Time travel, quick transmigration

Rather than wearing the accessories bestowed upon her by Li Longji, she preferred to wear the Hetian green jade Buddha given to her by Xiao Huanling.

The ceremonial guards who came to escort her to meet Li Longji had already arrived outside the gate. Gao Lishi led a group of palace servants into the inner hall and greeted Shi Yan with a smile.

"This servant extends his congratulations to the Imperial Concubine."

"Today's investiture ceremony is a joyous occasion throughout the court and the country. His Majesty is awaiting the arrival of the Imperial Concubine in the Xingqing Palace."

"This servant has come specifically to congratulate Your Highness, the Noble Consort. These people were all appointed by His Majesty to serve you, and Jianyu is already waiting in the outer hall. This servant must go and report back to His Majesty, so I will take my leave now."

Shi Yan, supported by Xiao Die's hand, stood up from in front of the dressing box and smiled slightly at Gao Lishi.

"Go ahead."

Gao Lishi responded with a respectful bow, then gave a few instructions to the six palace servants who were left to serve him before departing.

Just then, 0804, which had been in a dormant state, finally woke up.

"Yan Yan, I just woke up. Are you about to be made a Noble Consort?"

Upon hearing the long-lost voice from 0804, Shi Yan was overjoyed and began to communicate with it using her consciousness.

"Xiao Ba, you've finally stirred. If you hadn't woken up, I would have thought you had disappeared."

"I feel like your voice has matured a bit, Xiao Ba, you've grown up."

Shi Yan seemed to have discovered something amazing.

0804 chuckled sheepishly.

"Yes, Yan Yan, it's probably because you dealt with the emperor cleverly and didn't get involved with him too early, which also prevented the Yang family from doing unjust things in your name. In this life, Yang Yuhuan suffered less criticism and scorn, and I also benefited from this and received a reward from the God of War, who gave me enough energy to grow up slowly. I, Xiao Ba, no longer have to be a hundred-year-old baby."

Shi Yan smiled knowingly, also happy for 0804.

"Congratulations, Xiao Ba, you'll be able to grow up eventually."

0804 happily spun around.

"Yan Yan, let's keep up the good work together. When I grow up, I'll be even more amazing and have more skills, so I can help you in crucial moments."

Upon hearing this, Shi Yan suddenly fell silent.

"Does Hachi want to grow up so that he can help me when I need help?"

She dismissed this conjecture in an instant.

"It shouldn't be. Maybe it's just that Hachi wants to be an adult."

"Yan Yan, you look so beautiful today."

0804 sincerely praised it.

Shi Yan couldn't help but chuckle to herself.

"You're captivated by her beauty, aren't you? Yang Yuhuan was so stunningly beautiful, with a captivating charm. She was naturally beautiful, not to mention she was carefully dressed up. Of course she was gorgeous."

After hearing Shi Yan's words, 0804 suddenly fell silent.

"Although Yang Yuhuan was very beautiful, Yan Yan, you are also very pretty. Yan Yan's beauty is the kind that is unforgettable at first sight, unlike Yang Yuhuan's."

When Shi Yan saw her own face in her mind, she inexplicably felt as if she had been away for a long time, as if it were a different world.

"Alright, I'm not talking to you anymore. The person who's supposed to pick me up is still waiting outside."

0804 is also very well-behaved.

"Okay, I'll go play by myself then."

Shi Yan, adorned in brocade, was helped out of the main hall by Xiao Die. Then, surrounded by palace servants, she sat on the shoulders of the emperor and was carried to Xingqing Hall to meet him and receive his investiture.

The palace was meticulously decorated, and a peaceful and festive atmosphere could be seen everywhere.

From afar, Shi Yan could already hear the sounds of music and dance coming from Xingqing Palace. Palace attendants carried her into the palace, and suddenly the music changed, and the dancers and palace attendants quickly retreated to both sides.

The palace maid placed the shoulder pole in the center of the hall, and Xiaodie bent down to help Shi Yan out from between the shoulder poles.

Shi Yan gracefully stepped out of the sedan chair and into the crowd. The court officials, concubines, princes, and princesses, who had long been curious about her and had heard of her but had never had the chance to see her, all focused their attention on her. Upon seeing her breathtaking beauty, charming demeanor, snow-white skin, and peony-like regal bearing, they were all captivated by her beauty. Only then did they understand why the emperor, high above them all, was so obsessed with her, so infatuated, and so willing to defy the world to take her from his own son.

Amidst the resounding drums and music, palace maids danced gracefully, while Shi Yan, in the center of the hall, bowed and looked up at the emperor on his throne.

Sitting on his high throne, Li Longji gazed intently at the stunningly beautiful woman below, suppressing his inner turmoil and maintaining the dignity of a monarch.

Gao Lishi took out the imperial edict of investiture and began to read it aloud.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees: Lady Yang Yuhuan is extremely filial and devoted, and her sincere deeds are witnessed by Heaven. Her character and appearance are unparalleled, and she is revered by the six palaces and praised by all officials. On this auspicious day, Lady Yang Yuhuan is hereby conferred the title of Imperial Concubine. So be it."

Shi Yan paused for a moment, then bowed deeply in respect.

"Thank you for your grace."

At this moment, the music stopped, and Li Longji stepped down the steps to Shi Yan's side, helped her up, and then took her hand and walked with her to the Dragon Steps to receive the congratulations from everyone.

Everyone in the hall knelt down and shouted "Long live the Emperor! Long live the Empress!"

Li Longji told them to rise and offered them seats, then pulled Yang Yuhuan to sit down on the throne.

During the banquet, someone kept looking at Shi Yan, who was talking to the emperor. He watched her sitting next to the most powerful man in the country, dressed in her finest attire. He looked at the face that he had been thinking about day and night, yet which felt somewhat unfamiliar to him.

This is their reunion after three years apart. Back then, she seemed so close, but now, even though they are face to face, it feels as if they are separated by thousands of miles.

Xiao Huanling clenched her five fingers tightly, feeling an unbearable tightness in her chest.

"Is this the reason you have to enter the palace, become the emperor's concubine, and be the most honored woman in this dynasty?"

Because of the intense pain in his heart, as if it were being torn apart, Xiao Huanling's eyes turned red with pain.

Prince Shou, Li Heng, also gazed absently at the beautiful and noble woman on the throne. How long ago was it that they were husband and wife, spending every day together? Her charm, her every smile, belonged only to him, Li Heng. But now…

Li Heng picked up the wine cup on the table and drank it all in one gulp. With a bitter smile, he finally forced himself to look away.

Shi Yan was busy dealing with Li Longji at the moment and did not notice that Xiao Huanling was also present in the main hall.

"Yu Huan, I have prepared a surprise for you."

Li Longji smiled slightly and gestured for Shi Yan to look outside the palace.

Gao Lishi already knew the inside story, so he recited it in a chant.

"Summon the relatives of Consort Gui to the palace."

Shi Yan was taken aback for a moment, but quickly understood.

“Yan Yan, just like you thought. The emperor has summoned your cousin Yang Guozhong and three cousins ​​to the palace, and has already bestowed titles and rewards upon them.”

The voice of 0804 suddenly came out.

Shi Yan couldn't help but frown.

"That's really interesting. I almost forgot about them. This Emperor is quite arrogant. I haven't even asked him to bestow honors upon the Yang family yet, but he's already rushing to do so."

“These members of the Yang clan are nothing but a bunch of black sheep who are sucking blood from Yang Yuhuan. I will not let them have the opportunity to act arrogantly.”