Reborn as a Sickly Child: The Emperor's Beloved

In the early morning of Yaohua Palace, Dongxue and Xiazhu started their busy day as usual. Shen Yanyan sat by the window, frowning slightly, as if she was thinking about something. Dongxue and Xiazhu looked at each other, both of them confused.

Shen Yanyan was a little confused. Concubine Jiang had slept with her last night, so how did Xiao Jingzhan come to her bedroom? Could it be that he went to sleep with someone else and then came to her bedroom? Is he okay? Shen Yanyan suddenly felt very uncomfortable.

They walked quietly to Shen Yanyan and asked with concern: "Empress, what's wrong with you? Are you worried about something?" Shen Yanyan came back to her senses, looked at them, smiled slightly, and shook her head.

Since he came secretly and did it secretly in the morning, I think he doesn't want others to know. So let's not talk about it.

Dongxue and Xiazhu were even more puzzled. They knew that their master was always very careful and would not be so expressionless if there was nothing special. But seeing that Shen Yanyan was unwilling to say more, they did not ask any more questions and could only accompany her silently.

Shen Yanyan looked into the distance, her mind full of thoughts. What on earth was he doing? He was busy in someone else's palace for most of the night and then ran to her bed. He just did that to her during the day and then went to find someone else at night. Forget it, he was the emperor after all.

Dongxue and Xia Zhu saw Shen Yanyan's worry, and they comforted her softly, "Master, you don't have to worry too much. No matter what happens, we will always be with you." Shen Yanyan looked at them gratefully and nodded.

There was silence in Yaohua Palace, with only Shen Yanyan's thoughts churning in her heart.

She didn't know what the future would be like, but she knew that she could leave the palace tomorrow. Thinking about leaving the palace, her dissatisfaction with Xiao Jingzhan also decreased a lot. At least he could take her out of the palace.

The next day, Shen Yanyan got up early in the morning. She changed into the dress she brought with her when she entered the palace. It was not as complicated and exquisite as the palace dress, so it would not attract attention outside. When she thought about leaving the palace, she was radiant.

After packing everything up, she came to the Palace of Tranquil Longevity with anticipation, quietly waiting for Xiao Jingzhan to leave the court.

I could have waited for him in Yaohua Palace, but when I thought about the fact that he would have to come back to change into casual clothes, I decided to wait for him here to save time.

The Hall of Mental Cultivation is magnificent and the atmosphere is solemn.

Shen Yanyan looked out the door from time to time, her heart full of longing for leaving the palace. She gently stroked the embroidery on her sleeves, a smile on her lips, as if she was already in the free world outside the palace.

Time passed minute by minute, and finally, footsteps were heard outside the hall.

Shen Yanyan's heartbeat quickened, and her eyes were fixed on the palace door that was about to open. The door slowly opened, and Xiao Jingzhan walked in. He was dressed in a dragon robe, handsome and majestic, and when he saw her, his eyes were firm and gentle.

When Xiao Jingzhan saw Shen Yanyan waiting, a happy smile appeared on his face.

"Your Majesty, you have left the court. Shall we set off now? Go and change your clothes quickly." Shen Yanyan stood up to greet Xiao Jingzhan, pushing him into the dormitory as she spoke.

"You're so happy that you want to leave the palace." Xiao Jingzhan teased as he looked at Shen Yanyan's anxious look.

"Yes, yes, I'm very happy. Go change into regular clothes and we'll go now!" Shen Yanyan said anxiously.

Inside the palace, Eunuch Li helped Xiao Jingzhan put on his casual clothes.

The two of them got on the carriage prepared by Eunuch Li and took An Liu and An Qi out of the palace.

She arranged for Xia Zhu and Dong Xue to stay in Yaohua Palace and they did not follow her.

Xiao Jingzhan and Shen Yanyan sat in the carriage, the wheels rolled and drove out of the palace. Shen Yanyan looked at the outside world curiously through the window.

When they arrived outside the palace, the bustling sounds of the capital city hit them. The streets were lined with shops, pedestrians were bustling, and the hawking of street vendors could be heard one after another. Shen Yanyan's face was filled with excitement. She couldn't help but smile, her heart full of anticipation.

The sun shone on her face, reflecting her joy. She looked intently at the people passing by, as if looking for something interesting. Xiao Jingzhan sat quietly aside, his eyes occasionally falling on Shen Yanyan, revealing a hint of tenderness in his eyes.

The carriage slowly drove through the bustling city. Shen Yanyan kept pointing out the scene outside the window and sharing her happiness with Xiao Jingzhan. Her laughter was as clear as a silver bell, echoing in the air, making the entire capital seem more lively.

