Time travel, quick transmigration

The two followed the crowd to the West Bridge, where they found it already filled with men and women watching the fireworks. Despite the biting wind and light snow, it did nothing to stop the people of the Tang Dynasty from enjoying the festive joy in the winter.

Countless twinkling lights bloomed in the night sky, and the dazzling fireworks illuminated the mortal world, presenting a prosperous and glorious Tang Dynasty.

Shi Yan marveled at how sturdy the ancient stone bridge was, able to support so many people. Instead of going up the bridge, she let Xiao Huanling lead her to an open space by the lake, where they stood side by side to enjoy the beautiful fireworks together.

In the real world, watching fireworks together with your loved one on a snowy night is an incredibly romantic experience.

Shi Yan looked back at the person beside her with a smile in her eyes. Although the fireworks were beautiful, they were still inferior to Xiao Huanling's stunning beauty. It seemed quite nice to have Xiao Huanling by her side on such a beautiful night.

A little amused by her own inexplicable thought, Shi Yan shook her head and turned her gaze to the dazzling fireworks. Xiao Huanling, sensing her gaze, kept looking at her, his expression filled with captivating tenderness.

"Make a wish!"

He then clasped his hands together, closed his eyes, and silently made a wish while facing the dazzling fireworks.

Seeing Shi Yan's devout expression, Xiao Huanling clasped his hands together and made a wish in secret, just like her.

"May the woman beside me be free from illness and disaster, and live a long and worry-free life."

After watching the fireworks, the two strolled around the market until the crowds gradually dispersed, and then they finally returned home satisfied.

On the way back, the snow had stopped and the wind had subsided considerably. Xiao Huanling held Shi Yan in front of him, but felt a little empty inside. Would he ever have the chance to spend New Year's Eve with the woman he loved again? Perhaps tonight would be the first and the last. It was precisely because it was so beautiful that he became even more greedy.

He wished the journey home would never end, that he could protect and watch over her forever. He wished the night could last a little longer so he wouldn't have to part with the person in his arms so soon.

But every road eventually comes to an end, and many things don't go as planned.

"Ah Ling, I had a very happy New Year's Day. It's getting late, you should go back and get some rest."

Happy holidays, A-Ling.

"Take this with you, and this too. Take all of these home to eat."

Shi Yan wrapped a bag of dried fruit, pastries, and a bag of beef jerky in brown paper, tied it in a knot, and handed it to Xiao Huanling.

Xiao Huanling accepted it and said goodbye with a smile.

"Then I'll head back now. You should get some rest too. I had a very happy day today."

Actually, he wanted to tell Shi Yan that this anniversary was the happiest time of his life. But looking into Shi Yan's clear, smiling eyes, he was too shy to speak.

With a heart full of longing and reluctance, Xiao Huanling turned and left. Before leaving Dongling Temple, he stared at the location of Huanqing Residence for a long time until a chill ran through him before he spurred his horse into the dark night.

……

As winter turned to spring, Li Longji, unable to contain his longing any longer, selected an auspicious day after obtaining Shi Yan's consent. He also appointed a special guard and palace servants to welcome Shi Yan into the palace. Taizhen Palace had also been renovated before the new year and was just waiting for its owner to move in.

Shi Yan secured two years of peace and quiet for herself. After surviving two assassination attempts, she understood that even outside the palace, as long as Li Longji remained fixated on Yang Yuhuan, she would always be a thorn in the side of certain individuals, someone they wanted to eliminate. She would find no peace, no matter where she was. Yang Yuhuan was destined to become Li Longji's most favored woman in his later years, to be bestowed the title of Imperial Concubine by him. Having become Yang Yuhuan, she also bore the consequences that were destined for her.

The course of history will not change; no matter how unwilling she is, she has no choice but to enter the palace.

"Yan Yan, don't be upset. I know you don't like the emperor and don't want to deal with him, but just think of it as going to the palace to do a mission. After you complete the mission, we can make a clean getaway."

"Didn't I give you a prescription? You can use it on the emperor in the same way. You don't need to actually serve him, and he won't notice anything."

"You're definitely going to go to the palace, so you might as well be happy. Think about it, there's nothing wrong with going to the palace, right? Besides, there are your enemies in the palace. Don't you want revenge? Wu Xianyi tried to take your life back then."

0804's long speech was simply to tell her to think more positively. Shi Yan understood its intentions. She had initially come to Dongling Temple with the intention of avoiding Li Longji as much as possible, but she had not only failed to find peace but had also almost lost her life and implicated others. Since she could not escape the fate of entering the palace early, she should at least not bring trouble outside the palace.

"Xiao Ba, I've figured it out. Don't worry, I'm not upset at all."

0804 was relieved to find that Shi Yan was not unhappy about entering the palace.

……

In 742 AD, Shi Yan was welcomed into the Tai Zhen Palace by Emperor Xuanzong (Li Longji) to continue her Taoist practice as a nun, praying for the Tang Dynasty and the Empress Dowager. At Shi Yan's request, Emperor Xuanzong did not make a big fuss, but still arranged for a troop of Imperial Guards and palace attendants to welcome her from Dongling Temple into Tai Zhen Palace.

Xiao Huanling rode his Flowing Cloud and followed the procession at a distance from Shi Yan's carriage all the way from Dongling Temple to the palace gate. He only stopped in front of the palace gate when the carriage carrying Shi Yan entered the palace and blocked his view.

"No matter where you are, I will protect you and keep you safe..."

In that year, Li Longji changed the era name to Tianbao 1, which seemed to indicate that everything was a new beginning.

After entering Taizhen Palace, Shi Yan was granted the privilege of bathing in the palace's imperial spring, a ritual called "washing away the dust." Shi Yan had Xiao Die accompany her to bathe and wash away her fatigue. Afterward, she returned to Taizhen Palace accompanied by several palace maids.

As soon as Shi Yan entered the inner chamber of Tai Zhen Palace, she saw Emperor Li Longji, who was already waiting. Perhaps his wish had finally been fulfilled, the emperor, dressed in a dragon robe, was radiant. When he saw Shi Yan, his eyes immediately lit up with a smile.

"Yu Huan, come and sit down next to me."

As he spoke, he extended his hand.

Shi Yan paused for a moment, then put on a smiling face and stepped forward to perform a standard Taoist greeting for Li Longji.

"I was unaware that Your Majesty's presence was a great disrespect to you."

"Xiaodie, go and bring some tea."

Shi Yan gave Xiao Die, who was a few steps behind her, a wink.

Xiao Die quickly apologized to Li Longji before respectfully withdrawing.

Xiao Die's fearful and apprehensive demeanor made Li Longji frown slightly. Seeing that the woman he had been thinking about day and night was respectful but not affectionate towards him, he felt even more suffocated.

Gao Lishi, who was standing nearby, noticed Li Longji's displeasure and boldly glanced at Shi Yan, his eyes filled with a hint of pleading.

Shi Yan could tell that Li Longji was unhappy, but she wasn't about to tolerate a man who had no sense of propriety between men and women and didn't understand respect. It was clear that Li Longji considered her one of the women in his harem, but she was still in her celibacy and hadn't yet returned to secular life. No woman would be happy to suddenly see a man she didn't like brazenly appear before her after bathing and returning to her room.