Time travel, quick transmigration

Just as the two groups of officials' sons were locked in a fierce battle, two rows of Imperial Guards dressed in armor and dark brocade robes suddenly appeared and subdued the group.

When the onlookers saw that it was the Imperial Guard, a sense of fear appeared in their eyes.

"Let go! Who gave you the authority to hold me hostage?"

Lu Yi was trapped with his arms locked and unable to move. Being escorted and watched by the crowd, he felt utterly humiliated. He glared fiercely at the cold-faced man who was restraining him.

When Lu Yi realized that the other party was dressed as a member of the Imperial Guard, his arrogance subsided slightly, but he still struggled a little in defiance.

"Do you even know who my grandfather is? How dare you treat me like this!"

The man merely glanced at him expressionlessly, remaining completely unmoved.

The young noblemen who were with Lu Yi had been drinking and were no longer sober. They couldn't tell the situation clearly or care about the Imperial Guards. They all started cursing loudly.

The Imperial Guards, upholding justice, naturally ignored the clamor of these spoiled brats. Instead, they used even more force, forcing the most arrogant ones to their knees.

These were all sons of officials who had never suffered such hardships, so they took advantage of their drunkenness to rebel, and as a result, they were subjected to even harsher suppression.

Seeing his close friends pinned to the ground, Lu Yi, his blood boiling, impulsively raised his head and roared.

"You blind bastard, let me go right now!"

"You're asking for death! No one in Chang'an has ever dared to be so disrespectful to me..."

"Young Master Lu, you have quite the arrogance..."

As a clear, melodious voice tinged with icy sharpness rang out, everyone saw a peerless man with striking good looks, his black hair tied up high, his expression aloof and cold. He wore a deep red brocade robe with a black cloak over it, riding a white horse slowly from the dimly lit darkness.

Upon seeing the man standing still with his horse reined in, the onlookers couldn't help but step back a distance, all of them intimidated by his imposing aura and unable to look him directly in the eye.

"So it was you, Xiao Huanling."

Lu Yi shook his head and looked at the person who had suddenly appeared. When he saw the person's face clearly, he couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

He recalled his youth, when he and a group of friends constantly opposed Xiao Huanling, even using drugs to nearly kill him. He had secretly gloated when he heard from his family that Xiao Huanling had severed ties with them and been expelled from the Xiao family. Now, he was being forced to kneel on the ground in a pathetic state, while the person he once thought would fall into the mire looked down at him with a cold, arrogant gaze. The immense disparity and shame made him feel utterly ashamed.

Xiao Huanling never gave Lu Yi a second glance, but he glanced at the man standing with a sword in the Imperial Guard.

"These people are disturbing the peace in the capital, drinking and causing disturbances in the streets. They shall be sent to the Court of Judicial Review, and the Vice Minister of the Court of Judicial Review shall handle the matter impartially..."

The handsome man replied with a "yes".

Once they were half-awake from their drunken stupor and realized the enormity of their mistake, the sons of officials immediately burst into tears.

Upon hearing that Xiao Huanling intended to send them to the Dali Temple, Lu Yi immediately lost control, his anger blazing as he began to shout and curse.

"You, Xiao Huanling, you're using this to settle personal scores!"

"What are you so arrogant about? Do you really think you can do whatever you want just because you can control everything?"

Hearing his most respected general being angrily rebuked, the man holding Lu Yi's arms behind his back frowned and secretly twisted Lu Yi's arms, causing Lu Yi to cry out in pain. Just as he was about to curse, he was silenced by a cold, warning glare from the guard holding him.

In Xiao Huanling's eyes, Lu Yi was nothing more than a spoiled brat and a clown, not worth his attention. Before riding away, he glanced back and his eyes met Lu Yi's resentful gaze.

Lu Yi felt a chill run down his spine from the coldness in Xiao Huanling's eyes and dodged away.

Seeing Lu Yi dodge, Xiao Huanling's lips curled into a slightly sarcastic smile, and then he turned and drove towards his residence.

Looking back now, those past events seem insignificant. The young man who once fought endlessly with Lu Yi was impetuous and arrogant; now, it all seems like a distant memory. The night is as still as water, cold and desolate. Even though he now holds power, he cannot possess what he desires most. In truth, he is nothing more than a disillusioned man.

In a corner of Xingqing Palace sits a scenic spot called Chenxiang Pavilion, where the emperor and his concubines could enjoy the lake view. Li Longji often held banquets here to entertain his ministers and some literati.

When Shi Yan mentioned wanting to meet Li Bai, Li Longji, wanting to please her and make her happy, took advantage of his free time and sent Gao Lishi to summon Li Bai to the palace. Li Bai then joined some literati and scholars at the Chenxiang Pavilion for a banquet, where they enjoyed the scenery and composed poems.

Upon learning that she would have the chance to meet Li Bai, later known as the "Poet Immortal," and witness his brilliance, Shi Yan was filled with anticipation and curiosity. Although Li Bai wasn't exactly her idol, she naturally treated such a great literary figure with utmost respect, and even had Xiao Die dress her up meticulously.

When Shi Yan and Li Longji arrived at the Agarwood Pavilion, some of the invited literati and scholars had already arrived.

Looking at the emperor and empress at the head of the table, some people boldly cast their gazes at Shi Yan. Seeing her dazzling beauty and captivating appearance, they couldn't help but admire the imperial concubine's looks.

Shi Yan looked down at the person below, but she couldn't see the ethereal figure no matter what she did. She frowned in confusion and turned to look at Li Longji beside her.

"Your Majesty, which one of you present is Li Bai, the recluse of the Daoist school?"

Li Longji glanced at the people below him and was also at a loss.

"Li Shi, go and ask them who Li Bai is, and tell him to come forward and speak to them."

Gao Lishi received the imperial decree and went down to the pavilion to look for the person. After making some inquiries, he learned that Li Bai had gone to a tavern outside the palace to drink and had not yet returned. Gao Lishi was immediately alarmed when he learned this and quickly ordered his two most capable eunuchs to go out of the palace to look for him.

Not knowing how to report back to the Emperor and Empress, Gao Lishi returned to the pavilion with an uneasy heart. After hesitating for a moment, he told them the truth.

"Your Majesty, Your Highness, Li Bai has not yet arrived. I heard he was delayed due to some business. This servant has already sent someone to fetch him."

Upon hearing this, Li Longji's eyes immediately darkened.

Shi Yan knew Li Bai's free and unrestrained nature and didn't care much about it.

"It's good that someone has already been sent to fetch him. It's alright, the banquet hasn't started yet, we can wait a little longer."

"What does Your Majesty think?"

Seeing that Shi Yan was in high spirits, Li Longji did not want to spoil her mood.

"Whatever Yu Huan says goes."

The two eunuchs inquired along the way and learned of Li Bai's whereabouts. They then went to a tavern in the West Market and, after much persuasion, managed to bring the unruly and talented scholar back to the palace. They then headed towards the Chenxiang Pavilion in Xingqing Palace.

When Li Longji and Shi Yan met Li Bai, he was still in that drunken state. Li Bai, with his eyes blurry from intoxication, greeted Shi Yan. Li Longji straightened up and stood still, the emperor, Shi Yan, and the assembled literati sizing him up.