Traveling through thousands of years, I only love you

Inside the palace, a solemn atmosphere permeated the carved beams and painted buildings. Li Lingyuan sat in the Empress's main hall, a phoenix chair meticulously carved from golden nanmu wood. The silk threads and jewels on her phoenix robe gleamed brilliantly in the candlelight, yet she felt no sense of the honor or comfort afforded by this noble attire. Her gaze fell, somewhat vacantly, on the mountain of government memorials before her. Her red lips pursed gently, her brow furrowed in a slight frown. The wolf-hair brush in her hand seemed to weigh a thousand pounds, and she could not bring herself to put it down for a long time.

Her thoughts, like a bird unleashed, flew through the palace walls, across thousands of mountains and rivers, and drifted straight to that distant and unknown time and space, landing beside Xiao Yi. The scenes of the past unfolded slowly in her mind like a gorgeous yet sad painting.

Once upon a time, they had a quiet encounter amidst the blossoming beauty of the Imperial Garden. It was a spring afternoon, the sun filtering through the mottled leaves, casting patches of golden light. Xiao Yi, dressed in a moon-white robe, stood tall and straight like a pine tree, his sword-like brows and star-like eyes revealing a refined and heroic spirit. He strolled among the flowers, and by chance, looking up, his eyes met with Li Lingyuan, who was resting in the pavilion. At that moment, time seemed to freeze, and the only thing left in the world was the deep affection in each other's eyes. Xiao Yi raised the corners of his mouth slightly, with a gentle smile, and slowly walked towards her. He gently reached out and plucked a gorgeous peony, its petals still covered with morning dew, shimmering and translucent. He cautiously walked over to Li Lingyuan, raised his hand, and gently inserted the peony into her inky hair. Then he took a step back, his eyes filled with admiration and love, and whispered, "Lingyuan, although this flower is beautiful, it is not even a fraction of yours." Li Lingyuan's cheeks instantly flushed, a blush like the sunset glow on the horizon, beautiful and shy. She lowered her head slightly, but the corners of her mouth unconsciously raised, and her heart seemed to be beating fast.

He recalled that quiet summer night, the palace pond like a giant mirror, reflecting the bright moon and stars in the sky. Lotus flowers bloomed in the pond, pink as clouds, white as snow, and lotus leaves swaying in the breeze. Li Lingyuan and Xiao Yi sat side by side on a stone bench by the pond, their surroundings filled with the delicate fragrance of lotus flowers, a delicate and lingering aroma that seemed to cleanse all worries. Xiao Yi reached out and gently grasped Li Lingyuan's hand. His hand was large and warm, bringing Li Lingyuan a sense of peace. They gazed up at the starry sky together, Xiao Yi pointing to the constellations and recounting ancient and mysterious legends in his deep, magnetic voice. From the tragic love story of the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl to the heroic legend of Orion, each story seemed to hold a magical power that captivated Li Lingyuan. She turned her head and looked at Xiao Yi's profile. His outline was as clear as if cut by a knife under the moonlight, and the stars in his eyes were brighter than the stars in the sky.

And then there was the experience of their incognito tour, when they were like ordinary lovers, wandering through folk markets. The market was bustling with people, with all kinds of hawking and laughter intertwined, forming a unique melody of human life. Xiao Yi held Li Lingyuan's hand tightly, afraid that she would get lost in the crowd. They stopped in front of each stall, admiring the folk handicrafts. Xiao Yi's eyes were suddenly attracted by a wooden hairpin on a small stall. Although the material of the hairpin was ordinary, the workmanship was fine, and the head of the hairpin was carved with a small plum blossom, which looked lifelike. Xiao Yi picked up the hairpin, turned around, and gently inserted it into Li Lingyuan's bun, then smiled and said, "Although this hairpin is simple, it suits you very well." Li Lingyuan raised her hand and gently touched the hairpin, her heart filled with sweetness. She looked at Xiao Yi, and the love in her eyes was like a gurgling stream, stretching endlessly.

"Your Majesty, urgent news from the northern border: The enemy is advancing with great force, having already captured several cities. The people along the border are suffering." A minister, kneeling on his knees with an anxious expression, reported. The voice shattered Li Lingyuan's memories, like a hammer, yanking her back to reality. She shuddered slightly, the confusion in her eyes replaced by worry and determination. She took a deep breath, straightened her back, and said, "My dear ministers, our country is in danger now. Do you have any plans to deal with it?" The court immediately erupted in discussion. The ministers, ranging in expression from solemn to passionate, expressed their opinions, but remained unable to reach a consensus.

Li Lingyuan listened to the ministers' arguments, feeling annoyed. She knew the gravity of the unrest; the nation's peace and the people's well-being depended on her decisions. Yet, she felt weary and fragile. She longed for Xiao Yi to be by her side, to offer strength and support. She recalled discussing military strategy with Xiao Yi, who always offered insightful insights that brightened her vision. "If Xiao Yi were here, he would surely help me resolve this crisis," she sighed inwardly.

