Returning after a three-year escape from death, the tyrant has turned evil.

Chapter 267 System
He held Song Yi in his arms for a long time, so long that the eunuchs outside couldn't help but ask questions. Finally, the curtain was lifted, and Jiang Lanye went down first.

He remained calm, and those who glanced at him a few more times still couldn't understand why the two of them had stayed in the carriage for so long.

As Song Yi walked out with her back bent, she subconsciously wanted to jump down, but when she saw Jiang Lanye already reaching out to take her hand, she awkwardly offered her hand instead.

Jiang Lanye said with a hint of helplessness, "I knew it."

"Habits are hard to change, you know."

She went down carefully.

Upon arriving at Qingliang Hall, the interior remained unchanged from the previous year, with the placement of items largely the same. It was exceptionally cool inside, prompting Song Yi to let out a soft "wow."

Upon closer inspection, a large bowl of plum juice was placed on the table, with unmelted ice cubes inside.

She couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!" again.

Jiang Lanye looked at her and found it amusing: "Have you forgotten how to speak?"

The sun was almost setting outside, and it wasn't actually hot anymore, but the people in the imperial kitchen were worried that they would get heatstroke, so they prepared cold drinks for each palace.

Song Yi walked over and subconsciously licked her dry lips: "Want some water?"

She winked at Jiang Lanye.

For some reason, upon hearing her words, Jiang Lanye suddenly remembered something.

"You told me before that before you came into this world, you were in a place that resembled a tavern?"

"correct."

"But you can't hold your liquor, why would you go to a place like that?"

He narrowed his eyes. "You went with someone else?"

Song Yi was startled, not expecting Jiang Lanye to suddenly think of this matter, and that he was right.

Seeing that she remained silent, Jiang Lanye casually sat down and just looked at her: "Man or woman?"

"There are both men and women."

Jiang Lanye's brows furrowed deeply.

She quickly sat in Jiang Lanye's lap, trying to please him, and pressed her lips to his: "Let me tell you something."

"Ah."

"It was actually a gathering. My relationship with those people wasn't exactly good, but it wasn't bad either. It was like having ministers in your court; you would definitely know each other."

Jiang Lanye said expressionlessly, "But they probably wouldn't go to a tavern together for drinks in private."

Song Yi: "You yourself said it should be, how do you know they won't!"

"I will not argue with you about this matter for now. Please continue."

"Actually, it was nothing much, just a regular gathering. I just coasted along, ate some nuts and stuff, and didn't drink a drop of alcohol. Really, I swear."

Jiang Lanye was still not happy: "Among the men who went with you, were there any who were interested in you?"

Song Yi was immediately a little embarrassed: "Yes, there is one."

"So, you knew he liked you, but you still went, and even spent time in a room with a man who clearly had designs on you, and drank alcohol, is that right?"

The more he talked, the worse his complexion became.

Song Yi kissed him again in a flattering manner: "So, even the heavens wanted to stop me, so they sent me back to your side."

Jiang Lanye pondered for a moment: "Actually, there's something I've never quite understood."

"What?" "You've come here, which means that you've been missing for a very, very long time in your world. Just as you said, your relationship wasn't bad. After such a long time without showing up, didn't anyone look for you? Just like I've been looking for you all along."

Song Yi scratched his head: "It's strange, but when I went back before, the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the scene from the day I first transmigrated here."

"What do you mean?"

"What I mean is that time is independent in these two worlds. When I'm here, time flows normally, but over there it's like time has been paused. When I go back, it starts flowing again from the moment I disappeared."

After saying that, she looked at Jiang Lanye somewhat awkwardly and muttered softly, "So when I went back, I thought it was the same here. Who would have thought that time was still flowing here? When I came back, I found that it was already three years later."

Jiang Lanye silently held her.

Although these words sound incredible, if others heard them, they would only think that Song Yi was crazy.

Only Jiang Lanye could understand that it was all true, but it was precisely because he believed it to be true that he was even more shocked.

"So, if—and I mean if—one day I could bring you back to my world, the scene we'd see when we open our eyes would be—"

Jiang Lanye's expression suddenly turned cold: "The tavern, and the man who loves you."

"That man is not important!"

"important."

Jiang Lanye stroked her waist: "In that case, I have a reason why I absolutely must go."

Song Yi glared at him: "Don't give me that. Even if you wanted to go, there's nothing you can do unless that system comes back."

"what?"

Jiang Lanye looked at her blankly. He seemed to have heard a very unfamiliar word from Song Yi's mouth just now, and he had no idea what it meant.

Seeing this, Song Yi had no choice but to clear his throat and spend a long time explaining the whole story from beginning to end.

After she finished speaking, she was already drooling over the bowl of plum juice.

As for Jiang Lanye, although he is already very adaptable, he is still an ancient person after all, and some things need time to digest.

Song Yi couldn't help but push him: "Can I drink this?"

Jiang Lanye snapped out of his daze and ladled out a small bowl in front of her. Song Yi's eyes lit up, and she was about to reach out and take it when she saw him take a sip himself and say seriously, "It's still too cold. Wait a while before you drink it."

Song Yi was so angry that she ignored him.

Jiang Lanye was still secretly pondering the system.
Although it seems incredible, there does seem to be a reason why these strange things happened to Song Yi.

In any case, he should probably thank the system that had long since disappeared for bringing Song Yi to his side.

Coming to his senses, Jiang Lanye handed over the bowl with a hint of helplessness: "Take a small sip."

Song Yi glanced at him, then unceremoniously took a big gulp from the bowl and swallowed it down.

It was completely dark outside.

Song Yi stood up. She recalled her first night at the palace, when Jiang Lanye carried her along the pond. It was a rare moment when the two of them could calm down and have a heart-to-heart talk, listening to him talk about his past.

"Shall we go take a look at the swing?"

Jiang Lanye saw through her little scheme at a glance and said succinctly, "You can't sit."

"I know, I'll go take a look. Anyway, I don't have anything else to do right now."

Jiang Lanye finally gave in and took her hand as they walked out. Just then, they saw dozens of carriages parked by the roadside, and the concubines arrived late.

(End of this chapter)