"Your Majesty, can I go down for a walk?" Shen Yanyan looked at Xiao Jingzhan expectantly.

It would be a waste for everyone to come out and sit in the carriage. She had to get off and take a closer look.

Xiao Jingzhan looked at her expectant expression and nodded.

Seeing this, Shen Yanyan was about to get off the carriage, but just as she stood up, she was pulled back to her original position by Xiao Jingzhan.

"? What's wrong?" Shen Yanyan looked at him questioningly.

Xiao Jingzhan took out a light-colored veil from his arms and put it on her. "Put on the veil,"

Shen Yanyan did not refuse. Now she was wearing women's clothes and her face was flashy, so she just wore it. She was used to it anyway.

"Your Majesty, you are very handsome too. Why don't you bring one?" Shen Yanyan looked at him with a smile and teased.

"I won't go down. Let An Qi follow you. After you finish shopping, go to Yue Lai Restaurant. I'll wait for you there."

"You're not going? Well then, there's no need to let An Qi follow me. I can protect myself." Shen Yanyan was so happy when she heard that he was not following her, but she had to pretend on her face.

"I know you know martial arts, but you are not familiar with the capital. I feel at ease letting Anqi follow you secretly." Xiao Jingzhan looked at Shen Yanyan and said without denying it.

Just follow.

"Okay. Your Majesty, I'm leaving now." Shen Yanyan greeted Xiao Jingzhan with a smile and jumped off the carriage.

As soon as she got off the carriage, Shen Yanyan remembered something, and then she walked to the window of the carriage, lifted the curtain, looked at Xiao Jingzhan obediently and said, "Can I go to the Shen Mansion? When you are going back to the palace at night, come to the Shen Mansion to pick me up. I will go quietly and no one will see me."

Xiao Jingzhan thought for a moment and nodded, "Well, go ahead."

When Shen Yanyan heard that he agreed, a smile spread across her face. She lowered the curtain and walked to the stall next to her.

Xiao Jingzhan looked at Shen Yanyan who threw it away after using it, and his mouth twitched, with a helpless look on his face. "Let's go to Yuelai Restaurant."

Shen Yanyan strolled in the bustling market, her eyes attracted by the dazzling array of stalls and vendors on both sides. She looked left and right, full of curiosity about every little thing.

There are more things in the capital than in Yangzhou, and many of them she has never seen on the streets of Yangzhou.

She walked lightly, stopping at a stall from time to time to carefully examine the exquisite handicrafts. The vendors enthusiastically introduced their products to her, and she smiled as she communicated with them, picking up an item from time to time to feel its texture and craftsmanship.

The sunlight shines on the stalls, reflecting the colorful gadgets, making them even more dazzling.

Shen Yanyan was immersed in this world full of life and energy, enjoying the fun of shopping. The bag in her hand was gradually filled with all kinds of novel treasures, and her heart was filled with satisfaction and joy.

Sure enough, the air outside the palace was fresher.

Finally, she returned with a full load, leaving the bustling market with her hands full of harvest.

She just heard that there was a bookstore up the street, so she had to go check it out and buy some more books.

Shen Yanyan found it after searching for a while. She put all the things in her hands down the bed when she entered the room and carefully looked for the book she needed.

The owner of the bookstore saw a young lady wearing a veil come in and knew what book she was looking for, so he went forward immediately.

The bookstore owner came forward with a smile on his face and greeted Shen Yanyan warmly. He picked up a yellowed book and gently opened it, showing her the exquisite illustrations and delicate text.

Seeing Shen Yanyan's hair tied up, he guessed that the young lady was married.

"Ma'am, please take a look at this book. It's our store's signature storybook. It tells a romantic love story with many twists and turns. I guarantee you'll love it." The shopkeeper recommended enthusiastically.

Shen Yanyan took the storybook with a smile and read it carefully. The love-hate relationship between the scholar and the rich lady was quite interesting.

Seeing this, the shopkeeper took out several storybooks of different styles and introduced them enthusiastically: "This one is suspenseful, with a gripping plot; that one is set in ancient times, full of chivalry and adventure; and this one is about myths and legends, mysterious and fascinating..."

Shen Yanyan listened with great interest and showed a happy expression from time to time.

Buy, buy everything. Buy lots of them.

Shen Yanyan picked out a whole box of various story books and some strange talks, and also bought a few travel books, and asked the shopkeeper to send the books and the small items she bought to the Shen family.

He went out and found an alley and called out Anliu, asked him how to get to Shen's house, and asked him to lead the way. The two of them flew all the way to Shen's house using light skills.

