a delicate look, and gazed into Li Longji's eyes.

"Your Majesty, that night, Taizhen was kidnapped by an assassin and taken to the outside of Dongling Temple. He intended to slit my throat with his sword, but because I was injured, I took advantage of the opportunity to break free. Seeing that I had escaped, he kept chasing me. I dared not stop and kept running forward. Later, I ran to a riverbank. Seeing that the man was about to catch up, Taizhen did not think twice and jumped into the river. Taizhen originally intended to swim downstream, but eventually, she was too weak and fainted. After that, Taizhen did not know anything."

"When I woke up, it was two days later, and I was in the home of a peasant woman. The woman said that her young son had found me unconscious by the river while he was out collecting herbs, so he took me to his home. Her young son was studying medicine with a doctor and knew some pharmacology. My injuries were also healed by the herbs that her son had collected."

"That night, Taizhen was stabbed by the assassin. Although the sword wound on her body had gradually healed, it still hurt a little. Taizhen was worried that His Majesty would be anxious. After she recovered, she asked the woman's child to send Taizhen back to Dongling Temple."

"Your Majesty, having just escaped death, Taizhen has come to understand many things. Your Majesty, Taizhen is grateful for your continued sincerity."

Shi Yan had never shown such a vulnerable side to Li Longji before. After listening to her calm and collected account, Li Longji felt as if he had personally experienced the danger of that night. When he saw Shi Yan subconsciously pressing her right shoulder, he felt a pang of pain in his heart and a sense of lingering fear of almost losing her.

"It's all in the past. I assure you that I will never let you suffer any harm or damage again."

"Since it was that mother and son who saved you, I will reward them handsomely."

"I can no longer leave you outside the palace. You will come back to the palace with me. Once we are there, I will see who dares to harm you again."

Looking at the delicate beauty before him, Li Longji reached out his arms, intending to embrace her and protect her. Unexpectedly, he was interrupted when she suddenly stood up and knelt on the ground.

"What are you doing? Get up at once."

Li Longji looked at the woman kneeling on the ground, her eyes pleading with him, with a puzzled expression.

Shi Yan gathered her emotions.

"Your Majesty, I know you care deeply for Taizhen. But Taizhen cannot enter the palace at this time."

Li Longji's brows furrowed.

"What do you mean by this?"

"Get up and say what you have to say."