Time travel, quick transmigration

The November sky was clear and crisp, and Xiao Huanling had already left the city with the army. On the day the army left the city to quell the Tubo rebellion in Longyou, countless people lined the streets to see them off.

As Xiao Huanling, clad in armor and with a long sword at his waist, gazed longingly at the majestic city before leaving the city gates. Within lay the people he cared for most, and with this in mind, he was determined to return victorious and invincible on the battlefield.

Inside the Taizhen Palace, Shi Yan called Xiao Die to her side.

"Xiaodie, take this letter out of the palace to find Haiyue. He will know what to do after reading the letter. Remember not to expose Haiyue and his group's whereabouts. If anything changes, communicate in secret and disperse as soon as possible."

"By the way, don't go directly to see Haiyue. Go to Baocui Pavilion in Changlefang first. Have Manager Chen send one of the shop assistants to invite Haiyue to meet him at Baocui Pavilion."

Xiaodie nodded upon hearing this, folded the letter, and put it in her sleeve.

"Don't worry, my lady, I understand and know what to do."

Although the palace rules were strict, there were still ways for palace servants to leave. Xiaodie bribed the eunuch in charge of purchasing, disguised herself, and then left the palace with them. They agreed on a meeting time and then went their separate ways.

Xiao Die arrived at Chang Le Fang in less than half an hour after renting a carriage. After getting off the carriage, she headed straight for Bao Cui Ge without stopping.

Bao Cui Ge is a fine restaurant that opened at the beginning of the year in a prime location in Chang Le Fang. It specializes in selling women's necessities and has a relatively complete range of products. It was also privately invested in by Shi Yan. The manager was a reliable person chosen by Xiao Huanling.

Xiao Die was with Chen Huang when he first met Shi Yan, and they met twice more afterward.

The moment Xiaodie walked into the store, Chen Huang went up to greet her.

Xiaodie glanced at him and lowered her voice.

"Manager Chen, let's find a quiet place. I have something to say."

Chen Huang straightened his expression and gestured for him to proceed.

The two then entered a private room.

"My wife sent me here. She asked you to send a reliable person to a three-courtyard house in Pingxia Lane called Minghaiyuan to bring Haiyue, who lives there, to Baocui Pavilion to meet me. This matter is extremely important and must not be compromised."

Chen Huang nodded in agreement and said, "Please rest assured, young lady," before leaving a moment later.

Xiao Die waited alone in the elegant room while drinking tea. About half an hour later, Hai Yue followed Chen Huang into the room.

He took the person to Chen Huang and then left.

"Haiyue, please sit down."

Xiaodie smiled at Haiyue, whom she hadn't seen for quite some time, and invited him to sit down and talk.

Haiyue smiled back and sat down opposite her.

"How has my wife been lately?"

Having not seen Shi Yan for a long time and without any news from her, he couldn't help but worry about her, so he mustered up his courage and asked about her recent situation.

Xiaodie didn't think much of it and said carelessly.

"My wife is doing well."

"My wife asked me to bring you a letter this time. She said you'll understand what to do after reading it."

He then took out the letter and handed it to Haiyue.

Haiyue carefully took the book, opened it, and examined it closely. As he read the last part, his eyes gradually darkened.

"Who is Xiao Huanling, mentioned in this letter, to your wife?"

Hai Yue couldn't understand why Shi Yan had them prepare to set off this afternoon to join the army fighting the Tubo and secretly protect this man named Xiao Huanling. Just thinking about how Shi Yan was willing to risk exposing their whereabouts to have them protect a complete stranger filled him with jealousy and resentment.

Xiaodie was taken aback by the question, but after realizing what she meant, she smiled and explained it to Haiyue.

“Young Master Xiao treats my wife exceptionally well; they are family, even closer than relatives. My wife must be worried about him going on this military expedition to quell the Tubo rebellion. No wonder she asked you to protect him…”

Upon hearing this, Hai Yue's face darkened even more, and he barely managed to maintain his composure and prevent himself from losing his temper.

Despite his resistance, he would not go against Shi Yan's wishes.

"Go back and tell your wife that Haiyue will not fail in his mission. He will protect Young Master Xiao's safety from the shadows."

Xiaodie smiled and nodded.

After delivering the letter to Haiyue, Xiaodie took her leave. After leaving Baocui Pavilion, she rented a carriage, bought some things, and rushed to the agreed meeting place. She then returned to the palace with the eunuch who had made the purchase.

……

Autumn winds blow across the Wei River, and fallen leaves blanket Chang'an. In the vast West Market of Chang'an, before the Persian residence, another caravan of Persian envoys and merchants is about to depart for home. Most envoys to Tang China had trade missions and were primarily merchants. A round trip from Chang'an to Persia took approximately two years, and the long distance often meant they didn't return home for over a year, becoming "resident foreigners" of Chang'an. Many Persians, Turks, Uyghurs, and Sogdians lived in the West Market or the surrounding neighborhoods.

Therefore, the West Market is extremely bustling and prosperous.

Coming from Yanshoufang in the northeast of the West Market, a man wearing a soft-brimmed turban, a light green round-necked short robe, and black oil-coated thin-soled short boots walked through the market. The man had a handsome face and an air of elegance and freedom, like a banished immortal.

He seemed to have been drinking, his face showing a hint of intoxication, but his eyes were extremely clear, and he could be heard muttering to himself, which was faintly discernible.

"I long for you, in Chang'an."

The cricket chirps by the golden well railing in autumn, a light frost chills the mat...

The peddlers and merchants in the western market all cast their gazes at him, mostly observing his distinctive attire and unrestrained demeanor. They knew less about his name and poetry than even the young women in their boudoirs. This man was Li Bai, Li Taibai. Sogdian merchants from Kangguo (Samarkand) passed by Li Bai in the market, also casting curious glances at him.

Turning south at the intersection of North Street and West Street, one finds a large number of taverns, and Li Bai was heading to his usual haunt, the one he frequented. He had drunk quite a bit yesterday and wasn't fully sober yet; now, craving alcohol, he had come to the tavern.

Inside the tavern, Li Bai ordered Bilo rice and, imitating the Sogdian women, ate the rice balls with three fingers. The wines served included fine wines from Gaochang, Persian Sanlejiang, and Longgao wine. Li Bai sat alone at a table, pouring himself drinks while enjoying the exotic dances of the Sogdian girls.

On a high platform not far away, a Sogdian girl with strikingly blue eyes began to dance the Sogdian Whirl Dance. The girl danced on a small round carpet, leaping and bounding, her feet never leaving the carpet, spinning like the wind, her movements graceful and exquisite, attracting everyone in the tavern and passersby to stop and watch.

At this time, Li Bai was unaware that he would soon be able to enter the Hanlin Academy as a court scholar.

At the end of November in the first year of Tianbao, the Tang army launched a counterattack and dealt a heavy blow to the Tubo army in Qinghai. Shi Yan also received a letter from Xiao Huanling, and learned that the Tang army had greatly damaged the morale of the Tubo army and that Xiao Huanling was not injured, which put her at ease.

Li Longji was visibly pleased with the victory, not only hosting a banquet for his officials but also rewarding the meritorious soldiers with many gifts. On several occasions, when Li Longji visited Shi Yan at Taizhen Palace, he always appeared to be in a very good mood.