Walking is so difficult, but with Qinggong, I can get there in no time.

The two men stopped at the corner in front of the Shen family's gate, brought the person back, and then An Liu disappeared again.

Shen Yanyan looked at the man who disappeared without saying anything, and asked him to continue hiding in the dark. After all, she didn't bring any maids with her, and it was not appropriate for An Liu, a guard, to follow her.

Shen Yanyan was in a dilemma when she saw the gate of Shen's house. What should she say? If she went up and said she was Shen Yanyan, would she be kicked out? She had never been to Shen's house before, and she had never seen anyone from the Shen family. How could she get in? Climb over the wall? This was not a good idea, and she might get beaten.

After thinking about it, Shen Yanyan stepped forward and gave her name directly.

Looking at the guard at the door, Shen Yanyan took two steps forward, looked at the guard and said, "I'm Shen Yanyan from Yangzhou. Go in and report, and say I'm here to identify the door." Shen Yanyan herself felt a little embarrassed and lacked confidence.

The concierge looked at Shen Yanyan wearing a veil with a confused look on his face, thinking in his heart. Shen Yanyan from Yangzhou, isn't that the Concubine Yan who was conferred the title of imperial concubine not long ago? The imperial edict has been passed to their house. Is this true or false? Shouldn't Concubine Yan be in the palace?

Shen Yanyan looked at the dazed guard and reminded him, "Go and report it quickly."

Seeing this, the guard stammered, "I'll go right away," and then hurried into the mansion.

Inside the Shen Mansion, the guard walked quickly towards the Shen Mansion’s housekeeper in a panic, breathing heavily as he walked.

"Butler, there's someone at the door, claiming to be Concubine Yan!" There was a hint of anxiety in the guard's voice.

When the butler heard this, his face changed and he immediately turned around and walked towards the master's room in the mansion.

Along the way, the housekeeper's mind was full of thoughts. Concubine Yan? Wasn't she already... Could it be that someone dared to impersonate her? Or was there some misunderstanding? Various speculations flashed through his mind.

When he came to Shen Hongwen's door, he took a deep breath and knocked gently.

"Come in." Shen Hongwen's low voice came from the room.

The butler pushed open the door, walked into the room, and bowed respectfully.

"Master, there is someone at the door who claims to be Concubine Yan." The butler's tone was calm, but there was a hint of doubt in his eyes.

Shen Hongwen frowned slightly, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes. He was silent for a moment, then slowly said: "Please invite the person to the front hall and entertain him well. I will meet him in person. Also, tell the guards at the gate not to talk too much."

The butler responded and turned to leave.

In the study, Shen Hongwen frowned slightly. How could she leave the palace? Could this person be an imposter? But it was unlikely. Who would dare to pretend to be a concubine? Shen Hongwen walked to the front hall with doubts in his heart.

The front hall was decorated elegantly and solemnly. Shen Yanyan, led by the waiter, stepped into the Shen Mansion that her father often talked about. She sat in a seat with exquisite snacks and tea in front of her.

After entering the front hall, Shen Yanyan took off the veil on her face.

Shen Yanyan gently picked up the teacup and took a sip carefully, the aroma of tea filling her mouth. However, her eyes were attracted by a person who suddenly entered the front hall.

He was a man who looked three points like her father. He walked with a steady pace and his eyes revealed a unique temperament.

Shen Yanyan put down the teacup, stood up, and thought to herself whether he was the eldest uncle or the second uncle.

He was tall and straight, and in a finely tailored suit, he looked even more imposing. His face had clear features, and the similarities to her father made her feel close to him.

The moment Shen Hongwen's eyes met Shen Yanyan, Shen Hongwen felt that the person in front of him was definitely Shen Yanyan. Although he had never seen her before, her face was very similar to his brother's wife, and also like her two sisters.

Shen Yanyan felt an inexplicable tension when she saw the man looking at her. But his eyes revealed a hint of gentleness and kindness, which slightly eased Shen Yanyan's tension.

Shen Hongwen's eyes fell on Shen Yanyan, with a hint of kindness in his eyes. He smiled and said gently, "Hello, Yanyan, I am your uncle Shen Hongwen." His tone was full of confidence and kindness, as if he was sending a reassuring signal to Shen Yanyan.

It is not known why she appeared in the Shen Mansion. Shen Hongwen did not greet her in order to avoid being seen by others and causing trouble.

Shen Hongwen looks neat and well-dressed, giving people a steady and capable impression.

Seeing this, Shen Yanyan stepped forward and bowed, then said in a quirky way: "Hello, uncle. Uncle, you now believe that I am Yanyan. Aren't you afraid that I am a liar?"