By the time she finished her official duties, it was already late at night. Li Lingyuan dragged her exhausted body back to her bedroom and dismissed all the maids and eunuchs. She sat alone by the window, gazing at the bright moon outside, tears finally welling up in her eyes. "Xiao Yi, where are you? Do you know how much I miss you, like this moonlight, permeating every corner?" she whispered softly, her voice echoing in the silent chamber.

During this turbulent period, undercurrents surged within the imperial palace. Some ministers with ulterior motives began to stir, seeking personal gain in the chaotic times and challenging Li Lingyuan's rule. Sensing danger, Li Lingyuan had to be extremely vigilant to cope with the pressure from both within and without.

On the one hand, she strengthened the palace's security, dispatching the most loyal imperial guards to patrol day and night, strictly checking those entering and leaving the palace to prevent the treacherous ministers from succeeding in their plots. On the other hand, she actively prepared food and supplies, dispatching capable ministers to various regions to collect food and fodder, and dispatching troops to the border to resist the enemy. Every decision required her careful consideration, and every order depended on the survival of the country. In this difficult time, she could only bury her longing for Xiao Yi deep in her heart and disguise herself with a strong appearance.

However, longing was like a sharp blade, piercing her heart mercilessly in the dead of night. She often encountered Xiao Yi in her dreams, only to wake up to see only an empty room. The feeling of loss washed over her like a tide. But she knew she couldn't fall. She was the queen, the pillar of this country.

As the war dragged on, the nation's military and financial resources gradually depleted. Li Lingyuan faced unprecedented difficulties, forcing her to consider difficult choices. Raising taxes to finance the war risked popular discontent, while forming an alliance with another nation risked potential manipulation. Under these pressures, her body and spirit were stretched to their limits.

Far away in the present, Xiao Yi also desperately searches for a way to travel back to ancient times. He seeks out experts and scholars, consults ancient texts, and pursues every possible clue. He, too, longs for Li Lingyuan, a longing that has only grown stronger over the millennia. He knows Li Lingyuan must have faced countless hardships in ancient times, and he is deeply concerned, yet powerless to do anything about it.

In ancient times, Li Lingyuan struggled with longing and hardship. She worked hard to maintain the stability of her country, longing to one day reunite with Xiao Yi. She believed that as long as there was love in their hearts, no matter how far apart they were, no matter how time passed, they would one day be together again.

During this precarious period, Li Lingyuan not only had to cope with military crises but also with the myriad minutiae of state affairs. She rose early each day to discuss state affairs with her ministers, gathering intelligence and advice from all quarters. Her gaze grew more resolute, her decisions more decisive. But only she knew that beneath this stoic exterior lay a heart sick with longing, weary and exhausted.

Despite her female nature, she, drawing on her past interactions with Xiao Yi and her own wisdom, began to reorganize border defenses. She deployed experienced veterans while also promoting promising young men, hoping to inject new vitality into the army. She personally oversaw the allocation of food and military supplies, ensuring the soldiers on the front lines had no worries. However, the cruelty of war far exceeded her imagination. Every battle report weighed on her heart, and every defeat left her feeling guilty and helpless.

Within the palace, she deftly dealt with those courtiers with ulterior motives. She quietly gathered evidence of their crimes, waiting for the right moment to strike the fatal blow. She placed trusted aides within the court, constantly monitoring the movements of all parties, like a traveler groping in the dark, cautious yet resolute and courageous.

Despite this, she would still inadvertently think of Xiao Yi. While reviewing memorials, she would recall the patience and meticulousness with which Xiao Yi had explained government affairs to her; while touring the imperial palace, she would recall the sweet and warm moments they had strolled together beneath the palace walls. These memories, like tiny stars, twinkled in her dark world, offering her a moment of comfort, but also making her feel the pain of longing even more deeply.

Far away in the present day, Xiao Yi devoted countless days and nights to his research. He studied ancient astronomical phenomena, hoping to uncover the mysterious power associated with time travel; he explored ancient relics and legends, hoping to discover the secrets of time and space. His life became monotonous and boring. Besides longing for Li Lingyuan, he was left with only his persistent pursuit of a method for time travel. He often stared at the sky, imagining Li Lingyuan's life in ancient times and worrying about her safety. He knew he had to find a way to time travel and return to her side as soon as possible.

In this long wait and suffering, the love between Li Lingyuan and Xiao Yi is like a flower baptized by wind and rain. Although it has suffered a lot, it still perseveres tenaciously. In different time and space, for each other, for the love that spans thousands of years, they strive to survive and struggle, hoping that the gears of fate will turn again and let them meet in each other's arms again.